Louise Doyle delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
OCTOBER 25, 1975
CROSS-BORDER SHOPPING KILLING SMALL SHOPS IN DONEGAL
Are Donegal’s smaller shops fading away? In the past three years, 19 shops have closed in west Donegal between Falcarragh and Crolly Bridge. Along the border, a number of smaller shops have had to close their doors. Others are grimly holding on, hoping for better times ahead.
The swing to cross-border shopping undoubtedly has been a serious blow to the grocery and other trades in Donegal.
But in the trade it is firmly believed that the real reason for the disappearance of the traditional small family shop, is the appearance of the supermarkets. It is not a trend that everyone has welcomed, but it is a fact of the commercial life in Donegal.
Some fear the eventual monopoly that the lone supermarket will have in a village, and point out that it will be open to abuse.
But the smaller shopkeeper is finding it increasingly difficult to cope. The State is calling on him to comply with difficult tax regulations although he has no clerical staff.
The cross-border trips have been a further death-blow for some shops. Others are teetering on the edge, ready to fall.
They come from all parts of the county, even as far away as Arranmore Island. Some time ago, a group of island ladies were seen keenly loading boxes of cheese – at special six county prices.
WATER SCARCITY AMID LETTERKENNY’S ABUNDANT SUPPLY
Nowhere in Donegal has a better water supply been available than in Letterkenny.
Following the spending of thousands of pounds – some on rather doubtful improvements – Letterkenny had absolutely no trouble with its water supply over the long, dry summer.
A few did have grave shortage for a time, but when officials were prodded to action it was discovered the solutions were readily available.
But, now with an abundance of water to be had, it seems that Letterkenny’s water flow is not running too smoothly.
In fact, one man has been refused permission to build a house on the grounds that the water supply is not available.
This is at the Convent Road area, where there have been no major problems until now.
Then there was a mysterious switch-off of the water all over Letterkenny for a weekend recently. No one was at hand to give a satisfactory explanation. Cllr Patsy O’Donnell, long a critic of the engineering staff who have been handling the Letterkenny water supply, said it was fantastic to find they had no water after all the thousands of pounds spent on carrying out improvements.
OVERCROWDING CONTINUES AT LETTERKENNY GENERAL
Overcrowding at Letterkenny’s General Hospital continues, and statistics issued by the North Western Health Board at their monthly meeting on Monday would seem to indicate that the problems are growing rather than abating. In all except one unit, maternity, Letterkenny had the highest percentage of bed occupancy in the North Western Health Board region.
In surgical, Letterkenny had on average a bed occupancy from August 1974 to July 1975 of 94 per cent. However, it is in the paediatric unit that the real crush would seem to be. 169 per cent bed occupancy in Letterkenny speaks for itself.
OCTOBER 27, 2000
MCHUGH SNUBBED IN FAVOUR OF MALONEY
Fine Gael County Councillor Joe McHugh was yesterday considering his political future after strong indications at a key meeting in Dublin on Wednesday night that the party will ratify Councillor Sean Maloney from Letterkenny as its second party candidate in Donegal North East to contest the next general election.
Councillor McHugh declined to make any public comment about the meeting when contacted yesterday before he left for a trip to Switzerland but is expected to make a full statement next week.
He polled 1,660 first preference votes in the area and his vote was the 11th highest of any new local election candidate in the country at the time.
CREAMERIES IN MULTI MILLION TAKEOVER?
There was strong speculation yesterday that Donegal Creameries plc were involved in a multi million pound deal to purchase the Lifford-based milling company Winston Patterson Ltd.
When contacted yesterday, a member of staff at the Ballindrait compound feed and mill company did not deny that was the situation.
Mr John Keon, Chief Executive of Donegal Creameries plc, declined to comment on the possible purchase but said the Irish Stock Market would have to be notified if the publicly quoted company were to purchase Winston Patterson Ltd.
Donegal Creameries already owns Robert Smyth & Sons millers located only a short distance from the Ballindrait company.
ONLY ONE BID FOR FORMER ‘GRILL’
The failure of the former Golden Grill on Letterkenny’s Port Road to sell at auction on Wednesday was not an indication of a fall in property values, a local auctioneer said this week.
The 1,600sq foot property with street frontage was withdrawn from sale on Wednesday after it attracted only one bid of £250,000.
The building, constructed in 1961, housed the original Golden Grill dance hall and bar. It is currently in use as a sweet shop and Chinese restaurant.
Auctioneer Mr Brendan McGlynn said: “I would anticipate the property will sell privately for £350,000. There is still an excellent demand for property in Letterkenny and there is no downturn in prices.”
