Vol.1 No.5 April, 1999

(This page is archived as it initially appeared online - any broken links are subsequent to publication)

Another Award for Donegal on the Net
PC Live (infolive.ie), Ireland's premier Computer and Internet magazine, has named Donegal on the Net as one of Ireland's Top Web Sites for April, 1999!
Not bad for an independent operation with no finance from the County or coporate sponsorship! But we're open to offers!

ESB face opposition
The Electricity Supply Board face opposition from environmental groups from throughout West Donegal on their plans to erect additional cables and pylons in an arc from Letterkenny to Donegal Town which will pass through some of the most spectacular scenery in the County.
Local Conservation groups in Gortahork; Falcarragh; Dungloe; Gweebarra; Derryloughain and Inver are opposing the development and are calling on the ESB to put the cables underground.
The Donegal County Council will vote this month on whether to grant the Electricity Supply Board planning permission for the scheme.

Cardiac Emergency Equipment for Donegal
Inishowen, Falcarragh, Kilcar, Dungloe and Arranmore Island have been chosen to partake in DARTS - the Donegal Area Rapid Treatment Scheme - aimed at reducing death by heart attack in the County by the administration of clot dissolving drugs and defibrillators in special cardiac equipped medical centres and ambulances.
Many people in Donegal live more than fifty miles from a hospital and over thirty miles from an ambulance station so the implimentation of the scheme is to be welcomed.
However Dr Bonar of Dungloe medical centre has criticised the roads in the County which are so bad in parts that, he says, a ride in an ambulance is in itself detrimental to one's health.
Dr. Bonar suggests that Donegal County Councillors should travel in the back of an ambulance to experience the rough roads for themselves!

Gweebarra Bay Conservation Group
Gweebarra Bay Conservation Group are still waiting on the decision of the Appeals Board on the Granting of Aquaculture licences in the Bay.
Trevor Sargent, Green TD for Dublin, took up the case in the Dáil for which he is to be congratulated as both Donegal Tourism and local politicians bar Tom Gildea have ignored the Group's letters and phone calls for support.
With Local Government elections on the way local councillors will need to pay more attention to environmental issues if they want to be re-elected.

Computer Pioneers visit LYIT
Kay McNulty Mauchly Antonelli, a native of Creeslough and Jean Bartik of Minnesota, both of whom programed the ENIAC, the world's first electronic computer, in 1946 will give a lecture at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology on April 29th at 11.30am.
As Ireland now exports more software than any other country in Europe and is second only to the US in world exports of software it is particularily interesting that one of the first computer programers is from Donegal!
The women will also speak at the University of Limerick on April 26th and at Dublin City University under the auspices of Fiontar the Irish language computing and business degree on April 27th. Donegal on the Net in association with Searc.ie Internet Consultancy and 44k.com will broadcast a live Internet interview with Kay and Jean on Sunday May 2nd 1999 at 6.pm GMT.
If you would like to be reminded of this historic broadcast email and I will send you an email reminder. Viewers will need a G2 Player to view the broadcast which is obtainable free from Real Player.

Donegal Artist exhibits in Amsterdam
Inishowen born artist Felim Egan is currently exhibiting in the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
Egan is one of Ireland's leading visual artists and has gained a considerable international reputation. Large-scale commissions include works for Dublin Castle and the National Gallery of Ireland. Egan is represented in numerous collections, both public and private, including those of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin; Deutsche Bank, London; Fritz-Winter-Haus, Moderne Kunst, Ahlen, Germany and the European Parliament.

Rosemary Nelson R.I.P
The assassination of Rosemary Nelson, the civil rights lawyer, in Portadown on March 15th brought sadness to people throughout Ireland but for the citizens of Bundoran it was particularly sad for Rosemary and her family had spent the previous weekend in the town where she attended a Country music festival.

Donegal Nun celebrates 100th Birthday
Sister Gertrude Agnes, a native fo Gortahork, celebrated her 100th birthday on March 17th, 1999 at the old people's home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Dunkirk, France.
Sister Gertrude, formerly Bridget McFadden, emigrated to the United States in 1920 and joined the Little Sisters of the Poor in Delaware in 1928. She went to France in 1929 and remained there, minstering to the needs of the poor and elderly.
Sister Gertrude received a letter of congratulations from President MacAleese.

Ballyshannon Action Group
The residents of Ballyshannon took to the streets on March 19th in protest at the economic decline in the town where unemployment is three times the national average. The population in the town is also in decline as the town's youth are leaving to find employment elsewhere. The Action Group is calling on their local representatives to foster inward investment and help urban renewal in the town.

Patricia Sharkey, administrator, Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon
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