 Nonagenarian attacked and robbed in own home
John recovers in Donegal Hospital
Photo by Jason McGarrigle
A 92 year old man was the subject of a brutal robbery with volence at his home outside Donegal Town, near midnight, on Sunday 29th August. Mr John Logue of Townagh, near Copany, was attacked by two men wearing balaclavas. After tying him up, they ransacked the house before escaping with what has been described as a large sum of money. Although he managed to loosen his bonds, John was not discovered until his home-help arrived at 2pm the next day. He was taken to Donegal District Hospital where a spokesperson said was ‘bearing up well’ though suffering from cuts and bruises and obvious shock.
Donegal Town Gardai are appealing for help in solving this cowardly crime. They can be contacted on 074 9721021.
Frosses Notes by Colm Kelly
Congratulations and well done to everyone who organised and took part in the Kelly/ O’Donnell re-union weekend. It was great to see everyone having a good time. With the number of visitors that were here for the special week-end I hope you all received a Cead Mile Failte. The village looked splendid with all the buntings and flower decorations.
Well the schools are re-opened and do you know I think the children were glad to get back. How times have changed. Some scholars will be going to 3rd level, some to the Abbey Vocational School and some just move up a class. Its like a learning ladder in life.
A very special birthday to Willie Barry in Enniscorthy who celebrated his 90th recently. Willie is originally from Frosses and is a brother of Ita and Sheila Barry of Bruckless.
Connie Friel, Killian, celebrated his 80th birthday in the hall with a big get together on Friday night. I hear the music and singing was brilliant. This is a very talented family. Congratulations.
Saturday, three weeks ago, forty eight motorbike enthusiasts stopped off in Frosses on their way to a rally in Fintown. It was quite a sight to see both sides of the street lined with bikes.
The wedding took place in Donegal Town of Leanne Gallagher to Gareth Austin on the 27th August. Leanne is a daughter of Connie Gallagher, Meenagran. Good luck to the happy couple in the future.
Leanne Gallagher, Donegal Town, and Gareth Austin, Edinburgh, married in St Patrick’s Church and reception in The Abbey Hotel Photo by Jason McGarrigle
Hardy ‘value’ hunters queue all night for dream home
 Right: Declan Maloney shows off the ad in Donegal Times which put him first in the queue outside Anderson’s Auctioneers, with Heather Dinsmore, 2nd.
Thirty house hunters in Donegal Town queued overnight to buy new homes which went on sale last Tuesday. The warmly-dressed buyers, queued for the 9 a.m. opening of the estate agent’s office to snap up houses in the Brookfield Manor development, one and a half miles from Donegal town centre. Some had been queuing since 4 p.m. the previous day.
Four three-bedroom semis were offered for sale starting at €165,500. Four four-bed semis were priced at €175,500, and a three bed detached home was priced at €185,000.
A four-bedroom detached house was offered at €195,000 and another four bedroom detached was priced at €220,000. The 11 houses were offered for sale from the plans. Building on the first phase does not even start until later this month. The developers took deposits yesterday for the second phase of eight four-bed semis priced at 182,500 each and a detached four-bedroom house at €195,000.
People in the queue said they considered the homes a bargain at up to €10,000 below the rate being sought for houses of similar size in the area. (Paddy Clancy / Irish Times)
Margaret Gallagher writes “It was 4 pm on the Monday when Declan Maloney took up position outside Anderson’s Auctioneers to be No 1 in the queue for the Brookfield development. Declan, who lives in Orchard Drive at the moment, said the houses were in a good location and, judging by the brochure, were finished to a high standard. “There is a huge demand in this town for good houses at affordable prices. There aren’t enough being built,” said Mr Moloney .
Heather Dinesmore was next and said she was enjoying getting to know her future neighbours. She was swapping queuing duties with her fiancée, Vincent Harrison from Co. Sligo, who is an information technology manager with Magee Clothing. “It’s very important for us to get a house we can afford. We were on the verge of buying another one but things got complicated and we were gazumped,” Heather said.
Shelly Leslie, visual merchandiser with Magee, was a happy camper in third as she had recruited her boyfriend Paul Clerkin, and her sister Helga, to share queuing shifts. At no. 10 was Aisling O’Donnell from Ballybofey, none other than sister of the developer. Aisling said she had expected there would be great interest “but not this much” and joked that it took two men from through the Gap to create a development which attracted so much attention. Two ladies from Killybegs queuing further down the line said that by delaying to have dinner before they left had cost them €7,000 (the increase in price announced for phase 2). “ It must be the most expensive bacon and cabbage ever” one of them told me ruefully.
