 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News News Vol.8 No.8 August, 2007 Holiday In Donegal! |
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Operation Banner ends The longest continuous campaign in the British Army’s history, ended at midnight on July 31st, 2007 after 38 years. The military operation required 300,000 personnel, 763 of of whom were killed during the campaign. A garrison of 5,000 British troops will remain as compared with 30,000 duing the late 1970's. This new found peace should bring dividends to Donegal, long ignored by the Dublin administration. People now live in Donegal and work in Derry and vice versa but the fact that different currencies and different jurisdictions still exist causes economic disadvantages to both counties. It still costs more for a person in Donegal to telephone Derry than it does a Cork person to telephone their neighbouring county of Waterford. Petrol and property is cheaper in Donegal than in Derry where Donegal people must change their currency to shop while holiday makers from Derry and Belfast gain a 30% per cent advantage when converting their Sterling to Euro in Donegal. Such disparate economic factors between the two counties continue to mean economic disadvantage for the region as a whole, just as they did in 1969, when British troops first arrived on the streets of Northern Ireland.  New Anthology on Donegal 'Donegal, The Making of an Northern County', edited by Jim McLaughlin has just been published by Four Courts Press. This anthology, the first of its kind on Donegal, uses extracts from a wide variety of sources, to examine social and geographical change in Donegal over the past five centuries. Combining the approaches of the literary anthologist with that of the historian and social geographer, Jim Mac Laughlin focuses on changes in community life and material culture in Donegal from the pre-colonial period to the late 20th century. The book presents extracts from historical records, travel literature, literary sources, biographies and autobiographies, official documents, political pamphlets and reports of government officials. It places the interpretations of academics alongside the observations of local historians, antiquarians, travellers, government officials, poets and writers, making this book an invaluable contribution to the canon of literature on Donegal. A must for anyone with even a passing interest in the County. Imbibed with character this anthology could only have been compiled by a native! The editor, Jim Mac Laughlin, hails from Moville. He is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography, University College, Cork and the author of a number of important works on social geograpgy in Ireland. Just click here to order 'Donegal, The Making of an Northern County'.  Click Here for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide English wil now be taught in Gaelscoileanna Education Minister Mary Hanafin has announced that Gaelscoileanna in the Republic that have traditionally taught English after junior infants will have to introduce English in the first year of school for at least 30 minutes a day. The Minister has stated that this policy must be introduced from September, drawing an angry response from many Irish language organisations, including Forás na Gaeilge and Gaelscoileanna which represents the 160-plus non-Gaeltacht all-Irish primary schools. The same rule, however, will apply to English-speaking schools, where all children will be taught Irish from the earliest stage possible. A new Gaelcholaiste will be opening in Buncrana on 27th August, 2007. Gaelcholaiste will welcome students from all schools in Inishowen and Derry. For further details please contact Mary Ann Kane, Education Officer at Donegal Vocation Education Centre on 074 9161600 or Caitriona on 074 9363736. Mary from Dungloe Celebrates 40th Birthday The Mary from Dungloe Festival this year celebrates its 40th anniversary in the Rosses. This year's Festival takes place from July 28th to August 6th with outdoor events, activities and street music. For schedule see Mary from Dungloe. Dunfanaghy August Fair Festival Week begins on Sunday the 29th July with Sheepdog Trials and Sheep Judging at 9.30am in John Joe McGinley's Field opposite the New Lake in Dunfanaghy. Monday July 30th sees a Beetle Drive in the Church Hall at 8pm. Monday the 6th August is the Annual Fair Day in Charlie's Field on the Hornhead Road, Dunfanaghy. The Prize Giving and Raffle Draw will be held in Arnold's Hotel at 10pm with music by James & Edward. The Ballybofey and Stranorlar Chamber of Commerce have announced that the Twin Towns Mid-Summer Festival will take place from the 17th to 19th August. Anyone who would like to help out, or would like to organize any event, please contact the Chamber office on 074 9132377. The Save Tara Campaign Continues The chairperson of the influential EU Petitions Committee has written to Environment Minister John Gormley calling for a halt to all construction work in the disputed Tara/Skryne Valley area. The letter states that: 'urgent action is needed to halt existing works in this area and to review the routing of this section of the M3 motorway.' The letter from Marcin Libicki, Chairman of the Committee on Petitions, confirms previous correspondence with Minister Gormley where the EU indicated that continuing works on the M3 were illegal under