Happy 18th birthday
Congratulations to Donna McCalliog, Clar, who celebrated her 18th birthday in Pier 1 on Saturday night. L-r: Shauna McCauley, Deirdre Kelly, Arlene Higgins, Leanne O’Sullivan, Kelly O’Sullivan, Alisha McBrearty, Donna McCalliog (birthday girl) and Geraldine McIntyre. Photo: Paul O’Sullivan
Inver Notes
Congratulations to my neighbours Kieran and Nuala Kelly on the birth of their baby boy Rory who was born the week before last. It’s great to see the population of Ardaghey increasing all the time.
Happy birthday to Ann McHugh, Inver, Natasha Byrne, Sean Óg Ward, Laura Shallow, Caroline Cannon, Gregory McDaid, Jimmy McGready, Brendan McGready Junior and Bernadette Kearney who are all celebrating this month. Also Happy 21st birthdays to the Mullin twins, Michael and Ultan, who are celebrating this month also.
I was also asked to correct an error in last month’s notes. Jimmy Deery and Brenda O’Shea’s baby daughter is called Erin and not Niamh.
There was also a very successful retirement function for Annie McGrane held in the community the Friday before last and well done to all involved with the organizing of the party.
Eany Celtic Under 14s had an emphatic 8-2 win over Drumbar the Saturday before last. They had no game last weekend. Also congratulations to Danny McDyre who made the final panel of 24 for the Ireland Aussie Rules Under 17 team.
St Nauls Under 16s had an impressive victory over near neighbours Four Masters in the first game of the new season. Despite being down to 14 men early in the first half, they came back to win with 7 points to spare. Their next game is this Sunday morning at 11am, away to Ardara.
Congratulations to Patrick McGroarty on passing his Business Accountancy exams recently.
Happy 21st birthday to Declan Friel, Fanaghan. And also good luck and a safe journey to his brother Kieran who jetted off to Australia last week.
Sean Paul McHugh
Mary gives farmer an earful
Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture and Food, is being asked to apologise after a row in the farmyard of former Meath football captain, Michael Dunican. The row happened during a canvass for the by-election in that county. Mr Dunican alleges the minister turned the air blue after he questioned her agriculture credentials.
“She said to me; ‘would you ever f….. off”. She didn’t say it just once but several times. In my own yard. Then another member of her group told me to ‘f……. off’ too” said Mr Dunican, who claims to have been a Fianna Fail supporter all his life.
Mr Dunican said he wanted an apology from the minister and that she would not be welcome in his yard again.
Objections and Observations - the facts
Objectors to planning applications have come under fierce criticism in recent weeks from local Fianna Fáil Councillor Peter Kennedy and from representatives of the Donegal Town Community Chamber including outgoing Chairman John Durcan and director Mary McGowan. Speaking on Ocean FM on Saturday 26th February 2005, Councillor Kennedy was particularly critical of Keeney Construction Limited, following their recent observation to Bennett Construction’s proposed retail development at Drumlonagher. Councillor Kennedy criticised the Keeney company for having objected, not only to Bennett’s current application, but also to earlier planning applications on the site, including the now occupied Council Offices. However investigations into those earlier applications have revealed that agents representing Keeney Construction had simply made an observation to the Council on 22nd March 2001, stating the following:
‘We note with interest that proposals have now been submitted by Christopher Bennett and Son (Construction) Limited for various developments on the site at Drumlonagher. As you are aware there is a degree of conflict between these proposals and our client’s proposals at Revlin. It is therefore critically important that the proposals for both sites are considered on a level playing field and assessed against common criteria. It has been intimated previously that our client’s proposals will require traffic and retail impact assessments. Whilst our client has no objection to providing these it is on the basis that Christopher Bennett and Son will also be requested to provide them. This is particularly important given that elements of their proposals are contrary to the terms of the Donegal Town Development Plan.’
Most significantly Keeney did not appeal the decisions of the County Council to grant permission for any of the developments on the Drumlonagher site. Indeed in a later letter dated 1st May 2001, the agents wrote to the council in support of the proposed council offices and the hotel development, within which they state the following:
‘I write to confirm that our client does not object to the principle of developing the site for a proposed New Civic Office for Donegal County Council or for the proposed hotel development. In particular it is considered that the New Civic Offices will provide a much-needed facility in the area and the principle of its development is strongly supported.’
