Dún-na-ngall.com - Nuacht /News, Vol.4 No.5 January, 2003

Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.4 No.5 January, 2003 Holiday In Donegal in 2003!

Art Exhibitions
Belfast artist Neil Greig is currently exhibiting at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny. Greig was born in Belfast and educated at Edinburgh College of Art. He has been exhibiting in solo shows for over a decade in Ireland, Scotland and in the United States. He now lives and works in County Monaghan.
The Bank of Ireland, Baggot Street, Dublin 2 is hosting an exhibition by Donegal artist Kevin Sharkey entitled 'You Have Exceeded Your Limit' from February 23rd to March 20th.
The Screig Gallery, Fintown is calling for submissions from artists and crafts people working in Donegal for its 2003 Summer Group Show.
If you would like to have your work considered please email small jpgs and biographical information to or send slides, photographs, etc by post to Screig Gallery, Fintown, Donegal by March 10th 2003.

Britain's 'Brainest' Child
A recent quiz to determine Britain's 'Brainest' Child was won by 12 year old Christopher Guerin whose mother is Bridie Diver from Cardonagh and whose father, Tony, is from County Kerry. Christopher has an IQ of 162 and the family now lives in Birmingham.

Donegal Gardai Questioned
Three gardai were taken in for questioning on January 11th to Letterkenny Garda Station as part of the ongoing Carty Inquiry into Gardai malpractise in the Donegal division. All three gardai, including a sergeant, have now been released and a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

County Budget Surprise
The recently published County expenditure for 2001 revealed that 10% of the County's budget is spent on consultants. That's 8 million Euro doled out to 'experts' who come from somewhere else to advise the council on many matters which the local citizens could advise them on for free.
If we have to spend so much on consultants isn't that undermining the authority of the civil servants employed full time by the Council?

Burt’s Ace of Clubs
A souvenir booklet on Burt's Club of the Year award in 2001 was launched in early January. The 88 page publication is entitled 'Ace of Clubs' and details all the club hurling and football games for the year, including their eleventh senior hurling title and photographs of the many club and county celebrations. All proceeds from the sale of the book (priced at 4 Euro) are being donated to charity. Copies are available from .

Donegal's architecture Online
Michael Scott is developing a website on Donegal architecture which encourages the public to submit information on buildings of architectural note. See the fledgling site at Architecture Donegal

From Beaver Island to Arranmore
A party of fifty people from Beaver Island, Lake Michigan, are travelling to Donegal in early March when they will visit a number of locations in the County, including Arranmore Island where many of their ancestors hailed from.
The group will be accompanied by Beaver Island musician, Ed Palmer, who plays old time dance music and is a popular performer on Beaver Island. For further information see Ed Palmer.

Shannon Protest
The Donegal Greens are holding a meeting to organise a protest bus to attend the National Anti-War march in Dublin on February 15th.
The public meeting is on January 29th at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology at 8pm. For further information contact the or see Shannon Peace Camp.

Kevin McAleer at An Grianán Theatre
An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny has a busy comedy and drama schedule this Spring which kicks off on February 1st with County Tyrone's indomitable comedian Kevin McAleer.

Atlantic Light by Neal Greig Oil on canvas 100x100cm (2002) ©

No Flights to Donegal
Euroceltic who have been operating flights from Donegal to Dublin for several months lost their UK license on January 23rd leaving Donegal bound passengers stranded at Dublin Airport. The company lost their license due to a non-fatal accident at Sligo Airport last year. Aer Arann who ran the flights to and from Dublin prior to Euroceltic have expressed an interest in taking up the contract.
Meanwhile the County is without train or air transport - is it any wonder we have the highest unemployment in the land?

Letterkenny to host An tOireachtas 2004
Hot on the heels of Gweedore hosting the 2002 Oireachtas Donegal is again to host the Oireachtas in 2004. An tOireachtas was founded in 1897 by Conradh na Gaeilge. The Irish language cultural festival will attract 5000 visitors to Letterkenny during Samhain 2004.

Enya nominated for another Grammy
Donegal songstress Enya has been nominated for a Grammy for her song 'May it Be' in the Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media category. This is Enya's seventh nomination and the Awards winners will be anounced on February 23rd.

I mBéal an Phobail - An tIdirlíon le Dominic Bradley
This month Dominic Bradley looks at how the internet can transform the Irish language into a world language.
Tá go leor buntáistí ag baint leis an idirlíon don Ghaeilge sa lá atá inniu ann. Tugann an t-idirlíon ardán domhanda don Ghaeilge a fhágann ar aon chéim le mórtheangacha an domhain í. Tá fáil ar an Ghaeilge in achan teach ina bhfuil ríomhaire ceangailte leis an idirlíon in achan tír ar domhan. Ar an bhealach sin is teanga domhanda í an Ghaeilge. Le chois an teanga a chur ar fáil go domhanda tugann an t-idirlíon Gaeilgeoirí ar fud an domhain le chéile mar phobal teanga domhanda.
Is féidir anois i seomraí seanchais an idirlín scríobh chuig, nó labhairt le daoine in achan chearn den domhan, ceist a ardú agus tús a chur le plé ar ábhar ar bith faoin ghrian gan an seomra stáidéir sa bhaile a fhágáil. Gheofar barúlacha agus taithí na mílte ar an cheist sin mar aon le tagairtí d'fhoinsí eolais nárbh eol gurbh ann dóibh.
Ar ndóigh is ar éigin is gá a lua go bhfuil buntáistí móra ag an idirlíon don mhúinteoir agus don fhoghlaimeoir mar aon - tá réimse ollmhór ábhair ar fáil, ceachtanna, nuachtáin, scannáin, giotaí raidió, pictiúir, irisí idirlíon chomh maith leis an idirphlé beo le foghlaimeoirí agus múinteoirí eile. Thig seo uilig agus tuilleadh a dhéanamh gan peann a chur ar phár. Tugann sé seans fosta do dhaoine atá scoite amach ó na hionaid foghlama teacht ar cheachtanna agus ar chomhairle gan turas fada a thaisteal.
Ar ndóigh, tugann an t-idirlíon an chumhacht don mhac léinn nó don fhoghlaimeoir dul i mbun na foghlama go neamhspleách - tráth a thosaíonn an fhoghlaim i ndáiríre. Is féidir leis an fhoghlaimeoir nó leis an mhac léinn a leibhéal féin ábhar a aimsiú trí chuardach agus siortáil a dhéanamh ar an líon.
Gineann an t-idirlíon gnó do chomhlachtaí beaga nó thig leo a gcuid earraí a dhíol air ar an mhargadh domhanda. Is ionad siopadóireachta idirnáisiúnta é an t-idirlíon ar a mbíonn díol agus ceannach ar siúl de ló is d'oíche. Thig ábhar i nGaeilge - leabhair, irisí, dlúthdhioscaí ceoil is ríomhaireachta a dhíol agus a cheannach ar líne, earraí nach mbíonn ar fáil sna siopa áitiúla. De bharr an r-ghnó seo cuirtear níos mó postanna ar fáil do Ghaeilgeoirí rud atá iontach tábhachtach má tá an teanga le bheith ina teanga shaoil ag daoine óga ach go háirithe. Is cinnte go bhfuil féidearthachtaí móra ag an mheán seo don Ghaeilge agus d'fhoghlaimeoirí - bainimís úsáid as.
Ar son phobal na Gaeilge sa cheantar ba mhaith liom comhbhrón a dhéanamh le Clann Uí Luaois, Camloch ar bhás Bhlinne. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam uasal.