Things to do in County Donegal
Doagh Famine village
4.5
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Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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  • billy k
    Charleville, Ireland9 contributions
    Doagh famine village
    The warm Donegal welcome and the recreation of Irish history and artefacts. Great guide also. Will definitely go back again and highly recommend Donegal. I was there with Martina and we travelled in our 50year old Bedford tk truck and living box.
    Visited April 2022
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 15 December 2022
  • Louise B
    1 contribution
    Best Santa experience we have ever had!
    We had the most magical time at Donegal's Lapland. We were a large group aged between 2 and 11 and it was enjoyable for everyone even the adults. The attention to detail in each little cottage and the beautiful lights everywhere were out of this world. The play at the beginning was very entertaining and our children were mesmerized by the juggler and then the entrance of Santa. The staff were so accommodating and helpful. We left feeling very fulfilled. Thank you :)
    Visited December 2022
    Written 19 December 2022
  • Sian W
    1 contribution
    Excellent
    Super tour given by a knowledgeable interesting guide. The village is really well set put and interactive. Provides a good overview of important aspects of Irish history. The cafe was great too.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 3 April 2023
  • Deborah B
    Dublin, Ireland14 contributions
    Stop By - You'll Like It!
    Super cool little outing if you can combine it with the few things to do in the area. I was impressed with the tour and the knowledge of our guide, who grew up in the actual house we toured! It's a nice way to deliver some Irish history. I highly recommend it.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 4 April 2023
  • Paul F
    Ireland92 contributions
    An out of the way Gem
    Staying in Derry and decided to cross over into Donegal found this amazing little tour of a Famine Village in the quaint Ballyliffin, Doagh village coastal spot... Wow a delve back in time.... And a very informative tour of a time gone by.... Great for all ages and our guides we're excellent.. Thoroughly recommend and will go again.. The shot of poitin was a nice touch and warming on a cool crisp day.. Don't forget after the tour to head to 5 finger strand and walk the beach.. Sublime
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 7 April 2023
  • Lisa M
    Richboro, Pennsylvania77 contributions
    Great tour
    We learned so much about the struggles of our ancestors. Visiting the village gave us a glimpse into what life was like and the hardships that the Irish people faced. Pat did a fabulous job giving the group a tour and explaining what life was like. After the tour you have time to explore on your own. I highly recommend this tour and visiting the village.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 10 April 2023
  • marilyn j
    3 contributions
    A jewel in the Crown of Donegal
    A real jewel in the crown of Donegal. A fantastic location. The village was a truly moving experience and Pat the tour guide was so knowledgeable with his facts and added humour. Marjella, the receptionist could not have been more friendly & helpful. Definitely an experience not to be missed and an added bonus of coffee & cake included in the admission! Thank you so much, and we will be back.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 20 April 2023
  • Tara G
    23 contributions
    Excellent - highly recommend
    We visited over the Easter holidays and I wasn’t sure what to expect. My eldest child and I love history. Doagh Famine Village covers local history from the Famine to recent times - for example, when electricity was installed in the area. The tour was very personable as the tour guide grew up in one of the houses. Lots of interesting stories about how people lived. My kids loved the haunted rooms! If you’re anywhere near, make sure to visit. (We were staying in Buncrana.)
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 April 2023
  • Jenny L
    Powder Springs, Georgia67 contributions
    Great and informative
    So informative! With your entrance fee you also got a free coffee or tea and snack from cafe across the street. Wish we had more time to spend at the museum/village as we arrived 1.5 hours before closing. Learned so much about Irish history and culture.
    Visited March 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 April 2023
  • jodiemit
    14 contributions
    The best family day out.
    We took our 13year old her e for his birthday with a 10yr old sibling. The boys loved it! The lady in shop gave my wee boy a free magnet to remember him of where he spent his birthday! When we arrived it looked small so we’re little hesitant! Well once we went threw it was bigger than imagined. The man doing the tour was very nice full of knowledge and happy to answer any questions the boys had! He was very suited to working with the public! Funny at times also! We spent hours in here then went across to the cafe for free coffee and bun. The lady in there spent ages chatting with us and the boys about her grandkids etc and talking about things to do in the area….we had the best day.
    Visited April 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 1 May 2023
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4.5
1,434 reviews
Excellent
1,175
Very good
177
Average
43
Poor
18
Terrible
21

juzferme
Southern Queensland, Australia56 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
What an amazing experience!
The outside hides soo many tales, history, stories and the meaning of life

