 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.9 No.8, August/Lúnasa Holiday In Donegal! |
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Donegal's Olympians Finn Valley AC Club founder, Patsy McGonagle, will manage the Irish Olympic Squad in Beijing where he will be joined by fellow Donegal atheletes - Raphoe badminton player, Chloe Magee and Letterkenny cyclist, Philip Deignan. The Irish team has been in Beijing since July 27th and medal hopes are high for Chloe, the Irish national badminton champion since 2006. Festivals & Fleadhs There will be live traditional music in an Tsean Bheairic, Falcarragh every wednesday night in August and refreshments will be served. A Festival of Traditional Music will take place in Kilcar from August 9th to 11th while the 41st Annual Clonmany Festival continues until August 10th. See Clonmany Festival 2008. Will the Border Return? Travellers between Britain and the Republic of Ireland face passport checks for the first time since the 1920’s as tighter air and sea controls are introduced. The so called 'common travel area' between the two jurisdictions was introduced in 1925 but the Irish and British governments have announced that border controls will be introduced on air and sea routes. Full immigration controls will be brought in for foreign travellers while British and Irish travellers will have to produce their passports or driving licenses. While there are no plans to reintroduce the border checkpoints on roads between Northern Ireland and the Republic spot checks will be brought in on roads along the border and there are fears that Donegal people may be questioned at checkpoints and have to show their passports every time they enter or leave Derry. People wanting to travel into Donegal from across the border would face similar problems. Nearly 16 million people travel between the republic and the UK by air and sea each year. Crackdown on Boy Racers on Donegal's Roads Inspector Pat O'Donnell, head of the Garda Traffic Corps in Donegal, has warned boy racers that they face going to gaol in a crackdown on the antics of dangerous boy racers and he called on parents who were concerned about their children's driving habits to ring their local Garda Station. According to the National Roads Authority, young male drivers between 18 and 24 years old are 10 times more likely to die in a road accident than a female driver. Over a third of all fatal incidents on Irish roads are classified as Young Driver Accidents. Comedy at the Balor The new Balor Theatre will play host to comedian Joe Rooney on August 11th - see Balor Theatre or tel. 074 91 31840 to book.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal Arranmore LifeBoat Tragedy The cermony celebrating 125 years of the Arranmore Island LifeBoat was cancelled because of the tragic death in a road traffic accident in Co. Mayo of Seamus Boyle, a 37-year-old native of Arranmore. Seamus' wife is due to give birth to the couple’s second baby in September. Arranmore lifeboat spokesperson Nora Flanagan said there wasn’t the will among islanders to go ahead with the celebrations. Seamus is the fifth young person from the island to die tragically in the last ten years. Since the establishment of the lifeboat station on Arranmore, the island has become Ireland’s busiest rescue stations. Computer Classes Free one to one computer lessons will take place during the last three weeks of August in the DergFinn Centre, Ballybofey, contact Paul on 074 91 32438. Computer, Internet & email Classes are also on offer in the Wesley Hall, Carndonagh on a One to One basis with ECDL is commencing in September, for further information tel 9329680 between 10am – 5pm Monday – Thursday. Inishowen Sisters in Derry Festival Joleen, Lorna and Karen Henry are three of six sisters from Inishowen. Their music has been described as traditional, folk, bluesy, roots, world and contemporary, an eclectic mix of their individual and collective musical experiences. The Henry Girls released their first album 'Between Us' in 2002 to widespread critical acclaim and giving the group access to a wider audience. To launch their second album the Henry Sisters will perform at Derry's Verbal Arts Centre on Thursday, August 7th from 1pm – 2pm.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal County Museum Events Currently on display in the Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny is 'Whitewash and Thatch' - Architectural Drawings from the 1930s & 1940s. This exhibition, on loan from the National Museum of Ireland–Country Life Museum, explores the materials, craftsmanship and forms of traditional Irish houses. It includes a range of 38 framed ground plans, elevations and watercolours of houses which were surveyed in the 1930s and 1940s as well as four pastel studies by the Irish artist Seán Keating, RHA (1889-1977). The exhibition also includes the work of Åke Campbell (1891-1957) and Albert Nilsson [Eskeröd] (1904-1987). They were the principals of a group of scholars known as the Swedish Folk Culture Mission, which was invited to Ireland at the request of the Irish Folklore Institute. Their mission was to record the houses in which people lived in rural Ireland at the time. Their work laid the foundation for the study of the Irish house - its evolution and characteristics. The work by architectural students from the School of Architecture, University College Dublin is also displayed. In the early 1940s they surveyed more than two hundred thatched houses from five villages around Ireland. The exhibition runs until the beginning of September. Admission is free. Donegal County Museum is also hosting a lecture by Prof. Mike Cronin, Academic Director, Boston College, Dublin on Gaelic Games- Irelands Passion, The Past, Present and Future on Tuesday 5th August at 8pm. Prof. Cronin is the author of many publications including "Sport and Nationalism in Ireland: Gaelic Games, Soccer and Identity Since 1884" and is historical advisor to radio and television productions as well as to organisations including the GAA. Admission is free. Cuil A new search engine said to rival Google has been launched this week called Cuil. The company, whose name is pronounced 'cool' and derives from a Gaelic word for knowledge, counts among its founders County Louth natives Tom Costello, and his wife Anna Patterson. The Silicon Valley start-up claims to have an index three times the size of its rival and says the new search engine differs from Google in that it ranks pages by their content rather than their popularity and does not track users' search habits. The site is reported to be already accounting for 1 in every 1,000 internet searches. See Cuil. DonegalCounty.com News on Air and Online DonegalCounty.com & Dún na nGall.com is online for eleven years, making it the longest established website about Donegal. The site receives over a million hits a year. You can hear the Donegal news from Patricia Sharkey, editor of this website, live in Pennslyvannia on 'Echoes of Erin' radio show on Sundays from 1.00-2.00pm and online at Echoes of Erin. Listeners in Brisbane, Australia can catch Sharkey's 'View from the Hills' on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Caomhín O'Seoige's Irish show on 4EB 98.1 FM. If you are in Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio on 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30 to 9.00am local time (see Sydney Irish Radio). If you would like to advertise your product or service to a worldwide audience of people with an interest in Donegal email info@Dún na nGall.com. Donegal's Public Art A new website devoted to public artworks in Donegal has been launched. Donegal County Council’s Public Art Programme has been active since 1990 and to date over forty commissions have been awarded and delivered in the capital construction of Roads, Housing, Water, Environment & Emergency Services, Libraries and Fire stations. See Donegal's Public Art.  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide |
 Woman at a Cottage Door Photograph on loan from the National Museum of Ireland in the exhibiton 'Whitewash & Thatch' at the Donegal County Museum, Letterkenny from 24th July to September 5th, 2008. 1608 Rising THE University of Ulster, Magee Campus, in conjunction with Derry City Council's Heritage & Museum Service and the McGlinchey Summer School will convene a one-day conference at the Guildhall on Friday 22 August. The conference, entitled 'The O'Doherty Rebellion: Postscript to Flight and Prelude to Plantation', will explore the motivation, course and character of Sir Cahir O'Doherty's 1608 revolt and its ramifications for the Plantation of Ulster. Speakers on the day will include Dr. Henry Jeffreys (Thornhill College), Dr. David Finnegan (TCD), Mr Brian O'Doherty (Independent Scholar), Dr. Annaleigh Margey (University of Aberdeen), Dr.Darren McGettigan (Independent Scholar) and Mr Eunan O'Donnell (Independent Scholar). Anyone interested in attending the conference or who requires further information should contact Derry City Council Heritage and Museum Service, Harbour Museum, telephone 028 7137 7331 or email Derry City Museum. A website devoted to Cahir O'Doherty's rising in 1608 has been launched - see O'Doherty 1608. Regional Arts Centre, Letterkenny There will be a retrospective of the work of Victor Vasarely (Works 1956 – 1980) from Thurs 10th July – Sat 30th August Gallery Space, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny. Vasarely believed in the social function of art in society and in the artist as a contributor and catalyst for social progress. His work was an accessible vision that integrated art into everyday life. The exhibition will focus on the creation of his ‘Unité Plastique’ and ‘Planetary Folklore’ series of the 50’s / 60’s, and on his development of the ‘Vega’ works and his ‘veneration of the hexagon’ in the 70’s. The Rising Step at An Grianán Theatre The Rising Step brings you on a journey through the story of Irish dance from the time when the dance master visited homes to teach the steps, to the joyous dancing at the crossroads, and right up to the present day. Local man Michael Patrick Gallagher, principal dancer with Riverdance, leads a cast of dancers, musicians, singers and a narrator in telling this story. Created, choreographed and produced by Carol Leavy Joyce and Michael Patrick Gallagher Carol Leavy Joyce was Dance Director with Riverdance The Show for six years and last year was nominated for an Outer Critics award for her collaborative choreography in The Pirate Queen