Róise Collins delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
January 25, 1975
MAKE BETTER USE OF EXISTING SERVICES, COUNCIL TOLD
Limitations may be placed on housebuilding on the outskirts of Donegal’s towns and villages, and greater effort made to make better use of the building land within the town boundaries.
This would ensure that fuller use was made of the existing water, sewerage and other services within the town, and avoid spread of pipelines and other services to sprawling and scattered areas on the verges of the towns.
All of this would add up to more orderly, neater and tidier developments and to the avoidance of high cost services stretched through lands that are considerably underdeveloped in building.
People from rural areas may be encouraged to build new homes in existing towns or villages. This would ensure best use was made of the services provided and that towns and smaller villages would be strengthened.
These were some of the ideas put by the Planning Officer before Donegal County Council.
STORM AND FLOOD DAMAGE IN DONEGAL
Weather experts have stated that we had the mildest December for years in 1974. But it is doubtful if they will be able to say the same thing about January.
Already there have been a few very bad storms with a considerable amount of damage left behind. This January must have topped the list in record rainfall and stormy weather.
There has been severe flooding in Kilmacrennan, Creeslough and Dunfanaghy districts. Fields in many low lying areas were completely underwater while the rivers and streams were running high.
Farmers were out in the early hours of Wednesday morning moving animals to higher ground and in some cases, they were not all that successful.
In the Ballybofey area, where flooding is common enough, the locals were surprised just how much water has fallen over the past few days. Donegal’s best known soccer ground, Finn Park, was almost completely submerged.
INQUEST ON VICTOMS OF BURTONPORT TRAGEDY
An inquest was held in Dungloe on Wednesday on the bodies of two of the six fishermen from Burtonport lost in the tragedy off Raithlin O’Birne Island, when the ill-fated trawler, ‘Evelyn Marie’ was shattered on the rocks. They were John Patrick O’Donnell, married, of Roshine, Burtonport and Roland Patrick Faughnan, married, of Burtonport.
Charles Gallagher of Keadue, Burtonport, a member of the crew of the ‘Jemaleen’ which took part in the search of the sea after the tragedy, said in evidence that at about 9.30am on January 9, he saw an object in the water about 100 yards away, and when they went to check he saw it was a lifejacket with a body attached.
Assisted by crew members, Stephen McGonagle and James O’Donnell, he took the body on board. He recognised it as that of John O’Donnell, a member of the crew of the ‘Evelyn Marie’.
Frankie Browne and Charlie Shiels enjoying the craic in the kitchen at their school reunion.
January 28, 2000
AFTER ELEVEN OPERATIONS KAREN HAS DREAMS OF TRIP TO DISNEYLAND
Plans are being made to help send a thirteen-year-old Letterkenny girl, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1992, a dream trip to Disneyworld.
Karen Cullen of Fernhill has undergone extensive treatment, including a total of eleven operations (four since last October), since her diagnosis but despite her ordeal she remains a cheerful teenager with a great zest for life.
The daughter of Austin and Josephine Cullen, Karen is the youngest in a family of three. She has a sister Claire (14) and brother Graham (15).
Karen and her family have suffered seven years of hardship and pain. Her dream is to go to Disneyworld and friends of the family have rallied around to help bring her wish to reality.
Well-known local postman, John McLaughlin and Martin McGarrigle, who are in charge of the Letterkenny Rovers ladies soccer team and friends of Austin, are planning to hold a charity match to raise funds for the dream trip.
Redmond Herrity and his daughter Saoirse with his restored caravan. The year was 2009.
PORT ROAD LOCATION FOR MAJOR INDUSTRIAL BASE
A TWENTY acre site adjacent to St Eunan’s GAA Club grounds at Ballymacool has been identified as the new location for the multi-purpose sports hall and events centre for Letterkenny.
The centre was originally earmarked for development on a 35-acre site owned by Letterkenny Urban District Council at Port Road but Council officials are anxious to retain that property as part of the ongoing effort to attract jobs and investment to the town.
Representatives from a number of high profile multi-national companies have visited Letterkenny on fact finding missions in recent months and industry sources remain hopeful that the Port Road site will be transformed into a an industrial base, employing hundreds of local people, in the not too distant future.
EXTRA £4.6 MILLION FOR MAIN ROADS
Leading officials from Donegal County Council will hold talks in the coming weeks with representatives of the National Roads Authority following the announcement on Tuesday of a £17.3 million allocation for the improvement and maintenance of National Primary and National Secondary Roads this year.
The allocation is up by £4.6 million from last year and among the major projects provided for are: £7 million for Clar-Barnesmore; £1.4 million for the Donegal Town By-Pass; and £2.5 million for the Mountcharles By-Pass.
The allocation has been criticised by Deputy Dinny McGinley who said the North West of the county had been ignored.
“Apart from £215,000 for Crolly Bridge the rest is barren. Our hopes now rest entirely with the Department’s own allocation, due shortly, to finance improvements to the N56, the Back of Errigal, and many other roads leading into the North, West and South of the county,” he said.
If you have a photograph you would like published, send it to editor@donegalnews.com
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