Tess McNulty delves into the archives to bring you the news and images from yesteryear
October 9, 1976
HEATED COUNCIL DEBATE
THERE were loud and unruly scenes at the Donegal council meeting on Monday. The order bell was repeatedly rung after Cllr Brendan Murrin made a plea to start a coastal protection scheme at Inver that is estimated to cost £16,800.
When the councillors discovered that £38,000 was left out the sum of £40,000 voted by councillors from over expenditure on roadworks, the debate became hostile.
When councillors finally reached agreement to spend the remaining £16,800 on the Iver scheme, people scrambled to spend the remaining £21,200 on similar works in Innisfad, Laghey.
Inishowen councilors argued that coastal protection at Lisfannon golf course was the first priority and all funds should be used to protect ´The Gateway of Inishowen´.
A row began, and people were shouting over each other to drown out their opposition.
Mr Reid described the proposal as ridiculous and the councillors weren’t sincere. He said if they were, they would use the €16,800 for a coastal protection wall in Inver.
Dillon’s Hotel in Letterkenny was officially opened after a €1 million renovation by its new owners The McKeever Hotel Group. Eugene McKeever, Managing Director and his wife Catherine (centre) cut the red tape and they were joined by Mayor of Letterkenny Municipal Authority Cllr Michael McBride, McKeever group operations director Eddie McKeever, President Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Gerard Grant, Chief Executive of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Toni Forrester, Letterkenny Town Centre Manager, Dessie Larkin, Letterkenny Town Team’s Amanda McNamee and McKeever Group Marketing Manager Bridgeen McKeever.
STUDENTS JOIN FOR A MUSICAL
THERE will be four public performances of the first ever joined Loreto Convent and St Eunan’s College musical which is being staged in the Loreto Convent Hall from October 24 to 27.
The musical begins each night at 8.15pm. A ticket ensures a seat, and they are available from either Loreto Convent, St. Eunan’s or from Toyland.
Students will perform ‘Waltzes From Vienna’ and rehearsals have been under way for some weeks. This should be very enjoyable entertainment for all ages.
MONDAY’S DEBATE BEGINS NEW SERIES
A MAJOR attraction for the first of the new series in the Contemporary Ireland lectures will attract national personalities to the Regional Technical College in Letterkenny.
It is to be held on Monday night beginning at 8.15pm. There will be a debate between Mr Austin Currie of the SDLP and Rev Martin Smyth of the Ulster Unionist Party, and should be a keenly interesting affair on the subject ‘In any society, the majority must always form the Government’.
Donegal TD Paddy Harte will lead the occasion. It is expected there will be a big turnout and all are welcome.
FIRST WOMEN ON JURY
THREE women made history at Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday.
For the first time ever in the 200-year-old courthouse they served on a jury during a criminal trial. There was a large representation of women called for jury service in the six trials listed for hearing. Only one of these proceeded, two of them being transferred to the Central Criminal Court and the remainder adjourned.
Wesley McKeague, Culdaff, (right) won the best overall pedigree Friesian at the Bonagee Show of 1988. Also pictured are David Nesbitt, Donegal Creameries (sponsor) and Lynda Moore, ‘Miss Bonagee’.
October 5, 2001
THE LAST WALTZ TOUR OF LARRY AND THE MIGHTY AVONS
DURING the golden days of the 1960s showband era Larry Cunningham and the Mighty Avons were the first country style band to become a massive hit.
The Cavan-based Mighty Avons were the first showband to hit the British chart with their song ‘A Tribute to Jim Reeves’ in 1965. Over the next five years Larry and the band were to clock up seven top ten hits and of course their chart-topper ´Lovely Leitrim’
The band played in sold out venues from Carnegie Hall in New York to the Galtymore in London. At the height of their popularity in 1969 the dancing scene was shocked with the news that Larry was leaving to form his new band the Country Blue Boys.
Now after 32 years Larry and the original Avons are back on their final waltz tour and will be appearing live this Saturday at the Milford Inn Hotel.
DONEGAL MOURNS 9-11 VICTIMS
AFTER three weeks the body of missing Donegal man Damian Meehan (33) was found among the rubble of the Twin Towers on Tuesday. A wake was held in the Meehan family home in New York, the adopted home of his parents, Michael and Peg. The Funeral Mass is expected to take place on Monday.
Mr Meehan worked for a financial services company on the 88th floor of the Twin Towers.
There were 70 people working in his office when the plane crashed into the building on September 11.
Mr Meehan is survived by his wife, Joanna, who is expecting their second child in January and their two year-old child, Damien, his parents Michael and Peg and wide circle of relatives and friends.
Meanwhile a memorial service was held on Wednesday for Bruce Reynolds (40). Mr Reynolds was a policeman. It is believed he died attempting to rescue his colleagues who had entered the buildings shortly after the attack.
The memorial service was held in New Jersey. In the summer Mr Reynolds and his family went on holiday to Gaoith Dobhair.
ABORTION REFERENDUM BEFORE CHRISTMAS
THERE was a widespread but cautious welcome in Donegal when Deputy Harry Blaney said an abortion referendum is to be held before the next general election.
Letterkenny Pro-Life Campaigner Mr Micheal McElwee expressed worry for the referendum. “We believe in the sacredness of life from contraception to death. We need further time to study the proposed legislation and referendum, but if I am reading it right, I would be very concerned.”
Ms Nora Newell, co-ordinator of the Letterkenny Women’s Centre, thought the upcoming referendum would bring divisiveness in Donegal as it had before in 1983 and 1992.
While reluctant to comment without studying the legislation further Ms Newell said the issue was huge for women and added that many women from Donegal go to have abortions abroad.
“A lot of people can get very hurt by a divisive debate including women who have difficulty having children and women on both sides feel very passionate about the debate” Ms Newell said.
She welcomed the proposal to establish a crisis pregnancy to assist women, including those who’ve had abortions. However, Ms Newell stressed the need for a pluralist organisation to reflect the diverse society we now live in.
BALLYRAINE NS WINS NATIONAL AWARD
PUPILS at Ballyraine National School in Letterkenny celebrated their success in a prestigious national schools competition.
The Environmental Award was presented to school principal and ‘Green Team’ Co-Ordinator Mr David Oliver in Dublin. A plaque and cheque for the school’s green garden project was made by Professor David Bellamy.
The school’s entry ´The Secret Garden’ began with a school audit by 5th and 6th class pupils. Students created a litter awareness project, energy awareness and creatrf wildlife friendly grounds as part of a ground enhancement programme.
During ‘National Tree Week’ the pupils took part in a tree planting challenge to provide a shelter belt at the Church of the Irish Martyrs, and a mini woodland of ash and silver birch was planted at the school.
Bird tables were placed in the school grounds and sunflower seeds were also planted while Mrs Nuala Porter and senior pupils painted a mural around the school oil tank.
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A presentation event for the members of the Faroige club in Raphoe.