Inishowen Guide

01/09/2026

🎅✨ THE MAGIC STARTS LONG BEFORE DECEMBER…

People see the finished Santa’s Grotto at Christmas.

What they don’t see are the months of thinking, planning, changing ideas and working out all those little details beforehand. 🎄

That’s where I am right now with Santa’s Grotto Donegal 2026.

Thinking about the set.
The signs.
The lighting.
The photographs.
The little touches the children will notice.

And asking myself one question over and over…

“What can I do this year to make it even more magical?” ❤️

Because when a child eventually walks through that door and sees Santa, they won't know about any of this preparation.

They'll just see Christmas. 🎅✨

And that's exactly how it should be.

There’s a lot happening between now and December — and I’ll bring you along as it all starts to come together. 🎄❤️

01/09/2026

🌿 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT | Rockwell Ornaments Ltd

Have you ever looked at your garden and thought it just needs something to bring it to life?

Sometimes it’s not about completely redesigning an outdoor space. The right planter, statue, bench or water feature can completely change the character of a garden.

Based in Drumfries, Clonmany, Rockwell Ornaments has been creating concrete garden products since 2005 and has developed an enormous range for gardens and outdoor spaces.

From garden statues and ornamental planters to benches, patio tables and seating, water features, wishing wells, carts and much more, these are solid, durable pieces made to cope with our Irish weather.

And this is exactly the type of business we love highlighting on the Inishowen Guide — something being made locally in Donegal that people may not realise is available practically on their doorstep. 💙

📍 Drumfries, Clonmany, Co. Donegal
☎️ 074 9320531
📱 086 8354262

Take a look at the range and you might just find that finishing touch your garden has been missing.

👉 Discover Rockwell Ornaments on the Inishowen Guide

01/09/2026

🎨 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT | MARY CROWLEY WATERCOLOUR ART

There’s something very special about seeing a familiar Donegal landscape captured through the eyes of a local artist.

Based in Tiernasligo, Clonmany, Mary Crowley is a self-taught watercolour artist whose inspiration comes directly from the landscape around her — the sea, old buildings, secluded places and that constantly changing Donegal light.

Mary began painting in 2012, and what started with picking up a paintbrush has developed into a distinctive style filled with light, colour, texture and atmosphere. Her paintings aren't simply pictures of Donegal — each one has its own story and connection to the place that inspired it.

And you can actually visit where much of that work is created.

🖌️ Mary Crowley’s Artist Studio & Gallery
📍 The Anchorage, Tiernasligo, Clonmany
🕙 Monday–Saturday, 10am–5.30pm
☎️ 086 2664554
📧 [email protected]

Her work can also be found locally at Moville Pottery, Glendowen Craft Studio and Greencastle Maritime Museum.

If you love Inishowen, Donegal and original Irish art, Mary’s work is well worth discovering.

👉 Discover Mary Crowley Watercolour Art on Inishowen Guide

Made with love in Co. Donegal. 💙

01/09/2026

👓 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT | INISH EYECARE

Good eyesight is something most of us take for granted, until something starts to change.

That’s why having trusted, professional eyecare close to home really matters.

Inish Eyecare provides expert, personal eyecare for individuals and families across Inishowen, with practices in Carndonagh and Buncrana.

From comprehensive eye examinations to designer eyewear, contact lenses and family eyecare, their focus is simple, looking after your vision with professional care and a personal service.

📍 Carndonagh Shopping Centre
☎️ 074 93 29957

📍 14 Ardravan Square, Buncrana
☎️ 074 9300551

🌐 inisheyecare.ie

Another great local business serving our community right here in Inishowen. 💙

Your Vision. Their Focus.

31/08/2026

It’s one of those things nobody talks about when an event goes well… but everybody notices when it doesn’t! 😄

Whether you’re organising a festival, wedding, sporting event, concert, family gathering or community event, there are a hundred things to think about.

And somewhere on that list has to be the toilets!

Event Sanitation provides portable toilet and sanitation solutions for events of all shapes and sizes, with delivery, setup, servicing and waste disposal taken care of. Their units can be supplied for everything from private parties and weddings to festivals, charity events, construction sites, schools, sporting events, rallies and large public gatherings.

It’s not the glamorous side of organising an event — but it’s certainly one of the important ones. 👍

So if you’ve an event coming up and need reliable portable toilet facilities, Event Sanitation is a local company worth keeping in mind.

📞 087 207 4527
📧 [email protected]

🌐 Find Event Sanitation on the Inishowen Guide

Know somebody organising an event? Tag them below or give this a share — it might save them one job on a very long list! 👇

30/08/2026

Brilliant Santa's Grotto Donegal in the Wesley Hall Bridge Street Carndonagh this Christmas

🎅 Things are starting to happen behind the scenes at Santa's Grotto Donegal…

There's plenty of work still to do before December, but we're determined to make this year's experience really special for the families who come through our doors.

And we haven't forgotten the four-legged members of the family either. 🐾❤️

Well-behaved pets are very welcome to come along and meet Santa too.

There's a lot more happening over the next few months… and we'll share a little of it as we go. 🎄✨

28/08/2026

On a roll with this weather

28/08/2026

🔧 Trade Professionals — We’ve Got You Covered!

Plumbers, tilers & contractors — open a McDaids Trade Account and get competitive trade pricing, quick nationwide delivery and FREE delivery on your first order.*
🛒 Order online: www.pjmcdaid.com or Email your orders.
TEL: 074 936 3050 WA: 086 043 8076

28/08/2026

🔥 There are some local businesses we probably don’t think much about… until we really need them.

When the oil tank is getting low, the fire needs stocked up, or you need diesel for the tractor — having someone reliable and local makes all the difference.

LABS Fuels, based at Mart Place in Carndonagh, is a long-established family business supplying homes, farms and customers throughout Inishowen. They’ve been delivering oil since 2010 and have grown to serve thousands of customers across the peninsula.

And there’s a lot more available than just heating oil:

🏠 Home Heating Oil
🚜 Tractor & Agri-Diesel
🚗 Car Diesel
🔥 Coal
🪵 Hardwood & Softwood Logs
🔥 Kindling
⛽ Gas Cylinders in various sizes
🛢️ Drums of Kerosene & Agri-Diesel
💧 AdBlue

You can also call into their shop at Mart Place, Carndonagh, Monday–Friday, 9am–5.30pm.

It’s another good example of a local family business providing an everyday service right across Inishowen — and exactly the kind of business we want people to be able to find easily through the Inishowen Guide.

📞 087 207 4527
☎️ 074 937 4620

🌐 View LABS Fuels on the Inishowen Guide

Who else tries to support local suppliers whenever they can? 👍