Schoolgirl Aneiska Scanlon (16) and her boyfriend, Niall Lynch, both from Stranbane, 30 miles across the Border in Co. Tyrone, were queuing to buy for her parents. She had a letter of instructions and a cheque for the €3,000 deposit.
When Keith Anderson reported for work next morning at 8.45 am, he was met by the unlikely sight of people in picnic chairs and sleeping bags waiting for him to open. Disappearing into his office he soon remerged bearing numbered business cards which he proceeded to distribute down the line. Then, in the company of developers Bernard O’Donnell and Justin Green, each person was processed according to the status of their card.
In an interview with NWR the following day, Keith, among other things, said - “It’s the first time that people have got a chance to get on the property ladder because there were no houses in the area at these prices. There was terrific demand yesterday and we sold 19 houses before 11 o’clock . Hopefully other developers will take note that this is the market for people who can afford to buy houses. Prices were getting carried away. These developers did really well - it’s a terrific design and well laid out estate.” Keith commented.
I later spoke to Bernard O’Donnell, one of the developers, who said he was surprised by the interest and media remarks with regard to the price. “When both my business partner, Justin Green, and myself looked at the salaries and mortgages available to house buyers, this determined the price which was affordable to people. But what really sold the houses was the high spec. They are finished to an exacting standard eg. alarms in place, kitchen appliances fitted, bathroom suites with a contemporary twist, extensive landscaping, and much more, which is not the normal. Our advertising strategy worked well, taking a full page in Donegal Times and we produced a very attractive brochure.”
Bernard is an accountant in town while his partner has 15 years development experience, working for prestigious companies such as ‘Berkley Homes”. This is their first joint venture – “We realised there was rock solid interest in the development and expected a rush in the morning when the office opened but we were not prepared for queues overnight and it was great for us both when we saw our customers come out and punch the air with excitement and say they would do it all over again just to get the house they wanted”.
Mr Geene said “We’re trying to give value for money. We knew there would be a lot of interest in these houses, but we are still gobsmacked by the level of it. We thought people might show up at about 7am. We never expected they would queue from 4pm the evening before.”
Well known Drumbar FC trainer, Paddy Brogan, who
sold the land to the developers, quipped “The more houses in Drumbar the better - it brings more footballers to the club”.
Return of the Traditional French Market to the Diamond this week
 The Donegal Town Heritage Festival Committee is pleased to announce the return of the Traditional French Market to The Diamond, Donegal Town from Thursday 9th September until Sunday 12th September, 2004.
Once again France moves a little closer to Donegal for 4 days. Starting on Thursday 9th September there will be up to 30 traders bringing a taste of France to your door.
The traders come from different parts of the country (Picardy, Normandy, Brittany, Provence, Vendee, Les Vosges, Paris etc.) The event will feature an authentic French Market, filled with the smells and bustle of a typical market and provide a unique opportunity for market gourmet shoppers to taste genuine flavours of France.
Shoppers will be spoilt for choice from fine wines and liqueurs that can be sampled to enjoying the ‘cooked to taste food’ made whilst you watch (Tartiflette, Pommes-de-Terre Porvencales, French crepes, choucos waffles). Of course there is a fabulous selection of freshly baked French breads and patisseries, traditional charcuterie and delicacies, smoked hams and sausages, fine herbs and spices - not to forget the wide range of cheeses, olives, continental style pick and mix confectionary and biscuits.
If French cuisine is not what you are looking for, then you could take a look at the superb art and crafts in the market, offering a wonderful range of paintings, ceramics, pottery, porcelain and wicker ware. All alongside a wide variety of hand-made costume jewellery from Paris and leather goods.
And much more.
The market will operate on the Diamond, Donegal Town, between 10 am and 6pm from Thursday 9th till Sunday 12th September.
Further information from Patricia Callaghan 0866073339.
Leghowney presentation to Hospital
Members of Leghowney Drama Group presenting a comfort chair to the Matron of Donegal District Hospital, Marie McGarvey, with funds derived from this year’s production of “Stop it Nurse”. Pictured are John Cassidy, Mary Crawford, Rachel Crawford, Kevin Mundy, Joe Boyle, Marie McGarvey, Pat Ward, with Charlie Cannon, Inver, testing out the new chair for comfort. Photo: Jason McGarrigle
Bennett spokesman expresses frustration at project hold-ups
Cllr O’Neill asks questions on Drumlonagher site
Three ‘observations’ have been made to Bennett Construction’s latest application for four retail buildings, a drive-through restaurant and filling station at Drumlonagher. One is from Tesco Ireland, the second from a lady with a Kerry address, Mrs Jackie Lowry of Listowel, and the third is from the Railway Society.
