Donegal people asked to share memories and photographs for Scotland exhibition

A UNIQUE opportunity is being offered to families and individuals from County Donegal who have a connection with Scotland.

Donegal County Council is working on a major exhibition to capture and celebrate the working experiences of Donegal people in Scotland between 1940 and 1990.

The council is seeking photographs, stories, and memories to include in this historic project, which will highlight the experiences of Donegal men and women who migrated for work.

As part of this initiative, staff from Donegal County Council will be hosting drop-in events in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, where the public can learn more about the forthcoming exhibition.

These sessions will give attendees the opportunity to have their photographs scanned and memories recorded.

The events are scheduled across two days. On Thursday, October 3, the first event will take place at the Scottish Football Museum, Hampden Park, Glasgow, from 10am to 2pm.

Later that day, a second event will be held at the Library within Glasgow City Chambers, from 4pm to 8pm, with access through 64 Cochrane Street after 5pm.

On Friday, October 4, the final event will occur at the Irish Consulate in Edinburgh, running from 12.30pm to 4.30pm.

A highlight of these events will be the attendance of Packie Bonner, former Celtic and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper and current Donegal Diaspora Ambassador.

His presence adds a special connection to both Donegal and Scotland, where many from the county found work over the decades.

Speaking about the significance of the project, Joseph Gallagher, Heritage Officer with Donegal County Council, emphasised that emigration has been a part of the Donegal story for many families.

“There are few families in County Donegal that have not been affected by emigration or participated in seasonal migration,” he said.

Scotland was a familiar destination, especially during the 1950s and 1960s, with many Donegal people finding employment in sectors like farming, shipbuilding, and domestic service.

Gallagher also noted the importance of capturing these stories before they fade from living memory: “With the passage of time, the opportunities to record first-hand accounts of the experiences of Donegal people working in Scotland are disappearing.

We’re keen to capture stories and images while we can and to celebrate the working lives of Donegal people in Scotland.”

The project, organised in partnership with the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies, will explore the various industries and roles Donegal men and women filled in Scotland.

From seasonal agricultural work to more permanent jobs in construction, factories, health services, and even religious life,
Donegal natives played a vital role in the Scottish workforce for decades.

The exhibition will launch in Spring 2025 at the Donegal County Museum in Letterkenny, with hopes of showcasing not only photographs but also documents, personal objects, and recorded stories.

Dr. Niamh Brennan, County Archivist, and other key figures from Donegal County Museum and the Mellon Centre will also be present at the drop-in events to engage with contributors.

Everyone is encouraged to come along to these sessions if they have material to share.

If you cannot attend but still wish to contribute photographs, documents, or other memories, you can contact the County Donegal Heritage Office at 074 916 3824 or email donegalscotland@donegalcoco.ie.

Donegal County Council also extended its thanks to the Irish Consulate and the Donegal Scottish Diaspora Group for their support.

This initiative is being part-funded by the Creative Ireland Programme and The Heritage Council as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.

“We want to hear from Donegal people who worked in Scotland, especially those who have a story to tell, photographs to share or documents and small objects to lend that could form part of this exhibition,” Joseph Gallagher added

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