Lucas MacDonald delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
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Saturday, March 15, 1975
Farmers oppose Gweedore airstrip
“We are holding on to our grazing lands and will continue our traditional type of farming. We will revisit eviction at all costs. We will not be willingly squeezed out” says a statement from small farmers at Magheragallon, Gweedore who are opposed to giving up their lands to facilitate the setting up of an airstrip in the area.
They say that Gaeltarra continues to discuss the establishment of the airstrip on their lands, although the farmers had indicated they were opposed to the proposition.
They have sent this “hands off” message to Gaeltarra, to make it quite clear to them that they are not going to be easily brushed aside.
It is believed that Gaeltarra have firm plans ready for the establishment of the airstrip at Gweedore, and had been intending to begin work at the laying out the landing areas very shortly.
Industrialists on the Derrybeg Industrial Estate have been pressing for an airstrip that would enable small passenger planes to bring busy executives on visits to the factories or bring technicians speedily when necessity demanded it.
Brid Ronaghan, Margaret Price, Eileen Sweeney and Teresa McGonigle at the Letterkenny Tidy Estate Awards and 2008 Entent Florale Europe Information evening.
Serving drink to young people “a scandal”
The tendency of some publicans to serve drink to young people was a scandal which should be stopped, and some means should be devised to penalise defaulters by a suspension of their licence. Teenagers were in a very vulnerable position, and great care had to be exercised to ensure that they did not develop the habit of drinking.
This was stated by Rev. Fr. Mark, OFM Cap., who delivered the sermon at the concelebrated Mass in St. Eunan’s Cathedral to mark the opening of the weekend Temperance project by the students in Letterkenny.
Dr. McBride, St Conal’s Hospital, said the report to the Minister for Health by the Irish Council on Alcoholism showed that of one million drinkers from fifty to sixty thousand were alcoholics. As regards total spending on drink, he said last year it had risen to an all-time high of £208 million.
Widespread Condemnation of Attack on Fishing Fleet
Throughout the week there was widespread condemnation in the country of the attack on the Greencastle fishing fleet last week-end and much praise for the Gardai, whose speedy action averted what could have been a major disaster. At a special meeting of Donegal County council in Killybegs, a motion congratulating the Gardai was unanimously adopted and senator P. McGowan said a message of congratulations should also be sent to the members of the firebrigades who were called to the scene. At a meeting of the Vocational Education committee, Mr. A. Diver, Co. Council, referred to “the ridiculous claims” of the U.D.A., and said he was living in the area and could deny that there was any involvement by these boats in arms smuggling. If they had found arms let them produce them, he said.
And at Letterkenny Urban Council, Cllr. Patsy O’Donnell said it was most reprehensible to carry out such an action against unfortunate men who had an arduous task in trying to earn a living. All should condemn such actions in the strongest possible terms, he said.
Jack and Paul Friel, Castlefin check out the goods at Tinney’s open day. The year was 2010.
Friday, March 17, 2000
First Female Town Engineer for Letterkenny
Ms Claire McGeever has been appointed as the new Town Engineer for Letterkenny. Formerly Sanitary Services engineer for the Glenties Electoral Area, Ms McGeever was introduced to members at the March meeting of the Council on Monday night. She replaces Mr David Hall who recently took up a promotion within the services of Donegal County Council.
Drug unit arrest ten in Letterkenny swoop
Uniformed and plain clothed Gardai arrested ten people in an organised drugs surveillance operation in Letterkenny on Saturday night last.
More than 100 ecstasy tablets, a quantity of cannabis resin and a large sum of money were confiscated as part of what gardai have described as their “ongoing battle against drugs”
A senior Garda spokesman confirmed that all of those arrested for offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act had addresses in Northern Ireland.
Three people were arrested for dealing offences, two of whom were later charged, one person was arrested on an obstruction charge under the Act while six people were arrested for possession offences.
All were later charged at Letterkenny garda station before being released on bail to appear before Letterkenny District Court on Thursday, April 6.
Last weekend’s operation was the first major operation undertaken by the new Garda Drugs Unit which was established in Letterkenny last month as part of the ongoing battle against the supply and use of illegal drugs in the county.
Former Donegal and Ulster full-back Bernard Brady, Honorary Counsel to the State of Nevada, welcoming Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher to his office in Reno during his recent visit to the US. The year was 2008.
Private developers to assist in tackling housing crisis
Donegal County Council is to develop further links with private developers in an all out effort to meet its target of providing 1,110 local authority houses in the next four years.
A senior official with the Council has this week confirmed that at least six hundred local authority houses, in twenty four areas across Donegal, are to be built in a partnership arrangement with private developers known as “turnkey developments”.
The figure could be a lot higher depending on the success of the scheme in the coming years. The four year plan forms part of the government’s strategy to provide 22,000 local authority houses across the country from 2000 to 2003.
The increasing cost of land in many areas of the county has forced the local authority to further expand the pilot scheme with private developers that was first introduced to Donegal over two years ago.
There are over 2,500 people on local authority waiting lists in Donegal.
“We are being asked to increase our housing output at a time when there is a boom in the private sector. Rather than competing with the private sector for land and house purchase we are further developing the partnership approach to meet our needs,” Mr Peadar McRory said.
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