The RNLI and the Coast Guard are appealing to the public to exercise caution when participating in any activity on and near the water during the Christmas and New Year period and at all times to be mindful of the restrictions in place to deal with the COVID pandemic.

Many traditional Christmas and New Year swims which ordinarily had safety measures in place have been cancelled. Accordingly, anybody planning such activity should check up to date guidance and ensure that they have made appropriate safety arrangements.

The second half of 2020 saw a significant increase in water-based incidents placing extra demands on Search and Rescue providers including Coast Guard and RNLI volunteer crews.

Mindful of the increased levels of participation in open water swimming both organisations are highlighting the risks of suffering cold water shock, which is a very real danger for anyone entering water which is 15°C or below.

Average sea temperature around Ireland at this time of year are just 6-10°C. This can pose a risk of hypothermia, even for the most experienced of open water swimmers.

The top safety tips from the Coast Guard and the RNLI for open water swimming are:

• Always check the weather forecast and understand the local effects of wind, tides and currents. ( For weather and tides see www.safetyonthewater.gov.ie)

• Never swim alone and if possible, have somebody ashore who is familiar with your plans and can observe your progress.

• Only swim in sheltered areas with which you are familiar and swim parallel to the shore.

• Stay within your depth – know your limits including how long to stay in the water

• Ensure that you are visible from the shore. Wear a brightly coloured swim cap or use a tow float to increase your visibility in the water.

• Wearing a wetsuit is advisable to help stay warm.

• Acclimatise to cold water slowly to reduce the risk of cold-water shock.

• Get warmed up afterwards. Wrap up well in extra layers of clothing

• If in doubt, don’t go out!

• Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

As the year draws to a close, thanks have been paid to the men and women involved in search and rescue for their incredible service throughout the year. Volunteers have been called out to help at all hours of the day and night and they have been on the frontline of saving lives and keeping people safe.

Irish Coast Guard, Head of Operations Gerard O’Flynn said: ‘We wish to say a special thank you to everybody involved in SAR for their commitment and service in these extraordinary times with a special thank you to the volunteer members of the rescue services.

He added “People love to get out and about over the Christmas and New Year period. For those who have an opportunity to go on coastal walks always remember to Stay Back Stay High Stay Dry – and this year please be especially mindful of Covid related restrictions. Open water swimming this time of the year is only for experienced participants and never ever swim alone.”

RNLI Water Safety Lead Kevin Rahill said RNLI and Coast Guard volunteers have played an enormous role this year in keeping people safe as they took to the water in greater numbers.

He added “We wish to thank everyone involved in search and rescue and their families and employers who support our volunteers.

“No one goes into the water in the expectation of needing to be rescued but we are asking anyone considering going for a swim to understand the dangers and not take unnecessary risks so they can have a good time, safely.

“It is important to respect the water and there are a number of things you can do to help ensure you have an enjoyable and safe time such as not swimming alone, staying in your depth and knowing how to warm up properly afterwards, which sounds obvious but is crucial to avoid any delayed effects of the cold and hypothermia.’

If you or anyone else does get into trouble in or on the water call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.

Letterkenny University Hospital is bracing itself for a surge in Covid infections in the coming days.

Hospital manager Sean Murphy admitted staff are bracing themselves for an increase of the virus in the community.

Mr Murphy said “Although the number of patients with COVID-19 in the hospital isn’t as high as it was at the beginning of the month, it is likely that we will see an increase in cases reflecting the growth in the transmission rate in the community in the coming days and weeks.”

The hospital continues to be very busy approaching the Christmas break with high attendances in the Emergency Department and patients with COVID-19 being treated in the hospital.

Mr Murphy said would like to remind the public that we encourage them to attend the Emergency Department (ED) only in the case of real emergencies.

He added “Our Emergency Department remains open 24 hours a day for all medical emergencies. If your health problem is not an emergency we would ask you to contact your GP during normal surgery hours or the NoWDOC GP Out of hours service, in the first instance. The NoWDOC service will be providing urgent Out of hours GP care from Thursday 24 December at 18:00 through to Tuesday 29 December at 8:00am.

“I would like to acknowledge the support that the staff in the hospital have received from the community in Donegal over the past year, during a very challenging time. And wish all patients and staff a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.”

Motoring columnist Brian McDaid takes a trip down memory lane, sharing stories prompted by the familiar smell of a little tree… he also shares a heartfelt poem by a homesick Letterkenny man at Christmas.

I bought a tree for Christmas. Well it wasn’t really to celebrate the festive season. 

