Aoife Doherty delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.

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June 21, 1975

Circuit of Donegal starts today

THIS Friday afternoon, £500,000 worth of cars will set out from the Ballyraine Hotel, Letterkenny, on the first stages of the testing 600 and more miles of Donegal roads with their twists, turns, climbs and drops in the 1975 Circuit of Donegal rally.

All the hazards will demand top skills from the 150 cars taking part, which include last year’s winner, Cathal B. Curley from Co. Derry. He will lead out the long line of cars amid this afternoon’s excitement as the noise of the engines mixes with the comment and instructions as they set out on the first day of the rally.

With the prize fund bigger than ever, the expenses for running this major rally have jumped to more than £7,000. Only the continued support of sponsors allows the event to be continued. This year it is recognised as a qualifying round of the European Rally Championships and the Castrol Special Stage Championship.

The three-day event is more International than ever before. There are drivers from Finland, Germany, France, Poland and Britain. There are several from Northern Ireland and some from the Republic but it is strange that support from the South Is lower than would be expected, with drivers thinking Donegal “too remote.”

Big support and interest comes from cross- border and in addition to the thrills and excitement of the rally proper there are many special social activities arranged in Letterkenny by the organisers. The Donegal Motor Club whose enthusiastic members are behind this event, are doing everything possible to see to the smooth running of the event.

Cattle slump if vets strike continues

THERE will be a big slump in the cattle trade if the strike of vets lasts much longer. This was the comment of Mr. Jack McDougall, Ballindrait, at a meeting of Donegal I.F.A. in Raphoe.

Major N.F. Chance, Drumbarnett, said they had already acknowledged the good relations that existed between the farmers and the veterinary practitioners in the county. The situation today was that through the offices of their I.F.A. President, the situation had been created whereby the vets and Minister for Agriculture were to have discussions.

Major Chance said that in this atmosphere it would be terribly irresponsible of the vets if they did not return to work right away. “Our sole objective is to ensure that a rapid programme for disease eradication is evolved immediately,” he said.

The Chairman, Mr. C. Scott, said laymen appointed by the Department of Agriculture to take blood tests was not the answer. Mr. Phonsie Moore said laymen could operate under the supervision of vets.

Millions to improve phone services in Donegal

DONEGAL’S telecommunications were described as “disastrously bad” and highlighted as one of the primary services requiring urgent improvement, at a press conference in the Intercounty Hotel, Lifford, on Monday.

The Donegal Regional Development Organisation outlined its priority list of projects for development of the region, and of those that would satisfy the criteria for assistance from the E.E.C. Regional Development Fund.

It was stated that while the Department of P & T was preparing to spend £7.5 million in improving the phone services and introducing automatic dialling system over five or more years, it seemed probable there were insufficient trained personnel to carry out the work.

The Donegal Regional Development Organisation had recommended that staff be transferred into the region.

June 23, 2000

DPP withdraws charges against McBrearty and family in surprise twist to marathon case

AFTER 40 days and two and a half years, Raphoe nightclub owner Mr Frank McBrearty walked out of the district court in Donegal Town on Wednesday, cleared of over 150 charges brought against him by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Although consisting of relatively minor offences for breaches of the licensing laws, the case had become of national importance because of its central role in a major investigation into corruption in the garda force in Donegal.

Mr McBrearty had claimed that the charges amounted to harassment against him and his family as a result of unfounded suspicions of connections to the death of Richie Barron near Raphoe in 1996.

The Gardaí suspect that Mr Barron may have been murdered.

Outside the court a very pale and emotional Frank McBrearty said he was not surprised by the withdrawal by the DPP of the summons, but felt he was now vindicated.

He confirmed he would now proceed with a civil case in the High Court, “It will be a long time before I get over this, I am not feeling well and I have high blood pressure.

“I have spent two and a half years trying to prove my innocence and we are looking forward to the High Court.”

Asked what he felt about the Gardaí he replied: “I still have a lot of good friends in the Gardaí thank God. You have to see what happened to my family.

“It has been tough but I am a tough guy and I don’t give in easy,” Mr McBrearty added.

Mystery of the Mulroy Black Swan

WILDLIFE experts believe the black swan spotted on Mulroy Bay and Lough Fern near Milford in recent weeks may be from a private collection.

Mr Pat Vaughan, Head Wildlife Ranger at Glenveagh National Park, said it was extremely rare to see a black swan in these shores.

The swan is an Australian species and experts believe it would be impossible for the swan to make its way from Australia to Ireland.

“We feel it belongs to a private collection. I have seen a private collection of a pair of black swans in Wexford but there are also some others around the country. However, it is extremely rare to see a black swan in the wild,” he said.

“I have never seen one in the wild in Donegal. The bird has been seen in the Milford area and there is also a report of a sighting in Sligo,” Mr Vaughan added.

The wildlife services had not received any reports of a missing black swan from private collectors.

The black swan is about three-quarters of the size of the mute swans that are to be seen in many parts of Ireland.

Sister Siobhan on the path of Fame and Fortune

THE principal of Loreto Convent Secondary School in Letterkenny will seek Fame and Fortune tomorrow night (Saturday) when she represents the staff of the school on RTE’s National Lottery Game Show.

Sr Siobhan Ní Chuill will represent the school staff after a three star ticket posted by English teacher Mrs Duncan was chosen to appear.

Leaving Certificate pupils at the Loreto school bought the Fame and Fortune tickets for staff members as a thank you gift prior to their departure from the school.

Mrs Duncan got three stars, signed the ticket with Sr Siobhan’s name and posted it.

The next thing the National Lottery rang to say the ticket had been drawn to appear on tomorrow night’s show.

Once staff got over the initial surprise they then had to explain to the National Lottery people how it came about that the signature on the ticket was not that of Sr Siobhan.

“Eventually we explained the situation and I am now the legal holder of the ticket but, everyone is going to enjoy the celebrations,” Sr Siobhan said.

She was this week looking forward to going on the RTÉ Game Show and expected that Head and Deputy Head girls Feena McAteer and Catherine Mullen would cheer for her from the audience. Mrs Duncan however, cannot attend as she had a prior family engagement.

If Sr Siobhan wins a car the staff have already agreed they will donate it to the Donegal Hospice.

Whatever money she wins on the night will be shared among staff and a big Millennium celebration will be organised.

“The card was selflessly given by Mrs Duncan rather than keeping it for herself and in keeping with that great spirit of sharing, the winnings will be enjoyed by all,” Sr Siobhan added.