Crime gang blamed for copycat raids on Lidl

A major crime gang is believed to be behind the theft of a substantial amount of money in an early-morning heist from Lidl, Donegal Town, on Saturday 18th.
The well-planned burglary was almost a carbon copy of a raid carried out on another Lidl outlet last month in Co. Wexford.
Early Saturday morning, the gang struck between 1 am and 4 am, gaining entry through a side door. It is understood they were equipped with sledgehammers and proceeded to knock down an internal wall, giving them access to the safe.
The safe containing ‘a substantial amount of money’ was removed and is believed to have been taken away in a van. Supt John McFadden, Donegal, who is leading the investigation, declined to say how much had been taken in the burglary. However, the store would have had significant trade throughout Thursday and Friday, with locals being joined by many northern shoppers who benefit from the sterling/euro rate and cross the border for groceries and other goods.
Supt McFadden appealed for anyone who was in the vicinity of the store at the Drumlonagher roundabout between midnight and 4am to contact them if any individuals or vehicles aroused their suspicions. “We do not know exactly what time this happened, how many people were involved or what transport was used. We should ask anyone who saw a van or any vehicles or people in the area to contact us at Donegal Town (Tel 074 – 9721021) or Ballyshannon 071 9851102.
It is understood there was no security personnel on the premises which is situated less than a mile form the town centre.

One man works unaware of his two mates stretched out in the afternoon sunshine on the roof of the AIB Photo by Jason McGarrigle

In an interview with Sean Perry on North West Radio news, Monday 19th September, John White, projects developments director, Bennett Construction, responded to questions relating to the transfer of land at Drumlonagher to his company in 1998, and explained the price paid to Donegal County Council.
John White: The situation is that there was an agreement, we won an open competition to develop that site in 1998 and part of that agreement was that we would provide the new Civic Offices and then develop out the remainder of the site. Then, at the end of the day, when the profits were made, we would split these and Donegal County Council would get their 20% share. So the actual sale of land, as people put it, is not the case. What happened was that Donegal County Council wanted to get its money in advance from the development, even though the site is not completed yet – the council wanted to take its money early. We had meetings and discussions and we said ‘fine, get an independent valuer in – value the land and add a certain amount in for the future development potential’. This basically allowed Donegal County Council to walk away from the risk, to walk away from the 2-3 year delay in developing out the site, and to get the money paid up in advance.
There was no land for sale – it was purely Donegal County Council getting their share from the development up-front. This is quite common procedure and from the Council’s position, it has no risk. So they (the council) have managed the deal and the agreement in the best possible way for themselves. We have seen the same thing at Ballymun with Dublin City Council, with Trim U.D.C. - with other areas around the country – so it’s common enough practice.
Sean Perry – In terms of Drumlonagher - it all revolves around planning essentially and I understand you have a number of high profile tenants waiting to come in and take up occupancy if everything works out according to plan?
John White: We wouldn’t see it revolving around planning, we would see it revolving around trade, business and employment - we have already secured a top level anchor retailer, Atlantic Homecare, and other ancillary retail will develop alongside of that. In terms of what it can do for the town, it will mean probably up to 250 jobs on that site alone, that’s excluding the proposal that we have in with the OPW for the decentralized offices which is probably for another 200-300 jobs – so that site has the potential to turn out in the region of 500-600 jobs.
In answer to a question from Sean Perry regarding the present zoning as ‘mixed use’, Mr White replied ‘We would prefer to have ‘Edge of Centre’ zoning. Any agreement we would have with the likes of Atlantic Homecare, Aldi, Elverys, or any other retailers on that site would be subject to planning. And the strongest planning we can get for that site is the best for Donegal Town because it secures the jobs.
Sean Perry – There have been a number of objections lodged in regard to Drumlonagher. Are these strong objections in your eyes – are they likely to be successful?
John White – Well, at the moment they are observations – but observations can turn into objections and any development that we would have that would have an objection or observation is of concern. Probably the biggest concern to us is the Tesco objection – we don’t have a Dunnes Stores on the site – we don’t have a retail that could possibly give them a reason to object to it. For someone who understands how hard it is to get into Donegal Town, we find it strange that Tesco would be objecting to development which is going to produce more jobs for the town and bring in the likes of Atlantic Homecare, Aldi and Elverys – and not the likes of Dunnes on that site.
Sean Perry – Were these observations to be successful – has Bennetts a plan B for the site?
John White - Well, we believe it’s a super site on the way into town – the civic offices are there for all to see – a fabulous structure – it has actually recently been put up for an architectural award. We would see that site developed out to the same high standard and we would hope that the zoning would be sufficient, and that the planning would be sufficient, to allow the level of development to be a fit for the civic offices – the higher the zoning, the higher quality of development we can do.

