Some of Donegal’s top food producers are celebrating success in the Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards, which were announced this weekend.

Businesses in the county scooped a range of Gold, Silver and Bronze prizes in the national event, which took place online on Saturday.

Among the top winners were Killybegs seafood company Atlantic Treasures and the Convoy-based Green Pastures dairy company, who each picked up four awards apiece.

Pictured is Michael O’Donnell, Head of Business Development and Marketing at Atlantic Treasures.

Green Pastures, Convoy

Atlantic Treasures scooped a Gold award for its Dunnes Stores Honey and Mustard Irish Smoked Mackerel, Silver for its Atlantic Treasures Smoked Mackerel Garlic, Herbs and Spices and Bronze for both its Aldi Specially Selected Smoked Irish Mackerel with Atlantic Seasalt and Pepper and Aldi Specially Selected Beachwood Smoked Irish Mackerel.

Green Pastures won Silver awards for its Dunnes Stores Rich & Luxurious Double Cream, Silver for its Dunnes Stores Sour Cream, Silver for its Dunnes Stores Goat’s Milk and Bronze for its Dunnes Stores Creme Fraiche.

Other Donegal winners in the awards include Filligans of Donegal who scooped a Bronze award for its Silkie Irish Whiskey Marmalade and Donegal Rapeseed Oil also won overall Best Oils for their Deluxe Irish Rapeseed Oil. The Foodie Market Sourdough Cob from Aran na Teo won Bronze under the Dietary Specific Goods: Bread category.

The Foodie Market Sourdough Cob from Aran na Teo

Willie Cremen, Director of Filligans of Donegal.

Now in its 13th year, the Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards awards are the biggest competition for quality Irish produce in Ireland.

Meanwhile, Atlantic Treasures is also a finalist in the Irish Country Magazine Irish Made Awards. They are the only Donegal business to reach the final in the food category and are joined a number of other businesses in the county who reached the finals including Eilis Galbraith Designs (Home), Bernie Murphy (Fashion) Minikin Studio (Gift), Hanna Hats (Accessories) and Huku Balance (Home). The winners of each category will be announced in November.

Met Eireann has extended its rainfall warning for Donegal as heavy rain and wind persists throughout today and tonight.

Today and tonight will see more heavy and persistent rain, leading to some flooding risks in parts of the country. Forecasters have warned that high rainfall totals may cause some rivers to flood as well as surface flooding.

A Status Yellow rain warning has been extended to 6am Monday morning for Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

Meanwhile, a Status Yellow wind warning is also in place for Donegal today. Northwest winds are strengthening today with mean wind speeds of 50 to 65 km/h and gusts of 90 to 100 km/h. The wind warning is valid to 9pm this Sunday night.

Singer/songwriter Mickey Joe Harte has released an uplifting new track in tribute to his beloved Donegal.

Listen here:

The Lifford artist was influenced by the current crisis and restrictions to write something that shines a light on the positive sides of life in Donegal. The ‘love song’ celebrates some of the features of Donegal that money can’t buy, and the lyrics are sure to connect with people near and far who have a special place in their hearts for the county.

“This song is a reaction to the current restrictions on the county and all that it brings, so it’s just a way of keeping the spirits up. I would hope it might resonate with the locals and the diaspora currently,” Harte tells Donegal Daily.

See the lyrics in full below. For more, check out Mickey Joe Harte on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/Mickeyjharte

Donegal Love Song
Words and music By MJ Harte (oct 2020)

(Verse)
Home to me is by the sea, and standing on your shore.
Looking o’er what’s gone before, how lucky I must be.
Feel those ghosts of the trains we rode, no longer now to see.
Those wild desires, ignite these fires, still’ deep inside of me.

(CHORUS)
Donegal, may I write a love song.
Donegal, write one just to thee.
Donegal, I will keep you in my heart, forever You and Me.

(Verse)
Sunday drives, brings no surprise, same old melodies.
We don’t care, there’s magic here, to let our hearts run free,
Family, friends, and hairpin bends, then drive home late for tea.
Then toddle off with our little thoughts, and all these memories.

