Vol.1 No.7 June, 1999

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

Dana Rosemary Scallon wins Euro Seat
IEP2.5m for LYIT
Alternatives to Pylons
Bomb Scares in Bundoran
Fintown NS in Environmental Project
No Tourists in Donegal
Donegal County Council take Esat to Court
Donegal Knitwear Designer wins Smirnoff Fashion Award
100 year old Bomb found in Ramelton
Donegal out of Ulster championship
Rosaleen Linehan awarded Honourary Doctorate
Corncrakes on Tory Island
Donegal on the Net Tour 99

Cloughwilly Thatched Cottages, Lettermacaward are offering a 10% Discount to Donegal on the Net subscribers - that means you! Check out these beautifully restored 300 year old 4**** Bord Failte/ Irish Tourist Board Approved Cottages.

Dana Rosemary Scallon wins Euro Seat
The Internationally famous singer 'Dana', who rose to prominence after winning the 1970 Eurovision Song Contest with "All Kinds of Everything", has confounded critics by winning the 3rd seat in the Connaught/Ulster constituency in the European Elections. The Derry singer/ tv presenter and born again Christian polled 51,086 first preference votes with her "A Voice for the People" slogan and picked up 21,000 transfers which gave her a 7,000 vote lead over nearest rival, Independent Marian Harkin. (See Donegal on the Net Newsletter Vol.1 No.6 May, 1999)
Dana took the opportunity of her election victory to call for another national referendum on abortion; restated her opposition to divorce and her belief in the need for 'family values'. She also said she would be lobbying in Europe for grants to fund recycling in the West of Ireland.
Dana was the only candidate in the constituency with her own web site! For all kinds of Everything see Dana's Web Site.

IEP2.5m for LYIT
Letterkenny Institute of Technology is to receive a Capital Investment of 2.5 million Punts to enable the Institute to expand the number of places on its technology courses by 240 students.
Software houses looking for a location to set up in business please note!

Alternatives to Pylons
The Alternatives to Pylons County wide Committee has carried out research into the effects on health of the proposed erection of ESB electric pylons in the County. The ATP want the new lines to be buried underground to minimise health risks. Check out their views under Alternatives to Pylons.

Bomb Scares in Bundoran
There were 2 bomb scares in the Donegal seaside town of Bundoran and one in Ballyshannon in May. These were at the hydro-electric plants in the towns and in a large hotel. Every one was evacuated safely after calls to the Samaritians in Belfast and The Sentinel newspaper office in Derry, proportedly made by the Red Hand Defenders, said there were bombs in the County Donegal towns. The news was relayed to the RUC who, in turn, informed the Gardai in Dublin. However no devices were found.

Fintown NS in Environmental Project
A 'nature reserve' is to be developed at Fintown National School in a effort to interest children in their environment. Work on the scheme will begin this summer and the children will be able to plant and tend their garden from September.

No Tourists in Donegal
Liam O'Cuinneagain, Director of Oideas Gael, and Chairman of Southwest Tourism, has stated that less than 10% of the 5.6 million tourists who came to Ireland last year came to Donegal.
Liam O'Cuinneagain is calling for the creation of a National Tourism Office in Dublin to direct tourists to the North West of the island.
Donegal on the Net isn't surprized at these figures given the state of the official County Web Site which has no less than 3 Grianan of Aileachs and one of them is situated in Burtonport! I guess the tourists are lost before they arrive and when they do they find that the Bord Failte offices are not open on weekends to direct them to any of the County's beauty spots!

Donegal County Council take Esat to Court
Donegal CC has sought a High Court Injunction to remove Esat Digifone (mobiles) equipment from Carn Hill, Loughagannon, near Letterkenny. The company has not yet received planning permission for the development and public protests at the site have recently turned ugly with the Gardai having to be called.

Donegal Knitwear Designer wins Smirnoff Fashion Award
Liam Grier from Ramelton has won the prestigious Smirnoff Fashion Award for the 3rd time. A graduate of the Limerick College of Art and Design, Liam is set to join fellow Donegal designer, Edel McBride in the International knitwear design business.

100 year old Bomb found in Ramelton
A bomb dating from 1892 was found in a field outside St.Johnston recently. The 64lb bomb is 16 inches long and 6 inches in diameter, and is said to have originated from an Armstrong self-loading gun but local people and the Irish Army at Finner Camp are puzzled as to how it got to St.Johnston. The area was evacuated briefly and the shell removed to Finner Camp. It is now safe and will be housed in Dún Rí Military Museum outside of Buncrana.

Donegal out of Ulster Championship
After drawing with Armagh on June 6th Donegal failed to beat Armagh in the replay in Clones on June 13th and so hopes are dashed of reclaiming the Sam Maguire Cup in this millennium!

Rosaleen Linehan awarded Honorary Doctorate
Donegal's most famous actress, Rosaleen Linehan, has been conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws at University College, Dublin. Rosaleen, who hails from Inishowen, has been acting for many years and was recently lauded for her performances of Kate in Brian Friel's 'Dancing at Lughnasa' and as Feste in Shakespeare's 'Twelth Night'.

Corncrakes on Tory Island
The first Corncrakes of the year were heard on Tory Island at the end of April and were heard on mainland Donegal the following week. The Corncrake is Ireland's only threatened bird species and after years of hard work Birdwatch Ireland is seeing some improvements in the species numbers in recent years. Tory Island is home to 20% of the species in Ireland.

Donegal on the Net Tour '99
A second Culture Tour of County Donegal will take place from August 29th to September 5th.
Check out Culture Tour '99.

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

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