Work on new roundabout commences
at Tullyearl junction

Work has started at Tullyearl to replace the existing “T” junction at which a number of accidents have occurred since its opening. Construction began at the beginning of the month and the new roundabout is planned to be opened in July. The cost of the project will come in at around €1 million.
Rodney Irwin, Executive Engineer with the NRA’s design office, said that traffic restrictions would be in place over the coming months. “During most of the construction work, we would be planning to keep two-way traffic going but at times there will be slight traffic disruption, as with any scheme. We can’t decide when that period will be.” The contractor (Noel Regan & Sons Plant Hire) will decide the traffic management plan.

Hoteliers Dinner Dance in Mill Park Hotel

Paul Diver, Chairman, Donegal Branch IHF; Dick Burke, President of the Hotel Federation; Peter Mulligan, sponsor; and Tony McDermott of the Mill Park Photo: Margaret Gallagher

Three contest mayoral position

There will be three contenders for the position of Mayor of Donegal, when it comes up for decision in the next few weeks.
Current incumbent, Ernan McGettigan, who has been Mayor for the past two years is seeking re-election, while those also vying for the position include local businessman, Ciaran Twomey and Mary McGowan who has been involved in a number of different community organisations down the years.
The nominations closed last Friday with the three allowing their names go forward.
Current Mayor Ernan McGettigan has built up a high profile since becoming chairman of the local Community Chamber back in 1999. In the last two years he has served as Mayor, having previously served as deputy Mayor to Alex Reid Senior.
Last year, he ran as an Independent candidate for Donegal County Council.
Ciaran Twomey is known for his involvement with the Abrakebabra franchise in the north-west and he also sought to run in the last European elections as a FG candidate, before he was forced to pull out at the last moment. He is the only of the three who is not a director of the Chamber, but his high profile should nonetheless be of assistance.
Finally, mother of nine Mary McGowan is a well known community activist and a Director on the Community Chamber. She has been involved with the St John Bosco centre for over thirty years.
Mary is currently pursuing a degree in community studies in Letterkenny and is a former Chairman of the Donegal Mental Health Association. And while maybe not as high profile as the other two, her membership of the VEC gives testament to her credentials for the job.
Those entitled to vote will include paid-up individual and group members of the Donegal Town Community Chamber. In reality, the mayor is an honorary title, but nonetheless, is an important figurehead for the town.
Ballot papers should arrive by post no later than 2pm Wednesday, 2nd March, addressed DTCC Mayor Ballot Papers, c/o Gallagher & McCartney, New Row, Donegal Town.
Votes will then be counted by the Chamber’s solicitor. In event of a tied vote, chamber directors will call a meeting to cast the deciding vote. The person who receives the most votes will take on the role of Donegal Town mayor for a period of two years. The person with the next highest number of votes will take the role of deputy mayor for two years and will then automatically become mayor at the end of this term.
Donegal Town’s new mayor and deputy mayor will be announced at Donegal Town Community Chamber’s Open Evening on Monday 7th March, which will be followed by the Chamber AGM.
The honorary mayor will represent Donegal Town area in an official capacity serving the whole community and not any individual group. The Community Chamber will assist the mayor in carrying out his/her duties. The mayor will give quarterly reports of activities to the Community Chamber Committee and liase closely with the Chairperson.

Barnes Notes

Attention all teenagers - first years and above - get ready for summer with Aerobics and make-up classes at the Centre. Aerobics will start on Tuesday 8th March from 7.30 –8.30pm for 5 weeks and make-up/skin care classes will commence on Wednesday 30th March at 7.30pm for 4 weeks. Classes subject to numbers.
Due to popular demand, faith healer Michael Curran will return to the centre on Wednesday 2nd March, Thursday 3rd March and Sunday 6th March and again on Sunday 20th March, Wednesday 23rd March and Thursday 24th March. Times are from 5pm – 9 pm.
Adult art classes will recommence in the Centre tonight Wednesday 16th, 7.30 – 9.30pm for 6 weeks.
Congratulations to our recent Brown Envelope winners:
12th Feb – Mervin Thomson, Ballybofey, and Patricia McMenamin, Barnes. 19th Feb – Allannah and Ella Budds, Cork, and Rachel Boyle, Ardnawark.
Also congratulations to our Monday night card drive winners. 7th Feb – Eamon Thomas, Clar; Phonsie Mc Ginty, Druminin; Joe Mongan, Barnes; and Tom Gillespie, Ballybofey.
14th Feb – Sean Mc Anaw, Clar; Eamon Mc Ginty, Lough Eske; Josie McDermott, Ballybofey; Frankie Bonner, Ballybofey.

Edith celebrates her 70th

Happy birthday to Edith Browne who celebrated her 60th last Saturday night with a party in the Central Hotel. The extended Browne family: Front: Hannah, Sophia, Alisha, Nicole. Seated: Zara, Belynda, Edith, Victor, Andrea. Back: Mark, Joshua, Gregory, Lorraine, Sacha, Jackie, Geoffrey, Gavin, Mary, Gareth, Conor.

Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Drimarone Notes

The winners of the Drimarone Development Association weekly draw for the past three weeks were: Mary Doherty, Brid Curristin and Martin Mohan.
The next Barn Dance will be held in the Bluestack Centre on March 4th - music by Michael Cleary and Breege Kelly.
Also taking place in the Bluestack Centre are the following: Monday nights - Line Dancing, 8.30-10.30pm; Wednesday 23rd Feb, Ladies night starting at 8.30pm; Thursday nights, Barn Dancing, 8.30pm-10.30pm; Friday nights, Civil Defence, 8-10pm (over 18s only).
Adoration of Blessed Sacrament in the Church of the Holy Redeemer, Drimarone, every Wednesday during Lent from 7-9pm.
Easter Kids Camp starting on Monday 28th March to Friday 1st April - 9.30am to 2.30pm each day. Contact Pamela at 9735564.

Josie celebrates 90th in Milltown

Josie Campbell cuts the cake, accompanied by her cousins Anne Marie Gillespie, Mary Anne Kane and Eileen Griffin

Travellers told ‘clear out’ of site or face the consequences
Shot fired over Ballintra site and exit blocked with gravel

Gardai are investigating a number of incidents of intimidation against traveller families on a halting site near the village of Ballintra.
On Monday 14th February, a man, who said he was from Tyrone, told a staff member of the Donegal Travellers Project that the families had 48 hours to get out. If the families did not heed the warning, he said they would have to face the consequences.
That Monday night a lorry load of rubble was dumped at the entrance to the site.
Ms Siobhan McLaughlin of the Donegal Travellers Project said that she has no idea who is carrying out the intimidation.
“Ballyshannon Gardai are investigating the incidents,” she said.
Ms McLaughlin said that Monday’s incidents were the latest in a series of threats and acts of intimidation which started a year ago when the families moved to the emergency halting site. She said that the problem had escalated over the past week and there was also a claim that a shot was fired over the halting site. On St Patrick’s weekend last year, it was reported that a number of men visited the site late at night with petrol cans and attempted to set one of the caravans on fire.
A spokesman for Ballyshannon gardai said that they had received reports of intimidation of travellers and that the matter was being fully investigated.
He added there was ‘ill-feeling’ in the area but said he did not know if local people were involved in the intimidation.
“Garda have sent out a clear signal that any type of intimidation or criminal activity will not be tolerated, no matter who the perpetrators are,” the spokesman said.
The Project was also critical of Donegal County Council who they say are ultimately responsible for providing appropriate accommodation for travellers in Donegal.
The site was opened as an emergency measure in 2002 and is located in an old quarry in which there are no facilities.
Ms McLaughlin said it was a case of ‘anything will do’ when it comes to traveller accommodation and that they are being denied their basic human rights.
“What we have in Donegal is a number of emergency sites, with little or no service provision. None of the permanent sites promised (by the Council) have been built yet. Travellers around the county have been made false promises,” she said.
Ms McLaughlin called for the immediate development of a reconciliation strategy involving both travellers and settled people and is asking for the relevant agencies to become involved.
Donegal News

'The Boyfriend' at the AVS

Fay (Tanya McHugh), Nancy (Marie McHugh), Dulcie (Chloe McGinty), Masie (Alison Thomas) and Polly (Zara Montgomery) dance to the big jazz band sounds of Sandy Wilson’s The Boyfriend at the AVS

Inver Notes

by Sean Paul McHugh

Happy birthday to Rob Boyle of E B Washers who celebrates his 40th birthday on February 28th. Contact him - he has a machine to clean just about anything!!! Also happy birthdays to Green Rising’s Thomas McHugh Jnr, Kerri McHugh, Karl Rose, Des McGroarty, Nicole Gallagher and Leon Kennedy, who are all celebrating this month.
Inver Community Drama Group are currently rehearsing for their third production. It won’t be long!! It will be worth the wait!!
Good luck to all our young people from the parish who are facing there mocks this week.
Congratulations to Jimmy Deery and Brenda O’Shea on the birth of their baby Niamh last week.
Well done to the Eany Celtic Under 14s team who beat St Catherines 3-0 and Copany Rovers 3-1 in the first two matches of the league. St Nauls under 16s start their league campaign on Sunday 6th March when they take on arch-rivals Four Masters in the first game of the year. Good luck to players and management for the new season.
On behalf of everyone in the parish, I would also like to wish Annie McGrane a very happy retirement having closed the doors of the Post Office last Friday for the last time and thank her for the great service she has given to the parish over the years. Also good luck to Ann Cassidy who opened the new Post Office on Monday having taken over from Annie.

