 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon Vol.11 No.2, February, 2010 Holiday In Donegal! |
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Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is Donegal Person of the Year Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh has been named as the Donegal Person of the Year 2009 by the Donegal Association of Dublin, one of only a handful of women to be so named in the Association's seventy five year history. Born in Gweedore, Mairéad learnt to play the fiddle under the tutorship of her late father, Francie Ó Maonaigh, a leading exponent of the Donegal fiddling style. As well as being an accomplished solo musician, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an integral member of the band Altan who have put Donegal on the world music map. Mairéad is also a founder member of Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, begun twenty-five years ago to promote the fine fiddling tradition in the county. The presentation of the Donegal Person of the Year will be at the Gala Dinner which takes place in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on Saturday, February 27th, 2010. 3 Earthquakes in Donegal in January There were three earthquakes in County Donegal during January and all three centred in the Burt, Bridgend area but the tremours could be felt up to 60km away. Dr Tom Blake of the School of Cosmic Physics at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies said that the tremors which stuck Donegal on the 7th, 26th and 27th of January measuring between 1.5 and 1.7 on the Richter scale and occured 10km under the surface. He is interested in hearing from people who experienced the tremours. See Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies Earthquake Questionnaire.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Donegal South West By-Election Long Overdue Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has called on the Taoiseach to move the writ for the Donegal South West by-election to provide for a Spring election. Deputy Ó Caoláin said if the Government does not move the writ in a reasonable timeframe then Sinn Féin will move it again. 'The Government’s Legislative Programme tells us that the heads of the Local Government Bill to establish a Dublin Mayor and Regional Authority have not yet been approved by Government. Yet Minister Gormley has been out and about promising an election in June for this new office which does not exist.Meanwhile the Chief Whip, Deputy Carey, has told us the Government is too preoccupied to set a date for the by-election in Donegal South-West, a vacancy in this House that has existed for over six months since the election of Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher to the EU parliament'. Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has put the Govt. on notice that if they do not call the election within a reasonable time Sinn Féin will be moving the writ again. Oíche Cheoil Beidh an chéad Oíche Cheoil eile ar siúl san ionad pobal Loughanure Dé hAoine an 5ú Feabhra ag 8.30. Fáilte roimhe duine ar bith ar mhaith leo páirt a ghlacadh sa seisiún seo nó bual isteach agus bain sult as an cheol. Bundoran Market Bundoran's Saturday street Market has moved from Bundoran Retail Park to the Market Square Shopping Centre (above Super Valu, & opposite Grand Central Hotel, Main Street, Bundoran). The Market will now be run on the first and third Saturday of every month. Any traders who wish to participate in the next one can contact Sean Carty at 086 3903655 or Jim McLaughlin at 087 9730539. Indoor spaces are available to those with crafts and farmers market stalls. Tents can also be supplied for outdoor stalls (market & farmers market). Railways of Donegal - Their Past and What Future? A Seminar on the Donegal Railway will be held in the Dongal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, on Saturday 23rd January from 9.30am - 1pm. Admission is free and all are welcome. This seminar will look at the history, stories and personal memories of and Lough Swilly Railway and the Great Northern Railway. Speakers will include Neil Tee from the Railway Museum, Donegal Town, Mr Frank Sweeney, author of 'That Old Sinner – Letterkenny and Burtonport Railway'. Speakers will also discuss the future of railways in Donegal. Mr Joe McHugh T.D. will chair the seminar and Admission is free. The temporary exhibition 'All Change' - The Railways of Donegal still continues.For further information email The Donegal County Museum.