Councillor Kennedy was also highly critical of Keeney Construction Ltd for failing to deliver on any of its proposals for Donegal Town since acquiring the 26.5 acre site at Revlin. In contrast, he felt that Christopher Bennett & Sons (Construction) Limited were the company with the necessary experience and resources to deliver much needed investment in the town. Their track record is undoubtedly an impressive one if one looks at what they have achieved in the rest of the country.
However that success has simply not been repeated in County Donegal. The Westmeath based company have been in control of a number of council owned sites in Donegal Town and in Letterkenny since the late 1990s, but in the intervening period have only managed to develop two council office buildings. While the company managed to gain permission for a retail development in Letterkenny some years ago, it has still not been developed.
Irrespective of the history and their lack of performance in County Donegal, Bennett Construction deserve a final chance to deliver much needed new jobs to Donegal Town, and, if they do so, they will be viewed as the knights in shining armour. Planning permission has now been granted for the retail development at Drumlonagher, although this could yet be appealed to An Bord Pleanala. Bennett have also advertised their intention to submit another massive application incorporating a Dunnes Stores on the site at Doonan.
Keeney Construction, in the meantime, are understood from sources in the Council to have an application for a shopping centre ready for submission on the mart site, with Tesco Ireland lined up as an anchor tenant in it. They are believed to be awaiting the outcome of their planning application for the proposed replacement mart next to the Tullyearl roundabout, which is due to be considered by elected members of Donegal County Council at a meeting on 29th March 2005, before progressing matters further. Applications for a proposed office building and a hotel are currently under consideration by the Council on the Revlin site.
It would appear from comments made by Councillor Kennedy on radio that he has reservations about the development of a shopping centre on the mart site and has instead concentrated his support behind the proposals being put forward by Bennett Construction at Doonan.
The outcome of the Councillors deliberations on the replacement mart application at Tullyearl on 29th March 2005 will either make or break Keeney Construction’s proposals for the mart site. It is understood that Keeney needs 21 of the 29 elected members of the Council to vote in favour of the proposed mart. With the Fianna Fail and Fianna Gael parties holding enough seats to carry the motion, the odds are favouring permission being granted.
Away from the mart, Drumlonagher and Doonan, the progress of an application for a new retail development and supermarket on the land behind Lidl has almost gone unnoticed. Submitted by the Dundalk based company Blackthorn File Management Limited some time ago, the Council in their wisdom decided to refuse this application last October, even though no objections had been made to it. The application is currently on appeal with An Bord Pleanala. Surprisingly neither Councillor Kennedy nor the Community Chamber batted an eyelid at this decision, yet it was the one that the council could have granted and, in the process, delivered much needed new investment to the town.
It is disappointing that the County Council, local elected representatives and developers have failed abysmally since the millennium to deliver much needed shopping facilities and jobs to Donegal Town. Rather than continuing to criticise and bicker about proposed developments, and those who are objecting to them, Councillor Kennedy and representatives of the Community Chamber would serve the local people better if they could get all of the developers trying to invest in Donegal Town around the one table, with a view to working in partnership rather than opposition. Hopefully this issue will arise as a major priority in the weeks ahead.
New Post Office opens in Inver
Kenny McDaid was Ann Cassidy’s first customer in the new Inver Post office on the 21st of February.
Development Officer retires
Sian Breslin, Development Officer for Donegal Town Community Chamber retires on March 8th 2005, to pursue her own business running Donegal Manor Guesthouse which she and her husband Michael recently opened.
In office for two and a half years, Sian has successfully secured over £500,000 for a variety of projects in Donegal Town. Sian says she originally joined the Community Chamber as a director in 1999 as she was in the process of planning to build a guesthouse and wanted to be part of a vibrant community group that shaped the future of Donegal Town. At that time Sian was very interested in the Tidy Towns concept and related tourism projects and events. She comments, “Little did I realise at the time, that my involvement with these projects would lead to my becoming the first Development Officer. I am delighted now that at the end of my term many projects have been initiated by the Development Office and that so many networks have been set up, with statutory, community and business groups, establishing Donegal Town Community Chamber as the most progressive grouping in Donegal Town.”
