 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon Vol.10 No.11 November, 2009 Holiday In Donegal! |
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Controversial High Voltage Line Given Green Light An Bord Pleanála (the Planning Board) has given approval for the development of a controversial overhead power line in Donegal in spite of strong local objection. The proposed 102km line would cross pristine landscape in the Donegal Gaeltacht and pose a danger to human and animal health as well as destroying our infant tourism industry. The Alternatives To Pylons group, which represents hundreds of landowners in Donegal, says the 102km line would create major environmental damage which could be avoided if the line was installed underground. They maintain the line is not to supplement the energy needs of the county but to facilitate wind farm developers who should be paying to underground the high voltage line. The Alternatives To Pylons group argue that these wind farm developers, having exhausted their credit with the banks, are now turning from the construction industry to the energy industry for profit. Donegal already has more wind turbines than any other Irish county and is producing 225 Megawatts of wind energy with many more wind farms in the planning stage. That is ten times the amount of turbines in Wicklow or Mayo, for instance and the landscape just cannot sustain any more turbines or pylons, the environmental group argues. Cross Border Shopping The number of people crossing the border into Northern Ireland to shop is up 25% per cent on the end of last year. Some 250,000 households in the Republic are now regularily shopping for groceries in the 6 counties and there has also been a major increase in the numbers crossing the border to buy alcohol with Off-licence sales in the north having risen by 30% per cent this year. Cross-Border shopping will cost the Republic's economy over €810 million this year, it is estimated, compared to €640 million last year. Savings of up to 70% can be made on many groceries by shopping in the north and Donegal's shopping centres are empty as a result with many local shops closing down. Buncrana Musical St Mary’s Hall, Buncrana, in association with Greasepaint Productions, proudly presents 'The Wizard of Oz' from Tuesday 10th November until Saturday 21st November, 2009. Evening performances at 8pm. Matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2.30pm. No performance Friday or Sunday evenings. Box office open daily 12.00-2.00pm and 5.00-7.00pm (except Sundays). Telephone 086 2072496 or 086 2072497. Donegal Greens Leave National Patry Members of the Donegal Green Party have voted to disassociate from the official Green Party. At an Emergency General Meeting in Letterkenny Donegal Green party members voted to re-establish themselves as an independent Green Party by a majority of 91% per cent. The new Independent Green Party now intend to set up a regional council to cover the Western region. The breakaway group is led by former councillor Frank Gallagher, who said the group was the 'legitimate' source of the Green movement in the county. Former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna described the Donegal Greens' decision to cut away from the national party as providing 'new hope' to members in other parts of the country who feel 'bitterly betrayed' by the national party's alliance with Fianna Fáil.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal 34 Jobs Lost in Laghey Doolittles, a successful sandwich company based in Laghey outside Donegal Town, has gone into liquidation with the loss of 34 jobs. Doolittles was founded by Jennie Timony who was shortlisted for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2007. In five years Doolittles grew from a small coffee shop to a nationwide distributor of home-made quality convenience foods. Local shop owner, Ernan McGettigan, said he was shocked and devastated by the news. 'This is yet another sad blow to Donegal Town' he said. Ballybofey Stranorlar By-Pass Rejected The proposed 15km dual carriageway Ballybofey Stranorlar by-pass has been rejected by An Bord Pleanála in spite of the fact that a by-pass is badly needed as almost 20,000 cars pass through the twin towns each day. The project was the subject of an oral hearing in June, 2008 when the route design was objected to by many residents along the route. The Board noted that the Inspector's recommended to allow the project proceed but Donegal County council would have had to provide additional measures, all of which would be outside the scheme and not included in the Environmental Impact Statement or the Compulsory Purchase Order as originally presented to the Board in 2007. Fintown Water on Boil Notice Fintown is one of the wettest places in Donegal but the local residents have been put on notice from the county council not to drink the water unless it is boiled first. The water quality in Fintown has been a problem for many years as cattle and sheep are grazing near the resevoir at Lough Muc and the pipes are antequated. EColi and high levels of aluminium are found in the water supply and even though a new filtration system was introduced in recent years it has failed to retify the problem. Donegal County Council issued a statement that, in the interest of public health, water must be boiled before consumption and all water for use in preparation of drinks made with water, food preparation (especially vegetables to be eaten uncooked) should also be boiled, likewise boiled water should be used for making ice and for brushing teeth. The Council also stressed that care must be taken when bathing small children to ensure that they do not ingest the water. Donegal County Council say they will continue to monitor the water supply and will keep the public informed through radio and written notices but that no money is available for a new water system in the area.