A matter of Record - The Donegal Democrat down the years

As the Civil war abated, 100 years ago, most regional Irish newspapers were towing the Provisional Government line having been under military censorship for the duration of the civil war. 

In the months thereafter and with little appetite to prolong the conflict narrative after the horrors of the previous year, combined with a electoral mandate for acceptance of the treaty, saw anniversaries already being commemorated by August of 1923.   

In the case of the Donegal Democrat, the fact that Finner Camp was juxtaposed between the Erne Town and Bundoran, gave little room for anything other than the ‘party line’, although anti-treaty forces (having the appendage of ‘Irregulars’ on instructions by the Chief Government Censor in newspapers) had been prominent in Bundoran, North Leitrim and North Sligo, during the Civil War. And so begins another offering from the paper, writes Michael McHugh.  

Donegal Democrat, August 10, 1923 - 100 years ago 

The Memory of the Dead - President Griffith and Gen Collins anniversary

Impressive Ceremony at Bundoran

August 1922 stands out pre-eminently as the most tragic month of the long period of internal strife from which Ireland is now slowly emerging.

The sudden death in that month might easily have proved “the beginning of the end” of the Nation itself in the circumstances then existing. The element of sadness was greater, because of the fact, that the great object, towards the attainment of which he had devoted the energies of a lifetime, seemed at last possible of accomplishment.

There was a feeling of despondency throughout the country which was not lessened when, later in the same month, General Collins fell to the bullet of an assassin.

The illness of President Griffith was a natural one, though it may have been , and probably was, aggravated by the strain his difficult office imposed on him, and his death was one of the frequent illustrations of the uncertainty of human nature.

It was not so in the matter of General Collins. He, whose every action had been endorsed by the great majority of his fellow citizens, was killed in ambush in the pride of his young manhood. Appreciating their courage in face of an unparalleled situation and recalling the tragic ends in this, their anniversary month, it is, but fitting that we should pay tribute to their memory in the most practical way.

With this end in view Solemn Office for the dead was chanted and Requiem High Mass celebrated in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Bundoran, on Wednesday.

Every available seat in the spacious Church was occupied at an early hour and very large numbers unable to gain admittance remained kneeling outside the Church doors, throughout the long ceremonies . . . .

There was a parade of all units of the Donegal Command from Finner Camp to the Church and in the unavoidable absence of Major General Sweeney, who was in Dublin on military business Colonel McCabe, Command Adjutant of the Rocks Barracks, Ballyshannon was in charge. 

Below: Arthur Griffith whose death at 51 was just 10 days before the assassination of Michael Collins

Donegal Democrat, August 12, 1933 - 90 years go

Army Championships - 1st (Irish Speaking) Battalion win at Dublin and Galway

On 27th July, the 1st (Irish speaking) Battalion Finner Camp, travelled to Croke Park to meet the 2nd battalion in the Army Football Championships.

The soft pitch and greasy ball made it impossible for good football and after a hard fought game the 1st were victorious by the score of 2 goals, 8 points to 2 goals 3 points.

At Galway on 2nd August the 1st scored a further victory over Department of Defence, after a hard and fast game, on the score of 3 goals 6 points to 3 points.

Department of Defence made several determined efforts to increase their store, but the 1st Backs were all there and time and again McCarthy and Griffin (1st) beat off the D.O.D. forwards in dashing style.

An advert for the ticket item of the day back in August 1933 - Rick lifters 

1st Battn team - McCarthy and Higgins (Galway and Connacht), Daly and Ferriter (Kerry), McKeown and Ryan (Galway), Gill Glynn, Griffin, Bishop, Mannion, Cullen, Doyle, Bunyan, Flaherty, Divilly.

D.O.D team included Byrne (Kildarre), Lalor, Daniels and O’Connell (Dublin).

Pettigo News 

Prices at the market on Monday were - Eggs in the Free State side of the village and country stores, 9d per doz (6d per lb), Butter 9d per lb.

Eggs in Northern side and country stores 10 1/2d per doz (7d per lb), Butter 10d to 1s per lb.

Donegal Democrat, August 14, 1943 - 80 years ago 

Senior Football Championship Final - Ballyshannon win seventh title

Before a good attendance of spectators at the Pearse Memorial Park Ardara on Sunday, Ballyshannon defeated Convoy in the final of the Donegal senior football championship by 1 goal 9 points to 2 goals 1 point and so won the title for the seventh time. 

The sides were level at half time, 1 goal 1pt. All, but Ballyshannon the holders held the upper hand all through and though Convoy fought valiantly with gusto and determination to the final whistle the issue was never in doubt.

Dancing in Bundoran in August 1923

The game was marred by some incidents which did not reflect credit on the parties concerned but it was well controlled by Mr P.J. McGill, O.S., Ardara who was the capable and impartial referee.

Ballyshannon fielded the same team which defeated Downstrands in the semi final - a team which has brought many laurels to the Allingham town. No doubt the men from the Erne side fully deserved the victory and if they did not touch the high-lights, they proved that they have the match winning temperament and a spirit that paves the way to victory.

Ballyshannon - H. McGuinness, J. McDermott, M. Melly, S. Slevin, P.O’Neill, D. Doherty, S. Slevin, B. Gallagher, J. McGettigan, M. Slevin, P.J. Goan, J. Gallagher, P. Stephens, S. Kane, S. Flynn.

Convoy - R. Bonner, J. Spence, S. McLoughlin, M. Gallen, P. Campbell, L. Doherty, C. Lafferty, J. Gallen, J. Galagher, M. Gallagher, E. Tonner, J. O’Donnell, J. Noonan, P. Smith, A. Tonner.  

Donegal Democrat, August 14, 1953 - 70 years ago 

New Crest may become County Coat of Arms

As a result of deliberations on the project for a revival of the hosting of the Cans in Donegal, the county maysoon have a registered coat of arms, a feature, which it has always lacked.

At a meeting of the Committee in Ballybofey on Sunday, Mr J.C.T. MacDonagh, B. Comm, submitted a design which he had devised with the Clan movement and he suggested that if it was approved by the Committee the County Council might be asked to adopt it as the official coat of arms for the county.

The work, which was most artistically executed by Mr McCafferty, Stranorlar, to Mr McDonagh’s design, has for its crest the arms of the O’Donnell’s, while the arms proper show the crozier penetrating the foot of Conal, the progenitor of all the clans of Tirchonaill when he was baptised by St Patrick and  the Tostal flag and the open book are incorporated up represent Donegal in song and story.