Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain Faoi Mhaise Duit   Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! |
Coolvoy, County Donegal, December 1st, 2008 ©
|
A Decade of Donegal on the Net News This month Donegal on the Net News celebrates its 10th anniversary so we have been 'blogging' since before the word was invented! This independent website continues to promote the County worldwide with no funding from any state agency. It is the most popular website about Donegal on several search engines and now receiving over a million hits a year. We would like to wish all our readers a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! Unchained Melodies A concert entitled 'Songs for Amnesty International' will take place on Friday December 5th, 2008 at 8.00pm in Café Blend, High Road, Letterkenny. Some of Ireland's best singers/songwriters are giving their time and talent for free in support of Amnesty. Among the musicians performing on the night are: Richard Gilpin, Terry Monaghan, Rodney Cordner, Ian Smith, James Devlin and Bob Speers. All are welcome! The event is free but there will be an opportunity to make a donation to Amnesty International.  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal and it's History Death by Geography? For eight years the Government has promised to impliment a breast screening service in the north-west and now they are saying that the Breast Check service will be available here during early 2009 but that a location has yet to be decided. Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh believes that the Breastcheck service will be in Letterkenny General Hospital and will commence in late December, 2009. Since 2007 a Northern Ireland charity, Action Cancer, has provided low cost breast screening mammograms for 1,700 Donegal women which resulted in 19 women being diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2008 they have provided the service to 1,130 Donegal women which confirmed 7 cancer diagnoses. Availing of this service meant over a three hour bus journey to Belfast and, in spite of promises of cross-border co-operation, the service will no longer be offered as the charity say the Health Service Executive in the Republic has not offered them funding and that they can no longer operate the service due to costs. Joe McHugh said this was another example of the promised 'integrated health service' between North and South not materialising. 'Action Cancer provided a service for women, irrespective of age. BreastCheck is to be rolled out next year but unless you are a woman aged between 40-54 you will not be screened. There will be many women outside this age group who will be very concerned about this decision.' the TD said. Meanwhile women in the north-west continue to die for want of a breast screening service of any description. If diagnosed women from Donegal have to travel to Dublin or Galway for treatment with many opting for breast removal rather than endure the arduous weekly journey for 6 weeks which necessitates staying in Dublin at their own expense and far away from their families. Art News Donegal artist Ann Quinn has been shortlisted for this year's Hennessy Craig Award at the RHA Annual Exhibition for her painting 'Chak Chak'. The painting is based on a sacred Zoroastrian site in the central Iranian desert where she visited in 2006. The RHA exhibition opened on November 10th and runs until December 13th. See RHA GAllagher Gallery. Ann Quinn is also currently exhibiting in group shows at the Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin (opens on Tuesday 18th of December) and at Pallas Contemporary Projects, which opens on November 28th and runs for 3 weeks. Ian Gordon is currently exhibiting at the Square Space Gallery, Belfast. Ian has fast gained a reputation as a fine traditional painter and has exhibited widely in Donegal and throughout Ireland. As a landscape artist he feels an emotional response to any environment he gives visual expression to. See his work at Ash Lemon. Cavanacor Gallery are holding their Winter Group Show until December 24th. Exhibiting artists include Michael Canning, Rita Duffy, Brian Ballard, Sean Fingleton, Martin Mooney, Gillian Lawler, Chris Marshall, Osvaldo Budet, Carol Anne McGowan and Matthew O'Kane. Border still exists for Retailers While shoppers from Donegal continue to go north of the border to shop, consumers from north of the border are coming south to buy petrol. There is a massive difference between the price of diesel in Donegal and in Derry. In Derry petrol is 30% more expensive than in the south while southern shoppers are reporting 40% savings when shopping for groceries, clothes, electronics and electric goods in the north, even after changing Euro to Sterling. Many shops in Derry and Strabane offer Pound for Euro exchange rates. Sinn Féin Donegal County Councillor, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called for the harmonisation of VAT (Value added Tax) across the island of Ireland. Responding to the north’s VAT drop to 15%, Cllr Mac Lochlainn said 'if Brian Lenihan and his Fianna Fáil colleagues had in fact a single patriotic bone in their body they would immediately create a fair playing field for small retailers across the border counties by addressing the VAT differential on the island'. Philadelphia Ceili Group The Philadelphia Ceili Group will continue the celebration