 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon Vol.10 No.5 May, 2009 Holiday In Donegal! |
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Bealtaine Festival As part of the 12th annual Bealtaine Festival, celebrating creativity in older age, the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny is presenting Bealtaine Voices, a special weekly feature running throughout the month of May. This new project will present recipes and remedies, anecdotes, images, interviews, reviews and previews of Bealtaine events, appealing to a wide audience but focusing on an older age group. You can download the full programme at the Bealtaine Festival website. The County Fleadh The County Fleadh with be held in Ardara from 15th to 17th May with Sets & Ceilis at the Nesbitt Arms and Music by the Emerald Ceili Band. The competitions will take place on Saturday, the 16th of May with a Sean-Nos evening concert. On Sunday, the 17th of May, there will be a Marching Band Competition at the New Car Park. Contact Pat McGill on 074 9537949 / 087 6900714. EU Water Directive Under the EU Water Framework Directive, local authorities must assess the current status of our rivers lakes, coastal and groundwaters, identify key pressures and propose measures to address these in order to achieve the objective of 'good ecological status' for all our water bodies by 2015. A draft Plan for managing the waters of the North West, entitled: 'Water matters - Help us plan!' has been published. This Draft River Basin Management Plan covers counties Donegal, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Longford, Cavan and Monaghan. The Plan is open for consultation until June 22nd. Save the Swilly and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN is a cross-section of voluntary bodies interested in the implementation of the Water Framework Directive in Ireland) are inviting all those interested to a meeting to discuss the Plan and specifically to canvass views on how the Plan addresses the issues. SWAN is not convinced that the current problems are adequately addressed by the Plan. What actions has it proposed for your local river or estuary? Are they adequate? What do you think should be done? There will be two meetings in County Donegal on Monday, May 11th at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, at 7.00pm. and on Tuesday, May 12th at Dorrian’s Imperial Hotel, Ballyshannon, at 8.00pm. For further information phone Sinead or Bojana on 01-642 5583 or email SWAN.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Killybegs Maritime & Heritage Centre The Killybegs Maritime & Heritage Centre launched their Killybegs Heritage Trail brochure on April 23rd. The Heritage Trail Brochure was published following the establishment of a walking tour in the townland of Killybegs. The project identified 14 heritage sites and a short history of each site was written up by local historian, Pat Conaghan. A detailed map of six Suggested Looped Walks ranging from 2.5kms to 8kms was also presented at the launch when a short talk was given by Pat Conaghan. The Heritage Trail brochure and Walks map are now available at Killybegs Maritime and Heritage Centre on 07497 41944, in local hotels and B&Bs, and tourist offices, and are availale free at the Killybegs Maritime & Heritage Centre website.  Killybegs Fishing Boats © The Irish Centre, Philadelphia Téada will perform at The Commodore Barry Club, 6815 Emlen St, Philadelphia PA on Saturday, May 16th, 2009 at 8:30 pm. To book tel. (215) 843 8051 or email Ceili Concerts. Téada are one of Irish music's hottest young talents, preserving the timeless energy and expressive force of traditional jigs, reels and hornpipes. With three acclaimed albums out on Compass Records, Living Tradition Magazine calls Téada 'brilliant young musicians who present Irish music as it really is: the joy of it, the full breadth and depth of it, the power and pace of it.' Tickets are $20 and $18 for Commodore Barry and Philadelphia Ceili Group members at the door on the night. Advance tickets are available online at Philadelphia Ceili Group. The Philadelphia Ceili Group is an all volunteer non profit 501c, educational organization run by a nine member board dedicated to the promotion of Irish traditional music,dance and culture of Ireland. It was founded in 1958 and has run a yearly festival of Irish Traditional music in early September since 1974. It is currently celebrating it's 51th year. Election Candidate Claims €1.9 million squandered Sinn Féin candidate for the Glenties Electoral Area, John Sheamuis Ó Fearraigh, has accused the government of 'taking a hand' at the people of Gweedore. He was speaking following confirmation that the Department of the Environment expects Donegal County Council to pay two thirds of the cost of providing a sewerage scheme for the area. The candidate said: 'The story of the Gweedore sewerage scheme has run for over 40 years and is now a running joke in the parish as we hear Fiann Fáil representatives claim before each election that it will now proceed. However the latest confirmation, that the Department of Environment expects Donegal County Council to pay two thirds of the cost of scheme (€12.4 million euro) has ensured that this scheme will never see the light of day. This Government has and continues to take a hand at the people of Gweedore'. 