Grianan of Aileach

04/10/2024

18/09/2024

Grianan of Aileach & Triskelion

Snowfall always makes this place look even more mythical. It seems I'm not the only one who thinks so. In the centre Celtic Triskelion was formed by trampling the snow.
Some things require to be seen from a bird's eye view.

Visit Donegal Go Visit Donegal Grianan Swilly

18/09/2024

08/09/2024

Grianan of Aileach, Inishowen, County Donegal.

Did you know that at the Autumnal and Vernal Equinox in September and March every year, when the sun rises and the clouds part, a beam of light splits the ancient monument in two for a short period of time. As the sun ascends further, the beam shortens and eventully disappears leaving only the shadow of the stone stronghold on the fields beyond.

It's a magical place to be at that time of year! The alignment was discovered by my good friend Grianan Swilly (Bettina Linke) over a decade ago and you can read so much more of her fabulous research here: https://unknownswilly.wordpress.com/

Go Visit Inishowen, Donegal Go Visit Donegal Grianan of Aileach
Discover Donegal.ie Discover Ireland Discover Ireland Ierland Discover Ireland Nordics Donegal Page Donegal Online Wild Atlantic Way Fahan Inch & Burt Parish Donegal Democrat / Donegal Live Donegal Daily Inishowen Innovation - ii - Inspiring Imagination Inish Times / Inish Live Inishowen Independent Love Ireland Donegal County Museum Highland Radio

04/09/2024

Northern Lights watch LIVE August 4th, 2024, Fort Dunree, County Donegal. Fingers and toes crossed for some Aurora action tonight! :) :) :)

04/09/2024

The Milky Way, a shooting star and a lone photographer at the Grianan of Aileach, Burt, Inishowen, County Donegal.

As the Summer solstice has passed and we draw closer to the Autumnal equinox, the more pleasant nights and beautiful dark skies are a must for visitors to County Donegal. Check out the wonderful gang over at the Donegal Dark Sky group for hints, tips and upcoming astrolonomical events! :) :) :)

Go Visit Inishowen, Donegal Go Visit Donegal Discover Ireland Discover Donegal.ie Discover Ireland Discover Ireland Nordics Highland Radio Donegal Daily Donegal Democrat / Donegal Live Inish Times / Inish Live Inishowen Innovation - ii - Inspiring Imagination Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, County Donegal The Harbour Inn Lake of Shadows Hotel Tullyarvan Mill An Grianan Hotel Wild Atlantic Way Wild Atlantic Wanderer -Self catering homes Donegal Inishowen Buncrana Twig & Heather Cottage Frontier Hotel Donegal County Council Astronomy Ireland Ierland Ireland Calling Tourisme Irlandais

04/09/2024

12/08/2024

A great chance of the seeing the Perseid meteor shower tonight and maybe a touch of Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis before the clouds roll in after midnight.

Look North (and a wee bit east). We've so many dark sky locations here in Donegal. Attached is night sky map (look towards the star Capella and the constellation Perseus) and a light pollution map of Inishowen. The green and yellow regions are the main sources of light pollution so stay away from them ;)

You can also keep an eye on the live camera at Fort Dunree if you can't make it out :) Tune in live here: https://www.youtube.com//live/

Happy hunting my friends! :)

11/08/2024

Looks like we're clean out of luck for the perseid meteor shower and Northern Lights tonight. But check out the live cam at Fort Dunree for lightning! www.youtube.com//live/

25/06/2024

This weekend, Donegal’s own The Henry Girls will embark on a very special performance to mark a momentous occasion. As a new day begins on Sunday, June 16th, the ... Read More

25/06/2024

20/04/2024

05/02/2024

Wonderful Patryk Sadowski Photography

Grianan of Aileach & Triskelion

Snowfall always makes this place look even more mythical. It seems I'm not the only one who thinks so. In the centre Celtic Triskelion was formed by trampling the snow.
Some things require to be seen from a bird's eye view.

Visit Donegal Go Visit Donegal Grianan Swilly

31/12/2023

We had a wee bit of snow here in Donegal yesterday. I'm hoping for a little more this New Year as Ireland, I believe, is the most wonderful country no matter the weather. Our people, our welcome and our treasured wares that we love to share are the best on offer in the whole world in my humble opinion! ;)

I snapped this photography on the 15th of February 2016. At the time my eldest princess Faoláin (which means little wolf in Irish) had just turned 9 years of age. We had heard there was snow up at Grianan of Aileach and she was dying to make a snow angel. So off we skiddadled and inched our way up as lose to the hill we could. We found a lovely snowy patch and she made lots of snow angels. We also met a couple trekking up to the monument and it was only when we got home and I viewed the imaged from my drone that I spotted the couple we met embracing on the walls of Grianan. To this end, every year, I've shared and tried to find out who this couple was as I would love to gift them a copy of this photo. Sure maybe this year! Or next! ;)

Athbliain maith daiobh mó chairde! Happy New Year my friends! :) :) :)

Thank you all for your support in 2023! It is more appreciated than you could possibly imagine! :) :) :)

Go Visit Inishowen, Donegal Go Visit Donegal Discover Ireland Discover Donegal.ie Discover Ireland Nordics Discover Ireland Donegal Has It All. Donegal Online Donegal Page @

21/12/2023

20/10/2023

Perhaps this is view from Grianan of Aileach that the sleeping warriors will see when they emerge from their slumber to fight for Ireland once again!

Inch Island and the breadth of Lough Swilly from Grianan Hill in Burt, Inishowen, County Donegal.

For more of this wonderful tale, have a wee nosey at my good friends blog: https://unknownswilly.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/the-white-horsemen-of-aileach/

Go Visit Donegal Go Visit Inishowen, Donegal Wild Atlantic Way Discover Donegal.ie Donegal Page Tourism Ireland Donegal Page Discover Ireland Discover Ireland Nordics Go To Ireland Oz Discover Ireland Visit Donegal Go Visit Inishowen, Donegal Grianan Swilly Fahan Inch & Burt Parish Cónaitheoirí Bheart

01/10/2023

We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build a circle of trust with them.