If you would like to explore the story of law and disorder in Donegal, our Guided Jail Tour at Lifford Old Courthouse is the ideal place to begin. Your visit starts in the historic cells where you are charged, sentenced, fingerprinted and shown your new surroundings. Over the next hour, you will gain a vivid glimpse into daily life inside Donegal’s old jail.
Please note that a minimum of two people is required to book a Guided Tour at present.
With great craic throughout the tour and delicious food waiting in our welcoming bistro, your group is sure to enjoy a memorable day out. Only 15 miles from both Derry and Letterkenny, we are the perfect base for exploring the wider area. While we usually open Monday to Friday, we can often open any day or time to suit group bookings, so feel free to get in touch to check availability.
Group Tour Price (10+ People) – €8 per person
Spend time together as a family while exploring the old jail cells of Lifford Old Courthouse. Suitable for all ages, this lively tour offers a fun day out for the whole family. At the end of your visit, we will even check our historic record book to see if any long lost relatives or namesakes may have spent time behind our doors.
Complete your trip with a visit to The Courthouse Bistro, where you will find plenty of dishes to suit diners of every age.
Let your students step into the past with a tour that brings the realities of Lifford Jail to life. Instead of only hearing about cramped cells, harsh punishments and poor diets, they will get to experience the atmosphere for themselves.
Our school tours are terrific fun, highly memorable learning experiences and ideal for visits at any time of the year.
The Old Courthouse,
The Diamond, Lifford,
Co.Donegal, Ireland, F93 CD6F
Office: +353 74 914 1733
Out of Office: +353 87 2669 257
If you’d like to hear from us at Lifford Old Courthouse about upcoming events then sign up for our mailing list!
This project is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal through the Community Services Programme.
This project has been part-funded by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under Project Ireland 2040.
Tá an tionscadal seo páirt-mhaoinithe ag an Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán faoi Thionscadal Éireann 2040.
An Clár Feabhsúcháin 2025
Local Enhancement Programme 2025
Is í an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta a mhaoinigh an tionscadal seo faoin an Clár Feabhsúcháin 2025
This project has been funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht under the Local Enhancement Programme 2025
We’re delighted to announce that Lifford Old Courthouse is one of the first social enterprises in Ireland to secure People & Planet First Verification.
What does this mean?
People & Planet First is a robust verification mark for social enterprises which is recognised globally and adopted in 130+ counties.
The verification focuses on five core standards:
Purpose: We exist to solve a social and/or environmental problem.
Operations: We prioritise purpose, people and planet over profit in operational decisions.
Revenue: We have a self-sustaining revenue model.
Use of surplus: We reinvest the majority of any surplus towards our purpose.
Structure: We choose legal structures and financing that protect and lock-in purpose long-term.a
