Vol.1 No.1 December, 1998

(This page is archived as it initially appeared online - any broken links are subsequent to publication)

Greetings from Donegal on the Net/ Dún na nGall ar an Idirlíon
The site is six months old today and has already received more than 5000 visitors including countries in every Continent in the world, namely (in order of % percentage of visits) Ireland, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Switzerland, Netherlands, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Finland, Italy, Norway, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Czech Republic, Russian Federation, Iceland, China, Philippines, Brazil, Lativa, Hungary and Bermuda.

These statistics speak for themselves, indicating both the demographic pattern of emigration from Donegal over the last two hundred years as well as the worldwide interest in Donegal.
At the present rate of acceleration of traffic to the Site there will have been 25,000 visitors by the end of year one in June, 1999.
To date the Site is in receipt of no public funding but the Site's developer, Patricia Sharkey, is gratful to have been awarded one of Donegal County Council's Deontas Mhic An tSaoir Arts Bursaries, 1998.
It is intended to translate the Site into Irish and Spanish when funds are available.

The Site has received some high praise since it was launched in June, 1998 including the O'Dochartaigh Clann Association Site of the Month, August,1998; a Recommendation by THE IRISH TIMES 24/8/98; "No.1 in Best of Irish - Tourism & Travel" Ireland Online Directory; "This 'cybership home' for the Dún-na-nGall diaspora is also packed with general information on the Donegal region and its attractions. This site looks like a good resource for tourism or research." Doras Directory 18/9/98.

This is just the beginning. It is intended through the auspices of th Web Site to electronically network the Donegal Diaspora via the Internet and in the process to create environmentally friendly employment in the County and help reverse the scourge of emigration which so depleted the population since the Famine of 1845-1850.
At present Donegal has 23% unemployment.
One such project is Oh Kay Computer, a documentary for broadcast/webcast about a Donegal woman who was one of the world's first computer programmers! See today's Irish Times on the Web for details.

If you are aware of other people around the world who have an interest in Donegal and its culture - Let them know the address of the This Site so that they can keep in touch.
If you are interested in sponsoring a page on the Site and helping to create employment in Donegal then email info@dun-na-ngall.com and keep visiting the Site!
If you would like to receive a monthly update on the Site's updates and news from the County email us and we will put you on the monthly mailing list.

Regards, Patricia Sharkey administrator, Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon

This Newsletter is free from Donegal on the Net
SPONSORSHIP: While Dun-na-nGall.com News will always remain free, we're willing to talk to interested parties with regard to sponsorship. Contact: info@dun-na-ngall.com
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