Meanwhile, in a statement to the Donegal Democrat, Mr John White, Project Manager for Bennett’s, confirmed the Donegal Times exclusive that broke the news of Bennett having recently bought eight acres of land between the bypass and Mullans Road. Mr White also expressed exasperation at the continued hold-ups to projects in Donegal Town. “It is not like anywhere else we have ever done business. To its detriment there is a history of objections to developments in Donegal Town. We are trying to bring millions of euro of investment to the town and have already invested heavily in the Drumlonagher site. We aim to develop it to the highest standards” Mr White asserted.
Four weeks ago, in this paper, our reporter, Margaret Gallagher, broke the news that Bennett’s had acquired land from Mrs Doreen Browne and Mrs Eileen Sweeney to create a large development site at the Mullans. Mr White, in confirming this, said “This is the premier development site in Donegal Town for a major shopping and leisure facility. Negotiations are taking place with a national anchor tenant which will be a major boost for the town and provide badly needed shopping facilities for the community. We would now ask all sections of the community, be it business, social or cultural, to give positive support to this project, so it is not hindered or delayed as developments have been in the past.”
Meanwhile, in a seperate development, Fine Gael Councillor, Barry O’Neill, called for an explanation as to why the council sold the Drumlonagher site to Bennett without it being offered in the open market. He also queried the price paid for the land and how the zoning status of this area changed over the summer. Cllr O’Neill said he would be seeking clarification of these matters at the September council meeting.
According to the Democrat report, the council hired Lisney Auctioneers to ascertain the current value of the council’s interest in the site. Mr Fitz-Howard, of Donegal County Council, said Lisney were selected over the council’s normal property valuer, because of their special expertise in deciding the value owed in a development agreement. The council’s interest in the agreement was set at €100,000 per acre by this valuer. Adjacent land, not subject to an agreement, is on the market for in excess of twice this figure, according to Councillor O’Neill.
So Donegal Times rang Lisney’s to ask some questions. We wanted to know •how the company had arrived at the figure of €100,000 per acre •did they know the land was to be rezoned when they decided on this figure •had the company previously carried out work for Bennett’s?
We reached an Ann Hargaden in Lisney’s Investment Department. However she refused to make any comment unless cleared to do so by ‘her client’. When asked who that was, she replied ‘Mr Michael McLoone, Donegal County Manager’.
We then rang the council offices in Lifford and asked to speak with Mr McLoone. We were put through to his office where a girl said he was not in that day but would return the call the following day. This did not happen!
Footnote: Present at a workshop held on Wednesday 19th May in the Public Services Centre were Cllrs Declan McHugh, Sean McEniff, John Boyle, Peter Kennedy and Thomas Pringle. Officials present, Michael McLoone, County Manager; Eamon Canney, Divisional Manager; J Fitz-Howard, SEE and Gerry Gilroy, Area Manager. The manager thanked the members for agreeing to meet with him in relation to his proposals to dispose of the council’s interest in a property in Drumlonagher. He circulated a draft notice setting out in detail his proposed recommendations and gave a detailed explanation of each element of same, including an independent valuation of the council’s interest in the property and the subsequent negotiations with the developer. Members expressed their support for the manager’s proposal and complimented him on an excellent deal (minutes of Donegal Electoral Area Committee meeting, dated 21st July 2004).
Ballymun anchorbought for €6m
Musgraves has paid around €6 million for the anchor store in a new retail development at Ballymun in Dublin 11. SuperValu will trade out of the 1,400 sq m (15,069sq ft) supermarket, directly opposite the new civic offices.
It forms part of a larger retail complex which will have four other units, with a combined space of 600 sq m (6,458 sq ft) and full height glazed shopfronts on to Ballymun Road.
The supermarket will have the use of 50 surface car-parking spaces and will adjoin a new leisure centre and residential scheme. Treasury Holdings plans to develop a shopping centre on an adjoining site.
Lisney acted for developer Bennett Construction, while Harrington-Bannon acted for Musgraves.