I was filling up, with the good stuff, for a change, the stuff that has less of a carbon footprint, well that’s what it said on the nozzle. 

It was 7c dearer than the cheap stuff which was €117.85 per litre, but sure it was Christmas, what the hell, in this moment of thought of what or who this good stuff would be good for, I ended up overflowing the fuel tank out on to the street and on to my shoes. 

As I stood in the social distance line to pay. I knew things were bad when costumer two metres a head of me put his hand up in front of his mask to see if it was him that was reeking of diesel. 

Diesel smells of diesel no matter if it’s the cheap stuff or the carbon neutral footprint stuff. 

Getting a cappuccino from the vending machine, I spotted one of them Little Trees Forest Fresh air fresheners.It had been years since I bought one of these. 

Little trees taking back big memories this week. Photo Brian McDaid.

I don’t fill up with fuel very often, but when I do, I like to take a wee spin somewhere when the needle on the fuel gauge is up past the full mark. Fuel seems to me to go further and the hand takes longer to makes it way down from 

Christmas Eve is the one of the times that I fill the tank up, this year with possibly more lockdown on the way, this was done on Sunday evening past. 

I nearly forgot the proper way to open this Little Tree car air freshener, just opened to the top in a V shape and let the top few branches stick out. 

Some people hate the smell of these but this smell of these reminded me so much of yesteryear as the memories came flooding back. 

The heater is on and that wee magic tree is not only doing a great job of covering the smell of diesel that overflowed onto my shoes but reminding me of cars and the smells they had years ago. Ashtrays and water leaks gave two distinctive smells especially on winter nights like this. 

The heater was on and blowing hot air up to clear a freezing window, it was also carrying the smell of the little magic tree to a distant past. 

Searching through Spotify I find the perfect music partner for the journey, the late Charlie Pride, who recently passed away was the king of country music in my memories of the past. Memories of cars pulling in for petrol to Hegarty’s with the sound of the old 8-track playing the unforgettable songs like the ‘Crystal Chandelier’, ‘Does My Ring Hurt Your Finger’ and ‘Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ have me back in the 70s. 

It takes me back to memories of my efforts to record music into a cassette recorder which included the background sound of petrol pumps clicking away as the old gallons measurements registered on the old rattle pumps.

‘Just Between You and Me’ was my all time favourite song from that great American country singer. I can remember belting out an out of tune version of it to that old recording I made of it many years ago siting in a hut in the petrol pumps. 

And then when I was old enough to drive (legally) and get insured in my father’s car, a proper version of Charlie Pride’s greatest hits was purchased and was pumped through to two speakers fitted on the shelf of at the rear window of our old Hillman Avenger. 

Growing up in Letterkenny the more popular music by people of my age was pop and rock and that kind of stuff but I always knew from a very age that I was a country music fan at heart. For some reason the sound and smell on a winter’s night reminded me of car journeys to dances in the Milford Inn on Sunday night heading down the shortcut through Ballyare watching the road ahead through the reflection from the old phone lines stringed along the twisty road showing up the headlights of oncoming cars. 

A busy Main St. in the run up to Christmas. Photo Brian McDaid.

Memories away from home.

On the run into Christmas with Ireland going back to lockdown on Christmas Eve, we look at the words of a homesick Letterkenny man away from his home town for Christmas. It’s a poem we received this week from a local Letterkenny born woman Rosaleen McCool who moved to neighbouring Stranorlar when she got married many years ago. Rosaleen who was Molloy from Rosemount in Letterkenny has always kept in touch with her hometown. 

This week she sent us the words of a poem she wanted highlighted. It’s the words of a native Letterkenny man who penned a poem about what it was like being away for Christmas about the feelings about not getting home for Christmas and not getting to Midnight Mass in his home town of Letterkenny. 

The trees at the top of the back road and the way the wind would flow through them recalled in the poem from many years ago. Photo Brian McDaid.

The Bells of St’ Eunan’s rising out around the countryside on Christmas Eve recall in Willie Curran’s Poem.

The poem was written by W.A. Curran who was originally from St. Eunans Tce on the Back Rd. in Letterkenny. He was a brother of the late Fr. Tommy Curran who sadly passed away in January at the start of this year. 

It is believed that the poem was penned by Willie Curran when he was first stationed as a young Garda in the west of Ireland in a small village somewhere in Co. Mayo. He talks about heading to Midnight Mass there and dreams of how he remembered what it was like when he was a young boy growing up with Letterkenny and the build up to Christmas. He recalls how his hometown came to life at Christmas and the journey that people made from all parts of the town some of which are named in the poem as the people make their way to midnight mass at St. Eunan’s Cathedral Mass.

