Visit Carndonagh this holiday season and have a relaxing and fun shopping trip. Here is a great selection of businesses and their products with amazing recommendations for Christmas presents. Our idea is that you don’t have to go far to bring the Christmas magic to your home. Our local businesses have something for everyone’s taste and we invite you to stop by their shops and show your support.
Let’s see some of their Christmas gift recommendations.
The Heel Bar

The Heel Bar Carndonagh is one of 4 shoe repair shops left in the county. Patsy started repairing shoes, at the age of 14 in Carndonagh, and he set up The Heel Bar in 1956 first on Bridge Street and in 1978 moved to the Diamond location it is in still. The shop expanded from shoe repair, into key cutting, school bags, and army surplus. About 25 years ago it began to stock the workwear and safety footwear which is in greater demand now that it ever was.
In 2011 Patsy passed over the running of the shop to his son Kevin and wife Aisling who have been expanding the range as the interests of the customers expand. Wetsuits, body boards, dry robes for the increasing number of sea swimmers. Workwear for boys and girls who want to be just like the big ones in their high vis hoodies and Snickers work trousers. In Summer 2022 the shop doubled in size to house the greater ranges for kids, swimmers, pet owners, workers.

Christmas Gift Ideas from The Heel Bar
For gift buyers this Christmas, the kids workwear, to match their parents, is always a big success. There was one wee boy, who loved the Snickers work trousers that were just like his dads, that he wore them to bed. The kids clothing bundle – hoodie, polo shirt, trousers- are hard wearing, high-vis, and good quality, are available from age 1 up. If you have a gift to buy for someone who is particular about the workwear and shoes that he wears – a voucher from The Heel Bar will let him come into the shop and try it on for themselves in the new fitting rooms.
How to buy from The Heel Bar
If you are looking for something – come into the shop at The Diamond Carndonagh, and see the expanded range.
You can shop online at www.theheelbar.ie, contact us by telephone on 074 937 4699, email kevin@theheelbar.ie or message us on facebook/theheelbarcarndonagh.
Inish Beauty and Laser Clinic

Having always been interested in beauty and skincare, 15 years ago Claire McElhinney left her technology job in Dublin to get an Internationally recognised qualification in beauty therapy and set up Inish Beauty and Laser Clinic in Carndonagh.
As well as investing in the highest qualifications, she also invested in high-spec specialist equipment for laser treatments and hair removal. The equipment and expertise Claire offers for laser treatments are of an international standard, right here in Carndonagh. As well as permanent hair removal, Inish Beauty’s laser services provide relief for skin conditions that many people of all ages and sexes suffer from, particularly in the North of Ireland. The harsh weather conditions of North Donegal, wind and rain, is tough on the skin, particularly for people working outside or very active.
Over the years of business Claire has successfully treated clients with severe rosacea and sensitive skin conditions. She takes pride in following clients through their treatment, ensuring that they see an improvement in skin complaints. Claire says she loves her job because she knows people leave her clinic happier in themselves.

Christmas Gift Ideas from Inish Beauty and Laser Clinic
This Christmas if you have a special present to buy a voucher from Inish Beauty and Laser Clinic can be used for a range of beauty treatments from tan, make-up and nails. It can also go towards a specialist skincare treatment that can be decided on between Claire and the recipient. Or if you want to give the gift of luxury skincare products, Claire offers on the spot consultations for the range of high-quality skincare in stock.
How to buy from Inish Beauty and Laser Clinic
To order treatments, products or vouchers you can come to the salon Unit 2, Malin Street, Carndonagh, call Claire on (074) 937 3917, email claire_mcelhinney@hotmail.com, or contact through Facebook – Inish Beauty and Laser Clinic.
Shoe and Sport Store

The range in the Shoe and Sports Store will kit out customers for sport- the latest kits for football and Gaelic, and sporting accessories from footballs, mouthguards, as well as equipment for more niche sports like swimming and darts. The Shoe and Sports Store is also where clubs and leagues come to get their trophy and medals engraved. Aisling has 18 years’ experience in engraving the big wins of clubs throughout Inishowen from working in the shop.

Christmas Gift Ideas from the Shoe and Sport Store
The big suppliers now are O’Neills for the latest Donegal kits, as well as stocking quality brands of sports footwear including Asics, Joma, Sketchers, and Merrell. As well as sports shoes they are a family footwear shop – from school shoes, men’s and women’s fashion shoes, and slippers. As customers can try on shoes and benefit from the experience of Christy and his team, a voucher for the shop is an excellent way of ensuring your gift will get the recipient a perfect fit. Or as the cold weather hits Donegal this December, come into the shop and see the new range of warm hats, your sports fan will thank you for when on the pitch or side-lines this winter.
How to buy from the Shoe and Sport Store
Christy is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm in The Diamond. They don’t even close for lunch. Call in to see the new Donegal kit in stock or pick up another gift or voucher. Or you can phone and chat to shop on (074) 937 4282, see their stock on their Facebook page and contact them through Facebook messenger or shoeandsport@gmail.com.
TR Fitness

The newly equipped gym has a cardio area with treadmills, a stairmaster, upright bikes, rowers, a large range of spin bikes, skiergs, an airbike, prowlers and battle ropes. A wide range of strength equipment including multiple racks, two cable machines, deadlift platforms, leg press machines, lat pulldown, 940kg of weighted plates, and 1kg-40kg dumbbells.

Treasa and Ronan’s sporting achievements have led them to work with the top professionals in the health and fitness industry. They have seen the positive benefits on general health and sports performance of nutrition, strength and conditioning. They have enhanced their understanding through continual courses in the latest health and fitness knowledge, and bring this to their gym members in Carndonagh through group classes, personal training, team and sport performance, and nutrition programmes. The members of TR Fitness are a massive part of their motivation in work, making the gym more of a community than a business. Treasa and Ronan are grateful for the group of people that they work with on a daily basis.
Christmas Gift Ideas from TR Fitness
Give the gift of health this Christmas. A voucher from TR Fitness can be used towards gym membership, personal training, or fitness classes. Or if your fitness fan wants to update their gym gear for 2023 TR Fitness have a range of branded leisure wear and gym clothes on sale.
How to buy from TR Fitness
TR Fitness is open 7 days a week in the Diamond Carndonagh. You are welcome to call in for vouchers, clothing, or advice on fitness programmes for yourself or your loved ones. You can contact TR Fitness by phone on 0866624412, email: trfitnesscarndonagh@yahoo.com, or through Facebook and Instagram social media @trfitnesscarndonagh.
Plenty of great ideas for Christmas presents in Carndonagh