Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News
News Vol.8 No.2 February, 2007 Holiday In Donegal in 2007!
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Scéal Dún-na-nGall ar an Idirlíon / County Donegal on the Net News News Vol.8 No.2 February, 2007 Holiday In Donegal in 2007! |
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New Poetry Collection from Cathal Ó Searcaigh A new poetry collection from Cathal Ó Searcaigh, 'Gúrú i gClúidíní', has just been published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta. This is the first new poetry collection from the Donegal poet in six years. Ó Searcaigh has described this collection as a distillation of his previous work, with the subjects of language, place and tradition still to the fore, but this time encompassing a larger terrain of emotions. He says of the poems in this collection: 'They aspire towards the light but are more apprehensive of the dark than previous poems of mine. They emerge song-like from the murk of the psyche. They have a lonesomeness about them, a realization that we are all of us alone, however much we strive to be part of something. That is the dán, the destiny, of all us mortals'. Ó Searcaigh is from Mín an Leá in the Donegal Gaeltacht, and spends several months every year in Nepal. He has an adopted son there, Prem Timalsina, and a grandson, Prashant, who is celebrated in two poems in the new collection, one of which lends its name to the book, 'Gúrú i gClúidíní', which translates as 'Guru in Nappies'. Although Ó Searcaigh has not published a collection of new poems in several years, he has not been idle. His first prose work, 'Seal i Neipeal', an account of his time in Nepal, was published by Cló Iar-Chonnachta in 2004. He has also had several poetry collections in translation published, including 'By the Hearth in Mín a' Leá', Arc Publications 2005, the Poetry Book Society Recommended Translation, with English translations by Frank Sewell, Denise Blake and Seamus Heaney. 'Gúrú i gClúidíní' is available online from CIC. Cnuasach nua filíochta le Cathal Ó Searcaigh 'Gúrú i gClúidíní' is teideal do chnuasach nua filíochta ó Chathal Ó Searcaigh, foilsithe ag Cló Iar-Chonnachta. Is é seo an chéad chnuasach nua ón bhfile Conallach le sé bliana agus tá a shainstíl le sonrú go smior síos tríd, mar a bhfuil tionchar Neipeal ar a shaothar, leis. Braitheann Ó Searcaigh gur thug sé leis an chuid is fearr óna shaothair eile sa chnuasach seo agus téamaí móra na teanga, na háite agus an dúchais chun cinn ann, ach go bhfuil forbairt déanta aige chomh maith ar an réimse mothúchán atá san áireamh sna dánta. Deir Ó Searcaigh féin faoin gcnuasach seo: 'Cé go bhfuil spiorad an tsolais sa duanaire seo tá imní fan dorchadas á léiriú go láidir ann fosta. Tig na dánta seo as duibheagán an dóláis, amhráin bheaga a chanann crá an chroí. Tá níos mó d?uamhan an aonaráin agus de bhuairt an tsaoil iontu, sílim, ná mar a gheobhfá de ghnáth i mo shaothar. Tá ualach na beatha ina luí orthu níos troime ná mar a braitheadh ar mo dhánta go dtí seo; tuiscint go bhfuil muid uilig inár n-aonaráin amuigh i mbéal an uaignis, amuigh ansin ar aghaidh na síoraíochta, is cuma cé chomh dlúth agus atá ár gcaidreamh lenár gcairde, lenár gcomharsain, lenár gcomhdhaoine. Sin é ár ndán, mar a déarfá, ár gcinniúint dhaonna'. Is i sraitheanna atá na dánta sa leabhar curtha inár láthair, i gcosúlacht an dáin eipiciúil. San áireamh sa chnuasach seo tá 'Oileán na Marbh', dán a bhfuair Ó Searcaigh coimisiúnú air sa samhradh faoi na hoileáin bheaga amach ó chósta Thír Chonaill, áit ar cuireadh páistí a fuair bás sular baisteadh iad. Chuir Neil Martin ceol leis an dán seo agus chas Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill é, leis an West Ocean String Quartet, ag ceolchoirm i rith Scoil Gheimhridh Frankie Kennedy 2006. Tá an leabhar maisithe go healaíonta ag Ian Joyce. Is as Mín an Leá i nGaeltacht Thír Chonaill do Chathal Ó Searcaigh, agus caitheann sé cuid mhaith ama i Neipeal gach bliain. Tá mac uchtaithe aige ansin, Prem Timalsina, agus tá garmhac aige anois, leis, Prashant, a bhfuil dhá dhán faoi sa chnuasach seo, ceann acu a thugann a ainm don leabhar. Cé nach bhfuil saothar nua filíochta tagtha ón Searcach le tamall de bhlianta, ní raibh sé dímhaoin i rith an ama sin. D'fhoilsigh Cló Iar-Chonnachta an chéad saothar próis leis, 'Seal i Neipeal', cuntas ar a chuid taistil i Neipeal, i 2004. Tá cnuasaigh éagsúla d?aistriúcháin ar a chuid dánta foilsithe chomh maith, ina measc 'By the Hearth in Mín a' Leá', Arc Publications 2005, rogha aistriúcháin The Poetry Book Society, le haistriúcháin Bhéarla le Frank Sewell, Denise Blake agus Seamus Heaney. Tá sé i mbun oibre ar a chuid cuimhní cinn faoi láthair. Tá 'Gúrú i gClúidíní' ar fáil ó shiopaí ar fud na tíre, agus ó CIC. Donegal News on Air News from Ireland can be heard in Pennslyvannia on 'Echoes of Erin' WEDO 810FM on Sundays from 1.00-2.00pm and online at Echoes of Erin. The show is running for 19 years and is hosted by Diane Byrnes, former Grand Marshal of the Pittsburgh St Patrick's Day Parade and the doyen of everything Irish in Pittsburgh. If you want your Irish Goods or Services to reach the Pittsburgh Irish then advertise on 'Echoes of Erin' by emailing . If you are in Sydney you can listen to Sydney Irish Radio 107.3FM on Sundays from 7.30 to 9.00am local time (see Sydney Irish Radio) while Brisbane listeners can catch Mike Cunningham's show on 4EB 98.1 FM with Patricia Sharkey's 'View from the Hills' on Saturdays between 12.30 and 1.30pm.   