Sian is particularly pleased with projects such as the Local Area Plan, which she considers to have opened Donegal Town for further developments and hopes to see the fruition of this project, with at least two supermarkets in the town within the next two-three years.
She also is looking forward to the opening of the junior and senior playgrounds, which will facilitate the 3,000 children in our extended community.
Sian initiated other projects: “The Graphic Display Board, now on view outside the tourist office was another great success, this project was one of the most enjoyable as it was the work and inspiration of Neville Stack and Bob Wilson who gave of their time and talents freely for the community”.
Although Sian is retiring as Development Officer for Donegal Town Community Chamber she will be seeking a nomination for election as a Director of the chamber at the AGM on 7th March. Sian has gained so much knowledge and information during the last two and a half years, it is only fitting that this should be retained within the Chamber, thus enabling her to pass her vital experience on to the next Development Officer.
Finally she would like to thank everyone who supported her whilst working as Development Officer, in particular those who continued to fund the Development Office without fuss or complaint. She is looking forward to running her own business which has been a dream for over seven years and greeting friends, old and new in Donegal Manor from 8th March.
The Directors of the Donegal Town Community Chamber, local businesses and community groups wish to take this opportunity to thank Sian for her outstanding commitment to the community during her term. We wish her and Michael every success in their new venture and look forward to continuing to work with her in the future.
Sinead McGowan, PRO
Just how much North West Radio forfeited when it lost the radio franchise for Sligo, Leitrim and South Donegal becomes apparent from the money reportedly offered to the directors of Highland for their station. Scottish Radio Holdings (SRH) has agreed to pay €6 million for the north Donegal station, according to a report in the Irish Independent’s Business section of last Thursday. Seven shareholders each own 14% of the company. These include Tony Boyle; Michael McGinley; station manager, Charlie Collins; presenter, Shaun Doherty; Con Friel; Billy Patterson; and Packie Keeney. Each stake is worth around €860,000 based on a €6 million price tag, a figure well ahead of the £8 a night Packie charged when, along with Peter Oliver and Frank Magee, they started playing at the candlelights in the Central in 1971. The £8 covered all three, allowing each the princely sum of around £2.50.
The winners of the Drimarone Development Association weekly draw for the past two weeks were Mary Doherty and Danny McNaughton.
Congratulations to Mary Breslin, Drimalost who celebrated her 80th birthday recently.
We would like to send a get well message to Colm Dunlevy who is recovering from a back injury. Get well soon Colm - you are badly missed in the community.
Our deepest sympathy to Irene Meehan on the death of her father Con McGuinness, Killybegs. Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dhilis.
Next barn dance at the Bluestack Centre will be held on St. Patrick’s night 17th March - 10.30 pm to late. Music by Country Traditions. Admission €6. Supper served ‘Dance Paddy’s night away in the Bluestacks’!
Easter Kids camp starts on Monday 28th March to Friday 1st April in the Bluestack Centre Drimarone, 9.30-2.30pm each day. Contact Pamela at 9735564.
Other important dates at the Bluestack Centre; Monday nights - Line Dancing, 8.30 to 10.30pm. Thursday nights - Barn Dancing, 8.30-10.30pm. Friday nights – Civil Defence, 8-10pm (over 18s only).
Our deepest sympathy to Pauric O’Donnell, Tullynaha, on the death of his uncle Dinnie O’Donnell, who died in England recently. Ar dheis De go raibh a h-anam dhilis. The 9.30am mass in the church of the Holy Redeemer Drimarone on March 13th is for Dinnie O’Donnell.
Travellers site to close
Donegal County Council is to permanently close the travellers halting site at Ballintra. In a statement to the press, the council said they are ‘now completing an assessment in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Acts’.
The news comes after a series of incidents at the site when threats were allegedly made against the residents and they were ordered to leave. The closure of the site will take effect from April 8th.
