   Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.8 No.3 March, 2007 Holiday In Donegal in 2007! |
| 400th Anniversary of the Flight of the Earls 1607-2007 Stamps commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls from Ireland in 1607 were launched in An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny on February 23rd. The stamps were designed by Glenfin artist, Sean O'Brogain, who was commissioned by An Post to create a se-tenant pair of stamps featuring Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donnell, Earl of Tyrconnell as they left from Rathmullan on Lough Swilly, together with a hundred of their near relations. Sean has also designed a full-colour Flight of the Earls 'Minisheet', which features the pair of stamps inserted into the complete original artwork illustrating the boat in which the Earls departed from Lough Swilly. The stamp launch is one of many events taking place in 2007 commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls. See Commemorative Events. The artist Sean O'Brogain specialises in historical art and has a B.A. Honours in Natural History & Scientific Illustration as well as a Diploma in General Art Design. Sean has now been commissioned again to design a round of An Post Christmas stamps for 2007. Clannad Anniversary Gigs Donegal legends Clannad will celebrate the 35th Anniversary of their formation in a concert at Derry's Millenium Forum Theatre on March 14th and at the Olympia, Dublin on Friday March 16th, 2007. The band have sold over 10 million albums worldwide and its influence has spread across many artists and genres. Over the years Clannad have received many awards, including a Grammy, a Bafta and an Ivor Novello award and were the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 Meteor Ireland Music Awards. "The Brennan Tribute" documentary and the live concert of Clannad at Celtic Connections in Glasgow will be broadcast on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th on TG4.  Clannad Benedict Kiely RIP While the late great Benedict Kiely was not a Donegal author it would be remiss not to mention the passing of this acclaimed Irish writer. Ben Kiely was born on August 15, 1919 near Dromore and grew up in Omagh, Co. Tyrone. He was the youngest of six children to Thomas Kiely and Sara Alice Gormley of Dromore. During his early years Ben Kiely attended the Christian Brothers School in Omagh before entering the Jesuit novitiate in 1938 only to leave 18 months later. From the 1940s Kiely was based in Dublin where he wrote for the Irish Independent and later Irish Press. His first work, 'Counties of Contention', about the partition of Northern Ireland, appeared in 1945 and was followed by his first novel, 'Land Without Stars'. A number of his early works – 'In a Harbour Green', 'Honey Seems Bitter' and 'There was an Ancient House' were banned under the notorious Free State Government's censorship laws. Other popular novels by Kiely include 'The Cards of the Gambler' (1953), 'Dogs Enjoy the Morning' (1968), 'Proxopera' (1977) and 'Nothing Happens in Carmincross' (1985). His short story collections included 'A Journey to the Seven Streams' (1963), 'A Ball of Malt and Madame Butterfly' (1973), 'A Cow in the House' (1978) and 'A Letter to Peachtree' (1987). Two memoirs - 'Drink to the Bird: An Omagh Boyhood' (1992), and 'The Waves Behind Us' (1999) – recalled his early life growing up in Tyrone. In 1964, moved to the USA, taking up posts as writer in residence and lecturer in a number of Ivy League colleges. In 1968 he returned to Dublin to concentrate on his writing and broadcasting career, most notably on the RTE Radio 1 programme, Sunday Miscellany. Ben Kiely was elected Saoi of Aosdána, the highest artistic honour bestowed by the Irish Government, in 1996. Ben Kiely died at home in Dublin on February 9th and is buried in his native Tyrone. Sinn Féin Condemn lose of Gaelic college status in Gweedore Sinn Féin Councillor Pearse Doherty, has called for an urgent Government response to the withdrawal of recognition from Colaiste an Phiarsaigh, the Irish language summer college in Gaoth Dobhair. Cllr Doherty expressed serious concern about the emerging crisis, which could have a massive impact on the economic well-being and cultural life of the region. In particular, the future financial welfare of Mna Tí in the Gaoth Dobahir Gaeltacht area is now under grave threat. The Mna Tí are the women who host children visiting the college in their homes where the students can speak Irish in a family setting. Without the Euro these students bring into these homes for nine weeks each summer these families and the Gaeltacht community in general will suffer economically. For 21 years, the Colaiste has been made possible by the hard work of local Mna Tí, with around 30 local homes currently hosting students each summer. Cllr Doherty has publicly supported a decision taken by Údaras na Gaeltachta members to call for urgent three-way talks between the Údaras, Roinn na Gaeltachta and the Department of Education.   