Former Donegal TD Hugh Conaghan has died.

The former Fianna Fail stalwart was 93.

He was first elected to Dáil Éireann for the Donegal constituency at the 1977 general election.

He was re-elected at the 1981 general election for the Donegal North-East constituency and was re-elected for this constituency until he lost his seat at the 1989 general election to colleague Jim McDaid.

He attempted to regain the seat in the general election of 1992 but was unsuccessful.

Party colleagues have paid tribute to the late Mr Conaghan.

Funeral details have yet to be arranged.

Ferry services to Tory Island have been cut back to a minimal level as the islanders try to isolate themselves during the Covid-19 pandemic.

With no doctor on the island, the potential impact of coronavirus reaching the Tory population has raised much local concern.

Ferry services will be cut from 21 trips to 6 per week on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday only as islanders try to limit the number of people travelling to and from the mainland.

Marjorie Uí Chearbhaill Comharchumann Thoraí Teo said this is an extremely difficult and worrying time for everyone.

“We have to do all we can to try and stop this coming to the island. We put up a post discouraging visitors from coming since 13th March and that has worked well,” Uí Chearbhaill told Donegal Daily.

“It is a very worrying time for people on the island, if it should come to the island there is a lot of older people and people with underlying health conditions. We are sort of isolated out here as well. We don’t have a doctor. We have a full-time nurse and they have been trained to carry out tests.

“But should anything happen to anyone you’re just hoping they will come for you.”

Islanders are following social distancing guidelines and home delivery services have been launched to provide for people in isolation.

While visitor numbers are down, people returning home from abroad are also a concern on Tory.

“You have people coming home that have lost their jobs, it’s difficult to keep them away but they have been very good in isolating for two weeks,” Uí Chearbhaill said.

The new Ferry timetable begins on Friday 27th March: with departures from Magheroarty 08.30 –  Tory 09.30 and Magheroarty 15.30 – Tory 16.30.

This situation will be monitored regularly and may be reduced further if the situation worsens, according to Comharchumann Thoraí Teo.

The Road Safety Authority has extended a suspension on driving tests due to coronavirus. 

Tests were cancelled on 13th March for two weeks to delay the spread of the virus.

Following a review, the suspension has been extended until 19th April 2020. The date will be kept under review, the RSA has said.

Those who have a driving test scheduled during this period will have the test rescheduled free of charge and the RSA will be directly in contact with candidates in the coming days. Updates around the re-starting of driving tests will be published on rsa.ie and RSA social media.

A statement said: “We understand that this will cause inconvenience to our customers, but it is the correct measure to take given the public health advice concerning social distancing and given the personal nature of the driver testing service. RSA driver testers are in close proximity to members of the public, in a confined space, for up to 40 minutes on each driving test.

“For those who wish to make a normal application for a driving test please be advised we are continuing to receive and process applications as usual. However, appointments will not be scheduled in such cases until the driver testing service resumes.

“Where there are exceptional circumstances eg. Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Civil Defence, medical professionals and critical supply chain HGV drivers,  needing a driving test, we will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate these customers.”

RTE star Ryan Tubridy was off the airwaves today after suffering a “persistent cough”.

Oliver Callan revealed he was filling in for Tubs on his RTE Radio 1 show as he gets “checked out”.

Callan said there is “no need to panic” and that Ryan will “hopefully” be well enough for this Friday’s Late Late Show.

He said “Ryan has had a persistent cough over the last few days and he’s getting it checked out so no need to worry.

“He’s getting it checked out and hopefully he will be back on the Late Late Show this Friday, hale and hearty and doing what they’ve been doing over the last few weeks which I think has been very helpful to a lot of us and very entertaining as well.

“And probably, more importantly, making it feel like a Friday, so that we can keep track of the days and the weeks.

“Because as the Taoiseach said yesterday, we’re in it for the long haul and we’re in it together.

“So no need to panic, in the meantime, we will continue to listen to your thoughts and ideas on this national state of solitary confinement.”

The Donegal Volunteer Centre has seen a surge in new volunteers signing up to help during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response to the rise in willing volunteers, the centre has revealed that it is refocusing its priorities and resources to help organisations and volunteers cope with extra demand during the coronavirus emergency.

Organisations on the front line of COVID-19 are being invited to contact the Donegal Volunteer Centre for support in recruiting extra hands.

