Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / Donegal on the Net News Vol.10 No.12, December, 2009 Holiday In Donegal!
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Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / Donegal on the Net News Vol.10 No.12, December, 2009 Holiday In Donegal! |
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Donegal on the Net News This month Donegal on the Net News celebrates its 11th anniversary so we have been 'blogging' since before the word was invented! This independent website has promoted County Donegal since 1997 and now receives a million hits a year. You can hear the Donegal news live in Pennslyvannia on Echoes of Erin radio show on Sundays from 1.00-2.30pm EST. Listeners in Brisbane, Australia can catch the Donegal on the Net News on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm on Caomhín O'Seoige's Irish show on 4EB 98.1 FM. In Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio on 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30am to 9.00am local time. We would like to wish our readers a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year! Murphy Commission The Murphy Commission of Investigation into clerical child abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese has issued a Report critical of the Bishops, the Gardai and the State over the last 30 years. In the Report Dr Dónal Murray, the current Bishop of Limerick, was criticised for 'handling a number of complaints and suspicions badly' when he was auxilliary bishop of Dublin from 1982 to 1996. Dr Murray has offered his apology but has rejected calls for his resignation. The Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, has ordered Assistant Garda Commissioner, John O’Mahoney, to investigate the Report’s findings which concluded that the State authorities facilitated a cover-up to ignore complaints made to them about offending priests. He will seek to establish whether members of the gardai and clergy committed criminal offences in not prosecuting paedophile priests. In Donegal a retired Garda officer who investigated one of the country's most notorious paedophile priests, Fr. Eugene Greene, has called for a commission of investigation into the Raphoe Diocese to be established as a matter of urgency. Fr. Greene was moved between eight different parishes in Donegal over a 30-year period before being convicted and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in 2000. In response Dr Philip Boyce, the Bishop of Raphoe, has said that he would welcome anything that would help to protect the vulnerable in our society. The former Fr. Greene was released from jail a year ago. Tourism Trends 2008 The Central Statistics Office has issued a report on tourism which shows there were 173,000 fewer overseas visits to the Republic last year compared with 2007 with the numbers dropping to 7.8 million in 2008, as a result of which revenue from tourism fell by €120 million euro to €4.8 billion euro. The report shows a drop in the number of visitors from Britain from 4.1 million in 2006 to 3.9 million in 2008. In August, 2009 Overseas visitors fell by 13% per cent compared with August 2008, and residents of the Republic took almost 11.5% per cent fewer trips abroad.  Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling throughout the year in Donegal Craic na Samhna 2009 Le ceiliuradh a dheanamh ar sé bliana déag de fheilte agus ceolchoirmeacha craiceailte, beidh dhá Chabaret Craiceailte ar siul an deire seachtaine seo, Cabaret amhain í mBeal Feirste De hAoine, agus Cabaret eile, í nGaoth Dobhair De Sathairn seo: Cabaret Craiceailte Bheal Feirste De hAoine seo 27 Samhain 2009 : Sa Beehive, Br na bhFál, Béal Feirste le : An sar ghrupa reggae BRÉAG, An sar ghrupa traidisiunta CASADH, Doiminic Mac Giolla Bhrighde ( Buaiteoir Chorn Uí Ríada); Bríd Ní hIcí agus Líam Mac Giolla Bhrighde Cabaret Craiceailte Ghaoth Dobhair De Sathairn 28 Samhain ,Tigh Hiúdaí, An Bun Beag: Na Fíréin ( Sár Rac Ghrúpa na Gaeilge óna 80aidí); Patrica Ní Fhlatharta as Conamara (Damhsa ar an Sean Nós); Bríd Ní Icí Líam Mac Giolla Bhrighde Agus aoí cheoltóirí eile. Beidh an da Chabaret, Cabaret Bheal Feirste De hAoine, agus Cabaret Craiceailte Ghaoth Dobhair, De Sathairn, ag toiseacht ar a deich a chlog. Gweedore Sheep Wars Remembered 'Caorigh agus Olann' is a project organised by Donegal County Museum as part of an international project with Museum Nord in Norway and East Iceland Heritage Museum. In the last few years there has been considerable co-operation between those working