GARDAI have launched an appeal to the public for help in locating a man who has gone missing from his home Donegal.

Patrick O’Keefe, aged 35, has been missing from his home in Kincasslagh, Co. Donegal since yesterday morning, Saturday 3^rd October 2020.

Patrick is described as being 5’ 9” in height, of broad build, with dark brown hair and a full beard. When last seen Patrick was wearing a grey jacket and brown hiking boots.

Gardaí and Patrick’s family are concerned for his welfare

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milford Garda station on 074 915 3060, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

Patrick O’Keefe. Image: Garda Siochana

STEPHEN KENNY doesn’t expect to have Seamus Coleman available for Thursday’s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Slovakia.

The Killybegs native was substituted in Everton’s 4-2 win over Brighton yesterday with a hamstring tweak.

“He seems to have a hamstring strain that will most likely rule him out,” Ireland manager Kenny said. “We’ll have to see on that but the scan has revealed he will probably be most likely out. “He had the scan this morning and we’ve only just got the results now. It wasn’t unexpected.”

Burnley’s Kevin Long will be added to the squad.

RONAN CURTIS made his 100^th appearance for Portsmouth yesterday in their 4-2 win over Burton Albion.

A hat-trick from former Burton midfielder Marcus Harness saw Portsmouth to their first league win of the campaign at the Pirelli Stadium.

Curtis, 24 whose family are from St Johnstone, has scored 31 goals for the Leauge One club to date.

Covid-19 rates are continuing to surge in Donegal as the incidence rate takes another hike to 257.6 per 100,000.

410 new cases of the virus were confirmed in the county in the two weeks from September 19th to midnight October 2nd.

Donegal has the highest incidence rate in the country, according to data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

The current incidence rate is more than twice the national figure, which stands at 107.98 in the past fortnight.

The latest local figures for Donegal highlighted concerns in the Lifford region, where the incidence rate was 602.6 per 100,000 for the last 14 days up to Monday 28th September.

Other high areas included Letterkenny, which had a rate of 198 per 100,000.

Some areas including Milford on 72.6 cases per 100,000 remain behind other parts of Donegal but are still rising.

The Glenties area is getting higher with 142 cases per 100,000 people and Donegal Town with 64 cases per 100,000.

ANOTHER 462 cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in Northern Ireland.

One more patient has died after contracting the virus.

Northern Ireland’s death toll now stands at 584.

There have been over 3,500 positive tests in the region in just over a week. 91 of the new cases reported today are in the Derry & Strabane Council area, where the infection rate has risen to 485.2 per 100,000.

There are 65 people in hospital after testing positive for the virus, of whom nine are in intensive care.

The wide-reaching impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on young people’s lives has been highlighted in a video produced in Donegal.

Uncomfortable, stressful, excited to get back to school, anxious – these are just some of the emotions felt by young people in the county at this time of upheaval.

Members of Youthscape voiced their concerns about restrictions and public health for a social impact video released this week, watch the video here: https://www.facebook.com/100048596273061/videos/182972119999329/

Youthscape facilitator Yvonne Tilley said the aim of the video was to give young members a public voice, as they felt their views were being ‘locked down’.

Ms Tilley said: “They have no voice they have no say in what happens, they are expected to sit in the classes or go to their workplace and just get on with it, the stress that has been placed on their shoulders is unparamount. They want assurances from the government that they are going to be safe and that the leaders of the country have their best interests at heart, they haven’t had this, they have lost faith. Young people have lost their carefree teens and childhoods and we wanted to highlight this in our social impact video.”

Youthscape is a project within Donegal Youth Service for young people aged 14 – 24, with bases in Ballybofey and Letterkenny. The project delivers sessions in personal confidence and self esteem, citizenship, and good relations. 

Ms Tilley explained: “When the lockdown started we moved all sessions online. We were able to work with a lot of young people who were not able to attend school and felt they needed support managing their lives during that time.

