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Donegal Road Gritting Updates

Lesser Spotted Culture

Lesser Spotted Culture – UTV will run a series of 12 special one hour programmes entitled Lesser Spotted Culture, produced and presented by Joe Mahon of Westway Productions, which will be shown on UTV starting mid January to mark Derry-Londonderry’s year as City of Culture in 2013.

In each monthly programme, Joe Mahon, the host of UTV’s popular, long-running series, Lesser Spotted Ulster will explore events with particular significance or resonance for the city – in terms of its own unique history, heritage and culture.

The first episode of the series will air in January – featuring coverage of the opening events and a flavour of what is to come in the months ahead. This will include ‘The Music Promise’ where every child in the city will have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument; ‘ Portrait of a City’ which will provide one of the most ambitious digital archives of a community ever conceived and a tour of some of the city’s most outstanding architectural features – new and old.

Speaking at the launch in Custom House Restaurant, Joe Mahon said: “Lesser Spotted Culture will adopt a relaxed, entertaining but always respectful approach when talking to local people and internationally renowned artists alike.

“A fabulous line-up of artistic and cultural activities has been planned for this year, many of them of international importance and prestige. Our series will highlight some of these events and put them in the context of the history, culture and natural environment of the city and surrounding areas.

“Events like The Turner Prize, the Field Day premieres and the All-Ireland Fleadh will be hugely popular but, underlying the glamour and glitter of such highlights, there will be a range of activities that emanate from the indigenous culture of the city. In the longer term, they may prove to be no less important in terms of the legacy they leave behind. Our series will ensure that this, ‘lesser spotted’ culture gets its fair share of the limelight.”

Michael Wilson, Managing Director of UTV Television said:
“UTV’s relationship with Joe Mahon and Westway Productions goes back to 1996 and demonstrates our continued commitment to local programming and the independent production sector in Northern Ireland.

“Lesser Spotted Ulster is one of the most popular series ever shown on UTV, so to take it off air for a year while Joe produces and presents Lesser Spotted Culture shows just how much UTV want to support Derry-Londonderry as it celebrates this special year.

“We are confident that Lesser Spotted Culture will prove equally captivating and appealing for our viewers. There is a wonderful programme of events planned and nobody better placed than Joe to uncover the gems of this year for our audiences on TV, online and on the go, via our new app which we will be launching in 2013.”

Shona McCarthy Chief Executive, The Culture Company 2013 said: “Lesser Spotted Culture is a fantastic platform to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the city, and the diverse cultural offer, especially next year during our year as UK City of Culture. Further to the great success of Lesser Spotted Ulster, we are thrilled to be partnering with UTV and Joe Mahon to deliver a wonderful series, and couldn’t think of a better person than Joe, a son of the city, to take the lead. It will undoubtedly be a highlight on the 2013 monthly calendar, and I for one will be tuning in. ”

Start Your Own Artisan Food Business

Start Your Own Artisan Food Business

Start Your Own Artisan / Food Production Business Information Road Show
A Practical Guide to Starting a Food Business

Information Road Show

In line with the recently launched Food Strategy DCEB is running a 10 week Start Your Own Artisan / Food Production Business programme. Come along to find out how this programme will help you build your business. You will hear about the structure of the programme from the trainer as well as the experiences of a local artisan food business.

Letterkenny, Donegal County Enterprise Offices on Wednesday 17th Oct at 7pm
Donegal Town, Enterprise Centre on Thursday 18th Oct at 7pm
Moville, Community Chef Premises on Tuesday 23rd Oct at 7pm
The Programme

Aimed at: People thinking of starting their own artisan / food production business or in the early stages of start-up.

Objectives: On completion of the programme participants should have a sound knowledge of the rudiments of food business start-up.

Starting: November 2012

To register or for further information, please contact Mairead or Danny on 074 9160735 or email mmcmullin@donegalenterprise.ie or dmceleney@donegalenterprise.ie

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Buncrana Navigation Light Award

Buncrana Navigation Light Award

As the Tidy Towns Award results announced recently are assessed around the country, a collaboration in Buncrana involving the local Town Council, Tidy Towns Committee and the Buncrana / West Inishowen Historical Society is celebrating a major accolade.

