O'Donnell Clan Festival Launch
O’Donnell Clan Gathering and Festival 2nd-10th July 2005
Daniel O’Donnell took time off from his busy schedule to launch the O’Donnell Clan Gathering and Festival of 2005 brochure. This July will see the largest number ever of O’Donnells and friends descend on Donegal Town for eight days of a Clan Gathering and Festival to commemorate the death on 5th July, 1505, of Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill (Red Hugh O’Donnell) who, in 1474, built Donegal Castle and Friary and, in many ways, was responsible for establishing the town of Donegal.
A full programme of cultural and social events is planned, including talks on O’Donnell and Donegal history; tracing roots; displays of clan related genealogy and photos; exhibitions of Irish traditional dance and music; street theatre, paintings, drama in the castle, banquet, and much more. All of these can be gleamed from the brochure launched by Daniel O’Donnell, 5,000 copies of which will be distributed and delivered to O’Donnells and friends around the globe. This brochure, designed locally by Aideen Walsh with illustrations by Bob Wilson, along with mentions on multiple websites, should entice many to come along to the event in July. And, of course, this should be quite a boost to Donegal Town and county.
To commemorate the 19th Lord of Tyrconnell, a permanent sculptural work is being commissioned. The €40,000 funding comes from the Donegal Bay Waste-Water Scheme /Per Cent for Art programme. Several artists are at present competing for this commission and scaled models of their work will be on display in the Magee Shop, Donegal Town, during the Gathering/Festival for the public to view and comment on. The actual sculpture will not be put in place until a later date.
This eight day event is being organised by The O’Donnell Clan Association, in conjunction with the Donegal Community Chamber. It is the first time a joint venture of this kind has been attempted by these two parties and it has all the signs of being a big success. There appears to be great interest worldwide, with participants from many countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, Spain, Austria and Britain. Many people from these countries have already secured accommodation in and around Donegal Town.
Funding for the event has been received from the following sponsors: White Hotel Group, Feda O’Donnell Buses, S & R Motors, Magee of Donegal, O’Connors SuperValu, Donegal Town Tidy Towns committee, along with matching funding from Northwest Tourism.
All three branches of the mainline O’Donnell family will be represented. At least 20 of the Spanish line will be present. For most of them it will be their first time in Ireland and they look forward to seeing Donegal from where their forefathers came. The last O’Donnell Clan Gathering was in Madrid in 2002. At that event many of the Spanish O’Donnells took part and indeed organised most of it and made it a most enjoyable occasion. We look forward to seeing them again.
This will be the 8th O’Donnell Clan Gathering and the next will be in Rome in 2008 to commemorate the Flight of the Earls (1607/8) and the death of Rory and Caffir, two brothers of the last Red Hugh O’Donnell, 24th Lord of Tyrconnell.
Although the Gathering/Festival will be based in Donegal Town, there will be visits to other places with O’Donnell connections such as Conwal Graveyard, last resting place of Godfrey O’Donnell, the great 13th cent. chieftain; Doon Rock, inauguration place of the O’Donnell Chieftains; Gartan, birth place of Colm Cille, and grave of Mánus and Phíce.
The O’Donnell Gathering/Festival begins with registration and official opening in the Central Hotel at 7pm. on Saturday 2nd July.
For further information contact: Vincent O’Donnell at 074 9736059; mobile 087 9171614; email: vodonnell@eircom.net or visit www.odonnellclan.com or Donegal Town Community Chamber, tel.: 074-9723760; email: development@donegaltown.ie; web: www.donegaltown.ie.
Reports suggest that Smugglers Creek in Rossnowlagh has been sold for a consideration of circa €2.5 million. The purchaser is named as Mo McWeeney, a chef currently working in Ard na Breatha, and takeover date is given as Thursday, 26th May.
Jimmy to referee ‘away’ game
Congratulations to Jimmy White, Killybegs, who has been chosen to referee the Connaught Championship game between New York and Galway in Gaelic Park, New York, on Sunday 15th May.
The re-incarnation of Kevin
Patrick Nugent with one of Kevin’s new pieces on display in the new gallery. Photo: Jason McGarrigle
A brand new picture studio has opened on Bridge Street. Under the management of Patrick Nugent - late of Donegal Golf Club, Murvagh - ‘The Kevin Sharkey Gallery’ is up and running in the premises previously occupied by ‘That Gallery’.
You may remember Kevin closed the shop last year claiming harassment by the drugs squad who raided a house the artist shared with his then partner, Ade.
