Winnie Mulhern, Tullyearl, celebrating her 80th birthday last Saturday. She is pictured here with family members who attended a large party thrown for her. Pic: Jason McGarrigle

Fire at Tirchonaill St

(PHOTOS EXCLUSIVE TO PRINT EDITION)

There was a lucky escape for the occupants of three houses on Tirchonaill Street, Donegal Town, that were badly damaged in a fierce fire that started around 4am Monday morning. All got out safely but the structure, outhouses, vehicles, and fittings of their dwellings were extensively burned. Donegal Fire Brigade got a call at around 4.37am and were on the scene in record time. By then, the fire had taken hold, with tanks exploding at the rear. The local boys called for help from their Ballyshannon colleagues and together they managed to confine the outbreak to three houses. A great job when you consider the proximity and terraced nature of that row and how close the fire was to the Hanna Hat factory, with all the inflammable material contained therin.
Nicky Brown’s workshop at the rear of the houses got a bad roasting as did the cars outside it. All the designs and finished woodwork products accommodated within the craftshop were completly destroyed. It’s thought that part of the bar for the new waterbus could be among the items wiped out. Pieces of material from the exploding oil tanks ended up close to 100m from their source.
Anna Hanna, who lives just up the street, said she awakened sometime after 4.30am to hear a crackling sound and looking out she saw flickering lights being reflected off the doors of her back yard shed. It took her a few minutes to realise what was happening but, when she did, she rang the emergency services. Her sister-in-law, Mary Hanna, Drumrooske, said she was awoken by the noise of the exploding oil tanks and could see the flames shooting up from the rear of the buildings.
The three dwellings damaged belonged to Billy Brown, Nicky Brown and Marie McGettigan, whose dwelling was let out in apartments.
Interviewed on Ocean Fm Monday morning, Conal Callaghan, Sub Officer, Donegal Town fire station, said that six houses had been evacuated. He confirmed that the brigade had received a call at 4.37 and were on the scene at 4.46am. Conal said that they had the main fire in the house under control in 10 minutes and they then turned their attention to the outhouses and workshop at the rear. An added complication for the brigade were three tanks of diesel which exploded. Conal said there was no indication as to what caused the fire.
Commiserations to all those affected by this unfortunate incident - the only good thing - no lives were lost. Also well done to our local brigade and their Ballyshannon counterparts on a job well done.

World record beater visits Times

Times’ Editor Liam Hyland and Kevin Quinlan pictured with Brendan Foster who called into our office last Monday. A former distance runner and founder of the Great North Run, Brendan, along with Steve Cram, now provides the BBC commentary on all major athletics events. Brendan once held the world record for 2 miles and 3,000m and has competed in three Olympic games winning gold and in ‘74 and ‘78. Pic: Jason McGarrigle

Barnesmore Notes

Saturday 8th was the first night of the expanded Communty centre draw. Congratulations to Gary and Carly Thomas, Finabanes, and Charles Henry, c/o Noelle Carr.
Monday night’s card winners were Phonsie McGinty, Birchill, and Mary Mc Gettigan, Clogher.
Good Friday next is one of the highlights of the year at the centre. The annual €25 card drive is due to start at 8.30pm and there will be a fantastic Easter hamper offered as a door prize. Prize money of €400 is promised for the keener card players who are sure to be attracted to the event.

Heartless raiders tie up man (92) in €2,500 burglary

Two men were jailed for three years for stealing €2,500 from a 92 year old in his home after they bound and gagged him. The victim was left tied up for 15 hours before he was rescued.
Lawrence McDaid (23) of Drumrooske Estate, Donegal Town and 19 year old Martin O’Hara of Carrickbar, Laghey, both pleaded guilty to the charges of burglary at the home of John Logue in Donegal Town on August 29, 2004. The Circuit Court was told that at about 11pm on the night in question, the home of Mr. Logue was entered by two balaclava wearing men who bound and gagged him before they searched his house. He said Mr. Logue was not found until the next day.
Sergeant Dermot McHugh who helped co-ordinated the Garda investigations, told the court that the intruders entered the home of the pensioner as he let his two pet dogs out for the night. Sergeant McHugh said a major Garda investigion got under way and in November 2004 evidence came to light that ‘buttressed the Garda suspicions of the defendants’. Both of the accused claimed, in part of their statements read out in court, they did not enter the man’s home but did act in unison with others to conduct the crime.
Before Judge John O’Hagan passed sentence, he said: “Can anyone imagine what it was like for Mr. Logue at 92 years old, living alone?” He added: “This robbery or burglary was planned with balaclavas, cars and discussions of how it would be executed, then 15 to 30 minutes of terrorising this man.” Judge O’Hagan did give the defendants credit for their pleas but added “the nature of this crime is awful. I would be failing in my public duty if I did not pass a sentence of at least three years”, he said.

AOH 15th August parade in Donegal Town

The Ancient Order of Hibernians will this year hold their annual 15th August demonstration in Donegal Town. The decision was taken at a meeting of the organisation held in Donegal Town on a recent weekend at which all top members of the Association in Ireland and Scotland were present.
The president of the AOH County Board in Co Donegal, Mr John Byrne, said that he hoped to have 40 bands parading on the day. “I hope the public come out in large numbers to enjoy the spectacle” he enthused.

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