A Matter of Record - The Donegal Democrat down the years

Whether that was the rejection of school extensions at the time, confrontation with the Navy off the Donegal coast, denim-clad hooligans descending upon Bundoran or Donegal GAA raising training funds for their Ulster final teams, it gives a fascinating insight into how Donegal life has evolved over the decades. Another eclectic mix from the Donegal Democrat archives this week from Michael McHugh. 

Donegal Democrat - July 15, 1993 - 30 years ago 

Minister rejects Milford extension

The Minister for Education, Ms Niamh Breathnach, has given a “thumbs down” to extending Milford Vocational School and indicated that the town itself should only have one school rather than two as at present.

She made her views known on the matter when she met a deputation from the school rather than two as at present.

She made her views known on the matter when she met a deputation from the school’s Board of Management yesterday in Dublin and her comments are bound to spark off a major political row in the Milford electoral area.

Parents, teachers and children associated with the school were led to believe last year that a new vocational school was on the cards - but now their hopes have been dashed.

At present, there are two schools in the town, Loreto College, Milford and the Vocational school which has over 400 pupils, many of them crammed into over 20 prefabs which have been erected over the years.

Donegal Democrat - July 1, 1983 - 40 years ago 

Talks planned to end “war”

Plans are underway to hold discussions between all those involved in the fishing crisis off Donegal in order to come to some agreement on fishing rules and regulations, and so avoid a repetition of last week’s incident when an Irish Navy vessel fired at a fishing boat.

Deputy Dinny McGinley, who with Deputy (Cope) Gallagher, is one of the main supporters of the planned talks, said yesterday that the discussions would have the support of every coastal deputy, who has salmon fishermen in his constituency.

He said that the aim of the talks would be to find a solution to the problem and to arrive at something which would be “strictly adhered to”.

Meanwhile out at sea, things have quietened down after last week’s shooting. The protection vessel, LE Fola is still patrolling off the coast of the county and on Tuesday she captured a trawler off Sheephaven Bay which was fishing with two miles of drift net.

A spokesman for the Northern Regional Fisheries Board said yesterday that the navy had brought the area under control and that inshore fishermen using draft nets were reporting large increases in the number of salmon reaching the rivers.

Since the Navy clampdown began two weeks ago, nearly 40,000 yards of monofilament net had been confiscated.  

In the Dail on Thursday last the shooting incident was raised when Deputies Gallagher and McGinley submitted private notice questions.

The Minister for Defence Mr Cooney gave an account of what happened and when it was pointed out to him by Deputy McGinley that some of the facts differed from those given by a Naval spokesman, Mr Cooney said that he was satisfied the facts reported to him were accurate. 

He added that the commander of the Fola was quite within his rights in ordering fire to be opened on the offending vessel. The vessel was unidentified. He described the amount of illegal fishing in the area as “outrageous”.

Under questioning from Deputy Gallagher, Mr Cooney said that the fishermen in Donegal and their wives and children “need have no fear from the Naval Service of this State”.

“Any unfortunate consequences that result from encounters between the Naval Service and the fisherman are attributable directly to the flagrant breaching of the law by the fishermen in question”.

Donegal Democrat - July 13, 1973 - 50 years ago 

Bundoran demands action on hooligans

Residents and business people in the holiday resort of Bundoran are angry and concerned at the seeming lack of action by the authorities after recent incidents in the town.

It has been pointed out that the gardai are in no way blamed for this inaction.

“They are doing a very good job”, said one spokesman but the finger has been pointed at publicans, off licensees, C.I.E., and even the Church!

The cause of the row is the influx of denim-clad youngsters, mainly from Northern Ireland in search of the holiday atmosphere and apparently any trouble and excitement they can also find.

“Accommodation is their first requirement”, said one prominent café owne, “and they are camping on Urban Council, C.I.E. and Church property”.

Obviously there is no control exercised over these illegal sites and it makes it harder to keep the undesirable element out of Bundoran. On one such site, the plantation in the Catholic Church grounds, the gardai discovered a large amount of stolen property last year. There is an encampment again this year on the site. 

“Some people are expressing strong views on this problem,” said one businessman, “but they are continuing to serve these elements with wine in their licensed premises.”

Café owners have continual problems with drunken underage customers trying to cadge free meals from waitresses. One young cafe employee was even threatened and intimidated in an attempt to force him to supply free chickens. 

Several business premises have been broken up and in one incident youths engaged in a stone throwing battle near the Astoria Ballroom.

A lady holidaymaker was terrorised when her caravan was used as a cover. A shop on Bundoran’sMain Street had its window smashed and looted.

Special patrols have been laid on in strength by the gardai in an attempt to end the vandalism.

On Tuesday night, there were further stone throwing incidents and the almost completed new swimming pool was a target. Windows were broken in the building which is due to be opened next week.

Donegal Democrat - July 19, 1963- 60 years ago 

£20 sub. from the Champions

County Champions, Sean MacCumhaill’s, who have three playing members on the Donegal senior football team to play Down in the Ulster Final at Breffni Park, Cavan on Sunday week have made a subscription of £20 towards the training fund. Except in the Bundoran area (where a permit has been issued to another organisation), the G.A.A. will take up a church gate collection on Sunday next, to help defray some of the huge cost in preparing both the senior and minor teams. So far, training has cost £800 this year.

In a letter to club secretaries, the county Secretary asks that the collection be taken up at every church area, even if a G.A.A. club does not exist. This will be done by clubs in areas adjoining.

“Every Donegal man and woman should be given an opportunity to fulfil a patriotic duty of subscribing to the training fund,” the letter states. 

Earned £15 10s. for 124 Heads

The clerk, Mr A.G. King at the July meeting of Ballyshannon Fishery Board stated that for 124 cormorant’s heads, Mr F. McHugh Muckross has earned £15-10s.