The name Killybegs comes from the Irish  ‘Na Cealla Beaga’ the little cells. Remains of stone huts have been identified in the general area.

It's believed Christianity came to Killybegs before the sixth century, when St. Colmcille was active along this south-west Donegal coastline. Killybegs is identified not with a local saint but with St Catherine a 4th Century martyr in Alexandria. There’s a holy well named after her close to the shoreline past the New Pier.  

Nearby are the ruins of St. Catherine's church, thought to go back to the 12th century. On the hill above are the last parts of the tower known as 'Kit's Castle', the manor house built by Bishop Patrick McMonagle around 1355. Several bishops of the Raphoe diocese lived there.

In early history, Killybegs came under the sway of the Scottish Mc Sweeney clan from around the 14th  Century, who gave their name to the bay nearby.

It is from an English spy in Killybegs in 1588, Patrick Blaine, that we have an account of ships from the great Spanish Armada in the port. Three ships came in but only one remained afloat, the Girona.  The Spanish contingent was joined by perhaps a thousand men from the wrecking of the Duquesa Santa Ann near Ardara. The Girona left with 1300 men on board and sank in a storm off Antrim. Only nine men survived.

Route of the Spanish Armada

The 16th Century was a lively time in Kil1ybegs. According to the Annals of the Four Masters, the town was sacked by the notorious Irish pirates the O’Malley’s in 1513 while its men folk were off fighting. However the three boats involved were forced to take shelter in a storm at the eye of Largy (which looking out the dinning room window you can see below you), on the way to Kilcar, it's said. and some local youngsters fell on them, killing Owen 0' Mal1ey and 120 of his followers, and freeing prisoners. The infamous Granuaile, Grace 0' Malley, escaped with her father in one boat.