The return of the T-Bone

In the late 50s and through the 60s if you were going out for a meal in town you had two choices of venue. You either headed for the Abbey or the Central. There were no fancy restaurants, no ethnic eateries - you went to one or other of the hotels - and you went for a feed! No dainty starter, or miniscule main course - the criteria of a good meal was quantity, the more on the plate, the more deserving the establishment of high praise. Of course this was a time when everybody ate a full breakfast, a four course lunch at mid-day, high tea at six and the glass of milk and biscuit for supper.
Hotel kitchens in those days had no grills, salamanders, steamers or microwaves - all frying was done on big pans on top of a solid fuel cooker. With no cool air being pumped in, the flavour of the dish was augmented by the sweat of the cook dripping into the splattering lard.
‘Mama’ Hughes up at the National ran a more refined house and was famous for her mouth-watering chocolate eclairs. The Abbey produced a much lauded mixed grill. But the Central’s ‘piéce de résistance’ - its culinary trump card - was the King of Cuts - the McGettigan T-Bone.
This was truly a majestic dish, fat, tender and filling the whole of a twelve inch platter with sizzling prime beef, garnished with fried tomato, onions and chips. This magnificent, succulent item drew people from far and wide to savour its juicy flavour - and relish its sheer mass. It was the era of the T-Bone connoisseur.
But, alas, in the 70s, a new breed of eater entered the scene. Big was bad. Dainty little snacks became the norm at mid-day - and dinner at night consisted of beautifully presented minute morsels, accompanied by the obligatory bottle or two of vino. The T-Bone was becoming extinct.
The death knell of the famous cut came in the year 2000, when a foot-and-mouth scare caused it to be withdrawn from the market.
But now, joy of joys, the T-Bone is back - as big and tasty as ever. And to celebrate the event brothers Ernan and Diarmuid McGettigan did a special presentation for Donegal Times - and then kindly presented the steaks on display to photographer, Jason McGarrigle, and mé féin.
Boy, what a feast. Complemented with baby potatoes, peas, mushrooms and onions, I haven’t experienced anything like it for yonks. Believe me, if you want the tastiest meal since your mother did the cooking, head straight for McGettigans - and say I sent you.

Amy Brogan, Aoife O’Connor and Kitty O’Kennedy at the annual New Year's Day swim at Mountcharles Pier

A Test Drive from Donegal to Carlow

On the 7th December last, local taxi driver Pearse McGroary got a phone call to collect a gentleman at the Mill Park Hotel. When he got there his fare requested to go to Jim Owen’s garage, saying he wanted to buy a ‘Nissan’ - a make he ‘liked very much’! On arrival, the man contacted Jim McNulty who met him in the sales-yard. “He seemed to know me” said the garage proprietor, “it was ‘Jim’ this and ‘Jim’ that”.
The prospective buyer said he was interested in the ‘05 Nissan Primera SVE which he was told would cost him €25,000. Jim asked what he was trading in and the gentleman said ‘nothing’. He asked was there satellite navigation in the car, to which Jim replied ‘yes’.
“When I saw the gentleman I immediately thought he was an off-duty policeman. He was wearing navy and blue and the same style bomber jacket and also there was court on in town that day – so that had me convinced,” Jim said.
When it was suggested he take a test drive the man agreed but asked Jim to take it out of the yard for him. The garage owner put petrol into the car and off went the client. “That was 2.30pm and I never thought of him again till 3.30. I said to Michael the salesman “that man never returned”. We decided to wait till 4.30 and at 5pm we rang the guards. I couldn’t believe what had happened as I always send someone from the garage on the test drive, unless I know the person very well” Jim attested.
Two weeks later the guards from Carlow rang Jim to say they had found the car at a truck stop in Carlow. “This news was the best present I got over the festive period – the car was perfect except that when it left Donegal there was 53 km on the clock and it returned with 3,958 km,” Jim declared.
However the man didn’t leave Carlow walking - when he parked the Donegal Primera he took a BMW from Byrne’s Garage there for a test drive!
The man had arrived at the Mill Park on a red sports SKL 200 Mercedes which had been stolen from Black Water Motors in Cork.
Who would bother using CIE?

New owners for Frosses Bar

On the 16th December John and Seamus Mohan of Lettermore bought Breslin’s Lounge Bar in Frosses from Patsy and Frances who owned the pub for the past sixteen years. The new proprietors are no strangers to the business, with John having worked in the Abbey Hotel for over thirteen years and Seamus, who now lives in Killarney, owning his own bar in London called ‘Chambers’.
“We have a major refurbishing plan for the premises and intend to extend the bar and dancing area. There is music every weekend and we will be catering for parties and already have taken bookings for 21sts,” John said.
There is a new sound system and 50 inch plasma screen installed and the boys are looking for suggestions for a name for the bar with a prize of €250 for the best. We wish John and Seamus well in their new venture.

Donegal auctioneer, Kevin Quinlan, presented a cheque before Christmas for the Donegal Alzheimers Society to Julie Mundy, co-ordinator of services. A similar cheque was presented to Sightsavers International. The monies, €1,000 in all, were suscribed by Kevin’s customers and friends in association with his annual pilgrimage walk from Paris to Chartres at Pentecost.
Having praised the work of the local Alzheimers Society, Kevin, speaking apropos the great work of Sightsavers International, told our reporter of the tremendous difference even a little financial support makes “As little as twenty cent can be the difference between sight and blindness”, he said. “Take Sierra Leone, for instance, where river blindness is widespead and which can be cured by medical treatment costing twenty cent to administer”. Kevin wishes to thank all the local people who helped these worthy causes.

Local man pleads guilty to aggravated burglary

A man pleaded guilty to the burglary and attack on an elderly pensioner, Willie Bartley, at the December session of Donegal Circuit Court. Dermot Wilson, Duffy’s Flats, Upper Main Street, was charged with aggravated burglary, at Clarcam, Donegal Town, on November 16th or 17th, 2004. Barrister for Wilson, Mr. Peter Nolan BL, said a sum of €13,000 in compensation was present in court. Judge John O’Hagen said he would direct the compensation to the Gardai who would pass it on to Mr. Bartley. The judge adjourned sentencing, pending reports, to the next sitting of the Circuit Court.

CCTV for Town

Thirty-seven communities nationally have been granted more than €1 million in funding by the Department of Justice for new CCTV Community Schemes Thirteen communities which are to receive monies are ready to begin installing the systems. They are to receive maximum grants of up to €100,000 each. A further 24 communities are in the preliminary stages of planning and are to receive smaller sums which will enable them to progress to installation stage next year. The scheme provides 70% funding for the cameras to a maximum of €100,000. The community group must raise at least 15% and the remainder can be sought from public bodies, including local authorities such as county councils. The groups must meet the running costs of the ststem for at least five years and must have the support of the local authority to act as ‘data controller’. Among groups recommended for funding to assist in the planning of a CCTV scheme is Donegal Town Community Chamber

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