Donegal County Development Board

Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil
Donegal
Community in Touch
Issue 17 November 2012 / Samhain 2012
Welcome
Fáilte
When I had the first hundred copies
of The Irish Emigrant, I was amazed.
It’s hard to imagine that you can
DONEGAL BuSiNESS
6
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
8
DONEGAL COMMUNITY LINKS
10
Message From The Mayor
Céad Míle Fáilte
For 25 years, Liam and his wife Pauline produced the weekly e-newsletter,
sending it out to a vast network of Irish emigrants and paving the way
for subsequent e-news publications. The couple won a Golden Spider for
Significant Contribution to the Internet in Ireland and Ferrie was the first
recipient of the Irish Internet Association Net Visionary Award in 1999.
There was a newssheet sold outside
church on Sundays and people
would buy it and send it abroad. This
newssheet, the Moville Emigrant,
used to arrive at our doorstep in
Scotland and we would devour it.
Anyway, the Moville Emigrant kept
going through our minds and we
decided to set up the Irish Emigrant.
We tried to repeat the tradition. What
the Moville Emigrant did for us the
Irish Emigrant would do for people
from all counties. I knew there
were people out there who wanted
to know what was happening in
Ireland.
2
EDUCATION AND LEARNiNG7
Liam Ferrie, editor of the
world’s longest-running
e-newsletter in the world,
The Irish Emigrant,
retired in February 2012.
‘I think of myself as being born an
emigrant. I was born and educated
in Scotland but there is a Donegal
connection on both sides. My mother
was from outside Moville. We were
brought back there every school year
for the holidays and I fell in love with
it. My grandfather’s brother John
lived in the house that is now Ionad
Cois Locha in Dunlewey. My father’s
first cousins also lived in Dunlewey;
Manus was a weaver, Paddy a sheep
farmer and Sophie looked after the
two of them.
NEWs
grow much beyond having 2800
in circulation but we eventually
reached 23000-24000.
I keep in touch with home while
abroad. I got the Derry Journal sent
to me every week in London. In
1963, my second cousin from outside
Moville came over to London to work.
I took him to Westminster Tower. We
saw two lads sitting at the top with a
transistor radio listening to a hurling
match from Ireland. They couldn’t
get reception anywhere else!’
I was over the moon last year
(2011), when I got a letter from the
President of N.U.I Galway offering
me an honorary degree. Another
proud moment was when we invited
President Robinson to our office and
she accepted.
Retiring then, turned out to be
easier than I expected. The main
rewards were the kick out of doing
the Irish Emigrant newsletter and
the feedback, as well as getting to
know people, so I miss that. Overall,
though, I couldn’t see myself going
back to that time, but if someone else
wanted to take it up…
Liam was interviewed by Kevin Smith
from Ballybofey who is currently studying
English at Trinity College Dublin.
It is with great
pride that I
introduce to
you this edition
of Donegal
Community in
Touch. Since being
elected Mayor of
Donegal, I have
been kept busy but
have enjoyed every
minute of it.
In July, one of my first official duties was to welcome
a delegation from the FAI, which included John
Delaney, Ray Houghton and Giovanni Trapattoni.
Following on from that there was a Civic reception
held for the Donegal Hurling Team who won the
Lory Meagher Cup. September saw the launch of
The Gathering Ireland 2013 which aims to attract
overseas visitors to Gathering events around Ireland
and it’s up to us to tell everybody that Donegal is the
place to visit.
In my year as Mayor, I intend to bring awareness to
mental health problems and the way sport can play
a vital role in helping recovery and I would like to
congratulate Jim McGuinness and the Donegal team
on winning The All Ireland 2012. This has given
everybody a great boost and I am sure you were all
watching and celebrated after the final whistle.
I hope, wherever you are, you are safe and well and
keep in touch with your loved ones at home.
Le Gach Dea Ghul
Cllr Frank McBrearty
An Meara Contae Dhun na nGall
Continued Inside
News
DONEGAL GATHERING 2013
Seafest
In anticipation of this momentous year
‘Donegal Gathering’ has been established
so that we, as a county, can fully play our
part in these exciting times. Cllr Frank
McBrearty stated, “As Mayor of Donegal,
I am delighted to be involved in the
Gathering. We want to invite anyone with
a connection to Donegal to come, visit and
be part of our unique celebration.”
