Ezine Issue 10
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Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil Donegal - community in touch ISSUE 10 DECEMBER 2010 / EAGRÁN 10 MÍ NA NOLLAG 2010 I grew up in the house behind my News grandparents in Upper Dore. My 2 grandfather, Hugh Duggan, was Donegal Business 7 the headmaster of the school just Education and Learning 10 down the road. In those days there were very few houses around us so Social and Cultural 12 my earliest memories are of open Donegal Community Links 16 spaces – the mountains behind and the sea down below across Bunbeg Message From Mayor to the front. It’s little wonder that A Chairde the landscape and atmosphere of Donegal have found their way into I sincerely hope this find you well. It’s hard to believe that we are well and truly in the middle my music. The two are inseparable. of the festive season. This year seems to have gone very quick. We certainly have the winter My father, Leo, was in a dance hall weather here in Donegal and also across the band and I remember going with Island. Ireland is a white landscape at present, him to Glasgow for St Patrick’s off course the children love it, however it’s weekend when I was twelve to to sing in the Irish musicals at the causing a lot of disruption for us who have to deal with it. Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair and sing and dance during his concerts. Donegal South- West has had its By-Election on the 25th of The dance halls died out and he started learning the harp when I November, so finally we have our 3rd T.D. and I wish our new bought a pub - now the famous was thirteen. Deputy Pearse Doherty every success in the future. Ireland is Leo’s Tavern - which has been his fairly getting its fair share of International Media, but at home (and our) stage for the past forty I am passionate about my Donegal life goes on. I hope all our readers are in good spirits, remember home and on my travels around to keep in touch with home over Christmas, for those who are years. It was here that, as Clannad, travelling, have a very safe journey and finally to those who are we got our first playing experience the world. I meet many Donegal unable to make it home - be safe - be happy and look after each and the journey from there has people who all share that passion. other. taken us onto some of the great Like me, they seem to feel a part stages of the world. of them is missing when they’re Have a very merry Christmas and a peaceful new year to all not here. It’s been great to see so Nollaig Shona agus Bliain Úr faoi shíocháin daoibh uilig many return in recent years and we I am passionate about look forward to making Donegal Cllr Cora Harvey An Meara Chontae Dhún na nGall my Donegal home and the striving, vibrant place it can be with the enterprise, music and on my travels around unique culture that exist here in Welcome Fáilte the world. I meet many such beautiful, rich abundance. This is the tenth edition of Donegal Community in Touch. The Donegal people who all previous editions have been very well received by the extended I’m so looking forward to Christmas Donegal Community at home and abroad. We will continue to share that passion. Like develop and to produce this e-zine as a means of connecting in Donegal. I’ll be playing at the with people who have an interest in, or connection to Donegal, me, they seem to feel a Frankie Kennedy Winter School wherever they may be living. We look forward to receiving your in Dun Lewy but, as a family, we’ll feedback with regard to the e-zine and with regard to issues that part of them is missing you might wish us to highlight in the e-zine. enjoy catching up and the warmth when they’re not here. of home – whatever the weather. Seo an deichiú eagrán de Pobal i dTeagmháil Dhún na nGall. Bhí pobal Dhún na nGall sa bhaile agus i gcéin an-shásta leis na I want to wish you all a very Happy heagráin eile. Leanfaidh muid orainn ag forbairt agus ag foilsiú Music was a huge part of my an e-iris seo mar uirlís chun teagmháil a choinneáil le daoine a upbringing. My mother was also Christmas and hope that the bhfuil suim nó baint acu le Dún na nGall, pé áit a bhfuil cónaí a music teacher and directs the season brings you the very best. orthu. Beidh fáilte roimh aiseolas maidir leis an e-iris agus le hábhar a mhian libh a bheith clúdaithe ann. choir in Derrybeg Chapel. I used Moya Brennan 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 Teresita Trujillo, Cuban Ambassador to Ireland, who visited Donegal in late October, pictured with Mr Michael Bridges Built O’hEanaigh and Cllr Dessie Larkin, Donegal County Council. The already strong social, political and economic links between the U.S. and Ireland were made stronger still at the