A BBQ was held in Millinasole on 20th August, in aid of Concern, hosted by Margaret Dolan, wife of Willie John, former sponsor of the Tyrone team. It was Sam’s last stop before returning to Dublin. A great night was had by all. Pictured are Charlie and Marjorie Quinn, Noreen Martin, Angela McMullin, Martin Quinn, Sam Maguire, John Joe McGarrigle, Carmel Gallagher, Jennifer Harron, Cuthbert Donnelly, Tyrone County Board; Willie John Dolan, Anne Marie McNulty, Breege McGarrigle, Edel Quinn, Caroline Martin.

North West Radio to cease broadcasting on October 1st

Confirmation came in a statement last week that North West Radio will go off air on October 1st. However, it seems as if there will be no seamless takeover by the new awardee, Ocean FM. NWR is continuing with its supreme court challenge to the loss of its licence and a spokesperson for the BCI said the commission had a policy of not entering into contracts while an appeal is pending. The statement from the radio station confirmed that NWR wasn’t offered, nor did it seek, an extension of its licence.
Meanwhile, Robert Walshe, general manager of Ocean FM, affirmed that the new station would be ready to go on air October 1st. He declined to discuss the NWR court appeal, saying “My only job at present is to get our station ready to open on the deadline. Staff training is underway as is the fit-out of our Donegal Town studios”.
NWR’s appeal is due for mention in the supreme court on October 8th.

Ocean FM’s impressive weekday schedule to change

radio on Western Seaboard

Ocean FM, the country’s newest independent commercial radio station, due on air on October 1st, has announced their pre-launch weekday schedule. General Manager and Programme Director, Robert Walshe told Donegal Times “Ocean FM will change the sound of radio on the western seaboard and move it to a new level of excellence” He added “the Ocean FM team across all disciplines will be one of the most experienced and talented in the radio industry outside Dublin.
“The challenge of merging national broadcasters with key local presenters will ensure that Ocean FM will quickly impress the franchise area and further afield” he concluded.
Ocean FM’s weekday schedule includes Brendan Magee on ‘Breakfast Club’ from 6.30 to 9am during which Michelle Guildea will travel the region in the Ocean Cruisers on ‘sticker and traffic patrol’.
‘Northwest Today’, Ocean FM’s daily current affairs and magazine show will be presented by Robert Walshe from 9am to 12noon while former RTE 2FM presenters Paul Scanlon and Mike Moloney will present ‘Ocean Breeze’ 12noon to 3pm and ‘Ocean Drive’ 3pm to 7pm. ‘Moloney after 6’ will be a magazine style show and will include a number of high profile guests and celebrities.
‘Ocean Country’ will be broadcast live from the Donegal studios nightly at 8pm, presented by Mike Ryan. This programme will include regular updates from local Donegal country music expert, Eamon McPhilomey.
On Friday nights former RTE Radio 1 star Alan Corcoran anchors ‘Corcorans Country’, a ninety minute showcase of Ireland’s top country music stars including regular guest contributions from Fr Brian Darcy and Eddie Rowley of the Sunday World.
‘Ocean NRG’ nightly from 9.30 to 11pm will be rotated between Leitrim’s Kevin Blessing, Donegal’s Gavin McDaid and Sligo’s Ciaran Carty. The show will be broadcast on location from Ocean FM’s three studios in the franchise area and will feature hot hits, text and email requests.
Popular female broadcaster Lynsey Dolan will wind down the north west region with ‘Ocean Love Cruise’ from 11pm . The programme will play three hours of the region’s all-time favourite love songs.
Ocean FM’s full “special interest” and weekend programme schedule will be announced next week.
Ocean FM will for the first time in the franchise area provide state of the art studios and offices at Coolooney, Sligo; Library Corner, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim; and at Gruagorm House in Donegal Town.
Ocean FM commence dummy programme rehearsals from this Wednesday September 22nd and are ahead of schedule for their planned October 1st launch.

“Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme” written by Buncrana man, Frank McGuinness, the powerful and moving play following the experiences of eight men from widely differing backgrounds who volunteered to serve in the 36th Ulster Division during the First World War, is the latest offering from the highly acclaimed Donegal Drama Circle, who will present this play as the main theatrical event of the forthcoming “Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival 2004”
With humour and sensitivity, the play follows the men – from Enniskillen, Coleraine, Tyrone, Armagh, Derry and Belfast, as they meet, train, become friends and finally go to war, a band of brothers prepared to die for each other on the battlefields of France.
Following their acclaimed production during last years Blue Stacks Festival, of “One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest” which played to packed houses and saw it given the ultimate accolade of nightly standing ovations, director Amanda Crawford says of this year’s play “Since I first saw this play, at it’s premiere in the Abbey Theatre in 1985, I have wanted the Drama Circle to do it – it is a magnificent play, which, particularly at the present moment, offers a timely critique of the futility and waste of war. It is also comic and tragic – a rare combination, but a combination which McGuinness excels in. This is the third of his plays which we have produced, “Carthaginians” in 1992 and “The Factory Girls” in 1994. “Observe the Sons” is a play which has never been performed before in Donegal. We are also lucky this year again, in being able to offer our audiences the added facility of tiered seating, which has been made available to us by Donegal County Council’s Arts Officer, Tralaoch O’Fionan, and as audiences who attended last years production know, this seating arrangement added greatly to the atmosphere and enjoyment of the evening, as it gives the Bosco Centre a feeling of being in a more intimate theatre setting”.
With striking, atmospheric lighting and sets in the hands of Art Kavanagh and Martin Crawford, the production features the combined acting talents of nine of Donegal’s most talented and versatile actors, with Sean McLoone playing” Pyper” as a younger man and Art Kavanagh as the elder “Pyper”, Christian Carbin as “David Craig”, John Kerrigan as “Anderson” Paul Gallagher as “Millen”, Kieran Patton as “Crawford”, Alan Kelly as “McIlwaine”, Kieran McGowan as “Moore” and Kieran McCafferty as “Roulston”.
The production opens on Thursday 30th September, and continues 1st and 2nd October, nightly at 8pm, at the John Bosco Centre, Donegal Town. Admission: €10 Concessions: Students and Senior Citizens: €8. Please note: Due to strong language and imagery, this play is not suitable for children.

Birthday boy, David Davin, enjoys a crepe on the Diamond in the company of his daughter,
Adele, and French street entertainer, Pierre. Photo by Margaret Gallagher

A name for the new bridge

There I was, minding my own business and enjoying the ambience of the French Market on the Diamond, when a voice from behind me demanded attention. “Hey cove, what are they going to call the new bridge at Water Street” it queried. Having never considered the question, I professed to having no idea.
But the man, a townie from the river area, had “it should be named after someone who did good for the town” he asserted “and we locals should have an input – ask your reader for suggestions.”
So, what do you think? Is there someone, past or present, you consider should be honoured by being named for posterity on our latest edifice. These are many distinguished personages who did much for our community to choose from. If Ballyshannon can have its Allingham and Ballybofey its Butt, then surely we can place the name of one of our own on the bridge at Water Street.

Eurovision star, Chris Doran, in Melody Maker