Donaghadee, United Kingdom
Donaghadee is a town of 7,369 people in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
Why visit Donaghadee
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Donaghadee lighthouse.
Weather in Donaghadee
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Donaghadee
Donaghadee ( DON-ə-khə-DEE, from Irish Domhnach Daoi) is a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula, about 18 miles (29 km) east of Belfast and about six miles (10 km) south east of Bangor. It is in the civil parish of Donaghadee and the historic barony of Ards Lower. The town had a population of 7,325 people in the 2021 census.
From the Wikipedia article Donaghadee (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks3
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Belvedere Dog Park (Grass Area)
Park · 1.4 mi
Spring and Summer only
45a, Donaghadee
Restaurants and cafes6
History
The name 'Donaghadee' comes from Irish Domhnach Daoi, which has two possible meanings: "church of Daoi", after an unattested saint, or "church of the motte". Originally the site of a Gaelic ringfort, the Anglo-Normans built a motte-and-bailey castle on the site after they conquered the area in the late 12th century.
In the early 17th century, Hugh Montgomery settled Scottish Protestants there as part of the Plantation of Ulster, and it began to grow into a small town. The former Donaghadee Town Hall is a converted merchant's house which was completed in around 1770.
The town featured in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. On the morning of Pike Sunday, 10 June 1798 a force of United Irishmen, mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the town of Newtownards. They met with musket fire from the market house and were defeated.
Donaghadee was used in the 1759–1826 period by couples going to Portpatrick in Scotland to marry, as there was a daily packet boat. During this period, Portpatrick was known as the "Gretna Green for Ireland".
Donaghadee railway station, which was open for passenger traffic from 1861 to 1950, was on the Belfast and County Down Railway.
From the History section of Donaghadee on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Notable people from Donaghadee
Bear GryllsEnglish adventurer, writer and television presenter (born 1974)Photo: Jamie Gray from England..., CC BY 2.0
Mason MunnNorthern Irish footballer (born 2006)Photo: Jim Easton, CC0
Michael McGimpseyNorthern Irish politician (born 1948)Photo: Sdfharkin, CC0
Sir Hutcheson Poë, 1st BaronetIrish soldier and politician (1848-1934)Photo: Agence Rol, Public domain- Sarah GrandBritish feminist writer (1854–1943)
- Patricia FordBritish politician
- Michael Patrick Stuart IrwinBritish-Rhodesian ornithologist
Born in Donaghadee, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship5
Shopping1
Schools, colleges and libraries4
Map of Donaghadee
30 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 14 miles away.
- Bangor 5 mi west, about 9 min by car
- Newtownards 7 mi southwest, about 11 min by car
- Greyabbey 7 mi south, about 12 min by car
- Whitehead 10 mi northwest, about 17 min by car
- Dundonald 11 mi west, about 18 min by car
- Carrickfergus 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Holywood 12 mi west, about 19 min by car
- Greenisland 14 mi west, about 23 min by car
- Newtownabbey 15 mi west, about 24 min by car
- Belfast 16 mi west, about 26 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Towns near Donaghadee
Keep exploring
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- Mapillary (see each image): photos
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- High Street, Donaghadee, Ross, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Donaghadee lighthouse, County Down (16192309488), Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, No restrictions
- Moat at Donaghadee (8576166391), National Library of Ireland on The Commons, No restrictions
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, toho, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Street-level photo, nickjohnston, CC BY-SA 4.0
Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.




