Lauren Wall delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
October 2, 1976
A memorable weekend as Donegal Glasgow folk return to the Rosses
Over 100 members of the Rosses Association in Glasgow showed their continuing deep-interest and love for the district of their birth when they spend a few days back home.
The weekend was a memorable one with Dungloe hospitality taking a special pride in the return of some of their own people who for generations have had to seek their livelihoods abroad.
On Sunday night before an attendance of more than 300, Very Rev. Cathal Canon O’Ceallachain, PP, VF Dungloe, who was guest of honour at dinner in Ostan na Rossan, underlined the deep love inherent among Rosses exiles for their homeland.
He said there were many examples of the way in which this great love had passed from one generation to another, being somehow preserved and sustained through the lonely years and long savannahs of separation.
From Arizona to Ardara
A TYRONE-BORN priest, Fr Bernard Colton who has been ministering in Arizona for 25 years is back in Ireland for a sabbatical year which will take the form of a curacy in Kilclooney in the Diocese of Raphoe.
Fr Colton who ministered in several parishes in the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, and in the Diocese of Phoenix which was formed, as to part, out of Tucson Diocese, had served as administrator at the Cathedral in Phoenix.
Son of the late Owen and Rose Colton of Clanabogan, Omagh, he received his early education at Tattysallagh PS and then entered St. Columb’s College, Derry, where on completion of his course, he proceeded to St. Patrick’s Seminary, Carlow, to study for the priesthood.
He was ordained on June 4, 1950 in the Sacred Heart Church, Omagh, for the Diocese of Tucson, the first occasion on which an ordination ceremony was held there. The ordaining prelate was the then Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Neil Farren, now retired.
Immediately after his ordination Fr Colton left for Arizona, a State, in which about one-quarter of the population is Catholic, the main ethnic groups in the Church there being Mexican, Irish and Italians.
On a visit to his native Omagh, Fr Colton said there were 35 priests in Phoenix Diocese and two communities of nuns and he thoroughly enjoyed his priestly duties in the diocese.
He is looking forward very much to his association with the Diocese of Raphoe and he told our reporter that he was enthralled by the scenic beauty of the whole Ardara and south-west area of Tir Chonaill.
Big interest in winter athletics fixture list
Donegal will field a surprising line-out for their Injured Players Fund game against Ulster champions Derry in Fintragh Park, Killybegs on Sunday.
The selectors are clearly experimenting in their search for talent to fill the several vacancies that will have to be filled for their forthcoming National League campaign.
The long-time injured Michael Carr is back on the side again, but this time as a half-back. Even though the heavy grounds will demand strength, strong defenders like Christy McCafferty, Termon and Brendan Martin, Four Masters are still denied even a trial run. Welcome is the inclusion of Michael Houston of Glenfin.
This is quite a testing game as the counties meet in next summer’s Ulster Senior Championship.
The aim of the game is to build up some funds for inter-county players injured in the very early stages of the year in a car accident.
The support from colleagues and the public generally has previously been deplorable. But hopes are high that there will be a big turnout in Killybegs on Sunday.
Donegal team: Noel McCole, Michael Houston, Martin Griffin, Andy Curran; Francis Carroll, Michael Oliver McIntyre, Michael Carr; Seamus Bonnar, Sean P McGinley; Sean Mulligan, Michael Lafferty, Eugene Sharkey; Kieran Keeney, Jim Clarke, Hugh McClafferty.
Subs: John McGeehan, Donal Monaghan, Pat Boyle, Michael O’Donnell, Michael T O’Donnell, John Curran, Danny Mailey, D Mullen (Killybegs), F McDonnell.
September 28, 2001
Institute of Technology gets ready to celebrate 30th anniversary
LETTERKENNY Institute of Technology will celebrate 30 years of providing third level education in the North West next month with a ground breaking conference to launch the anniversary celebrations.
The conference and series of seminars scheduled to take place between October 7 and October 9 is a reflection of how the institute has now become part of the socio-economic life of the region.
The occasion will also be used to launch a five year strategic plan for the college which has been the subject of widespread consultation.
Plans for the three days of anniversary events were outlined this week by Director, Paul Hannigan and Head of Development at LYIT, Jack O’Herlihy.
“The institute is now an important part of the local community, contributing some £20 million to the local economy with 200 staff and almost 2,000 students,” Mr Hannigan said.
The three day conference entitled “Getting best value from public expenditure” will look at the question of who decides how public money should be spent and whether or not best results for peripheral regions such as Donegal is achieved.
Major community facility for Castlefin gets go ahead
COMMUNITY, business and leisure facilities in Castlefin received a €250,000 boost from the International Fund for Ireland last week.
The funding will allow the Castlefin Partnership to continue construction on their new day care centre with rooms, bringing to fruition 20 years of planning.
This first phase of this €2 million development programme will include occupation units for budding entrepreneurs, community day care centre, crèche facilities and first phase in the development of an outdoor sports and leisure facility.
Speaking this week former secretary of the partnership, Mr Thomas McEntee explained how the proposed development was so scarce in the making.
The Chairman of the Partnership is Mr Sean McEntee and the current secretary is Mr Michael Gamble.
“We initially acquired the seven-acre site at Milburn from the Derry Diocesan Society.
The Partnership was formed two years ago as a limited company grew out of the original development association we had in the area.
“The development association spent the last 20 years filling in the site with the help of local contributions and we are now ready to start construction,” Mr McEntee said.
Arrival of gas expected to change face of local economy
THE extension of a gas pipeline from Derry to Donegal is expected to bring many benefits to the county.
Making gas available will create a more level playing field in terms of addressing infrastructure deficits with other regions; it should provide a cost effective source of fuel and promote inward investment and assist established companies.
Mr Jack O’Herlihy, President of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, acknowledged that the development of the pipeline and new power station were vital to the area’s economic success.
Vice Chairman of the North West Chamber of Commerce Initiative, the cross-border private sector body that campaigns on behalf of the business community, Mr O’Herlihy explained that the lack of reliable energy in Donegal had been a significant deterrent to the development of the economy.
“The new power station means that costs should come down and it will make businesses in the North West more competitive and the region more attractive to potential investors,” he said.
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A Swilly Seals swimming team which took part in the Ulster Area Finals in Derry.