“The group in Ballybofey came up with the idea for the video, they felt their voices had been locked down as well as their liberty. They composed the question during zoom sessions online and sent their audios and pictures to me. Myself and Layla from DYS tied it all together.”

Ms Tilley explained that the young people she meets say they feel under greater pressure on returning to school, work and college. “They still they feel they have not had any input into decisions that impose upon their lives.  So, now they feel even more pressure in that any assessment/ class test etc they are required to do is vitally important as it may have to be used in an overall assessment of their work for the year if we have another lockdown. The pressure is immense on a daily basis. That is the feedback we are getting from young people.”

“It seems there is a lot of talk about positive mental health and health and well being for our young people but very little action for this by our government. I suppose with the video our young people just wanted a stage to get this message across. I feel they have done that very well.”

The search is underway to find a bike which was reporting stolen from a residential area of Letterkenny this week.

An Apollo Excelle bicycle was taken from the Meadowbank area of Long Lane Letterkenny sometime between Monday night (Sept 28th) and Tuesday morning (Sept 29th).

The bicycle is white in colour with some pink detailing on the crossbar.

Anyone with any information in relation to this incident or in relation to the location of the bike at present is asked to please contact Gardaí in Letterkenny on 074-9167100.

ST MARY’S CONVOY made light of the miserable conditions to win the Donegal JFC in style against Downings in Ballybofey this afternoon.

St Mary’s Convoy 3-10 Downings 1-3

Two goals in the first half were massive for St Mary’s, with Paul O’Leary and Packie Mailey netting to give their side a huge 2-6 to 0-2 lead at the interval.

The surroundings were bleak, with Donegal on level 3 and restrictions meaning no supporters, as well as the constant rain and splashes, but St Mary’s were a joy to watch in the circumstances.

Photos by Geraldine Diver

Both teams were awarded penalties late on. Johnny McGroddy and Jospeh McGill both scored, which left the St Mary’s forward with a total of 1-6, matching his 0-9 in the semi-final win over Letterkenny Gaels and thus earning a second man of the match gong in succession.

On what looked like an afternoon for the placed balls, St Mary’s had much the better of the first quarter and finished it 0-4 to 0-1 in front. McGill hit three frees, the third of which was sublime from the ground in front of the near-empty stand.

Downings’ only score in that opening 15 minutes came from a Johnny McGroddy free before Lorcan Connor put over the first score from play of the day on 19 minutes.

Two goals, back to back, on the 19^th and 21^st minutes, consolidated St Mary’s position. Firstly, O’Leary trundled one past John McGroddy in the Downings goal after John Toye had nipped back possession.

Then, from the next attack, a McGill shot at a point didn’t have the legs and as it faded Packie Mailey – a survivor from the last team from Convoy in 2005 to win the title – was alive to the dip and slapped into the empty net having the won the race against goalkeeper McGroddy.

Points from John Toye and another fine McGill free meant St Mary’s were 10 points up at the break.

Keeping the pressure up in part two, McGill won a mark and put it over, before adding another free and Packie Mailey posted a point to add to his goal earlier. At the three-quarter mark, St Mary’s were 2-9 to 0-3 up, and kicked four wides in a row.

In the last minute Downings were awarded a penalty when John A Kee, who avoided the black card, hauled down Gary Ban McClafferty and Johnny McGroddy shot home.

A minute later, St Mary’s substitute Liam Toye was upended at the Town End and McGill scored from the spot.

Downings’ players surely would’ve been looking forward to a warm MacCumhaill Park shower and the high stool and they wouldn’t even be getting that. St Mary’s will be looking forward to normality more than most – whenever that may be, with Division 2 and the Intermediate Championship to look forward to.

