  Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.6 No.12 December 2005 Holiday In Donegal in 2006! |
| Sharkey's Sponsor Art Exhibition Sharkey's Service Station, Gweedore Road, Dungloe (no relation to the editor of this Newsletter!) are celebrating a year in business by sponsoring an exhibition of works by artists living in the Dungloe area. The exhibition opened on December 3rd and features the work of Heidi Nuygen, Kevin Gallagher, Ian Gordon, Johnny Gallagher, Kerstin Gronvall, Michelle Doherty, among others. Ó Searcaigh's 'Art of Friendship' exhibition at An Grianán An exhibition of 81 artworks by leading Irish artists and writers was opened by the poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh at An Gailearaí, Falcarragh on Saturday 19th November. The artworks were auctioned in An Grianán Theatre on December 3rd and raised €50,000 for Cathal's education project in Katmandu. Writers who sent handwritten work include the Nobel prizewinner Seamus Heaney, the Booker prizewinner John Banville, Brian Friel and Frank McGuinness. The artists involved included Robert Ballagh, Alice Maher and local artists Ian Gordon, Sarah Lewtas and Teresa Kennedy. Cathach Books in Dublin, headed by Donegal man Enda Cunningham, helped with the valuations of the literary pieces. Cathal Ó Searcaigh said he's been touched by the help the 'Art of Friendship' project received. 'The enthusiasm of the artists and writers themselves in agreeing to contribute has been heart lifting.' he said. Cathal Ó Searcaigh, Donegal's most famous contemporary poet, spends several months in Nepal every year and has been involved in a number of adult education projects there. Honoured at Oireachtas na Gaeilge Gaoth Dobhair woman, Kitty McGarvey (nee Gallagher) was honoured at this year‘s Oireachtas na Gaeilge in Co. Cork, for her long association with the event. Cití Eoghain Eamoinn is a well known traditional singer and was a gold medal winner at the Oireachtas in the nineteen forties. Her late sister, Áine Bean Uí Laoi was also a well known singer and was adjudicator of Corn Uí Riada at the Oireachtas on a number of occasions. At the Oireachtas in Co. Cork, Cití was presented with a piece of Dublin crystal by Áine Ní Chuirreáin, presenter of ‘Barr Scéalta‘ on Raidió na Gaeltachta. Christmas Lights & Car Boot Sale at the Port The Burtonport Christmas lights will be illuminated on Saturday, December 10th. The next car boot sale will be held in St. Columba‘s Church Community Centre on Sunday, December 4th at 1pm. TThe sale is being co-ordinated by the Burtonport Festival Committee. Do You Live in Pittsburgh? Do you live in the greater Pittsburgh area? Then listen live to Patricia Sharkey's Broadcasts from Donegal on WEDO 108FM on Sundays from 1-2pm. The 'Echoes of Erin' show 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.  A to Z of the Best Irish Sites Recycling Site Donegal County Council intended to remove the paper and plastic banks at the recycling plant in the car park at Lower Main Street, Dungloe. However the topic got a lively airing at the Glenties Electoral Division Area Meeting. The Councillors were not pleased about the lack of notification because they were 'the voice of the people', as Councillor Alcorn put it. Thanks to the Councillors intervention the paper and plastic banks were not subsequently removed. Glenswilly in the Ulster Intermediate Club final Glenswilly will meet Monaghan champions, Inniskeen, in next Sunday‘s final in the Ulster Intermediate Club championships. It will be a great occasion for the club as they have never gone to the final before. Two died in Tragic Cliff Accident 21-year-old Niall Anderson from Cashelard near Ballyshannon fell down a 90ft cliff in Rossnowlagh shortly before dawn on November 27th. His friend Alan Gallagher (19), Cloghore, Ballyshannon was rushed to Sligo General Hospital where he died on December 1st. The tragedy occured near the Smuggler's Creek Bar as the friends waited for a taxi home after a night out. Congratulations to Ardara Hoteliers Congratulations to Marie and Paul Gallagher, Nesbitt Arms Hotel, on being selected as finalists for the Fáilte Ireland Irish Welcome Awards. 117th Annual Donegal Ball The 117th Annual Donegal Ball took place on November 26th in the Grand Ballroom of The Commodore Barry Club (The Philadelphia Irish Centre). The Ball Chairman was Peter Gallagher from Churchill and the Grand Marshals were Charlie and Sally McElwee from Glenfin. The Declan Nerney Showband entertained the 1000 people who attended.  