John Curran, Donegal Volunteer Centre Manager, said: “As a trusted and experienced source of information, Donegal Volunteer Centre has always provided support to organisations when it comes to recruiting and managing volunteers. In response to the COVID-19 emergency, we are increasing and prioritising this support for organisations on the front line helping the most vulnerable members of our communities.

“We are encouraging any organisations that need support with volunteers to contact us. Whether they are registered with us already or not, we will be there to support any organisation that needs it.”

Over 6,000 people have signed up to the national volunteering database at www.i-vol.ie to offer their help during COVID-19.

On the outpouring of support from the Irish public, John added “We have seen a huge increase in those offering to help during this time. In the last 10 days, over 6,000 people registered on our national database have indicated they want to help with the response to COVID-19. To them we say thank you and bear with us. This is a marathon not a sprint and while you might not be called on today or tomorrow, knowing you are there to support organisations when they need it is vital.” 

“For organisations that need the support of volunteers, we have seen a big increase in those offering to help during this emergency. As the experts in volunteering locally, we can connect you with volunteers and provide specialist support and guidance.”

Organisations that need support or members of the public wishing to volunteer can find details on www.volunteerdonegal.ie

Those who want to offer their help can also sign up on www.i-vol.ie and register their interest in volunteering for COVID-19 specific roles. The service is completely free.

Students at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) have been told they will have no written exams at the end of this college year.

It comes after Government announced an extension of the closure of schools and colleges until Sunday 19 April in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This closure announcement means that LYIT will remain physically closed to students until at least 19 April.

The Institute’s academic calendar had scheduled teaching to run for 13 weeks, finishing on Friday 1 May.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Institute has decided to finish teaching at the end of Week 11 (Friday, 3 April) and no new material will be covered by lecturers after this date.

A spokesperson for the LYIT told students “End of semester, college-based, written exams will NOT go ahead and will instead be replaced by alternative assessments which will be submitted at different stages during the 4-5 weeks after the Easter break.

“All students will receive details of the alternative assessment schedule from their relevant School by Friday 3 April.

“In the meantime, please continue to engage with your lecturers and check your college email and Blackboard for further messages.”

Gardai responding to a report of drink driving discovered a Bridgend man sleeping in his car.

Cahir Crossan (35) of the Gap Cafe Building, Bridgend, was before Buncrana District Court charged with being drunk in charge of a vehicle at Bonnemaine, Bridgend on April 22, 2018.

Garda Inspector Siobhan Mollohan told Judge Paul Kelly that Gardai received a report of a drunk driver in the area.

When they arrived in Bridgend, they spotted a car fitting the description of the one that had been reported to them parked on wasteland. When they approached the car they saw the defendant asleep inside.

Defending solicitor for Crossan said his client was a father of two who worked as a carpenter.

He admitted being drunk and was fully co-operative with Gardai.

Judge Kelly convicted and fined Crossan €300 and disqualified him from driving for two years.

An Inishowen beach is set to close to the public during the Covid-19 emergency.

Lisfannon Beach between Buncrana and Fahan will be closed in an effort to stop social gatherings.

Donegal County Council has announced that a barrier will be reinforced at the beach to block access until further notice.

The move comes following reports of large groups of people congregating on the beach last weekend. Images of people swimming in the water together sparked calls for garda patrols to disperse crowds and to ensure that people keep a 2m distance under health guidelines.

And other beaches and public areas could be blocked if distancing guidelines are not followed.

Many more beaches and public amenities in Donegal are set to see more garda presence in the coming weeks. Gardaí will be working to ensure that social/physical distancing is being observed and will disperse crowds of more than four persons. Particular emphasis will be placed on locations that have already experienced crowds who have already “flouted the government’s guidance”, according to Donegal County Council.

Yesterday, the Council announced the closure of the visitor’s centre and toilets and introduced restrictions to certain vehicular access at Slieve Liag cliffs in South Donegal. Those restrictions remain in place.

A statement from Donegal County Council said that some members of the public are ignoring guidelines and not helping the country delay and manage the spread of the virus.

“There has been enough public messaging on what is expected of the population at this stage and yet the message has not sunk-in with some or they simply are choosing to ignore it.

“This could have very severe consequences for the people themselves, their family and friends or the wider community,” a spokesperson said.