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff Online since 1997! Butt Drama Circle The Butt Drama Circle is running the Secondary Schools Drama Festival on Tuesday November 3rd and Wednesday November 4th in the Balor Arts Centre. Schools taking part are from Milford, Ballyshannon, Falcarragh, Raphoe, Ballyshannon and Gweedore. The festival begins at 8pm nightly with the adjudication and prizegiving on the Wednesday. Burglaries on Increase The number of burglaries in Donegal has risen by 22% per cent in the last year according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office. The statistics show the increase in burglaries in Donegal is lower than the national figure which has risen 26% per cent since this time last year. Theft is also on the rise, increasing by 24% per cent from the same period last year. However, assaults have fallen by 35% per cent from 198 to 127 and public order offences have decreased 23% per cent from 720 to 552. Assaults causing harm have dropped from 41 to 37 and disorderly conduct is down by 24% per cent in the County. Balor Theatre, Ballybofey On November 8th, Ballybofey native Chantal McCormick brings her aerial dance troupe Fidget Feet home to the Balor Theatre. Choreographed by Fred Deb from Drapés Aériens, 'Madame Silk' is a remarkable combination of artistic disciplines existing at the crossroads of aerial dance, contemporary circus, dance, music and video. The show features three fantastic female aerial dancers who evolve in a universe of veils and drapes, creating a sensual atmosphere that gives birth to remarkable aerial choreography performed to eclectic music composed and mixed by Jym Daly. Madam Silk flows seamlessly through each scene using different aerial apparatus that have been invented by both companies using fabric in as many different ways. The show concludes with an aerial trio using aerial trousers - a new invention by Fred Deb’. Tickets are €10 and €15 and can be bought online at Balor Theatre.  3 Bedroom, 2 Reception Rooms & Sea Views at Ballyhiernan, Fanad Buy Your Home in Donegal at Tírconaill Property.com Sinn Féin Call for REPS to be reinstated Senator Pearse Doherty says that thousands of Donegal farmers are struggling to cope following cuts in the REPS scheme. Speaking in the Seanad Senator Doherty has called on the Minister for Agriculture to show compassion to the 2,233 Donegal farmers who have been shut out from the REPS 4 scheme. Senator Doherty said: 'Agriculture is the key to this economy and is the lifeline for many rural communities. However last year’s budget cuts on agriculture have left many family farms struggling for survival'. Closure of schemes such as Installation Aid, Disadvantaged Areas Grant; Suckler Support and the Early Retirement Scheme has left question marks over the future of the industry. Donegal has taken the brunt of these cuts and the closure of REPS 4 means that of the 7,900 farmers in Donegal 2,233 will be excluded from future payments. They are quite literally being forced out of business'. Turf-Cutting DVD for Charity A Carndonagh charity DVD showing traditional turf-cutting skills in the hills of Inishowen has sold out twice and is now into its third edition with all the proceeds from sales going to the Alzheimer's Unit in Carndonagh Hospital. Members of the McFarland family - Larry, Gerry, Niall and Leo - joined forces with Joseph McElhinney and Harry McDaid to produce this authentic record of an ancient craft for future generations. The film follows the entire process of preparing turf, from 'paring', which is removing the sod above the bank, to cutting, footing and bringing the turf back to keep the home fires burning during the long winter months. Those who've braved the bog in fine weather and foul over the years will no doubt appreciate this tribute to the hard work of our ancestors and generations past. The DVD shows exactly, in every detail, how turf was cut in 1964, from the bikes the men rode out to the bog, to their peaked caps and wellington boots to the old kettle used to make tea on a turf fire in the bog. If you would like to purchase the DVD call Larry McFarland on (00353) 086 894 8241 or email The McFarlands. The DVD costs €12 euro plus €5 postage (Ireland and Europe) or $20 (including postage) to the United States. DonegalCounty.com News This is the 107th Donegal on the Net Newsletter. The Newsletter is now online for eleven years and is one of the most popular County 'blogs' in Ireland with over a million hits a year. If you would like to advertise here email Donegal County.com. You can hear the Donegal news live in Pennslyvannia on Echoes of Erin radio show on Sundays from 1.00-2.30pm EST. Listeners in Brisbane, Australia can catch the Donegal on the Net News on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Caomhín O'Seoige's Irish show on 4EB 98.1 FM. In Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio on 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30am to 9.00am local time. |
