Aoife Doherty delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
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1975, October 4
RTE film nominated for Emmy award
A FILM which was shot in and around Malin Head under producer, Brian McLaughlin, has been nominated for this year’s International Emmy Award. It is the RTE production of noted playwright Brian Friel’s story ‘Mr Sing My Heart’s Delight’
The Emmy Award is the most distinguished television honour in the United States. To be nominated means in effect to be chosen as one of the six best entries in the appropriate category, which in this case is ‘Fiction or Entertainment.’
‘Mr Sing My Heart’s Delight’ was transmitted by RTÉ on December 4 1974. It was adapted for television and produced by Brian McLaughlin.
Letterkenny missionary priest puts Donegal ‘in world headlines’
“HE has done this county a great service; he has put us in the world headlines” commented the chairman of Donegal County Council, Cllr Sean McEniff, when he proposed a vote of congratulations to Rev. P.J. McGlinchey, Letterkenny, on winning the Asian equivalent of the Nobel Prize.
Fr. McGlinchey, who is a parish priest on Cheju Island, was responsible for launching a farm co-operative movement, which raised the standard of life on the island to an appreciable degree. He is a member of the Columban Order.
Mr. McEniff said everyone was delighted that Fr. McGlinchey had been honoured for the work he was doing.
What influence has Radio Na Gaeltachta?
WHAT influence has Raidió na Gaeltachta had on the people of the Donegal Gaeltacht? The question has been pondered by the team at RTÉ and the results of their enquiries will be the subject of a half-hour programme to be shown over RTÉ.
There should be considerable interest in it as it brings before the camera the men behind the voices that are heard daily by Raidió na Gaeltachta listeners around Donegal. Such people as Feardorcha O Colla, Timlin O Cearnaigh and Conal Dufai will become real faces to the listeners. There will be many other people outside the radio station who will be featured.
These range from 100-year-old Mrs. Kitty Walsh of Doochary to the young schoolchildren of Gaoth Dobhair, who were asked their views.
The ‘Feach’ film crew under the supervision of producer Domhnall Farmer and presenter Breandan O hEithin spent almost four days in the north west of Donegal interviewing people young and old, and shooting scenes in and around the Raidió na Gaeltachta studios in Gaoth Dobhair. Many of the excerpts filmed were of live broadcasts from the station touching on sports, news, requests and a magazine programme.
The conclusion as to how beneficial Raidió na Gaeltachta has been should be interesting.
2000, October 6
Green but can’t be seen
THE latest chapter in the Dry Arch Roundabout debacle was written this week when Letterkenny had to bow out of a competition because the centrepiece monument was not completed on time.
Letterkenny Tidy Towns Committee have written to the County Manager expressing “deep embarrassment” that the Green Towns 2000 Project at the Dry Arch Roundabout will not be ready in time for adjudication.
Mr Jim McCormick, Chairman of the Committee, confirmed this week that he had advised the Department of the Environment that he had no option but to withdraw Letterkenny’s entry to Green Town 2000 as the project was not ready for judging.
“The Dry Arch Roundabout is fast developing as an eyesore and is generating much adverse comment from the general public. This project had been in place for the past 12 months and the judges were due in Letterkenny last week.
“The whole thing is a source of deep embarrassment to Letterkenny Tidy Towns Committee as we had high hopes of bringing success to Letterkenny in the Green Town 2000 Competition. It’s beyond words,” Mr McCormick said.
It had originally been hoped that the Dry Arch sculpture would have been in place for the visit of the judges for the Entente Florale competition in August.
Stones taken from the original Dry Arch Bridge were expected to form the base of the sculpture but the local Council were unable to unearth the stone.
Orphans reduce singer Daniel to tears
SINGER Daniel O’Donnell was reduced to tears on Sunday night when his surprise guests at his annual festival in Kincasslagh turned out to be five of the Romanian orphans he had helped to re-house in ‘Kincasslagh House’ in Siret.
In the past five years, Daniel was greeted by a special lady guest with whom he’d danced the night away at the festival’s Belle of the
Ball. His guest was always someone who meant a lot to him over the years or who he idolised while growing up.
In past years they have included Eurovision winner Dana, singer Loretta Lynn, TV host Gloria Hunniford, and last year Emmerdale Farm star Mandy Dingle (Lisa Reiliy) was his guest for the night.
This year the organisers decided to change the format slightly and introduce five of the Romanian orphan girls together with Derry woman Monica McDaid from the Romanian Challenge Appeal. The five were warmly greeted by Daniel who had a kiss and a hug for them all.
They are all now residents in ‘Kincasslagh House’ in Siret which was built from the proceeds of Daniel’s appeal.
Daniel has been much involved with the appeal for the orphans in Romania in recent years and the fund he had set up has now exceeded £1 million.
McEniff and Crossan take on the Aussies
TWO Donegal men will be in the thick of the action when Ireland take on Australia in the first test of the Compromise Rules series on Sunday in Croke Park.
Bundoran’s Brian McEniff is the manager of the Irish team while St Eunan’s player, Mark Crossan is expected to appear in a defensive position for what promises to be another absorbing game between the two countries.
The Irish squad completed their preparations for the first test with a training session in Cloghor, Co Tyrone on Tuesday night and were due to have a final work-out tomorrow at a Dublin ground.
“It’s a great honour for me to lead the Irish team out against Australia. Hopefully GAA fans will turn out in their numbers for what promises to be two cracking games.
“The Compromise Rules series brings a whole new dimension to Gaelic Games. I can’t even hazard to guess how much the Australian team is worth. They are all professionals and their fitness levels are much greater than ours,” McEniff said.
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