 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.9 No.4, April / Aibrean 2008 Holiday In Donegal in 2008! |
| Unemployed numbers rise in Donegal County Donegal retains the title of the worst unemployment figures in Ireland. There are currently 10,352 people on the unemployment register in Donegal, the highest number in over a decade and nearly 400 more than in the month of February. The number of unemployed in the County has increased by 22% per cent in the last two years with the County having a higher unemployment rate than the whole of Counties Sligo, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan put together, even though these counties population is 42% per cent higher than County Donegal. The number of people unemployed is in direct relation to rising poverty levels in Donegal as witnessed by charities such as St. Vincent de Paul. People who find themselves in difficulties should contact the Money Advice and Budgeting Service in Letterkenny (MABS). Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is calling for Donegal to be designated as an area of ‘specific economic need’ to avail of urgent investment and fast tracked strategic initiatives. Volunteers Wanted Would you like to make a difference in your local area, get to know people in your community, share your talents and knowledge; develop your skills and interests? If you have answered 'yes' to any of these questions and have a few hours to spare, please contact Sandra on 086 8117157 at the Donegal Volunteer Centre or register online at Volunteer Donegal. Comhtionól na gVeitheach i mNaile dhún na nGall Beidh Oireachtas na Cásca ar siúl i mBaile Dhún na nGall le linn na Féile Pan-Cheiltí agus beidh roinnt comhimeachtaí á reáchtáil ag an dá fhéile ar mhaithe le cairdeas agus muintearas a spreagadh agus a chothú idir an lucht leanúna uile. Tosóidh an Fhéile Phan-Cheilteach le splanc ar an Mháirt 25 Márta agus leanfaidh sé ar aghaidh go dtí Dé Domhnaigh an 30 Márta. Idir an dá linn beidh taispeántais , ceol agus rince as na Tíortha Ceilteacha i lár an bhaile gach lá. Is é Buaicphointe na féile ná an Comórtas Amhráin Pan-Cheilteach, is é seo an t-imeacht is mó agus is iomráití sa chlár agus rachaidh amhráin ó sheánraí éagsúla ceoil idir rac-cheol, phopcheol agus cheol traidisiúnta san iomaíocht le chéile don phríomhdhuais. Cuirfear tús le himeachtaí an Oireachtais ar an Déardaoin 27 Márta leis an seoladh oifigiúil agus beidh Léacht an Oireachtais ar siúl ina dhiaidh. Is é téama an léachta a thabharfaidh Des Geraghty ná 'Ní fíor-Ghael ná fíor-Ghall ach seal anonn agus seal anall" téama tráthúil a bhfuil dioscúrsa meáite tuillte aige ionas go bhféachaimid le tuiscint a fháil ar shochaí na hÉireann i ré seo na himirce, na hilchineálachta cultúrtha , na teicneolaíochta nua agus an iliomad eile atá ina gcionsiocair le luas uafásach an athraithe sa 21ú hAois. Tá clár na n-imeachtaí go léir ar fáil i measc ábhar eile ar láithreáin ghréasáin na bhféilte: feic PanCentic.ie agus An tOireachtas.ie.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal Buncrana Shopping Complex An Bord Pleanála has granted permission to Dublin’s Palladio Properties to build a 6,528 square metre retail centre and two-storey car park comprising nearly 450 spaces at Ardaravan Square, Buncrana. Bluestack Way A meeting to outline the new walks scheme along the Bluiestack way will take place in the Bkluestack centre, Drimarone, on Tuesday, April 15th, at 7:30 pm. The meeting has been organised by Donegal Local Development Company, who will administer the scheme and all farmers/private landowners and landholders/users are asked to attend. Further details are available from Frank Kelly at 074-9127056 or e-mail Frank Kelly. Craobh Siansa Gael Linn ar Siúl go Luath! Beidh ceoltóirí óga ó cheann ceann na tíre ag triall ar an gCeoláras Náisiúnta i mBaile Átha Cliath ar an Domhnach 27ú Aibreán 2008 chun páirt a ghlacadh i gCraobh SIANSA GAEL LINN, comórtas do ghrúpaí ceoil thraidisiúnta. Tá an comórtas seo á reáchtáil ag Gael Linn, le tacaíocht ó Raidió na Gaeltachta, Irish Music Magazine agus An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta chun spreagadh agus ardán a thabhairt d'ógthallann na tíre a bhfuil mar sprioc acu an ceol agus an amhránaíocht thraidisiúnta a thabhairt leo, mar atá déanta ag grúpaí ar nós Altan, Clannad, Danú, Dervish srl. Tá an oiread sin éilimh ar thicéid don ócáid seo bliain i ndiaidh bliana go raibh ar an lucht eagraithe ionad níos mó a fháil chun freastal ar an lucht éisteachta mór! Leadership Skills Training Suicide intervention training will take place on April 19th and 20th from 9a.m. – 5.p.m. in the Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny. For further information please contact Shirley on 086 9395954. This training is funded through Cross-Border Consortium under Peace 11 Programme and par-financed by Irish and UK Governments. Glencolmcille A new hill walking centre has opened in Glencolmcille. Check out Ionad Siul. Old Time Dancing Classes in Creeslough Old Time Dance and Traditional 2 Hand Dancing and Jive Dancing Classes will take place in McNulty's Bar in Creeslough on Friday at 8.30pm, everyone is welcome. Leabharlann Ghaoth Dobhair Tá Leabharlann Ghaoth Dobhair lonnaithe sat Sean Teach Pobail i nDoirí Beaga agus is inti atá an stóras is mó leabhar Ghaeilge fan Iar Thuaisceart. Tá seirbhís idirlíon ar fáil: www.donegallibrary.ie Seo leanas uaireanta foscailte: Dé Luain: 3.00 – 8.00 . Dé Céadaoin: 11.00 – 1.00 agus 3.00 – 8.00 Déardaoin: 3.00-6.00, Dé hAoine: 10.30-6.00 agus Dé Satharn:10.30-12.00 agus 1.00-4.00. Pharmacy Dispute 90% per cent of the pharmacies in Donegal have written to the Health Service Executive stating their intention to withdraw from their contracts with the HSE as of May 1st. Responding to the news Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty has written to Minister Mary Harney requesting that the Department of Health intervene immediately to facilitate talks between IPU and the HSE with six weeks to resolve the issue. If this