Glebe House and Gallery Travel Guide

Glebe House and Gallery, located near Letterkenny in County Donegal, is a captivating destination for art and history enthusiasts. The centerpiece is Glebe House, originally known as St. Columb's, a Regency-style house built in 1828 as a rectory. In 1954, the English portrait and landscape painter Derek Hill made it his home, living and working there for nearly three decades. Hill transformed the house into a unique showcase of his diverse artistic interests, filling it with William Morris textiles, European and Oriental furniture, and Islamic and Japanese art. The collection includes over 300 works by leading 20th-century artists, including Picasso, Kokoshka, and Irish and Italian masters. In 1981, Hill generously donated the house, its contents, and gardens to the Irish State. Today, visitors can explore Hill's former home, which is displayed in an informal manner, as though Derek Hill were still in residence. His studio and guesthouse have been converted into a modern gallery that hosts changing exhibitions. The gardens surrounding the house are open to the public and offer a tranquil escape with beautiful views of Lough Gartan. Note that Glebe House is currently closed for conservation and is expected to reopen in the summer of 2025.