Dún na nGall - pobail i d’teagmháil Donegal - community in touch ISSUE 9 OCTOBER 2010 / EAGRÁN 9 DEIREADH FÓMHAIR 2010 am a Buncrana man, born there News in 1953. My place of birth was 2 I 3, Maginn Avenue – known to Donegal Business 7 the town as The Pound Lane. All Education and Learning 10 the women we knew had their babies at home then- maternity Social and Cultural 12 wards were strictly for swanks, and Donegal Community Links 15 my family did not come into that category. The house belonged to Message From Mayor Lizzie and Johnny O’Donnell, my A Chairde mother’s parents. At its side was the forge where my grandfather Welcome to another edition of Donegal worked as a blacksmith, as did Community in touch, I hope you are all in fine health and good spirits. I hope that you find generations of men before him. our editions of benefit and of interest. That was the family trade. I come so from a line of expert craftsmen, We have been very busy here in Donegal a fact of which I am very proud and since our last edition; the Summer had been packed with never forget when I am writing. community festivals and colourful events. The ever popular The shape is the substance, and Earagail Arts Festival and the Bluestack and Donegal Bay I hope that will stand her in good festivities were a favourite enjoyed by all. the substance is the shape. stead. I hope you keep an eye on what is going on over here and I The Fort of the Foreigner Coming from Donegal has also hope that the E-Zine helps you in that endeavour. long stood me in good stead. The is how Dun na nGall Again I extend the invitation to you to subscribe and to send translates. A place as place haunts all I write. Even in the us in your stories and information about what is happening versions of European plays I write, I in your area. Until next time, best wishes to you all. lonely as it is welcoming, have felt it’s presence in the snows as strange as it is familiar, of Norway, the passionate heat Le Gach Dea Ghui of Greece, the wilds of Spain and as wild as it is peaceful – a Russia, all transforming themselves Cllr Cora Harvey place of infinite, inviting into the inexhaustible landscapes An Meara Chontae Dhún na nGall contradictions. and languages of my home territory. There is no escaping its Welcome Fáilte This is the ninth edition of Donegal Community in Touch. I return often to my home town. My influence. The Fort of the Foreigner The previous editions have been very well received by the brother Shane and myself bought a is how Dun na nGall translates. A extended Donegal Community at home and abroad. We house some years ago there to share place as lonely as it is welcoming, will continue to develop and to produce this e-zine as a when we go back to the county. as strange as it is familiar, as wild means of connecting with people who have an interest as it is peaceful – a place of infinite, in, or connection to Donegal, wherever they may be My niece Selena loves Donegal as living. We look forward to receiving your feedback with we do. Maybe even more so. Our inviting contradictions. Come to regard to the e-zine and with regard to issues that you great sorrow is that our father and it, for it is uniquely, marvellously, might wish us to highlight in the e-zine. mother did not live to see her, but utterly itself and nowhere else. This we know how they would approve will never change. There are many Seo an naoú eagrán de Pobal i dTeagmháil Dhún na nGall. reasons to love Donegal. That is the Bhí pobal Dhún na nGall sa bhaile agus i gcéin an-shásta of her getting to know the shores leis na heagráin eile. Leanfaidh muid orainn ag forbairt and streets, the braes and lanes of best. agus ag foilsiú an e-iris seo mar uirlís chun teagmháil a Buncrana. Being a natural actress, choinneáil le daoine a bhfuil suim nó baint acu le Dún she can even do a super imitation Frank Mc Guinness na nGall, pé áit a bhfuil cónaí orthu. Beidh fáilte roimh of the accent, I’m glad to say, and aiseolas maidir leis an e-iris agus le hábhar a mhian libh a bheith clúdaithe ann. 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 Bill Clinton in Derry City celebrates as on trade visit Derry is crowned 1st UK City of Culture 2013 Derry~Londonderry has made history after winning its bid to be the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013 The momentous win means that in 2013 Derry~Londonderry will play Peter Robinson and Martin trade and investment goals should host to a year-long celebration of culture in the city, opening its doors to McGuinness have welcomed not be underestimated,” he added. visitors from across the world. former US President Bill Clinton to University of Ulster NI Deputy First Minister Martin Derry faced competition for the award from Norwich, Birmingham and Magee Campus in Derry. McGuinness added after the Sheffield. meeting: “The spotlight that will Clinton is visiting the North ahead shine on us at the Economic Derry City Council’s Arts Officer Brendan McMenamin said becoming of October’s Economic Conference Conference will provide an UK’s City of Culture could bring a financial bonus to the area of several on the North to be hosted by his unprecedented opportunity to hundred million pounds. wife, US Secretary of State, Hillary highlight potential investment Clinton, in Washington. opportunities here to US investors. He also said that counties across the border like Donegal, which supported Derry’s bid, could also benefit substantially. NI First Minister Peter Robinson The US Economic Envoy to said: “During our meeting Northern Ireland, Declan Kelly, said For further information visit: www.cityofculture2013.com/ President Clinton once again “This is a fact finding mission outlined the US Administration’s so Mr Clinton can update continuing commitment to himself and given that he meets helping us achieve our goal of a many of the leading business vibrant and dynamic economy. people and political figures in the world everyday in his “The importance of the role the very busy schedule,” said Kelly. US plays in helping us achieve our Jim McGuinness named new Donegal Senior Manager Jim McGuinness has been Doherty in the post, and has been that he will begin the process ratified as Donegal’s new appointed for a four-year term, of putting together his squad senior football manager, after with a review after two years. for 2011 later this week. he had been nominated unopposed for the position. The Glenties clubman will McGuinness said “It’s a big job, have U-21 selectors Peter but I want the players to come Naomh Conaill’s David Kelch McGinley and Pat Shovlin as in and give nothing but 100%. nominated McGuinness for the part of his backroom team. role and was seconded by Sean Glenties man McGuinness won Dunnion of the Four Masters club. McGuinness will continue to an All-Ireland winners medal manage the Donegal U-21 side with the county in 1992. McGuinness succeeds John Joe next year, and it is expected 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 Massachusetts State Senate Visit Members of Donegal County Development Board who met with the Senate President Therese Murray and Senator Steven A Tolman in September Pictured are Senator Steven A Tolman, Mr Diarmaid Ó Mórdha, An Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta, Superintendent Vincent O’Brien, Mr Eunan Quinn, Donegal County Council, Senate President Therese Murray, Mr Michael O’hEanaigh, Donegal County Council, Mr Garry Martin, Donegal County Council, and Mr Andrew Ward, Inishowen Development Partnership. Derry ~ Londonderry Pramerica – Golden becomes part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Bridge Awards 2010 The UK’s City of Culture 2013, Derry ~ Londonderry, has announced it Mr Henry McGarvey, Managing Director of Pramerica, will be a recipient is become part of the Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race with of one of the Irish Echo Golden Bridge Awards for 2010. This award an official city boat in the race. In addition the city will be an official is in recognition of the substantial contribution made by Pramerica host port, welcoming the ten-strong fleet in July 2012 with a showcase to the economy of Donegal and the North West since establishing in festival at the end of the final transatlantic stage of the 40,000-mile race Letterkenny in 2000. The tenth anniversary of its operations has seen a en route to the race finish. further expansion of its operation and now employs over 700. It will be the first time that Northern Ireland has been represented in the race which attracts a global audience of more than 460 million people. Derry–Londonderry has a long and illustrious maritime history and a key factor in the city’s participation in the race will be to generate cultural and socially inclusive legacy projects for the future. The Clipper Race was set up by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the first man to sail solo, non-stop around the world, in order to give ordinary people the chance to do something truly extraordinary.