Inishowen Evictions

Inishowen Evictions – The new RTÉ television series ‘The Lost Village’ is looking for anyone with information pertaining to the 13 families evicted from their homes in the small Donegal village of Carrowmenagh, in 1881.

Big Mountain Productions are seeking out this information as part of a four-part bi-lingual series “The Lost Village”. The series will be aired on Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE, during Seachtain na Gaeilge in March 2013.

In 1881 thirteen families were evicted from their homes in a small village on the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal called Carrowmenagh. It was a sight that was all too common in the Ireland of the 1800’s.

In this series will trace the ancestors of the evicted and return them to Inishowen and the life of their ancestors at that time. Through the story of Carrowmenagh we tell the wider story of evictions in Ireland.

We are looking for people/a family with a direct connection to Carrowmenagh or other evictions to take part.

Contact us on sean@bigmountainproductions.com or call Seán at 004428 308 340 46 if you want to find out more and are interested in taking part.

You must be able to fulfil the below criteria:

• A family history relating to the evictions in 19th century Ireland
• Everyone must be over the age of 12
• You must be happy to spend three nights in an old house
• Be free in January
• Happy to undertake the work done in the 19th century

We are seeking a family to take part, and if possible across three generations. You would need to be prepared to stay in a traditional house for three nights to get a taste for life as it was in the time of your ancestors.

Big Mountain Productions have previously brought ‘The Tenements’ to TV3 in Ireland and ‘The Genaeology Roadshow’ to RTÉ in Ireland.

The Bluestack Way App

The Bluestack Way App – The Bluestack Way App is now available by clicking here: http://www.everytrail.com/guide/the-bluestack-way-app A big thanks to Mark Flagler of Flagler Films for the use of his images in the video. The Bluestack Way app is a free app with six guides for iPhone or Androids available from the EveryTrail PRO platform. With EveryTrail PRO in place on either device, you can enjoy offline usage without roaming charges with all of the audio and material on your phone.

Every aspect of the area from history to geology, poetry to placenames, anecdotes and memories are on offer in what is the most comprehensive walking app of its kind anywhere in the world. Offered by navigatour™ guided apps from Headland New Media, audio, video, text and pictures showcase the celebrated way-marked way in northwest Ireland. See www.navigatour.ie for more.

Between Donegal Town and Ardara, enjoy the host of stories and history that make this place so special; a region whose people survived on their knowledge of the elements without modern equipment, an area that drew a Harvard Professor-turned sheep farmer into its bosom for 14 years, that was the inspiration for Brian Friel’s ‘Ballybeg’ and a heritage town that has more festivals than just about anywhere else.

[jetpack-related-posts]

Follow in the footsteps of mythological characters Diarmuid and Grainne, of Fionn and the Fianna, hear about ghosts, fairies and pookas, of customs and piseogs, fairdays and feastdays and of the finest view atop on the mountains, looking down as far as Cavan and Mayo and up as far as the Derryveagh mountains.

This is a very special journey and we hope you take a few days out to ensure you get to enjoy its beauty and its people in full for hopefully safe walking, good weather and an abundance of happy memories.

Image credit: www.whiteblaze.net

 

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana Gangham Style

Scoil Mhuire Buncrana Gangham Style- Here are the students and teachers from Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Co. Donegal with one of the first whole school Lip Dubs in the Republic of Ireland.

Featuring music by The Undertones, One Direction, Little Mix, Jennifer Lopez, Queen and PSY’s GANGNAM STYLE!

 

Inishowen Events for City of Culture

Inishowen Events for City of Culture

Inishowen Events for City of Culture

Inishowen Events for City of Culture – What has been described as the most ambitious and varied programme of arts and culture ever assembled on the island of Ireland was launched in Derry last week as the city prepares to host the UK City of Culture in 2013. Two of Inishowen’s signature festivals, the Charles Macklin Festival and Féile Grianan Áiligh have been listed among the hundreds of events taking place in Derry next year, including the prestigious Turner Prize, a new commission by the London Symphony Orchestra, performances by the Royal Ballet and the All Ireland Fleadh, which will be staged in Northern Ireland for the first time.

The Charles Macklin Festival which will take place in October in Culdaff and Féile Grianan Áiligh which will be hosted at the summer solstice in mid June in Grianan Áiliagh Fort in Burt, were selected by the City of Culture Team as they represent the rich heritage and culture that is synonymous with Inishowen and Derry’s natural hinterland. Both events were also awarded financial support by City of Culture in recognition of their contribution to the overall City of Culture Offering.