Having internationally promoted over
35 events in 2012, Donegal Gathering is
now calling every man and woman to get
actively involved in encouraging friends
and relatives to visit Donegal in 2013 as
part of ‘The Gathering’.
County Manager Seamus Neely says
“Communities, villages and towns
throughout Donegal are organising
a packed calendar of gatherings, festivals
and events to welcome people from all
over the world. This is something
which has never taken place before.
It is a unique opportunity to really
experience Donegal like never before
and to reunite with family and friends
both old and new.”
2013 introduces ‘The
Gathering’. Its aim is to
urge the 70 million people
worldwide of Irish descent,
and even those who just
want a touch of Irishness, to
make a trip to the Emerald
Isle next year to be part of
‘The Gathering 2013’.
So what can you do? It’s about asking
anyone who has Donegal blood, a link to
Donegal, or even just a love of our county
– to join us for a series of amazing and
diverse events throughout 2013.
The Gathering website has 28 events
already planned for Donegal which is the
fifth largest in Ireland to date, and this
number is continuing to rise. You can
view these events on:
www.thegatheringireland.com
A new ambassador page has been added
to the website which features interviews
with many famous Donegal faces such
as Daniel O’Donnell, Shay Given, Moya
Brennan, Rory Kavanagh and this list is
growing by the week. In this page they
talk about what the Donegal Gathering
means to them. All these interviews can
be viewed on:
www.thegatheringireland.com
There has never been a better time to
visit Donegal so spread the word to
family and friends!
Earagail Arts Festival
Indian Ambassador to Ireland visits Donegal County Council
The Indian Ambassador
to Ireland, Mr. Debashish
Chakravarti visited
County Donegal in early
October and this visit
provided an opportunity
to discuss the many
links between India and
Ireland. Mayor Frank
McBrearty used this
occasion to showcase
Donegal as both a
tourist and investment
destination.
Photo: Liam Ward Director of
Service, Donegal County Council,
the Mayor of Donegal, Cllr. Frank
McBrearty Jnr with the Indian
Ambassador to Ireland, Mr.
Debashish Chakravarti and his wife
Mrs. Adity Chakravarti on a visit to
the Council Offices
Donegal Community in Touch Page 2
News
DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL CIVIC RECEPTION
HONOURS DANIEL O’DONNEL
County Manager Music legend Daniel
O’Donnell was accorded the county’s
highest honour at a Civic Reception hosted
in his honour by the Mayor and members
of Donegal County Council at the County
House, Lifford on the 22nd June 2012.
Mayor McBride commented: ‘I am delighted
that one of my final acts in my term as Mayor
of the County of Donegal will be to confer
this tremendous honour on Daniel O Donnell
in recognition of his great achievements in
music and as a wonderful ambassador for the
county.” He added ”I trust that this award
will adequately reflect the great esteem in
which Daniel is held by the people of the
County for the entertainment and joy his
music has given us and the marvellous work
he continues to do.
Daniel is the fifth recipient of a badge and
pin specially commissioned by the Council.
The badge (and lapel pin) is reserved
exclusively for those on whom the Freedom
of the County is conferred.
The badge is a silver replication of the County
Badge granted to the Council County by the
Chief Herald of Ireland as part of a Grant of
Arms to the County.
Please visit: www.danielodonnell.org
TIR CHONAILL GAELS GAA CLUB IN LONDON
CELEBRATES 50 YEARS
The recent 50th Reunion held in Mac
Cumhaill Centre, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal
was organised by Eddie McGinty. Tir Chonaill
Gaels GAA Club in London has been home
from home for many Donegal people whilst
Daniel O’Donnell pictured with his wife Majella,
former Mayor Noel McBride and Seamus Neely,
County Manager
they were in London, and it was awonderful
opportunity to acknowledge that and a meet
up with past members now living back in
Donegal.