Holiday Houses and Cottages available for Rent in Donegal Wizard of Oz in Carndonagh Carndonagh Community School presents the timeless classic “The Wizard of Oz “ in the Aras in the school grounds from January 30th to February 2nd at 8.00 PM and tickets are available from the school on 0749374260. Tickets cost €10 per adult and €5 for students and children. New cross-border Cycle Route A new cross-border cycle route has been launched in the North West. The Inis Eoghain Cycleway is a 55km loop connecting the River Foyle to Lough Swilly. The project has been widely funded, including Derry City Council; Donegal County Council; DRD Roads Service and by the European Union through the Interreg IIIA Programme; Inisowen Rural Development Limited; the Department of Social Development, Environment & Heritage Service and the International Fund for Ireland. . More than one third of the route is traffic free. It passes along the Foyle Valley Greenway close to the heart of Derry City and under the Foyle Bridge, before leading through Ballyarnett Country Park and Bay Road Park. At the city limits, the route climbs to An Grianan Aileach with magnificent views over Lough Swilly, Inch Island, the Inis Eoghain peninsula and south towards the Sperrin Mountains. The new cycle route then winds along quiet roads beside Lough Swilly and into the village of Newtowncunningham and from there the route passes through Carrigans, returning to Derry along the traffic-free Foyle Valley Greenway. Donegal Mayor Cllr Enda Bonnar commented: “There are no borders when it comes to enjoying the beauty of the North West and it is great that Derry City Council and Donegal County Council have worked so closely to bring this project to fruition.” The total investment secured for this initiative is circa €780,000, of which significant grant aid has been secured from INTERREG under the administration of the North West Region Cross Border Group. Riverdance for Donegal Tickets for the Riverdance performances in Letterkenny on the 24th & 25th May, 2007 sold out hours after their launch on the 6th February. Queues formed as eager customers patiently waited to buy the tickets which were selling at an incredible 1000 tickets an hour. Due to this phenomenal demand 3 further performances have been added, Saturday 26th, Sunday 27th and Monday 28th May at 8.30pm. All profits from the performances are going to the Oncology unit of Letterkenny hospital. For information on tickets ring 074 91 230 62 / 02871 26 4455. Tickets €54.50 including booking fee. This is the first time that Riverdance is secured to perform in Donegal at the new Sports and Leisure Centre, Letterkenny. Now in its 12th amazing year, Riverdance continues to thrill and entertain audiences around the world. Composed by Bill Whelan, Produced by Moya Doherty and Directed by John McColgan., Donegal born Moya Doherty says ”It is very gratifying to me, both personally and professionally, to see Riverdance performing in Donegal. We have brought our show all around the world and have had many memorable opening nights along the way, but I am sure that playing in my home county will be one of the most special opening nights of all”. Director John McColgan, hails from Strabane and says “It is very exciting anytime that Riverdance plays in a new venue. The fact that this time the new venue is in Donegal makes it doubly exciting, and given that I’m originally from Strabane which is only down the road it gives me personal pleasure to be able to present our show in Letterkenny”.  Index of the Best Websites on Irish Stuff - Online Ten Years! |
 Cathal Ó Searcaigh ©2007 Walking and Rock Climbing in Donegal Donegal County Council have proposed to develop tourism related walkways throughout the County over the next three years in the capital programme 2007-2009. A free on-line guide to the best climbs of Donegal has been published by the Colmcille Climbers and currently lists 1312 routes. The database is available to all and membership of the Club is open. Unlike conventional printed guidebooks it can be updated on an ongoing basis and visitors to the site can add their own comments on routes. The club has regular climbing exhibitions in the North-west region and further afield. The Donegal Guidebook can be found on The Colmcille Climbers website. Laurentic victims Remembered The Ulster Newfoundland Initiative held a wreath laying cermony to commemorate the 16 members of Newfoundland RNR who are buried in St Mura's graveyard, Fahan. In 1914 the Laurentic was requisitioned as a Canadian Expeditionary Force Troop Transport, capable of carrying 1,800 soldiers to wherever they were needed. In January, 1917 the Laurentic left Liverpool for Halifax, Nova Scotia with £5million of gold bullion aboard. Also aboard was a complement of 745 officers and crew. On the night of January 25th, whilst sailing around Malin Head, Laurentic struck two mines laid by a mine-laying German submarine, U-80, which mortally-wounded the ship. One of the mines had exploded adjacent to the engine-room, which at one stroke left Laurentic totally without power, meaning that the pumps couldn't be operated, and the lifeboats would have to be launched in the dark, a frightening prospect. The men had to get into the lifeboats quickly, but in the dark, it was a terribly-dangerous prospect, and to emphasise the point, 354 of the 745 men aboard were lost. The loss of the Laurentic and the men aboard her was tragic, Unable to send out a distress call on the radio, the men used rockets and signal lamp in the hope they could be seen from Fanad Head or Malin Head. The survivors of the initial explosions then had to endure a long night in open boats in the bitterly cold Donegal night and with the lifeboats taking on water many died of exposure.  