Discover Ballyshannon, the Oldest Town in Ireland, Ballyshannon, Ireland

Ballyshannon is a town of legends, both old and new. Located in County Donegal, on the banks of the River Erne, it claims to be Ireland’s oldest town. It certainly has a colourful history, enhanced by mythological origins and literary connections. And the legends continue into the present day, with modern music, a town full of artists, and an abundance of traditional Irish pubs.

Tradition holds that Ballyshannon was founded by the Parthalonians, a mythical group who arrived in Ireland from Greece following a great flood around 5,000 years ago. Whether this is fact or fiction, archaeological remains – megalithic tombs, ring forts and souterrains – confirm that the area has been continuously settled since prehistory, a result of its strategic position at the mouth of the River Erne, once a plentiful source of salmon.

Later centuries reflect wider Irish history. Ballyshannon emerged as a Gaelic stronghold under the O’Donnell clan of Tyrconnell, but in the 17th century it became a key site in the Plantation of Ulster, an attempt by King James I of England to establish control of the region. By the 18th and 19th centuries, Ballyshannon was both a trading hub and a departure point for emigrants, linking Donegal to the Irish diaspora. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).