 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.5 No.12 January 2005 Holiday In Donegal in 2005 |
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Burtonport Baby is the first of the New Year! Emma Duffy, daughter of Anne Marie and Oscar Duffy, was the first baby born on January 1st, 2005 in Donegal. Weighing in at a healthy 8 pounds in Letterkenny General Hospital, the bonny Emma is a welcome addition to the Duffy family, well known seafarers in the 'Port'. Sult Tá Sult Teoranta, i gcomhar le Gaelchultúr Teoranta, ag tairiscint ranganna Gaeilge do dhaoine fásta ag ceithre leibhéal ón 21 Feabhra 2005 ar aghaidh. 24 uair de ranganna, thar ocht seachtaine, a bheas i gceist. Beidh na ranganna seo ar siúl i gceanncheathrú nua Gaelchultúr i mBarra an Teampaill, i lár chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath. Eolas breise: (085) 707-6182; Sult. Sult Ltd., in conjunction with Gaelchultúr Ltd., will be running Irish language classes for adults at four levels, commencing 21 February 2005. There will be 24 hours of classes, over eight weeks. They will be held in Gaelchultúr’s new headquarters, in the Filmbase building, Temple Bar. Further Information on Sult. National Archives Opened State papers opened under the 'thirty year rule' in the National Archives in Dublin have revealed that there were plans to turn over large tracts of the 6 Counties to the Republic in 1974 after the Sunningdale power-sharing executive collapsed. The archives state that the then British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, also considered complete withdrawal from Ireland and giving the Six Counties dominion status within the Commonwealth. The implications of redrawing the Border were carried out by Irish officials who anticipated the transfer of most of Tyrone, Fermanagh, South Down, South Armagh and Derry to the Republic or redrawing the border along the River Bann. Why the plans were not implemented was not disclosed. Barbre de Brun in Fintown Sinn Féin MEP Barbre de Brun visited local community groups and businesses in County Donegal just before Christmas. The Brussells based Member of the European Parliament was accompanied by Grainne McGeady, the Sinn Féin candidate in the forthcoming Údaras na Gaeltachta elections in April. Údaras is the government agency charged with supporting employment in the Gaeltacht and this is the first time that Sinn Féin has put up a candidate in the Donegal Údaras elections.  Available to Rent in 2005 Mountain View Cottage, Derrylougháin, Gweebarra, Donegal All politics is local The late Speaker of the House of Representatives Irish-American "Tip" O'Neil, whose ancestors hailed from Buncrana, once stated that 'All politics is local'. This famous quotation came to mind after a major abuse of the planning process in Donegal has been revealed by Donegal County Council officials. Local Councillors were told last week that a number of people in rural Donegal who were granted planning permission to build homes for their own use but who then put up these properties for sale. This, of course, comes as little surprise to local residents who have seen rural house prices rise as new housing in sold to holidaymakers. In recent years Councillors have expressed reservations about planning restrictions on the indigenous community but many of these houses have been sold to people from outside Donegal and the resultant ribbon development is very unsightly in many formerly scenic areas. Farmers' Market The Farmers' Market takes place in Mc Ginley‘s Car Park, Pearse Road, Letterkenny on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month. The Market supplies a wide range of farm produce, specialist and organic food and handcrafts. Calling all O'Donnells The O'Donnell Clan Association in conjunction with the Donegal Town Community Chamber are organising an O'Donnell Clan Gathering for July 2005. It will open on the evening of the 2nd of July for a week. A full programme of cultural and social events are being planned. For further information check out O'Donnell Clan. Donegal GAA Banquet The annual Donegal GAA Awards Banquet will take place in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal, on Saturday the 22nd of January. The Ardara Club will receive two awards on the night. Damian Diver will receive the Donegal GAA Player 2004, and the Ardara History Committee will receive the Communications award 2004, for their book on the history of the club, ‘Idir Peil agus Pobil‘. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased from the club secretary, James McHugh. It is hoped to see a good turn-out from the Ardara Club. Parish Pump All politics might even be said to be parochial, as in the case of the unusual row which has broken out between the choir at St. Agatha's Church in Clar, outside Donegal Town, and the local curate Fr Seamus Daggens. The choir have been rationing their talents to a single hymn at Mass since Christmas Day after comments were allegedly made by the curate to the church's organist about the noise in the choir Gallery on Christmas morning. The Clar choir's silent response to the alleged comments reflects the seriousness of the situation but it is hoped that they will all will be singing from the same hymn sheet in the near future! Art classes in Letterkenny Would you like to learn art drawing and oil painting under the guidance of a professional artist? Learn the techniques through still life, figure and studying master pieces. A model is also wanted for figure drawing and painting. If you are interested in drawing or modelling please contact Peadar McDaid at Create-A-Link art studio, Pearse Road, Letterkenny or telephone 074 91 28872 or 086 0554357. Food and Wine Skills A Food and Wine Service Skills Course will commence in Carrigart on January 17th, 2005. Limited places