Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.6 No.4 April, 2005 Holiday In Donegal in 2005
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Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News Vol.6 No.4 April, 2005 Holiday In Donegal in 2005 |
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Údaras Elections The elections to Údaras na Gaeltachta, the agency charged with attracting business to the Gaeltact and promoting the language, took place on April 2nd in the seven Gaeltacht areas. Gráinne Mhic Géidigh, Sinn Féin candidate, was elected in Donegal as were Fianna Fail Cllrs. Brian Ó Domhnaill, Daithi Alcorn and Fine Gael candidate, Pádraig O'Dochartaigh. Women's Health Day - Lá Shláinte na mBan Oideas na Mban, the Fintown based women's education group, are hosting 'Lá Shláinte na mBan / Women's Health Day' on Saturday April 30th from 11.00am to 5.00pm in the Parish Hall, Fintown. This will be an opportunity for local women to meet informally and to avail of a wide range of information on women's health. Speakers include Helen Kelly on 'A Holistic Approach to Illness'; Moira Miller on 'Women's Emotional Health' and Fiona Brennan from the Donegal Women's Network. This event is free and is sponsored, in part, by Peace II under the auspices of ADM/CPA. Women practitioners and craftswomen are welcome to come along! For further information email . CSO Figures Reveal Donegal As the Poorest County Donegal is the poorest County in the Country according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (see http://www.cso.ie). Disposable income per head in Donegal was €13,928 euro compared with €18,850 euro in Dublin in 2002. County Donegal, along with Counties Kerry and Cavan, are the only Counties in the State with household disposable incomes of less than 90% per cent of the national average. A Touch of Tartan The reigning Scottish Pipe Band champions, Letterkenny and District Caledonia Pipe Band, are holding their annual ‘A Touch of Tartan‘ concert in An Grianán Theatre on Saturday April 16th at 8 p.m. Tickets are €10 and can be obtained from the Theatre or Mervyn Elvin on 074-91-21493. Garden Of Remembrance Opened In Bundoran Republicans from all over the country and as far away as America, were in Bundoran last month to attend the opening of the Republican Garden of Remembrance. The ceremony co-incided with the Easter Monday parade and around five hundred people attended the opening. The Garden is in commemoration of 15 Republicans, including the 1981 Hunger Strikers and five Volunteers killed outside Omagh in 1973, one of whom was Paddy Carty from Bundoran.  Men in Black Left to Right: Padraig McGowan (Chairman Donegal County Council); Liam McDermott (PRO Donegal Association); Fr. Sweeney, Donegal Person of the Year; Peter Sweeney (President Donegal Association); Martin McGettigan (Chairman, Donegal Association) and Charlie McGinley (Treasurer, Donegal Association) Father Sweeney - Donegal Person of the Year A huge crowd of 1000 people attended the Burlington Hotel, Dublin on March 5th when the Donegal Person of the Year 2004 Award was presented to Gweedore Parish Priest, Fr. Michael Sweeney. Fr. Sweeney was born in Ballybrocke, Fanad in 1935, the second eldest of 11 children. Michael was educated in Ballymichael N. School and St. Eunan's College, Letterkenny before spending seven years studying for the priesthood in Maynooth. Fr. Sweeney was ordained in 1962 and spent his first 3 years as a Curate on Tory Island. It was during his time on Tory that Fr. Michael's sporting prowess became evident and he is credited with erecting the first goal posts on the island! Fr. Michael then moved to Kilmacrennan and later Leitirmacward. In 1968 he went to Holy Cross College in Falcarragh and during his 14 years there he won the admiration of fellow teachers, pupils and parents alike. He is without any doubt one of Donegal's most renowned clerical and sporting personalities. In 1982 Fr. Michael was transferred to Cnoc Fola where he established the local Community Centre, Day Centre and Coiste Foirbeatha. Fr. Michael is a founder member of the Donegal Football Leagues and Fanad United Football Club.  Properties new to the Market on Tirconaill Property.com New jobs for Letterkenny The IDA have announced that 123 software jobs will be created over the next three years by Letterkenny based firm SITA, who manufacture airport and travel software. Pramerica Systems is also set to expand its medical insurance services centre in Letterkenny. Mr McHugh of the Industrial Development Authority said the agency has been working extremely hard to secure new investment for the County and he paid particular praise to Letterkenny Institute of Technology for the excellent work they have been doing in education and training in the software sector. Care of the Aged Committee A social for the Young at Heart Club will be held in the Social Centre, Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny on Tuesday, April 12th at 8 p.m. This event is hosted by Highland Radio. Ongoing Difficulties At Letterkenny Hospital The problems at Letterkenny General Hospital have been described as "nothing short of chaotic" by Donegal South West TD, Dinny McGinley. Speaking in the Dail, the Fine Gael Deputy said that since January, upwards of 15 patients a night were being accommodated on trolleys due to lack of beds in the hospital. This was resulting in the cancellation of Day Services and gross overcrowding in the ER Department. Letterkenny General Hospital caters for a population in excess of 130,000 but it has only only 286 beds. The ER unit treats 30,000 cases per annum and it is only a quarter of the required size. Approval to proceed to planning for a new ER Unit was given by the Department of Health and Children in July, 2003 and Plans were submitted to the Department last October but nothing has happened since then.  A to Z of the Best Irish Sites |