of their 50th anniversary by presenting the very popular show 'Irish Christmas in America' to be held December 9th at 8pm at the Commodore Barry Club, Carpenter Lane and Emlen Street in West Mount Airy. Philadelphia. Marking its fourth consecutive year of holiday performances 'Irish Christmas in America' will grace the stage of the Irish Center of Philadelphia on for a heartwarming and entertaining presentation of seasonal cultural traditions from the Emerald Isle. Produced by Oisín Mac Diarmada of the award-winning traditional group Téada, the cast also includes one of Ireland’s leading female vocalists, Karan Casey formally of the Irish super group Solas and Téada’s Sean McElwain and Tristan Rosenstock on guitar and bodhran respectively. Acclaimed harpist Gráinne Hambly and uilleann piper Tommy Martin, along with dancers Abbey Magill and Sienna Hickey, round out the ensemble, which also features evocative images and an engaging narrative. Mingling ancient traditions with the contemporary artistry of some of Ireland’s finest performers, this enchanting show brings the spirit of Christmas on a distinctively Irish journey throughout America. Tickets are $25 and $23 for Group members at the door on the night of the concert. Advance tickets are available at the Commodore Barry Club. For more information see Irish Chrishmas in America. Teaching jobs in the Gaeltacht Coláiste Cholmcille, Gaoth Dobhair and Coláiste Uladh, Gort a'Choirce are currently advertising summer employment in the Gaeltacht for Summer 2009. Part-time work is also available as well as work for directors and teachers who wish to undertake the challenge of running a summer course. The colleges have four centres and courses are held during the summer and at Easter for trainee teachers and other adults learners. Further information can be obtained at Coláiste Cholmcille or email your application to Donal O'Lonsigh . DonegalCounty.com News on Air and Online 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@Dun na nGall.com.  Click Pride.ie for Vintage Style Gaelic Football & Hurling T-Shirts Delivered World Wide Holiday Drink Driving Campaign A campaign to prevent drink driving is ongoing by An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This initiative will last until January, 2009. Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Inspector Pat O'Donnell said: 'A minority of drivers continue to selfishly ignore all the advice that has been offered in relation to drink driving. I wish to remind all drivers that the Gardaí will be increasing our focus over the festive period to ensure that anyone drinking and driving will be brought before the courts and disqualified from driving'. The Garda Síochána are conducting over 30,000 breath tests each month. The campaign is backed by the Donegal Road Safety Working Group as part of their ongoing road safety awareness programme. Ferris welcomes establishment of Corrib Forum The Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Natural Resources, Martin Ferris TD, welcomed the announcement that the Government is to set up a forum to attempt to settle the ongoing impasse over the development of the Corrib Gas field. Deputy Ferris said: 'The gas would be a tremendous asset to this country especially given the current economic situation. However, there are a number of issues that need to be honestly addressed and resolved before that can take place in the proper environment. Firstly, there is the fact that, as the project stands, this country actually stands to gain little in terms of revenue as compared to the fiscal regimes that are in place in other countries which have oil and gas off shore. Secondly, there is the fact that there is nothing to ensure that the gas when it does come on stream will be first of all used to supply domestic requirements and thus potentially reduce costs both to domestic and business users. And finally, of course, there are ongoing health and safety concerns. All of these issues need to be discussed and resolved before the project can move on with the support of the community.' Shell have completely vacated the Glengad compound in the last few weeks. The 'cliff' has been banked up with soft materials which will likely continue to be washed out by the rainwater. In the old compound itself, large heaps of materials have been piled and netted over to prevent birds nesting. The silence has been deafening from the powers that be, despite their recent announcement of setting up a forum or dialogue with people involved in the Corrib Gas issue. However no one has actually heard anything or been contacted about the forum. Minister Eamon Ryan has admitted in the media that 'mistakes were made' but has refused to discuss the moving of the refinery or the appropriacy of a pipeline landfall at Glengad. 'There will be no re-visiting of the consents / permissions already given to Shell', he said. As usual the terms of reference are pre-set by the 'authorities' in order to avoid a fair and proper addressing of the issues. According to media reports Shell plan to mobilise again in March, 2009 to lay a pipe at the Glengad compound. As a lot of the work has been done and just needs to be quickly dug out again so this could happen reasonably quickly. The camp house is open and there are a couple of people around most of the time. There is a lot of practical work to be done, preparing for the next Shell assault. A SHELL TO SEA Christmas Party is scheduled for Saturday December 13th in one of the local hostelries. A camp fundraiser is also planned for Friday December 12th in Healy's Pub, Glenamoy. Accommodation available as usual at the Rossport Solidarity House. All welcome as always at the Rossport Solidarity Camp / House, Barr Na Coille, Pollathomas, Ballina, Co Mayo. +353 (0)85 1141170. |