But now all is forgiven - the works of Kevin are returning to town - it’s business as usual. And never one to miss a publicity opportunity, the Killybegs artist promo’ed the event by telling his story (again) to the Sunday World and the Irish People on May 1st - all the old stuff, childhood abuse etc etc.
But what is new in the articles (pages 1,4 and 5 in the People) is the revelation that he once had an affair with singer Sinead O’Connor - and that he now has a South American companion ‘a beautiful Argentinean girl’.
And what about Ade? ‘We split up four years ago. We’re like brothers now. We fight but have a great respect for each other’.
Mr Patrick Nugent, the new proprietor, will be running the modern, stylish gallery in the heart of Donegal. We wish him well - the splash of colour on Bridge Street will illuminate the gap left there since Kevin departed.
Opening hours: Wednesday-Saturday 12-8; Sundays 2-6pm; and other times by appointment.
A public auction in aid of the Church Building Fund will take place in the Community Centre Mountcharles on Sunday, May 29th. Bidable items include cast iron bath, sinks and select furniture from the Parochial House.
The public is also invited to donate good quality furniture. Deliveries will be accepted in the Community Centre on the afternoon of Saturday 28th May.
Please arrange your own delivery but, if you need transport, contact Fr Martin or any member of the Finance Committee. Auction from 2 to 5pm. No beds, ornaments, books, or jumble items, please. Anything unsold must be removed from the Centre by 7pm on the day.
Whist will take place as usual Sunday night.
Ballintra Fianna Fail Comhairle Ceantair EGM
A special meeting of the Ballintra Fianna Fail Comhairle Ceantair took place in the Central Hotel, Donegal Town, on Monday 9th of May 2005. The meeting, which was very well attended, was called to elect officers to the Comhairle Ceantair for the next four years. The following were appointed to office: Chairperson, Marie Brady; Vice-chair, Sally Bonner; Secretary, Anna May Murray; Treasurers, Michael Naughton and Hugh Devanney; PRO, Jason McGarrigle; Youth Officer, Neil Britton; Delegates: Des Donovan, Sally Bonner and Lena McNulty.
The new Chairperson, Marie Brady, took the chair and thanked the outgoing officers for their work, effort and dedication on behalf of Fianna Fail and the Cumain of Donegal South. Many speakers from the floor welcomed the new officers, wishing them success, and expressing the wish that they would contribute to the Fianna Fail efforts with the same enthusiasm as the outgoing officers. Many attendees expressed the hope that the officers first objective would be to expand the membership of the Fianna Fail organisation in South Donegal.
The meeting closed with the new Chairperson thanking everyone for their support and reminding the meeting that the National Fianna Fail Church Gate collection would take place this coming Sunday 15th May.
Great work is being carried out on rock-armouring the bank of the Eske leading down to the far pier. A job requiring a lot of patience and design skills by machine operator, Edwin Kirk, is creating a cleaner, structured line along the river. Let’s hope the work continues on the other side behind the hotels, as far as the bridge.
Also the road and footpath, that now runs flush into the near pier should be cut back about 10 metres to show off the original lines of the old quay, as shown by red outline. You’ll lose a few parking spaces, but it will be worth it to bring our shoreline back to the way it was.
Well done to Bríd Ward on the launching of her new book which is on sale in bookshops nationally and locally.
Happy 21st birthdays to Aidan McHugh and Donal Shovlin. Also happy birthdays to county player, Gavan Maguire, Maíre McHugh, Sean Ward, Niamh McGlinchey, Brian and Kelly McDaid, Liam Kennedy, Fanaghan; Phylis McGroarty, Ashling Gallagher and Johnny Mohan, Frosses.
Congratulations to Peter McDyre and Liana Dunleavy on the birth of their baby daughter, Kayleigh - and also to Paul McDaid and Olivia Friel on the birth of their baby daughter, Shannon.
Well done to Ethal Quigley and her crew of helpers who raised over €7,000 for Letterkenny ICU and The Mater ICU at a dance in the Milltown Bar last Sunday night - well done to the ticket sellers who made a large effort.
Sean Paul McHugh
The Winners of the Drimarone Development Association weekly draw for the past two weeks were Alan McGroary and Christine McGroary.
Congratulates to Paul Kenny and Ruth McLaren who were married last weekend in the Church of the Holy Redeemer. We wish them both a long and happy life together.
Congratulations to Patrick Burke, Tymeen, who will be celebrating his 18th birthday on May 15th.
A little reminder of the fundraising dance for the patient comfort fund, Donegal Community Hospital, in the Bluestack Centre on May 19th. Music by Country Flavour. Admission €5 - Supper served. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to Neil Furey who received the sacrement of First Holy Communion in the Church of the Holy Redeemer on Sunday.
