Fort Dunree Military Museum - Artlink Visual Arts Exhibitions

Fort Dunree is an unusual place to spend an afternoon - a nineteenth-century coastal fortress perched above Lough Swilly, with artillery emplacements, walking trails and panoramic water views. During the Earagail Arts Festival, it adds a third layer: two contemporary art exhibitions running through the Artlink studios and gallery spaces inside the fort itself. The combination works better than it sounds. Military history and fresh visual art share the same dramatic site, and neither fights for attention.

What to expect

Artlink, a visual arts charity based permanently at Fort Dunree, presents two exhibitions as part of the Earagail Arts Festival 2026 programme, running 28 June to 26 July daily from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

The anchor show is Setting by Irish-American ceramic artist Mary O’Malley, installed in the Saldanha Gallery. The work is described as an installation exploring place, history, transformation and time - themes that sit naturally against Fort Dunree’s own layered past. Alongside it runs Still Life, an open-call group exhibition featuring local artists working in a wide range of media in response to that theme.

Both exhibitions opened on Saturday 27 June with an evening launch. Outside the galleries, the fort itself is worth a proper look: the museum traces over 200 years of history from the Napoleonic-era batteries through to the Irish Army’s use of the site until 1990. There are 3km of coastal walking paths, a coffee shop with views over Lough Swilly, and free parking on site.

Getting there

Fort Dunree sits seven miles north of Buncrana on the Inishowen Peninsula, reached via the R238 coastal road. From Letterkenny, the drive takes around 45 minutes on the N13 and R238. From Derry city, allow about an hour. There is no regular public transport to the fort itself, so a car or taxi from Buncrana is the practical option. Parking is free on site.

While you’re in Buncrana

Buncrana town is worth stopping in before or after - there is a long beach, a pier, and a scatter of cafes and pubs along the main street. The Inishowen Peninsula as a whole rewards a longer stay, with Malin Head to the north and quieter coastal roads throughout. There is more to see in Buncrana and across Co. Donegal.

Good to know

• Dates: 28 June - 26 July 2026 (opening night 27 June at 6pm)
• Hours: Daily 10.30am - 4.30pm
• Price: Free admission to the exhibitions
• Booking: No booking required; check eaf.ie for festival updates or fortdunree.com for venue information
• Getting in: The site also has a military museum; check if combined admission applies on the day