Donegal Traditional Thatched Cottages

Donegal Traditional Thatched Cottages
view this cottage click here     More photos of cottage – click here
[mashshare]
Donegal Traditional Thatched Cottages – Joseph Gallagher has always had a keen interest in local history, and while the role of Heritage Officer keeps him busy during the day, outside of his job with Donegal County Council, in his spare time over the last number of years he has been researching for a new book on traditional Donegal Cottages.

Along with fellow academic and historian, Dr Greg Stevenson, they have co-authored a beautiful new coffee- table style publication called “Traditional Cottages of County Donegal”.

Released just before Christmas 2012, it features many iconic traditional buildings from all corners of the county and many less known, yet equally fascinating examples of the county’s built heritage.

Their work not only captures many stunning images, but also features detailed explanations for the various elements that make up traditional Donegal cottages

More details about traditional cottages

Traditional cottages on Pinterest

Joseph Gallagher says one of the main messages people can take from the book is that these old buildings can be preserved and are important from many perspectives, including the tourism sector.

These buildings can be adapted to meet modern demands. We are in a better position now than we ever were to try maintaining these buildings, and not just as relics on the landscape. That’s not what it is really about, it’s about bringing them back into use and also show they are important. I think there is still tremendous affection for these buildings and people might think ‘this building is important to my family but maybe not to anybody else’ but they are important. I think they are very important to visitors and to people living abroad who come to Ireland who want to see them and want to hear the story of them – why they were important and what they reflect in the history of the county.

 

Enterprising Donegal Business Week

Enterprising Donegal Business Week

Oceans7 Swimmer Steve Redmond, Jack Black founder and course director at MindStore, Food Entrepreneur Domini Kemp and Donegal Football Manager Jim McGuinness, are just some of the high profile speakers lined up for this year’s Enterprising Donegal Business Week.

Jack Black of MindStore.com

Organised by Donegal County Enterprise Board, in conjunction with its enterprise partners in Donegal, the aim of the week-long programme of events is to inspire and motivate people to consider starting their own business and to provide a learning and networking forum for those already in business.

Running from Monday 4th March to Friday 8th March in venues across the county, all events are free to attend but registration is essential.

Amazing Grace Festival 2013

Amazing Grace Festival 2013 – 4th – 8th April

Against the stunning backdrop of Lough Swilly, celebrate the inspirational story of John Newton, his dramatic, life-changing arrival in Ireland and the 240th anniversary of his most famous hymn “Amazing Grace”.

A weekend events for all the family will combine music, history & heritage, arts & crafts and more…

The programme:

Thursday 4 April: The John Newton lecture with historian Marylynn Rouse (hosted by the West Inishowen History and Heritage Group)

NEW Friday 5 April: Night of a Thousand Stars – Songs of Freedom, Hope & Joy. Community concert in aid of The Exchange resource centre. 7.30pm at The Plaza, Buncrana. An evening of music from talented singers of all ages! (Ticket prices tbc)

Saturday 6 April: Family Fun Day in Main Street, Buncrana featuring arts and crafts, 18th century toys, face painting, balloon modelling and live music.

Belfast Community Gospel Choir in concert
Saturday 6 April: 8pm at The Plaza, Buncrana – Tickets priced €10 (€5 concessions and children under 12, under 5s free) available for pre-order from ruth@vox.ie

Sunday 7 April: 8pm (venue tbc)
The hour I first believed – stories of faith in the 21st Cenutry plus live music

Monday 8 April: 6pm (final details tbc)
Special event to mark the anniversary itself featuring Buncrana’s own choir – The Gateway Singers.

BONUS Event: Wednesday 10 April at St Columbs Cathedral, Derry. “John Newton in Derry” talk by historian Marylynn Rouse.

Donegal A Special Place in Your Heart

Mad Men’s Don Draper explains how technology can help bring a person back in time to a special place in their heart. Download the free cross-platform Donegal App for the beautiful county of Donegal in northwest Ireland and find out for yourself.

With special thanks to the photography of Mark Nolan, Mark Flagler, Emmet McCauley, Matt Britton, Donegal Democrat and anyone else we might have missed – email us and we’ll add you to these credits. Full credit for the original piece belongs to Lionsgate and AMC.