The Buncrana Lighthouse Restoration Project won the Heritage Award.

The eight metre tall lighthouse (pictured above) was first established on the Buncrana Pier in January 1876 and it was converted from oil to acetylene in 1916 and onto electric in 1951.

It was decommissioned in 2009 by Irish Lights and restored and erected on the Shore Front a year later.

Slideshow – Autumn in Buncrana

Made in Donegal

Made in Donegal

Made in Donegal is a documentary about the local food culture in County Donegal, Ireland and why it is so important to the county’s as well as country’s future.

This film was made by students of Ohio University Documentary and Storytelling in Ireland Program, They’ve put their hearts and souls into an experience they will never forget.

 This is what happened behind the camera as we challenged ourselves and produced, shot, and edited our documentary in six weeks.

BTS: Made in Donegal from Kelly Matousek on Vimeo.

John Murray Show Video Highlights

John Murray Show Video Highlights

Here are some highlights from The John Murray Show’s trip to Dunfanaghy in Co. Donegal. As part of the show, a walk was recorded in Carrigart the evening before.

… and here are the photos from the trip

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.401644999896868.92119.102471646480873&type=1

Laghey Blast Festival

Laghey Blast Festival

The Countdown is on and preparations are well underway for the Laghey Blast Festival. With only one week to go to the May Bank Holiday Weekend, you will see the village of Laghey come alive for their third annual festival.

Events will kick off on Friday night 4th May with the selection of the Festival Queen. Twelve ladies from Laghey and the surrounding areas will take part in this competition in O’Carolan’s Dew Drop Inn at 9.00p.m..

To celebrate the recent success of Laghey’s Biggest Loser there will be a 5km fun run at 12 noon on Saturday 6th May.

The opening parade is also on Saturday at 1.00p.m. with marching bands, local children and The Big Heads. MC is Gerry Singer.

This year’s festival brings a variety of events and activities to suit everyone’s taste with plenty of fun and entertainment for all the family. Children’s activities include Fun Fair – pay as you go, Bouncy Castles, Children’s Olympics, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, Itchy Feet, this is a free workshop for kids on drumming, Magician show on Sunday at 2.00p.m. and 5.00p.m., Birds of Prey and much more. For the adults, Arts and Craft Market, History Tour, Blast Bake Off – Bakery Competition, Funzone includes Cracker Eating Competition, Musical Chairs for the young and old, Show and Tell with local people showing their skills, Soap Box Darby – Go Cart Racing, Rambling House music, songs, stories and dance for the young at heart.

There will be balls of fun when 1,000 balls are released at the top of Main Street with first ball winning a prize of €200.00. The Ball Race competition is on Sunday at 2.00p.m. and costs only €5.00 each and you have two chances of winning. The Jack Wise Show a crazy street entertainer – sword swallower and hilarious ventriloquist not to be missed.

Saturday night’s entertainment includes original band Mojo GoGo their drummer Jordon Carty who hails from Donegal town and has toured America with Kintra. The band has recently featured on the front cover of Hot Press Magazine and has also secured a record deal in Manchester. Ardara’s singer and songwriter Emily Whelan will take to the stage on Sunday evening at 8.00p.m.

Due to the high calibre of the music acts there will be a charge of €5.00 admission to the live open-air concerts on both Saturday and Sunday nights.

Saturday night – Mojo GoGo at 7.00p.m. followed by Killers of Leon at 9.00p.m. and on Sunday night

Pump up the Jam at 7.00p.m. followed by Irish Legends Bagatelle at 9.00p.m..

We are committed to bringing you an unrivalled musical entertainment event, but we also know that no festival experience is complete without a host of other entertainment. So, whatever your tastes, the Laghey Blast Festival has got something for you.

Big crowds are expected, so please come early.

Parking restrictions will be in place, please obey the stewards at all times and make this a safe and joyful festival for everyone. Thank you for your co-operation.