'This community needs and deserves a sewerage scheme to allow progress to take place and prevent pollution of our rivers and sea'. Senator Pearse Doherty, has tabled a question on this matter with the Minister for Environment in the Oireachtas. Sinn Féin intend using all avenues to force the government to provide this scheme for Gweedore including the European institutions. 'There are serious questions to be answered by Fianna Fail representatives. How can they stand by a government that would do this to the people of Gweedore? How can they stand by, knowing that €1.9 million has already spent on this scheme, a scheme that will now never see the light of day unless there is a change of attitude at Government level?' John Sheamuis added. DonegalCounty.com News 101 This is the 101st Donegal on the Net Newsletter. It has now been online for eleven years, making it the longest established news blogs about Donegal and one of the oldest 'blogs' in Ireland. This website 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. 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 to a worldwide audience email info@Dun na nGall.com.  Find your Holiday Accommodation in Donegal Fundraising Cycle The Ardara Group of Parishes (Church of Ireland) under the leadership of Rev. John Deane is organizing a Charities Cycling Tour on June 6th from Glencolumcille to Lettermacaward. The organizers of the Cycling Tour are inviting everybody to take part. Each of the five Parishes is funding certain Charity projects. The Leitir Parish will share the raised money with the St. Bridget Hall, Leitir. The cyclists can go for the complete tour from Glencolumcille via Ardara, Glenties, Portnoo to Leitir, or just join in for the 'Golden Mile' from Portnoo to Lettermacaward. Sponsor cards are available. The Cycling Tour is not a race so that there will be no strict time limit. Start in Glencolumcille at 9.30am. Start in Portnoo for the 'Golden Mile' at 4.30 pm. Drinks and light refreshments will be served at every stop during the tour. If you are willing to cycle please contact Angela on 074 95 44341, or Jackie on 0861500622. The final get-together for all cyclists, helpers, sponsors and supporters will take place in Elliott's Lounge from around 6pm with buffet, music and a special raffle. Rossport Update On Saturday May 9th a Day of Action will be held against Shell in Glengad, Co. Mayo. The Shell to Sea organisation is putting the call out to all our supporters, nationally and internationally, to come to Erris to support them. The Rossport Solidarity Camp is being rebuilt near the shore and there is also space to sleep and work at the solidarity house and office. The upcoming Summer Gathering at the camp will take place from Friday May 29th till Monday June 1st, 2009. Email Rossport Camp. |
 Where there's a will, there's a way... An Ash Tree growing on top of a rock in Donegal © National Famine Memorial Day The first annual Memorial Day for the Irish Famine will take place on May 17th with a ceremony in Skibbereen, Co. Cork. The town has been selected as it was one of the worst areas in Munster affected by the famine, with a mass grave containing the remains of between 8,000 and 10,000 people near the town. Communities around the State will be holding commemorations and sporting organisations will observe a minute's silence that day. An international Famine Memorial Day will be held on Grosse Ile, Canada's Ellis Island, on May 10th, 2009. The failure of the potato crop in the 1840s was a transforming event in Irish history and no other event can be compared to it. Its immediate impact and its legacy of emigration, loss and the decline of the Irish language have shaped our country today. The annual commemmoration will rotate between the four provinces with next year's commemoration in Co. Mayo in Connaught, the 2011 event will be held in Ulster and the 2012 commemmoration in Leinster.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff Online since 1997! Unemployment soars in Donegal Unemployment in Ireland has risen to 11.4% per cent in April with a record 389,000 people signing on for unemployment benefit, the same number as in 1996. The latest unemployment figures means that 1 out of 5 workers is ‘signing on’ the Live Register which has almost doubled over the past year with the collapse of the property and construction sectors. A report by the Economic and Social Research Institute forecasts that unemployment nationally will reach almost 17% per cent next year. However, in Donegal, the figure is already 18% per cent with 1 in 4 signing on in the county. Nearly 18,000 people are unemployed in Donegal with 2,400 on the live register in Ballybofey alone. The Donegal youth organisation Spun Out says more and more young people are being forced to leave Donegal because of the unemployment crisis. The Live register figures show that 4,462 people under the age of 25 are currently signing on in Donegal. Spun Out founder, Ruairí McKiernan, says staying in Donegal is not an option for many young people these days. No doubt people will send a clear message of their disquiet to the Government at the local council and EU elections on June 5th, 2009. New Recycling Centres' Charges The three new civic amenity sites could prove counter-productive as people are criticising the new charges at the centres. The sites in Letterkenny, Milford and Dungloe provide facilities for free recycling of glass, cans, textiles, batteries and other items while offering facilities for paper, cardboard, plastic and other items at a charge of €10 per vehicle or €20 per vehicle and trailer, double what it costs at the recycling centres in Stranorlar and Carndonagh. Councillor Enda Bonner said the main point of concern is that paper, cardboard and plastic recycling will now be charged for. 