Fr O'Frighil celebrates Golden Jubilee
Fr Eoghan O’Frighill with Bishop Philip Boyce and priests who gathered to concelebrate his Jubilee Mass in St Mary’s Church last Thursday, followed by a function in Harvey’s Point Photo: Jason McGarrigle
(2 page Fr O'Frighil special in print edition of Donegal Times)
Donegal summer Festival 2004
July 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
The Donegal Summer Festival takes place this year on the weekend of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of July in Donegal Town.
Despite having no major sponsor for this year’s festival, director Pauric O’Neill, has promised a top quality local line-up on the festival stage on the Diamond. With local bands like Coastline, The Scam, Addiction, Tammarack, Marian Bradfield and her band, The Rosehips and Mary B and band, it promises to be a very entertaining festival on the music front.
Apart from the music there will be lots more to enjoy in Donegal Town on festival weekend. Mohan’s Funfair make their annual visit to Donegal, a Charity Duck Race will be held on the river, and a walking treasure hunt is being planned. A clay pigeon shoot, hosted by Donegal Town Gun Club at Rossylongan, is being organised on Sunday the 4th. This shoot is one of the biggest and most successful in the North West and has featured many Olympic and international marksmen over the years.
The festival is delighted to welcome back Childrens Day on Sunday 4th and features all the favourites like Barney and friends, Bear in the Big Blue House, Bob the Builder, The Tweenies, Teletubbies, Coco the Giant Clown, Face Painting, Children’s Disco and lots lots more. A massive fireworks display will bring the festival to a close on the Sunday night at the pier - a lively and entertaining weekend of all the family in store in Donegal Town.
Programmes will be available shortly and anyone wishing to organise a fundraising event for charity or otherwise on that weekend should contact Pauric @ 087-6069170.
Kilaghtee NS Summer Service
Mrs MA Clarke memorial cup presented by Rev Ken McLaughlin to Grace Cassidy, Castletown, Dunkineely. Pictured is Nuala Dudley, Principal Killaghtee NS; Grace Cassidy, Julie Cassidy and Rev Ken McLaughlin Photo by Jason McGarrigle
Staff and pupils at Killaghtee N.S, Dunkineely, held their annual school service to mark the end of another school year on Sunday 20th June in the Methodist church. The theme of the service was peace and children participated in drama, poetry, music and song.
Following the service the Mrs M.A.Clarke Memorial Cup was presented. This cup was given to the school in memory of Mrs Clarke who was schoolmistress in both Ballyherland N.S and Killaghtee N.S from 1894 - 1936, by members of her children’s families. The cup is presented for achievement and personal effort.
This year’s recipient is Grace Cassidy who is currently in second class in the school. She is the daughter of Robert and Julie Cassidy, Castletown, Dunkineely.
On Sunday at 3.30am there was an assault on the Diamond following which a youth was arrested. Subsequent to his arrest, four other youths intervened and a scuffle broke out in which two Gardai were assaulted. Again at 5.30 on the same morning, another local youth was arrested for public order offence. All youths were held overnight in the Quay Street station and released in the morning. A file is being prepared for the DPP.
Sergeant John Carr, the familiar face of an Garda Siochana, who patrolled the streets of Donegal Town, retires on Sunday 4th July, after thirty-one years service. This popular sergeant will be missed by the local people and we all wish him well for the future.
Tom Kerrigan retires from Donegal
Co Council after 32 years of service
Tom with the hard-working staff of The Milltown Bar, who provided the food (and drink) for the function. L-R: Roisin McBrearty, Kenny Ward, Collette Maloney, Muriel Ward, Tom Kerrigan, Elaine Ward, Liam Ward, Louise Driscoll Photo by Jason McGarrigle
A small reception was held in the Milltown bar on Friday 17th June 2004 to celebrate the retirement of Tom Kerrigan from Donegal County Council.
Tom joined Donegal County Council from McGinty’s Fruits over 32 years ago and started as a Roller Driver, and than as a Lorry Driver.
He has kept the roads in the south of the county safe for the general public the past 30 years, by salting the roads in the winter, and surface dressing them in the summer.
Tributes were made to Tom by the Area Roads Manager, Peadar Thomas and a presentation was made to him on behalf of his fellow workers by Sean Kenny and Vincent Callaghan.
Donegal Times is published on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month. About four times a year there is a three week gap between these. This three-weeker will kick-in after this issue, with the next paper out on July 13th. This longer break will give us here at the Times the chance to take a holiday. The office will be closed from Friday 25th June – re-opening Monday 5th. During that period, items for the paper can be left into ‘Forget Me Not’, the craft shop on the Diamond, or dropped through the letter box.
The winner of Drimarone Development Association weekly draw was Patrick Boyle, Drimarone.
Congratulations to Orla McGroary, daughter of Barney and Christine McGroary, Tullynaha, who has recently qualified in dentistry (Ba. B.Dent) at Trinity College, Dublin. Well done Orla!
