Rathmullan – Winter Wonderland
Remembering the “big freeze” – some scenes from December 2010 in Rathmullan.
Archive for year: 2011
Christmas at McElhinney’s Ballybofey
McElhinneys department store invites you to drop in over this festive season for some great gift ideas at affordable prices at Irelands No1 retail store of the year.
McElhinneys wishes you and yours a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2012.
McElhinneys Gift Cards can be purchased online at www.mcelhinneys.ie/giftcards.html
Donegal could become Blue Flag capital of Ireland
Donegal has the potential to be the Blue Flag capital of Ireland with more top internationally recognised beaches than any other county in Ireland.
The county currently has 12 Blue Flag beaches, and lies third in the league table behind Mayo and Kerry, who both have 13.
But Cllr. Liam Blaney believes that Donegal Co. Council should be making every effort to ensure that more beaches in Donegal get the official Blue Flag status.
He claimed that two beaches – Rathmullan and Downings – could become Blue Flag beaches again for relatively little cost.
He pointed out that Rathmullan has a 2 km long beach but had lost its Blue Flag status in 2003, due primarily to problems with water quality. However, the water quality has improved – and has been monitored – and is set to improve further with the completion of the Letterkenny wastewater treatment works at Magherenennan. He added that Rathmullan also has the infrastructure required with toilets, lifeguards, beach management and parking. He contended that there would be little additional cost as water quality samples are already being monitored now.
Downings lost its Blue Flag a number of years ago due to problems on beach with traffic. Prior to this it has been a Blue Flag beach for four years, and he felt that not a lot would be needed to regain that status.
He also felt that Ballyheerin beach in Fanad could also meet the strict criteria.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of Donegal Co. Council in Lifford, Cllr. Blaney tabled a motion calling on the local authority to apply for blue flag status for more of the county’s beaches.
Several other councillors also spoke about the value of the Blue Flag awards and backed Cllr. Blaney’s call.
The Council’s Assistant Director of Water and Environment, Joe Poeples said that there was a marginal cost in “getting some locations over the line” but added that choices need to be made between competing demands.
A report on the matter will be brought back to a Strategic Policy Committee meeting in February.
Cllr. Blaney acknowledged the tight budgetary situation but felt that to have the highest number of blue flags in any county would be a great plus in promoting Donegal.
Buncrana GAA Strictly Come Dancing
Congratulations to Pat McMyler and Emma Porter on winning Buncrana GAA’s first ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ event in the Plaza on Sunday night. In a tentative start to the dances, all the couples were understandably nervous, probably due to the rousing welcome they all received by a completely packed house. Although most couples did well in their first dance, scoring accordingly, they all kept their best performances for the second set of dances.
The four judges, Doreen Friel, Donall Henderson, Nicholas Crossan and Martin Mullan probably had the most difficult job of the night in trying to separate the performances of the dancers. The Strictly part of the night ended with presentations to the dancers by Buncrana’s own county football star Ryan Bradley who, accompanied by the Anglo-Celt Cup, received a rapturous welcome.
Click here for photo gallery
Donegal Film at Regional Cultural Centre
One of the biggest showcases of locally produced films ever held in the North West will be launched this week in the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny.
The exhibition highlights 18 short films shot over the past two years as part of the IFI supported “Sharing Stories” project, a collaboration between the Regional Cultural Centre and the Nerve Centre in Derry.
The exhibition will be officially launched at 7pm on this Friday 11th November.
“We have a fantastic line up for the exhibition,” says RCC Director Shaun Hannigan.
“The project has produced films covering everything from Donegal emigration in the 1940s through to Loyalist pipe bands. The standard of work is superb. It provides a really rich insight into life in Donegal and Derry, both past and present, that should be of interest to everyone, young and old.”
Sharing Stories is a cross-border film project initiated in October 2009 with a particular focus on community, youth and minority groups. Among the films to be highlighted at the exhibition are “Brighter Days”, an animation by Letterkenny-native Daniel McGarrigle based on the biography of his grandfather Colm Melly, who emigrated to England in the 1940s and then returned to the North West to raise his family.
