   Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.11 No.3 March, 2010 Holiday In Donegal! |
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Packie Bonner is Dublin's Grand Marshal Donegal's most famous sportsman, Packie Bonner, will be this year's Grand Marshal at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin where the former Ireland goalkeeper will lead the Parade through the streets of the capital. The Parade is expected to attract more than 650,000 people along a bustling 3km route. Bonner, who won 80 caps for Ireland and now works as the FAI’s technical director, said leading the parade was a great honour. 'I hope that I can do the role justice like some of the greats who have gone before me. It has always been a great day and a great occasion for Ireland and this year I am sure it will be no different.' The March 17th parade is part of a six-day St Patrick’s Festival of music, theatre, fireworks and dance. The festival’s chief executive Susan Kirby said the Donegal goalkeeper was the ideal candidate to play Grand Marshal. More information on the festival can be found at St Patrick's Festival.  Year Round Recreational Diving, Dive Training and Angling in West Donegal Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is Donegal Person of the Year Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh has been named as the Donegal Person of the Year 2009 by the Donegal Association of Dublin, one of only a handful of women to be so named in the Association's seventy five year history. Born in Gweedore, Mairéad learnt to play the fiddle under the tutorship of her late father, Francie Ó Maonaigh, a leading exponent of the Donegal fiddling style. As well as being an accomplished solo musician, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh is an integral member of the band Altan who have put Donegal on the world music map. Mairéad is also a founder member of Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí, begun twenty-five years ago to promote the fine fiddling tradition in the county. The presentation of the Donegal Person of the Year took place in the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on February 27th, 2010. Take a Hike to Donegal! Donegal is full of wonderful hills and off the beaten track walks and there are many opportunities to go on accompanied walks in the county throughout the year. The Ardara Walking Festival takes place on the 13th and 14th of March, 2010. The full brochure and booking form can be found at Ardara Walking Festival. The Donegal Bluestacks Walking Festival, Donegal Town, Ireland takes place on the 1st & 2nd of May, 2010. For festival details e-mail Bluestack Ramblers. The Dungloe Walking Festival takes place on the May Bank Holiday Weekend 2010. Dungloe, capital of The Rosses, is set in the Gaeltacht of North West Donegal. Famous for the Mary From Dungloe Festival it is also renowned for its rugged and haunting scenery. All Walks will be themed and guided by local walkers who are only willing to share their passion from local history and wildlife to folklore and natural history. For the youngsters there will be a walking treasure hunt on the Bank Holiday Monday with some great prizes. + For more information Tel: 003537495-22198 or email: Dungloe Walking Festival. 36 post le cruthú sa Ghaeltacht i gCo. Dhún na nGall D’fhógair an tAire Éamon Ó Cuív T.D., inniu gur cheadaigh an Rialtais cúnamh infheistíochta de €781,250 a thabhairt do Gal Ard Teoranta, gnó báicéireachta agus milseogra atá lonnaithe in Ard an Ratha, Co. Dhún na nGall. Tabharfaidh sé seo infheistíocht iomlán an Stáit i ndeontais don chomhlacht go dtí €4.25m. Cuirfear an cúnamh seo ar fáil trí Údarás na Gaeltachta mar thacaíocht don chomhlacht chun an gnó a fhás i gcoitinne mar aon le táirgíocht bhreise a fhorbairt. Mar thoradh ar an gclár infheistíochta atá beartaithe anois, táthar ag súil le 36 post nua a chruthú, le méadú dá réir i bhfostaíocht sa chomhlacht ó 171 go 207 sna trí bliana amach romhainn. Dúirt an tAire, 'Is dea-scéal é seo don Ghaeltacht agus d’iar-dheisceart Dhún na nGall ach go háirithe”agus tá sé ag teacht le polasaí an Rialtais maidir le forbairt chothrom réigiúnach a threisiú. Tá an-áthas orm go gcruthódh an infheistíocht seo 36 post nua sa cheantar.'  