St Mary’s, Convoy: Liam Mailey; Michael Patton, John A Kee, Bryan McNamee; Dean Bonner, John Doherty, Ronan Donnellan; Raymond McNamee, Packie Mailey (1-1); Patrick Dolan (0-2, 2f), Laurence McMullan, Peter Blake; Paul O’Leary (1-0), John Toye (0-1), Joseph McGill (1-6, 1-0 pen, 5f, 1m). Subs: Conal McDermott for Donnellan and Anthony Browne for O’Leary (38), Thomas McHugh for Toye (51), Keelin Gillen for Blake (57), Liam Yoye for P Mailey (59).

Downings: John McGroddy; Max Davis, Oisin Boyce, Allen Pasoma; Padraig McGinty, Kevin Doherty, Ben McNutt; Ronan Gallagher, Keelan McGroddy; Kyle McFadden, Lorcan Connor (0-1), James Lee McBride; Gary ‘Ban’ McClafferty, Shane Boyce, Johnny McGroddy (1-2, 1-0 pen 2f). Subs: Danny McBride for S Boyce (23), Eric Roberts for McFadden (33), Finnian McClafferty for P McGinty (46), Naoise Cullen for McBride (50), Hugh Davis for M Davis (54).

Referee: Eugene McHale (Bundoran).

A Donegal researcher and lecturer has added a new perspective to Black History with the release of a new book.

Dr Hilary Mc Laughlin-Stonham from Carndonagh is a Lecturer and Research Specialist for Coventry University Online. This month, her new publication From Slavery to Civil Rights has come under the spotlight for its exploration of the mechanics of segregation in New Orleans.

The book chronicles segregation on the streetcars of New Orleans and discovers the impact of local and national events on a segregated system from the 1930s to the present day.

Dr Mc Laughlin-Stonham’s study has been added to the selection list for Black History Month UK this October at Foyles Books UK.    

Set in New Orleans and using the context of the streetcars, her study explores the experiences of African Americans against the background of slavery, segregation and the Civil Rights movement culminating with the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

Yet this book does not just look at the past. It analyses how African American stereotypes formed as a result of slavery and lack of rights that would be used as justification for segregation and violence towards the black community. 

Dr Hilary Mc Laughlin-Stonham is a Lecturer and Research Specialist for Coventry University Online.

Dr Hilary Mc Laughlin-Stonham graduated from Ulster University in 2018 with a PhD in History where she was also awarded with the prize for Best Final Year PhD Presentation and Best Paper Published.  On graduating she took up the post of Visiting Lecturer in American History and American Studies York St John University until commencing her current post at Coventry University.

From Slavery to Civil Rights published in September 2020 and is available via the Liverpool University Press website. The printed edition is available in hardback (£29.95) and paperback (£19.95). 

An Open Access edition of this book will be made available upon publication on the LUP website and on the OAPEN Library, funded by the LUP Open Access Author Fund.

Thirty-one new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in Donegal, the Department of Health reports.

There are 364 new cases across Ireland and no further deaths.

Donegal has had 422 cases of Covid-19 diagnosed in the two weeks up to midnight Saturday 3rd October.

The total number of cases in the county since March now stands at 1,102.

The latest data from Letterkenny Unversity Hospital, released at 8pm Saturday, showed that there are 11 patients with Covid-19 receiving care onsite. One of those patients was recorded in intensive care.

Of the cases notified across Ireland today:

• 195 are men / 168 are women
• 74% are under 45 years of age
• 27% are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case
• 42 cases have been identified as community transmission
• 100 cases are in Dublin, 55 in Cork, 31 in Donegal, 24 in Limerick, 23 in Galway,17 in Clare, 14 in Sligo, 13 in Roscommon, 10 in Kerry, 8 in Tipperary, 8 in Wicklow, 7 in Kildare, 6 in Kilkenny, 6 in Offaly, 5 in Cavan, 5 in Mayo, 5 in Meath, with the remaining 27 cases in 9 counties.

The kind-hearted staff of Buncrana Medical Centre have raised €1,142 following a walking fundraiser for two local hospices. 

Last month the team braved a day of wind and rain to walk 5k around Buncrana in support of the Donegal and Foyle hospices.

