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| Vol.2 No.4 June, 2000 (This page is archived as it initially appeared online - any broken links are subsequent to publication) Ballyshannon Honours Native Son A plaque to commemorate the birth place of rock legend Rory Gallagher was unveiled at the Rock Home in Ballyshannon on the 8th of June. Gallagher, who died in 1995, at the age of forty-seven, was internationally renowned as a blues guitarist and had played throughout the world. His brother Donal and members of his fan clubs world wide were in attendance at the unveiling. See Rory Gallagher. The Earagail Arts Festival will take place in 33 locations throughout North Donegal from July 10th to 23rd and will cost in the region of IEP200,000. Highlights include Altan's Dermot Byrne and Mairead Ni Dhomhnaill at Ionad Cois Locha, Dunlewy and Little John Nee performing the 'Ballad of Jah Kettle', the third in his Donegal drama trilogy, at Caiseal na gCorr Railway Station on the 10th of July and Ionad Teampall Chroine, Dungloe on the 11th. The festival includes drama companies from New Zealand, the UK, USA, the Netherlands and Catalonia. The full Festival programme will be available on The Irish Times web site throughout July and theatre events are online at An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny. Famine Memorial in Scotland A memorial to 249 famine emigrants and 12 crew who drowned aboard the 'Exmouth' at Islay (on route to Canada) in April, 1847 was unveiled on the Scottish island on the 23rd of June. The emigrants were from Derry, Donegal and Fermanagh. 6 Appeals against Pylons lodged with an Bord Pleanala Six separate Appeals against Donegal County Council's decision to allow the ESB to erect over 100 km of Pylons across West Donegal have been lodged with An Bord Pleanala. The Board is expected to announce whether it will facilitate a Public Hearing in the Autumn. Thanks to all the readers who sent emails to County Donegal.Net objecting to the ESB's proposals. These were submitted with the Alternative to Poles and Pylons submission to An Bord Pleanala. The Alternative to Pylons Group are planning a series of events throughout the summer along the proposed route, to raise awareness and increase publicity. The first of these, a short walk along the route will take place on *Saturday July 8th at 3pm* Teach Ruairi, Bealtaine, Gortahork. *Your Support is Needed* Donegal School has No Water Glenmaquin National School has no water supply which means that teachers in the School are forced to bring water to the School each day in bottles. The School was built in 1865 and relies on a well which runs dry in good weather leaving the 32 pupils without any drinking water. Years of compaints have not elicited any positive response from Donegal County Council and it is still unknown when the School will be receive a piped water supply! Awards for Donegal Gealtacht The An Ghaeltacht Bheo Community Development Awards were recently announced in Belmullet by Udarás na Gaeltachta. First prize went to Coiste Oibre Bhaile na Finne while eight other Donegal Gaeltacht groups from Bloody Foreland to Glencolmcille received small monetary awards towards local development. Buncrana man awarded 'Engineer of the Year' Henry Doyle, a native of Buncrana, has been awarded 'Site Engineer of the Year' at a recent ceremony in London. The Award recognises Engineers who have made outstanding contributions to their profession and maintained consistently high standards. Henry was recommened for his work on the Odyssey sports arena which is currently the largest building project in Ireland. Recent statistics from the Industrial Development Authority have revealed that unemployment is Still High in the North West and that IDA supported industries have decreased in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo by 18.2 % per cent since 1995. The Inis Eoghain Environmental Alliance have welcomed the announcement that Porthaw Glen is to be designated a Special Area of Conservation following a sustained Campaign by the Buncrana Environmental Group. However the IEEA are critical of the County Development Plan which, they say, does not protect enough areas of environmental importance in the County and they urge people to contact their local councillors to protect areas of beauty and environmental interest. Memorial unveiled to WWII Casualities A Memorial was unveiled to three Canadian airmen who lost their lives when their Sunderland Flying Boat NJ175 of 442 Squadron (RCAF) developed engine trouble and crashed in the townlands of Cashelard and Corlea on August 12th, 1944. Relatives of those who died travelled from Canada for the unveiling as did retired members of the Royal Canadian Air Force. The Memorial was unveiled by the Cashelard Community Association and the Fermanagh Flying Boats Association who have also organised a reunion for 442 Squadron who were stationed in Fermanagh during the War. 11 Blue Flag Beaches for Donegal The County has been awarded 11 Blue Flags for 2000, making it second in Ireland only to County Kerry which has 13 Blue Flag Beaches. Donegal's Blue Flag Beaches are Bundoran; Carrickfinn; Rossnowlagh; Murvagh; Fintra; Narin; Marble Hill; Killahoey; Portsalon; Lisfannon and Culdaff. Donegal County Council will spend IEP300,000 maintaining Donegal beaches this year. Irish Wheelchair Association Launch Drive 2000 An initiative to raise money for the Association has been launched whereby local driving instructors will offer free driving lessons to people who raise money for the National Charity at local level. For every IEP100 raised candidates will receive 3 free driving lessons! Contact your local driving school for details. Feile an Fhalcarraigh / Falcarragh Fair Day will take place on the 22nd of July when local crafts and produce will be sold on the main street and prizes will be awarded for the best stalls. The first students on the residential Beach Lifeguard Course at the National Water Sports Centre at Ballyshannon recently completed a week long training course, the first of its kind in Ireland. The students came from all over Ireland and the awarding body was the Irish Water Safety Association. Art Exhibitions Tory Artist Anton Meehan is currently exhibiting in Arnold's Hotel, Dunfanaghy; an Installation entitled 'Passages' by Sandy Turley is on view at Ceardlann na gCroisbhealach, Falcarragh and a mixed media show of jewellery, bog wood sculpture, weaving and tapestry is on show at the Ardara Heritage Centre throughout the Summer. Regards, Patricia Sharkey, Administrator, County Donegal on the Net ADVERTISING: This Newsletter is free from County Donegal on the Net \ Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon http://www.countydonegal.net & http://www.dun-na-ngall.com If you have news to contribute to this Newsletter or are interested in advertising on the Web Site and/or in this Newsletter email Return to Newsletter Index |