Walk back in time to the 18th century in a folkloric village in the west of Ireland

For almost 60 years, a small village in Co Donegal has been bringing the past into the present. Glencolmcille Folk Village showcases a typical rural village from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, allowing visitors to experience the ancient Ireland of the past.

The thatched-roof replica of a rural village in Ireland’s northwesternmost province offers a glimpse into daily life as it was in times gone by.

The Glencolmcille Folk Village is a group of small cottages on a hill overlooking Glen Bay beach. The area is a Gaeltacht or Irish speaking area, which further adds to the traditional experience.

The village was designed, built and maintained by the local people. A local priest, Father James McDyer, designed the village in 1967 in response to the mass emigration taking place in the area. Father McDyer created the Folk Village as one of several projects designed to boost services and employment.

Each cottage is an exact replica of a house as it was in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. The furniture, soft furnishings and household items are all up to date. The village has a school building, a fisherman’s house and a small café-grocer.

It preserves the living history of the area and gives visitors a taste of what rural Ireland was like in the past. Visitors can wander through the village at their leisure, transcending time as they explore the daily lives and homes of the indigenous people. The village also offers guided tours that explore the area’s history and way of life in detail.

Visit our homepage for the latest local news and features about Irish America here.