Letterkenny
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Letterkenny Leitir Ceanainn
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From top, left to right: St. Eunan's Cathedral, An Grianán Theatre, Market Square, St. Eunan's College, Polestar Roundabout, Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
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| Motto: Ubique Urbem Reminiscar "Remember the town wherever I am" |
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 Letterkenny
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| Coordinates: 54°57′24″N 7°43′13″W / 54.9566°N 7.7203°WCoordinates: 54°57′24″N 7°43′13″W / 54.9566°N 7.7203°W | ||
| Country | Ireland | |
| Province | Ulster | |
| County | County Donegal | |
| Dáil Éireann | Donegal | |
| Elevation | 52 m (171 ft) | |
| Population (2011) | ||
| • City | 19,588 | |
| • Urban | 22,455 | |
| Irish Grid Reference | C171121 | |
| Dialing code | 074 91// 0035374 | |
Letterkenny (Irish: Leitir Ceanainn, meaning "hillside of the O'Cannons"), nicknamed "the Cathedral Town", is the largest and most populous town in County Donegal, Ireland. It lies on the River Swilly in east Donegal and has a population of 19,588. Along with the nearby city of Derry, Letterkenny forms the major economic core of the island's north-west.
Letterkenny began as a market town at the start of the 17th century, during the Plantation of Ulster. A castle once stood near where the Cathedral of St. Eunan and St. Columba, Donegal's only Roman Catholic cathedral, stands today. Letterkenny Castle, built in 1625, was located south of Mt Southwell on Castle Street. Donegal's premier third-level institution, the Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT), is located in the town, as are Saint Eunan's College, Highland Radio, and the only Hindu temple in the Republic of Ireland. Letterkenny is also the original home of Oatfield Sweet Factory, the confectionery manufacturer, and is renowned for its night-life, with enterprises such as Club Voodoo, The Grill, Milan and The Pulse regularly attracting international names. The Aura Complex, near O'Donnell Park, includes an Olympic-standard swimming pool, the Danny McDaid Athletic Track and an arena capable of hosting top-level events.
Letterkenny takes its name from the Irish Leitirceanainn, meaning "Hillside of the O'Cannons" – the O'Cannons being the last of the ancient chieftains of Tír Conaill. Although the O'Cannons were the last ruling chieftains in Tír Conaill, no evidence of forts or castles belonging to the clan exists in or around the Letterkenny district (leading to speculation on a possible derivation of the name Letterkenny: from the Irish 'Leitir Ceann-Fhoinn', meaning 'Fairheaded Hillside').
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