The History of Donegal Town: A Talk by Matthew Potter

Donegal Town is one of the most historic places in Ireland, and has given its name to Co. Donegal. It has been a Gaelic town, a Plantation town, an estate town and a market town. Owned successively by three great families – the O’Donnells (1474-1610), the Brookes (1610–76) and the Gores (1676-c.1950s) – the most striking feature of its history is its former political prominence.

Under the O’Donnells, it was for 130 years the capital of Tír Chonaill – effectively an independent state and a minor international power. Later, it suffered four sieges (1601, 1641, 1651, 1689) but was never captured, it was the principal estate town of the Gore family for 240 years, a parliamentary constituency for 187 years, the administrative centre of a poor law union for 85 years, and the archetypical Irish market town for two centuries. This talk by Dr. Matthew Potter will give a broad overview of the town's history.

Dr Potter is a native of Donegal Town who has lived in Limerick for 52 years, where he is Curator of Limerick Museum and an Associate Fellow in the School of History and Geography, University of Limerick. His book Donegal Town 1474-1974 will appear later this year, and this talk will be based on that work.

This event is free, but a suggested donation of €5 to help cover our costs and support our work at the museum.