in the cultural sector in East Iceland, in County Donegal and in Vesterålen in north Norway. Since the spring of 2007 Museum Nord in Norway, Donegal County Museum and East Iceland Heritage Museum have worked together on a project, which brings together museums and contemporary artists. The theme of the project is Sheep and Wool a subject common to each region. Exhibitions have taken place in Iceland and Norway and a website Wool & Sheep has been created. As its contribution Donegal County Museum chose 'The Gweedore Sheep War' of the 1850s as the theme to create a contemporary picture quilt, using Donegal wool and tweed as the main materials. Donegal County Museum invited the Letterkenny Irish Countrywomen’s Guild members and a Donegal based artist, Deborah J Stockdale, to work together to design and create the quilt. Under the artist’s guidance the group met in the Museum over a number of months and the quilt has taken over 150 hours to create. This contemporary piece was unveiled by Ms Anna Maria Dennison, National President of the Irish Countrywomen’s Association, on November 19th at the Donegal County Museum, Letterkenny. Also in attendance was Cllr. Jim Lynch, Mayor of letterkenny and Maureen Mc Laughlin, Donegal ICA Federation President. The quilt is now on display in the Museum and Admission is free.  The unvelling of the Gweedore Sheep War Picture quilt by Ms. Anne Dennison, National President of the Irish Countrywomens' Assocation with Cllr. Jim Lynch, Mayor of letterkenny and guests at the County Museum 'People Crying Out for a Platform' The recent Bord Pleanála ruling in favour of local residents in the ongoing Corrib Gas pipeline dispute highlights the need for new avenues of civic participation, according to Afri, a national peace and justice NGO, whose international patron is Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Afri Coordinator, Joe Murray, says that the ruling vindicates the struggle of the Rossport community over the past 10 years but also brings into question why they have had to endure intimidation, jail, beatings and media demonization for much of that time. 'The Corrib gas dispute in many ways tells the story of modern Ireland, where big business has colluded with soft democracy, trampling the rights of ordinary Irish citizens to fair and just treatment. The result has been an erosion of civil liberties and the emergence of corporate rule where multinationals appear to have greater rights than Irish citizens,' according to Mr. Murray. Examples of this include the jailing of the ‘Rossport 5' for 94 days in 2005 for attempting to prevent preparatory work for the laying of the high-powered pipeline, which An Bord Pleanála now accepts would pose an unacceptable threat to the health and safety of the local community. The project would also represent a retrograde step in light of the forthcoming Copenhagen Summit which will attempt to address the singular threat posed by climate change. Afri argues that the failure of democracy in relation to The Corrib Project is reflected by serious human rights violations. A report by the Global Community Monitor, notes ‘evidence…of youth, women and the elderly being pushed and beaten by Gardai without provocation’. Local farmer and Goldman Environmental Award Winner, Willie Corduff, was seriously beaten by masked men within a Shell compound in April, 2009 and Pat O’Donnell had his fishing boat boarded and sunk by unidentified armed men around the same time, depriving him of his livlihood. This is a shocking catalogue of abuses in an Ireland that pertains to be a democracy. According to Afri, the time has come for a mobilisation of people in the true spirit of active citizenship. 'The conditions are right for people to become more actively engaged in the decisions that affect their lives. Traditional sources of authority have proven ineffective and people are crying out for meaningful platforms and forums in which to participate in the running of their lives and their country', said Mr. Murray. Afri intends to launch a campaign for the development of active citizenship in the New Year and is inviting support from like-minded groups. See also Shell to Sea. Glenties Drama Group Suffering from Budget Blues? Worried about the Swine Flu? Sick of the Recession? Longing for a laugh and a bit of cheer? It’s on the way! The Glenties Drama Group presents 'Happy Birthday Dear Alice', a comedy by Bernard Farrell in The Community Centre, Glenties on December 11th, 12th, 13th, at 8.30 p.m. Everybody welcome!  