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

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September 6, 1975

50 per cent bus fares increase shocks Donegal

WEST DONEGAL has been shocked by the 50 per cent increase in bus fares introduced from Monday by the Swilly Bus Company.

Now a one way trip from Letterkenny to Bunbeg will cost approximately £2.80; to Annagry £3; to Dunfanaghy £1.50; to Falcarragh £1.90; to Milford 72p; to Ramelton 54p; to Tamney £1.44; and a Letterkenny to Derry trip would cost around £1.35 one way with a return trip at around £2.20.

The shock has been largely due to the fact that the Swilly Company were noted for their fares being usually so much below those of C.I.E. But through Government action QE fares have recently been reduced.

Few anticipated the Swilly Co. would have upped their charges- particularly by as much as 50 per cent.

Donegal’s sunshine summer but doubts about tourism’s future

THERE have been mixed reactions among hoteliers as to the success of the 1975 tourist season.

They can look back on the summer as the brightest, sunniest and driest summer for many years.

Donegal saw very little rain since way back in June but the beaches remained almost deserted. The holidaymakers did not arrive.

This perplexed those in the holiday business who had hoped for a boom time if the weather held.

The Northern Ireland situation had then eased- the troubles there had been a vital factor in severely crippling Donegal’s tourism business.

But there are mixed reactions to the 1975 season. From Bundoran the reports are of a boom summer. The top seaside holiday centre had a really great year after some lean ones. The visitors have been pouring into the town and there are bright smiles among shopkeepers and many caterers.

In other parts of Donegal there were feelings that the holiday rush was too slow in coming and that the rush time was much too short- certainly too short to compensate for maintenance of a hotel the year round.

Other centres spoke of a very sizeable and welcome boost to business.

Some said that costs had risen so much that the short season made it very difficult to break even and said it was now a constant struggle to balance the books.

Others forecast a reduction in standards unless there was an upturn of business.

The areas that fared generally better this season are well pleased but the forecast is that there will be little new investment in the hotel business especially in Donegal in the immediate future. In fact it is believed that several hoteliers would sell out if they could find a good purchaser.

Will Letterkenny Folk Festival continue?

WILL the big Letterkenny International Folk Festival continue? This is the question being asked by many who had been so conscious of the very high costs of running this year’s event.

After the cross-border troubles had caused cancellations of some visiting dance groups in more recent years they had to budget for acceptance of more than the usual number of foreign dancers. And this has meant that the most recent estimate of the cost is placed at almost £14,000.

There has been praise everywhere for Festival Director Barney Doherty and his committee who have shown such courage in shouldering such a heavy responsibility. But people have wondered as to whether they were now undertaking something that had grown too big.

Mr. Doherty says that the outside sponsorship for the festival totals £2,000 and this leaves them with the responsibility of raising almost £12,000 locally.

“This is a really massive figure and the future of the Folk Festival is in doubt. But if the people of Letterkenny want another Festival next year there is no reason why we cannot have one.” He and his committee are ready and willing to face the task again. But to help them meet their expenses, they appeal to the townspeople to lend their help.

He says “I would on behalf of the committee appeal to the ordinary working man and woman of the town to contribute something to the Festival funds. His 50p is just as precious as a big cheque from one of the business houses.”

And Mr. Doherty is confident that they will receive the support of the town. They want to continue with the Festival that has meant much in awakening a good community spirit in Letterkenny. It has become something special of which the town can be proud of.

September 8, 2000

New chapter begins for education in Letterkenny

THERE was a palpable sense of excitement among the teachers of Letterkenny’s new all Irish secondary school this week as they commenced classes at LYIT on Monday.

Gael Coláiste Letterkenny is the first new second level Irish school to open outside a Gaeltacht area north of Dublin and its opening brought to fruition a four-year campaign in the town.

Principal Michael Gibbons was delighted with the first year intake of 15 female and ten male pupils.

This first year class will be able to choose from a range of 18 subjects and a wide variety of sporting facilities.

Pressure mounted on the newly appointed principal last week as the starting date arrived with still unresolved planning matters at the school’s new premises at Sprackburn House. But Mr Gibbons expressed his appreciation to the Director of LYIT, Mr Paul Hannigan for coming to the rescue in the interim with two rooms at the Institute.

Sprackburn House will be ready in a few weeks and the 25 pupils and their six teachers will then move to their permanent premises.

Marie is one of the world’s most outstanding students

A TWENTY-TWO year old Glenties student has been awarded the title of one of the world’s most outstanding students by the Beijing Institute of Technology.

Queen’s University student Maire McLoone from Cornagrilla, Glenties, was nominated for the prestigious award by her lecturers. She is due to travel to China later this month to receive the honour.

The award recognises excellence in creativity, innovation and academic performance while promoting links between international students.

Maire, the youngest in a family of five graduated from Queens University, with an MSc in Electrical Engineering and is currently doing a PhD in Signalling Processing.

She was also the winner of Invensys award for the best engineering student in Britain.

Maire is the daughter of John and Kathleen McCloone.

Mr McCloone is the Deputy Principal of St Columba’s Comprehensive School.

Milford snatch dramatic victory to end ten-year drought

ALMOST ten years to the week that they last won the Junior A Championship title Milford lifted the Dr McCluskey Cup for the second time after a one point victory over Glenswilly in the county final at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey on Sunday.

After a dramatic finale it took a Seamus Durkan point four minutes into injury time to separate the teams who were level on three occasions during a tension packed final 13 minutes.

The exciting conclusion more than compensated for what was by and large a disappointing spectacle which failed to yield a score from either side for the first 20 minutes.

“We knew it would not be easy against Glenswilly,” a delighted Milford captain, Darren Nash said afterwards.

“ They won the league title a fortnight ago and defeated us twice earlier in the season. I felt if we kept a clean sheet, our experience would carry us and thankfully after a tight finish we managed to hold on and win the game,”

“We last won the Junior title in 1990 and then the Intermediate two years later. Hopefully this victory can be the platform for us to move up a grade or two in the years ahead,” he added.

Teams

Milford: Darren Nash (captain); Peter Doherty, Kenny Sweeney, Conal McFadden; Hugo Hagan, Nigel Black, John Gerard McGettigan; Shaun Paul Barrett, Sean Barrett (0-4); Seamus Durkan (0-3), Danny Gallagher (0-1), Gary Hilferty (0-2); Patrick Barrett (0-1), Aidan Cannon and Sean McHugh. Subs used: Owen Everson for Gallagher (52 mins) and Brian Sweeney for McFadden (54 mins).

Glenswilly: Brian McHugh; Laurence McDaid, Barry Canning, Michael Canning; Brendan Gallagher, Paddy Devine, Martin Sweeney; Harry Gallagher (0-3), Mickey McDaid; John McGinley, Shane Sweeney (0-4), Daniel Gallagher (0-2); Pio McDevitt, Brian McDaid, Gerard McGrenra (0-1). Subs used: Neil Gallagher for McDevitt (injured-15 mins), Michael McDaid for L McDaid (42 mins).