A matter of Record - The Donegal Democrat History Archives of the last century

November 30 1923 - One hundred years ago - Dance dispersed in Donegal

A dance in a Protestant school and under Protestant auspices at Lough Eske, three miles from Donegal town, was dispersed by armed men on Friday night.

The object of the dispersal of the entertainment was of course, in furtherance of the Republican policy for the release of the prisoners. The armed men were evidently unaware that the Hunger Strike was at an end.  

November 25 1933 - 90 years ago 

Ballyshannon Town Commissioners - Tenders invited for building of houses 

Tenders are invited for the erection of 80 houses in lots as directed, 

And the construction of roadway and paths on the Flower Estate, Site No. 1 in accordance with plans, specifications and conditions of contract prepared by messrs McDonnell, Dixon and Downs, Architects, 20 Ely Place, Dublin.

Donegal District Mental Hospital Letterkenny - Potatoes required

The Committee of Management invite Tenders for the supply of Twenty Tons best quality Table Potatoes.

Forms of Tender and full particulars may be obtained on application to JOhn McClean, Clerk of Mental Hospital. November 21st 1933. 

A Grievance

Dear Sir - Kindly allow me to trespass on your space to draw attention to a matter of paramount importance not alone to ex-servicemen but to the public in general, namely, the rumoured practice of unauthorised people going around soliciting subscriptions in aid of one or other of the various branches of Ex-Servicemen in this country.

As an ex-serviceman myself I would like to warn the charitable public against giving subscriptions to collectors without first asking for their credentials. It is most unfair to ex-servicemen, or indeed re members of any other organisation, who reap no benefit from these collections that any peterson can roam around at will bruiting about the supposed necessitiousness of men who even in bad circumstances, would scorn to ask or accept help by such tactics. Your Truly, Ex-Serviceman

(Above: Democrat December 2nd 1983) 

November 27 1943 - 80 years ago - Donegal Association New York

On Saturday October 9th the Donegal Association held its installation party at the Hotel Capitol, West 51st Street and 8th Avenue, New York City.

The spacious Oak ballroom of the hotel was crowded by members and friends of the Association and a very enjoyable programme was presented. 

Seamus O’Doherty, the celebrated Irish tenor, who is a member of the Donegal Group was chairman, and introduced the installing officer, Hon Joseph F. McLoughlin, who is in charge of the United Irish Counties Feis, which is held in Fordham University each year and is the greatest single contribution made to Irish culture by the exiles in the United States.

The newly elected officers are: President, Hugh McKelvey, Ballybofey; Vice president, Neil Duddy, Arranmore; Treasurer William Boyle Ardara; Secretary Sue Gallagher, Killybegs; Recording Secretary, Mary McDyer, Glenties; Corresponding Secretary, Lillian McLaughlin, Carndonagh; Sergeant At Arms Michael Meehan, Inver.

Directors: Thomas Hegarty, Kilcar, (chairman) Cathleen Boyle, Ballyshannon, Mary Gallagher, Gweedore, Patrick Brennan, Brenter and Thomas G O’Doherty, Belfast.

Auditors Mrs Anne Flynn, Ballyshannon and Mr Patrick Brennan, New York.   

Sarah Doherty, Carndonagh, former recording Secretary has been one of the most active workers on the committee that made the installation party one of the most successful ever held in New York. 

November 27 1953 - 70 years ago - Electrification in Glencolumbkille 

Deputy P O’Donnell, in the Dail asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if in view of the successful canvass and the urgent necessity of preserving the Gaeltacht and providing social amenities therein he would impress on the Electricity Supply Board the absolute necessity of extending rural electrification to the Glencolumbkille peninsula.

In his reply the Minister said:

I am informed by the Electricity Supply Board that an official canvass of the residents of Glencolumbkille area has recently been completed and that the area will be considered by the Board early in the New Year for development under the rural electrification scheme. 

I am not in a position to state when development is likely to take place.

(Back then Donegal had to fight for everything, even the introduction of Electricity and it was the Minister who went on to say that it was the ESB who decided which area got priority under the scheme. By the way the Minister in question was Sean Lemass) 

November 30 1973 - 60 years ago  - Drastic Protest Proposals on Sheil Hospital Issue 

A protest march and a no rates campaign were amongst proposals made at a public meeting in Ballyshannon last Wednesday night, called to consider the position of the Sheil Hospital, where neither surgery nor maternity, is now being catered for.

The meeting was called for the Drama Centre, but so large was the attendance that it was found necessary to transfer to Church Avenue hall, which was placed at the disposal of the promoters at short notice.

C.A. King, president of the Chamber of Commerce, told the meeting that the run-down of the hospital had reached a serious stage. The number of patients being treated there at present was lamentably small and it seemed that to all intents and purposes the hospital had ceased to exist. 

He understood that the situation was due to the protracted procedure involved in an application to the High Court for permission to lease or sell the hospital to the North West Regional Health Board. The Board it was believed were ready to take over, but legal technicalities were holding up the transfer.

(The Hospital later transferred to the old NWHB and is now in HSE ownership. The hospital itself over the last two years has received a multi million euro investment and is now waiting to be opened under the guise of the new Sheil Hospital/South Donegal Community Hospital. I certainly hope that in the new upgrade that the “Sheil” appendage to its name is simply forgotten in the more generic term of simply being referred to as the South Donegal Community Hospital)

(Above - A Democrat report from November 1983) 

November 25 1983 - 40 years ago - Largest ever graduation from R.T.C.

The largest ever number of graduates of the Regional College, Letterkenny were conferred with their awards at a ceremony in the College on Friday last.

Among them were the first output of students who completed a course leading to the National Certificate in Electronics and seventeen students who completed a course in Fish Farming.

At the conferring ceremony, it was announced that the College was at an advanced stage of negotiation with the Ulster Polytechnic for the provision in the College of a Bachelor of Education degree under the auspices of the Polytech. 

A total of 157 N.C.E.A. awards were conferred on the successful students.