Long-serving Inver postmistress retires

The retiring Postmistress of Inver PO, Annie McGrane with family members. Front: Annie (centre) with Mary, Sophie & Karen Tracey and Carmel McGrane. Back: Michael McGrane, Alicia, Pauric and Joanne Tracey. Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Major US firm buys company in Donegal Town
Firm’s purchase could lead to more jobs for Donegal

Donegal Town is in line for a jobs boost following confirmation that a local company has been bought by a huge US firm as part of multi-million dollar deal.
InteSys Technologies, which manufactures injection moulded components for garage door openers, household appliances and medical products has been bought by Dallas-based Moll Industries, Inc. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.
The InteSys Technologies plant is located at Lurganboy on the IDA Business Park on the outskirts of Donegal Town. The company employs about 40 people. Speaking this week, the Regional Manager of the IDA, Mr Joe McHugh, welcomed the news.
“I have met with representatives of Moll Industries and they have indicated to me they have plans to develop the site and we will be working closely with them in this regard as they move forward with the development,” Mr McHugh said.
Asked specifically if this would this mean a jobs boost for the Donegal Town plant, he said, “the company plans to grow the site and clearly that will mean additional new investment and more jobs.”
InteSys Technologies was owned by the US-based firm Textron, a $10bn company, which owns the Bell Helicopters and Cessana Aircraft brands. It was started in the early 1980s as Monaghan Plastics by local man, Charlie Monaghan, who returned from New Zealand to set up the firm. After growing the business he sold it to InteSys.
Helen Masterson, Managing Director of InteSys, said the sale is very positive for Donegal Town.
“We had been working on a plan to upgrade the company and the way to do this was to seek a company interested in the development and growth of InteSys. Moll Industries, Inc, is one of the largest custom injection moulded plastic components and assemblies to the appliance industry in North America,” she said.
“They wanted a European base. With Moll’s expertise we will be able to offer a total medical moulding solution to meet our existing customer requirements, and we are engaging in a programme to develop our medical capability further,” she added.
Moll Industries Inc. confirmed it had purchased IndeSys Technologies in Donegal, as well as the assets of InteSys in Mexico and California.
“The move was strategically driven and fulfils business objectives within core market segments in which Moll is established and experienced.
“The development increases capabilities, enables greater geographic service ability and illustrates Moll’s financially sound and growing presence as a key global plastics pacesetter,” Ms Masterson concluded.

Lough Eske Castle for sale

Artist impressions of the new development

By Pamela Duncan

Lough Eske Castle has again hit national headlines, appearing on the front page of the Sunday Independent’s ‘Property’ section and attracting the interest of developers. According to the auctioneer, since its reappearance on the market, there has been significant interest in the property, with initial offers of €3.5 million and above anticipated for the site.
Situated on 43 acres, the property is being handled by Helen Cassidy Auctioneers, a Galway based company. When contacted by the Donegal Times, Ms. Cassidy said that a number of developers had enquired about the site. She credited this to the fact that planning permission is already in place for the development of the castle. “I have handled castle developments in the past, but it is rare for such a property to come with such fresh planning potential,” Ms. Cassidy said.
The planning permission granted allows the erection of an hotel complex consisting of 60 bedrooms, 40 courtyard suites, a leisure/health centre and a service road on the 43 acres of mature ground on which the castle stands.
The lands around the castle, formerly owned by Coillte, were at the centre of a planning wrangle between the Lough Eske Development Company and local residents in the late 90s. Locals, who were in favour of the former Brooke Estate being reopened as a hotel, strongly opposed the development of 58 holiday homes in the area - and the application for the homes was denied.
It was argued at the time that such a large-scale development would be unsustainable due to difficulties in connecting the site to the Donegal Town sewerage scheme. It is of huge importance that this aspect of the development be carefully considered, due to the fact that Lough Eske itself constitutes part of the water supply to the town.

Happy 80th Kitty!!

Kitty Martin (front middle) who celebrated her 80th birthday recently in Dom’s Pier 1 with family and friends. Pictured with Kitty are her nine children. Back: Seamus, Kevin, Gerard, Sean, Patsy Front: Geraldine, Marie, Kitty, Josephine and Evelyn Photo: Jason McGarrigle

Strike action averted at Hospira

Compromise reached as workers accept 12 per cent pay rise

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mary Coughlan, has welcomed the agreement reached between the management and workers at Hospira.
Some 430 workers at the pharmaceutical plant in Donegal Town had threatened strike action as they sought parity of pay with colleagues in Sligo and Cavan. The strike had been scheduled to commence on Monday, February 14.
“Compromise and agreement can be difficult at times, however, I know that all involved have set aside their differences to look to the future, and this augurs well for the forward prospects of the plant. I believe that everyone will benefit from this progressive take on industrial relations, and I sincerely welcome the result,” Minister Coughlan said.
Mr Sean Reilly, SIPTU Branch Secretary, said that they were glad to have reached a set of proposals which were acceptable to both parties. “The settlement proposals arrived at by the Labour Relations Court were accepted by a decisive majority of SIPTU members who were balloted on Monday and Tuesday, thereby averting the need for strike action,” Mr Reilly said.
Under the new Labour Court proposal the workers at Hospira will receive a 12 per cent rise in wages from September 1 next, bringing them to a new rate of €10.06 per hour. They currently receive €8.98.
(Donegal News)

40th birthday in Dom's Pier 1

Winston Duncan, Ballintra, who celebrated his 40th birthday with a party in Dom’s Pier 1 recently. Pictured with Winston is his wife Daphne and children Sharon, Amanda, Kyle and Robert. Photo: Jason McGarrigle