Róise Collins delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear.
June 12, 1976
COUNTING TODAY IN NORTH EAST DONEGAL
NORTH EAST DONEGAL – for the last time as a separate constituency – went to the polls yesterday (Thursday) from 9am to elect a T.D. to the vacant seat caused through the death of the Fianna Fáil representative Mr Liam Cunningham.
With three of the candidates chosen from the Inishowen area, the Fine Gael candidate, Joachim Loughrey, had the rest, and the bigger populated selection, to himself. But he seemed unlikely to have a clear run, for party workers for two of the opposing candidates, Messrs Conaghan and Keaveney, were fighting hard to catch the favour of voters for their men. Independent Tony Gill, apart from a rare foray into the area, concentrated most of his efforts into his own Inishowen peninsula.
But it was a generally orderly campaign, especially for a bye-election. The most unseemly incident was an egg-throwing episode at Buncrana on Saturday night aimed at Fianna Fáil leader Mr Jack Lynch.
RECORD ENTRIES FOR DONEGAL FLEADH CEOIL AT FALCARRAGH
WITH a record number of entries, highly efficient organisation, ideally suitable sunshine weather, the two-day County Donegal Fleadh Cheol in Falcarragh proved highly successful last weekend.
The local branch with secretary S McHugh, O.S., and colleagues, were given the full co-operation of local people in the promotion of the Fleadh and thus added to the already sizeable status held by the community in organising this style of event.
Although the attendance of the general public might have been somewhat below expectations, the streets of Falcarragh were turned to music and pageantry as the traffic halted and the Fleadh went on, marching bands taking over in their colourful uniforms and fluttering flags.
The public displays on Saturday were less noticeable with competitions staged in the modern and convenient facilities of the new community school – perhaps lacking in the sort of street music atmosphere which the Fleadh conjures up for some, but nevertheless giving young performers an ideal opportunity to display their skills.
RAMELTON TO BE CLOSED FOR SPECIAL STAGE OF RALLY
FOR the first time in Ireland there will be a town closed down to regular traffic for a major car rally. The Donegal International Rally takes place on the weekend of June 18 to 20 and for two special stages, the town of Ramelton will be closed down.
This is only known to have happened in Monaco for the Grand Prix, and the promoters of the Rally are hoping it will enable the Ramelton Youth Club to raise funds for the purchase of a former health dispensary, which they hope to turn into club rooms.
The club will be able to sell special viewpoints to visitors for what could be the most exciting and indeed unique section of the rally.
The round-the-house section will be used as the final stage on both the Friday and Saturday and stretches to 1.8 miles.
June 15, 2001
SHOCK REPORT ON BREAST CANCER TREATMENT IN DONEGAL
WOMEN who suffered from breast cancer in Donegal had their breasts removed unnecessarily, according to a shocking new report into cancer treatment.
The report, which was given to the National Cancer Forum last month, highlights significant regional variations in the provision of cancer care and has suggested that where a person lived could determine the treatment they receive.
The Trinity College report suggests that women in Donegal and five other counties received below the average levels of radiotherapy compared with the rest of the country. As a result patients were forced to opt for full breast removal even though the treatment was not necessary.
Acknowledging that radiotherapy services were ‘integral’ to comprehensive breast care services, a spokesperson for the North Western Health Board stressed that the service was not available in the region.
COUNTY LACKS POWER TO ATTRACT JOBS – IDA
JOB creation in Donegal was dealt a serious blow this week when it emerged the IDA will not be encouraging energy intensive industries to locate in the county.
The disturbing information has emerged from a confidential IDA document on electricity transmission system weaknesses that effect Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Tipperary, Wexford and Kerry.
The IDA’s Regional Manager, Mr Joe McHugh, confirmed the policy and added that “the majority” of businesses now looking at this region were not huge energy users.
He did, however, confirm that another Unifi could not be accommodated here because of weaknesses in the electricity network and potential power shortages.
The IDA official said the current investment planned by the ESB for Donegal had to be fast tracked as a matter of urgency to bring the county’s energy base to the same level as other counties.
DOHERTY ELECTED AS DONEGAL’S FIRST MP SINCE PARTITION
HISTORY was made on Friday last when Carrigart’s Pat Doherty became the first Donegal person to be elected to Westminster since Partition.
Mr Doherty (56) Vice President of Sinn Féin said this week that his victory in West-Tyrone was a resounding endorsement of Sinn Féin’s peace strategy.
Born in Glasgow of Donegal parents, Pat Doherty moved back to the county in 1968, joining Sinn Féin two years later. He worked in Donegal for Sinn Féin at Cumann and Comhairle Ceantair level before joining the national Ard Comhairle in 1979.
Assembly member for West Tyrone for the past three years, Mr Doherty received more than forty per cent of the vote, receiving 19,814 of the 48,530 votes cast on Thursday last, making him the first Donegal MP since 1918.