Please visit: www.tirchonaillgaels.com
Jackie Green, Peader Duffy, Tom Mohan and
Mickey McGrath with a ball that was bought in
Holborn in 1963 which was bought by Peader
Duffy and his brother Mick. Balls in them days
were scarce, each team had to buy their own
ball. This one cost £7, 7 Shillings and 6 pence a lot of money in them days
DONEGAL HURLING TEAM HONOURED
WITH CIVIC RECEPTION
At a civic reception on the 23rd July in the
County House, Lifford, the Donegal Hurling
Team that won the Lory Meagher Cup in 2011
were honoured.
The Lory Meagher Cup is an annual hurling
competition organised by the GAA since 2009
and is an extension of the All-Ireland Senior
Hurling Championship, the premier knockout hurling competition. The winners of the
Lory Meagher Cup are promoted to the Nicky
Rackard Cup competition the following year.
Please visit: www. gaa.ie
Donegal County Council hosts
reception for FAI
Donegal County Council hosted a reception
for the FAI on the 19th July in the County
House, Lifford. This reception was hosted in
recognition of the FAI choosing Donegal as the
location for their 2012 Festival of Football and
AGM.
The reception was attended by FAI officials and
well known football personalities including FAI
President Paddy McCaul, FAI CEO John Delaney,
Republic of Ireland Senior Manager Giovanni
Trapattoni, Assistant Manager Marco Tardelli
and former Ireland international player, Ray
Houghton.
Mr. Seamus Neely, County Manager stated
that “it is fitting for Donegal County Council
The Donegal Hurling Team pictured with Mayor
Frank McBrearty, elected members and official
from Donegal County Council
to host this reception for the FAI. Donegal is
the destination of choice for the FAI in terms
of hosting the 2012 Festival of Football and
AGM.” He further added that “Donegal County
Council has been working in partnership with
the FAI since 2007 through programmes such as
Football for All, Project Futsal and Show Racism
the Red Card”.
The Mayor of Donegal Cllr. Frank McBrearty
also praised the FAI for coming to Donegal and
stated that “these visits by the FAI officials will
provide them with an opportunity to meet the
many volunteers in the various clubs in Donegal
and the success of soccer in Donegal is without
doubt a testament to their hard work and
dedication”.
Ray Houghton meeting MacDaragh Heaney at
the FAI reception at Donegal County Council
Donegal Community in Touch Page 3
News
DONEGAL END 20-YEAR DROUGHT
GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
Donegal 2.11 - Mayo 0.13
Donegal ended a 20-year wait for Sam
Maguire with a deserved four-point defeat of
Mayo in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior
Championship final at Croke Park on Sunday
September 23rd 2012.
The men from Tír Conaill did all the damage
in the first 11 minutes, a period in which they
had established a 2.01 to 0.00 lead, Michael
Murphy and Colm McFadden both hitting the
net in a remarkable start to a game that never
quite reached those heights again.
Mayo fought back and were the better side for
large parts of the second and third quarters,
but they lacked the creativity and guile to
unlock a mean Donegal defence in which
the Mc Gee brothers, Eamon and Neil had
outstanding games.
DONEGAL NY BEAT RANGERS
FOR INTERMEDIATE CROWN
The Donegal NY team who won the
Intermediate Championship and will return to
Senior standing for 2013
For Mayo, the heartache and their agonising
wait for their first All-Ireland title since 1951
continues, this latest loss in Croke Park
adding to a horrendous sequence of six
successive All-Ireland final defeats since 1989.
The homecoming in the Diamond in
Donegal Town on the Monday will long be
remembered by the estimated crowd of 20,000
despite it being a very wet and cold evening.
The victorious team then went on a tour of
the county from Tuesday to Thursday and
were greeted and acclaimed by thousands
of supporters in every town and village
throughout Donegal.
Michael Murphy holds aloft the Sam Maguire
For more information visit:
www.donegalgaa.ie
TIR CHONAILL GAELS WIN
THE LONDON SENIOR
CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
Manager, Jim Mc Guinness celebrates
after the final whistle
The Tir Chonaill Gaels pictured following
their 1-15 win to Kingdom-Kerry Gaels 1-8
GROUND ZERO 360° EXHIBITION IN LETTERKENNY
Donegal County Council’s Regional Cultural
Centre is proud to host Ground Zero 360° a
very important exhibition on the events of
9/11 in New York. This incredible touring
exhibition has been shown all over the United
States, and in a number of major Irish venues
over the course of the last year. The exhibition
in Letterkenny has a special feature on
remembering New York born Damien Peter
Meehan whose parents are from Donegal
Town. Ground Zero 360° was launched by
Mr. Dinny McGinley T.D. Minister of State
at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the
Gaeltacht on Sunday 9th September 2012. The
exhibition opened to the public on Tuesday
September 11th and continues until Saturday
October 27th.