 Sinn Féin Candidate Gráinne Mhic Géidigh the only woman elected to the Board of Údaras na Gaeltacta in Donegal. Courses in Moville There are still places remaining on the Irish, ECDL (day class) and First Aid classes at Serenity House, Moville. For further information contact 074 9382945. There will be a free ‘Confidence to Question’ Course in MacNamara’s, Moville, starting on Tuesday 5th April. The Course will run for eight weeks from 10am to 1pm and is free to all women from the area. The course aims to address women’s health issues and to enable women to rediscover their strengths and to consider how they can relate to health professionals. For information call Mary McKinney on 93-82945. This course is being organised by Derry Well Woman and Family Resource Centre Moville. Fáilte romhaibh go léir. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2005 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2005 will be held in Letterkenny from the 21st to the 28th of August, 2005. During Fleadh weekend people will come from all over Ireland to Letterkenny to play music, sing and dance through the streets. This festival will attract over 220,000 visitors to the town as well as 10,000 performers of whom 4,000 will compete in the traditional music competitions. See Comhaltas or email 1,000 Donegal People 'Trapped' in the United States Estimates are that up to 1,000 Donegal people from across the County are trapped in the States having overstayed their visas. Many of them have built lives for themselves in the United States but if they come home now, for any reason, they will have to give up their lives in the US. The majority of first generation Donegal emigrants living in the States are between 20 and 35 years of age. Ireland Out-Competing itself National minimum wage rates in Ireland will surge to the second highest in Europe if the government sanctions a 9% per cent increase, according to employers' group IBEC. Proposals from the Labour Court to increase the State's national minimum hourly wage to €7.65 have been rejected by IBEC on grounds that it will make Ireland less competitive. The national minimum wage has already increased 25% per cent since it was introduced in April, 2000. It is more than twice the rate in Spain and more than three times the minimum wage of the new EU states. A recent report in The irish Times stated that by the year 2050 the Irish will be in a minority in Ireland. Since the accession of the 10 new eastern Bloc countries to the EU last May over 100,000 people have immigrated to Ireland, including 50,000 Poles who largely work in the construction industry. Yet as the official minimum wage continues to rise, incidents of immigrant workers being paid well below the legal rates are being uncovered daily. Twin Town Community Platform The Twin Towns Community Platform is a network of community groups in the Ballybofey and Stranorlar area. They are campaigning for proper facilities where children, youth and older people can meet and socialize in an alcohol-free venue. For further information please contact any of the group members or Susan Gibbons at 0879116079. CAYP The activities of the Balor DCA Group‘s Creative Activity for Young People (CAYP) project are continuing to engage young people from the Finn Valley. The Youth Theatre and Young Filmmakers group are currently working on a number of projects, which will be showcased later in the Spring. For further information contact Mark or Siobhan on 074 91 30424 
Crolly Festival ‘The Event’ proved hugely successful with large crowds in attendance. Committee chairman Stephen O’Donnell paid tribute to everyone who helped and to the many sponsors who worked so hard. Special guest was Donegal Person of the Year, Fr. Michael Sweeney. The winners of the bachelor contest were Maurice Cassidy, Belfast and Patrick Pearse Gallagher, Meendernasloe. The award for the best jivers went to Mr and Mrs Patrick Doohan of Tory island. Rang Ríomhaireachta Ta Muintearas Thir Chonaill ag reáchtáil rang ríomhaireachta do phaisti ag toiseacht ar an 9u Aibrean on 11.30 am go 1.00 i.n. Cursa se seachtainí ata i gceist agus beidh se ag clúdach bun-eolas ríomhaireacht, scannail pictuiri, bogearraí dírithe are oideachas, suíomh idir-line dírithe ar phaisti agus e-phost. Tuilleadh eolas tre glaoch ar (074) 9532578. Health Of School Children At Risk The health of children attending St. Mary's National School, Ramelton is at risk according to the school principal who has written to parents advising them that they are now sending their children to school at their own risk. The school has no clean water and as such facilities are totally inadequate. The situation is ongoing for some years and it would cost €200,000 euro to get a clean water supply into the school.  Available to Rent in 2005 Mountain View Cottage, Derrylougháin, Gweebarra, Donegal |