(Irish Times, Wednesday, May 26th, 2004)
Dom Breslin recently celebrated his 70th birthday with a party in Harvey’s Point. Pictured here with his wife Mary and niece Minister Mary Coughlan TD on the night Photo: Jason McGarrigle
Location of Ocean FM studios announced
Ocean FM, the radio consortium that, subject to a Supreme Court appeal, is to take over from North West Radio on October 1st, has unveiled the locations of its studios in the franchise area. In south Donegal this will be on the first floor of the newly constructed Gruagorm House on the Main Street. A spokesman for the station said that substantial investment would be made in the studios.
Popular local radio presenter Brendan Magee is Ocean FM’s new breakfast show presenter. Ocean’s “Breakfast Club” will broadcast daily from 6.30 to 9am, promising a music mix to pick you up and make you feel good!
Local news, sport and weather will be on the hour, with headline updates every twenty minutes. The surf report, obituaries and financial reports will also feature.
The Ocean Breakfast Club will be lively, engaging and local in feel.
Brendan Magee’s broadcasting career spans eleven years with North West Radio and he is also well known in the music scene across the region. Brendan says he is “relishing the chance to present alongside some of Ireland’s most talented broadcasters” Brendan is a native of Garrison in Co Fermanagh and lives in Strandhill, Co Sligo, with his wife Sinead and baby daughter Erin.
Ocean FM’s most recent recruit is former 2FM star Mike Moloney who will present Ocean Drive daily from 3 to 7pm, while the stations General Manager, Robert Walshe will anchor “North West Today”, the station’s current affairs and magazine programme from 9am to 12 midday.
Ocean FM will launch on October 1st and will have studios and offices in Northwest Business Park, Collooney, Co Sligo, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim and Donegal Town.
Gerard Glackin, Leghowney, presents Charlie Martin, Townawilly, with the locals’ prize at the Barnes Sheepdog trials. Also pictured is trials judge, Gary McMullin, Larin.
Future of Donegal Town Community Enterprise Officer in Serious Doubt
Following a meeting last Wednesday that was less well attended than anticipated, serious doubts were cast on the future position of a full-time Community Enterprise Officer in town, due to a dramatic reduction in funding by local businesses. Just twenty-six attendees were present, of which twenty were representative of the business community. From the floor, praise and criticism in equal measure was directed at Ms Sian Breslin, who was appointed to the position of Community Enterprise Officer just 23 months ago. Eighty local businesses initially made direct debit pledges to fund the office. It is reported that these eighty monthly pledges have now reduced to thirty.
The meeting was opened by Chairman John Durcan, President of Donegal Town Community Chamber. Ms Breslin give a lengthy overview of her office’s role, covering achievements/projects completed/grant aid and grant applications during her period of office, and she finished by stating that she is reluctantly retiring from the position on Friday 17th. September 2004. One worrying point raised during Sian’s address - if no Development Officer is appointed to play a “driving role”, funding for any approved grant aid may well be returned to the originating bodies – which would not auger well for any future applications from Donegal Town. Ms Breslin also confirmed that, despite exhaustive efforts, no grant aid had become available to fund the office of Community Enterprise Officer. She expressed concern as to why the original eighty direct debit pledges had dramatically reduced to thirty – a total that could not sustain the financing needed to keep the Enterprise Office running. Indeed a shortfall of €1300 per month is currently being met by the Chamber of Commerce .
During Questions and Answers from the floor, Eddie Marshall stated that the Enterprise Office had lost the confidence of many businesses. He questioned as to how much finance had gone into capital projects; how much in administration and what was achieved by the feasibility studies carried out. He further questioned the time devoted to shopping sprees; festivals etc. – which, he claimed, were already up and running prior to the setting up of the Enterprise Office. He wondered why there were 200 people at the original meeting in 2000 while the DTCC’s last AGM only attracted 30. Eddie claimed that there are over 300 businesses in town, but at meetings such as this one, people were afraid to stand up and voice their opinions in case they were perceived to be acting in a negative manner - hence they were hesitant to attend or participate .
Cllr.Barry O’Neill said that he found it interesting listening to the various comments but could not understand why there was so much negativity coming from the floor, as Sian Breslin, during her term, had done extremely good work for the town and surrounding area. He further declared that this meeting should not make comparisons with Erne Enterprise – as there are so many positives in Donegal Town. Barry said that Donegal Town Community Chamber should lobby all local politicians and proposed that an urgent meeting be sought with all six locally elected Co. Council representatives, prior to their meeting of 13th. September.