Willie talks about the sound of both the choir and the bells of St Eunan’s as the night air carries the sounds into a Christmas night. The trees in the convent ground which just would just be beside his home on the Back Road, and the sound of wind blowing through them. 

Memories of the choir on Christmas Eve recalled by Willie Curran in his poem on Letterkenny. Photo Brian McDaid.

The old crib of St Eunans Cathedral bringing back childhood memories of Christmas. Photo Brian McDaid.

Many years on they are still a landmark in Letterkenny. Kelly’s Mills are mentioned as is Rockhill. Rosaleen has kept a copy of the poem for years which was well known by Letterkenny folk. She has given friends many copies of the poem over the years but now is afraid that this beautiful poem might be forgotten. 

They’re going to Midnight Mass.

The lights shine out from the little church, amid the sheltering trees,
And the candles glow in the scattered homes along the village street,
As cheery voices greetings call to others as they pass;
For this is the night ‘ere Christmas Day – they’re going to Midnight Mass.

And now the warning bell peaks forth across the country still,
Across the fields, and woods, and lakes, from the chapel on the hill;
And the people climb the winding road, with greetings as they pass;
From their homes in the hills tonight they’re going to Midnight Mass.

And as each peal is carried far in the breezes of the night
I wander ‘gain down memory Lane,
As longing thoughts take flight,
Across the miles that lie between, as those friendly people pass;
To a far off home of boyhood days,
Where they’re going to midnight mass.

And I see the town with friendly crowds,
It’s shops so cheery bright,
I hear once more the traffic’s roar,
I see those glittering lights
And the kids with faces pressed against, each shops inviting glass.
For some are staying up late tonight- they’re going to Midnight Mass.

And the moon shines down across the fields, those green fields by the Mill.
Across the slopes of Sallaghagrane to the shadows of Rockhill;
And the people cross the Oldtown Bridge, as the river gurgles past,
And the people hurry in the Port – they’re going to Midnight Mass.

I see them coming down Glencar;
They climb the Market Square;
I hear the breeze in the convent trees;- Oh! Wish that I were there!
And now back through the years again the mighty choir sings ‘Adeste Fideles’ and hark the joybells ring!

And send their glorious carillon from lofty belfry high-
The peals are thund’rung through the hills to softly, sweetly, die.
As old familiar faces in reminiscence flit past,
By every hollowed spot of old – they’re going to Midnight Mass.

But I awake from my reverie , see the lonely countryside,
As I hear the simple warning bell, the simple choir beside;
But I know my step is lighter, with each cottage that I pass,
For my heart is climbing the old Back Road, and I’m going to Midnight Mass.

By W.A. Curran.

The old seat in St. Eunan’s – memories of going to mass as a child. Photo Brian McDaid.

Going to mass and “Climbing the Market Square’ described by Willie Curran in His poem from many years ago.Photo Brian McDaid.

Happy motoring folks 

Santa has been spotted at the Randox plant in Dungloe.

Word has it that the big man and his reindeer stopped off at the plant around 3.30pm this afternoon to get a special glimpse at Covid-19 testing centre.

Mr Claus wanted to see the trojan work being done at the centre.

So he contacted the head scientist at the West Donegal medical plant, Dr B Bettersoon to request a last minute check-up and to get a look around the plant.

Along with two cups of hot chocolate Santa is understood to be in flying form and ready to deliver presents across Donegal from Bundoran to Buncrana and everywhere in between.

It is understood that Santa is due to have a slice of Christmas pudding at the North Pole bar in Drumfries outside Clonmany – while socially distancing from locals!

Local lads Peter Holly and Chris Massey denied rumours that Santa didn’t sanitise his hands when he left the loo.

He was also rumoured to have dropped into DMG Motors outside Donegal Town where the lads there gave his sleigh the once over to ensure it’s sky-worthy for the long haul ahead tonight.

Santa is due to touch down in some houses in Donegal from as early as 7pm this evening so boys and girls are asked to get to bed early tonight.

He was overheard telling local postwoman Mary Nooyear how good the children of Donegal have been since the lockdown came in last March and how they have behaved themselves impeccably and done everything their parents asked of them.

He said 2021 is going to be a much better year and hopefully children will be able to see all their friends again and return to playing sport.

All routes across the county will be gritted from 5pm this evening (Thurs).

