Re-imagining Donegal Town 2.34

Local architects, urban designers, community activists and people from other design backgrounds from
Donegal Town have formed a steering group with the purpose of undertaking an assessment and a action
plan making process for Donegal Town and its environs. The impetus for the project arises from several
sources; the need to generate positivism and build consensus locally; Donegal uniquely missed out on a
number of large scale projects that were in the pipeline during the economic boom, due to opposing development
interests and fractures within the local community, consequently the town is left with a dearth of
community facilities. This factor combined with the current recession has demoralised the community. On
the positive side the town has a unique built heritage, featuring the Diamond (central public space) which
was mentioned in the Good Place Guide by John Billingham, a medieval castle and abbey and a unique
setting where the River Eske meets Donegal Bay; the town is enveloped by the Bluestack Mountains and
close to Lough Eske where the well known 4 star hotels Soilis and Harvey’s Point are located. Donegal
Town’s built and natural heritage combined with its friendly community and local businesses are an asset.
The group formed in reaction to this background with a feeling that the built environment and its unique
setting need to be cared for and renewed to meet future challenges. The opportunity to harness the experience
of local architects, along with committed community people and uniquely local students from architectural
backgrounds couldn’t have happened during the economic boom; but has now been enthusiastically
formed to undertake this project.