Speaking at the Launch of the programme, Jennifer O’Donnell, City of Culture Liaison Officer, Inishowen Tourism, who facilitated the application for both festivals for the programme with the City of Culture Team, said

We are thrilled that the Charles Macklin Festival and Féile Grianan Áiligh have been selected for the City of Culture Programme. It is testament of the high calibre of cultural entertainment each of these events offer and it is a great opportunity for Inishowen to be involved in what promises to be an incredible year for tourism

Representatives from both festivals attended the Programme Launch. Commenting on the inclusion of the Charles Macklin Festival, Committee Member, Anne McGrory said

We are delighted that the Charles Macklin Festival is to be designated as an official partner of the City of Culture celebrations in Derry. This new partnership is recognition of the great social and historical links between the city and the Inishowen peninsula. It is also a great opportunity to celebrate the rich literary traditions which are a further link between the Derry and Donegal

 

 

 

Sunday Miscellany from Donegal

Sunday Miscellany from Donegal – Sunday Miscellany, the hugely popular RTÉ Radio 1 program, recently held another very successful live recording from Ballyshannon during the Donegal Bay and Bluestacks festival. This recording was presented as one show in the Abbey Arts Centre and will be broadcast now as two programs, this Sunday, November 4 2012 and on Sunday, November 18 at 9.10am.

For over four decades, RTÉ Radio’s Sunday Miscellany has been at the heart of Sunday morning. This wonderful radio experience captures our ever-shifting moods, our obsessions and distractions, our dreams and fears and the intimate details of our lives.

Its distinctive mix of brand new short essays and poetry presented on air by their authors and interspersed with music made a welcome return visit to Ballyshannon.

Tune in to hear the terrific selection of Donegal writers and musicians ,hosted by the programmes’s producer and editor, Clíodhna Ní Anluain.

The writers for the event were Peter Sirr, Joseph Woods, Enda Wylie, Malachi O’Doherty, Denise Blake, Maureen Boyle, Patrick Hull, Deirdre Hines, Ann Hull and Winifred McNulty.

The wonderful music was performed by Seamus McGuire and Gary ÓBriai, Dominic Mac Giolla Bhríde, Fidil traditional Irish trio, and Donegal Camerata String Ensemble.

Sound engineer for the show was Jimmy Breslin.

This article appeared in The Donegal Democrat

Rosato’s of Moville wins Traditional Pub Award

Rosato's of Moville
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Rosato’s of Moville wins Traditional Pub Award

Eddie Harkin of ‘Rosatos’ in Moville says he’s’absolutely delighted’ following his establishment taking a top national award after being named Ireland’s ‘Best Traditional Pub’ at the National Hospitality Awards hosted in the 4 Seasons Hotel, Dublin on Monday night.

Speaking with the ‘Journal’ yesterday Eddie said it was a ‘massive shock but a lovely surprise’.

He commented:
I got a couple of calls from the organisers suggesting that it would be worth my while to come down but I sort of suggested I wouldn’t be able to make it as it’s a lot of bother going all the way to Dublin for a night out, making alternative staff arrangements and all the time that’s involved. But the fact that they kept coming back to me finally persuaded me to go – and now I’m very glad I did!
Asked why he thought Rosatos had won the award Eddie explained:
This pub is the real deal.It’s and old pub; not a ‘manufactured’ old pub. There is a nice, traditional attitude, we have a great staff, we serve top quality food and the whole package makes for a very good night out.

So how he was be bucking the trend?  Weren’t other pubs going out of business in Inishowen?
Yeah that’s true but it’s the food. I would hate to be running a pub now that didn’t serve food. If you are only serving drink you would be dependent on a good Saturday night and there’s no way one night a week is going to pay the mortgage.

We are in fact the only bar/restaurant left in Moville. I’m not sure that’s a good thing in that another one, particularly during the summer, would help meet the demand that’s clearly here. It would be good for the time in that tourists wouldn’t just leave and head somewhere in search of a meal.

Fortunately, we have got the name for good food and we have a client base that comes from all over the north-west. We are very grateful to our loyal customers and myself and Margaret (Eddie’s wife) are absolutely delighted to win this. It’s a real honour.
 

This article first appeared in The Derry Journal

City of Culture Animation

City of Culture Animation

The programme for City of Culture was announced on 25th October.  Derry’s world-class culture programme next year will attract internationally renowned and respected artists while also involving local artists and non-artists in the creation of new works, promised organisers at yesterday’s launch.

Speaking at the Ebrington launch, Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Culture Company 2013, said:
We will both bring amazing and create amazing work in and to the city and the hope is that as many people as possible can get involved for free. We have tried to guarantee that every single person gets the opportunity to be inspired, and to participate in free cultural and artistic events.

City of Culture Animation

Thia video was produced by the Nerve Centre and shows highlights of Derry~Londonderry’s year as UK City of Culture 2013, including the Turner Prize, Primal Scream, Luminaire Light Festival, Music Promise and Colmcille Pageant. music from Gary Curran of The Japanese Popstars

Download the full programme at this link

Boston Golden Bridges

This November, the Irish-American community of Massachusetts will join together with the community of Donegal and Derry to forge and consolidate transatlantic cultural links.

The fifth annual Boston-Northwest Ireland Golden Bridges Conference 2012 will take place in the Seaport Hotel and the World Trade Centre, Boston on November 8th and 9th 2012.

Hosted by leading Irish-American newspaper, the Irish Echo, this year’s conference is centered on the theme, “community, culture and commerce,” and will include the US launch of the Donegal Global Diaspora Project.

View the agenda below at larger size in a new tab

 

 
View the agenda aboveat larger size in a new tab

 

Kennedy Knitwear Ardara

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