“It is also acknowledged that people need to have an opportunity to get outdoors for exercise and their general well being. Access to beaches, parks and walking trails helps to meet this need for many and it is for this reason that at this time the Council will be making every effort to keep as many of these facilities open for the public. This must be done in a sensible and managed way.”

The public has been warned that other public areas and beaches will have to be closed if people do not voluntarily comply with guidelines.

The Council requests that people stay at home as much as possible but when visiting the local public amenities that are open to obey the fundamental rules at this time including:

1. Everyone to stay at least 2m apart;
2. Groups to be no greater than 4 persons;
3. Do not congregate at entrance points – when you arrive, move on as quick as you can;
4. Bring your own water and snacks and avoid ice cream vans and the like where big crowds tend to gather with no means of observing the proper protocols;
5. If you arrive at an amenity that is already crowded, move on and find somewhere else or come back when the crowd has cleared;
6. Follow any directions given on signage or by people in charge; and,
7. Take personal responsibility and understand the relevant government protocols which are in wide circulation.

The Council acknowledges the huge steps taken by the general public over a short number of weeks.

A spokesperson added: “It is something that none of us could have imagined would be needed in such a short space of time. People have had to make huge adjustments and sacrifices in many aspects of their daily lives from family, jobs, businesses and financially. For our many visitors, we are asking them not to cancel their trips to Donegal but instead to postpone them until a time we are in a position to once again offer a warm welcome to our beautiful County.

“At this time we are seeking the help and co-operation of everyone to take another step and make one more push against COVID-19 to keep each other safe in our public areas and amenities.”

Tributes have been paid to former Donegal Fianna Fáil TD Hugh Conaghan, who passed away at the age of 93.

Mr Conaghan, of Newtowncunningham, has been remembered as a proud Donegal man who worked tirelessly for his constituents.

His party colleagues have expressed their sadness and condolences with the family at this time.

Fianna Fáil Party Leader Micheál Martin TD said: “It is with great sadness I learned of the passing of Hugh Conaghan. Hugh was a truly great TD and proud Donegal man who represented his constituencies of Donegal and Donegal North East over a 12-year career in Dáil Éireann and from 1974 to 1999 as a County Councillor in Donegal.

“Hugh left his mark on Donegal politics and is well regarded by all for his tireless and dedicated work in his community. It is down to this hard work that he was returned to Dáil Éireann five times by the people of Donegal.

“Hugh was immensely proud of his family involvement in Fianna Fáil which is continued by his son, former Councillor Francis Conaghan and his grandson Hugh Conaghan who currently serves on the Fianna Fáil National Executive.

“He was deeply devoted to his late wife Jean and they had many happy decades together.

“On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party I want to extend our sympathies and thoughts to his children Eugene, Patrick, Elizabeth, Francis, and Sinéad at this time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Fianna Fáil TD for Donegal Charlie McConalogue expressed his condolences to the family of Hugh Conaghan and said: “Hugh was a central figure in Donegal politics for many years and was a tremendous servant to the people of the county throughout his life.

“He was a proud Donegal man and our county is a better place due to his dedicated service in public office.

“He was a loyal and dedicated member of Fianna Fáil and was a great help to me from when I first entered politics. He had a passion for helping and contributing to his local community and this work has left a lasting legacy. 

“Hugh was a truly dedicated family man and his family was his strongest passion in life.  He dearly missed his late wife Jean since her passing last summer and was tremendously proud of his three sons, two daughters and grandchildren.

“I want to extend my condolences and those of the Fianna Fáil Party to all his family and in particular his sons Eugene, Patrick, and Francis, his daughters Elizabeth and Sinéad and all his grandchildren at this difficult time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Motorists in Donegal are being urged to slow down and be aware of other road users, especially pedestrians, runners and cyclists as more people take to the roads during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group has issued a reminder that “the road is a shared space and we would urge everyone to respect each other’s right to be there.”

Brian O’Donnell, Road Safety Officer said “Families and large numbers of people are getting out for a walk, as well as cyclists and runners using the roads, so we are making an appeal for drivers of all vehicles in towns and in rural areas to be mindful of their presence on the road.”

Mr O’Donnell also advised walkers, runners and cyclists to follow safety advice and respect others during this time of social-distancing.