No name club presentations in Dom's Pier 1
Recipients of the awards: Back: Shauna McGroarty, Peter McGettigan, Ciaran O’Reilly, Enda Walshe, Gabrielle Schoderet, James McAnaw, Kyle Sheridan, Brendan Mundy, Cathal Mulhern, Robert Timoney, Ernan McGettigan and Eileen Mulhern. Front: Carmel McGowan, Emer McMullin, Megan McGinty, Roisin Dunlevy, Helen McPartland, Deyna Duncan, Grainne McGroarty and Bernie Mulhern
Breezy the seal released into Donegal Bay
Billy Bustard and Jack Ramsey released Breezy the seal down the slipway at Donegal Pier to the water. A malnourished Breezy was discovered by Maura O’Neill in Downings and sent to the Irish Seal Sanctuary for recovery. Now back in good health the sanctuary released Breezy into Donegal Bay.
Work on Quay Street
As part of the Donegal Town wastewater scheme, construction work in the carpark area and Quay St is likely to cause traffic problems up until April 8th. The work being carried out is to seperate foul and surface water which is currently discharging into an old stone culvert. The contract will include construction of new surface water and foul sewers, together with diversions and connections into existing manholes. To facilitate construction, it will be necessary to temporarily close areas of the car park where works are being carried out.
Popular Ardara Vet retires
Last Saturday night in the Central Bar, Ardara, a retirement function was held for the long serving veterinary surgeon, Arthur Flurey. Arthur came to Killybegs as a fisherman and there he met his wife Veronica. He later studied in Dublin, returning to Ardara to set up his practice. For 48 years he has served the Ardara community and surrounding area in an exemplary fashion. Con Shovlin told me that Arthur always arrived to farms humming a tune which was his way of calming a sick animal. A large crowd was present to wish him well and Seamus Gallagher made a presentation, accompanied by flowers for his wife, Veronica. Arthur thanked everybody for the kindness shown to him down through the years – “I arrived in Ardara on the 8th December 1956 with my wife and daughter. Here we set up home and had six children, Anne, Adrian, John, Paul, Brian and Jacquette. For nearly half a century I covered the South West of Donegal and always found the people to be kind and co-operative and a pleasure to work for. I can’t deny my age and, with reluctance, I retire. With the computer age now taking over, I would not be able to keep up with it. I want to thank you all for your support and kindness and would like to mention two men in particular, Joe Lough and Seamus Gallagher, for their help and companionship down through the years. I wish you all many successful years in the farming industry.” Frankie Magee provided the music and a great night was had by all.
Seamus Gallagher makes a presentation to Arthur and his wife Veronica
Family Resource Centre
Minister Mary Coughlan welcomed the news of proposed inclusion of Donegal Family Resource Centre in Donegal Town into the Family and Community Services Centre Programme.
The news came from her colleague, Mr Seamus Brennan TD, that he has approved the inclusion of South Donegal Family Resource Centre, Donegal Town, into the Family & Community Services Centre Programme. This approval is conditional on the Centre working with their designated Support Agencies for a number of months before the usual contract will issue in order to decide on any training and supports required.
Minister Coughlan has called on all the representative bodies concerned to work together to ensure that this initiative is a resounding success. “The obvious need for family support services in the area will now be addressed,” she said.
Leghowney Drama Circle 2005
Once again it’s time to inform you of our Leghowney play, which this year is John B. Keane’s popular, ‘Many Young Men of Twenty’. Set in the 50s, this play portrays the days of emigration from dear old Ireland of our young people, leaving to work in London. John B. Keane wrote the play from his own experiences in West Cork/Kerry and it has been performed up and down the country ever since. Containing comedy, music, joy and sadness it is a spectacle not to be missed. Leghowney players will do this play justice with an experienced cast. It premieres on Sunday March 13th and runs Mon. 14th, Tues. 15th, Thurs. 17th, Fri. 18th, starting at 8.30pm sharp each night. This year will mark 28 years of unbroken drama in Leghowney, going back to 1977
Leghowney Drama has been in existence since 1937 with a few years break in the late sixties and early seventies and, in that lapse, Leghowney players amalgamated with Donegal Town. Amateur drama has been a big way of life in the local area for many’s a long day.
