Council chamber smoking ban sought as it was a 'venial sin' in 1964

Forget the medical dangers of contracting a disease or illness through smoking. In 1964, an attempt was made to prevent smoking in the Donegal county council chamber as it could land you with commiting a sin, even if just a venial one!

There was postal chaos a hundred years ago in Donegal, Ballyshannon was getting its new Great Northern Railway (GNR) garage in the Market Yard ten years later while in 1944 the mummers were strong in Ardfarna and Boyney.

A February bog fire in Pettigo in 1954 cast a red glow over the area, if not suspicions, as the archives of the Donegal Democrat and its history reveal this week

1964 - February 7 - 60 years ago - Smoking ban in Council again discussed

Another attempt is being made by Mr S.J. Patterson to have smoking prohibited in the Council Chamber during County Council meetings.

At the January meeting Mr Patterson tabled a motion that in view of the alarming reports on smoking the Council consider the advisability of banning smoking during Council meetings.

He quoted a report from an evening paper in which an American Jesuit had stated that Catholics who failed to make a reasonable attempt to stop smoking were committing a sin.

If a person smoked for no reason other than the pleasure and relaxation involved and failed to make a reasonable and continuing effort to quit, then he was committing at least a venial sin.

It was agreed that Mr Patterson would withdraw the motion as many of the Councillors had left and table it again for the next meeting.

1924, February 1 - 100 years ago - Postal Calamity - Donegal Democrat Editorial

ABOVE: 1924 could only mean one thing and that was a Leap Year dance in Donegal Town

Postal facilities in Ireland are exceedingly inadequate and unsatisfactory although rates and charges are much higher than in England and elsewhere.

In this respect Tirconaill suffers more than any other county in Ireland.

We take a few local instances to illustrate the state of things which exist.

Bundoran has one delivery of letters in the day.

An urgent letter may come in on the evening post; it may require an immediate reply, but it is not delivered until the following morning.

The incoming mail to Ballyshannon does not arrive till half past ten and is not delivered until noon.

By this time the principal outgoing mail of the day is already gone. From the Northern parts of Tirconaill to the southern and vice versa lettersers, which should take a couple of hours at most, go round through the Six Counties and arrive at their destination in about three days. Similarly, telegrams, which should only take minutes, take hours; those from north to south doing a circuition through the six counties.

Telephonic communication is practically a minus quantity. We are living in times when burglaries are becoming the order of the day and when telephonic communications are an absolute necessity in tracking down criminals.

ABOVE:The annual old timers dance in 1954 at the famed St Mary's Hall in Dunkineely

Time and again robbers and murderers have escaped because speedy communication between the various units of police and military could not be affected.

So far as trade and commerce are concerned, if we are to keep pace with the modern advance in the business world it is essential that sweeping reforms should take place in postal communication. Tirconaill prides itself on being part of the Free State but postal arrangements are so perfectly muddled that we are linked up with the Six Counties and cut off from the rest of Ireland.

Tenders wanted - Tirconaill County Council

Tenders are invited by the above County Council for the remodelling of a portion of the County House, Lifford.

Plan and Specification for the above work may be seen at the County Surveyor’s Office, Lifford.

Tenders will be received up to Friday noon, February 8th.

The County Council do not bind themselves to accept the lowest or any tender.

The Secretary, Tirconaill County Council, Lifford

ABOVE: TO look dapper in February 1964, the was only one place to go and that was to Slevin's of Ballyshannon

1934 - February 3, 1934 - 90 years ago - G.N.R. Bus Services

The Great Northern Railway Company have fitted up a repair shop at their garage, Market Yard, Ballyshannon. Their ‘Buses and Lorries, which hitherto had to be brought to Dundalk, Belfast and Derry for repairs and overhauling, are now dealt with by a staff of mechanics and electricians at the Ballyshannon Depot.

Washers and greasers are also employed at the Depot.

All the buses are heated and are washed, cleaned and disinfected daily.

ABOVE: 1964 and the Kilcar Pioneer Players are in the Highland Hotel in Ardara, this Donegal Democrat advert revealed

The buses leave Ballyshannon every day in a condition which would give one the impression that they had just left the coachbuilders' hands.

1944 - February 5 - 80 years ago

Successful Mummers Dance in Boyney

The Boyney and Ardfarna Mummers brought their Christmas festivities to a close on Thursday night, the 27th ult. by inviting over one hundred guests to a dance which was held in the premises, kindly given for the occasion by Mr D. Kerrigan of Boyney.

The spacious dance room which was filled to capacity was artistically decorated and presented an animated appearance on the arrival of the guests from counties Donegal, Fermanagh and Leitrim.

The following deserve special mention for their vocal contributions during the night, all of whom received great applause, Mr Frank McNulty and Miss Josie McNulty (Bundoran), Miss Mai Kelly (Dernaseer), Mr John J. Hamilton (Higginstown), Miss M. Granaghan (Ardfarna), Mr Jim Gallagher (Boyney), Mr Bonaventure Murray (Newtown), Mr Terence Munday and Mr James O’Loughlin (Ardfarna), Mr Michael McGowan (Tonery) and Mr Dan McNulty, (Derryherk).

1954 - February 5 - 70 years ago

Ballyshannon Hospital “Farce”

Ballyshannon has two hospitals yet a child belonging to the town was ordered to Lifford to have tonsils removed.

The position was referred to when it was raised at a meeting of Ballyshannon Town Commissioners who on the motion of Mr E. Doherty asked the Minister of Health to have the Rock Hospital reopened as a surgical hospital. He said he had raised the matter before and they got very little satisfaction. It was closed by order of the Minister and no reason was given. There was a first class operating theatre in it for general surgery and he did not see why it was closed and others allowed to remain open.

Pettigo

On Thursday night, a fire raged on the mountain near Croaghadreen bog, a few miles from Pettigo. The red glow was reflected in the sky for miles around.

A large acreage of heather, together with stacks of turf built in the bog, was burned. It is also feared that many sheep may have perished in the fire which continued for twelve hours, fanned by a strong easterly wind. Gardai from Pettigo are investigating the cause of the fire.

Frosses and Inver

While out hunting at the weekend Messrs P. Glackin, R. Gilbride and C. Lehane unearthed a silver coin dated 1712.

Mountcharles

One of the coldest spells of weather ever experienced was the verdict that locals passed on last week’s wintry conditions. Roads were in a dangerous state and many accidents were reported, none of them serious.

Bundoran Hotel sold

One of Bundoran’s leading hotels, “Maghery House Hotel” changed ownership during the week, when after private negotiations conducted by Mr Sean Meehan, Auctioneer, the sale of the property to Messrs Joseph O’Boyle and John McGovern (late of Shene House Hotel, Bundoran) was successfully completed.