Donegal County Council has sent out its team of gritters with temperatures set to fall.

Motorists traveling tonight and tomorrow morning are asked to take extra care.

The Donegal gritting route index is as follows:

06: Inishowen West
04: Inishowen South
01: National Primary North
02: National Primary Central
03: National Primary South
07: Milford South
08: Milford North
09: Cill Ulta East
10: Cill Ulta West
11: Na Rosa
12: Binswilly
13: Stranorlar North
14: Stranorlar East
15: Stranorlar West
16: Donegal West
17: Donegal North
18: Donegal South
19: Donegal National Secondary
05: Inishowen East
BT: Buncrana Town
LT: Letterkenny Town

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation (KFO) has said the Brexit deal reached this evening has demonstrated the duplicitous nature of these protracted negotiations and expressed its dismay at how repeated guarantees given to Irish fishermen has, effectively been shredded.

Having secured a host of written commitments in official documents pertaining to the fisheries sector post-Brexit, KFO Chief Executive, Seán O’Donoghue said four and a half years of agreements had for all intents and purposes, been dishonoured by the negotiators.

Mr O’Donoghue stated “We cannot stand idly by and allow decades of investment in developing a successful enterprise, to be sacrificed by the shape of this very poor deal.

“In spite of a seismic effort to redress the imbalance of the proposed deal in recent days, not enough has changed and our highly-developed mackerel fishery stands to lose out dramatically.

“While the full detail of the text is not yet available, it will require very close examination and analysis. Make no mistake – we will be seeking compensation from our EU colleagues to put right this grievous wrong.

“We won’t accept this. Moreover, we fully expect the Irish Government to deliver the requisite compensation in the form of transfer of mackerel quota from the other EU coastal states which pro rata, have seen a much less severe impact on their respective mackerel fisheries.”

There have been a further 922 cases of Covid across Ireland today with 38 of those in Donegal.

The breakdown of cases showed that 337 of the cases are in Dublin, with 73 in Cork, 70 in Limerick, 56 in Wexford, and 43 in Galway with the remaining 343 cases are spread across all other counties.

There are no “encouraging signs” among the key indicators of Covid-19, the Chief Medical Officer has said.

To date, there have been 2,192 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland, and a total of 83,073 confirmed cases.

Dr Holohan added that unfortunately none of the indicators of the disease are showing encouraging signs.

“Ireland now has the fastest growing incidence rate in the European Union,” Dr Tony Holohan has said.

He said “the best present” people can give their loved ones this Christmas is to strictly adhere to the public health advice.

“Make your Christmas safe, meaningful and memorable for the right reasons. Stay home, stay safe and stay well. Limit contact as much as you can and ensure you and your loved ones have a happy and safe Christmas.”

A Cavan man will be giving it socks this Christmas when he braves a 400km barefoot run.

Stephen Reburn’s non-stop run from Letterkenny to Killarney begins this Christmas morning – all in aid of Pieta House.

Starting at 9am, he expects the run will take between four and five days.

So far, he has raised almost €2,000.

Stephen hopes to raise both awareness and vital funds to support the work done by Pieta House.

“I have seen first hand the great work that they do and I admire their passion to save lives and their readiness to help anyone suffering from mental illness,” he says. “There is a gap in the system that Pieta is trying to close, so there is a lot of strain on their services but they always cope with it brilliantly.”

“There is a crisis of mental health in our country at the moment and it will continue to get worse if we do not act now.

“I have lost too many people to suicide, I’ve grown up seeing people end their lives by their own hand. I have been to two funerals this year alone, for young people who died by suicide, and I am not going to stand at a third.

“Christmas is a hard time for everyone, especially those who have an empty chair at their dinner table this year. On a personal level, it always reminds me of my own suicide attempts and depression, so I know what it’s like to be at the lowest level around this time of year.

“I want to show people that with willingness and endeavour and some luck thrown in, it is possible to overcome challenges. I also want to show the compassionate nature of people, because I know if I fall down, I will be picked up, if I reach a mental brick wall, I know someone will be there to carry me through it, I want this to be a metaphor for depression or mental illness in that sense, to show that no one is ever alone because people will always want to help.

“The reason for doing it in my bare feet is because I want this to be the hardest physical challenge I’ve ever faced, so I can learn about myself more and test my capabilities and be better fit to help people in the future as a result.”

When it comes to training for the run, replicating the distance of 400km non-stop is challenging but he is pushing his body to the limits with arduous training.