3 Bedroom, 2 Reception Rooms & Sea Views at Ballyhiernan, Fanad Buy Your Home in Donegal at Tírconaill Property.com Golden Eagle Poisoned The Golden Eagle Trust, which was established at Glenveagh National Park in 2001 to reintroduce golden eagles, a 100 years after the bird became extinct in Ireland, says the project is in grave danger after an eagle chick, named called Conall, was found dead on Truskmore mountain in Co. Sligo. The eagle was hatched in Glenveagh National Park in April last year and was the first Donegal hatched chick to be fitted with a satellite receiver. Its signal led to the eagle chick being found on February 18th and test results have now confirmed that he was posioned. Lorcan O Toole, from the Golden Eagle Trust, says that the eagle ate a dead lamb which had posion on it, probably meant for foxes or crows, but that farmers throughout the North West should not use poison at all as Eagles are in danger from poisoned bait. To date the project has cost €600,000 euro. Cavanacor Exhibition Still', a solo exhibition of film, animation, painting and lithography by David O’Kane is on at Cavanacor Gallery from Feb. 20th to March 31st, 2010. The exhibition will include work produced by O'Kane during residencies at the British School at Rome, the Royal Hibernian Academy, the Spinnerei in Leipzig and at Cavanacor studios in Donegal. O'Kane will also be screening his documentary style film, 'The Academic of no Academy', which investigates the life and work of Neapolitan philosopher Giordano Bruno. For more info see David O'Kane. World Book Day Book lovers across Donegal are being asked to join in with the celebrations for World Book Day on March 4th, 2010. There are a wide range of events planned in libraries and outreach centres throughout the County. Some of the events taking place include storyteller Ted Hall talking to children about their favourite books at the Central Library in Letterkenny, starting at 10.30am and at 1.30pm library staff are undertaking stories and activities with local school classes. Adults visiting the library will be asked to recommend their favourite books and details will be on display throughout the library. Library staff from Bundoran will be visiting the Taobh Tíre outreach centre in Pettigo in the morning to do ‘Rhyme time’ with children and parents. Library staff have also organised for the storyteller Una Fields to visit two primary schools in Donegal Town to do storytelling in the morning. Bundoran Library will have presentations to the winners of their World Book Day colouring competition for primary schools in the afternoon, at 4.30pm. Buncrana Library will host Library Detectives for class groups at 10.30am and storyteller Paula McMullan will visit the library in the afternoon at 1.30pm. Paula will also be in Carndonagh Library for storytelling in the morning at 10.30am. For details and more information about library services see Donegal Library. Library book membership is free. The Blue Flu Gardai in Donegal are among the 'sickest' in the country, according to a survey of all garda sick leave in 2007 carried out by the Garda Inspectorate under Chief Inspector Kathleen O'Toole. The survey reveals Donegal gardai take an average annual sick leave amounting to the equivalent of 7,000 work days. The survey also revealed that the levels of sick leave in Donegal and rural garda stations in Meath and Louth are at more than twice the levels of gardai working in some of the toughest inner-city areas of Dublin. Donegal has the third highest frequency of sick days with gardai in Donegal each taking an average of 13.99 days sick leave per annum. Donegal also has the highest levels of long-term sickness followed by Kerry and Cavan/Monaghan. The 'sickest' gardai in the country are in the Louth-Meath division with an average of 15.93 days off per garda. Public Workers' Campaign Public sector workers across Donegal are stepping up their campaign against 'savage'pay cuts proposed by the government. IMPACT, the largest public sector trade union in the country, has announced an intensification of its industrial action campaign which began on January 25th when IMPACT members in Donegal engaged in a work to rule policy. The new measures will include refusals to deal with all political representations, including Dáil questions and Freedom Of Information requests and refusal to answer telephones. In Donegal County Council workers will be refusing to deal with any political representations from Councillors who are members of government parties and as there are no Green Party councillors in Donegal only Fianna Fáil councillors will be affected. Richy Carrothers, North West Assistant General Secretary said: 'We warned the government that the industrial action would be severe and wide ranging and this latest announcement on intensifying our campaign reflects the determined mood of our members to reverse the savage cuts in pay over the last year and prevent any further cuts which seem likely based on government statements. Our members have seen their pay slashed by approximately 15% per cent over the last year, this situation is unacceptable and is not sustainable'.  Dún na nGall.com Online since 1997 |
