Róise Collins delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
December 20, 1975
FREIGHT CHARGES TO DONEGAL “ONLY” 50 PER CENT HIGHER
C.I.E.’s GENERAL MANAGER, Mr John J Byrne has replied to criticisms by Letterkenny Urban Council in which it has stated that C.I.E was giving Donegal a very raw deal and charging double for freight from Dublin to Donegal as compared with charges from Dublin to Cork.
Figures given by Mr Byrne – in which he claims the charges of actual forwarding are only 10 to 20 per cent higher for a more comprehensive service – in fact show that for anything of 10 cwts or more freight to Donegal is charged at a full 50 per cent higher.
Clearly this is a serious disincentive to trade and industry in Donegal. Another major factor frequently mentioned in Donegal business circles is the unreliability of the CIE services. Recently in the pre-Christmas rush for goods deliveries per CIE from Dublin have taken on occasions a full 17 days. Some others have run even longer than that.
Cheering on her team at a match in Letterkenny in 2008.
BROKEN BOTTLES LEFT AROUND GOALMOUTH AT DERRYBEG SOCCER PITCH
INCIDENTS of vandalism are not unknown in Gweedore, but on Sunday last a vicious twist was added to the usual pattern when some mindless people smashed glass bottles along the goalmouth of the soccer pitch at Parc Cait, Derrybeg.
The sandy surface of the park almost obscured the broken glass from sight and it was only through sheer good fortune that the pieces were detected by a sharp-eyed committee member.
During the week a spokesman for the Gweedore Football Club committee, Mr Fred Coll, told the Derry People and Donegal News that this incident was the fourth of its kind in recent years.
In the past, goalposts have been stolen, another set were broken into bits and there have been two incidents where people have taken in cars and driven around the pitch , tearing up the surface and making the park unplayable.
COMMUNITY CARE OFFICES TO GO TO BALLYBOFEY
THE rivalry between four Donegal towns for the sitting of the proposed new Community Care offices ended when the decision went to Ballybofey. With the present economic difficulties, members of the North Western Health Board decided to accept the very attractive offer of the Butt Hall committee to build offices and lease them to the Board.
The proposal for Ballybofey was made by Councillor Winston Patterson and seconded by Senator Bernard McGlinchey, and passed unanimously by the members.
This ends the speculation which began when the old Community Care offices in Lifford were burned down, and it was considered repair would be too costly. At the beginning Lifford and Letterkenny were chiefly considered, but later the claims of Ballybofey and Donegal Town were also pressed.
The Butt Hall Committee said the Report, was prepared to make a site available free ti the Board and if requested, to build offices and rent them to the Board. Outline planning permission had already been obtained.
Brian Gleeson, Toni Forrester, Anne Condon and Darragh O’Connor at the Letterkenny Chamber showcase event in the Wine Buff Letterkenny in 2008. Photo: Clive Wasson.
December 22, 2000
GARDA COMMISSIONER WILL NOT OPPOSE CORRUPTION INQUIRY
THE Garda Commissioner Mr Pat Byrne has admitted it has been a traumatic year for the force in Donegal but is confident the worst is now over.
Speaking in Letterkenny on what was described as a morale boosting trip, Commissioner Byrne said he would not stand in the way of any public inquiry into allegations of corruption levelled against certain gardaí in Donegal.
The commissioner told members of the media that he had to await the decision of the DPP in relation to the extensive Carty report arising from investigations into the murder of Raphoe cattle dealer Richard Barron in October 1996 and other matters.
He added that he would not be found “standing in the way” of whatever decision was taken by the Government following the DPP’s ruling.
He also dismissed suggestions that morale was low in the force following the biggest internal investigation of its kind in the history of the state into allegations of irregularities and corruption in the Garda Síochána.
OPERATIONS CANCELLED AT GENERAL HOSPITAL AS PRESSURE BUILDS FOR MAJOR EXTENSION
THE General Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital has confirmed that certain elective procedures have to be cancelled at the hospital due to the unavailability of medical beds.
Admitting that it was becoming “more difficult” to ensure that operations proceed as planned, Mr Chris Lyons this week stressed the importance of progressing Phase 3 Development in Letterkenny General Hospital at the earliest opportunity.
“In my opinion, and in the opinion of senior hospital personnel , moving forward on the Phase 3 Development is paramount if we are to develop the range of services at the hospital over the next number of years,” Mr Lyons said. “It is fair to say that some operations have had to be cancelled in the past because of space restrictions. There are not enough medical beds and it is getting more difficult,” he added.
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