Holiday Houses and Cottages available for Rent in Donegal County Donegal Graveyard Survey Bord na Móna Environmental Consultancy Services Limited have been contracted by Donegal County Council to conduct a survey and inventory detailing all graveyards of all denominations in the County. For further information email Kenny Bucke or phone 045-439404/086-3830233. Women's Groups The monthly meeting of the Ballybofey and Stranorlar Women's Group will be held on Monday 26th February at 8.p.m. in the Women's Network Office, Donegal Road, Ballybofey. All women are welcome. The Annual General Meeting of Inishowen Women’s Outreach will take place on Wednesday the 14th of March beginning at 7:30pm. More details from 0749373337 between 10:00am to 1:30pm, Monday to Friday. Aileach womens group meeting in Burt Hall on Wednesday 28th February at 8:00pm. Come along and bring a friend. Teen Parents Programme The aim of the Donegal Teen Parents Support Programme is to improve the quality of life of teenage parents who live in the Finn Valley, Letterkenny, and Inishowen areas by implementing a developmental programme that is supportive to young mothers, young fathers and their parents, and which is based on identified needs. This project will also work in a co-ordinated way with existing services to develop better outcome for Teenage Parents. The project is funded by the HSE and is managed by Foroige, the National Youth Development Organisation. For more details contact Michelle Maguire on 086 8186345 or Tara Rowan on 086 8371335. |
 The new stamps commemorating the Flight of the Earls in 1607 Hollywood in Buncrana There will be a special pre-screening on Monday March 4th of a new Hollywood blockbuster 'Amazing Grace' in Buncrana. Moya Brennan of Clannad , various church leaders, senior politicians and film executives will be in attendence. The film 'Amazing Grace' opens in Ireland and the UK on March 23rd and tells the story of William Wilberforce (played by Ioan Gruffudd) and his fight against the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, encouraged by John Newton (played by Albert Finney) who was himself a former slave trader turned hymn-writer. John Newton’s life was transformed after he was caught in a terrible storm in the North Atlantic and found refuge in County Donegal's Lough Swilly in 1748. This was the turning point in John Newton’s life, and he later described his story in the much-loved hymn 'Amazing Grace' which he wrote in 1772. Ruth Garvey-Williams of Buncrana Chamber of Commerce said, "It really is quite an honour for the town. We're doing our best to ensure our guests get a great reception." The Gallagher Clan in Gortahork Beidh tionál mór ag Gallchoirigh na Gaeltachta in Ostan Loch Altán, Gort-a-Choirce ar an Aoine 2ú Marta ar 8.00 i.n. Beidh fáilte mhor roimh Gallchoirigh agus roimh an phobal. The Gallagher Clan will gather in Gortahork in the Loch Altan Hotel on Friday March 2nd at 8.0pm. All Gallaghers are welcome! Philadelphia Ceili Group Celebrate St. Patrick's Day The Philadelphia Ceili Group will present it's annual St Patrick's Ceili on Saturday March 17th 2007 at 8pm in the Grand Ballroom of the Commodore Barry Club, Carpenter Lane and Emlen Street in West Mount Airy. Philadelphia. The evening's festivities will begin with instructions in ceili and set dancing by John Shields and Cass Tinney from 7pm to 8pm. Music will be supplied by Comhaltas Irish Hall of Fame accordianist Kevin McGillian, his son Jimmy McGillian on banjo and Judy Brennan on piano. Tommy Moffit will be our special guest and receive a special award for his dedication and preservation of Irish Traditional music and culture in the Delaware Valley. Dancing will begin at 8pm. Tickets are $15. Tea and scone will be served. The Philadelphia Ceili Group invites everyone to bring their favorite Irish snack food. For further information call (215) 248 0502; visit Philadelphia Ceili Group; email philaceili@aol.com. 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 produced a yearly festival of Irish Traditional music in early September since 1974.  Kevin, Jimmy and John McGillian who will play at the Philadelphia Ceili Group's St. Patrick's Day Celebrations. Kevin, a native of Co. Tyrone, is married to Mary Boyce from Milford, Co. Donegal. Their sons Jimmy and John were born in Philadelphia. Being a listener Course for women in Dungloe Letterkenny Women's Centre will be running their 'Being a Listener' course for women in the Dungloe area in March. This course is intended as a follow on for women who completed the introductory course in counselling and listening. It is also open to women who have done other intrductory courses in counselling or listening skills. The course will start on Thursday 8th March, 7-10pm (3 hrs per night), and runs for 10 weeks. Venue is Rosses CDP offices in the Sean Tec, Dungloe. Course costs €35 euro (€15 euro unwaged). Please phone Letterkenny Women's Centre 074 9124985 for more details or to book a place. Donegal News on Air News from Ireland can be heard in Pennslyvannia on 'Echoes of Erin' WEDO 810FM on Sundays from 1.00-2.00pm and online at Echoes of Erin. The show is running for 19 years and 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. If you are in Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30 to 9.00am local time (see Sydney Irish Radio) while Brisbane listeners can catch Mike Cunningham's show on 4EB 98.1 FM with Patricia Sharkey's 'View from the Hills' on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm.  Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff - Online Ten Years! Donegal team at the Top Donegal sit at the summit of division 1A of the Allianz National Football League after their defeat of Dublin in Fr Tierney Park on February 25th. The Tir Chonaill team led from start to finish with scores from Rory Kavanagh, Brendan Devenney, Ciaran Bonner and Colm McFadden which saw them surge into a five point to nil score lead after only 23 minutes of play. The final score was Donegal 0-09 to Dublin 0-05. Donegal will now meet Tyrone on March 10th at Healy Park. |
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