 Packie Bonner, The 2010 Grand Marshal at the Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade Pylons, Turbines and Now Mining... As if its not bad enough to have to fight the proposed destruction of Donegal by high voltage power lines, pylons and wind turbines there are now plans to grant Prospecting Licenses for 'Base Metals, Barytes, Silver, Gold & Fluorite' in South West Donegal. A Public Notice appeared in the Donegal Democrat on February 19th, 2010 stating that the Minister intends to grant a prospecting license to Mytilus Mining Ltd in the following Townlands: Toome, Ranny, Farragans, Cor, Cullion, Madavagh, Glebe (E. D. Lettermacaward), Longfield, Meenagowan, Dooey, Meenacloghcor, Falchorrib,Meenacross, Cashelgolan, Drumshantony, Derryleconnell Near, Drumlaghdrid, Cloghbollie, Boyoughter, Madavagh, Cleengort, Derryloaghan, Ballyiriston, Gortnasillagh, Kilkenny, Lackaghatermon, Loughderryduff, Letterilly, Maas, Tully Beg, Ardun, Banganboy, Buncroobog, Drumconcoose, Drumnalough, Drumnasillagh, Glenmacannive, Gortnamucklagh, Graffy, Greenans, Loughcrillan, Meenalargan, Meenamalragh, Mullanmore, Mully, Mulnamin Beg, Mulnamin More, Stracashel, Stralinchy and Stranaglogh as well as all the small islands and sea rocks and all the internal waters bounded by the High Water Mark. Many of the Townlands listed are also threatened with high voltage power lines and industrial wind farms. Are the Government going to take the ground from under our feet? Any disturbance to the dunes and adjacent sands at Dooey would be detrimental to this important archaeological location. The Gweebarra Bay is home to a 500 strong common seal population, the largest in Ireland and is an important salmonid estuary as well as being an EU Designated Area of Conservation and an area of immense beauty. If metals were found, where would the local people go? This is a threat to the very essence of what is Donegal, its heritage and its people. It should be remembered that cyanide and mercury are used to extract such metals in open cast mines and there are numerous examples of pollution from this type of mining from throughout the world. In 1979 the infamous uranium company, Rio Tinto Zinc, were granted prospecting licenses in the same area of Donegal but the government of the day had to recind the license in the face of public opposition. This is the same area where Minister Eamon Ryan refused a license to prospect for uranium in 2007, citing the government’s opposition to nuclear power, and the 'significant environmental and public health concerns surrounding uranium mining, including contamination of ground and surface water supplies and radiation levels.' The same public health and environmental concerns apply in the case of this application as most people in these Townlands have their own well water supply and the rivers' now support a healthy salmon and trout population so any threat to the water basin must be opposed. Who are Mytilus Mining Ltd? A google search revealed only one mention of the company and that is on the Dept. of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources own website in relation to this application. Mytilus Mining Ltd was only formed on December 8th, 2009. The Directors are Joe Breen and Patrick Breen but the address of the company is not in Antrim as on the Public Notice but is at 74, Haddington Rd, Dublin 4, according to the Companies Registration Office in Dublin. This address is also the address of the the Ghana Consulate in Ireland. Noel P. Kiernan is the Ghanaian Honorary Consul to Ireland and Joe Breen and Noel P. Kiernan were both directors of Moydow Mines International Inc, also with an address at 74, Haddington Road, Dublin 4. It is the same phone and fax numbers for Mytilus Minerals Ltd, the Ghanaian Consulate, Minerax Ltd and Moydow Mines International Inc. The