After a trip to Nottingham sparked the idea 20 years ago, Paul Maguire launched his new booklet ‘Walks along Letterkenny’s Local History and Heritage’ in the Donegal County Museum on Thursday.
The booklet is a handy pocket guide for visitors or interested locals to learn about the town and its environs by taking you on three different walking routes.
Walk one is called the Purple Walk and begins on the Port Road at the Bus Éireann Station, continuing on to William McKinney House and then to the High Road to the Memorial Garden and the Donegal County Museum.
Following that, you continue to Upper Main Street to view the Old Courthouse, Speers Lane, 63 Main Street, the AIB, the Presbyterian Church and the building that now houses Mourne Antiques.
The Church Lane is next on the tour where you will visit the Gospel Church Hall and the birth place of Private James Duffy VC.
At the Cathedral Quarter you will see Loreto Convent, Conwal Parish Church,Trinity Hall Presbyterian Church, the First World War memorial, the Celtic Cross, St Eunan’s Cathedral and the Bishop’s Palace and Parochial House. On Sentry Hill there are Saint Eunan’s College and the Penal Times Monument.
When you make your way down to Letterkenny Market Square you will then continue on to Letterkenny Main Street and location at which Wolfe Tone was held following his arrrest, Bank of Ireland and The Devlin Hall.
Walk two is called the Red Walk and starts at Old Town and the Oldtown Bridge and the Railway Bridge. Continuing to Conwal you will visit cemetery that surrounds the old church and near Newmills you will visit The Battle of Scarrifholis. Rockhill House is next on the agenda followed by Old Leck Cemetery.
The third and final walk in the booklet is called the Blue Walk and includes the Church of Ireland Graveyard and the Auganinshin old church ruins and graveyard.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Paul Maguire said it took him 20 years to get the booklet to this point.
“I started the process by taking and compiling photographs of historical buildings around Letterkenny. After I had all the information gathered I then began contacting local businesses for sponsorship.
“I would like to give my thanks to the local businesses for helping me get this booklet published.
“I would also like to acknowledge Caroline Carr for the help in putting this booklet together. Fingers crossed my next project will be to turn my booklet into an app,” he said.
Declan O’ Carrol offically launched the book at the Donegal County Museum.
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