Ezine Issue 13
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Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil Donegal - community in touch ISSUE 13 AUGUST 2011 / EAGRÁN 13 LÚNASA 2011 News 2 Welcome - Fáilte Donegal Business 7 Education and Learning 10 Social and Cultural 12 Donegal Community Links 15 Message From Mayor Hello everyone, I have just completed my first month as Mayor of Donegal and I must admit it is indeed a wonderful experience and a learning curve. I am truly honoured to have been given the opportunity to serve as Mayor of our great County. This County and Country may be in recession but in Donegal we are upbeat, the sleeves are rolled up, our heads are up, and we will dig our way out. Many groups and organisations have come together throughout Donegal to plan for the future and are determined to get this county back on its feet again. had the privilege of addressing more like a sense of reflection mixed I myself have focused on tourism and tourist related activities the recent Donegal County with impatience, questioning how it as my number one priority for my year as Mayor and I hope to I Development Board Annual is that “we have all this information, present you all with some ideas shortly. I would also be grateful Strategy Day in Letterkenny, County all these organisations and support for any ideas you might have to assist me (noel.mcbride@ Donegal on the 18th May 2011. services, all these regulations and donegalcoco.ie) ways of doing things but. ”. We Two things stick out in my memory need to ask if the mix and balance Donegal at the moment is in the midst of our festival season and many successful festivals and events have already taken place from that day’s conversations and of all these resources are right for throughout the county with more to come. I had the pleasure encounters. First I picked up a clear what we need today. Are we making of meeting all the contestants in the Mary from Dungloe event sense in the room of a determination the right mix – if we aren’t, who is? when they visited Downings (I had to keep my enthusiasm to think more creatively about the Can we do better? Do we use these somewhat subdued when my wife Rosemary discovered where I idea of borders and limits. This is a things in the best ways possible? Is was going) but it was all for a good cause! particularly potent idea for Donegal our focus on being the best in class and the North West, an idea that can at regulation or the best in class at The County is also in the midst of football fever at the moment and boy was I proud to stand behind Michael Murphy as Mayor be a real resource and a potential making sure regulation supports of Donegal when he lifted that cup after winning the Ulster advantage for creativity and business our people’s viable business ideas, championship for the first time in nineteen years and indeed we in this edgy region. including really creative ideas that are all extremely proud of Jim Mc Guinness and all the team on challenge traditional ways of thinking now qualifying for the all Ireland semi final. Everyone in Donegal If you want to see a brilliant example and working. If it is, then we should and indeed those with Donegal connections throughout the world wish Jim and all the team every success in their quest to in Donegal of how a creative business be talking about making Donegal and bring Sam back to Donegal. can succeed and impress despite the North West one of the best places all the limitations, just have a look in the world to have a great idea. Finally, I would like to thank you for taking the time to read at the marvellous Féile an Earagail/ That has to be the ambition. Regulate Donegal Community in Touch and for keeping yourselves up to Earagail Arts Festival that takes over for that. date with all that is going on back home. Lets all keep in touch. the hearts and minds of Donegal (and the world!) in July. Dermot McLaughlin Slán agus beannacht, The second thing that struck me was Chief Executive Cllr. Noel McBride An Meara Chontae Dhún na nGall a different kind of feeling in the air – Temple Bar Cultural Trust Donegal County Development Board Bord Forbartha Chontae Dhún na nGall Donegal County Council Donegal - community in touch Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil News / Nuacht 2 Councillor Dinny McGinley T. D. McBride elected as Minister of State for Gaeltacht elected Mayor Affairs and the Islands Councillor Noel McBride was elected the new Mayor of Donegal on the 27th June 2011. On 10 March 2011 Mr. McGinley T. D. was appointed by an Taoiseach, Mr. Councillor McBride was first voted on to Donegal County Council in 2004 Enda Kenny T. D. , as Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht and and replaces Cllr Cora Harvey. the Islands. Councillor