Who was Donegal's greatest ever person? New book celebrates thirty contenders

A new book by one of Inishowen’s most important historians is a celebration of people from County Donegal, who made an enormous contribution to their society, whether at home or abroad.

‘Famous Folk from County Donegal’ is the fifteenth publication by Culdaff chronicler Sean Beattie, who has also edited 24 editions of the Donegal Annual, while co-editing the comprehensive ‘Atlas of County Donegal’.

Among the thirty personalities featured, readers can make up their own mind as to who was the greatest person ever to come from Donegal.

Some of the figures featured in the book are almost forgotten, such as the Moville Rector’s daughter, Honoria Galwey, a 19^th century music collector, who, as a child, was lulled to sleep by her father to the melody of Danny Boy, long before it was recorded by Jane Ross.

As a child in Moville, Honoria survived the cholera epidemic, the Tithe War and the Great Famine, and was also known as a word collector and conchologist.

Women feature prominently in Beattie’s latest work. It is only in recent times that Kay McNulty, from Creeslough, has been recognised as one of the pioneers of computer programming in America.

Among the ‘weaver poets’ of the Laggan, Sarah Leech is acclaimed for her book of poetry, in which she fearlessly spoke truth to power.

Frances Browne, known as ‘the Blind Poet from Stranorlar’, was a woman of great courage and fortitude. Despite her disability, she emigrated to London and carved out a successful career as a writer.

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From the textile mills of Buncrana, John Doherty pioneered trade union reform, at great personal expense, in Manchester, the industrial heartland of northern England.

Rev Edward Chichester came from a privileged background, but was no respecter of authority, especially when the bounds of decency were crossed. In the ‘Poteen Wars’ in the early 1800s in Inishowen, he challenged the forces of law and order for their hideous treatment of tenants who were accused of poteen making.

Other well-known personalities to feature in this remarkable publication include: Harry Swan, industrialist and folklorist; William Allingham, poet and critic; John Colgan, who lectured in the universities of Europe; Carndonagh’s Willie Doherty MP, who died at the age of 35, and, in more modern times, Brian Friel and Mabel Colhoun.

Beattie points out how ‘The Forgotten County’ of Donegal can be justly proud of the robust contribution its citizens have made to the modern world.

‘Famous Folk from County Donegal’ is a thrilling read, and is available from most bookshops or online at: www.historyofdonegal.ie.

Click here to read the full list of 30 people featured in the book