Dionne Meehan delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
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NOVEMBER 29, 1975
OVER £5 MILLION FOR DONEGAL HOUSING AND WATER
DONEGAL County Council will need an allocation of over £5 million next year to meet the capital costs of housing and water and sewerage schemes.
This was announced by the Co. Manager (Mr J.D. Williams) at a meeting of the Council on Monday.
Mr Williams explained that their capital allocation for housing during the present year was £1.9 million.
It was estimated that by December 31 they would have overspent this amount by £125,923.
This over-expenditure was due principally to the progress that had been made on housing schemes because of the fine summer this year.
For sanitary services this year, they had been allocated £962,000 for large works and £19,000 for minor schemes, a total of £991,000.
It was estimated that over expenditure on sanitary services would be over £200,000 making a total of £1,280,000 for the year.
NEW BACON FACTORY TO BE ONE OF MOST MODERN IN EUROPE
THE new £600,000 extension to the Co Donegal Bacon Company plant in Letterkenny, which will be capable of dealing with 2,000 pigs a week, is on schedule, and it is anticipated that it will go into full production in the spring of next year.
At present the company is undergoing a complete overhaul in order to meet the stringent hygiene standards demanded in E.E.C. regulations.
The new plant will be one of the most modern in Europe, with over £200,000 being spent on the latest, most efficient machinery, which is presently being installed by the Meier Company of Denmark.
FEW TEENAGERS IN GAELTACHT WANT TO WORK IN FACTORIES
A SPECIAL survey carried out among almost 2,000 teenagers in Gaeltacht areas has recommended a review of manpower and industrial policy in Irish speaking areas.
The survey also revealed that only a small number of teenagers were interested in industrial jobs.
The shock findings are contained in a 190-page report on the survey, which also recommended more extensive careers guidance among boys and girls in the Gaeltacht areas of Kerry, Galway, Mayo and Donegal.
Carried out by Gaeltarra Éireann, the survey interviewed 861 boys and 918 girls to try to discover their attitudes to work.
It found that parents in Gaeltacht areas wished their children to have educational opportunities they did not have, and that 55 per cent of boys and 58 per cent of the girls wished to remain at home.
DECEMBER 1, 2000
DONEGAL FARMERS FEAR HUGE LOSSES
BEEF farmers in Donegal stand to lose hundreds of thousands of pounds because of the BSE scare in Western Europe and the temporary suspension of imports to Egypt, a leading IFA official warned yesterday (Thursday).
Over 300 beef farmers across Donegal are facing substantial losses following a major drop in prices as a result of the BSE scare in Germany, Spain and France.
Local farmers have seen prices drop by an average of £120 per animal in the past three weeks.
The crisis was further compounded with the announcement on Wednesday that Egypt had put a temporary ban on imports from Western Europe.
The Egyptian market is worth over £200 million annually to the Irish economy.
“In Ireland we export over 90 per cent of our beef.
“The markets in Western Europe and Egypt are critical for us.
“Farmers are deeply concerned about the short term future.
“Prices were buoyant through the autumn and as a result beef finishers competed strongly with exporters for strongly with exporters for store cattle and weanlings.
“They are now facing huge losses if the current difficulties are not sorted out,” Mr John Gibbons, Chairman of the Letterkenny branch of the IFA warned.
FEARS GROW FOR FUTURE OF BREAST CANCER TREATMENT IN LETTERKENNY
SENATOR Enda Bonner has expressed concern that the findings of a report from the National Cancer Forum will lead to the end of treatment of breast diseases at Letterkenny General Hospital.
Urging the Minister for Health Micheál Martin to ensure that breast cancer treatment facilities were enhanced in Letterkenny, Senator Bonner said what was needed there was not a closure but the provision of a top class service.
In future women may have to travel to Sligo for treatment.
“I am asking the Minister to provide a full time breast cancer surgeon, a radiologist and a pathologist to Letterkenny.
“Much of the equipment is already in place and there would not need to be a huge investment in that regard,” Senator Bonner said.
LETTERKENNY BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR
LETTERKENNY Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced their choice for Business Person of the Year at the annual Gala Ball on Friday night last.
Patrick Gildea, owner of four hairdressing salons in Letterkenny, accepted the award in the presence of family, friends and employees and said that he was honoured to have been selected in the first year of the new century.
Patrick, whose parents are from Letterkenny, moved from Glasgow to Ireland in 1985 and opened his first salon at the age of 19 having previously worked for his uncle, building contractor Brendan Gildea. He opened his second salon four years ago and this year opened two further salons. Each year, members of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and Industry nominate the business person they feel has assisted the development of Letterkenny by significant contribution in Quality of Service, Creating Additional Employment, Innovative Marketing, Business Expansion or for any other business related reason.
“Patrick’s contribution can be seen to fit into any of these categories and was therefore the outstanding nomination of Chamber members,” according to the Chamber of Commerce.