EU law governing the need for Environmental Impact Assessments. The Campaign to Save Tara has repeated its call for all work to be halted on the proposed M3 Motorway through the Tara/Skryne Valley. The seven environmental and heritage activists arrested in July appeared in Navan District Court and were released on bail to appear again on September 5th. The Save Tara grouping has reiterated that it's Campaign of disruption and delay will continue until the road is re-routed out of the Tara landscape. The EU argues that under the law of discovery the Lismullen National monument constitutes a 'material alteration' from the circumstances of the initial EIA. The Campaign is calling on Ministers Gormley and Dempsey to respect European Law and to cease all work within the Valley until the European Court of Justice has ruled on this issue. Michael Canney, spokesperson for the Campaign said: 'The removal or altering of a National Monument not previously subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment is illegal under European Law, and indeed the whole route selection process is flawed. In fact, all the discoveries along the proposed route indicate that the Tara landscape is an integrated complex and constitutes a National Monument in its own right. All of this has brought shame and disgrace on the Irish nation. Democracy, never mind heritage, is diminished by this affair and the wishes of both the Irish people and the dictates of the EU have been disregarded. This is another wake up call for the Irish Government.' Mr. Canney added.  Turfstack & Mt Errigal by JJ Gallagher © New Photographic Website Gweebarra based photographer Johnny Gallagher has launched a new website of landscape photographs of Donegal. See jjimages.net. Foot and Mouth alert Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture, and Irish farmers are on high alert after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed in Britain. The case near Guildford in Surrey is the first since the 2001 outbreak which spread from Britain to Northern Ireland and into the Republic at a cost of over €200m to the Irish economy. Minister Coughlan said her officials have already met to agree appropriate restrictions and would draw on the experience of the 2001 outbreak. Irish ports, airports, gardai, defence forces and the civil defence have been put on alert.   Holiday Accommodation in Donegal |
 First Minister Ian Paisley & his Deputy Martin McGuinness share a joke at Stormont Donegal Nurses win Case at Labour Court THE Labour Court has recommended that the Health Service Executive (HSE West) should fund the provision of eight additional public health nurses in Donegal. The Irish Nurses' Organisation (INO) have been arguing the case since 2004 but only one additional full-time post has been created and that is specifically to deal with the needs of assylum seekers. Two further full-time positions have been approved for 2007. The INO stated that the 2004 service plan said that eight additional public health nurses, two extra assistant directors of public health nursing, and 14 whole-time equivalent clerical officers were required for the service in the county. The INO also pointed out that the workload of public health nurses has increased greatly as a result of the 10% population rise in Donegal in recent years. Letterkenny General Hospital has been ranked 42nd in an online survey conducted by Irish Health.com. The survey polled over 8,000 patients and placed Letterkenny General only nine places from the bottom of the league, showing no improvement since the website's 2006 survey.  Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff - Ten Years Online! New air routes from Carrickfinn Airport Ray McSharry, the chairman of Failte Ireland North West, has suggested that new air routes into Donegal will soon be announced. Addressing members of Donegal Co. Council he revealed that talks have taken place with Aer Lingus on increasing flights to the north-west. He also revealed that talks to establish new routes between Sligo and Donegal and England and Scotland have been taking place. He suggested that Donegal can also benefit from increased traffic going through Belfast International Airport. Inishowen Boxer competes in Commonwealth Games Illies boxer William McLaughlin becomes the first ever Inishowen fighter to compete in the Commonwealth championships. He is 21 and is the current Ulster Senior Champion. He leaves for Liverpool on Sunday August 5th as part of a seven strong squad that will take on elite fighters from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Africa in the six-day event.  