Public meeting called as Education Centre becomes subject of a new documentary

A campaign to keep Donegal Education Centre in Donegal Town is gaining huge momentum, and people are asked to show their support by attending a public meeting.

At the heart of the controversy are six staff, for whom the move to Letterkenny would mean losing their jobs, or a 100km daily commute. This commute would add at least two hours to their working day, given the congestion coming in and out of Letterkenny.

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The move is also seen as a major inconvenience to educators in south Donegal, with colleagues in other parts of the county also expressing their dismay at the move.

To highlight the plight of the staff, a fly on the wall documentary is being made by film-makers Manus Brennan and Michael McMonagle.Manus is a former teacher and one of the founding members of Donegal Education Centre. He has been extremely vocal in his support for keeping the centre in Donegal Town, and for supporting the six staff members who have given a combined 71 years of dedicated, consistent and professional service to the facility, often against a turbulent backdrop. 

The producers say: “This is a unique opportunity to tell an important local story as it happens. It has all the ingredients of a great story, community action, drama , a David vs Goliath theme and a cast of very powerful local characters.  

With Manus Brennan on the inside, and fresh from his recent work on feature films, Gods Creatures starring Paul Mescal, and In the land of Saints and Sinners starring Liam Neeson, both shot in south west Donegal, this fly on the wall documentary should make for compulsive viewing.

The six women, who stand to lose their jobs as a direct result of this decision, and members of the Save our Education Centre Group, made up of primary and post primary teachers, retired teachers, have all agreed to participate and tell the story of their struggle for retention of the centre in Donegal Town and to save their jobs.

The producers say: “The story of the six women's battle, their struggle against management intransigence, bureaucratic indifference at departmental level, set against the huge support  they are receiving from teachers, schools, their friends and neighbours, the business community, all will be explored.

“Also explored will be important issues around public funding, public accountability and the  question posed as to whether this might have happened to six male workers in the same manner?

“The working title for this documentary is Women @ the Centre. Whether the campaign to retain the centre in Donegal Town and the jobs of the six staff has a happy or a sad ending, this production will generate huge public interest in Donegal and far afield.” 

In the last three years, Manus Brennan and Michael McMonagle have completed three documentary films, Triang Times, set in Pettigo, The Battle of Assaroe, directed by Emer O Shea, a film which has won numerous awards at film festivals at home and abroad, and the recently released, and well received, Man of Stone, shot on location in Mountcharles and featuring the man himself, Patsy McInaw.

Producers say: “Just like the other three films, Women @ the Centre will be a record of local events, local characters and local issues for years to come.”

A committee has been formed to fight the move, which is also a massive blow to the local economy. It is estimated that in excess of €15,000 is spent locally by the centre, with the addition of shopping by course participants visiting the town.

Donegal Democrat / Donegal Post has contacted management on a number of occasions over the last four months, seeking information on the justification for the move and the cost. No reply was received. In a press release issued to sister paper the Inish Times last month, the Management Committee announced that they had made the decision to move the facility to Mountaintop, Letterkenny, claiming to have done so with ‘extensive consultation and collaboration with school leaders, teachers, staff and other stakeholders.’

A statement announcing the move went on to say: “The Management Committee made the decision to establish a more centralised and accessible hub for educational development in Donegal.”

The statement also included comments from two educators welcoming the move. Both of these educators are part of the management committee as listed on Donegal Education Support Centre’s website.

As far back as last October, Mayor of Donegal spoke about the unfairness of such a move on the staff, and the impact it would have on the Donegal Town economy.

At the same time, former TD Thomas Pringle raised a question in the Dáil, and was told that the decision ultimately lay with the management of Donegal Education Centre Committee.

In January, councillors of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal asked Donegal County Council to intervene.

This followed the last minute cancellation of Donegal Education Centre’s AGM. Indeed, one of the most consistent questions raised by those who use the service is how such a significant decision on the centre’s future could be taken without an AGM or EGM. 

The public meeting takes place in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town, on Thursday, February 13 at 8pm. People are urged to come along and show their support for the six staff members and to add their voices to the campaign to keep the centre in Donegal Town.

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