On September 11, 2001, New York City was
shaken to its core when two jet airliners
crashed into the twin towers of the World
Trade Centre. Dublin photographer Nicola
McClean, who was working in the downtown
area at the time of the attack, captured
the chaos, confusion and panic that
surrounded her. NYPD Bronx Commander
Paul McCormack, originally from Stranorlar,
was one of the first on the scene. Over the
following 10 years, McClean and McCormack
worked together to create Ground Zero
360°, a stunning panoramic installation
of photographic images and artefacts that
provide a unique insight into the hearts
and minds of New Yorkers in the days that
followed the attacks. The exhibition is
made possible with the financial support
of Department of Arts, Heritage and the
Gaeltacht and Donegal County Council. For
further information see:
www.groundzero360.org
The Diamond in Donegal Town packed for the
homecoming of the All-Ireland Champions
Cllr Frank McBrearty, Minister Dinny McGinley
TD, Nicola McClean, Cllr Dessie Larkin, Micheal
OhEanaigh (Photo Clive Wasson)
Donegal Community in Touch Page 4
News
Tip O’Neill Donegal Diaspora Events
7 & 8 September 2012 Buncrana
The Turning of the Sod on the Drumfries Community/Heritage
Centre which, Tip O’Neill’s grandmother, Eunice Fullerton, attended
in the 1860s by Tip’s grandchildren in the presence of the O’Neill
family, the local community and by the local elected officials
Local musicians welcoming the O’Neill family
to their forebearers home in Drumfries
The Tip O Neill Diaspora Schools Essay / Art competition display
The presentation of Irish American Partnership Bursaries by
Michaela O’Neill Daniel to five local Buncrana Primary Schools at a
special reception at the Tip O’Neill Diaspora Gala Awards. Principals
of the schools included Róisín Walsh – Drumfries, Margaret Farren
– St Oran’s, Rosemary Dunne - St Mura’s, Sinéad Mc Laughlin - Scoil
Íosagáin, Úna Ní Mhaoildeirg – Gaelscoil Bhun Cranncha (Tip 2)
The O’Neill family with Cllr Frank Mc Brearty, Mayor of Donegal
and Cllr James Gill, Mayor of Buncrana, following the unveiling of
the Tip O’Neill monument
Niall O’Dowd’s guests at the first Tip O’Neill Diaspora Award
John Hume with his old PEACE friend Tip O’Neill
Pat Hume presenting the first Tip O’Neill Diaspora award
on Niall O’Dowd
Professor Paul Arthur delivering the lecture to an audience in the
presence of John Hume who was instrumental in delivering peace
to the country
Donegal Community in Touch Page 5
Donegal Business
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GREEN ECONOMY – INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON RENEWABLE ENERGY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRELAND
Donegal County Council hosted a major
international conference on Renewable
Energies and Opportunities in the
Green Economy. The conference, which
took place on 12th September 2012 in
Donegal Town, addressed opportunities
for Ireland in emerging offshore energy
markets, policies, electric transportation,
biomass and smart technologies.
The conference placed a particular
emphasis on the whole area of ocean
energy including wave, offshore wind,
and tidal and the possibilities relating to
this sector for Donegal and for Ireland.
It also addressed emerging policy, both
National & European, for this sector and
looked at reviewing existing development
in Ireland and internationally and looked
at the resources provided by Killybegs
with regards to servicing a future
offshore energy industry off the west
coast of Ireland.
A number of renowned experts in the
area of renewable energy addressed the
conference including Neil Doherty from
Sgurr Energy, Sustainable Engineering
Worldwide, Paul Williamson from Maine
Wind Industry Initiative and Jouko
Parviainen from Josek Ltd in Finland who
talked about Biomass Developments &
Technology.
