Greencastle: Maritime History and Seafaring

Greencastle is a destination for visitors who want to focus on maritime history, coastal fortifications and trips on the water. A museum and planetarium, two historic sites with distinct character, as well as excursions and a seasonal ferry give the town several points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel in Greencastle, you can plan your stay around whether you are most interested in the history of Inishowen, the coast along Lough Foyle or a trip on the water.

Maritime themes at the museum and planetarium

The Inishowen Maritime Museum & Planetarium is located at the Old Coast Guard Station, overlooking Greencastle Harbour on Lough Foyle. The museum explores the maritime history of Inishowen. Its exhibits include stories about seafarers and historic shipwrecks, as well as a curated collection of artefacts and stories about the community’s connection to the sea. The Planetarium & Dome Theatre offers a different focus: its dome shows range from prehistoric seas to cosmic journeys and cover the Earth, sky and universe. This allows you to distinguish between two different areas of interest: Inishowen’s maritime history at the museum and the broader subjects covered by the planetarium shows. Show availability may vary; check the programme before your visit.

Castle and coastal fort: two historical periods

Northburgh Castle, also known as New Castle or Greencastle, is a Norman castle. The de Burgh family, Earls of Ulster, built it in 1305. You can view the castle from the car park beside the neighbouring building or from the shoreline path; the path is accessible from the main car park in the village of Greencastle.

Greencastle Fort is a coastal fortification from the Napoleonic era. It stands on elevated ground at the eastern end of Greencastle, overlooking Lough Foyle, and is an important part of County Donegal’s built heritage and history. The castle and fort therefore represent different historical periods: Northburgh Castle was built in 1305, while the fort dates from the Napoleonic era. If you are interested in the history of the coast, the two sites offer different points of interest.

Boat tours and seasonal ferry service

Greencastle Boat Tours depart from the Lough Foyle Ferry Terminal in Greencastle and offer sea safaris and wildlife trips. Highlights of the tours include the site of the Spanish Armada shipwreck. Passengers on the wildlife trips can spot seals and dolphins; with luck, basking sharks can be seen off the coast of Donegal. If you are planning a tour, confirm the schedule directly.

Distinct from the excursions is the Scenic Lough Foyle Ferry. It operates seasonally as a car and passenger ferry between Greencastle in Donegal and Magilligan in Northern Ireland. As the service is seasonal, confirm that it is operating before you travel. This will help you distinguish between a ferry service and the sea safaris or wildlife trips on offer.

Stroove Beach nearby

Near Greencastle, Stroove Beach lies on the east coast of the Inishowen Peninsula, close to the mouth of Lough Foyle. The beach is small and sandy, has Blue Flag status and is located near Stroove Lighthouse. It offers a different focus from Greencastle’s historic sites: here, the emphasis is on a coastal beach. When choosing where to stay, you can therefore consider whether you are most interested in maritime history, trips on the water or the surrounding coastal landscape.

Discover more destinations: Lettermacaward, Killybegs, Carrowkeel, Teelin, Rathmullan, Gweedore, Ramelton, Burt

For the broader travel overview: County Donegal.