A Matter of Record - the Donegal Democrat down the years

The many uses of the flour bag, winning oarsmen having their prizes confiscated at the border by Customs officials, the hardy Belleek donkey who brushed off a collision by a car going at 30 m.p.h. and the fight to keep Glenties District Hospital from closing down, all form part of the eclectic dish served this week from the archives of the Donegal Democrat, writes Micheál McHugh. 

Donegal Democrat, August 14 1943 - 80 years ago

Flour Bag sheets are Good Value

So acute is the shortage of made up bed sheets that the country housewives’ plan of turning flour bags into sheets is now being copied by some city drapery stores who are selling them, single bed size, at 17/11 a pair.

The calico is the best of its kind, superior in quality and cheaper in price than many cotton substitutes on the market.

Although the sheets have been bleached and laundered, the miller’s brand still remains. But provided people have no objection to sleeping between a pair of advertisements for flour, the sheets are an undoubted bargain. 

Customs seize prizes

Prizes won by the Portadown Boat Club at the Carrick-on-Shannon regatta are reported to have been seized by the Customs authorities when the oarsmen reached the Donegal-Derry border after a holiday at Bundoran.

The oarsmen were bitterly disappointed to give them up and an application is being made by the club for their release.

Grand Central Cinema

Billy Conn, the sensational young boxer whose popularity rose after his magnificent fight with the champion Joe Louis, has made another hit - this time as an actor - in the Republic picture the Pittsburgh Kid, which comes to the Grand Central Cinema on Sunday and Monday. Conn plays the title role guided by Jean Parker.

Up Tuesday and Wednesday, Loretta Young, Robbert Preston and Edward Arnold star in The Lady from Cheyenne. A great picture with a great cast.

Thursday and Friday, lavishly prepared, carefully planned and magnificently executed How Green was my Valley emerges as a picture so true and beautiful that no matter what follows, it will continue to shine forth as one of Hollywood’s truly great achievements. It is an extraordinary motion picture, a brilliant credit to Production Chief Daryl F. Zanucjk & Director John Ford - and the acting is superb. 

In all, How Green was my Valley is a thrilling experience no one can afford to miss.

Donegal Democrat, August 21, 1953 - 70 years ago

Hardy Belleek Donkey - Knocked down by car - Unhurt

“This donkey must have been a hardy animal,” commented Mr. T.D. Elliott R.M. when he was told by a witness that the donkey was uninjured when it was struck and knocked down by a car travelling at 30 m.p.h. 

Seamus Connor, a Cementation employee said he was driving towards Belleek from the Castlecauldwell direction and a donkey ran out of a gateway about six or seven feet in front of him. Witness applied his brakes but was too close and struck the donkey.

The animal fell but was uninjured apart from some slight skin cuts. Witness was travelling at 30 m.p.h at the time.

The owner of the donkey and the defendant had been prosecuted for allowing her donkey to wander on the public road, she told the court that she knew nothing about the accident.

She thought the donkey must have jumped over the fence to get away from flies.

She was fined 7/6 and 15/-. extra expenses. 

Donegal Democrat, August 28, 1953 - 70 years ago 

Glenties Hospital must remain - County Council face up to Department threat 

A strong case for the retention of Glenties District Hospital, the closing down of which is threatened in a Department letter, was made by Rev. A. McElwee, C.C. spokesman of a reputation at a meeting of Donegal County Council on Tuesday.

Mr S.A. Baxter, Chairman, presiding, when it was unanimously decided to proceed with plans for the erection of a new hospital for the Rosses and western part of the county at Dungloe and to take a firm stand for the retention of the Glenties institution.   

Later the report added:

Father McElwee said that he understood that the letter the Council received from the Department asked for a  decision as to whether Glenties hospital was or was not to be and he appeared before the council not just as spokesperson of the deputation but as counsel for the defence and his plea would be for a verdict in favour of retaining Glenties hospital. His plea for the retention of the hospital was based on three arguments and his first argument was based on the report of the Commissioners set up by the government in 1935-36 in relation to hospitalisation in County Donegal.

The commissioners referred to the hospital as a good building in good surroundings and in good repair and they recommended the continuance of the hospital and the erection of a hospital in the Gweedore area.

His second argument was based on a report by the County Medical Officer of Health in May of this year in which he said that the hospital provided necessary accommodation for 22 T.B. patents and maternity cases, having from 70 to 90 births per annum, mostly from Glenties and the surrounding districts and a small proportion from the Rosses.

“This most definitely indicates that there is a need for the retention of the hospital in Glenties,” added Fr McElwee.

“We cannot afford to lose 22 T.B. beds to the county and in medical matters I think that we should always rely on the views of a medical man.

Pinpointing his third point Father cElwee said that for some reason it had got abroad that if it were not for the Rosses area, there would be no patients in Glenties Hospital at all and that there wpu;d be no need for a hospital in Glenties if there was one erected in Dungloe or Gweedore.

In 1951 there were 61 maternity cases from the Glenties area as against 16 in the Rosses; and in 1952, there were 67 from Glenties against 23 from the Rosses. For the 8 months of 1953 the figures were: Glentes 39; Rosses 6.   

Later in the report Cllr P McGill pointed out: “they were not antagonistic towards Dungloe, they wanted to see a hospital there, but they also wanted to retain their own and of Glenties were closed it would mean patients would have to travel to Donegal and Ballyshannon, where probably, accommodation would not be available. If the Glenties hospital were demolished it would be nothing less than wanton destruction 

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.

Donegal Democrat, August 23 1963 - 60 years ago

Hank Locklin returns to Ireland

Hank Locklin, who proved one of the most popular celebrities to visit Ireland from the U.S. this year, is returning to Ireland next month to fulfil a number of engagements.

They include a visit to the Pavesi Ballroom, Donegal. This will be his only Donegal engagement this trip.