This year’s production is under the direction of Denis Hand who has excelled in this role for many years. Denis was a pupil of Seamus Clerkin and the late James Murphy. All at Leghowney wish Seamus Clerkin a speedy recovery to full health. Seamus was an excellent producer and a great friend of Leghowney for over 40 years.
This year’s Leghowney cast is made up of experience and newcomers.
Pat Ward will no doubt charm you all in her part as Peg Finnerty, the singing housekeeper. Danger Mulally, with his holy pictures, is played by James Cassidy who has given 25 years to Leghowney Drama. Kevin Mundy plays Tom Hannigan and Marie McMullin his religious sister Seelie. Michael Brown is Maurice Brown, the loved schoolteacher.
Others in the cast include Mary Brown, Enda Mulligan, Christian Carbin, Adrian Cassidy, Rachel Crawford, Michael Cassidy, Paul Gallagher, Mary Crawford and, last but not least, yours truly.
We must also pay a tribute to our backroom people who have excelled in making this production possible. We hope you out there, drama people, will come to see this play, and enjoy it. Thanks to our best little paper, the Donegal Times.
Yours John Cassidy
Businessman prepared to go to court over rates charges
Costs for small companies ‘spiralling out of control’
A Donegal businessman this week claimed local authority charges were causing small companies to be ‘priced out of business’.
Tom McMenamin of Donegal Precision Engineering in Donegal Town is so angry at the county council’s intransigence over rates and water charges he is prepared to go to court to get fair play.
Mr McMenamin is a member of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) who met in Balybofey last week. The organisation’s Chief Executive, Mark Fielding, described the cost of doing business for their members here as spiralling out of control.
Speaking in advance of the ISME seminar, Mr McMenamin explained his difficulties as a small business owner employing four people.
‘Commercial rates here have increased 16% in the last three years and water charges have gone up by 106% in the same period. I pay €4,500 a year in rates and the council are looking for €330 for water as well’.
“I maintain that water charges are part of commercial rates and I am asked to pay €330 a year for four of us to be able to flush the toilet. The only service we get from the council is water and sewerage. We pay to have our waste disposed of separately and we pay an annual service contribution to the IDA for the unit we are in,” Tom explained.
Crucified
He said small business in Donegal were being crucified and there was a smaller and smaller share of business to go around. More cowboys working for cash in the black economy were making it more and more difficult for businesses like his to compete.
Seeking compromise
In order to comply with the council’s need to charge commercial premises for water, Tom has asked them to install a meter and he will pay per gallon for the amount he uses. This is not acceptable to the council who are demanding the minimum charge of €330.
“There are domestic houses using more water than us. To me a bed and breakfast house is a commercial enterprise and they use a lot more water than us, yet they don’t pay rates or water charges. The charges are not being applied fairly.
“If I must pay water charges, let them deduct them from the amount of the rates bill. The council say the rates include services such as the fire brigade but if I have to call them out then I have to pay them,” he added.
Need value for money
ISME have called on Donegal County Council to provide value for the money they spend.
According to Tom Mc Menamin the council, like most big organisations “have too many boys lying back and doing nothing – there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians”.
He said benchmarking had a lot to answer for as the local authority needed to increase revenues to pay higher wages to more employees.
“With the four new Public Services Centres around the county, the costs of running the council’s offices have quadrupled. Five years ago they were able to run everything from Lifford.
“When I drive past the new Services Centre in Donegal Town it is lit up like a lighthouse, morning, noon and night - and guess who has to pay for the electricity? Businesses like mine do their best to keep energy bills down to ensure the future of local jobs,” Tom said.
During the business meeting in Ballybofey, Mr Fielding of ISME recommended that future rates increases, above the level of inflation, should not be tolerated.
He said there was a need for a broader base of funding of all essential public services to include rates for state buildings. By getting the domestic consumer to pay water rates, based on usage, there will be more awareness and less wastage of a valuable natural resource,” Mr Fielding concluded.
Donegal News
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