He said: “Pedestrians, cyclists and runners should also be fully aware of the need to wear high viz clothing and if possible to walk in well lit areas. Everyone, walkers, cyclists and runners need to keep a minimum clear distance of 2 meters between yourself and other people. We have to look after our mental health, as well as our physical health, but it is essential that we maintain the physical distance of 2 meters for all our safety.

“We would also appeal to everyone to respect everyone’s space and move into single file when meeting other walkers or runners so as to avoid others having to step onto possible oncoming traffic.

“Keeping everyone safe and healthy during this crisis is the most important thing right now and the most responsible approach we can take is for us all to look out for each other. We are all in this together, please stay safe.

“During this crisis, our Health Service is expected to come under severe pressure and they could really do without having to deal with avoidable injuries at this time.”

A team of Letterkenny chefs who were laid-off due to coronavirus are refusing to down tools in order to cater to the elderly and vulnerable people in the town.

Six chefs have united to launch a new branch of ChefAid in Letterkenny – a free hot meal delivery service for housebound members of the community.

The kind-hearted team have all been temporarily laid-off from their roles in local restaurants, cafes and hotels. But they were inspired by ChefAid Donegal Town to get back into the kitchen to donate their time and skills to help others in need.

ChefAid Letterkenny volunteers, keeping social distance as they launched the community initiative at the Honeypot Coffee House. Photo Brian McDaid

Daily specials will be cooked at Honeypot Coffee House and delivered by vetted volunteers and community gardaí to anyone who is elderly or compromised.

The culinary team so far is: Dee Stanislavov, Lukusz Kurek, Revita Purva, Annamaria McCullough, Johnny Mulgrew, Zena McMonagle and Graeme Love. More will be coming on board in the coming days.

Dee Stanislavov and James Green have kindly offered the Honeypot premises for the project while Letterkenny C.D.P. is backing the administration logistics.

Seed money of €2000 has been pledged by Honeypot Coffee House and a further pledge of €500 was provided by ChefAid Donegal Town. Now, the project is reliant on community donations to keep going for as long as required. A GoFundMe campaign is open now and all support would be greatly appreciated.

Dee Stanistovov from the Honeypot Coffee House in Letterkenny who had adapted his restaurant for this community initiative by the Letterkenny CDP to cook meals for those isolated Photo Brian McDaid.

Margaret Toner from Letterkenny C.D.P., who will be taking bookings, said the response so far has been amazing: “The first meals go out on Friday from 4pm to 6pm and it will be daily deliveries after that. We have a safety policy on deliveries and they will be non-contact. All people need to do is phone the number 0873891500 (text orders cannot be facilitated) between 10am and 12noon to order for the following day. We won’t be refusing anybody and we will be hoping to connect with other ChefAid groups beginning in Donegal to meet the demand.”

Councillor Gerry McMonagle, Director of Letterkenny CDP and Letterkenny ChefAid co-ordinator said: “There is a lot of vulnerable people out there now. We are filling a gap in helping the organisations that are doing great work but are overrun with the demand. There are a lot of good-natured people out there looking to do things and support.

“The chefs and the team are all giving their time freely to do this and it is very much welcomed. I want to commend the Honeypot for providing the premises too.

“What we need now is the finances to run this properly and cover the costs,” Cllr McMonagle added.

Anyone who feels that they qualify for meals from ChefAid Letterkenny is asked to call the number below. Follow the Honeypot Coffee House Facebook for updates and more information. To donate, please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/chef-aid-letterkenny

A further 235 new cases of Covid 19 were announced this evening with two more deaths in the Republic of Ireland.

The Department of Health confirmed that this brings to nine the number of deaths related to the respiratory illness in the country.

Last night it was revealed that there are currently eleven cases of Covid-19 in Donegal.

The total number of cases in the state now stands at 1,564.

Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said that the two patients who died were a man and a woman from the east of the country.

The woman involved had an underlying health condition.

So far, 55% of confirmed cases are male and 45% are female, with 63 clusters involving 289 cases.

The median age of confirmed cases is 45 years of age. Over 305 cases – 26% – have been hospitalised so far.

Of those hospitalised cases, 39 have been admitted to ICU. The HSE said 24% of cases are associated with healthcare workers.

One of Donegal’s leading garages closed its doors temporarily due to the coronavirus today.

As of 5pm this evening DMG Motors closed to the public.

A spokesperson said “We will be implementing the following operational changes to continue to serve our customers as effectively as possible whilst following HSE Guidelines to protect our staff, customers and suppliers.”

