Raphoe, County Donegal

One of the earliest settlements in Donegal, Raphoe means Rath Bhoth 'enclosure of huts' possibly an early christian monastic settlement. It gave its name to the first church diocese that embraces most of Donegal. Its formal layout as a market town dates to the Plantation of Ulster. It is thought to be the smallest city in Europe possibly dating to a papal decree in 12th century