Dinny McGinley expelled from the Dáil THE Minister of Defence has shown 'total contempt' for the people of Donegal according to Fine Gael Deputy, Dinny McGinley, who was forced to leave the Dáil after a row erupted in the Dáil chamber over the closure of Rockhill and Lifford army barracks on November 26th. Deputy McGinley left the Dáil under protest after Minister O'Dea failed to answer Deputy McGinley's request for him to visit Donegal and the Donegal TD repeatedly demanded that the Minister prove whether he is 'a man or a mouse'. The Fine Gael deputy was asked to leave when he shouted at Minister O'Dea to say whether he would visit the barracks. The Dáil was suspended for 15 minutes and when it resumed, Mr McGinley accepted Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue's ruling that he should leave the chamber. Deputy McGinley stated that the Minister's attitude was nothing other that 'absolutely disrespectful, insolent, egotistical, rude, arrogant and conceited.' He accused the Minister of trying to 'politicise the Army, an entity which should be above politics for every democrat since the foundation of the State'. Fianna Fail TD, Pat The Cope Gallagher, has also condemned the plans to shut-down the two army posts in north Donegal and transfer all personnel to Finner Camp. He told 700 demonstrators at a protest rally in Letterkenny that he will be 'the conduit' between them and Minister O’Dea. The protest was organised by the Donegal Steering Group Against Barrack Closures which claims the barrack closures could loose €12 million to the local economy.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Mailn Head Station to Stay The news that Malin Head Coastguard Station is to be retained and upgraded, has been welcomed by the Save the Malin Head Station campaign group. There had been proposals to downgrade the service at Malin Head and Valencia Island in Kerry and to create a single all-Ireland rescue co-ordination centre but this was widely opposed by seafarers throughout the north-west. From Glengad to Glasgow Five members of the Galloway Mountain Rescue Team completed a 200 mile fund raising cycling challenge from Glengad in Inishowen to King's Park, Glasgow to raise funds for Brain Tumour Research at the Beatson Clinic, Glasgow in memory of Michael Duffy whose family are from the peninsula. Michael Duffy lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. The cyclists were Kenny MacKenzie, Mike McCann, Derek Hamilton and David Tyson, supported by Mike Baird in the Galloway Mountain Rescue Team's vehicle which left Glengad on October 16th. The cyclists completed the 200 mile cycle in 12 hours, 59 minutes and 40 seconds. The cycle has raised over £5000 to date and the money will be used for research into the early identification of brain tumors and the development of treatments. Donations can be made at Just Giving. Clonmany NS produce History CD The students of Clonmany National School have produced a CD-Rom which charts 172 years of the school's history and explores the heritage of the surrounding area. Produced in conjunction with the Nerve Centre in Derry, the project was undertaken by last year’s 5th and 6th class students who conducted interviews, research, filming and voiceovers. The CD has a special significance as this is the last year the students will be educated in the present school as a new school building is currently under construction. Clonmany National School opened its doors in 1836 and a new school was opened on the site in 1924. However this was too small and eventually it was agreed to build two, three roomed schools on the same site which opened in 1959. The boys and girls schools were later amalgamated. The students, helped by their teacher, Mr Toland, researched buildings of historical importance in the area and then narrated what they had found to camera. They also filmed sections dressed in historic costume. The CD-Rom costs €15 euro and all proceeds are in aid of the new school. The CD-Roms are available in shops around Inishowen and also from the school. Telephone 0749376355. Donegal's Ferry Services in Doubt The future of the Lough Swilly Ferry between Buncrana and Rathmullan, which runs for 2 months each summer, could be in doubt as the numbers using the service have fallen by half since 2004 when the ferry opened. In 2008, the service carried 8,912 cars, 234 other vehicles and 2,966 foot passengers compared to 2004 when the figures were 15,967 cars, 349 other vehicles and 8,846 foot passengers, only 33% of the 2004 figure. This year the ferry was subsidised by Donegal County Council by €136,500. The Lough Foyle Ferry between Greencastle and Magilligan in County Derry is also suffering from declining passenger numbers. The introduction of border controls on the Lough Foyle ferry (see Donegal on the Net News Oct., 2008), together with declining tourist numbers, has seen passenger figures fall by 130,000. For 2007-2008, the number of passengers carried was 206,534, down from a record high of 330,368 in 2003-2004.  