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal and it's History An Gailearaí, Falcarragh An Gailearaí, Falcarragh are presenting the second instalment of their auspicious Dinnseanchas project with contemporary artists Bernadette Cotter and renowned Irish poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill. Entitled 'Dinnseanchas II - Placelore II' the exhibition contains work by Nuala and Bernadette who selected the Dinnseanchas ‘Cnoc Áine’ and developed an extraordinary multi media and multi disciplinary exhibition around ‘Snaithín Áine’, or Áine’s Thread’. Included in the show is a newly commissioned poem by Nuala and beautifully accomplished drawings by Bernadette as well as installation work. A commissioned DVD documenting the entire project will also be screened as well as recordings of 10 local Dinnseanchas and a short film entitled ‘Tobar Cnapastún’ developed by Ciaran Fogarty. The exhibition is free and everyone is welcome to attend. This exhibition runs from Saturday 31st October to Saturday 12th December, 2009. An Gailearaí’s opening hours are Tuesday – Friday 10am – 5pm, and Saturday 1pm – 5pm or by appointment. Roghnaigh Nuala agus Bernadette Dinnseanchas ‘Cnoc Áine’ agus rinne siad forbairt ar an taispeántas ilmheán agus ildisciplín, ‘Snáithín Áine’, a cuireadh ar taispeáint sa Ghailearaí i mí Dheireadh Fómhair, 2009. Bhí an togra seo maoinithe ag Ealaín na Gaeltachta, An Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Comhairle Chontae Dhún na nGall. Ba é Danny McCafferty a rinne an eagarthóireacht dheiridh scannánaíochta agus fuaime ar an ábhar digiteach a bhí in éineacht leis an taispeántas, bunaithe ar phíosaí scannáin a rinne Ciarán Fogarty. Ba é Gailearaí na gCroisbhealaí, An Fál Carrach, Co Dhún na nGall, a rinne coimisiniú, comhordú agus riarachán ar an togra seo. An taispeántas seo ar siúl ón Dé Sathairn 31. Deireadh Fómhair go dtí 19. Nollag 2009. Bíonn An Gailearaí oscailte Dé Mairt – Dé hAoine, ón 10 r.n. go dtí 5 i.n., agus Dé Sathairn ón 1 i.n. go dtí an 5 i.n. nó ceaptha go speisialta. Teagmháil - Teil/facs (00353) 74 9165594.  The Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff Online since 1997! Inishowen Development Plan Buncrana Town councillor Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is demanding that a development plan for the peninsula be put in place in 2010. He put a motion to Donegal County Council calling for funding for an Inishowen Development Plan and the motion was passed in Lifford. Cllr MacLochlainn said towns such as Carndonagh and Moville had been waiting for years for town plans and the problem had to be urgently addressed. 'It is simply unacceptable that large areas of Inishowen have been relying on a generic county development plan as a framework for planning in their communities. All of the people of Inishowen deserve to be consulted and directly part of a plan for their communities. The people of Buncrana and those living in towns and villages along the border have had plans in recent years. |
 A Stag in the Snow at Glenveagh National Park Wind Wars in the Hills of Donegal Donegal Alternatives to Pylons has advised local land owners that their statutory rights are not affected by An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant planning permission for a high voltage power line between Binbane and Letterkenny and betwen G;enties and Gweedore. The environmental group is addressing landowners in the following townlands - Binbane, Meenacahan, Cloghervaddy, Meenagranoge, Meenybradden, Croagh, Meenadreen, Carrickstlieve Glebe, Monargan Glebe, nugborough, Gortnacart Glebe, Corraness Glebe, Garvegort Glebe, Kilrean Lower, Kilrean Upper, Tullyard, Gortnamucklagh, Letterilly, Loughcrillan, Stranagloch, Meenalargan, Straboy, Shallogan More, Shallogan Beg, Drumnalough, Drumconcoose, Meenamalragh, Stracashel, Meenachuit, Clogher East, Meenanarwa, Boultypatrick, Lughveen, Montymeane, Stranagoppoge,Meenasrone North, Bellanamore, Meenmore East, Meenadoran, Tievedeevan, Kingarrow, Cummrick, Meenatinny, Meeniroy, Meenacung, Altinierin, Altadush, Tullyhonour, Treankeel, Meenadaura, Ballygallan, Drumenan, Killymasny, Cark, Lenalea, Kirkneedy, Ballystrang, Rareagh, Listack, Corravaddy, Stralongford, Glentilid, Dooballagh, Corranagh, Listellian, Ardnagappary, Meenderrygamph, Dore, Arduns, Crolly, Cronaguiggy, Meencorwick, Bunawack, Lettercau, Ardmeen, Crohyboyle, Crovehy, Craghy, Oughtmeen, Croaghnashallog, Meenleckanalore, Croghbolie, Drumlaghdrid, Meenacarn, Galwolie, Boyoughter and Cloghercor. Alternatives to Pylons argue that views around Buncrana, Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Ardara and Killybegs have already been ruined by pylons and turbines and the group say landowners should not be intimidated into signing any documents presented to them. Alternatives to Pylons is demanding the same service as Dublin where power lines are put underground. 