Congratulations to Marian Burke who recenlty celebrated the ‘Big 50’. A very enjoyable ‘surprise’ party was held in the Milltown Bar.
A draw will be held in the Bluestack Centre, Drimarone, on July 1st. Music by Country Sessions. Dancing will continue every fortnight until the end of August. Your support will be gratefully appreciated.,
Our deepest sympathy goes to Barney and Jim McGroary on the death of their uncle, Barney McGroary, Doonan.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dhilis. Brid Curristin
Ambulance delayed at bus stop
Traffic Jam on the Diamond: The ambulance in the background trying
to get past the congestion caused by the buses
Last Tuesday around 4.30 pm there was another traffic jam in Donegal Town centre. But this time it was more serious, as a frantically flashing, siren shrieking ambulance, on an emergency call, was unable to get around the Diamond.
Alerted by the noise, I could see the back-up from the office. On going to investigate, I was advised by a CIE driver “make sure you highlight it is a tour bus this time, not us” and indeed, at the front of the jam, was a private bus carrying oriental passengers.
But all was not that simple. Within minutes of the confusion being sorted out, the tour driver called to the Times Office and told of his problems with Donegal Town.
“I am a coach driver with this company which caters for one of the biggest tour groups coming to Ireland. This town is a nightmare for us and our larger tours actually pulled out of Donegal Town last year because of parking/traffic. I am Dublin based, here with a small tour of 39 Japanese people. I tried to park in front of Abbey Hotel in a bus lane, but it was blocked by two parked cars, with the drivers in them. I asked them to move so I could park. They refused and actually one of them told me to ‘F*** off’. I went into the hotel and rang the Garda and they told me they would be up – but just at that, a CIE driver came in to the hotel and told me to go out and move the bus as an ambulance was blocked. I am based in Dublin and travel the 32 counties and this is one of the worst towns for parking - the designated spaces down at the barracks are a joke. Donegal Town is a popular stop for the tourists – it’s just a pity about these problems.”
Rough Seas ahead for Fianna Fail…
“Sinn Fein have the wind in their sails” said unsuccessful Fianna Fail candidate Seamus Gillespie from Killybegs, as he conceded Thomas Pringle’s success last week. And indeed it looks as though there may be something in that, as the sea of mostly young faces cheered Pringle and gave new meaning to the song ‘Wrap the Green Flag round me, boys’…..much to the disapproval of stalwart party members, McEniff and Coughlan. The political map nationwide is changing rapidly with more Independents and smaller parties receiving huge votes in both the European and local elections.
The next five years of Donegal County Council will be interesting. With the advent of young Barry O’Neill on the Fine Gael ticket, to work with John Boyle, leaving Fianna Fail with only three seats in the area, there will be no easy ride. And the Young Turk from Carrick, Brendan Byrne, said “I see Fianna Fail as the vehicle to deliver, but if it can’t, I will look elsewhere” - an ominous threat which just might achieve the desired result. It would also raise the question would Byrne walk to Fine Gael who supported and worked for him so well ‘in thro’? Should we now look forward to the proposals of the Rural Dwellers being promoted in Donegal County Council? Reports say that Byrne lays claim to having set up the local branch of the Irish Rural Dwellers Association. The Rural Dwellers recommend in their submission to the Government that ‘Planning decisions should be seen to be under the complete control of elected public representatives’ ( come back, Liam Lawlor, all is forgiven!) If so, we could expect a big boost in tourism revenue for a couple of months each year if their recommendation ‘All locals only’ restrictions should go’. Just think of it - hundreds of ultra modern houses dotting the landscape, hibernating in the Winter and blooming with lights in the Summer. A great boost for the local economy and an added tourist attraction for the scenic South West.
The big surprise in Donegal Electoral Area was undoubtedly the vote for Pringle. Many of us thought that the Independent’s move to Sinn Fein earlier in the year would sound the death knell to his political life, but we were proved wrong - Pringle worked hard over the past five years and now, with Party support, he will be under pressure to deliver over the next five. He says “as a party we are setting out to change things” and it seems the mood of the electorate is for change. We were surprised - and many not too pleased - when Pringle and his supporters picketed local Minister Coughlan in Donegal Town on the ‘savage sixteen’ Social Welfare cuts, accusing her of back door politics….can we expect more of this type of thing in the county? The Shinners talk about change - the country apparently wants change - let’s see what these energetic young people can achieve… are they all talk about ‘equality’ or will there be positive action?
Interesting times ahead - let’s hope the winds of change will benefit Donegal at last? JE
The ‘Commercial Property’ section of the Irish Times last week carried a ‘For Sale’ notice for Lough Eske Castle. Listed as an “outstanding hotel and tourist development opportunity’ situated on the picturesque shores of Lough Eske, 5kms from Donegal Town, it offers 43 acres of mature grounds, incorporating the imposing ruins of of Lough Eske Castle. The advert claims full planning permission for a 60 bedroom hotel and 40 courtyard suites and says there is limited opportunity to avail of considerable captial allowances. Auctioneers are UK company, Lambert Smith Hampton.
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