Michael Lamblin, director of Interreg IVC
gave the opening address on the state of
play and perspectives on Interregional
co-operation.
The successful conference was attended
by 150 delegates who came from
Maine US, Cornwall UK, Scotland,
Sweden, Finland, Spain, Bulgaria,
Romania, Austria, Derry and a large
local representation of businesses and
industries in the renewable sector.
For more information click below:
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ERNACT celebrates 21st anniversary with special event
in the European Parliament
The ERNACT regions network, jointly
founded and managed by Donegal
County and Derry City councils,
welcomed the Commissioner for
Research Innovation and Science,
Máire Geoghegan Quinn, to their 21st
anniversary event in the European
Parliament on the 18th September.
The purpose of the event was to highlight
the economic development, broadband
and future digital services infrastructure
needs of the ERNACT regions, including
Donegal.
The event presented an opportunity
for the Council team, including the
County Manager, Seamus Neely, and
Director of Development, Michael
O’hEanaigh, to highlight Donegal’s Smart
Economy needs with relevant European
Commission staff.
Information Systems, presented the
success of the County in transforming its
broadband infrastructure over the past
ten years.
ERNACT has been successful in securing
some €50million from EU international
innovation programmes for 26 projects
and involving partners in 130 regions.
Donegal County Council, as a key
instigator of the ERNACT network
has benefitted substantially from this
funding over the years. The European
Headquarters of ERNACT is located in
Donegal – in the CoLab innovation centre
on the LYIT campus in Letterkenny.
For further information visit:
www.ernact.net
Brian Boyle, the Council’s Head of
Donegal Delegation pictured with Cmr.
Geoghegan-Quinn in Brussels
New state of the art Science Park for the North West
The SEUPB has awarded the North
West Region Cross Border Group £12
million towards the development of the
Northwest Science Park. The project is
being developed in partnership between
the Northern Ireland Science Park,
Letterkenny Institute of Technology
(LYIT), and Ilex. The state of the art
science park will house high-tech
research and development units and
has the potential to create hundreds of
jobs and millions of pounds for the local
economy.
The North West Regional Science Park
will be built at the Fort George site in
Derry~Londonderry and in Letterkenny.
It is expected to be completed by 2015.
Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT says
that the proposed science park would
add significantly to work already
being done at the institute and has the
potential to create many jobs.
Donegal Community in Touch Page 6
education & learning
‘BIRDIE’S LAB’ – A FITTING TRIBUTE TO A
DONEGAL WOMAN
A life-journey that encompassed
Manorcunningham, New York city and
Burnfoot was commemorated with the
opening of a new science lab at Letterkenny
Institute of Technology on Tuesday last
(25/9/12). New York-based philanthropist
Nataly Stenzler Ritter visited the college to
officially dedicate a lab in the new science
block in memory of her former nanny and lifelong friend, Birdie Curran Docherty, a native
of Manor.
Born Bridget Curran in May 1911, Bridget
later crossed the Atlantic to America, like
many before her, and found work as a
nanny. ‘Birdie’ was a childhood nickname
she proudly carried all her life. It was in her
role as a nanny to the Stenzler family that
a lifelong friendship was established with
Nataly Stenzler Ritter.
“Birdie was, and is, such an important part of
my life,” recalled Nataly on Tuesday. “Birdie
came to work for my mother in New York city
when I was three years old. Birdie lived with
us in those days but she was much more than
a nanny – she was a very special person who
was integrally involved in my life. She was a
second mother to me. My father died when I
was just 17 and I always remember how much
Birdie was there for me when I needed her.”
Birdie worked for the Stenzler family for over
forty years. Even after she married Albert
Docherty, a Liverpudian-Irish sailor, she
continued to work with the Stenzler’s. Birdie
and Albert returned to Ireland in 1975 and set
up home at the Rockhead, Burnfoot. Albert
passed away in 1989 and Birdie survived him
by twenty years, passing away in November
2009 at the age of 98. When Birdie passed
away, Nataly decided she wanted to do
something in her honour. Having consulted
with Birdie’s niece Kathleen, it was decided
to make a contribution for the provision of a
lab in the new science block at Letterkenny IT.