'ESB are offering land owners small sums of money but how much money is worth losing your health for?' the statement asks. 'The proposed 110kv power line would be anything from 60 metres to 200 metres away from the existing 38kv and would create a sterile corridor between the two power lines. This would curtail farming practises as it is very unhealthy to live near or graze animals between power lines. The fact is the ESB wants to put these power lines over our hills and bogs for wind turbines. There are many studies which show that property prices go down by 30 per cent where pylons and turbines are and tourists will stop coming if the landscape is lost. Why should wind companies profit while farmers, home owners, tourism ventures, B&B owners, hoteliers, pubs and restaurants lose money? Other small countries like Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark put all power lines underground as they consider them dangerous and European Directives prohibit pylons in sensitive landscapes'. Alternatives to Pylons has been informed that the ESB and wind profiteers are approaching landowners to persuade them to allow pylons and wind turbines on their land but what they are not telling them is that they will be sued if their neighbours develop 'wind turbine syndrome' or cancers from the high voltage power lines. Also owners should know that no insurance company will insure lands where poles, pylons or turbines are erected and if an accident or landslide were to happen it would be the landowner who would be liable. Donegal already produces more wind energy than any other county in Ireland, ten times more than Wicklow or Mayo, for instance, which are just as windy. If anyone in these townlands wants to contact the group you can do so by emailing DonegalATP@gmail.com. The group is asking people who care about Saving the Hills of Donegal to join them on Facebook. Ceili Classes There will be Ceili & Two hand Dancing Classes with Clement Gallagher commencing on December 3rd and every Thusday night thereafter in the Kilcar Parish Hall. Tea will be served at the interval. Go along and enjoy the dancing.  3 Bedroom Bungalow with Sea Views at Ballyhiernan, Fanad National Cancer Registry The National Cancer Registry has published its first ‘atlas of cancer’ in Ireland which shows that Donegal has some of the highest rates of Prostate, Stomach and Bladder Cancer, Melanoma of the skin and head and neck cancer in the country. The atlas provides detailed geographical information on the distribution of common cancers over a ten year period up to 2003. The Inishowen Cancer Support Group will have a meeting on January 11th, 2010 at 7.30pm at the Milltown House, Carndonagh. Amhráin Chonallacha i Ghaoth Dobhair Beidh ceardlann amhránaíochta ar an sean-nós ar siúl i gceartlár Gaoth Dobhair ar an 28ú - 31ú Nollaig 2009 óna a 10 go dtí a 1 chlog ag Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy. Is é Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde as an Charraig i nGaoth Dobhair a bheas ag teagasc amhrán sean-nóis i nGaeilge. Thug Doimnic ceardlann amhránaíochta don Scoil Shamhraidh Liatroma agus fuair sé le Corn Uí Riada d'Oireachtas 2009. Is iad amhráin as Tír Chonaill a bheas Doimnic ag múineadh i Gaoth Dobhair. Donegal Filmmaker in 'Jarrowland' Gary Wilkinson's film 'Little Ireland' charts the history of the Irish in Newcastle over 150 years. The film played to sell out screenings on St Patrick's Day, at The Customs House, South Shields and also at the recent Tyneside Irish Festival. His film 'On the Frontline' is currently part of an exhibition called 'Striking Times' on at the South Shields Museum & Art Gallery. It also includes posters, artwork and other memorobilia from the miners strike of 1984-85. The films are on DVD and on sale now for £8 and £10 at Jarrow Library & The Central Library, South Shields. Also at Bede's World and South Shields Museum & Art Gallery. You can view 2 min edits of these films at You Tube. For further information contact Gary Wilkinson 0191 455 8395 or 07949 328 066 Or write to Northeastern Films, 85 Westoe Road, South Shields, NE33 4LU. Endangered Birds A white-tailed sea eagle was rescued by a pensioner in Co. Sligo and is being cared for at Glenveagh National Park by