Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.5 No.6 May / June 2004 Holiday In Donegal in 2004
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Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.5 No.6 May / June 2004 Holiday In Donegal in 2004 |
Local and European Elections on June 11th The telegraph poles along the roads of Donegal are festooned with election posters of every polticial hue in advance of the local and European elections. Donegal's 118,000 voters can choose from environmental and Independent candidates as well as the traditional parties. Inhabitants of the Donegal islands will exercise their vote three days before the rest of the County. Satharn na nGael i gConshohocken, PA. Satharn na nGael is an Irish Language immersion day at the Miquon School in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Designed to give newcomers a taste of the Irish language, as well as a sampling of Irish music, poetry, customs and folklore, about a third of the attendees are brand new to the language. Intermediate and advanced classes are also offered with plenty of time for 'craic' in between. Lunch and dinner are also included in the fee of $40. After lunch a sing-a-long (in Irish, of course) is held. It is a chance to network with others in the area who wish to preserve the language. The event is sponsored by Daltaí na Gaeilge (Students of the Irish Language) and Trocaire (an Irish language study group from Paoli). The 2004 Satharn na nGael will be held May 29th in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. For further information contact Pádraig Mc Gill on (610) 827 1415 or email . Aileach arís Aileach, the four piece traditional music group, who were very popular throughout the seventies, are re-forming after a lapse of 25 years! The group based in Donegal, consist of four musicians from different parts of Ulster who played together extensively from ’69 to ’79 in Ireland, Britain, Western Europe and North America. They also released two LPs and are currently promoting a compilation CD. For further information email . Donegal man still in Gaol in Columbia Jim Monaghan from Donegal, one of three Irishmen acquitted of charges of training Marxist rebels in Colombia, is still in gaol as the three are afraid to leave the prison confines. They were released from Columbian State custody after their acquittal and are awaiting an appeal by the Columbian gvernment but they refused to leave gaol as they fear for their lives. The Colombian Vice-President, Francisco Santos, faced protests and parliamentary criticism when in Dublin last month to meet with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the case. Stádas for the Irish Language A nationwide language group is calling for status for the Irish language in the European Union, 'without delay' after an estimated 5,000 people participated in a rally in Dublin. Some 80,000 signatures were collected in an online petition which was then presented to Sean Ó Neachtain MEP who attended the rally on behalf of the Taoiseach. Dr Padraig Ó Laighin, spokesperson for Stádas, said 'This is not an inachieveable dream, or beyond our reach, it is simply the will of the people and all we asking is fair play for a national language and Ireland's 1st official language.' Motions calling on official status for Irish in the EU have already been passed in the Dáil and the Seanad and in the majority of local authorities. Money's too tight to mention... The cost of dining out is making Irish holidays among the most expensive in the world, according to an American Express survey. Irish prices were second only to Norway for a basket of 13 holiday items including suntan cream, film, meals and refreshments. The total basket of goods came in at €167.26 in Ireland, whereas you'd pay €104.20 in Spain, and under €100 in Thailand and South Africa. A three-course dinner for two including wine also came in at €66.67 in Ireland, compared with €30.81 in Spain. However car hire was reasonably good value here, pushing Ireland down to fourth most expensive Country when this was factored in. Petrol now averages €1 a litre in Ireland - that's $5 US Dollars a gallon....  A to Z of the Best Irish Sites Cló Ceardlann na gCnoc Cló Ceardlann na gCnoc is a fine-art printmaking, stone lithography, etching and relief printmaking facility in the Donegal Gaeltacht. Two young artists of promise have taken up a three month residency, Marion Mc Phee, fine-art printmaker from the Isle Of Skye is resident in Teach an tSleibhe in Mín a Leá while Caroline Patten, from Achill Island, is taking part in the Togra Idirnaisiunta D’Ealaín na Gaeltachta at Taigh Chearsabhagh in North Uist, Scotland. |
Glencolmcille Residents Pray for rain An hotel in Glencolmcille had to close during a holiday weekend because it ran out of water and guests were offered bottled water to wash in. The County Council claims that an increase in demand for water from visiting tourists and the lack of rain in recent weeks are to blame but they promise that the situation will be rectified by Summer 2006 with more mains piping being laid to the village. Eight thousand footballers from all over Ireland are partaking in the Galetacht finals in Glencolmcille on the June Bank Holiday weekend and locals, many with B&Bs and rental accommodation, are literally praying for rain. Bronze Age Graveyard found at Liscooley Archaeologists have uncovered a Bronze Age graveyard at Liscooley near Killygordon on the River Finn. The triangular shaped stone graves were arranged in a rectangle and contained skeletal remains and intact food vessels some four thousand years old.  Sunken Slither by Anne Quinn oil on canvas 39x46 cms (2004) © Screig Gallery Exhibitions, Summer, 2004 Screig Gallery of Contemporary Irish Art Fintown Donegal An Gailéaraí Screig Éalain Comhaimseartha Ghaelach Forthcoming Go Luath / Summer 20 04 Lunasa '10' Opening July 10th @ 5.00pm - Exhibition of ten Artists inspired by the Donegal landscape - Sarah Lewtas, Ian Gordon, Heidi Nguyen, Anne Quinn, Celine McGlynn, Gerard Maguire, Montgomery Pickett, Stephen Bennett, Janet Pierce and Johnny Boyle. This is the Screig Gallery's third Summer Group exhibition since opening in 2001. Stone on Stone Opening August 14th This exhibition features new work by painter Celine McGlynn and sculptor Mary McGinty. Both live in Donegal and their work is imbibed with an understanding of the substantial and ethereal elements in the local landscape. Further information on all exhibitions see Screig Gallery or email the . Richard Gilpin & Band Gigs May 29th Keeneys, Glenties, Co. Donegal (with Donna Harkin - Button Key Accordion & Michael McGinty - Double Bass); May 30th Dunfanaghy Seafood festival, The Square, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal 2 - 4:30pm (with Denise Boyle - Fiddle); June 12th Keeney's, Glenties, Co Donegal; June 19th The Harbour Bar, Downings, Co Donegal; June 25th Seafood Festival - Rosbeg, Portnoo & Narin, Co. Donegal - Armora Bar, Narin, Co Donegal (Solo) and June 26th Seafood Festival - Rosbeg, Portnoo & Narin, Co. Donegal - Dawros Bay House, Rosbeg, Co Donegal. 
Johnny Boyle at Sligo Art Gallery Glenties artist Johnny Boyle is among twenty six Invited Artists exhibiting at Sligo Art Gallery from June 2nd to 26th, 2004. For further information email . Phil Coulter supports 'Green' candidates for Donegal Council Phil Coulter, Save The Swilly's Ambassador-At-Large, has called on voters in Donegal and the North West to bring about a change of attitude in the region during the forthcoming County Council and European elections. 'We need to think laterally, and support good candidates who will bring about the necessary change.' Coulter said candidates such as the Green Party's Peter Doran in Inishowen and Neil Clarke in Letterkenny, and Sinn Fein European Parliament candidate Pearse Doherty all represented a good alternative to the status quo. 'The parties traditionally holding power in the North West have run out of ideas, not least on the environment. They seem unable to confront the people who are intent on destroying everything around them in the interests of development. I think it's time for change. We deserve better,' said Phil Coulter. For further information see the Save the Swilly Campaign. New Killybegs Harbour Opens The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahearn, officially opened the new €50 millon Harbour at Killybegs on May 21st. Twenty-eight acres were reclaimed from the sea for the project which provides a further 450 metres of berthage at the port. Cruising vessels from the United States are already booked to dock at the new Harbour next year, bringing a welcome increase in tourists to the County. |