2 foreword Donegal County Development Board (CDB) and the Donegal County Strategy have provided an overall framework to ensure an integrated and co-ordinated approach to promoting the social, cultural and economic development of the county. I would like to thank the members of the Board, sectoral fora, County Community and Area Fora for their willingness to participate, to co-operate in all ways possible and to devote time and resources to the CDB process since 2000. I would like to thank all agencies and the wider community for their contributions to the Strategy. I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with the Board as we progress into the next phase of our work. Bhí an Bord Forbartha Contae (BFC) agus Straitéis Chontae Dhún na nGall ina chreat ginearálta le cur chuige comhtháite agus comhordaithe a chinntiú i dtaca le cur chun cinn sóisialta, cultúrtha agus eacnamaíochta an chontae. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le baill an Bhoird, na bhfóram earnála, agus na bhFóram Pobail Contae agus Ceantair as a bheith páirteach go fonnmhar, as a bheith ag comhoibriú ar gach bealach agus is féidir, agus as a gcuid ama agus acmhainní a chur ar fáil don BFC ón bhliain 2000 ar aghaidh. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le gach áisíneacht agus leis an phobal i gcoitinne as an ionchur a bhí acu sa Straitéis. Tá mé ag súil le leanstan ar aghaidh ag obair i gcomhpháirt leis an Bhord agus muid ag tabhairt aghaidhe ar an chéad chéim eile den obair. Cllr. Dessie Larkin, Chairperson Donegal CDB An Clr. Deasún Ó Lorcáin, Cathaoirleach, BFC Dhún na nGall Donegal County Council has played, and will continue to play a central role in relation to economic, social and cultural development in its own right as a local authority, and also in its role as lead agency of Donegal County Development Board and in the new Local and Community Development Committee. We have been working with partners to develop the county’s resources and create the conditions for sustainable economic development and growth. The report which is being launched today demonstrates the many important initiatives undertaken by the CDB partners and I wish to thank the members for their valuable participation and contribution to the development of this county. We look forward to ongoing partnership and collaboration in the soon to be established structures which will provide a platfrom for development in the county over the coming years. Bhí, agus beidh, páirt mhór ag Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall -as a stuaim féin mar údarás áitiúil agus ina ról mar áisíneacht cheannais ar Bhord Forbartha Contae Dhún na nGall agus sa Choiste úr um Fhorbairt Áitiúil agus Pobail - i gcúrsaí forbartha eacnamaíochta, sóisialta agus cultúrtha. Le tamall, tá muid ag obair le páirtnéirí chun acmhainní an chontae a fhorbairt agus chun na coinníollacha ar son forbairt agus fás inbhuanaitheach eacnamaíochta a chruthú. Tá cur síos sa tuarascáil atá á seoladh inniu ar an iliomad tograí tábhachtacha ar thug páirtnéirí an BFC fúthu agus is mian liom buíochas a ghabháil leis na baill as an mhéid atá déanta acu leis an chontae seo a fhorbairt. Tá muid ag súil go mór le bheith ag leanstan ar aghaidh leis an chomhpháirtíocht agus leis an chomhoibriú sna struchtúir úra atá ar na bacáin, struchtúir a bheas mar dhúshraith ónar féidir an contae a fhorbairt sna blianta atá amach romhainn. Seamus Neely, County Manager Séamus Mac Conghaola, Bainisteoir an Chontae Donegal County Development Board was established as a partnership body on a statutory basis in 2000. In 2002 Donegal County Development Board launched its initial ten year strategy “An Straitéis 2002 – 2012”. While the County has faced and continues to face many challenges, this strategy recognised and mapped out a means to address these challenges and to bring about beneficial change in County Donegal, building on our unique resources. The decade since the initial launch of the County Strategy has seen partnership and cooperation across all sectors and has seen a range of key projects implemented on a collaborative basis for the benefit of the region. I would like to thank the members for their involvement and work with Donegal CDB and look forward to continued partnership working going forward in the context of the soon to be established Local and Community Development Committee and the soon to be established Donegal Economic Development Committee. Bunaíodh Bord Forbartha Contae Dhún na nGall mar eagraíocht chomhpháirtíochta ar bhonn reachtúil in 2000. In 2002 sheol Bord Forbartha Contae Dhún na nGall a chéad straitéis deich mbliana, mar a bhí ‘An Straitéis 2002 - 2012)’. Cé go raibh go leor dúshlán le sárú ag an Chontae, agus go bhfuil go fóill, d’aithin an straitéis seo, agus leag sí amach, an dóigh le dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin seo agus an dóigh leis an saol a fheabhsú i gContae Dhún na nGall, ag tógáil ar na hacmhainní ar leith atá againn. Ó thús na Straitéise Contae deich mbliana ó shin chonacthas comhpháirtíocht agus comhoibriú trasna na n-earnálacha ar fad, agus tá réimse de thograí tábhachtacha curtha i bhfeidhm ar bhonn comhpháirtíochta ar mhaithe leis an réigiún. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na baill as a n-ionchur agus as a gcuid oibre le BFC Dhún na nGall agus tá mé ag súil le bheith ag leanstan leis an chomhpháirtíocht seo sa Choiste Forbartha Áitiúil agus Pobail úr, agus i gCoiste Forbartha Eacnamaíochta Dhún na nGall, dhá choiste atá le bunú go luath. Micheal O hEanaigh, Director of Services Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, Stiúrthóir Seirbhísí 3 4 Linkages Networks Connection Diaspora Diaspora Connection Networks Linkages Above; Senator Therese Murray and former Mayor Noel McBride pictured at the 2011 Golden Bridges Event Right; Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards 2013: County Mayor Ian Mc Garvey with Sean Nós Dancer at the shoregreen in Buncrana Left; The Donegal-Irish Diaspora / Hands of History Conference took place on 4th & 5th June 2013 in Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Bottom Left; Tip O’Neill Centenary Cele- brations, Buncrana, 7th – 8th September 2012, Ms Pat Hume presenting the first Tip O’Neill Diaspora award on Niall O’Dowd Bottom Right; Golden Bridges 2012 Event 5 Top Left; Former Mayor Frank McBrearty and Cllr Dessie Larkin pictured with Mrs Nora Campbell, Vice President of the Donegal Association of Philadelphia at the launch of the Donegal Diaspora Website Above; Boston-Northwest Ireland Golden Bridges Conference Programme 2012 Left; Peace Building with PEACE III Partnership Members and Bos- ton Delegation, December 2011 First issue of the Donegal Commu- Letterkenny Institute of Technology signs Partnership Agreement with Lasell Diaspora Connection nity in Touch ezine – November College (Boston) during their visit to the Golden Bridges Conference in Boston 2008 Networks Linkages 6 Top Left; The Donegal Diaspora website www.do- negaldiaspora.ie was launched in February 2013 and reaches 135,000 people world- wide. Above; Flight of the Earls Commemorative Poster Left; Launch of the NW Diaspora Project 2007 Bottom Left; A high level delegation from the Massa- chusetts led by Therese Murray, President of the Senate of the State of Massachusetts, picture during their visit to CoLab, LYIT in May 2013 Imeacht na nIarlaí’/’Flight of the Earls’ Publication Diaspora Connection DiasporaNetworks Connection Linkages Networks Linkages 7 Diaspora Connection DiasporaNetworks Connection Linkages Networks Linkages Moya Brennan of Clannad accompanied by her daughter Aisling Jarvis who gave captivating Boston Globe Columnist Kevin Cullen and Writer Michael Patrick Mac- performances at the launch of Donegal Gather- Donald pictured at the Donegal-Irish Diaspora Conference in June 2013 ing 2012 on the 8th February in Letterkenny Cllr. Sadie Docherty, with strong family roots in West Donegal, who holds the prestigious role of Lord Provost of Glasgow, was honoured with a Civic on the 7th May 2013. Pictured Golden Bridges Celebrations 2010 with former Mayor Frank McBrearty’ Diaspora Connection The New York State American Irish Legislators Society visited Donegal in late 2011 Networks Linkages 8 The Done- gal-Irish Diaspora / Hands of History Conference took place on 4th & 5th June 2013 in Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Donegal Live Glasgow 2011: Martina Bromley, Máire Áine Gardiner, Joan Crawford, Fáilte Ireland, Minister for Tour- ism, Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, TD and Marguerite The Donegal Delegation pictured at the reception hosted by Howley Castlemurray State Representative Gene O’Flaherty, Boston 2013 Michael O’hEanaigh, John Hume, Governor Brian Congressman Richie Neal of US House of Representatives Schweitzer, Tip O’Neill Diaspora Award Winner 2013 and and Mayor Domenic Sarno of Springfield pictured with the Tommy O’Neill pictured at the award-ceremony Donegal Delegation during their visit to Boston in November 2013 Diaspora Connection DiasporaNetworks Connection Linkages Networks Linkages 9 Cultural Industries Creative Culture Culture Creative Industries Cultural Connections Cultural Diversity Members of DCC attending screening of Shine of Rainbows Cinemagic Festival Belfast Flight of the Earl Conference 17th – 19th August 2007 Balor Theatre Picture Book - Public Art Animation students at LYIT providing a Launch of Flight of the Earls demonstration of their co-producing skills Commemorations, Dublin June 2007 to Aideen Doherty and Terre Duffy on their - former Mayor John and former own international short animation with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern Donegal Public Art Programme: students in San Francisco. Polestar 10 Top Left; Annual Laurentic Commemoration and Wreath Ceremony Programme Above Left; Cover of Heritage Week Event Guide for County Donegal Top Right; Partholón themed Street Carnival – Ballyshannon 2007 Above Right; CDB cultural forum members at the Creative Connections Cultural Conference Donegal Film Office – the new and exciting Donegal Film Office website (www. donegalfilmoffice.ie) will be launched in the very near future.