Doagh Famine Village
Guided tour through thatched dwellings and life-size scenes on the Isle of Doagh, telling the story of Irish rural life from the Great Famine to today.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Doagh Famine Village stands on the Isle of Doagh on the Inishowen peninsula in the far north of County Donegal. It was founded in 1997 by Pat Doherty around the thatched cottages in which his family lived until the 1980s. Some of the guides grew up in these homes, which gives the tour a personal tone.
The visit is a guided walk that follows local life from the time of the Great Famine in the 1840s up to the present. Life-size scenes show an eviction during the famine, an Irish wake with its customs and superstitions, water divining and the making of poitín, the home-distilled spirit, which visitors can sample. Other buildings were built as replicas of historic places, such as a Presbyterian meeting house, an Orange Hall and a Republican safe house, and the tour also deals with the peace process and with the culture of the Traveller community.
In May 2025 a fire destroyed about two thirds of the village, including the buildings on the famine, the peace process and the Traveller community. The village has since been rebuilding and reopened for the 2026 season. It is run without public funding and depends on visitor income, and it is closed in winter, reopening in March 2027.
Highlights
- Original thatched homes lived in by the Doherty family until the 1980s
- Guided tours told by local people, some born in the houses
- Life-size scenes of a famine eviction and an Irish wake
- Poitín still and a tasting of foraged coastal foods
- Views across the bay towards Malin on the Wild Atlantic Way
Permanent exhibition
- Guided tour of the village – Thatched dwellings and life-size scenes that follow life in a Donegal community from the Great Famine to the present day.
- Founded
- 1997
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €16 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €10free up to age 3 · Children under 16 |
Children under 4 enter free. The ticket includes the guided tour, tea or coffee with a snack, a tasting of foraged foods and a sample of poitín. Tickets can be bought on arrival; online booking is also offered and may carry a booking fee. Payment by cash, card or contactless.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The village describes itself as wheelchair friendly throughout, including the toilets, and wheelchairs can be borrowed. Dogs are allowed on a lead.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|
- Baby changing facilities
Baby changing facilities are available in the visitor centre. Child tickets are offered for under-16s.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Free on-site parking with space for all vehicle types.
The village is about 35 to 40 minutes from Derry and about 60 minutes from Letterkenny, on the Wild Atlantic Way. Use the Eircode F93 PK19 for navigation.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Café with an outdoor patio and views across the bay to Malin. A gift shop is run online.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 45 min |
|---|---|
| Good to know | The visit is a guided tour; arrive at any time and join the next tour. Tours last 30 to 45 minutes and are mainly under cover. Coach tours and large groups are welcome but must book in advance. On busy days you can phone in the morning to ask about waiting times. |
