More crashes at Tullyearl

Two accidents within a fortnight has brought the toll at the infamous Tullyearl Junction to over 35 separate crashes since its creation. Luckily none of these has been fatal, but unless the promised new roundabout is put in place soon, it is only a matter of time.

‘Old Rivals’ in Joe’s Guard of Honour

A nice touch by Paul Duncan at the funeral mass for the late Joe Kelly. At the end of the obsequies, as he was putting together the guard of honour, he spotted two members of old rival club, Ballyshannon, among the attendance in St. Patrick’s Church. Over he goes and taps them to join the Four Masters men who were to escort the late Joe as he left on his final journey. And so this was how P.J. (Elvis) Ferguson and Jackie McDermott paid their last tribute to the great footballer – a fitting testament that when the match is over and the game played, all are one, together and equal in the great family of GAA.

Happy faces on St Patrick's day: Joseph O’Rourke, Colm McDonnell, Anna McDonnell, Thomas McGowan, Jane O’Rourke (Full selection of photos in print edition) Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Magee Quality on the Corridors of Power

John and Mary Hanna receiving a cd from legendary country singer George Hamilton IV who called in to them on his tour around Ireland.
The cd is a collaboration with Sandy Kelly called ‘We will meet again’. George and Sandy are planning a second volume of the cd containing more of their favourite songs and will be entitled ‘On an Irish Country Quilt’. On its cover, George and Sandy will be pictured sitting on a Hanna quilt!Photographer Jason McGarrigle came away from taking the above picture with a nice momento. As he was leaving John asked “would you like a hat?”. Hence our man now wearing a multicoloured flat-top.

Margaret Buckley and Maire O’Donnell selling daffodils for
cancer research outside The Abbey Hotel last Friday Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Health Board defends shutting down
French Food stalls

The Chief Executive Officer of the North Western Health Board has defended the decision to serve closure orders on five French food stalls that were part of a local heritage festival in Donegal Town recently.
Closure orders were served by Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) due to breaches of food safety legislation.
The orders were served on Philippe Henri Legrand, Michael Meunier, Brigitte Fangan, Bruno Montane and Freddy Andre Cochpin requiring them to cease the operation of their food stalls.
Mr Freddy Cochpin said he would think twice about returning to Donegal. Locals say the actions of the authority were “bureaucracy gone mad”.
The French traders claim to have successfully traded their wares all over Europe. The stalls selling crepes, bread, biscuits, salami and olives were operating without a license, a Food safety Official said.
The stalls were ordered to cease trading on the basis that they posed :a grave and serious risk to public health. Local organisers of the heritage festival accused the officials of going overboard.
Mr Cochpin, who operated his business from Norwich in Britain said that he and the other traders have never before experienced such problems.
In his report to the March Board meeting last week, Mr Pat Harvey said that he was aware of the impact of such actions on an event such as a local heritage festival.
However, where public health and safety is concerned, Mr Harvey said the EHOs felt they had no option but to act swiftly and appropriately. He added that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had fully endorsed the action taken.
“We have not had a food poisoning outbreak in this region for over three years. That record has been achieved solely through the efforts of our EHO’s, with the co-operation of those involved in the food industry.
“Salmonella and other related illnesses can kill. That is the reality. If we are to avoid death and debilitating illnesses, then we must continue to apply food safety regulations throughout and equally” Mr Harvey said.
Closure orders are served when it is deemed, upon inspection, that there is or is likely to be, a grave and immediate danger to public health.

Keelogs national school Confirmations: Anita Gallagher, Principal; Fiachra McGinley, Pauric McHugh, Kevin Burke, Jason Rose, Lee Meehan Front: Shauneen Campbell, Karen Mulreany, Caoimile Maguire Photo: Margaret Gallagher
(Full photo spread in Donegal Times print edition)