Our guide, Pat, was informative, friendly, just enough chat, and interactive with us

Your fee for entering also gets you a cuppa and something to eat (scone, cake) and it’s good

You start the tour with a visit to a couple of cottages and then your journey begins

I won’t give any spoilers, but we thought it would take us 1/2 an hour - we left after 2 hours

And the views - gobsmacking!!

Such an amazing experience!
Well done 👍
Written 7 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Eileen G
52 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
Such a brilliant experience, Pat was so informative, he gave us an insight into the life he grew up in, he showed us his family home and how this part of Donegal and Ulster has changed over the years, from the Famine to the Peace Process.
Take your time going around and embrace all it has to offer.
A lovely cup of tea/coffee, scones or cake is included in the price.
Well worth the visit.
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jo K
1 contribution
Oct 2023 • Friends
Fantastic experience. So interesting. Well worth a visit but don't rush round as it's so informative.
Pat was a fantastic guide.
Jo. K.
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aoife M
Island of Malta, Malta11 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
The guided tour was very informative and entertaining. Probably better for adults, but my 2 year old enjoyed it as well!
Written 6 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie B
Hull, England4 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Wonderful experience, learnt so much about meaning of old saying’s and about life in Ireland in past times. Pat was so knowledgeable and it was humbling to see the original home he lived in with his family. Fascinating tour, especially the hidden rooms! Brought history ‘to life’ . Lovely to meet Marjella, Pat’s sister who managed the gift shop. A unique experience, highly recommended even for repeat visits!
Written 29 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

YorkshireLass67
Malton, UK43 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Had a thoroughly enjoyable time at the village, our guide Pat was very knowledgeable and interesting, he even lived in one of the cottages with his family, so it made it that little bit more personal.
There is a lovely gift shop with some really nice things to purchase and a little coffee shop where you get a drink and scone as part of the entry fee.

Only criticism is there is not a lot of information about the actual potato famine which is such a well known event in the history of Ireland and I think too much was given to the “Troubles” at the end of the tour. That really doesn’t have a lot to do with the village itself.
Written 28 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

brian c
london6 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Visited with a local friend yesterday. We had an amazing tour with Pat who is has incredible knowledge of local history over the centuries. A very engaging tour, lots of very interesting things to see, followed by tea and cake, which is included in the extremely reasonable admission fee. Loved the craft shop, loads of really nice gifts, nó tat, all at really good prices. We loved our afternoon there, everyone was so friendly. Highly recommended. A living history of a beautiful part of Ireland. Brian Carroll
Written 24 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ted B
8 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
This place is a hidden gem in Irish history. The tour was great.I highly recommend it. You get to realize how hard it was to live in Ireland.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kathleen S
Council Bluffs4 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
Two very dedicated people have created a memorable experience for visitors.
Please stop by to see their work in describing the Irish experience from famine to immigration to the USA.
Very worthwhile.
Written 18 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelalotLAS
Winchester, UK17 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
What a treat to find this! We started our visit with a welcoming tea/coffee and cake or scone included in the entrance price. We then had a tour which was given by someone who had actually lived in a cottage. A real insiders knowledge of how it was. The whole museum is beautifully presented and is extremely interesting. We were pushed for time, but would have liked to stay longer. Our ticket also included a taster of home made liquor.
Written 11 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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DOAGH FAMINE VILLAGE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Doagh Famine village