Inver NS new extension opened

Pictured at the official opening of the new extention were Back: Principal Wendy Wheeler, Rev Ian Henderson, Mrs Yvonne Moore, Arch Deacon Scott Harte. Front: Dinny McGinley TD, Rev Ken McLaughlin, Bishop Ken Good and Minister Mary Coughlan TD. Dinny remarked that it was nice to see the minister at an opening for a change - rather than a closure. (More photos & Text in print edition of Donegal Times)

MAJOR PLANNING APPLICATION TO BE SUBMITTED BY KEENEY CONSTRUCTION LIMITED AND MAGEE CLOTHING LIMITED

One of the largest planning applications ever seen in the North West is on the verge of being submitted to Donegal County Council by Keeney Construction Limited and Magee Clothing Limited for a mixed use town centre development on lands lying to the north and south of the River Eske in the townlands of Milltown and Donegal.
Appearing in the Donegal Democrat last week, the planning notice outlined proposals for a 46,355 sq mt (500,000 sq. ft) mixed use development on a 6.0 hectare (14.8 acre) site which includes the existing Magee Factory site; the former McGinty Fruit Warehouse and Distribution Depot; Schooners Pub on Upper Main Street and lands in the ownership of the O’Toole family adjacent to the hospital.
The mixed use development proposed, which varies in height from 3-5 storeys, includes a new retail anchor store (supermarket); a further 17 retail units; a cinema complex; office accommodation; 247 residential units and two crèche facilities. Access to the proposed development will be facilitated via three access points including a new entrance off the Ballybofey Road adjacent to the Donegal Town Community Hospital which involves the construction of a new road and bridge over the River Eske and a new roundabout on the Ballybofey Road. A further roundabout is proposed on New Row at the entrance to the existing Magee Factory and a new T-junction will be formed off Upper Main Street to serve the southern part of the site. Two pedestrian bridges across the River Eske and a riverside walkway on the northern side of the River have also been proposed. Car parking facilities amounting to over 1200 spaces will be accommodated in a two storey basement car park under the proposed development on the northern side of the River.
To facilitate the proposed development, the existing Magee Clothing Factory and associated warehousing facilities will be relocating from its existing site at Milltown to a new site at Ardlenagh/Lurganboy, immediately adjacent to the replacement livestock mart proposed by Keeney Construction Limited. A planning application is currently under consideration by Donegal County Council for the erection of an 85,000 sq. ft factory complex at this location.
A spokesperson for the applicants confirmed that a planning application for the prime town centre site will be submitted to Donegal County Council within the next few days and that the proposed development would create a new vibrant mixed-use quarter which, due to its close proximity to the existing retail and commercial heart of the town, should lift the fortunes of the entire area. ‘We are following good principles of urban planning and design by building from the centre of the town outwards and on this basis we are hopeful that our proposals will be positively received’, said the spokesperson.
Subject to the favourable consideration of the planning application by Donegal County Council, work could begin on site early in the New Year, with an anticipated opening date for the proposed retail elements in 2007. It is predicted that the €100m development could generate in excess of 1,000 new permanent jobs for the town and a further 500 construction jobs over a 2-3 year period.

John Kerrigan and Amanda Crawford in Donegal Drama Circle's production of The Glass Menagerie at the Bosco Centre. (More photos in print edition) Photo Jason McGarrigle

Men remanded on burglary charge

FULL STORY ON PAGE 9 OF PRINT EDITION

Poetry book launched

On Friday, 30th September, a large crowd gathered in Mary Murrins for the launch of ‘All around Bruckless Bay’, a collection of poems written by the late Paul McMenamin. Paul, a native of the village, was educated at the local primary school where his talent for writing and composing poetry was first discovered. Many’s a morning Paul surprised his teacher, Sarah Cannon, and the other pupils with verses of a poem he had composed the night before. Paul was the sixth in a family of eleven children, 6 boys, 5 girls, born to Rose and the late Ralph McMenamin. He left school in 1981, going to work as a fisherman on the family owned boat. In later years he worked on his cousin’s mussel farm in Bruckless Bay. Despite his busy life, he still found time to pen the odd poem and was a member of the Killybegs writing club. In the mid ‘80s, he won the Allingham Award for his poem “The Salmon’.
Paul’s unexpected death in 1990, at the age of 27, came as a great shock to his family, relatives and the people of south-west Donegal - but his memory will live on in this collection of poems.
Local man Eamon Gillespie officially launched the book and said it was a great honour for him to do so in memory of his old school friend and neighbour. He commended the McMenamin family on their courage and said the book was a well deserved tribute to Paul. Anthony and Steven McMenamin spoke on behalf of their family and thanked everybody who helped in any way and told of how much they miss Paul “Life is not the same without him”.
Matt McGranaghan and Connie Murray provided the music and a buffet rounded off the night. The book may be purchased in local shops for €10
One of the poems from the book is “If Only’

The late author’s mother, Rose, signs the book ‘All around Bruckless Bay’ for Minister Coughlan at the book launch

4 page 'The Village Tavern News' supplement

Special Mountcharles based supplement only available in print edition of Donegal Times

That’s how the Cookie crumbles

Paul ‘Cookie’ Gallagher who resigned from Ocean FM a few weeks ago didn’t take long to find his feet again - he started yesterday with Highland Radio presenting an afternoon show.

And there's more!!!

Available only in print edition of Donegal Times

•Hungarian visit

•Sand removed from Rossnowlagh beach without permission

•Eany's biggest catch

•Plan to transform Ardara

•Waterbus 'thank you' party night

•& much, much more

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