Overview
Bunbeg (Irish: An Bun Beag, “the small river mouth”) sits in the parish of Gweedore, County Donegal, between Derrybeg and Dore, where the Clady and Crolly rivers reach a sheltered inlet on the Atlantic. The harbour is one draw and the shore at Magheraclogher is the other, with views out over the bay and the remains of Bád Eddie.
History & background
- Harbour origins – A pier was built in the 1830s to encourage a local fishing fleet. The harbour is compact and still a working one, so leave the quay clear for boats and vehicles.
- Flash flood of 23 June 2009 – A severe thunderstorm dropped an estimated 60 mm of rain in four hours, bursting the banks of the Clady and Crolly and flooding homes and roads across Bunbeg and Derrybeg. It remains the defining event in the village’s recent memory.
- Bád Eddie shipwreck – The boat began life in France as a fishing vessel called Ami Des Flots (“Friend of the Waves”), later renamed Cara Na Mara (“Friend of the Sea”). Local fisherman Eddie Gillespie bought her, and in 1977 she was beached on Magheraclogher Strand for minor repairs that were never finished. The hull has been settling into the sand ever since. Donegal’s local heritage guide tells the story of Bád Eddie, the fishing boat left on Magheraclogher.
What to See & Do
The Harbour & Island Ferries
The compact, colourful harbour is where fishers land their catches and visitors watch the tides shift. For the islands, check the operators rather than assuming departures from Bunbeg: Tory Ferry lists departures for Tory Island (Oileán Thoraigh) from Magheroarty, and Discover Ireland’s Gola Island guide points to departures for Gola Island from Magheragallan. Confirm the departure pier and availability for your date before travelling.
Bád Eddie & Magheraclogher Strand
The timber remains of Bád Eddie deteriorate in the weather and are the village’s signature view. View them from firm ground and leave the wreck undisturbed. The strand is backed by low dunes, and Errigal often stands clear inland. It is an easy, level shore walk rather than a waymarked trail. Check tides before walking on the shore, and keep a route back above the waterline. The Irish Coast Guard’s water safety advice covers tides and the coast.
Culture & local life
Traditional music is part of the everyday here, and the language you’ll hear around it is Irish – this is a working Gaeltacht, not a heritage display. A stranger footnote: Bunbeg was the birthplace of Vincent ‘Mad Dog’ Coll, the Donegal-born gunman who became one of Prohibition-era New York’s most notorious gangsters.
Wild Atlantic Way & nearby highlights
Bunbeg sits on the Wild Atlantic Way, the coastal route that runs the length of the western seaboard. The places worth pairing with it are all close by in Gweedore and the country just inland:
- Tory Island and Gola Island – both reached by ferry, from Magheroarty and Magheragallan respectively.
- Errigal – Donegal’s highest peak, the quartzite cone that dominates the skyline inland; the popular ascent starts near Dunlewey.
- Bloody Foreland – the headland just north, named for the red glow the rock takes at sunset.
Practical information
- Getting there – Bunbeg is off the N56, near Letterkenny by road, and not far from Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn, across the water to the south.
- Parking – Follow local signs, keep the working quay clear and do not block access to the harbour. Live parking and tidal windows change, so check before you go.
- Ferry schedules – Timetables vary by season. Check the operators’ websites for the latest departures to Tory and Gola Islands.
- Tide awareness – Check a local tide table before walking on the shore, and keep a route back above the waterline.
Best Time to Visit
Spring and early autumn offer quieter shores and softer light for photography, and summer gives the fullest choice of days out. Whenever you go, check the tide before heading out to the strand and confirm island ferry availability for your date.