County Donegal
Northwest corner closer to Belfast than Dublin—Donegal tweed's luxury market survives while Wild Atlantic Way tourism and Gaeltacht preservation define identity in post-Brexit border complexity.
County Donegal occupies Ireland's northwest corner—closer to Belfast than Dublin, connected to the Republic by narrow land bridge. This peripheral position limited development while preserving Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) communities that urbanization elsewhere eliminated.
Tweed manufacturing—Donegal's famous hand-woven fabric—creates distinctive craft identity. Magee, McNutt, and other producers serve luxury markets; this specialization demonstrates how traditional skills can sustain contemporary enterprise.
Wild Atlantic Way tourism brings visitors to rugged coastline; Slieve League cliffs and Glenveagh National Park provide natural attractions. But seasonality limits employment; winter populations decline as tourism workers seek off-season alternatives.
Donegal's separation from Northern Ireland (despite geographic proximity) reflects partition's arbitrary boundaries. Brexit complicated cross-border movement; Donegal's access to Derry's services and airport became border-crossing exercise. The county demonstrates how political geography overrides physical geography in determining regional development.