Bighter Days
“Pride” is a fly-on-the-wall documentary looking at the ‘Pride of the Orange and Blue’ Flute Band from Newbuildings, looking at a typical summer month in the life of its members as they prepare for the 12th of July celebrations.
“Rockhill Remembered” takes an inside look at the social and military history of the battalions stationed at Rockhill House in Letterkenny, while “Rondo Mondo” documents Cafe del Mundo, the hub of Derry’s thriving international community.
The exhibition launch on Friday will be followed by a major one-day seminar on 25th November. As part of this seminar the Regional Cultural Centre and the Nerve Centre have set a social media challenge called “Share My Story” to promote two films using only free social and digital media.
The seminar will also include presentations from Risteard O’Domhnaill, director of the highly-acclaimed documentary “The Pipe” about the Corrib gas pipeline, and Dr. Cathal McLaughlin of the University of Ulster’s film department. The official opening and wine reception will take this Friday and everyone is welcome. The “Sharing Stories” exhibition continues until January 28th, 2012. Opening times are Tuesday to Friday 11am to 5pm, Saturday 1pm to 5pm and admission is free. Details of the one-day seminar on 25th November will be announced shortly.
Sharing Stories is funded by the International Fund for Ireland.
15th October – Donegal Today
A Youtube video featuring photographs from the 70’s and 80’s of life in Fanad, Co. Donegal. A Flickr gallery featuring wildlife photography from Malin Head area of north Inishowen and on twitter today, Wallace Media video of Dave Gallagher Rugby Legend, Donegal Churches by Liam McCormick and details of a SVT support group setup by a young Buncrana woman.
Old Photos of Fanad, Co. Donegal
Malin Head Wildlife Photography
Donegal on Twitter Today
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/whatsondonegal/status/125188646176436224″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/donegalcottages/status/125184296293117953″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/whatsondonegal/status/125190932546068480″]
Malin Head Nature Photography
A lovely set of photographs inspired by the rich natural diversity at Malin Head, Inishowen, Co. Donegal by Ronan McLaughlin.
Malin Head or Cionn Mhálanna is the most northerly headland of the mainland of Ireland, and the most northerly point is actually a small islet 2 km northeast of Malin Head, known as Dúnaldragh or Fort of the bird flocks, Inishowen Peninsula, County Donegal. It lies at latitude 55.38ºN. Malin Head gives its name to the Malin sea area. There is a famous met station on the head. The oldest coastal radio statio in Europe can be found here, operating since 1902 and is part of the Irish Coastguard,
View Ronan’s Other Photos on Flickr
14th October – Donegal Today
Watch video highlights of Earagail Arts Festival event which was held at Fort Dunree in summer of 2011 – Sean Og’s pub celebrates 10 years – a wedding at Rathmullan House hotel – notice of major Fracking meeting to be held in Ballyshannon – brush up on your Irish language skills – head for Donegal Town this weekend for the beer festival.
Puja at Fort Dunree – Summer 2011
13th October – Donegal Today
Stories about a women’s collective in North Inishowen, Julia O’Donnell and the Pope, and a nice set of wildlife photos from Ards Forest Park. Fidl, a trio of traditional musicians from west Donegal have just launched their new website and a selection of today’s tweets from the northwest.
News Stories
New Woolcraft Studio in Clonmany (Inishowen News)
Donegal Socks from Pope for Julia (Donegal Democrat)
Wildlife of Ards Forest Park (Wildlife Blog)
Donegal Trio “Fidl”
Donegal on Twitter Today
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/worldirish/status/124508476662743040″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/Andyho73/status/124498965134704641″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/EaragailArts/status/124491433620160512″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/bridgestoneEd/status/124471551419629568″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/DGFTaverns/status/124424838021521408″]
[blackbirdpie url=”http://twitter.com/#!/whatsondonegal/status/124400238692794368″]
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