latter had gold and diamond mining interests in Ghana, Sierre Leone, Namibia, Liberia and Angola, all extremely poor countries where the local populations are dependent on small farms, much like the smallholdings in Donegal. As of January 22nd, 2010 Moydow Mines International Inc was acquired by the Franco-Nevada Corporation with head offices in Canada, the US and in Australia. They describe themselves on their website as 'a gold focused royalty company with additional interests in platinum group metals, oil & gas and other assets'. Neither Mytilus Mining Ltd or any other mining company can be allowed to profit at the expense of the people living in Donegal. Coincidently the Dept. of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is also on Haddington Road, Dublin 4 and objections should be sent to arrive on or before March 9th, 2010 to Fiona McGuinness, Exploration and Mining Division, Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Beggars Bush, Haddington Road, Dublin 4. The reference no in relation to this prospecting license is MA. 289/1. Cabaret Craiceailte Tigh Hiudai, An Bun Beag, Gaoth Dobhair, De Sathairn, 27 Feabhra, 9.30pm Bréag – an sárghrúpa Reggae agus Ska as Béal Feirste. Córas Fuaime Rasta Rua – Red Rasta Sound System – Ceol Ska Agus aoí cheoltóirí eile. Cead Isteach : Cúig Euro. Ráta speisialta lóistín agus bricfeasta Tigh Chambell. €25 euro do sheomra singil. €20 an duine fa choinne seomra do bheirt/triúr. Luaigh ' Rata Craiceailte': 0749531545  The Donegal Woman by John Throne A 'Must Read' for everyone with an interest in Donegal and it's History Seimineár ar Do Ghnó Féin a Thosnú Beidh Seimineár ar Do Ghnó Féin a Thosnú ar Dé Luain 8 Márta 2010 ins an Fhiontarlann, Baile na Móna, Cill Chartha ag 7.00 i.n. Beidh comhairle ar fáil ag an seimineár, atá á reachtáil ag WESTBIC agus Meitheall Forbartha na Gaeltachta, ar do ghnó a thosnú agus ar an cuidiú atá ar fáil do ghnóanna úra, go háirithe san Ghaeltacht. I measc na cainteoirí ar an oíche beidh Jim Glackin ag tabhairt comhairle ar an dóigh le dealáil leis an bhanc agus Declan Gallagher ó OGT Teo a fuair ainmniúchán san comórtas Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2009. Tá an seimineár saor in aisce agus tá fáilte roimh daoine go bhfuil smaoineamh gnó acu nó atá i mbun gnó cheana féin. Níl mórán spás ar fáil agus caithfear suíochan a chur in áirithe. Déan teagmháil le Eunan nó Carmel ag 0749738333 nó E Cunningham. Tá an imeacht seo mar chuid de 'Enterprising Donegal Business Week 2010' de chuid Bhord Fiontar Chondae Dhún na nGall. New York Mary The New York 'Mary from Dungloe' Irish Gala Dance will take place on Saturday, April 24th, 2010 at Most Precious Blood Auditorium, 32-23 36th Street, Astoria, Queens, New York 11106. Young women aged 19-26 are eligible to enter the New York 'Mary from Dungloe' contest. The Winner will receive a free round trip to Donegal, Ireland, one week's accommodation, spending money and a gift of Irish Crystal. The evening's entertainment will feature The New York Showband, Traditional Irish Music / Irish Step Dancers and Singers. All proceeds are to Mount Sinai Queens Cancer Services Program. Admission is $40.00, including Beer and Wine Open Bar, Hot Buffet with Dancing 9pm - 1:30am. For tickets please call Anne-Marie on 718-361-1847 or Siobhan 646-732-5312 or email NY Mary. DonegalCounty.com News This is the 111th Donegal on the Net Newsletter. The Newsletter is now online for twelve years and is one of the most popular County 'blogs' in Ireland with over a million hits a year. If you would like to advertise email Donegal County.com. You can hear the Donegal news live in Pennslyvannia, West Virginia and New york or online 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.  Ceol sa Ghleann Due to substantial cutbacks in public funding for the arts, small arts and festival organisations like Ceol sa Ghleann are struggling to survive. If you can, please support Ceol sa Ghleann by attending a concert or workshop this year. If that is not possible, you can still help by telling others about their events. The Glencolmcille Festival of Traditional Arts will take place between the 4th and 10th of April, 2010 and the James Byrne Fiddle Summer School will take place between July 26th-30th, 2010. For more info see Ceol sa Ghleann. Charity Turf-Cutting DVD 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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