 Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.9 No.5, May /Bealtaine 2008 Holiday In Donegal in 2008! |
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Doherty secures Seanad debate on Irish language immersion Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson, Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty, has secured a debate in the Seanad on Minister for Education Mary Hanafin’s plans to end Irish language immersion in Gaelscoileanna throughout the State. Speaking during the debate Senator Doherty said all international research points irrevocably to early total immersion producing significant benefit, not only for the minority language but for the overall education of children. He said, 'The purpose of total Irish Language immersion, is to give Irish the room to breath in the early years of education, to give children a chance to absorb it when they are best capable of doing so and to give them greater choices by way of language skills throughout their whole education'. 'In Ireland research undertaken by the Department of Education in 1988 and published in 1991 does likewise. More research undertaken by Donal O hAinifein during the past 12 months quantifies the benefit and refutes the notion often wheeled out that immersion education damages English learning. This is simply not the case. 'Donal O hAinifein’s research surveyed the English reading attainment tests of 3,298 children in Gaelscoileanna at the end of the 2nd and 5th classes in the last academic year. At the end of 2nd class it showed that the equivalent score achieved by the top 33% of children nationally was attained by no less than 43% of children who had enjoyed at least one full year’s early total immersion in Irish'.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal Gramadach Gan Stró! Beidh leabhar nua Éamoinn Uí Dhónaill, Gramadach gan Stró! ar díol ar an suíomh - GaelChultur go luath! The new Irish Grammar book, Gramadach gan Stró! written by Donegal native Éamonn Ó Dónaill will be available to buy at GaelChultur soon! Tá an leabhar bunaithe ar an gcúrsa cruinnis nua a bheidh ar fáil Ranganna.com. The Grammar accompanies the online Irish language classes at Ranganna.com. Glencolmcille A new hill walking centre has opened in Glencolmcille. Check out Ionad Siul. Donegal Chamber Orchestra Donegal Chamber Orchestra in association with the Donegal Music Education Partnership presents Vivaldi Gloria at St. Eunan's Cathedral, Letterkenny on Saturday May 17th at 8:30 pm and admission is free. The performance by the Donegal Chamber Orchestra (Artistic Director: Víctor Yélamo) together with the LYIT Choir (Director: Graham Harrison) plus soloists Tine Verbeke (soprano), Liz Foster (mezzo-soprano) and Orsolya Szabó (violin/director) under the baton of the young Guest Conductor María del Mar Muñoz Varo features J. S. Bach's Air from the 3rd Suite for orchestra; William Boyce's Symphony No. 1 in B flat Major; Vivaldi's Violin concerto in A minor, Op. 3 No. 6 and Gloria in D Major, RV 589 and is eagerly anticipated by classical music lovers throughout the County. Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta Beidh Comórtas Peile Gaeltachta na Contae ar siúl i nGleann Cholmcille ón 3ú go dtí an 5ú Bealtaine. Beidh an Comórtas don Chailín Gaelach mar chuid de. Ma tá cailín ar bith i nGaoth Dobhair ar mhaith léithe a bheith san iomaíocht sa chomórtas ar shon CLG Ghaoth Dobhair, iarrtar uirthí labhairt leis An Chathaoirleach, Liam Ó Cnáimhsí nó le ball ar bith den Choiste roimh an 28ú Aibreán. Beidh an Comórtas Náisiúnta i nGleann Cholmcille i mbliana fosta agus beidh sé ar siúl ón 30ú Bealtaine go dtí an 2ú Meitheamh.  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide Dances of Peace Come to Donegal Noor McGuigan and Akbar Helweg, Senior dance teachers from Holland, will lead a weekend workshop entitled "Greening with Life" at the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, Linsfort, near Buncrana, from the 23rd-25th of May. Described as 'simple circle dances' the dance workshops are inspired by the wisdom and sacred phrases of the spiritual traditions of humankind. They are a form of celebration and meditation in song and movement, to the accompaniment of instruments. Dances of Universal Peace groups meet in many countries, the idea being to spread peace and goodwill between people of different traditions. The full residential fee is €190 while Fri. evening only is €12, Sat only €50, including a meal. For further details contact Bev Doherty on t.074 93 74581. Wise Woman Weekend The fourth annual Wise Woman Weekend will take place from June 6th to 8th, 2008 at St Angela's College on Lough Gill, Co. Sligo. This is a weekend of learning, discovery, celebration and fun for women of all ages. Judith Hoad, a founding member of the Wise Woman Weekend, and well known herbalists from Inver, Donegal will be giving her last