available. Included in the course are aspects of service, cutlery, glassware, silver service and banqueting service. Contact the Resource centre on 074 91-55055 for more information. Lagg Beach Erosion Donegal County Council has no specific plans to carry out remedial measures to prevent the further erosion of the Five Fingers Strand in Lagg and the Bar Mouth of Trabreaga. In response to a question tabled by Councillor Denis McGonagle, the Director of Roads and Transportation, Mr John McLaughlin, reported that a special study on the erosion of the beach by the University of Ulster was 'to allow nature to take its course'. It concluded that the sand will eventually build up again at the dunes of Lagg, one of the most precious dune ranges in Europe. The report considered that there is 'some evidence' that the beach is starting to recover. Historical evidence of shifting sand also points to a 50-60 years cycle. Many locals disagree with the University’s findings of a cycle occuring over a period of years. Meanwhile, what is clearly evident to locals is that the pebble beach continues to accumulate and the erosion continues to push the dunes further back. It is felt that even as a token measure, the Council should repair at once the damage done to the car park and enlarge it considerably for beach walkers. |
 Bluestack Waterfall with Turf Stacks - January, 2005 3 Irish still missing after Asian Earthquake The funeral took place on January 8th of 27 year old Eilis Finnegan, the first known Irish victim of the Asian tsunami. Eilis was a call centre supervisor from Ballyfermot in Dublin and had been holidaying on Phi Phi island with her boyfriend Barry Murphy. Ms Finnegan is so far the only confirmed Irish victim of the diaster and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, who is visiting Thailand, said Irish officials are concentrating on searching for 3 people. About 830 Irish people were in the disaster zone at the time of the earthquake and all but three have have been accounted for. The Irish Government has increased its aid package to the diaster zone to €10m Euro and Irish Aid agencies have reported a huge response from the public who collected money all over Ireland on New year's Eve with 13 million raised nationwide. Donegal people have already collected 1 million Euro. Irish Aid agency GOAL is now calling on the Government to send an Irish army contingent to assist in the aid effort in South Asia.  Gracie Sweeney RIP The death occurred in Perth recently of Mrs Gracie Sweeney who was a native of Loughanure. Aged 98 years, she was known locally as Gracie Eoghan Niall Chaitline and was the last member of that family. She spent a considerable part of her life in Scotland but had resided at Annagry for a number of years until she again returned to Perth. She was a frequent visitor to home and always kept in close touch with family and relatives. Although she had been in indifferent health for some time her passing is much regretted by everyone who knew her at home and abroad. She was predeceased by her husband, Philip Sweeney, a native of Co. Mayo some thirty years ago. Burial took place in Perth on the 5th of January. She is survived by her two sons, Pat (Dublin), John (England), four daughters, Mary Rua (Loughanure), Kathleen (Perth), Ann (Perth), Vivien (Fife), her in-laws, relatives and many friends to whom sympathy is extended. History Group The Creeslough Dunfanaghy History Group will meet in the Workhouse Dunfanaghy on Tuesday 11th January at 8.00pm.  Properties new to the Market on Tirconaill Property.com Rathmullan Charity swim The Charity Swim took place at Rathmullan on New Year‘s Day and was a great success in spite of the terrible weather. Huge numbers turned out and the charities to benefit this year are Donegal Hospice, Our Lady‘s Children‘s Hospital and Lough Swilly Lifeboat. A bucket collection was also taken up at the beach and raised €1,200 in aid of the Tsunami Disaster appeal. Presentations will take place at a later date. Organisers and swimmers would like to thank everyone who sponsored the event for their generosity. Bunbeg native mourned in New Jersey The death of Kathleen McGarvey, which occurred in New Jersey on St Stephen's Day, caused widespread regret in Donegal. Aged seventy two years, she was a native of Meenaduff, Bunbeg. Better known locally as Kathleen Annie Eoghain, she had been ill for some time. Kathleen spent some years working in Scotland before going to live in New Jersey. Although she spent many years in the States, she followed events in Donegal with keen interest. Her remains were brought back to Ireland and she was waked in the residence of her brother, Diarmuid McGarvey in Knockatstolar. Her interment took place to Magheragallon cemetery following Requiem Mass in St. Mary‘s Church, Derrybeg on January 8th. She is survived by her daughter, Anne Martina McGarvey, three bothers, Hughie McGarvey (Carrick), Pádraig (Dublin) and Diarmuid (Knockastolar), two sisters, Anne Savages (USA) and Sadie McGarvey (New York), family circle and friends, to all of whom sympathy is extended. Dungloe Lone Parents meeting If you are a lone parent (male or female) and would like to meet with others in the same situation, Rosses CDP are organising a programme for lone parents. Topics will include: self development, assertiveness, parenting and health and safety in the home. This programme will be held two mornings a week for twelve weeks, childcare allowance will be given. For further information contact 074 956168.  A to Z of the Best Irish Sites Set dancing classes commence in the new hall in Kilmacrennan on Monday, January 10th. An Irish night will be held on Friday, January 14th. Music by the Anvil Céili Band with dancing from 9pm until midnight. |
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