the Golden Eagle Trust. It is believed that the five-month-old eagle may have been poisoned. It was rescued at the roadside near Skreen and taken to the Irish Raptor Research Centre in Ballymote and afterwards to Glenveagh National Park. The bird is one of a number of sea eagles imported from Norway to Co. Kerry in an effort to reintroduce the sea eagle to Ireland. This bird was radio wired and was known to be in the Co. Sligo area. The rescue comes shortly after the PSNI launched an investigation into the shooting of a female sea eagle. also from the Co. Kerry project, which was found floating on Lough Neagh. A cull of feral cats has taken place on Tory Island in an attempt to redress the falling numbers of the Corncrake (Crex Crex) on the island. Pet cats have also been neutered following revelations that the numbers of breeding pairs on the Island has fallen from 34 pairs in 2006 to 9 pairs in 2009. As there are no foxes or rats on the Island it is believed that the wild cats were killiing the vulnerable birds whose chicks are flightless for the first five weeks of their lives. Corncrakes nest in corn fields but changing farming practices in Donegal over the last forty years has seen the formally numerous Corncrake population shrink almost to extinction.  The endangered Corncrake (Crex Crex) which still survives on Tory Island Gaoth Dobhair Library Donegal Senator, Pearse Doherty, has expressed confidence that the Gweedore Library will be located in the purpose built Aislann Gaoth Dobhair. Senator Doherty was speaking following a visit to the Aislann to view the Multi facility, state of the art building that will not be fully completed as planned due to financial difficulties at state level. Senator Doherty said: 'It is my view that there can be only one location for the library which is without a home since the Gaoth Dobhair floods. I am glad to be informed by the county librarian that funding has been applied for from the department of environment to have the library permanently located in Aislann Gaoth Dobhair. The Gaoth Dobhair community deserve that this library be re-opened as soon as practicably possible. The staff of the library also deserves to have the new library located in this new state of the art centre. There they will never again have to witness the scenes that they had to endure only a few short months ago, when every book in the library was damaged by the flood waters'. Christmas Fare An Arts and Crafts Fair will be held in Carrowmenagh Community Centre on Sunday, December 6th from 2pm to 6pm. There will be a selection of jewellery, cakes, cards and handmade baskets. Admission is free. Letterkenny man on Attempted Murder Charges On November 25th Gerard James McManus (26) from Letterkenny and Kevin Barry Nolan (32) from Blacklion, County Cavan were charged at Dungannon Magistrates Court with the attempted murder of a PSNI officer in Garrison, County Fermanagh on November 21st. As well as the attempted murder charge McManus and Nolan also face charges of possessing a weapon and ammunition with intent to endanger life and of using a firearm to resist arrest. Both men were remanded in custody to appear via videolink at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court next month. Turf-Cutting DVD for Charity A Carndonagh charity DVD showing traditional turf-cutting skills in the hills of Inishowen has sold out twice and is now into its third edition with all the proceeds from sales going to the Alzheimer's Unit in Carndonagh Hospital. Members of the McFarland family - Larry, Gerry, Niall and Leo - joined forces with Joseph McElhinney and Harry McDaid to produce this authentic record of an ancient craft for future generations. The film follows the entire process of preparing turf, from 'paring', which is removing the sod above the bank, to cutting, footing and bringing the turf back to keep the home fires burning during the long winter months. Those who've braved the bog in fine weather and foul over the years will no doubt appreciate this tribute to the hard work of our ancestors and generations past. The DVD shows exactly, in every detail, how turf was cut in 1964, from the bikes the men rode out to the bog, to their peaked caps and wellington boots to the old kettle used to make tea on a turf fire in the bog. If you would like to purchase the DVD call Larry McFarland on (00353) 086 894 8241 or email The McFarlands. The DVD costs €12 euro plus €5 postage (Ireland and Europe) or $20 (including postage) to the United States. |
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