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

August 2, 1975

Twenty-five contesting the coveted Mary from Dungloe title

AN original entry of 250 girls was reduced to 25 for the grand final of the 8th InternationalMary from Dungloe contest, which will be held in the Ostan, Dungloe, on Sunday night next.

At around midnight the judges, who include Ted Bonnar, Eamonn Hoy, Guinness and Carroll’s Regional Managers and their wives, will hand the list of the top three names to host Gay Byrne, and the new ‘Mary for 75’ will receive the official cloak, crown, the Emmet-Spicel and medallion of office, and a cheque for £300

The reigning Mary, Miss Mariable Lopez del Hayo, from Spain, will formally hand over to her successor at the Crowning Cabaret Show, featuring Niall Toibin.

Letterkenny to have biggest ever Folk Festival

THE Letterkenny International Folk Festival from Thursday, August 21 to Monday 25 will be the biggest and most ambitious event ever staged in the town.

It is an exciting and imaginative festival and Festival Director, Barney Doherty, and his various sub committees have been working in preparation for several months.

This year it looks like all their work will bring plenty of good results. There will be major Industrial, Farming and Carnival Parades, Band Parades, Irish Folk Evenings, International Folk Concerts, Ceili Dancing, Open Air Folk Dancing in various parts of the town.

There will be open air Band Recitals and Parades, displays of Arts and Crafts, Flower Show, Art Competition, Children’s Fancy Dress, Baby Show, Street Games, Pet Show, Clay Pigeon Shoot, Ulster Championship and Pub Singing competition.

For five crowded days, Letterkenny will take on a truly magical atmosphere. Hotels and guest houses will be booked out. Already, there are more than 360 booked in for the festival and all aim to see and enjoy as much of this many-sided five-day show as they possibly can.

Letterkenny whacked by Kilcar

ST. EUNANS 1-6 KILCAR 4-14

“I never saw Letterkenny so bad” said one Gaoth Dobhair football follower as he watched St. Eunan’s take a second half hammering from Kilcar in a Division One League game, preliminary to the Gaoth Dobhair v Na Piarsaigh Championship game at O’Donnell Park.

And no doubt Letterkenny did give a miserable performance not altogether explained by the absence of so many of their first choice men. They turned over level at 1-6 each but as in the Championship, St. Eunan’s had no staying power. They simply faded before the growing drive of Kilcar, who must have benefited from this game.

First half, the winners overplayed the ball and gave that pass too many to destroy too many forward moves.

They failed to capitalise on having a six foot man at full forward and fiddled with the ball outfield. Indeed, by half-time there was no indication that Kilcar would win so easily.

Letterkenny seemed able to do very little about it and had to take one of the heaviest defeats they have experienced in some years.

It might have been thought St. Eunan’s had a big reservoir of young talent waiting to step into senior boots after their string of Under-18 successes in recent seasons, but so far there has been absolutely no confirmation of this.

In fact, from recent showings they seem to have said farewell to any chance of retaining their League Championship Cup.

August 4, 2000

Daniel serves up over 5,000 cups of tea for thirsty fans

SINGER Daniel O’Donnell served over 5,000 cups of tea yesterday to fans from all over the world who turned up at his open day In Kincasslagh.

Over 40 coaches from Britain arrived in Donegal for the event, the first to be held in three years after overcrowding forced the singer to abandon the annual event. Many more fans were in the county since Monday for his three concerts as part of the Mary from Dungloe International Festival.

The tea party started by accident several years ago when Daniel jokingly invited the fans at a Dungloe concert to his house for a cup of tea. Thousands turned up the following morning.

Tea and biscuits were served from 12 noon until late in the evening yesterday with mum Julia and sister Margo helping out. Daniel spent the day being photographed and signing autographs – even in the rain.

Any money raised on the day goes to his Romanian orphanage appeal, and there are no memorabilia or records to be bought.

Fans from all over the world queued since early morning while several dozen camped overnight in the nearby fields.

Dedicated fan, Iris Treanor, 62, from Brisbane, Australia travelled 6,000 miles to meet her idol at his home.

Although she has been a fan for 13 years, this is the first time she’s attended the open day and enjoyed tea with him.

“I remember as I was listening to a song of his one day I could feel the hair standing on the back of my neck. This lad was really something and I knew he would make it big not alone in Ireland but all over the world.” she said.

Downings beach guard to rescue

TWO young girls were rescued from the water at Downings beach on Wednesday, thanks to the quick action of a lifeguard stationed there. The two girls got into difficulty while playing in the water around 2pm.

A member of the public alerted Gardaí when they realised the girls were in danger and the Gardaí contacted Malin Head Coastguard Station. The Mulroy Coastguard Unit and the Air Corps helicopter, which was on exercise nearby, were also alerted.

Before either of the rescue teams reached the girls, the beach lifeguard had brought them to safety.

Car comes to rest in centre of roundabout

A MOTORIST had a lucky escape when the car she was driving mounted a roundabout on the outskirts of Letterkenny in the early hours of last Saturday morning.

The car left the main road and mounted the Dry Arch roundabout before finally coming to a halt on its side beside the wall of a new monument that is being built in the centre of the roundabout.

A Garda spokesperson said the driver was not injured.