SALES

Our sales team will continue to engage with any queries via telephone and email. Browse our New & Used cars at www.dmgmotors.ie

For all Sales Enquiries please contact:

Michael O’Shaughnessy – 087 1735829 michael.oshaughnessy@dmgmotors.ie, Shaun Burke – 087 1317829 – shaun.burke@dmgmotors.ie or Will Patterson – 087 9819234 – will.patterson@dmgmotors.ie

SERVICE

We will continue to provide service support for customers with emergency requirements. Call 074 9721396 between 10.00AM & 5:00PM or email info@dmgmotors.ie

Roadside Assistance Contacts:

SKODA 1800 202 102

SEAT 1850 732 822 MITSUBISHI 1890 989 861 CAR REPAYMENT QUERIES

For customer queries regarding loan payments please contact your finance provider via
email, making sure to include:

Full Name & Address…

Contact Telephone Number…

Vehicle Make and Model…

Vehicle Registration Number…

Volkswagen Bank – query@vwfs.com

Bank of Ireland – bif.credit@boi.com

Close Bros (1st Auto) – customerservice@firstclubfinance.ie

First Citizen – info@firstcitizen.ie

The spokesperson added “This is a challenging time for us all, but I would like to assure you that we will again be fully operational to cater for all your motoring needs when this crisis is over.


The Donegal Youth Service is entering new territory as they respond to young people’s issues during the Covid-19 crisis.

The service has seen a rise in issues relating to isolation and uncertainty over coronavirus in recent weeks.

The upheaval of the covid-19 outbreak has sparked concerns over exams, college education, jobs, money and health among Donegal’s teenagers and young adults.

With youth clubs and offices closed, staff at DYS have been responding remotely to calls and messages for support.

Donegal Youth Service Regional Director Lorraine Thompson said: “This is a new territory for us all. The staff are there to do what they can to help all young people and we are offering them the opportunity to engage with staff via video conferencing or telephone.”

Ms Thompson said that school closures, job lay-offs and isolation have compounded problems for young people over the last month.

She said: “Our youth workers are hearing how young people aren’t getting any escape. They are at home all the time, some young people are in houses where parents have lost jobs and there are money and health worries to deal with. Family relationships can play a big part, where a young person might be in a confined space and share a bedroom with siblings. They can’t go see their friends, there is no normality and they don’t know when it is going to end.”

Service workers are also mindful of young people trapped in home environments with strained relationships and alcohol use.

Young people have also raised concerns with home schooling, Ms Thompson said. Some students ‘feel bombarded’ by teachers allocating work, while students at the other extreme can’t get motivated to get their work done.

“Our staff are also supporting young people who were working part-time in hospitality and where they have lost their jobs. Others are seeing their parents struggle with not having enough money to get by,” Ms Thompson explained.

Whatever the issue, young people are invited to reach out in confidence to the Donegal Youth Service on social media or on donegalyouthservice.ie, where they will be allocated to a youth worker accordingly. Call-backs can be requested too by anyone unable to afford a phone call.

Councillors have reacted angrily after the ‘father’ of Donegal County Council, Ian McGarvey was denied his traditional parking space outside Milford Public Services Centre.

The 89-year old Ramelton-based councillor has used the space since he was first elected to Donegal County Council in 2004

The Tirconail Tribune reports how there is anger among Councillor McGarvey’s colleagues over the decision.

The council have said their decision is in line ‘with best practice and respects the needs of all people accessing the building’.

However, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan said: “There is a very clear understanding amongst Cllrs that the actions in denying Cllr. McGarvey his right to park in a space he’s occupied for over 16 years is not any part of Council policy.”

Other colleagues of Cllr. McGarvey and his constituents have also rejected the official response’ as ‘a lame duck exercise’ that lacks any empathy with Donegal’s most senior citizens.

Cllr. McGarvey uses the public office in the building on a regular basis every week to meet the elderly as he lobbies for home-help hours: housing assistance and ‘Care of the Aged’ benefits.

Cllr John O’Donnell elected as Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford District, pictured with outgoing Mayor Cllr Ian McGarvey

Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh raised the issue in the context of how it fits into the Council’s ‘Age Friendly Committee Initiatives’ and said the optics are terrible in this situation and sends out all the wrong signals in relation to issues about the elderly and the Council’s own policies in this regard.