African Curly Weed (Lagarosiphon major) Dangerous water weed reaches Donegal A specimen of African Curly Weed (Lagarosiphon major) was recently identified in a sample taken from a garden pond in Fahan and is the first documented case of the weed in the county. Dr Joe Caffrey, a Senior Scientific Officer with the Central Fisheries Board, wants to hear from anyone who sees the water weed in Donegal so his team can trace how widespread it is in the county. Lagarosiphon major grows in dense strands and impedes boat movement by becoming caught on propellors and swimmers should avoid an area in which the weed is growing. Research student Julia Feliz from Glenveagh National Park recorded the find in Fahan. She says the only way to get rid of this plant is to pull it out as completely as possible and to compost the remains since it is such a high risk invasive. Among the methods tested to kill the weed were cutting, light exclusion and hand picking of the plant by divers. A special weed cutting boat was developed to cut the plant and rupture the roots. This weed reproduces asexually, so it will just regenerate if parts are left behind or broken off. If you would like more information or more on how to get rid of it, you can email Dr. Caffrey or tel. 0876468609. Donegal News on Air News from Ireland can be heard in Pennslyvannia on 'Echoes of Erin' WEDO 810FM on Sundays from 1.00-2.00pm and online at Echoes of Erin. The show is running for 19 years and is hosted by Diane Byrnes, former Grand Marshal of the Pittsburgh St Patrick's Day Parade and the doyen of everything Irish in Pittsburgh. If you want your Irish Goods or Services to reach the Pittsburgh Irish then advertise on 'Echoes of Erin' by emailing Diane Byrnes. If you are in Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30 to 9.00am local time (see Sydney Irish Radio) while Brisbane listeners can catch Kevin O'Seoige's Irish show on 4EB 98.1 FM with Patricia Sharkey's 'View from the Hills' on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm. Donegal Buildings Listed for Protection A total of 133 structures, including houses and churches have been nominated by the Council as 'protected structures' throughout the county. The Record Of Protected Structures has been expanded in response to calls from the public over the last three years. The majority of properties selected have been put forward by the owners and others have been nominated by local people. In the Glenties Electoral area a number of derelict traditional cottages and outhouses have been nominated as well as the Glebe House at Lettermacaward. Cottages in the Isle of Doagh, Culdaff and Carndonagh have also been selected. The list of proposed structures will be available for inspection for six weeks and anyone can make submissions to Donegal County Council. Ardara Musical Evenings The Nesbitt Arms are presenting an evening of music by the O'Rourke family, who are getting together for a once-off performance on August 7th. The programme includes the hugely popular Ceide Boys (Michael O'Rourke and Patsy O'Neill) who will launch their new CD 'New York Sessions', a night not to be missed. Ceili and set dancing continues every Monday night in the Heritage Centre from 10 pm till 12 midnight, with Clement Gallagher. Tea is served during the evening.  Eco-Friendly Beauty Products direct from Ireland Marching Bands A total of seven marching bands took part in the Burtonport Festival: the Rosses Pipe band; the Keadue band; the 'old' Crickamore band; the Mullaghduff band; the Crickamore band; the Fanad accordion band and the St. Catherine's band. All the bands marched from the crossroads down to the port before going through their routines. This was St. Catherine's band's (Killybegs) second visit to the Rosses in recent years. Previously they competed against St. Cróna's junior band (Dungloe) in the junior section of the Easter Sunday competitions in Dungloe. This year the results were as follows: Pipe Section, The Rosses Pipe Band; Accordion Section, The Fanad Accordion Band with 177 marks; Senior Fife and Drum (flute) Bands; 1st, Mullaghduff Band, 182 marks; 2nd, Crickamore Band, 173 points; Junior Section, 1st, St. Catherine's Band, Killybegs and 'old' bands; 1st (tie), Keadue Band and the 'old' Crickamore Band. Once again Noreen Boyle led the Mullaghduff band to success; Emma Boyle and Charlie Greene were the Crickamore bands leaders. Christine Wallace (Connors) led the Rosses Pipe band, while the Keadue band was led by Pat Anthony Ward who also led the band on the big night for Margo in St. Mary's Hall, Kincasslagh. Donegal's Best Eateries In this year's Bridgestone Food Guide there are 20 entries for County Donegal, but only two have been described as 'Hot Places', namely Aroma in the Donegal Craft Village in Donegal Town and Filligan's Preserves in Glenties. Aroma cafe and bakery are owned by Tom Dooley & Arturo de Alba, and is 'one of the cult successes in Ireland', according to the Bridgestone Food Guide. Filligan's Preserves in Glenties, owned by artist Philip Moss and his partner Sarah Moss, also made it in the Guide as a 'Hot Place'. Other eateries in Donegal to make it into the guide are: The Green Gate (B&B), Ardara; The West End Café, Ardara; Harry's Restaurant, Bridgend; The Beach House Bar & Restaurant, Buncrana; Inis Wines, Burtonport; The Lobster Pot, Burtonport; McGrory's (restaurant & bar), Culdaff; Donegal Farmers' Market; Simple Simon Natural Foods, Donegal; The Mill Restaurant, Dunfanaghy; Castle Murray House, Dunkineely; Thomas Becht (biodynamic grower), Glenties; Kealy's Seafood Bar, Greencastle; Coxtown Manor (restaurant & accommodation), Laghey; McGee's Butcher's, Letterkenny; An Bonnan Bui (restaurant), Rathmullan, and Rathmullan House (country house), Rathmullan. Dunfanaghy Charity Dance A Charity Draw and Dance in aid of the Donegal Hospice will be held on August 15th in the Ozanam Community Centre, Dunfanaghy. The event will feature local artists followed by a Dance with Mick Flavin and his band. Donegal Person of the Year Margo O'Donnell will officiate. Tickets are priced €15 Euro and doors open at 8pm. |
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