keynote talk at this year's event. Her talk, entitled " The Last Frontier" is about her experience of the ageing process. Judith will also be available to share her elder wisdom in her workshop " This is My Life". Film maker Kathleen O'Hara, from the Inishowen, is optimstic a film about Judith's work will be ready for public viewing during the event. The weekend includes a diverse selection of activities, including workshops is permaculture garden design, dancing, singing, creative writing, weaving, walks in nature, the Wild Woman Social, mini treatments, yoga, meditation and much more. A weekend pass cost €140, Saturday only €90. Full details of the weekend can be found at Wise Woman Ireland. The Wise Woman Weekend is organised using sustainable principles by volunteers. Kilcar Online A new website to promote Kilcar has gone online at Cill Charta/ Kilcar. Fiddle Classes Saturday morning fiddle classes will take eplace in the Ardara Community Centre. Contact Geraldine on t. 086-8180080 for further information. The Late Dr Patrick Hillery The late President of Ireland, Dr Patrick Hillery, was a frequent visitor to County Donegal. The sympathy of the community here is extended to his sorrowing wife Maeve and loving son John, the extended family and all natives of Co. Clare here, on the death of the county's most prominent citizen. Sliabh Sneacht Challenge The annual Sliabh Sneacht Challenge bike race and hill climb for the Eamonn Noone Memorial Perpetual Cup at the North Pole bar takes place on Sunday, May 4 at 2pm. Leisure cyclists, walkers or hill climbers are very welcome. For more information telephone 0749362388. |
 Phil Coulter and Paul Brady protesting with 'Save the Swilly' at The Dáil. Phil Coulter is being honoured with a Civic Reception by Donegal County Council on May 20th, 2008. in recognition of the singer songwriter's long association with the promotion of the County. © Civic Reception for Phil Coulter Donegal County Council have announced that they will host a civic reception for singer/songwriter Phil Coulter on May 22nd. Phil, who has penned some of the countries most popular songs, is a long time champion of Donegal, having lived in the County for many years. A civic reception is the highest honour that the County Council can bestow on any individual and the announcement has been warmly greeted throughout the County and further afield. O'Dochartaigh Clann Gathering this July in Donegal and Derry The O'Dochartaigh Clann are holding a 10 day clann gathering from July 1st - 10th in Derry City and in Inishowen. This year's schedule includes an Opening Banquet in Derry; Derry City Museums and Wall Tours; Co. Donegal Bus Tour; Historical and Genealogy Workshops and Irish Cultural Classes. The first O'Dochartaigh Reunion was held in 1985,and have been held every 5 years since until the recent one in 2005. The Reunion Committee then decided to break with tradition and hold this next one in 2008 to commemorate the death of the last Irish chieftain, our own Cahir Rua O'Doherty who was killed the 5th of July 1608. In 2005 we had over 400 individuals who came from 10 different countries and 39 US states. For further information see O'Dochartaigh Reunion. 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.  Find your Holiday Accommodation 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. Rosses Currach Club Congratulations to the Rosses Currach Club who hosted the first regatta of the season at Kincasslagh Pier on April 27th. This was the 1st Round of the 2008 National Curragh League with teams making the long journey from Galway and Kerry for this unique event, which includes men's, ladies and mixed races. Da Capo 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.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Rossport Update Shell have announced a 'new' pipeline route from Rossport to the proposed refinery in County Mayo. Shell have applied for planning under the controversial Strategic Infrastructure Bill 2006 which overrides many aspects of the appeals procedure and could be argued as a breach of the Aarhus convention on public participation as the appeals process is now incredibly difficult. There are 8 weeks to object, which can only be made on certain grounds only under the infrastructure bill. For more please see: www.corribgaspipeline.ie. Shell are also applying for more Compulsory land Acquisition Orders which led to the jailing of the Rossport Five back in June 2005 and which, no doubt, will lead to serious confrontation as many people living locally saying they are prepared to go to jail. Madeleine McCann missing one year It is now one year since little Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3rd, 2007 and what happened to the little girl who has strong Donegal connections, remains a mystery. See Donegal on the Net News, May, 2007. |
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