Congratulations to Annie McLoone who celebrated a special birthday recently.
Happy birthday also to my neighbour and friend Ray Arnold, who will be celebrating his birthday shortly.
Congratulation to Cormac and Lorraine Kenny whose baby son Patrick was christened in the church of the Holy Redeemer on Sunday.
Brid Curristin
Minister backs 100-berth yacht marina proposed for Killybegs Harbour
The backers of a 100-berth yacht marina proposed for Killybegs, Co. Donegal, have been given sanction to seek planning approval for the €3 million project.
Minister of State for the Marine, Pat the Cope Gallagher, has confirmed in writing that his department will have ‘no objection’ to a planning application. However, he said any such application would be subject to authorisation under the Foreshore Acts.
The development comes just a fortnight after a visit to the fishery harbour by the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.
Barry Sharkey, one of the developers involved in the consortium, said he was delighted at Mr. Gallagher’s statement.
Mr. Sharkey, managing director of Barry Electronics, is partnered in the project with Paul O’Neill, of O’Neill Fishing Co. Ltd, and Charles Vial, managing director of C Fish Ltd.
The group intends to build the marina entirely with private capital, and says it will give a vital tourism boost, following completion of the €55 million deepwater harbour at the port.
The proposed site lies between the old town pier and the Blackrock pier in the old fishery harbour. The group also proposes to build an administration centre, provide car parking and construct a maritime cultural centre.
The group made a submission to the Deloitte & Touche report on marinas for Co. Donegal, which was commissioned last year by Donegal County Council.
These consultants recommended that five marinas be built in the county - at Burtonport (100 berths), Killybegs (100 berths), Bunnagee (15 berths), Ballywhoriskey, Fanad (3 berths) and Tory Island (15 berths).
Lorna Siggins/Irish Times
Jason McGarrigle writes: However there is another group in the port town that see thing differently. A sub-committee of the Parish Council has been lobbying the Minister to provide a public marina in Killybegs, which would be constructed by the State rather than the private sector. Chairman of the Council, Tadgh Gallagher, said the local angling and boat clubs had been looking for the state to provide a marina in Killybegs for almost 15 years.
Saying that there was room for only one marina in the port, Tadgh voiced his worry “I am concerned that, with the best will in the world, a private marina will become exclusive and will go like Malahide where a ten metre berth was €10,000 a few years ago, and it sold recently for €90,000”.
Mr. Gallagher noted that a previous meeting with Mr. Sharkey had come up with no realistic conclusion.
Donegal Vintners Pub Quiz league
Star Bar - Donegal Vintners Pub Quiz Winners. John Feeley, organiser, and Seamus Faulkner, quiz-master, present the first prize cheque and perpetual cup to Charlie Martin, proprietor of the Star Bar. The winning team were Michael McGonagle, Maurice McMahon, Jason McGarrigle, Francis Campbell and James McGroary.
By Jason McGarrigle
The Central Hotel hosted the final night of the Donegal Town Vintners Pub Quiz league last week. The quiz ran every Tuesday night in participating pubs in town, with one ‘away game’ in the ‘Lazy Bush’, Mountcharles. The quiz began in the Drift Inn 12 weeks ago, and, after a false start, due to the late arrival of the ‘Castle Bar’ (which became a regular occurance!), it kicked off.
Quizmaser supreme, Seamus Faulkner, soon had everyone scratching their heads when he asked ‘Why can Dinny McGroary not get down off a horse?’ - we all wondered why the Bluestack Bar owner couldn’t get down from a horse - some wags even suggested it was because he couldn’t get up on one in the first place! Groans ensued when Seamus informed that ‘you get ‘down’ from a duck’ (think about it)!!
Thanks must be extended to all the venues who provided sandwiches - some even stretched to chicken wings & sausages; but kudos to the Central Hotel who, for the final night, provided a great spread, including sandwiches, sausages, filo prawns, spring rolls, thai crackers and chicken satay - they’re really putting the pressure on everyone for next year!
The ‘Jokers Wild’ team who started late in the league had a massive hill to climb to catch up on the others, but finished impressively and will be a force to watch out for next year. Also worth watching next year are ‘The Forge’ & ‘The Central’ - they looked to be getting settled in, and had some good results, but just ran out of nights to make a bigger impact on the league.
This is the second time the cup has headed to the Star Bar - it spent last year at the ‘The Reveller’. Watch out for notice of next year’s quiz and be in with a chance to decide the direction it will head next year! Well done to all the entrants and organisers who raised a lot of funds for local charities - and had plenty of fun in the process.
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