A DONEGAL man known for his metalwork creations made from used horseshoes has unveiled his latest piece – the Irish Harp. William McCracken is a welder and fabricator from Ardagh, St Johnston who recently made headlines after completing a Covid-19 inspired Celtic Cross. All of his work is made from used horseshoes. He says his […]
‘Very close to tipping point for many small businesses’
STRUGGLING businesses ‘may simply not be there’ when the economy reopens unless further support is given, a Letterkenny accountant has warned. Mr Cathal Roarty, owner of Farren Roarty Accountants, said that many small businesses across Donegal are ‘hanging on for dear life’. While the Covid-19 pandemic is causing a nationwide economic slowdown, it has hit […]
Donegal is well suited for cycling holidays
MARTIN Birney has spent the past few months exploring the highways and byways of Donegal on a bicycle. A qualified cycling coach, Martin (65) has been putting together cycling holidays in Mallorca, France and Italy for more than twenty years through his company, SportActive. At this time of year, the Ramelton native would usually be […]
Swings and roundabouts for George at the Mountain Top
DON’T try and climb the ladder and break the rungs behind you so nobody else can get up. Reach out your hand and always offer a helping hand.” The advice comes from well-known Letterkenny businessman George Boal when asked about the secret to his success. A few days have passed since Mr Boal (82) learned […]
‘I couldn’t get it right when I was dancing’
IN March 2017, Charlie Boyle received news that almost nothing can prepare you for – he was told that he had motor neurone disease (MND). It kills a third of those who have it within a year, rising to a half by the end of year two, with no known cure. MND is often referred […]
Donegal woman has key role in bringing jobs to Ireland
THE director of IDA Ireland, the government inward investment agency for the Australian and New Zealand market, is Letterkenny woman Kathryn O’Shea. The eldest daughter of Aidan O’Shea and Janet Gaynor, Kathryn first moved to Sydney in 2012 to complete a masters degree. When she saw a vacancy to work in the IDA office in […]
What happened the Creeslough man who left school early?
THE founder of an Irish pharmaceutical services company, which has begun trials on a new Covid-19 nasal spray vaccine is Donegal man Cathal Friel. Mr Friel (57) from Creeslough was a finalist in the International category as part of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020. He left school after his Junior Cert to work […]
‘It’s not champagne we’re selling here’
A Donegal businessman has expressed his dismay after been hit with high post-Brexit charges on goods bound for Glasgow. Since the start of the year consumers have been asked to pay up to one-third extra in customs duties, VAT and additional delivery charges once they arrive in the UK. “It’s unsustainable and the price will […]
Walk in memory of Mary Ellen raises €33,000
THE ‘Walk with M.E.’ fund-raising event for Downstrands Family Resource Centre and the Kevin Bell repatriation trust on St Stephen’s Day has raised €33,215. The ‘Walk with M.E’ event was organised by Ardara man John Ross Molloy who lost his older sister Mary Ellen in a horrific car accident in Australia just a few days […]
Used over 400 horseshoes for magnificent cross
A NINE foot tall Celtic Cross sculpture made out of horse shoes has been attracting admiring glances in recent days. The artwork has been created by William McCracken in his shed at the rear of his home in Ardagh, St Johnston. Advertisement A welder and fabricator with Fleming Engineering in Derry, William stumbled upon […]