High Speed Broadband for Letterkenny

Households in Letterkenny could soon have access to ultra high speed broadband.

It’s emerged that the company which oversees high speed fibre networks in eight areas of Donegal is examining the possibility of a household wiring project in the county’s biggest town.

E-Net’s Chief Executive made the announcement as the company announced increased profits and turnover for the last financial year.

E-Net manages metropolitan area networks in 94 areas of the country, including Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballybofey, Carndonagh, Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Donegal Town and Gweedore.

Enet Chief Executive Conal Henry told the Irish Independent that the amount of data carried on the MANs almost doubled over the past year and that many clients were now seeking to secure very high-speed data access to their premises.

Mr Henry also confirmed that Enet has been exploring the possibility of delivering fibre directly to about 10,000 homes in Letterkenny, in a move that would cost between €10m and €15m.

However, he stressed that Enet was still examining what would be a tough business case for the investment and that it was far from certain that such a deployment would proceed.

Letterkenny has also been chosen by Eircom as one of the towns where it is installing next-generation broadband technology.

[mappress mapid=”16″]

Donegal Sports Partnership – Sports Ability Day

The Donegal Sports Partnership will host their Annual Sports Ability Day on Saturday 24th of September in Aura Leisure Complex in Letterkenny from 10-2pm.

The event, which this year runs as part of Social Inclusion week and is also supported by Donegal County Council, is a “Come and Try” event for people with disabilities and offers them the opportunity to try sports which they may not have previously tried.

Donegal Sports Ability Day is part of the overall Sport Inclusion Disability Officer (SIDO) Programme which runs under the umbrella of Donegal Sports Partnership.

The initiative which was launched in 2008 is supported by the Irish Sports Council has seen many positive developments to-date in Donegal with approximately 700 people with disabilities having participated in sports participation programmes or events with similar numbers having participated in education and training programmes.

Speaking in advance of the event SIDO with Donegal Sports Partnership Thérèse Laverty encouraged people of all abilities to come along to the Aura Leisure Complex and join in on the day.

“The event is hosted on an annual basis and gives people the opportunity to try new sports, I’d like to encourage people with disabilities, their friends and family members to attend the event and see what we have on offer.

“Many individuals have a preconception about disability sport but when they get to experience the sports this normally changes.

“We’d also like to see as many local club coaches come along and join in the coaching with the various National Governing Bodies of Sport which will be present such as the GAA, FAI, Badminton Ireland and Athletics Ireland, everyone is welcome. We are also hoping to have some of the Donegal GAA County Players attend on the day to meet the participants.”

Further information on the event can obtained from
www.activedonegal.com
or by contacting Donegal Sports Partnership on 074(91)16078/79
or by email on sidoactivedonegal@gmail.com

[mappress mapid=”19″]

Way Back Home – Danny MacAskill

Not really related to Donegal but it is my favourite YouTube video – if only something like this could be done for Donegal eg Letterkenny to Bunbeg. Are you listening Danny!

Way Back Home is the incredible new riding clip from Danny MacAskill, it follows him on a journey from Edinburgh back to his hometown Dunvegan, in the Isle of Skye.

Derry Voices

Derry Voices

The official film produced to support the Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013 bid. The film was produced by the award winning arts organisation the Nerve Centre with contributions from Willie Doherty and Seamus Heaney. The film captures the vibrancy of the cityís cultural scene and gives voice and vision to the enthusiasm, passion and commitment with which the city has embraced the City of Culture bidding process.

Featured music by Snow Patrol – Just Say Yes.
Producer: Pearse Moore
Writer/Director: John Peto

A Nerve Centre Production for Derry City Council, Ilex, NI Screen, and Strategic
Investment Board.

http://www.nerve-centre.org.uk
http://www.culturenorthernireland.org

Rathmullan Video

Video of seaside village of Rathmullan

Rathmullan is situated on the western shore of Lough Swilly and is renowned for its fabulous 3km long, tree lined, sandy beach. The village has a large pier and marina making it a popular spot for aquatic sports and fishing. There are 2 fully equipped boat available for charter from May to end of September. In the summer months a car ferry crosses Lough Swilly from Rathmullan pier on an hourly basis connecting to Inishowen’s largest town, Buncrana.

The local Golden Sands Equestrian Centre organises a range of horse riding activities. The village has a fine selection of restaurants and lively pubs. Hotels include Rathmullan House Hotel and Fort Royal while the newly opened Water’s Edge Restaurant offers superb seafood with unparalleled views across Lough Swilly.

The countryside surrounding the village is ideal for walking and the magnificent golf links at Portsalon is only a 20 min. drive away.

For more details about Rathmullan visit www.rathmullan.net

The Homes of Donegal

Paul Brady sings the Homes of Donegal.

This song was written by Seán McBride in about 1955. Seán was a native of Cruit Island which is in the Rosses area of Donegal (West Donegal). He was a school Teacher at St.Baithins school in the Carrigans/St.Johnston area (East Donegal) for most of his life. Seán passed away at the age of 90 in August 1996 and is buried on Cruit Island.

Seán only wrote the lyrics, the actual air itself is maybe 150 or more years old. There are many songs around using the same melody, but to my ears the closest one is a song called “The Faughan Side”, This song was part of the Curriculum in national schools in East Donegal and as Seán was a Teacher in the “Laggan Valley” (South Inishowen) I’m pretty sure that is where he got his inspiration for the “Homes of Donegal”.

This version by Paul Brady is from his 1985 album “Back to the Centre”

Aranmore Island Photo Gallery

These photos were taken on a trip to Aranmore Island during the summer of 2011.

Most of the population lives along the southern and (comparatively sheltered) eastern coast. It has been settled since pre-Celtic times, and the few remaining signs of early settlement include a promontory fort to the south of the island and shell middens dotted along the beaches. Its position near the Atlantic shipping lanes was exploited, with a coastguard station and a lighthouse positioned on the most north-westerly point, and a World War 2 monitoring post set up to look out for U-Boats.

The permanent population is 650, but this rises to well over 1,000 during the summer months. A large proportion of the housing stock are holiday homes, with both native islanders and their descendants, as well as non locals being attracted to the beauty of the island.

Photos of Donegal by Paul Redmond

Photos taken in The Carrigart and Downings area by Paul Redmond

A trip around Donegal

A trip around the beautiful scenery of Donegal.