Ian McGarvey, a legend in his own community has been a leading figure in the ‘Donegal Care of the Aged Committee’ in former times, will celebrate his 90th birthday in July and has been a community activist all his life.

The Mayor of the Letterkenny Municipal District, Cllr. John O’Donnell said he was shocked with this decision and especially at hearing it from the media instead of a Council meeting where no consultations had ever taken place on parking issues of any kind.

Cllr. O’Donnell said: “This story is news to me and I am shocked that Cllr. McGarvey has been treated in this manner. We’ve had no consultations on parking issues at the Milford offices and insofar as I’m concerned there are no problems of any kind there.

“I’ve sought an urgent response from the Director of Services involved and I await a reply with interest.

If any issue had arisen the place to have it dealt would have been at the Municipal meeting and I have no idea how this has happened,” he added.

Cllr Michael McClafferty said: “I regard Ian as a father figure on the Council and he deserves the utmost respect from everyone employed by the local authority. I am calling for this most insensitive decision to be reversed because we must not allow it to reflect on the good work done by so many in Lifford.

“I want to know how this decision came to be made and why the parking space Cllr. McGarvey had occupied during all his time on the Council has now been arbitrarily removed without consultation. He deserves our people should show him utmost respect in his Golden years fighting on and showing others how it’s done.

“This decision is not what I would have expected from the Council and if this is the way they treat their most loyal member of the team, then they need to revisit this decision and ensure that Cllr. McGarvey’s parking spot is reinstated urgently,” he added.

Cllr. Brogan added that at the most difficult time in Irish history since the famine days, the public in Donegal would have expected that officials of their council to be addressing more relevant priorities instead of denying the country’s most senior public representative the right to park where’s always done so and without any issues being raised.

He added “Ian McGarvey is a legend and a man who’s always put the priorities of this country and the people first and I would have expected that his work would have been recognised in more positive way than has now arisen. I am shocked at this development and will strive to have this decision scrapped urgently.”

Amid public anger and dismay as the decision became known over the weekend, the Tribune raised the matter with the Council.

We understand that Cllr. McGarvey has raised the matter on occasion with Council personnel in Milford but says his pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

A spokesperson for Donegal County Council said “Revised parking arrangements have recently been introduced at Milford Public Service Centre arising from a review by the Milford PSC Health & Safety Committee.

“The new parking arrangements are in line with best practice and respects the needs of all people accessing the building including our elected members, staff and general public. The arrangements are being monitored and will be reviewed at the next Health & Safety Committee meeting”.

The ChefAid movement is spreading, with a new organisation springing up in Killygordon this week.

Following on from the huge success of the initial Donegal Town operation, ChefAid Killygordon was born following a hastily arranged meeting on Monday night. And, they hope to deliver their first meal within the next week.

ChefAid Killygordon is a non-profit group, with the aim of providing a free hot meal and a daily connection for older people and the vulnerable in the community during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis.

Based in the Yes Chef Catering kitchen at Oaktree Business Park (CAKE Centre) in Killygordon, they are a core group of chefs and concerned local individuals, and organisations such as Red Hughs GAA and the Three Rivers Badminton Club.

Speaking yesterday, the co-owner of Yes Chef, Mr Andy Doherty, said they merely wanted to give back to the community and thank them for all the custom given to them.

“When the current crisis hit, a lot of (YesChef) orders were cancelled and the work dried up,” he explained.

“We set up this business from scratch five years ago and would not be here today if it were not for the support of the local community. All we are doing is giving something back.

“I’ve lived here all my life and think this is the least we could do, particularly for the older members of the community and those living alone.”

Initially, ChefAid intends to cover Donaghmore Parish, which includes the villages of Crossroads and Killygordon as well as outlying areas including Meenreagh, The Glen, Liscooley, Gleneely and Meenlougher, to name but a few.

Seed (startup) funding totalling almost €2,000 has been pledged to date. This includes €500 from the original ChefAid Donegal town team as well as Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprise (CAKE) and the local Wednesday Club for Older People.

However, they aim to raise enough funds to sustain the project through the current crisis in order to pay for materials/ingredients etc.

The new ChefAid Killygordon logo, designed by Alan Reid Design.

As a result a ‘ChefAid Killygordon’ GoFundMe page has been set up, raising almost €1,500 by lunchtime yesterday. To donate, log on to www.gofundme.com/f/chefaid-killygordon

The group is also appealing to closed restaurants/hotels, and other food-related businesses, to donate any unwanted produce.