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff Online since 1997! Grianán of Aileach ignored by OPW The ancient hill fort of Grianán of Aileach has been ignored by the Office of Public Works whose remit it is to care for the national monument. A Facebook campaign to have Grianán of Aileach included in the Heritage Ireland website has attracted over 600 supporters. Grianán of Aileach is a Ring Fort (circa.1000AD), built on the site of an ancient hill fort (circa.3000BC), which is said to have been built by Dagda, a King of the Tuatha De Danann, in 1700BC. Grianán was the residence of the Uí Neill, High-Kings of Ireland in the 5th century and was later the seat of the O'Donnells, chieftains of Donegal. In pre-history it was thought to be a place of sun worship or the place of hibernation of Gráine, a Celtic sun-goddess. On a clear day one can see five of the nine counties of Ulster from Grianán's parapets. There are many tales associated with Grianán of Aileach in Irish folklore. One such tale relates that Niall Frasach (High King of Ireland 743-770AD), who was born at nearby Fahan, decided to become a monk at Grianán and that it was from there that he journeyed to Colmcille's monastery at Iona. It is also believed that Eogháin, after whom Inishowen is named, was baptised at Grianán by St. Patrick in 450AD.  Save the Hills of Donegal Campaign Logo © Ranganna Gaeilge Beidh tús sa chuir le ranganna Gaeilge san ionad pobal gan mhoill. Duine ar bith ar mhaith leo freastal ar na ranganna dean teangmhall le Michelle Ní Giolla Bhríde ag an uimhir 087 210 7879. Shell to Sea News In December, 2009, 25 people were in Belmullet District Court before Judge Gerard Haughton for opposing the Shell pipeline in Rossport. 7 peoples had cases heard, while the other 18 peoples' cases were either introduced or just up for mention. Retired local teacher Maura Harrington was jailed after she received a 9 month sentence for cutting a net and causing damage of €160. The judge initially suspended the sentence but sent Maura to prison when she refused to be bound to the peace for 2 years. Other sentences included Terence Conway who was banned from driving for 4 years, Pat O' Donnell who received a 2 month suspended sentence for breach of the peace and Niall Harnett who received a 3 month suspended sentence for obstruction of a Garda. Martin Harrington received a 5 month suspended sentence for a section 2 assault on a Garda, while Pete Lavelle received a €500 fine - also for a section 2 assault on a Garda. Trevor Houghton received a €400 fine for not leaving the water when told to by a Garda while out on his kayak. Maura Harrington was released from Mountjoy on December 14th pending her appeal. Meanwhile on Wednesday 16th Dec, Pat O' Donnell, Martin McDonnell and Gary Bohan were sentenced to 6 months in prison for a conviction of obstructing 3 Gardaí. The 6 month sentence was imposed after the 3 men refused to consent to doing community service. They were then sent to Castlerea prison despite the fact that they had the money for bail all prepared. It is unclear as to why they were forced to spend the night in Castlerea prison but it was about 6pm on the 17th when they were released pending their appeal. The next special Shell to Sea court is set for the week beginning March 22nd. This will at last bring to trial the people arrested on the lock-on and tripod day last summer, after half a year of being unfairly banned from county Mayo, except for court. Terrence Conway, Maura Harrington, Niall Harnett, Pat O'Donnell, Martin McDonnell and Gary Bohan are all due in the Circuit Court to appeal convictions received last year. If unsuccessful all face jail sentences, bar Terrence Conway who would face a driving disqualification of 4 years. Last November An Bord Pleanála, the Irish planning board, sent a letter to Shell deferring their decision on whether or not to grant permission to build the 9km long onshore section of the Corrib gas pipeline - the missing link between the inland refinery and offshore section of pipeline which goes to the Corrib gas field. Shell have until the 5th of February to submit what should be an entirely new application, and prove that it would not put homes within the danger zone if an accident were to occur.  3 Bedroom, 2 Reception Rooms & Sea Views at Ballyhiernan, Fanad Buy Your Home in Donegal at Tírconaill Property.com |
 Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is Donegal Person of the Year Donegal Alternatives to Pylons Pyblic Meeting Donegal Alternatives to Pylons are holding a Public Meeting in the Library, Dungloe on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 7.30pm. The meeting will discuss landowners’ rights following the granting of planning permission for a 100km long 110KV high voltage power line from Binbane to Letterkenny via Glenties and from Glenties to Gweedore via Dungloe. The meeting will also draw attention to the relationship between the proposed high voltage power line and the numerous planning applications for wind turbines across Donegal. A spokesperson for Donegal Alternatives to Pylons said 'People have the right to refuse ESB and Eirgrid permission to come onto their land even though planning permission has been granted. In Sligo and Roscommon farmers have refused access, and while the ESB have threatened to take them to court they have not done so, even after 7 years which shows that they are reluctant to test their powers in court. The law with regard to the ESB’s right of access is questionable under the Irish Constitution and under EU law’. Donegal Alternatives to Pylons believe that the landowners can lock their gates and erect signs refusing access to the ESB, Eirgrid and their agents. The group also say that landowners should not sign any documents presented to them by the ESB, Eirgrid or their agents. 