[1] Evidence of early settlement in the area is given by the many dolmens, standing stones and earthen ringforts dating from the Bronze Age.

Glenties was a regular stopping point on the road between the established towns of Ballybofey and Killybegs, and grew from this in the 17th and 18th centuries.

[3] A workhouse was built, in 1846 during the Great Famine, at the site of the current comprehensive school, serving the greater Inniskeel area.

[citation needed] The landlord, the Marquis of Conyngham, decided to halve the population of the town in 1847, faced with the rising costs of the workhouse.

On 29 June 1921, the Irish Republican Army ambushed a group of Black and Tans who were on their way to Ardara at Kilraine, resulting in the death of a Constable Devine.

In January 1944, a British RAF Sunderland Mark III flying boat crashed in the Croaghs area of the Bluestack Mountains, outside of Glenties, killing seven of its 12-man crew.

[3] Brendan Behan spent more than two months with his wife on holiday in Glenties, starting in the third week of May 1960, and staying at the Highlands Hotel.

[4] The case was dismissed when it was explained that the event had been taking place in a private room where Behan was doing "some of his literary work".

[4] Other events, documented by the Donegal Democrat, included Behan attending an Irish Countrywomen's Association dance and he and his wife being "guest artistes" at a meeting of the Ardara and Glenties branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.

[citation needed] A memorial to the 'Navvy Poet', Patrick MacGill, who was born in Glenties, is located on the bridge over the river in the centre of town.

St. Connell's Museum and Heritage Center houses a collection of local history artefacts, including some from the famine era.

[citation needed] The local Gaelic games club – Naomh Conaill – fields teams at all age levels, playing football predominantly.