dispute cannot be averted then it is essential that contingency plans are set in place that minimise the implications for patients who need their medication. The HSE must guarantee the continued supply of medication with qualified staff. The Irish Pharmacy Union north West representative feels that pharmacies simply cannot take the proposed 30% cut in payment from the HSE. ”The HSE have acted in a unilateral bullying and slaughtering approach and the 30% reduction is something pharmacists cannot cope with. Each pharmacist acts individually and it is not a united front but I expect the number to go up in Donegal. The HSE are aware that the current framework is the cheapest and most efficient for patient care and they are refusing to talk and engage the union where the matter could be quickly resolved.”He advises concerned patients to contact their pharmacist about the private only basis which they will operate from May 1st if a resolution is not found. The HSE help line is 1850 241850.  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide Donegal School Reunions A reunion of pupils from the former Knockastolar National School will be held on the weekend of Friday 19th to Sunday July 20th. Booking can be made by contacting any of the following: Charles Breslin, Bunbeg Harbour, (telephone (00353) 74-9532781), Joe Diver, Coshclady, Bunbeg, (074-9531375 /087-9044492), John Gillespie, Crolly, ((00353) 74-9532000). Scoil Mhuire Gleneely will hold their Reunion Dinner Dance on Friday, August 1st in the Malin Hotel, Music by The Country Boys. Dinner served at 8.30pm. Tickets are on sale in local shops and are priced at €25 euro each or any of the committee. If anyone has old photos before 1990 the committee would be most grateful to have a loan of them and they will be returned after the dance. Buncrana Hogmanay The Hogmanay in August committee is holding a meeting on Tuesday, April 15th at 8pm in The Lake Of Shadows and would like to see new people interested in the event. They propose to hold another Hogmanay on the weekend from August 29th to August 31st. |
 Glen Head, Co. Donegal © Lisbon referendum should be on weekend Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson, Senator Pearse Doherty, has called on the Government to re-think its proposal to have the Lisbon Treaty referendum on June 12th. Senator Doherty said the referendum should be held on a Saturday in order to facilitate students and workers living away from home to travel home to vote. Senator Doherty said, “Mid-week polling days are not suitable for the many thousands of students and workers living away from home. I am calling on the Taoiseach and the Government, in the name of democracy, to re-think the date for the Lisbon Treaty referendum. A Saturday polling day would be preferable and would ensure a much higher turnout. Turf-Cutting DVD Launched 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 the sale of the DVD 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.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff 11 Years Online! Exhibitions Ardara Artist Stephen Bennett is currently exhibiting at the Dame St Gallery, Dame St., Dublin 2. Photographer Peter McCabe is exhibiting landscape paintings in Mountcharles (tel. 074 91 41143) and David O'Kane is exhibiting his paintings at Cavanacor Gallery, Liford until May 1st. Art Classes for Beginners will commence in Volt House, Raphoe. Anyone interested in the above please telephone the Volt House, Raphoe on 9173966 to leave your name and telephone number.  Find your home in Donegal DonegalCounty.com Radio DonegalCounty.com & Dún na nGall.com is online for eleven years, making it the longest established website about Donegal. The site 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 and online at Echoes of Erin. 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 your product or service to a worldwide audience of people with an interest in Donegal email info@Dún na nGall.com. Access all areas John Riordan, a disability rights campaigner, from Kinnego has criticised wheelchair accessibility in Inishowen. John has also left Fine Gael saying he no longer wants to be in a party that he claims ignores the disabled. Wheelchair-bound Mr Riordan was unable to attend the Inishowen Fine Gael district executive meeting at the Strand Hotel in Ballyliffin because a driver had parked over the access lane. Mr Riordan said: “All the supermarkets in Buncrana have superb disability access. If the supermarkets can do it, why can’t the hotels?” Sports for People with Disabilities (Donegal Sports Partnership) are compiling a survey to improve on the sporting and physical activities of People with Disabilities. If you are interested in participating in this short survey / questionnaire: contact Therese at Donegal Sports Partnership 074 9186713/4 or drop into Dergfinn Centre for a form. Camera Club The Inishowen Camera Club meets in Serenity House, Montgomery Terrace, Moville on Thursday April 3rd at 7.30pm. The theme of the meeting is Black and White conventional photography. There are always delighted to welcome new members.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Dunfanaghy Workhouse The old Dunfanaghy Workhouse is open Monday to Saturday 10.00am to 4.00pm and closed Sundays. The quilt and community art exhibitions are still on and everyone is welcome to view the works. Hannah's Tearoom is offering an April Special of Tea or Coffee and a slice of pie for €4.00. Inishowen Concert Series The Da Capo Concert Series, based in Inishowen, commences with a recital in the Fowler Hall, Tooban, Fahan, on Friday 2nd May at 7.30pm. It will feature the young international Binneas Quartet, and the traditional sean-nos singer Eilín Ní Bheaglaoich. The programme includes music fromHaydn to Piazzolla, and will premier songs from Ní Bheaglaoich’s native Sean-Nós tradition arranged for string quartet and voice by John Lynch. Tickets €10/€5 concession Tel. 087 2259858 or 9383734 for bookings. |
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