This is an entirely voluntary effort and all monies raised will go towards providing this service to the local community.

The day-to-day activities will be co-ordinated through a dedicated mobile telephone number as well as the use of Eircodes.

ChefAid Killygordon would like to take the opportunity to ask anyone who feels that they, or their loved ones, qualify for the support they are offering, to contact them on 087 3992666 or via Facebook and talk with one of their volunteers.

It should be noted that the mobile number will not be active until the weekend.

The group can also be contacted by calling the CAKE office on 07491 49557, between 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

A Co Donegal pensioner has warned of a new Coronavirus scam from tricksters posing as a Sky TV agents.

There has been a huge increase in the number of Sky TV customers seeking to cancel their Sports packages as sport across the world has been hit by Covid-19.

The fraudsters are cold calling homes and offering two years Sky Sports for €99 if customers retain their current package.

The 79-year-old Letterkenny woman told DD: “I have Sky TV but I don’t have Sports in my package.

“I was suspicious straight away but I listened to what the man had to say. He had an Irish accent and when I told him I didn’t have Sports he said I could still take the deal.

“He said all I had to do was pay €99 today with a debit or credit card and I would have all their Sports channels until 2022. I told him I thought he was a fraudster and he hung up straight away.

“No doubt he was moving on to someone else.”

She warned: “I suggest others do the same – just hang up on them.”

The bogus calls come as social media lights up with stories of people claiming long delays in getting through to Sky to cancel Sports packages.

A new Covid-19 information book will be delivered to every household in the country in the coming days.

The booklet was launched to provide the public with factual information about coronavirus Covid-19. The 14-page document will be issued free of charge by An Post.

Contents include a guide to symptoms of Covid-19, what to do if you experience worrying symptoms, information on what the government is doing to prevent the spread, how a person can protect themselves from the virus and how to self-isolate.

Everyone is encouraged to read the booklet when it arrives.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the document is a key step to tackle fake news:

The new booklet comes as 1,564 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic. Nine people have passed away as a result of the illness. Of the hospitalised cases, 39 have been admitted to ICU.

A copy is available to read or download here: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/news/newsfeatures/covid19-updates/partner-resources/covid-19-information-booklet.pdf

Motoring Columnist Brian McDaid looks back on the days when he skipped school to go with his father Fred on his ESB truck to Sligo.

This is the place, I’m sure, I thought as I turned into the housing estate on Tuesday morning, miles from home both in distance and in time, it’s old concrete road was still in place, the perfect foundation to build from in this present day journey of uncertainty.

It could be the last trip on the road for a while as Ireland is coming to a standstill which is hoped will also bring this deadly virus to a stop. I have regularly made trips to Galway over the last 10 years mostly as an unpaid Uber taxi service and U-haul contractor for my children in college. Over them years I have always stopped for a “coffee to go” in Kee’s of Laghey for our journey onwards. As we passed through the village of Grange in Co. Sligo  I’d always toasted the memory with my coffee –  introduce my wanes to their grandparents, Fred and Mary Ellen who they never have met and pointed out where they once lived beside the Post Office where Mrs. Molloy was the post mistress and also was the landlady.

Beautiful Benbulbin from the Old Sligo Road. Photo Brian McDaid.

Thermos flask

Preparing for this trip to Galway this week I decided by a way of avoiding contact with anyone on this journey to pack a flask and some sandwiches and never leave the car.

The old thermos flask sitting in the passengers footwell had my mind moving to years before. With only myself and my thoughts and loads of time for the journey plus the fact I didn’t pack the cup with a lid, and the house full of them too. I was going to have to stop for the coffee on the go this morning. It was always on my bucket list to stop someday in the same spot that my father Fred always stopped on the days that I skipped school with my “phantom flu” to go with him in his ESB truck to Sligo.  A mile out the road past Grange, on the present-day Sligo Road, which runs parallel with the overgrown old Sligo Rd, at a point where an old junction linked the past and the present.

Fred at the door of his old ESB Ford Truck which we unofficially enjoyed manys the adventure.

Where once a hard shoulder stood now is gone, so for safety I pulled across to the old road and cracked open the flask. As the steam misted up the front window beautiful Ben Bulben faded out of view. My sandwich changed back to a piece, the name we always called sandwiches back them complete with one finely cut square from a block of Galtee cheese in it.