Barry O’Neill was elected Deputy Mayor and replaces Councillor Minister of State McGinley is from the Donegal Gaeltacht of Gaoth Dobhair Marie Therese Gallagher. Councillor Noel McBride has highlighted that the and still resides in the area. Mr. Dinny McGinley T. D. was first elected to Dáil development of tourism in Donegal will be one of his main priorities of the Éireann in February 1982 and has been re-elected on every occasion since new Mayor of Donegal. then for the Donegal South-West Constituency. For further information please visit www.donegalcoco.ie He has held numerous front bench positions while in opposition, including Gaeltacht, Youth & Sport, Defence and Immigrant Policy. He was chairman of the Oireachtas language & Culture Committee from 1994-1997 and Malin Head Tourist Information Chairman of the Oireachtas committee on Community, Equality and Leaflet Launched! Gaeltacht Affairs before the election in 2011. Donegal County Council recently launched the Malin Head Tourist Information Leaflet at Banba’s Crown, Malin Head, Co. Donegal. The leaflet The Rossnowlagh Twelfth will provide visitors with information regarding the tourist attractions in and around Ireland’s Most Northerly Point, as well as around the Inishowen Peninsula. The Malin Head Leaflet is part of a wider strategic plan to develop the Inishowen Peninsula and Malin Head as a sustainable tourism destination. Donegal County Council is in the process of securing funding to further develop the Inishowen 100 Driving Route by providing visitor interpretation and upgrading a range of scenic viewing points, as well as re-vamping the Inishowen 100 Branded Signage. Malin Head is a growth tourism destination, with thousands of cyclists completing the Malin Head to Mizen Head challenge every year. The ruined signal tower at Banba’s Crown dates back to the early 19th Century and was used as a Lloyds Signal Station, as well as a look-out tower during two World Wars. For further information email: [email protected] The Donegal County Council stand at the Rossnowlagh 12th on Saturday 9th July 2011 Donegal County Council were in attendance at Rossnowlagh on Saturday 9th July for the annual 12th July commemoration of the Battle of the Boyne. With 17 lodges in the county and many from further afield and various bands also in attendance the number of participants and spectators at the event was huge. It has been a busy year for many of the Donegal lodges as many received funding through the PEACE III programme to complete extensive refurbishment works. The event was a great success, with many visitors to the exhibition trailer throughout the day to view the work and to meet representatives who Deputy Joe McHugh T. D. , Cllr Bernard McGuinness, Cllr Mickey Doherty, Cllr Rena were attending the event from Donegal County Council, including County Donaghey, and Cllr Jack Murray pictured at the launch of the Malin Head Tourist Information Leaflet Launch Manager, Seamus Neely. Donegal County Development Board Bord Forbartha Chontae Dhún na nGall Donegal County Council Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil Donegal - community in touch News / Nuacht 3 Donegal’s Population Freshwater Pearl Mussel grows to 160,927 Measures Project Census 2011 Preliminary results have just been released and show that: • Estimated population in 2011 is equal to 160,927 persons • Population grew by 9. 3%, which was faster than the State (@8. 1%) and slower than the Border Region (9. 8%) • North East and South West Constituencies grew by 12. 1% and 6. 5% • Population increased by 13,663 • Births exceeded deaths by 5,507 • Estimated net migration was equal to 8,156 • Total housing stock was equal to 84,356 Dwellings The Freshwater Pearl Mussel Project funded by the ERDF, under the INTERREG • Had the 3rd highest increase in its housing stock in the State IVA Programme was launched by the Mayor of Donegal, Cllr Cora Harvey on the 10th May. • Had the 2nd highest vacancy rate in the entire State @28. 5% The overall objective of the project is to secure the conservation of pearl • 72% of the Electoral Divisions with negative growth are located in the mussels that are declining because of pressures on their habitat. Donegal West and South West. has 6 river catchments designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) because they contain pearl mussels – the Leannan, Eske, Clady, Glaskeelan, For further information contact the Research and Policy Unit, Donegal Owencarrow and Owenea catchments. This project will also be working in County Council at [email protected] similar SACs in Northern Ireland – the Owenkillew, Ballinderry and Swanlinbar catchments. The Swanlinbar is a cross-border catchment and emphasizes the need for cooperation and collaboration in our conservation efforts.