The War of Independence: ‘four glorous years’ or squalid sectarian conflict? Was historic objectivity the real victim? The War of Independence 1918-1921 will be commemorated later this decade. Was it ‘Four Glorious Years’, as one protagonist called it (Frank Gallagher, the deputy director of the first Dáil’s Department of Publicity). Or was it [...]
Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams TD, has today published a blog which examines in detail the British papers released under the 30 year rule and covering the 1981 hunger strike. In his blog the Sinn Féin leader assesses the British government attitude to the hunger strike; comments on the claim that Bobby Sands offered to [...]
December 8th was, for many years, the traditional Christmas shopping day especially for farming families. For Catholics it was a holy day of obligation and country people would take advantage of this and travel to purchase the bulk of their Christmas needs after attending Mass on the day. For many years the day was used [...]
Last Sunday saw an Open Day at the Old Sligo Gaol as part of Heritage Week 2010. This unique tour bought visitors back to a time when the Gaol had a huge influence within the County and the wider region. Staff from Sligo Local Authorities worked with the Sligo Youth theatre to make the tour an [...]
A proposal that would ensure a bye election was held within six months of an Irish constituency such as Donegal south west being held was defeated in the Dail last night, 72-68. The 4 votes difference in reality explains the reluctance of the Fianna Fail/Green government not to want any bye-election in the North West. [...]
Gardaí have issued an appeal for help tracing the relatives of a fallen hero who is due to be honoured by the force. Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy will present a medal to the family of each garda whose name is on the garden’s “roll of honour”. Garda authorities have traced the relatives of all but [...]
The launch of the Donegal Heritage ‘Life & Lore’ Collection of circa 60 oral recordings on CD of the reminiscences of County Donegal residents will take place in the Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny on Wednesday, May 19 at 1:30 p.m. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan & Donegal Person of the Year will launch [...]
Seventy years ago this month the Belfast Telegraph brought to an end a momentous newspaper campaign which helped change the course of the Second World War. It is a fascinating tale that gripped the imagination both then and now. A cheque for the modest sum of £133 16s 5d was presented in May 1945 by [...]
The unveiling of a portrait by Robert Ballagh of the late Captain James Kelly (1929-2003) will take place at Pearse House, Pearse Street, Dublin 2 on May Day. Ray Yeates, the artistic director of the Axis Theatre, Ballymun will read from “Orders for the Captain”. This was a personal account written by the former Irish [...]
The 1916 Irish Rising will be commemorated at a ceremony outside the GPO in Dublin this afternoon, Easter Sunday. President Mary McAleese and the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Brian Cowen, will be in attendance. 300 members of the Defence Forces and two military bands will honour those who fought in the Easter Rising 94 years [...]
The dust has settled a bit and the weekend reports on how the government reshuffle has been viewed by the Irish public is very clear from the polls. Up here in the North West, Mary C got a reprieve from the executioner’s chair and got moved to Education. She will need all of her ear muffs to [...]
Tommy Elliott, Screen, Donegal P.O., the last surviving founder of Donegal Mart passed away on Feb.5th. Tommy was born on 30th October 1922, the eldest of a family of 5. He attended Copany school with his neighbours and lived among them for the rest of his life.He became one of the most forward thinking farmers [...]
The end of a unique era of Ballyshannon journalism and its once thriving newspaper industry was recorded in recent days following the death of John Ward, the last proprietor and Editor of the once famous ‘Donegal Vindicator’ newspaper, which was printed from 1889 to 1956. It is a remarkable tale of the man, the town he [...]
A high level Canadian delegation will visit Donegal next week to launch a book about Irish emigration from the north-west of Ireland to Canada, and to unveil a monument in Inishowen. They will also meet representatives of Donegal Co. Council. Across the Atlantic- Emigrating from Moville and Derry is a small, illustrated publication consisting of [...]
It seems ironic and indeed strange that a story doing the news rounds today centres on a ‘row’ in Donegal over a ‘memorial’ that ‘might’ be erected to the late Lord Louis Mountbatten. Today was the 30th anniversary of his death at the hands of a 50lb bomb planted by the IRA. As far [...]
One of Ireland's finest artists in the North West
