A matter of Record - The Donegal Democrat down the years

This week’s offering again looks through the 104 year history of the Donegal Democrat newspaper. This week Michael McHugh looks at a few stories that made the pages of the 'Demo' in more recent decades including Donegal's first fabulous McKenna Cup Final victory against Cavan 50 years ago.

Donegal Democrat Friday, September 13, 1963 – 60 years ago

DONEGAL TAKE HOME McKENNA CUP FOR FIRST TIME

Cavan, 0-5

Donegal 2-08

Cavan now know that their Ulster senior football championship at Clones in July was no flash in the pan when Donegal defeated them 4-5 to 0-6, for in their own Breffni Park, Cavan. On Sunday, they were beaten in the final of the Dr. McKenna Cup

Cavan, indeed, in this game were obliterated as a football; force by a side, not yet at its peak. but capable of developing into one of the best in the country. 

From the early stages j this game followed a set pattern, and for Cavan supporters who outnumbered Donegal's by at least one hundred to one, it must have been a very drab hour indeed. It was not that Cavan lacked the intent to win. 

Their players tried hard enough, but they neither had the fitness nor the football ability to match Donegal with more than token play in most sectors of the field. As the game approached the final quarter the Donegal men were cutting railroads through the Cavan defence, now badly out of steam in most sectors.

No one could say however, that this was a great final, but that was not the fault of Donegal. They gave all, and a little more than was necessary to win, but the Breffni men were unable to test them or bring out fully their real worth to any great extent.

As in the Ulster semi-final game Donegal had a somewhat freak goal, but at that stage of the second half, there was no doubt whatever as to the result. 

It was a memorable feat to win the cup for the first time and to defeat the holders on their home pitch, but much of the glamour was torn from the occasion by the depth of victory, so easily, - so very easily won.

DONEGAL— Seamus Hoare; Finn Gallagher, Bernard Brady, P. J. Flood; Sean O'Donnell, John Hannigan, Brendan Mc-Feely; Sean Ferriter and Frankie McFeely; Donal Breslin, Paul Kelly, Mick Griffin; Cormac Breslin, Des Houlihane, Declan O'Carroll.

CAVAN — J. Reilly, Tony Morris, Tom Maguire, P. J. McCaffrey; Jim Brady, Ray Carolan, Jim McDonnell; T. Lynch and H. B. O'Donoghue; J Stafford, D. Brady, P. Prichard; Jack McEntaggart, Pat Clarke, Colm Toal.

Donegal Democrat, September 14, 1973 - 50 years ago

Donegalman is new Head of R.U.C.

The new head of R.U.C., Mr James Flanagan, is a Catholic and a native of the Crossroads, Killygordon, district.

The chief constable designate, whose appointment was announced on Tuesday, has served as deputy to the present head, Sir Graham Shillington for the past three years.

He has asked that he should only hold the post for a limited period, and the Northern Ireland Police Authority have agreed to his request that he should serve for only two years.

Mr Flanagan, whose father was a member of the old R.I.C. is well known in East Donegal. Aged 59 years and a career policeman he joined the R.U.C. as a constable before the Second World War.

A Donegal team from Philidelphia pictured in our edition of September 18, 1953

Donegal Democrat, September 16, 1983 - 40 years ago

One Shopping Centre gets green lights

Plans for two huge shopping complexes in Letterkenny which have been a bone of contention in the Cathedral town for over a year were the subject of Planning Appeal decisions handed down this week.

The L. & L.S.R. company has been granted planning permission for a shopping centre and associated site works subject to conditions. The situation, which was the subject of the application, is at Port Road, Letterkenny and the main outlet at the centre is expected to be a Quinnsworth/Penneys Superstore, plus a number of shop units.

Wilton House Ltd., who had applied for planning permission for a shopping complex on the outskirts of Letterkenny were refused permission.