Aidan Quinn at The Allingham Arms

Aidan Quinn at The Allingham Arms – A concert with Aidan Quinn, his new band and the legendary Queen of County Music Philomena Begley. They take a journey through a lifetime dedicated to country music with firm favourites like ‘Queen of the Silver Dollar’, ‘Blanket on the Ground’ and many more. Quinn sings a selection of his hits including ‘Six Days on the Road’ and ‘Lough Sheelin’s Side’.

Book Tickets

Tel: +353 (0)71 98 41075
E-mail: info@allinghamarmshotel.ie

The Allingham Arms Hotel has been described as the “Capital of Country Music” with well-known acts such as Jimmy Buckley, Robert Mizzell & Mike Denver making a regular appearance in one of several venues in the building… all at attractive and affordable rates. Enjoy lazing in the beautiful surroundings, all of which is only a minutes’ walk away from the beach, Bundoran town centre, Waterworld and numerous other amenities.

Fort Dunree Inishowen

Guns of Dunree

[mashshare]

Fort Dunree Inishowen – Fort Dunree Military Museum Ltd. became the first Republic of Ireland based client for Ulster Community Investment Trust (Ireland) in 2008. Five years on, UCIT commissioned this video to highlight the role this Social Enterprise plays both within its local community and as part of Ireland’s national heritage.

Contact Fort Dunree +353 74 936 1817

Dunree Fort is located on the west coast of the Inishowen Peninsula, facing across Lough Swilly towards Knockalla Mountain on Fanad Peninsula in North Donegal.

Fort Dunree Photo Gallery

The Irish name for Fort Dunree is Dun Fhraoigh which translates as “Fort of the Heather”. This suggests that this cliff top setting has been an important defensive site down through history. The present day fort is located on a rocky promontory accessed over a natural fissure. The fort was remodeled in 1895 to have 2 x 4.7 inch (119 mm) QF guns below, and later 12 pounder (5 kg) QF and 2 x 6 inch (152 mm) guns in a battery above. The top of a hill overlooking the site was walled in to form a redoubt.

fort-dunree-inishowen2

View Holiday Homes in Inishowen
Because of its strategic importance protecting the entrance to the deep waters of Lough Swilly, control of Dunree was retained by Britain after independence was only handed over to the Irish Government  in 1938

[mappress mapid=”60″]

Junk Kouture 2013

Junk Kouture 2013 – Creative students in Derry and Donegal are being urged to transform rubbish into high fashion as part of an Ireland-wide competition.

Second level students are in with the chance to win 20,000 euro in prizes at the grand final, including 2,500 euro in cash for the winning school, 1,000 euro of IT equipment, 500 euro cash and a one week course in the Grafton Academy of Design for the winning team, the chance to attend the Cannes Film Festival 2013 and attend the Royal Film Premiere in London.

The closing date for entries for the 2013 Junk Kouture Recycled Fashion competition – in association with the European Recycling Platform (ERP) – is January 31.

Created in 2010 by Buncrana entrepreneurs Elizabeth O’Donnell and Troy Armour, the Junk Kouture competition has seen thousands of teenagers’ work submitted over the past two years, with some spectacular and awe-inspiring pieces gracing the competition’s regional and national catwalks.

Junk Kouture website: www.junkkouture.com

Junk Kouture on Facebook: www.facebook.com/junkkouture

Sons and Daughters Live

Sons and Daughters Live – Viewers in Derry and Donegal will be able to watch the Sons and Daughters Concert on Sunday night via the red button on their tv.

Sons & Daughters, the opening concert and first major celebration of 2013, will be recorded on Sunday night at The Venue, Ebrington, to be shown on BBC One Northern Ireland on Saturday, January 26 at 10.30pm.

However television viewers can tune in on the night as the concert will be available live on the red button.

The concert can be accessed from 8pm by activating the red button and following the links to ‘Sons and Daughters’.

Those featuring in the line-up include Phil Coulter, Nadine Coyle, Gary Lightbody and Johnny McDaid (snow patrol) playing acoustic, Paul Brady and Neil Hannon.

Also appearing will be Dana, Damian McGinty, The Priests, Gerard McChrystal, Amanda Burton, James Nesbitt, Eva Birthistle, Codetta, SOAK, Mairead Carlin, The Wonder Villains, Best Boy Grip and Maeve McGinley.

The concert will reflect on the city’s cultural achievements through music, word and song. It will also be live on BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle co-presented by Marie-Louise Muir and Mark Patterson from 7.30pm.