Diarmuid Barry, a member of the Keeney property consortium, asked Ms Breslin:
1. “ Had anyone approached landowners in relation to land sites that the Chamber were sourcing when the drawing up of the recent Town Plan?”
2. “Would you think it is perceived that perhaps the Community Chamber has now identified itself with the application made by the other developer in the town? - Did the Chamber organise a meeting between another developer and the committee of the Mart in relation to the developments on the Mart site – a plan which had already been submitted by me (Mr. Barry) to the Mart? Are you not supposed to be impartial in your position - are you not supposed to extend the same courtesy to every developer and not favour one?”
In responding, Chairperson John Durcan stated that Ms Breslin did not approach any landowners but in the course of discussions, a submission was made under the Area Plan to ask Donegal Co. Council to designate a particular site.
Mr. Durcan stated that DTCC has supported all requests, no matter from whom or where they came and any other project requested of them.
Sian Breslin said that the Local Area Plan has been instrumental in securing the rezoning of the Revlin Project land and that Mr. Barry should be thankful for that. Ms Breslin also said that - yes - she had facilitated a meeting with developers to discuss the Mart Project – and would have also done likewise for the Keeney Consortium had she prior knowledge that it was also interested in this area.
Jeremy St Clair said that some kind of manager should be appointed, otherwise expected grant aid may not be now available.
Seamus Carbin, deputising for his son’s business, O’Dowd, Donnelly, Carbin - commended Sian Breslin for her good work - quoting her invaluable assistance to the Leghowney Community Project. He said that the reason his son contributed to the office of Enterprise Officer was solely for the good of the town and area and he would hope that the position would continue in existence. Mr.Carbin proposed that as the Co. Council had intention to introduce car parking charges in town, that the majority of the revenue collected should be directed towards the funding of the Enterprise Officer and other local projects .
Patrick Brady said that the 23 months since the set-up of the Community Enterprise Office was “a learning curve” and that the crux of this meeting was “where do we go from here” - asserting it is vitally important for the development of town and area to have such an office.
Sally Bonner commended Sian and described Donegal as one of the best towns in the country - “but it does lack certain community spirit and we should now move forward to build on the good works already done by the Enterprise Office.”
Alec Reid Jnr questioned whether DTCC should redefine the role of an Enterprise Officer within DTCC. He said a priority was what can be done for forthcoming year as he could not see the present monthly shortfall being made up locally. Alex finished “Sian has accumulated nearly two years experience - and a newcomer to the position would have to start from scratch.”
There were a proposal from the floor asking would Sian be prepared to work part-time.
Sian; Might be possible for Winter months – but will not take on any additional community projects.
Brian O’Sullivan; If a new Enterprise Officer is appointed – full information should be made available through Donegal Times and Donegal Democrat to communicate what office is doing.
Sinead McGowan said that she was disappointed with the negativity she perceived at the meeting as it did take a length of time to put structures in place and on all occasions the local media were notified of any major projects/decisions.
Alec Reid Snr. said that the recent work of Sian Breslin has made a tremendous difference to the development of Donegal Town and he found her very “even-handed” in dealing with all developers and everyone who approached her.
Concluding the meeting John Durcan asked for a show of hands from the floor as to whether the Office of Community Enterprise Officer should continue. The general consensus was that it should. He then outlined solutions:
• Position should be filled on an interim part-time basis;
• DTCC should again seek different methods of funding this office and meet to decide same.
Mr Durcan promised that DTCC would take on board all proposals/discussions from the night’s meeting.
Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I recently travelled here to Donegal Town from New Zealand, in search of family, and to see and explore two of the national treasures, formally belonging to us, the O’Donnells, which, as I understand, the Irish government has the custody and care of.
These treasures that I refer to are, of course, Donegal Castle and Donegal Friary. I have wandered through the friary on an almost daily basis over the past two weeks. I am horrified at what I see, this gorgeous tranquil place is nothing short of a beer garden, is treated accordingly, and is being trashed and disrespected on a regular basis.
This morning, the ground was again littered with empty alcohol bottles and associated garbage, along with broken glass. I would hate to think what my ancestors, in whose footsteps we tread every time we enter the friary, would think of the desecration that is occurring there. To add to this, some of the ancient stones were knocked from their place to the ground.
This behaviour would not be tolerated anywhere else in the civilised world, and I have no doubt that if the local apathy towards the slow destruction of the friary continues, it will be lost.
I would like to think the friary has enough importance attached to it that someone now in authority over it will see fit to protect it properly.
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