 Dominic MacGiolla Bhride from Derrybeg who won the prestigious Corn Uí Riada at the Oireachtas in Letterkenny on October 31st, 2009 Amhráin Chonallacha i Ghaoth Dobhair Beidh ceardlann amhránaíochta ar an sean-nós ar siúl i gceartlár Gaoth Dobhair ar an 28ú - 31ú Nollaig 2009 óna a 10 go dtí a 1 chlog ag Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy. Is é Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde as an Charraig i nGaoth Dobhair a bheas ag teagasc amhrán sean-nóis i nGaeilge. Thug Doimnic ceardlann amhránaíochta don Scoil Shamhraidh Liatroma agus fuair sé le Corn Uí Riada d'Oireachtas 2009. Is iad amhráin as Tír Chonaill a bheas Doimnic ag múineadh i Gaoth Dobhair. Call for Swan Collection to be returned to Buncrana The Deputy Mayor of Buncrana, Cllr Peter McLaughlin, has called for historic artefacts in the National Museum to be returned to Inishowen. The artefacts were part of the Harry Percival Swan Collection and the councillor wants them returned to the peninsula to boost tourism in the region. He said the Swan collection could be housed in the new Artlink Gallery in Buncrana and that the Gallery is currently looking at the possibility of acquiring a building or site in the town for this purpose. Harry Percival Swan wrote many books about Donegal and Swan Park on the Crana River is named after him as he lived therein at ‘Ardeelan House’. The Swan family, it is said, were the first to bring electricity to Buncrana in 1923. In 1978 five megalithic bronze axes from his collection were brought to the National Museum of Ireland. However the axes were originally found in County Dublin and in County Carlow. Judith McCarthy, Donegal County Museum Curator, says that the National Museum carry out a rigorous process of assessment to ensure a building adheres to a number of curating and conservation requirements before they allow a collection to be held there.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal and it's History Údarás Board Expenses come under Scrutiny Following the publication of the expenses claimed by Donegal politicians (see Donegal on the Net News 105) comes the publication of the expenses claimed by the five Donegal Board members of Údarás na Gaeltachta who have claimed more than €500,000 euro in four years. Members of the Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta receive an annual fee of €14,000 while the Chairman gets an annual fee of €24,000. This is in addition to their travel expenses. The Údarás Chair, Liam Ó Cuinneagáin, also Director of Oideas Gael, has claimed over €155,000 in fees and expenses since 2005. Fianna Fáil Councillor David Alcorn received almost €120,000 over the past four years, including expenses of €61,000. This is in addition to his County Council wages and expenses and his state pension from his previous employment in Donegal County Council. Fianna Fail Senator Brian O'Domhnaill received €115,000 including expenses of €56,000 while Independent Councillor Pádraig O'Dochartaigh got €105,000 including €55,000 expenses and Sinn Fein's Gráinne Mhic Géidigh received €88,000, including €30,220 in expenses. Ms Mhic Géidigh said 'It's not morally right that Board members are doing two or three jobs while there are more than 20,000 people unemployed in Donegal at present'. An Grianán Theatre's 10th Anniversary An Grianán Theatre celebrates its tenth birthday on Thursday November 12th with a performance of Druid's magnificient The Gigli Concert. The performance will be preceeded by a pre-show champagne reception at 7pm featuring special guest speakers Garry Hynes, Druid Theatre's Tony award winning artistic director, and County Manager Michael McLoone. The performance will be followed by a finger buffet and live music in the foyer from the Triona Sweeney Jazz Trio. Emigration Once Again Fine Gael Deputy Dinny McGinley is alarmed at the rise in emigration from Donegal which is at its highest in a decade. Recent figures released from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) has revealed that since 1995 more people left Ireland than moved here. The number of emigrants from Ireland in the year to April is estimated to have grown by over 40%, from 45,300 to 65,100. Deputy Dinny McGinley says that the figures have come as no surprise to him with more people contacting his office in search of Visas and work permits than there had been in ten years. 