the view from the Hills... Cemetery Repair Business people in Lifford, their staff and sponsors donated €1,500 euro towards the restoration of the ancient graveyard which was desecrated earlier this year. Some of the gravestones were over 200 years old in the historic graveyard. The donation was handed to Dean John Hay of Clonleigh Church and Margaret McConnell, a member of the Church committee. Arts Workshops Donegal and Strabane Councils are offering a programme of free business workshops. A one day workshop 'Getting the Message Across' looks at the marketing climate; how to develop an interesting message; how to identify your potential customer and the best medium in which to market. 'Raging Against the Fading of the Light' is all about how to use lighting on a display or collection. A half-day session 'Digitization for Museum Collections' covers the collection and preservation of data in the digital age regarding standards, storage, web access and intellectual rights while 'The Money is Out There' is a useful session on grant and Funding Applications. To book a place contact Adrian Beattie on 04871 884094. Trusk Lough Walking Group Trusk Lough Walking Group will hold their annual dinner party in the Villa Rose Hotel on December 3rd. All walkers welcome. For further information please contact Tracey on 087 9328381. Country Market in Dunfanaghy The Country Market be offering the very best in food and crafts on the 3rd and 4th of December at the Craft Fair at the Workhouse, Dunfanaghy. Also, don‘t miss the special Christmas Country Market on Saturday December 17th at the Ozanam Centre, Dunfanaghy. Milford Craft Fair A Christmas craft fair will take place on Saturday, December 10th in aid of Milford playgroup in the Milford Parish Hall from 3pm-9.30pm. Admission is free. Anyone wishing to take a stall should contact Sharon at 087-6434001 or Jackie on 086-3818943. Abbey Singers Christmas Concert The Donegal Abbey Singers are to perform their Christmas concert for the benefit of the Robertson School, Stranorlar. The Concert takes place in the Henderson Hall, Stranorlar on Friday December 2nd starting at 8.p.m. School pupils will also perform on the night. All proceeds will go towards the school building fund. Tickets are available from the school 074 91 32757. |
 A new work by Felim Egan auctioned in aid of Cathal Ó Searcaigh's 'Art of Friendship' project in Nepal Poverty still a reality in Inishowen Kevin Cooley, the President of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Buncrana, has revealed that an average of three new poverty cases present each week to the St. Oran’s Conference of Saint Vincent de Paul in Buncrana. The Society's Annual Report revealed they had spent over €33 million nationally in the past year to meet demand for their services and that the richest 10% of the Irish population are nearly 10 times more wealthy than the poorest 10%. This hardly fulfils the intention of the Constitution, he said, which proclaims that we will cherish all the children of the nation equally. Responding to the Report Kevin Cooley said 'More people are at work than ever before in Ireland, but many are struggling in low-paid jobs, paying high rents for often poor accommodation and having to cope with the inexorably rising cost of living'. The society, which has 1,000 conferences nationwide, has called on the Government to use this year's budget to significantly boost social welfare rates, introduce a second child income payment, and provide a further 200,000 full medical cards. Women's Group Mná Cnoc Fola held a successful dance in aid of Fr. Michael‘s Appreciation Fund in Teach Jack, Glassagh. Proceeds from the night amounted to €2,500 euro. Mná Cnoc Fola are holding a Christmas draw in aid of Arás Ghaoth Dobair in Derrybeg. The fist prize will be a Christmas cake and lines for the draw will be sold in the area. They are currently seeking people who are willing to join the committee. New Display at the County Museum What does a replica of the Beltany stone head and a War of Independence Medal have in common? The answer is that they are just two of the new objects currently on display in the Donegal County Museum. Other items include a pike Iron used in 1798 Rising; a Lee Enfield 303 rifle and a Medal Issued to Volunteers who were on active service in the War of Independence. These objects are