fourth annual Irish Echo Golden Bridges gathering in Boston in early Novemeber. A large and enthusiastic gathering attended the event, held at the Marriott Copley Place Hotel. As has been the case in previous years there was a particular emphasis on ties between Massachusetts and the Northwest counties of Ireland. The main guest speaker at the awards luncheon was Mayor of County Donegal, Councilor Cora Harvey. In addition to Mayor Harvey’s address, a central part of the awards ceremony was the honoring of six individuals and organizations for Pride of Place Awards their outstanding work and dedication to the cause of even closer ties Glenfinn Area Council and Letterkenny CDP have received national between the United States and Ireland. Recipients of these Golden recognition after being named as runners up in their categories Bridges awards were Sr. Lena Deevy of the Irish Immigration Centre, in Cooperation Ireland’s annual Pride of Place Competiton 2010. Mayor Ray Flynn, Henry McGarvey, CEO of Pramerica Ireland, Donegal, mobile solutions company TotalMobile, the Irish Partnerships Center at Glenfinn Area Council was lauded for its efforts in improving the quality UMass Lowell, and the Boston Bruins. of life for the residents on the Glenfinn community, including the building of a Day Care Centre, working with the rural transport initiative For further information contact: www.irishecho.com/boston to enable elderly people in remote areas to travel, a rural social scheme. The Isaac Butt Heritage Centre provides internet and secretarial services, tourist information and training courses. There was further success for the County with Letterkenny CDP ‘START’ being named as a runner up in the Community response to addiciton themed Single Issue category. Mayor Cora Harvey with the County Donegal Delegation and Donegal expats at the Golden Bridges gala luncheon. Included in the photo are: Paddy McDevitt, Fintown, Michael O’hEanaigh, Donegal County Council, John Cunningham, Carrick, Cllr Dessie Larkin, Donegal County Council, Mick Duffym Portsalon and Seamus Neely, Donegal County Council. Glenfinn Area Council pictured with their award Mayor Cora Harvey presents a Golden Mayor Cora Harvey presents a Golden Bridges award to Henry McGarvey, CEO Bridges Award to Chair of the House of Pramerica Ireland, Letterkenny, County Ways and Means Committee Rep Donegal at the gala luncheon in Boston. Charles Murphy. Letterkenny CDP pictured with their award 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 The Boyle Brothers Boston – Donegal Links Go to Harrisburg Your men in Harrisburg, Brendan, left, and Kevin Boyle. A pair of Irish-American brothers married in his father’s hometown, from Olney are heading to Glencolmcille. Harrisburg—and the record books—as the only brothers ever to Brendan is exploring other ways his Donegal participants who took part in the Experimental Learning Project serve together in the state assembly Irish roots can benefit both Ireland since it was founded in 1682. and his Pennsylvania constituents. A group of eleven from County Donegal visited Boston in September to experience at firsthand how organisations there deliver services Voters in the 170th and 172nd “I’ve formed a relationship with to multi-ethnic populations. The project was funded by the PEACE III district decided they wanted Irish Ambassador Michael Collins Programme managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by Donegal the Boyle’s to represent them in and we’ve identified over 100 Irish County Council. The visit was organised by Sr. Lena Deevy of the Irish Harrisburg. Kevin Boyle, in his first companies who have operations Immigration Centre. election as a candidate, beat Rep. right here in Pennsylvania,” he John Perzel to join older brother, explains. “I’m working to strengthen The aim of the visit was to connect Donegal to international models of Brendan, who handily won his the bilateral relationship with the best practice and help participants develop policy making and service second term as state rep from the two countries. And although I’m a delivery in the County that supports greater community integration and 172nd. state official, I’ll do anything I can cohesion in Donegal’s increasingly multi-ethnic society. on immigration issues to help Irish The Boyles, the sons of Irish immigrants to go back home and Participants were able to see at firsthand how Boston communities have immigrants (father Francis is from come back without any trouble.” responded to the challenges of racism, poverty and exclusion and took Glencolmcille, Donegal, mother part in a series of round table discussions on policy and service delivery Eileen from Sligo) and union He points out that during the last with their Boston counterparts.