'The tide has been reversed and these figures are just another indication of the serious economic situation we find ourselves in. Many of those who are unemployed have no other recourse but to emigrate to seek work elsewhere', Deputy McGinley said. An Gailearaí, Falcarragh An Gailearaí, Falcarragh are presenting the second instalment of their auspicious Dinnseanchas project with contemporary artists Bernadette Cotter and renowned Irish poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill. Entitled 'Dinnseanchas II - Placelore II' the exhibition contains work by Nuala and Bernadette who selected the Dinnseanchas ‘Cnoc Áine’ and developed an extraordinary multi media and multi disciplinary exhibition around ‘Snaithín Áine’, or Áine’s Thread’. Included in the show is a newly commissioned poem by Nuala and beautifully accomplished drawings by Bernadette as well as installation work. A commissioned DVD documenting the entire project will also be screened as well as recordings of 10 local Dinnseanchas and a short film entitled ‘Tobar Cnapastún’ developed by Ciaran Fogarty. The exhibition is free and everyone is welcome to attend. The project was generously funded and supported by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, The Arts Council of Ireland, Donegal County Council, Donegal VEC, Oideas Gael and The Áislann Kilcar. This exhibition runs from Saturday 31st October to Saturday 12th December, 2009. An Gailearaí’s opening hours are Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, and Saturday 1pm – 5pm; or by appointment. Roghnaigh Nuala agus Bernadette Dinnseanchas ‘Cnoc Áine’ agus rinne siad forbairt ar an taispeántas ilmheán agus ildisciplín, ‘Snáithín Áine’, a cuireadh ar taispeáint sa Ghailearaí i mí Dheireadh Fómhair, 2009. Bhí an togra seo maoinithe ag Ealaín na Gaeltachta, An Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Comhairle Chontae Dhún na nGall. Ba é Danny McCafferty a rinne an eagarthóireacht dheiridh scannánaíochta agus fuaime ar an ábhar digiteach a bhí in éineacht leis an taispeántas, bunaithe ar phíosaí scannáin a rinne Ciarán Fogarty. Ba é Gailearaí na gCroisbhealaí, An Fál Carrach, Co Dhún na nGall, a rinne coimisiniú, comhordú agus riarachán ar an togra seo. An taispeántas seo ar siúl ón Dé Sathairn 31. Deireadh Fómhair go dtí 19. Nollag 2009. Bíonn An Gailearaí oscailte Dé Mairt – Dé hAoine, ón 10 r.n. go dtí 5 i.n., agus Dé Sathairn ón 1 i.n. go dtí an 5 i.n. nó ceaptha go speisialta. Teagmháil; Teil/facs: 074 9165594. Death of Well Known Irish Canadian The death has occured in Ottawa of John Ward aged 82. John was a native of Ballyshannon and one time editor of the famous Donegal Vindicator newspaper. John emigrated to Canada in the late 1950's where he worked in the newspaper business. However he continued to keep a watchful eye on his native County and wrote many articles about the history of Donegal. John Ward was a champion of the environment and long lamented the building of the hydro power dam on the Falls of Assaroe. He embraced new technology and his Vindicator website was one of the first websites to contain information on Donegal folklore and history. It is a fitting tribute to the man. He is survived by his wife Betty, daughters Geraldine and Catherine and grandson Brandon. Ní bhéidh a leithéid aris ann.  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide Shell to Sea Update An Bord Pleanala have announced a deferrel of the decision on the Corrib Gas onshore Pipeline, citing 14 conditions which cast huge doubt over claims from Shell that the project is safe. In the third delay on the decision regarding this pipeline, which was originally due on August 10th, the Bord have highlighted hugely important safety concerns which are at the heart of the community's objections to the imposition of the Corrib Gas Project on the area. An Bord Pleanala stated that the documentation provided by Shell 'does not present a complete, transparent and adequate demonstration that the pipeline does not provide an unacceptable risk to the public'. Some of the glaring inadequecies pointed out by An Bord Pleanala include: Shell omitted details on the start of the onshore pipeline, which has the highest pressure -345bar; A totally new Quantatative Risk Assessment required, that shows the risk at the different locations and operating conditions along the route; Incomplete information on 'building burn distances' and 'escape distances'; No assessment of the 'societal risk' to people at Glengad has been carried out. The Bord also highlighted the fact that 'Major hazard pipelines' (transporting wet gas) have not been properly legislated for in this country, and they therefore stated that UK standards relating to comparable pipelines should be used. Shell to Sea spokesperson Maura Harrington said: 'What An Bord Pleanala have really shown today is that the Corrib Gas pipeline is not safe to be routed through our community, or indeed any residential area. Shell have consistently shown their inability and unwillingness to make this project safe – what it needs is a total overhaul, with real consideration given to the genuine problems with the project raised by campaigners'. She added: 'While we appreciate that An Bord Pleanala are under huge pressure from the government and Shell to allow this, they should not be making pre-emptive statements about supporting the project if Shell address safety concerns. This compromises their position in implying that if a project is submitted as Strategic Infrastructure, it will be pushed through regardless of the severe danger it poses to peoples lives. Ireland's real strategic interest would be in regaining control of our natural resources.' For more information see Shell to Sea.  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