Find your Holiday Accommodation in Donegal Arranmore Lifeboat Celebrates 125 years of saving lives Arranmore Island RNLI Lifeboat Station is celebrating 125 years of saving lives at sea on Sunday 30th November in the Lifeboat Station at Pollawaddy on Arranmore Island. A lifeboat service was established on the Donegal Island in 1883 with funding from Rev. Richard Vandeleur, Merrion Sq, Dublin who requested that a lifeboat station be established on the coast of Donegal. The lifeboat originally covered the entire area of Donegal, Mayo and some of the North East area of Ireland. The original lifeboat 'Vandeleur' was powered by oar and sail and was crewed by 15 local fishermen. All lifeboat crew were voluntary and the voluntary ethos is still the basis of the RNLI to the present day. Commenting on the 125th anniversary, Nora Flanagan, Arranmore lifeboat press officer and former crew member said: 'This is a very special anniversary for everyone connected with the lifeboat in Arranmore past and present. The last 125 years has been filled with plenty of drama - with safe returns and sad tragedies at sea. These tragedies are fewer thanks to the lifeboat crews.' The most famous rescue occurred in 1940 when the lifeboat rescued 18 Dutch crew members of the ship “Stolwijk’ in horrendous weather conditions. The crew were awarded gold, silver and bronze meals by the RNLI and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands awarded similar medals for the rescue of her countrymen. The most recent award was in 2006 when the RNLI awarded the coxswain, Anthon Kavanagh, a letter of thanks on vellum and his crew received framed letters of thanks for their part in the rescue of Keith White, a yachtsman from England, who got into difficulty 50 miles North of Arranmore in storm force winds. The rescue was one of the longest and most difficult in the history of the lifeboat with a total of 21 hours at sea.  Stag in the snow at Glenveagh National Park, Donegal Illegal Poaching of Wild Deer The Finn Valley, the Bluestack mountains and Glenveagh National Park, are at the centre of a deer-poaching ring, the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) has confirmed. Most of the animals are destined for the Christmas market with venison now fetching a €100 Euro a kilo in Dublin. However some of the poachers are looking for stag head trophies, leaving the deer carcasses to rot. Inexperienced and unlicensed hunters are using lamps and shotguns, instead of rifles, to shoot the deer and are causing the deer to suffer needlessly. Ireland has one of the lowest densities of wild deer in Europe but Glenveagh National Park has the largest herd of Red Deer in Ireland. Sult Beidh an chéad Sult eile 'Cóisir na Nollag' ar siúl Déardaoin 04/12/2008. Is é seo an Sult deireanach do 2008. Tá an club ar siúl mar is ghnáth thíos staighre in Break for the Border atá ar Shráid Stiofáin Íochtarach, in aice le hAmharclann an Gaiety. Osclóidh na doirse ar 8.45p.m. agus tosóidh an ceol beo gan mhoill ina dhiaidh sin. Cuirfear tús leis an oíche ag 9.00pm agus leanfaidh an spraoí ar aghaidh go dtí a 2.00am!! Aíonna na seachtaine seo! Is cláirseoir í Lily Neill a bhfuil clú agus cáil bainte amach aicí mar chumadóir agus mar sheinnteoir an-chumasach. Tá gradam LiveIreland.com "2006 New Female Artist of the Year'' buaite aicí. Sheinn sí os comhair Iar Uachtarán na Stáit Aontaithe Bill Clinton agus leis na Chieftains agis b'fhiú go mór an deis a thapú bheith ann luath (9.15pm) le í a chloisteáil. Tá tuilleadh eolais mar gheall uirthí ar fáil ar Níl le déanamh ach rpost a sheoladh go dtí Sult nó glaoch ar (01) 6753658. Tá eolas breise faoi na haíonna chomh maith le fís agus griangraif ó oícheanta eile de chuid Sult le feiceáil ar ár suíomh Club Sult The next Sult 'Cóisir na Nollag' is on Thursday, December 4th - the last Sult of 2008. It will take place as usual downstairs in 'Break for the Border' near the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin. Doors will open at 8.45pm and the live music will start shortly after that. The guest is Lily Neill, a virtuoso harp player who has performed with the Chieftans. Lily Neill is recognized as '…part of the new Harp revolution extolling aspects of harp music never previously heard' (2005 Irish Music Magazine). She was a prize-winner at the All-Ireland Harp competition and has won numerous awards, honours and scholarships for her technical and artistic abilities as well as her original compositions. More recently, she was named LiveIreland.com's "2006 New Female Artist of the Year. Admission is €10 or €5 for students. Group rates are available by ringing (01) 6753658 or emailing Sult. Donegal Association of Dublin The Donegal Association of Dublin are now seeking nominations for Donegal Person of the Year 2008. Application Forms available from the Secretary. The formal announcement will be held in the Regency Hotel on January 20th, 2009. Trad Music Classes There will be classes for traditional instruments including the fiddle, mandolin and accordian in the St. Johnston and Carrigans Resource Centre on Wednesday nights at 7.00pm. To Register telephone 074 91 48551. Class participants must have their own instruments!  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff Online since 1997! |
|
Genealogy Education Gaeilge Media Music Property Projects Services Shopping Sport Writers Books Email Us |