Nataly Stenzler Ritter pictured with members of
Birdie’s extended family from Cavan, Longford,
Greencastle and Carndonagh at the unveiling of
‘Birdie’s Lab’
Paul Hannigan, President of Letterkenny
IT, was delighted with Nataly’s decision to
generously contribute to the new science lab:
“This is a first for Letterkenny IT and
we are indebted to Nataly and to Kathleen
for choosing us in the first place. It is very
much appreciated and it is a beautiful link with
Birdie. In many ways the story of Birdie’s life is
the story of Donegal. We’re privileged to have
been considered and it is an honour to have
Nataly here in person to open ‘Birdie’s Lab’.”
Nataly Stenzler Ritter picture with Seamus
Neely,County Manager, Henry McGarvey, CEO
Pramerica, Cllr Dessie Larkin and
Mr Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT
Article extracted from Dónal Campbell piece in
Inishowen Independent on 27th September 2012
TAOISEACH OPENS NEW SCIENCE LABS AT LYIT
New science labs signal LYIT’s continued growth
A suite of new science laboratories at the
Letterkenny Institute of Technology was
officially opened today by An Taoiseach
Enda Kenny. The new facility adds over
1,000 sq m of fully-equipped science
laboratories with a total of 8 labs. This
represents an investment of almost €4
million from the Government and LYIT.
The need for the new laboratories is a
result of the continued increase in student
numbers at LYIT, 55% in the last 5 years,
with currently over 3,000 people studying
at the college.
An Taoiseach commented that. “This is
a great occasion for Letterkenny Institute
of Technology, for higher education and
indeed the North West Region. I am
delighted to be here to open this state-of-
the-art science building that will put LYIT
graduates in the fast lane to a successful
career in the sciences”
Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT, referred
to the continued increase of students and
expansion of courses, “We anticipate our
student numbers will steadily increase,
especially in science, and we now provide
over 100 courses in many areas up to
Masters level. This year we have entirely
renewed our curriculum to reflect the latest
academic and industrial standards. The
new science facility means that we are
now one of the most modern campuses in
Ireland. I would especially like to thank
Mary Daly, Estates Manager, and her team
on completing this valuable project.”
For further information visit www.lyit.ie
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny pictured with Paul Hannigan, President of LYIT and Mr Henry McGarvey,
CEO Pramerica
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny speaks to students
in the state of the art science building
Donegal Community in Touch Page 7
Social & cultural
REMEMBERING THE 24th BATTALION
The 24th Infantry Battalion was a unique
Donegal Battalion of the F.C.A. Its roots go
back to 1947 and the number of personnel
that have served in the unit reach into all
aspects of the people and life of Donegal.
The men and women who have served have
many fond memories of summer camps,
field days, guards of honour, shooting
competitions and friends made for life.
The 24th Battalion ended in 2005 with the
formation of the Reserve Defence Force
and was replaced by the 58th Reserve
Infantry Battalion.
Recently a group of former members got
together to form a 24th Battalion Association
with the objective of having some form of
social gathering each year to remember the
24th and meet old friends and comrades.
Former members are spread worldwide with
one working with the UN in Afghanistan and
another a senior officer in the New Zealand
Defence Forces.
The next meeting will be held in Rockhill on
Monday the 5th of November at 8.00 pm to
elect a steering group committee. Former
members are encouraged to attend.
It is planned to have the official launch of
the association early in 2013. You may email
your enquiries to fca24bn@hotmail.com
Special Reception hosted for the Australian
Ambassador to Ireland in Glenveagh National Park
The ties between Australia and Donegal are
deep and old. To celebrate and acknowledge
this and as part of The Donegal Gathering,
Donegal County Council were honoured and
delighted when Australian Ambassador to
Ireland Mr. Bruce Davies visited Donegal.
Along with his wife and some friends, Mr
Bruce accepted a warm céad míle fáilte to join
in special reception hosted to strengthen our
Donegal Australian bonds in the most fitting
setting of Glenveagh Castle on the grounds of
Glenveagh National Park in May this year.
