The County Donegal Historical Society was founded by the late J.C.T. MacDonagh on the 20th December 1946. The objective of the Society is to preserve and record the history of the county. Since 1946 it has awakened a new interest in Donegal studies and has brought together people of different traditions and backgrounds.
During the course of any one year the Society publishes a journal, the Donegal Annual, organises a schools competition, holds several field days, a seminar, several lectures and other events. Down the years the Society has been responsible for initiating the Federation of Ulster Local Studies, establishing a museum and several other once off activities.
We hope you enjoy browsing through our website. If you wish to leave comments about any aspects of the County Donegal Historical Society or this website, please feel free to contact us then please use our Contact page.
We welcome new members and information about joining the Society is available by clicking on Membership. Membership is open to everyone and at present we have approximately 600.
The Society has a new Facebook page, thanks to Seán Beattie and his son, Conor. To go there directly from here just click on ‘GO’
Our founders
The Presidents of our Society
(Asterisk denotes deceased).
| *1947 – Andrew Lowry, Argery, Raphoe. |
| *1948 – Rt. Rev. Dean Molloy, D.Ph., V.G., P.P., Dungloe. |
| *1949 – Capt. J. Hamilton, Ballintra. |
| *1950 – Sean D. MacLochlainn, Lifford. |
| *1951 – Rev. Dr. J. H. Bewglas, Raphoe. |
| *1952 – An tAth. P. MacLoinsigh, P.P., Aghyaran. |
| *1953 – Rev. R. Laird, The Manse, Ardstraw. |
| *1954 – Patrick J. McGill, N.T., F.R.S.A.I., Ardara. |
| *1955 – Miss C. Atkinson, Cavangarden, Ballintra. |
| *1956 – Fr. Terence O’Donnell, O.F.M., Rossnowlagh. |
| *1957 – Fr. Terence O’Donnell, O.F.M., Rossnowlagh. |
| *1958 – Mr. J. C. T. MacDonagh, Ballybofey. |
| *1959 – Mr. J. C. T. MacDonagh, Ballybofey. |
| *1960 – Denis Verschoyle, Cape Town, South Africa. |
| *1961 – Eamonn MacLoinsigh, An Clochan, Gleann Fhinne. |
| *1962 – P. Urr. O’Gallachair, Cluain Eois & Drom Mor. |
| *1963 – P. Urr. O’Gallachair, Cluain Eois & Drom Mor. |
| *1964 – P. Urr. O’Gallachair, Cluain Eois & Drom Mor. |
| *1965 – Harry P. Swan, Buncrana. |
| *1966- Rupert S. O’Cochlainn, Dublin. |
| *1967 – Rupert S. O’Cochlainn, Dublin. |
| *1968 – E. W. R. Cookman, M.A., Raphoe. |
| *1969 – E. W. R. Cookman, M.A., Raphoe. |
| *1970 – E. W. R. Cookman, M.A., Raphoe. |
| *1971 -Dr. J. G. Simms, Dublin. |
| *1972 – Liam MacMeanman, B.A., O.S., Fal Carrach. |
| *1973 – Liam MacMeanman, B.A., O.S., Fal Carrach. |
| *1974 – Sean Mac Loinsigh, O.S., Convoy. |
| *1975 – Brian Walsh, F.S.M.C., Letterkenny. |
| *1976 – Brian Walsh, F.S.M.C., Letterkenny. |
| *1977 – J. D. Williams, Letterkenny. |
| *1978 – J. D. Williams, Letterkenny. |
| *1979 – J. D. Williams, Letterkenny. |
| *1980 – Dorothy Borland, Fanad |
| *1981 – Dorothy Borland, Fanad |
| *1982 – Dorothy Borland, Fanad |
| *1983 -Edward McIntyre, Strabane |
| *1984 – Cecil King, Ballyshannon |
| *1985 – Cecil King, Ballyshannon |
| *1986 – Cecil King, Ballyshannon |
| *1987 – Liam O’Doherty, Derry |
| *1988 – Liam O’Doherty, Derry |
| *1989 – Arthur Spears, B.E., Lifford |
| *1990 – Arthur Lemon, Waterford |
| *1991 – Arthur Lemon, Waterford |
| *1992 – Arthur Lemon, Waterford |
| *1993 – Seamus Gildea, Glenties |
| *1994 – Seamus Gildea, Glenties |
| *1996 – Mairead Dunlevy, Dublin |
| *1996 – Mairead Dunlevy, Dublin |
| 1997 – Patrick J. Dunleavy, Dungloe |
| 1998 – Patrick J. Dunleavy, Dungloe |
| *1999 – Edward O’ Kane, Cavanacor House, Ballindrait, Lifford |
| *2000 – Edward O’ Kane, Cavanacor House, Ballindrait, Lifford |
| *2001 – Edward O’ Kane, Cavanacor House, Ballindrait, Lifford |
| 2002 – Anthony Begley, Ballyshannon |
| 2003 – Anthony Begley, Ballyshannon |
| 2004 – Anthony Begley, Ballyshannon |
| 2005 – Anthony Begley, Ballyshannon |
| *2006 – Vincent O’Donnell, Inver |
| 2007 – Helen Meehan, Mountcharles |
| 2008 – Helen Meehan, Mountcharles |
| 2009 – Col. Declan O’Carroll, Letterkenny |
| 2010 – Col. Declan O’Carroll, Letterkenny |
| 2011 – Col. Declan O’Carroll, Letterkenny |
| 2012 – An Dr. Ró Oirmh. Pádraig Ó Baoighill, Baile na Finne |
| 2013 – An Dr. Ró Oirmh. Pádraig Ó Baoighill, Baile na Finne |
| 2014 – An Dr. Ró Oirmh. Pádraig Ó Baoighill, Baile na Finne |
| 2015 – Lochlann Mc Gill, Ardara |
| 2016 – Lochlann Mc Gill, Ardara |
| 2017 – Lochlann Mc Gill, Ardara |
| 2018 – Seán Boner, Dungloe |
| 2019 – Seán Boner, Dungloe |
| 2020 – Seán Boner, Dungloe |
| 2021 – Seán Boner, Dungloe |
| 2022 – Rev. Raymond Alexander Blair, Ballymoney |
| 2023 – Joe Gatins, Laghey |
| 2024 – Joe Gatins, Laghey |