RMS Laurentic New CD by Richard Gilpin Richard Gilpin's new CD 'Loose Ends' includes 11 new songs featuring some of Ireland's finest musicians. The release of the CD co-incides with a tour where Richard and his band perform with special guests, including Ursula Burns, Maggie Khiane and Matt McGranahan. Tour dates include February 2nd at The Copper Kettle Folk Club at The Railway Hotel, Enniskillen, at 10pm with Guest artist Taj Bell (U.S.A.); February 10th at The Island Arts Centre, Lisburn; February 18th a The Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart and March 3rd at The Balor Theatre, Main St. Ballybofey. For further information see Richard Gilpin's website. Renewable Energy in Donegal Donegal Farm Relief Services have been promoting renewable energy products, including bio-fuels, anaerobic digestion and biomass, willow, and wood energy for three years. Donegal County Council have been in discussions with Donegal FRS and are looking at the possibility of converting some of their vehicles to run on pure plant oil. During 2007 one million litres of pure plant oil will be processed by Donegal FRS, sourced from 30 growers on both sides of the border. Donegal FRS are hoping to construct a oil seed production plant in Raphoe and an anaerobic digestion facility in Castlefin which would enable them to produce electricity from cattle and pig slurry. Irish Classes in Ballyliffin Irish Classes will commence in the Pollan Beach Hotel on January 23rd at 7pm. All levels of Irish are catered to so come along and enjoy the craic. Inishowen Carnival Sets Sail for Dublin and London The Inishowen Carnival's preparations for St Patrick's Day in Dublin begins at 7.30pm on January 26th with a launch at the carnival office in Carndonagh which will include a presentation of this year's parade design and an opportunity to sign up for a variety of workshops and activities. 2006 was the groups most successful year to date. After winning the Premier Award for the 2006 St Patrick's Festival parade the group went on to produce the finale parade for the Celtic European Festival in Derry; create props and costumes for a performance at the launch of the Special Olympics Ireland in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast; and produce flags for the launch of the Ryder Cup Opening Ceremony. 2007 promises to produce many more memorable moments. The concept for this year's production was originally developed as a result of a special request by Donegal County Council for the group to create a carnival piece for the 400th commemoration of the Flight of the Earls throughout 2007. Entitled 'Voyages' the production is inspired by the 'mythical voyages of its earliest inhabitants, early religious missions of Irish monks like Brendan the Navigator and Colmcille, the Flight of the Earls and the influence that emigration has played on our history. Workshops will commence on January 27th at 11am with a large group silk painting workshop at the carnival offices on the Moville Road. As always the group are keen to hear from any new faces who might be interested in getting involved in drumming, dance, costume and flag making workshops. In an exciting new development the carnival group are one of only two Irish carnival groups who have been asked to travel to London straight after the St Patrick's parade in Dublin to perform in the Lord Mayor's parade and St Patrick's celebrations in London on March 18th. Due to financial constraints only 30 of the original 80 performers will be able to make the journey from Dublin to London but the group are hoping that they will be able to contact a number of Inishowen exiles living in London to join them on the 18th and help ensure that they make a huge impact on the London event. Once the St Patrick's celebrations are complete a series of events are being planned across the province of Ulster in the build up to a spectacular carnival parade planned for Rathmullan in September 2007 as part of the final events in the Flight of the Earls commemorations. Current membership includes people of all ages from as far away as Glengad, Moville, Buncrana and Raphoe and anyone interested in joining the group should contact the office at 9373375 or come along at 7.30pm to the Carnival Offices, Moville Road, Carndonagh on January 26th. Refreshments will be provided and a party is planned after the formalities are completed. For further information email . |
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