A total of €1,142 was raised from their efforts – which were proudly presented to each hospice recently.

Staff presented a cheque for €531 to community palliative care nurse Louise Duddy of Donegal Hospice. A further €611 was raised in online donations for Foyle Hospice.

Buncrana Medical Centre staff present cheque to Donegal Hospice after their “brisk and blustery” 5k walk

Buncrana Medical Centre staff present cheque to Donegal Hospice after their “brisk and blustery” 5k walk

Buncrana Medical Centre staff present cheque to Donegal Hospice after their “brisk and blustery” 5k walk

“We would like to send a massive thank you to all our supporters,” said a spokesperson for the Buncrana Medical Centre team.

“It was a fabulous result for all involved.”

“Both hospices have supported and cared for our patients in need, at the hospice and also in the community.  Thus allowing our terminally patients to die with dignity and without pain. Both services offering the highest level of palliative care and are invaluable services.”

O’Hehirs Bakery are feeling very generous this week with the launch of a delicious giveaway on Donegal Daily!

The popular bakery branches in Letterkenny and Donegal Town are currently open with a full range of take away pastries, cakes, freshly baked breads instore, sandwiches, breakfasts and barista coffees available for you.

And to make orders easier at this time, customers can order ahead for collection by calling the Letterkenny shop on  0749122072 or the Donegal Town store on 0749721511.

Competition:

To get us through the current period of restrictions, O’Hehirs want to give one lucky Donegal Daily reader the chance to WIN a wonderful prize to look forward to.

The prize is a FREE breakfast for you and a friend when the sit down cafes reopen – AND they’ll throw in a box of six O’Hehirs donuts each!

Enter the giveaway on Donegal Daily’s Facebook page by clicking HERE.

Winner announced on Friday 16th October 2020. For more, check out O’Hehirs Bakery on Facebook.

FOR the folks watching from the Italian town of Apecchio, their first League of Ireland experience will have been a bit of an anti-climax but for Finn Harps this away point at Dundalk represents a massive boost to their hopes of Premier Division survival.

Dundalk 0 Finn Harps 0

A scoreless draw at the defending champions – who are bound for some big European ties in the coming weeks – moves Ollie Horgan’s Harps two points ahead of bottom side Cork City with four games to play.

A 3-1 win over Faroese side KI Klaksvik on Thursday night saw Dundalk seal a place in the group stage of the Europa League. Premier League Arsenal will be among their opponents after a win that was worth a whopping €3million to the County Louth club.

The success of Filippo Giovagnoli, the Dundalk manager, and his assistant Giuseppe Rossi since their surprise appointment at Oriel Park roused the interest in their home town, Apecchio.

As part of the annual white truffle and craft beer festival, the Dundalk-Harps game was shown, via the WatchLOI platform, on a big screen to the natives of Apecchio, a town on the slopes of Nerone Mount with a population less than that of Ballybofey.

Giovagnoli made sweeping changes to his team, three days after their European success, but just nine minutes into the second half, Dundalk made a triple substitution that outlined their class, with Michael Duffy, Patrick McEleney and Greg Sloggett all introduced.

In the case of McEleney, the change meant that he was put into combat with his older brother, Shane.

Harps hearts were in the mouths when the ball fell invitingly to Michael Duffy with only seconds left on the clock, but the former Kildrum Tigers schoolboy was unable to hit the target.

Patrick McEleney had attempted to catch Mark Anthony McGinley out with an ambitious free kick in the 72nd minute, but is effort was over the top, while Sloggett couldn’t trouble McGinley with a header from a Chris Shields delivery.

Harps packed their rearguard for the closing stages but there was still time for Barry McNamee to try his luck. A first-time effort, after being teed up by Adam Foley, was routinely saved by Aaron McCarey in the Dundalk goal.

Dundalk made ten changes from Thursday’s big win at the Aviva, with Brian Gartland the sole survivor.

Although Harps began well, the Lilywhites had the better of the chances in the first half and should have been in front after only eight minutes.