Mr Bruce and guests enjoying the reception in
Glenveagh National Park
(Photo Ray McDermott)
The Archives of the Donegal Board of the GAA
Donegal County Archives has been fortunate
to receive donations and loans of archives
of both local and national significance over
the years. The decision by the Donegal Board
of the GAA to deposit its large collection of
historical material to the County Archives
was a foresighted and generous one. The
collection’s contents are many and varied,
cover the county, and relate to football
(including ladies), hurling, camogie and
handball; to Ulster and All-Ireland and
National League matches as well as to club
and league matches.
Included are minute books dating back
to 1933, annual convention reports,
Finance Committee reports and
correspondence, divisional boards minutes
and correspondence, various committee
reports, yearbooks and magazines from
clubs, bye-laws and regulations from 1928;
booklets outlining fixtures and players’ lists;
photographs, programmes, tickets, posters,
notices, newspapers; and fundraising and
social events’ documentation.
With the financial assistance of the Heritage
Council, a colourful illustrated booklet
outlining the history of the GAA in Donegal
and listing the items in the collection has
been produced to coincide with the launch of
the Archive.
The Archive and the accompanying booklet
were launched on the 19th October, in
MacCumhaill Park Social Club in Ballybofey.
A small exhibition of a selection of archives
remains there until January.
For further information please email:
archives@donegalcoco.ie
Donegal Community in Touch Page 8
Social & cultural
A Lively Oideas Gael summer in Gleann Cholm Cille and in An Coimín.
This summer’s Oideas Gael schedule of
activities, made Gleann Cholm Cille, once
again, a lively summer destination with up to
a 1,000 participants enjoying the wide range
of courses offered by the organisation.
Gaeilge and a number of its learners attended
the programmes over the summer also.
Cultural and language enthusiasts from
thirty-four different countries, attended
courses and took part in the wide range of
activity holidays in this picturesque southwest Donegal valley and in An Coimín, An
Ghaeltacht Lár.
This summer, in particular, attracted some
high profile guests, with the former President
of Ireland, Mary McAleese participating in
the summer school for her fifteenth year in a
row. We were also delighted to have Daniel
O’Donnell attending our Irish course in July
and his interest, commitment and great
sense of fun made him a favourite with both
the Irish and international attendees.
Oideas Gael was again chosen this year as a
Fulbright student destination with six adult
Irish learners from the USA having been
awarded the prestigious scholarship to study
in Ireland. Oideas Gael is also honoured to
be associated with the United States’ leading
Irish Language organisation, Daltaí na
We were pleasantly surprised to have our
Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar, TD, take
the course in mid-August. His subsequent
interview on ‘The John Murray Show’
enthusing about his Donegal holiday can be
accessed from the homepage of Oideas Gael.
Visit www.oideasgael.ie
The Gathering at Oideas Gael
Plane to Pedal
Donegal County Archives has been fortunate
to receive donations and loans of archives
of both local and national significance over
the years. The decision by the Donegal Board
of the GAA to deposit its large collection of
historical material to the County Archives
was a foresighted and generous one. The
collection’s contents are many and varied,
cover the county, and relate to football
(including ladies), hurling, camogie and
handball; to Ulster and All-Ireland and
National League matches as well as to club
and league matches.
Included are minute books dating back
to 1933, annual convention reports,
Finance Committee reports and
correspondence, divisional boards minutes
and correspondence, various committee
reports, yearbooks and magazines from
clubs, bye-laws and regulations from 1928;
booklets outlining fixtures and players’ lists;
photographs, programmes, tickets, posters,
notices, newspapers; and fundraising and
social events’ documentation.
With the financial assistance of the Heritage
Council, a colourful illustrated booklet
outlining the history of the GAA in Donegal
and listing the items in the collection has
been produced to coincide with the launch of
the Archive.
The Archive and the accompanying booklet
were launched on the 19th October, in
MacCumhaill Park Social Club in Ballybofey.
A small exhibition of a selection of archives
remains there until January.