'If you sign way leave documents you are signing away your ownership of the land under and around the power lines, poles and pylons. The power companies could later sell or lease the land to other utility companies to do what they will with it. There is also the question of who is responsible in law if an accident should occur?’ There is an agenda here - these lines are not to bring power into Donegal but to take power out from projected wind farms. It is ironic that Donegal is being praised in the Lonely Planet Guide for its rugged beauty while the Government is promoting policies which destroy the landscape with over ground power lines and wind turbines. If allowed to continue these policies would ruin Donegal's infant tourism industry, the county’s largest employer, as well as endanger our health and the livelihood of farmers. The cost of undergrounding the line is only twice the cost of over grounding and, at the Oral Hearing into the project held in Letterkenny in April last year, the ESB admitted they had not even considered ducting the line alongside existing roads. Obviously they want to run these lines near hills to allow the wind turbine companies easy access to the grid. ESB is a highly profitable international company who could easily afford to underground this power line. By undergrounding you actually save money because you don't have to worry about outages following storms and there is no need for tree and hedge-trimming. If the ESB don't know how to duct these cables they could consult some of the many internationally renowned engineers from Donegal. Donegal Alternatives to Pylons are not against renewable energy but wind energy is not a sustainable form of generating electricity because of the unreliability of the wind and the polluting and dangerous infrastructure needed to maintain wind farms . Wind energy is old hat in terms of renewable energy and once again Donegal is being forced to take second best. Wave energy, combined power and heat units and micro-generation are more sustainable forms of energy generation. The group say that this is an election issue and that they will be lobbying candidates in advance of the Donegal South West by-election and the next general election. They urge all residents in the affected townlands to attend the Public Meeting in the Dungloe Library on Wednesday, February 10th, 2010 at 7.30pm. If anyone in these townlands wants to contact the group you can do so by emailing DonegalATP@gmail.com. The group is asking people to support their 'Save the Hills of Donegal' campaign on Facebook.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal and it's History Donegal Bus Routes to be Cut Donegal has a very poor public transport system and the news that Bus Éireann is to cut routes in the county has met with widespread opposition. Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty has condemned Bus Éireann’s plans to cut back on some 22 routes across the state and discontinue 8. The Senator expressed concern that one of the routes to be axed is the Ballybofey/Letterkenny/Strabane route. Commenting on these latest cuts Pearse Doherty said: 'I am deeply concerned at the decision to reduce the frequency of the Ballybofey/Letterkenny/Strabane bus route which will come into effect on the 28th February. I have been in contact with the area manager of Bus Éireann and have arranged to meet with him along with my colleague Councillor Cora Harvey to discuss my concerns for the future of public transport services in Donegal'. 'Rural areas, particularly in Donegal, have taken cut after cut after cut and to loose any more vital services will have a devastating impact on jobs and also on the well-being of those living in isolated areas'. Cutbacks in Marine Maintenance Services The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has decided to cease all work on the breakwater at Greencastle Harbour while Donegal County Council has announced that it will no longer maintain anchor points at the County's various harbours. Fisheries Department officials have met with Donegal County Council engineers to initiate the process of returning the maintenance of Greencastle Harbour to the Council. Almost €8 million has been spent on the project to date and the project will loose €5 million worth of work as much of the breakwater could now be washed away. Greencastle Harbour Users’ Committee said 'This is a total u-turn and we feel badly let down. Leaving the breakwater unfinished has caused a dangerous current at the mouth of the harbour.' Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh has criticised comments made by Minister Brendan Smith about the suspended Greencastle Harbour project in the Dáil. Deputy McHugh said: 'The Greencastle Harbour breakwater project has been administered by the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries since its commencement. Abandoning the project amounts to negligence on the part of Minister Smith. Greencastle Harbour is a vital piece of infrastructure for the local marine industry'. The announcement that Donegal County Council will no longer maintain anchor points in the County's harbours has been met with anger in the tourism sector as the effect of not maintaining the anchor points will be to deter marine tourists from visiting Donegal. If tourists cannot secure their boats safely they will simply sail past Donegal and there will be a knock on effect in local shops, pubs and restaurants who badly need the summer tourist trade. 'Water Water Everywhere but not a Drop to Drink...' Stranorlar Sinn Fein Councillor Cora Harvey has said she is disappointed at the lack of commitment on the part of the Council to address the water needs of residents in the Leitirbrick area of Glenfin. Councillor Harvey said: 'Water is a basic human fundamental necessity and in the 21st century it is totally unacceptable that there are over 25 houses in a local area without mains water supply. The Council maintain that the feasibility of connecting the Fintown Water Supply to the Lough Mourne supply including Letterbrick and other unserviced areas in between is not feasible. As well as extending the Lough Mourne network, improvements at the Lough Mourne headworks and substantial upgrading of pipelines between Ballybofey and Corlecky would be required. This scale of improvements can only be effected through the progression of the Lough Mourne Letterkenny Major Capital Water Supply Scheme. Furthermore the council has indicated that whilst the Lough Mourne scheme is progressing it is unlikely that Letterbrick will benefit in the short term'. However, given that the Fintown water supply is polluted and has been subject to a boil notice for several months and that the mains water supply throughout the County experiences frequent burst pipes, one must ask if putting people in remote rural areas onto a mains water supply is a sustainable practise? It would be less expensive and more sustainable to dig wells for individual houses or better still to install rainwater catchment systems in rural dwellings in Donegal where it rains 330 days a year. Donegal's Ghost Towns According to the National Institute of Regional and Spatial Analysis there are 22 'ghost' housing schemes in Donegal. New figures released by the Institute show that Donegal has among the Country's highest number of empty and half finished housing estates following the property crash. Nisra has also released statistics which show there are as many as 25,000 empty houses in the county and believes it will take up to a decade to sell these vacant properties. According to Nisra's report the worst affected areas are in Donegal Town, Letterkenny, and Inishowen while Dunfanaghy, Carrigart, Creeslough and Milford have also been left with 'ghost' estates. More Boys than Girls Born in Donegal Newly published figures from the Central Statistics Office show that almost half of the children born in Donegal in the first half of 2009 were to born to unmarried but co-habitating parents. There were 10% more male babies born than female babies and the average age of Donegal women to have their first child is 28 with second babies born to women in their early 30's. 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. DonegalCounty.com News This is the 110th Donegal on the Net Newsletter. The Newsletter is now online for twelve years and is one of the most popular County 'blogs' in Ireland with over a million hits a year. If you would like to advertise here email Donegal County.com. You can hear the Donegal news live in Pennslyvannia on Echoes of Erin radio show on Sundays from 1.00-2.30pm EST. Listeners in Brisbane, Australia can catch the Donegal on the Net News on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Caomhín O'Seoige's Irish show on 4EB 98.1 FM. In Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio on 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30am to 9.00am local time.  Dú na nGall.com Online since 1997 |
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