Róise Collins delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
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JANUARY 18, 1975 – 50 years ago
ROUGH SEAS HALT SEARCH FOR MISSING FOUR
THE heavy gale force winds which have lashed the coast line since the middle of last week forced the abandonment of the search for the missing four victims of the Burtonport fishing tragedy.
Divers and fishing boats were forced ashore on Sunday and Monday, and were unable to continue the search due to the treacherous sea conditions. However, many people took up vantage points along the coast to keep a look out for bodies that might be washed in, as items of wreckage were being washed up as far as ten miles away from the scene of the disaster.
Many donations are coming in from all over the country, and Six-County Fishermen have opened a fund for dependents of the Disaster victims.
This is the first time this type of aid has come from the Northern Fisherman Association. A fund has also been opened in Glasgow.
Tanáiste Mary Coughlan, TD with SITA management and guests after unveiling a plaque to mark the official opening of SITA in Letterkenny. The year was 2009.
LATER WINTER ARRIVES WITH STORMS, FLOODS AND SNOW
IN the heavy storms that have struck the country since the weekend, the cold hand of winter has wiped away the remarkably unseasonably mild weather that had seen Donegal almost totally without frost or snow all through winter.
On Sunday night storms raged, and amid thunder and lightning there were tremendous downpourings of rain.
The fierce wind tore at houses and toppled trees in many parts. The heavy rain flooded already saturated fields and even to the roadside in many places there were long tracts of water. Some roads were flooded and motorists had to move through with caution.
In Ballybofey the level of the River Finn rose on Tuesday night to ominous heights. Residents in the danger area of the town stood by in fear as they once more prepared to evacuate their homes. Another stark reminder of the urgency of pressing ahead with all speed the drainage scheme along the river – and due to begin shortly.
LETTERKENNY COUNCIL CALL ON I.R.A TO PROLONG TRUCE
Letterkenny Urban Council unanimously supported a proposal by Cllr. Anthony Halpin at their monthly meeting, calling on the I.R.A. to prolong their truce.
Cllr Halpin said he hoped there would be three effects from this. Internment could be very speedily ended and thus a desire of the Council of some months ago would be met. Their own government on this side of the Border should give some leadership in the developing situation rather than remain inactive as they were shown to be in other areas. And he hoped that the gun would be phased out of Northern politics for good.
Cllr Halpin said there should be an aggiornamento of all Republicans and this would take time to have effect. He said that the four church men who met the I.R.A. in Feakle had done a great service to the country and they must hope that those for whom they spoke would not let their courageous initiative go unrewarded.
Letterkenny Tennis Club winners of the Mixed League competition back in 2009.
January 21, 2000 – 25 years ago
£2 MILLION ‘MYRTLE MAUD’ ARRIVES IN ARRANMORE
Arranmore Island’s new £2 million Severn Class lifeboat arrived at her port yesterday amid a flotilla of local boats, a fanfare from the island’s pipe band and cheers from a large crowd of local people.
Coxswain Anton Kavanagh with five crew members skippered the new 17 metre state-of-the-art lifeboat from the Royal National Institution Head Quarters in Poole in the South of England to her new berth at the island.
Ms Nora Flanagan a member of the Arranmore RNLI team expressed her delight at the arrival of the new craft, which is named ‘Myrtle Maud’.
The Severn Class lifeboat with the top speed of 25 knots and with a range of 250 nautical miles will be in a position to travel greater distances than the Tyne Class boat formerly stationed at the island. It will also be able to get closer to shore in non-pier situations with the assistance of an on board inflatable.
MEAT WORKERS EXPRESS FURY AT FARMERS
SIPTU representatives for the 200 workers in Donegal Meat Processors yesterday made a formal request to management seeking wages for days lost as a result of the farmer pickets at the plant. Union leaders indicated they would ballot members on strike action today if their members did not receive full payment of the wages sought.
Manager of Donegal Meats, Mr Brian Gribben confirmed that he expected a meeting would take place to discuss the issue of pay but would not elaborate further.
The workers were laid off after the company lost, for the present, a major contract with a Dutch supermarket chain because it could not guarantee supply.
Mr Gribben added that he was optimistic an agreement would be reached between the farmers and the processors on the price paid for cattle.
As many as fifty farmers were picketing outside the Carrigans plant after marathon talks between both sides failed to reach an agreement after 14 hours of negotiations in Dublin.
ANGER FOLLOWS MALONEY’S DEFECTION TO FINE GAEL
Two political organisations in Donegal North East were in upheaval this week following the unexpected decision by Letterkenny-based Councillor Sean Maloney to defect from Labour to Fine Gael.
Cllr Maloney will be hoping to secure a nomination to contest the next general election, when Fine Gael holds its selection convention which is expected to take place in March.
While some leading Fine Gael figures in the county have welcomed the defection as part of their attempts to regain the seat lost in the last general election, disillusioned party followers at grassroots level will hold a number of meetings in the coming weeks to discuss the implications of the move.
Local party activists have hit out at the way the move was handled by senior party figures at national and constituency executive level and are angry at the lack of consultation with them.
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