'This is a recipe for the burning of rubbish, which is certainly not what the council wants. I can see where the county manager is coming from but I still think that paper, cardboard and plastic recycling should be free as people may resort to burning rather than paying to get ride of this waste.' Suzanne Tinney, Waste Information Officer with Donegal County Council, said charging for paper and plastic and other materials is necessary to cover the cost for recycling and operating the sites and that anyone found dumping or burning rubbish will be prosecuted. Susan Boyle's Donegal Roots Susan Boyle, who rose to fame after her appearance on ‘Britain’s Got Talent,’ and YouTube, has strong connections with county Donegal. The 47-year-old Scottish singer who reduced many to tears during her moving performance of ‘I dreamed a dream’, has been a frequent visitor to County Donegal in the past and she has cousins in the Rosses area. Boyle, of course, is one of the most popular surnames in Donegal as the Boyles were eireannacht (protectors of Donegal by sea) to the O'Donnell chiefs in times gone by.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal and it's History Still no date for BreastCheck in Donegal The ongoing Breastcheck fiasco in Donegal took a turn for the worse when the HSE confirmed that due to the embargo on recruitment in the health service the Breastcheck screening programme planned for Donegal could not be staffed. But following public outrage the Finance Minister, Brian Lenihan, said that staff will be provided to facilitate the roll-out of the service to Donegal. An Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, said she has received assurances on the matter from the Minister. 'BreastCheck is still on schedule to introduce the service to women living in Donegal this year'. The National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) said it has applied for exemptions from the recruitment freeze to allow the recruitment of radiographers and other support staff that would allow the roll-out of the service to proceed. Donegal, along with Leitrim and Clare, still do not have the service, nine years after the screening service was implimented in 2000. Donegal Fine Gael TD, Dinny McGinley, said the news that the roll-out is on hold 'was nothing short of a betrayal of the women of Donegal. While Breastcheck has been available to women in the eastern region for nine years, it is simply unbelievable and absolutely unacceptable that there should be any further delay in its availability in Donegal,' he said. Cooperating for Cancer Care NorthWest (CCCNW) said it was very unfair that Donegal women are being subjected to further unnecessary anxiety regarding their breast health. Donegal Walking Week Seachtain Siúil Dhún Na nGall will take place from the 24th - 30th of May. A 3km family walk has been scheduled in the Dungloe area for May 29th along the Dungloe Riverwalk. The starting point is at Ionad Teampall, Chróine, leaving at 6.30pm. To book your place contact Michelle Ní Chnáimhsí 074 95 22198/ 087 6874645. Sult Beidh an chéad Sult eile ar siúl Déardaoin na seachtaine seo chugainn, 7 Bealtaine 2009, in ThinkTank (thíos staighre sa Mezz), beagnach os comhair an IFI, Sráid an Iústásaigh (Eustace St), Barra an Teampaill, Baile Átha Cliath 2. Osclófar na doirse ar 9.00 p.m. agus tosóidh an ceol beo gan mhoill ina dhiaidh sin. Seo iad aíonna na seachtaine seo chugainn: grúpa tí Sult; an t-amhránaí sean-nóis Róisín Chambers Drazen Derek agus Oleg Pomonarev (ceol draíochtúil ó na Balcáin); Ian Lysaght, breakdancer den chéad scoth. Eolas breise: (01) 675-3658; Sult Cead isteach: €7. The next Sult will be taking place this coming Thursday, 7th May, in ThinkTank (downstairs in the Mezz), nearly opposite the IFI, Eustace St, Temple Bar, Dublin 2. The doors will open at 9.00 p.m. and the live music will start shortly after that time. Next week’s guests and entertainment: the Sult house band; sean-nós singer Róisín Chambers; Drazen Derek and Oleg Pomonarev (magical music from the Balkans) and Ian Lysaght, exciting breakdancer. More information: (01) 675-3658; Sult. Admission: €7. Moville Historical Society A public meeting will be held in The Foyle Hotel next Thursday 22nd May at 8pm Sharp. The aim of this meeting is to establish a local historical society. All interested parties welcome. For further information contact Gerard at Moville Library on 074 9385110 or by email at Moville Library. Swilly Gardening Club The next meeting of the Swilly Gardening Club will take place on Monday, May 26th at 8pm in The Angler’s Centre. The Guest speaker is Clive Alcorn from Alcorn’s Garden Centre, Letterkenny. New members are very welcome. The Annual outing will be on Saturday June 21st. Phone 9361114 for further information. 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.  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide |
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