kindly on loan from Cmdt Brendan Rohan (rtd). Also on permanent display is a replica of the Beltany Stone head, which was donated to Donegal County Museum by Fermanagh County Museum. Admission is free. For further information contact Caroline at Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal - Tel: 074 9124613 or emmail Donegal County Museum. Manorcunningham Carol Singers The Manorcunningham Community Development Project are looking for Christmas Carol Singers from 4th, 5th & 6th Classes to take part in their Christmas Celebration Night on Friday 16th December. Rehearsal classes will begin on Wednesday 23rd November from 5.30 - 6.30pm in the Resource Centre. The community project would also appreciate if parents would get involved and help make this a wonderful Community Christmas Celebration. For further information please contact the Community Development Office on 074 9157927 / 9157003. Dunfanaghy Workhouse Workshops Dunfanaghy Workhouse are hosting a series of Christmas crafts workshops with the Quilt Project on December 11th and Christmas Box Making on December 12th with Pauline Openeer and Christmas boxes and Christmas Card making on December 13th with Harriet Duffin. For further information contact 074 9136540. Dancing at Leuven 24th-26th February 2006 Dance with the Spirits of O'Neill and O'Donnell to the Kilfenora Ceili Band. The 3rd 'Dancing at Leuven' workshop and ceili will take place in the historic Irish College of Louvain, now known as The Louvain Institute for Ireland in Europe. This 17th century, former Franciscan seminary has, for centuries, been a source of learning and culture particularly relating to the preservation and development of the Irish language. It was here that the first dictionary in Irish was compiled and Irish grammar rationalised and simplified. The Donegal Franciscan scholar, John Colgan, studied at Louvain and one of the most famous work's produced there was the 'Annals of the Four Masters', a chronicle of Irish history from its first recorded occupation by mankind to AD 1616 whose principal compiler was Michael O'Clery, a native of Donegal. In 1983, the Irish Franciscans generously made the college available for development as a secular resource for the island of Ireland. The 2006 Dancing at Leuven event is rather special. The Institute is currently being renovated and it is anticipated that the historic church, dating from the 1600s will be the venue for this year's workshop and ceili. You can sense the history here! The Flight of the Earls in 1607 brought these nobles to the Irish College in Louvain. A gravestone in this former chapel marks the burial place of Inishowen's own Rosa O' Doherty and two of her sons. To celebrate this unique event - the first ever ceili in the historic Chapel - the Irish Club of Belgium need around 100 enthusiastic set dancers to raise the rafters. The Kilfenora Ceili Band from County Clare will play at two ceilis and Workshops will be given by Washington based Jim Keenan who gives so generously of his time to the Louvain event. You can stay on site at the Institute; repair to the NOD Bar after the dancing on the Friday and Saturday night and expect a singing session and a late night of craic. Then breakfast with a difference: surrounded by set dancers and 400 years of Irish history. The cost of the workshops and ceili is €65 if payment is received before 31st December (€75 after that date). Remember, you must book your own accommodation. For further information email Mary Fitzgerald.  Traditional Buildings Restoration Workshops in Donegal Summer 2006 Dates for the Festive Season Raphoe Youth and Community Project and Raphoe reconciliation Project are organising the annual Christmas Carol service. This will take place on Wednesday, December 15th from 7pm-9pm. Children from the Central and St. Eunan‘s Primary Schools will come together to form a choir. Santa will also arrive by horse and cart at the Volt House on this evening. Santa‘s grotto will be in the hall at the back of the Volt House. Everyone is welcome and we hope to see you all there. Santa will visit the after school club on Friday, December 16th from 2.15pm-4pm. Siopa An tSean Bheairic Tá bia nollaig anois ar fáil sa Siopa. Is féidir ciseán Nollag a dheánamh. Ceol, Craic agus Comhrá Seisiín gach o’che De Ceadoine 8-10pm Tá leathanband idirlíon anois ar fáil sa tSean Bheairic, €4 euro san uair. |
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