Jordan Flores skipped away from Shane McEleney and his cross was turned wide by David McMillan from a glorious position on the edge of the six-yard box.

The lively Nathan Oduwa was causing Harps all sorts of trouble and the Londoner was left puzzled when a penalty claim was waved away in added time at the end of the first period. McEleney appeared to have pushed Oduwa to the ground, but referee Paul McLaughlin awarded only a goal kick.

McGinley had saved with his feet from Oduwa in the 40th minute when he managed to worm his way into position.

Oduwa tested McGinley from distance a minute later, but the Harps goalkeeper was equal to the effort.

Winger Oduwa, who had played for both England and Nigeria up to under-23 levels, turned provider, but McGinley got a vital touch with McMillan ready to pounce.

Harps welcomed Dave Webster back from suspension while Gareth Harkin was restored to the starting XI and wore the captain’s armband as Horgan made two changes from last weekend’s 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Cork City.

Towering defender Kosovar Sadiki headed over form a Barry McNamee corner kick in the 11th minute while Stephen Folan skied an early free kick as Harps looked to put the hosts on the back foot.

Although Dundalk began to dominate as the half wore on, they couldn’t carve out a breakthrough and not even the introduction of some heavy artillery in the second half conjured up a winner.

For Harps, this could prove a seismic moment in their quest to avoid the relegation quicksands.

Dundalk: Aaron McCarey; John Mountney, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Cameron Dummigan; Chris Shields; Jordan Flores (Patrick McEleney 54), Daniel Kelly (Michael Duffy), Will Patching (Greg Sloggett 54), Nathan Oduwa (Stefan Colovic 63); David McMillan.

Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Shane McEleney, Kosovar Sadiki, Stephen Folan; Dave Webster, Gareth Harkin (Ryan Connolly 74), Barry McNamee, Leo Donnellan (Tony McNamee 90+4), Mark Russell; Karl O’Sullivan (Adam Foley 74); Alexander Kogler (Mark Coyle 67).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

PACKIE MAILEY was a goalscorer for St Mary’s Convoy as they won the JFC this afternoon.

St Mary’s were 3-10 to 1-3 winners against Downings and for Mailey, it was his second success at the bracket following on from their 2005 success.

Mailey credits player-manager Laurence McMullan for being the driving force for the club, as he told Charlie Collins afterwards.

Listen to the interview on Donegal Sport Hub

FC Köln Frauen started the 2. Bundesliga Süd season with a 2-1 win over 1. FC Saarbrücken with Amber Barrett from Milford on target.

The breakthrough arrived just before the 20-minute mark, as Rinast played in Amber Barrett to coolly finish from close range.

Just before half-time, Saarbrücken managed to grab an equaliser. Leonie Stöhr crossed from the left and Taylor Cohen managed to poked in at the near post.

A superb move saw Islacker tee up Anja Pfluger, who found the bottom corner with a strong 20-yard drive.

Barrett almost had a third as she rounded the Chladekova, only to see her effort cleared just before the line.

CIARAN O FEARRAIGH from Gaoth Dobhair played his part as Ratoath managed to retain their Meath SFC this afternoon.

O Fearraigh put in an energetic shift in the No2 jersey. Fionnan Diver, also from Gaoth Dobhair is a selector.

In the most dramatic of conclusions, Joey Wallace palmed home the winning goal in the ninth minute of additional time against Gaeil Colmcille to seal a 1-14 to 1-13 win.

Brian Hanlon had slotted home a penalty in injury time to give Gaeil Colmcille a 1-13 to 0-13 lead.

Rathmullan was celebrating on the double this afternoon with a double by Oisin Orr, while his brother Conor was also in the winners’ enclosure.

Oisin won back-to-back races at Killarney for trainer Dermot Weld. His first win of the day was on the 11/8 shot Coltor. Then, he was an 11/4 winner on Shamiyna.

Conor was a winner in Tipperary whilst in the saddle on Jack Holiday, the 5/2 favourite.