Musical on Broadway. During her dancing career she won three World Championship Titles. Michael Patrick Gallagher has been principal dancer with Riverdance the Show since 1997, performing in excess of 1800 shows. He holds two World Championship titles. The Rising Step will be performed on various dates in August. Tickets: €20/€15, Family of four €50 - see An Grianán Theatre. Bundoran Surf 'n' Music Weekender 'Sea Sessions' a Surf 'n' Music Weekender, will take place in Bundoran on the 19th, 20th and 21st of September, 2008, featuring a Surf Contest, Surf Movie and Art exhibition, Search and Rescue diplay, Red Bull DJ roadshow, Street performers plus many more. Musicians include David Kitt, Donal Dineen, Kila, Republic of Loose and Asian Dub Foundation. The 'Sea Sessions' marquee is situated 200 yards from 2 of Irelands finest breaks, 3D and the point Bundoran. Weekend ticket €55 (plus booking fee) - see Sea Sessions and Sea Sessions @ myspace.  Find your Holiday Accommodation in Donegal Turf-Cutting DVD Launched 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 the sale of the DVD 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. Councillors Expenses Donegal County Council spent almost €920,000 on expenses for councillors in 2007, up €15,000 on the 2006 figure. The 31 councillors claimed an average of €29,651 each. Every councillor received a basic payment of €16,568, to which expenses for travel and subsistence were added. The highest claim came from Clr. John Boyle who claimed €59,098. Clr. Enda Bonner had the second highest claim with €58,348. The highest claim for travel to foreign conferences was from Clr. Enda Bonner who claimed €4,459. The chairs of the council’s Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) also received a payment of €6,000. Councillors who received part or all of the SPC allowance were: Clr. Boyle, Clr. Conaghan, Clr. McGowan, Clr. O’Domhnaill and Clr. Slowey. Radon Gas in Inishowen Areas of Donegal, including a 10km area between Lifford and Ballybofey, have higher radon levels than the standard acceptable threshold levels, according to a survey by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Donegal only has one area near Moville above the 20% permissable threshold. Radon is cited as second most common cause of lung cancer but it can be controlled through measurement and remediation. Irish people receive more radiation than other European countries from natural radiation especially from Radon gas which makes up over 55% were 85% of all radiation coming from natural sources. According to the report’s principal author, Dr Tony Colgan, Director of Advisory Services at the RPII, “Radon is a cancer causing gas and is the second most important cause of lung cancer in the country. It is also one of the few sources, which can be controlled through measurement and remediation, both of which are relatively inexpensive to undertake. For these reasons, the RPII has always highlighted radon as a key radiation protection issue.” A “high radon area” is one in which more than 10% of houses are predicted to have radon levels in excess of the 200Bq/m3 reference level . The population of Ireland is exposed to 9% more radiation each year than previously thought according to the recent study by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). More details are on Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Save Tara Campaign Save Tara Campaigners are supporting a petition calling on the Irish Government to re-inter human remains from graves disturbed by the ongoing construction of the M3 Motorway in Co. Meath. Campaigners are demanding that the ancient remains be reburied in a dignified manner and as closely as possible to the ceremonial layout of the original graves. It is estimated that over 100 bodies were disturbed and removed to make way for the Motorway. According to archaeologists the Gabhra Valley is the reputed site of the last battle of the Fianna who were buried where they fell in 284 A.D. The campaign to have the bodies reburied received support from the recent World Archaeological Congress held in Dublin. The organisers of the petition said: ‘We hope that this petition is the beginning of a debate on the ethics of this motorway which has disturbed the resting place of our ancestors, the indigenous people of Ireland. Shell to Sea 13 anti-Shell protesters were arrested at Glengad on July 22nd, while challenging Shell’s right to dig on the beach. All the 13 were subsequently released without charge with files being sent to the Director of public prosecutions. While Shell has received a License for the offshore part of the pipeline Planning permission for the onshore pipeline is still before the planning board. Shell have now installed 5 large portacabins on a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and locals have been complaining that anyone who visits the beach is being photographed by a security company employed by Shell while the natural habitat of various protected species of birds has been destroyed by the excavations to date. A Reclaim Glengad Beach weekend is taking place on August 9th & 10th - see Corrib SOS.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff 11 Years Online! |
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