Donegal
[key], county, 1,865 sq mi (4,830 sq km), N Republic of Ireland, on the
Atlantic Ocean. The county seat is Lifford. The extremely irregular
coastline extends from Lough Foyle on the north to Donegal Bay on the west
and is deeply indented by Lough Swilly. Tory Island is the largest of the
coastal islands. The west is rugged and hilly. There are two mountain
ranges: the Derryveagh Mts. in the northwest and the Blue Stack Mts. in the
west central region. Mt. Errigal (2,466 ft/752 m) is the tallest peak. The
chief rivers are the Foyle, the Erne, and the Finn; lakes are plentiful.
Donegal has no rail service. Although agriculture is the leading industry,
only one third of the land is suitable for cultivation. The valleys of the
Finn and the Foyle are the most intensively cultivated areas. Oats and
potatoes are the chief crops. Fishing and tourism are also important
industries. In the south is the center of the Donegal cloth industry that
produces tweeds and handmade woolens. There are several small skirt
factories. Newer industries include carpet, fishing net, and synthetic fiber
manufacturing. Gaelic is still spoken in the highland region. In ancient
times the kingdom of Tyrconnell,
Donegal was not organized as a county until the reign of Elizabeth I of
England.
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