I was back in the cab of an old Ford Truck with the smell of a match lighting a Major cigarette listening to a story of a couple out for spring walk with their newly born child in the pram,  passing through the same spot I’m am sitting today.

That was in ’64 and now in ’73 a father is telling the story to his son of only memories that he has of his wife. The father coughs away a tear and fires up his old truck and heads for Sligo before his son notices.

They both go over their plan of action. Children are not supposed to be transported in an ESB lorry, so the son will get out at the bottom of Bridge St. just before the head office where the father has to make a quick delivery and collection.

The son slowly walks,  crosses the bridge crossing the Garavogue River watching his father’s progress as he turns in the yard at Headquarters and then turns left and slowly heads in the direction of Dooley Park, where the ESB have a second premises where only the one man works, Doc Doherty who is originally from Donegal,  his father soon will catch up along the way.

The son knows the sound of the engine and the way his father drives it and will hear his father’s lorry long before he sees it.

The son is soon back in the passengers seat of  Donegal’s KIH 459 as the truck indicates right into Dooley Park.

Heading into Doorly Park in Sligo this week bringing back great memories Photo Brian McDaid.

Nearly There.

This is the place, I’m sure, I thought as I turned into the housing estate on Tuesday morning, miles from home both in distance and in time, it’s old concrete road was still in place. I slowly make my way up through the housing estate, memories of road trips coming flooding back.

The estate even has its sign now in stone, it’s Doorly Park apparently, ahh its still “Dooley Park” to me.

Another turn right at the top and the old ESB yard should fall into sight.  It should be just here … What, why is a Lidl store here now, damn, now the  ESB is on the other side of the road and now it’s the ESB headquarters for Sligo,  as always I detour it just like the old days and avoid it, and just for old time sakes I complete my journey to my memory and turn left and do a lap around Lidl Carpark thinking of the old yard which was a disused factory without a roof, and a makeshift wooden ramp in place which my father carefully guided his truck in to get loaded up through the front door of what one was a reception.

Gone are the sounds of the Doc singing or whistling as he’s darting about in the forklift, I felt like a young Marty but probable look more like an old Doc, not Doc Doherty in the old ESB yard but more like Doc Browne in “Back to the Future” as some impatient shopper blew their horn to take me out of my day dream to tell me to move on.

I smiled to myself as my memories charged up my batteries like a load of transformers that my late father would have hauled back to Letterkenny as he headed back in to my memory and I headed to Galway to haul his grandson’s truckery home.

Happy Motoring Folks.

Finally

I was saddened to hear of the passing of the late Hugh Conaghan the week. Most will know him in his political life as a Donegal Co. Councillor and T.D. but I got a chance to chat with him a few years ago when he told me of his days working on the Railway as an office Clerk in Newtowncunnigham Railway Station where his father also worked, I have included a small clip of his voice talking about the communication on Lough Swilly Railway which was all done by telegram.

May he rest in Peace.

GAA CLUBS have been instructed to shut their facilities completely as the battle against the Covid-19 stepped up this week.

Matches and collective training was already off limits, while bars and club gyms were previously shut, but now the GAA has ordered a complete closure.

The latest move – following an announcement by An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on Tuesday about new measures the Government were laying down in a bid to curb the threat of coronavirus – means that walking/jogging trails will also be closed.

Some GAA clubs in Donegal have such facilities in place, but they will no longer be open to the public.

“Where it is not possible to restrict access please erect signage to the effect that all GAA facilities are closed and all activity suspended,” clubs were told in a statement.

These measures are in place until April 19 at the earliest.

“We are now instructing GAA Clubs to close their facilities completely. This is to include the use of all pitches and property for recreational purposes, including walking, casual games or gatherings.”

However, the GAA instruction has given clubs permission to seek membership fees and also to run club lottos on an online basis.

The statement said: “In order to facilitate an orderly resumption of activities when circumstances permit, Clubs are encouraged to proceed as normal with their membership registration process where practical. Clubs, of course, should be mindful of the possible changed financial circumstances of members.

“Similarly, club lottos may proceed if they are run on an online basis and do not involve wholesale engagement with the public.

“Clubs are also advised to refrain from undertaking new capital projects while support funding for this type of work is suspended.”