EDAL
P
O
T
PLANE
For further information visit:
archives@donegalcoco.ie
Photo capturing the celebrations taken after Donegal won
the All Ireland at The Heritage, a pub/restaurant on McLean
Avenue in Yonkers, bordering on Woodlawn in the Bronx,
with the combined neighbourhoods being one the most
vibrant Irish community in New York. The Heritage is owned
by a grand Donegal man, Eugene Collum, and is HQ for the
Donegal GFC NY.
www.facebook.com/pages/Donegal-Football-NY
Donegal Community in Touch Page 9
Community Links
A Groundbreaking Tribunal to Examine the Irish Famine,
20th – 21st April 2013, Fordham Law School, New York City
A Famine Tribunal will be held at Fordham
Law School, New York City, in April 2012. The
Irish Famine of 1845-1952 (also known as the
Great Hunger) is one of the most catastrophic
famines in modern history. It is estimated
that over one million people died, two and
half million emigrated within ten years, and
almost 300,000 smallholdings disappeared.
The Tribunal will assess the Great Irish
Famine within a legal framework. Even to
this day, the Irish Famine (also known as
the Great Hunger) remains one of the most
lethal famines in modern history in terms of
deaths and dislocation of population. The
object of the Tribunal is to assess the impact
of the Irish Famine on the Irish population,
its political, economic and cultural legacies
within a legal framework. The Tribunal
will bring together expert witnesses and
lawyers from Ireland, Britain and the U.S.
to explore this tragedy from a unique and
groundbreaking perspective. It will also offer
students and teachers in related academic
fields the opportunity to explore this
tragedy from a unique and ground-breaking
perspective.
For further information, please contact us at
info@theirishfaminetribunal.com
OWN A PART OF DONEGAL SPORTING LIFE
Most of you will know that Finn Harps FC
represent Donegal in the League of Ireland.
What many might not know, is that the Club is
a co-operative society which is wholly owned
and administrated by its own supporters and
volunteers.
Shares can be purchased by any company,
organisation or member of the public
anywhere in the world. Please see details
of how you can own a part of Donegal
Sporting Life: Become an owner of Finn Harps
Football Club
Finn Harps are also dedicated to working
in partnership with local agencies to
bring community and economic benefits
to Donegal.
Finn Harps has introduced a comprehensive
community programme which offers qualified
coaching to schoolchildren while also
delivering important information on topics
such as healthy diet and lifestyle, road safety
and football against racism.
The club is currently building a new
stadium which will host concerts and events
generating long term revenue streams to the
Donegal economy.
Harps launch Road safety programme
Finn Harps are committed to developing
young talent from Donegal and offering the
county’s best a platform to play at national
level. The Club currently has six players who
have represented Ireland at underage level.
Finn Harps recently announced a link up with
LYIT where our young footballers can pursue
third level education whilst also fulfilling
their sporting potential. Please see LYIT
Scholarship Programme
Finn Harps and LYIT launch Soccer
Scholarship programme.
Derry Genealogy Centre: ‘One-stop’ shop and point of contact
Derry Genealogy Centre has now
added (as of 16 October 2012) an
additional 90,000 records to its
online database at www.derry.
rootsireland.ie. Transcripts of a
number of important 17th, 18th
and 19th century census returns
and census substitutes for city
and county of Derry – Hearth
Money Rolls of 1663, Protestant
Householders Lists of 1740,
Religious Census of 1766, Flax
Growers Lists of 1796, Tithe
Applotment Books of the 1820s
and 1830s, and 1831 Census
Returns – can now be searched
and viewed.
Derry Genealogy Centre can
now claim to be a ‘one-stop’
shop and point of contact for
anyone tracing roots in North
West Ireland. Our database now
contains the bulk of pre-1922
civil birth and marriage registers
for the city and county of Derry,
the early baptismal and marriage
registers of 85 churches (the
earliest dating from 1642),
gravestone inscriptions from 117
graveyards, and census returns
and census substitutes dating
from 1901 back to 1663.
The centre offers a free advice
service to anyone tracing their
roots in the North West.
For further information on this e-zine or on
the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact:
Maria Ferguson
Email: diaspora@donegalcoco.ie
/maria. ferguson@donegalcoco.ie
Tel: +353 (0)74 97 24466
Roisin McBride
Email: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie
Tel: +353 (0) 74 9172461
For further information email:
genealogy@derrycity.gov.uk
Donegal Community in Touch Page 10