The applications by L. & L.S.R. and Wilton House Ltd. were originally successful with Donegal County Council granting both of them planning permission. Subsequently, however, Co. Donegal traders appealed in relation to both of these to An Bord Pleanala. The appeals were heard over a 2-day period in March and the final decision of An Bord Pleanala was reached this month.

Gweedore Power Station doomed

In the sweeping five years rationalisation plan submitted by the E.S.B. to the Government to reduce costs it is proposed to shut down the peat generating station at Gweedore next year.

Dáil Deputies Dinnty McGonley and Pat the Cope Gallagher have already been in touch with the E.S.B. on the matter and Co Councillor Fred Coll and Deputy McGinley travelled to Dublin to discuss the issue with the Minister for Energy, Mr John Bruton and the E.S.B. Clr. has already called on Bord na Mona to carry out a genuine policy of exploitation of Donegal’s greatest natural resource - turf.

Mr Coll said that peat development would provide a new era of employment for those who continually supplied the Gweedore generating station with turf and should also create many new jobs.

The E.S.B. have stated that the production cost of each unit at Gweedore has now risen to 17p per unit.

Mr Coll said that he was told by E.S.B. chiefs that they must reduce their costs and that it was now costing over £1 million per year to maintain the Gweedore unit.

The Gweedore peat station first went into production in 1956 and the cost of replacement would be prohibitive plus the fact that five megawatt stations are entirely uneconomic.

On an average the generating station at Gweedore broke down six times per year, for some years back due to burnt out grates and the need to replace some major mechanical parts. There is the added problem of procuring spare parts anywhere.

Clr. Coll said that to counteract the loss of valuable peat production Bord na Mona in conjunction with the Department of Energy should embark on an immediate development of peat resources and introduce small compact cutting machines to enable turf to be harvested at competitive prices.

The peat station at Gweedore used about 30,000 tons of turf every year to maintain peat production.

Donegal Democrat, September 16, 1993 - 30 years ago

Death of Democrat Managing Director

The death took place in St. Vincent's Private Hospital, Dublin, on Tuesday night of Mr. Cecil J. C. King, "Ardmeelish", Knather Road, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, after a long illness borne with true Christian fortitude and resignation.

The late Mr. King was Managing Director of Donegal Democrat Ltd., Ballyshannon, and was well known in the business and commercial life of the North West, and nationally in the printing and publishing business.

The late Mr. King, aged 56, was a native of Derry City where his father had been a member of the editorial staff of the Derry Journal for many years. When Mr. King senior, with a number of friends, purchased the Donegal Democrat from the estate of the newspaper's founder, the late John Downey, he brought his family to reside in Ballyshannon where Cecil Og continued his primary school and secondary school education at the local De La Salle schools.

After obtaining his Leaving Certificate Cecil Og elected to join the staff of Donegal Democrat Ltd., in which even at that early age he was deeply interested. He served in and became familiar with the working of every department in the firm acquiring an invaluable knowledge of the printing and publishing industry, a knowledge which he enhanced on every possible occasion by attending printing industry seminars and exhibitions and meetings of the Irish Master Printers Association on behalf of the firm.

In 1976 when his father retired from the Office of Managing Director, Cecil Og was appointed to replace him. This was at a period when the newspaper and printing industry was faced with the complex problems arising from the introduction of new technology which has revolutionised the industry in the last few decades.

Following his appointment he successfully undertook the change over from the old hot metal system to the new computer age.

Throughout his business career he earned the respect and admiration of all with whom he had dealings for his highly developed business acumen and spirit of integrity and enterprise.

Outside business his great loves were the F.C.A. and the concert and drama stage. On the integration of the F.C.A. with the regular Army, he served with B. Company, 24th Battalion and eventually was appointed Company Commander.

He was promoted to rank of Commandant and later, in recognition of his dedicated service and efficiency as Company Commander, he was appointed Area Commander, South Donegal, a post he occupied until he retired from the force.