Ava Maguire delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
April 26, 1976
BURST MILFORD SEWER A DANGER TO HEALTH, SAYS COUNCILLOR
A sewer serving the National Building Agency houses at Milford has burst and is leaking into a playing field, creating a serious health hazard that demands the most urgent attention. Although the County Council have been made aware of the problem for the past five weeks they have taken no action to remedy the position.
Clllr Willie McClafferty has hit out strongly at the situation that is permitted to continue, and charges that this sort of attitude will have to change when such a serious matter is brought to their notice.
Many of the children in the area have been close to the discharge from the sewer, and Clr. McClafferty sees it as a growing health hazard demanding the most immediate attention. Parents are extremely angry that no progress has been made in putting the sewer right. And tenants on the housing estate are now said to be considering withholding payment of rents unless action is taken.
John Foley and Mark English, St. Eunan’s College, who won gold in the Intermediate 1500m and 800m, respectively, at the Ulster Schools Track and Field championships in 2006.
NO BIRTHS IN MANOR OR CHURCHILL FOR FIVE YEARS
Statistics issued recently by the North Western Health Board in their pamphlet concerning the reorganisation of the Registration of Births , Marriages and Deaths throws out some very interesting facts regarding the traits and characteristics of the Donegal population.
For instance, in the five year period between 1966-1971 not a single birth was registered in either the Manorcunningham area or Churchill districts in fact the latter townland seems to have suffered badly in that five year period. Its population decreased by 66, while there was an average population of only seventeen persons per square mile. The persons per square mile. The total area is 60,051 statute acres. Of the five areas mentioned, the Letterkenny district was the one which had the most significant increase. The overall population increased by 794.
While there was a massive 1,336 registered births. However, Letterkenny wasn’t tops in the marriage registrations. Killea were top of the charts in the “tieing of the knot” stakes with a registered 53 marriages as opposed to Kilderry’s 28 and Letterkenny’s 23.
The North Western Health Board’s aim in the long term is to amalgamate Churchill, Letterkenny and Manorcunningham to form one unit with a registration centre at Letterkenny. It is hoped to have this centre work the normal five day week with the usual office hours.
PIONEER COUNCIL CONDEMNS LATE OPENING HOURS
At the Annual General Meeting of the Donegal Regional Committee of Pioneers, held in Loreto Convent, Letterkenny there was strong criticism of the way the law was willing to give extended licensing hours to publicans. Members expressed fears that such facilities would encourage teenage drinking and would further rocket our already massive spending on alcohol.
There was a very lively discussion on the actual topic of teenage drinking in Irish Society. Sr Aloysia of Loreto Convent Milford said that instead of condemning our young people, we should channel their energies in a constructive way.
Fr. Denis McGettigan said that he felt there was still an audience for the spiritual approach of self denial. Pioneers should make it clear that they enjoyed life as pioneers. The portrayal of a pioneer suffering the pangs of denial were not helping the organisation any.
Maura Tighe and John O’Connor, winners of a Mixed Doubles tournament at Letterkenny Tennis Club in 2009.
April 27, 2001
COUNCIL HOUSE PLAN FOR LETTERKENNY AREA REVEALED
Donegal County Council plans to buy 69 houses in the Long Lane area of Letterkenny from a property developer in a multi million pounds deal, it emerged yesterday (Thursday).
It is the largest such purchase scheme of its kind undertaken by the local authority in efforts to cut chronic housing waiting lists.
The houses are under construction and will be a mix of three and four bedroom semi-detached dwellings in a single private-type development.
A spokesman for Donegal County Council said the deal was at an advanced stage; The area is already the most heavily populated in Letterkenny and two developments are at an advanced stage.
He would not release the name of the developer involved but it is known he is Letterkenny-based with a number of other significant business interests in the town. The spokesman also confirmed that the local authority was actively following up a number of similar purchase schemes with developers in Letterkenny and other parts of the county. These include plans to buy houses from property developers in private developments.
The purchase scheme is different from the turnkey development initiative first introduced by the Council over two years ago in that the Council is not involved in the early stages of planning and design with the developer.
According to the latest figures released in the National Housing Statistics Bulletin the average cost of a new local authority house is £95,672. The increasing cost of land has forced the local authority to further expand its links with private developers.
Johnny and Christine Boyle and Glynn Hughes at an exhibition at the Glebe Gallery.
DONEGAL CREAMERIES TO MOVE OATFIELD SWEETS OUT OF LETTERKENNY
Oatfield Sweets is to vacate its central Letterkenny location at Ramelton Road and relocate to an existing out of town facility, it has emerged.
Confirming that the company is an advanced stage of negotiations to purchase an out-of-town premises and transfer the Oatfield operation, Mr. John Keon, MAnaging Director, Donegal Creameries plc said that the move would lead to a more streamlined and efficient production operation.
Details of plans to relocate Oatfield Sweets were outlined in the latest Donegal Creameries report which was published this week. The capital costs of the proposed move, including purchase and moving costs, is estimated £2 million, excluding any proceeds receivable from the sale of the current facility in Letterkenny. The present site of Oatfield at the junction of De Valera and Ramelton Road would realise millions if sold. Donegal Creameries already sold a site across the road which it acquired with Oatfield for in the region of £800,000.
When contracted yesterday (Thursday) Mr Keon would not be drawn on the whereabouts of the new location but he did indicate that the move could lead to the creation of additional jobs at Oatfield. He also declined to comment on when the move would occur.
Oatfield employs 95 workers and manufactures up to 65 tonnes of sugar, chocolate and confectionery each week for the home and export markets. The main production lines are Emeralds, Toffees and Eclairs.
LOCAL MARTS RE-OPEN AS ‘ASSEMBLY POINTS’
As foot and mouth restrictions ease, four marts have been designated as official assembly points for the collection of cattle and sheep being transported for slaughter, Raphoe, Ballybofey/Stranolar, Inishowen (Carndonagh) and Milford marts.
Strict controls are in operation at each of the assembly points to which farmers must obtain a movement permit and mart movement number before transporting animals to the mart, which are then transported on lorries to slaughter plants throughout the country.
All trailers and vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected inside and out, before leaving the mart.
George O’Hagan, Donegal IFA Chairman welcomed the concessions on movement of animals to the slaughter.
“The concessions are very important, especially to the ordinary farmer in Donegal who is in many ways very secluded and could be up to 160 fails from a slaughter plant.”
The Way We Were column features every Thursday in the Donegal News. If you have a photograph you would like published, send it to [email protected]