“I am doing a thing called pain training, which includes running barefoot, running on my knees and river and lake diving in the current weather, this sounds very strange, I know, but my theory behind it is that I will get used to being uncomfortable because at the end of the day, endurance tests are a bit like life.

“The aim is 400km in one go but I will listen to my body if I need sleep on the third night or so, as I want to limit rest as much as possible.”

This isn’t his first feat of endurance. In 2016, Stephen cycled the circumference of Ireland, and his 24-hour Christmas run in 2016 raised over €4,000 for Pieta House.

“This is by far my hardest physical challenge to date, but I want it to be in order to test my physical and mental resilience. I have ran 160 km before which was my furthest, but not double it in the one go,” he says.

Although he sets off on Christmas morning, he has a few festive plans up his sleeve.

“We’ll break out the Santa hats and turkey and cranberry sauce sandwiches along the way,” he laughs.

To donate to Stephen’s No Socks Run for Suicide fundraiser, please visit his feelgoodwithpieta.ie page. 

https://www.feelgoodwithpieta.ie/fundraisers/stephenreburn/stephens-no-sock-run-for-suicide

It’s been a tough year but Watson Menswear in Letterkenny has been there all the way.

Be that at its store on Main Street in Letterkenny or online on its website, Watsons has been there for boys and men all year ’round.

And if you fancy a Christmas present for yourself of if you’ve forgotten a loved one, then the Watson Menswear online sale starts today at 1pm.

There are great reductions online on a variety of brands.

If you prefer going into the store itself then the good news is that you won’t have to wait too long.

Watson Menswear officially opens its doors again to the public on December 28th with may more offers in-store.

So if you want to treat yourself to a new look or an entire new wardrobe then Watson Menswear is the place to get it.

For more see www.watsonmenswear.com or https://m.facebook.com/WatsonMenswear/

IT WAS a year like no other, 2020.

Memorable if only for the fact that it felt like the ultimate year to forget.

Covid-19 pulled the shutters down on business across Donegal, like right over the world.

People died alone, bereaved families sometimes had to grieve alone and others had to suffer their worst moments in silence.

Uncertainty and worry gripped the globe since Covid-19 took its hold.

In a year where the world was dominated by talk of clusters and cases, face coverings and sanitiser became part of the daily routine –  the ’new normal’.

In the middle of it all, hope somehow kept flickering.

And there were moments in 2020 that will live long for the right reasons.

Olivia (Livie) Mulhern is looking forward to Christmas as she recovers after receiving specialist treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type  1 – a life-limiting condition which she was diagnosed with in April.

Livie’s parents, mum Karen from Dublin and dad Keith from Donegal, received an outpouring of kindness this year to raise over €2million in the ‘Better Life for Livie’ campaign. The family was able to secure Zologensma treatment in October.

In Donegal, Livie’s was the story of 2020.

In the middle of a lockdown where their world had been turned upside-down, the public rallied.

The fundraising efforts were backed by the Donegal senior football team who embarked on a cycle in July – even at a time when their own season was under a cloud.

The loveable baby was one of GoFundMe’s top success stories this year.

The Mulhern’s hope never buckled.

Nor should ours.

A spirit formed in March that bonded communities.

Take the ChefAid movement, for instance. In March, meals were delivered to 40 people in the greater Letterkenny area. A voluntary team of chefs, drivers and volunteers joined forces and at hits height over 300 meals were delivered in the area.

ChefAid groups were formed in all corners of the county with thousands of meals dispatched to the elderly, the alone or the vulnerable.

Such activism appeared in a blink and showed what is possible when hearts and minds come together.

As if Daniel O’Donnell’s popularity – or even his value to the hearts and minds of Donegal – needed validating, lockdown saw the Kincasslagh crooner bring some cheer amid a tidal wave of worry and uncertainty.

Residents at nursing homes across Donegal missed the regular visits from family members or friends.

Enter Daniel.

Armed with a speaker, an iPhone and a backing track (and a letter of permission from the local Gardaí) Daniel did the rounds of nursing homes.

Residents and staff gathered at windows to listen as Daniel sang some of his favourite numbers.

“It was something I could do and it was easy for me to do,” Daniel said.

“It broke up the day for the residents and for the staff too because it’s hard on the staff too. They’re trying to entertain them and motivate them as well as looking after them.”

Another Donegal man who used a musical talent was Malin’s Declan Houton, who was named one of six ‘Best of Boston Covid-19 Heroes’ by Boston Magazine.

Houton hosted weekly Facebook Live gigs in his home to help his community. The ‘Donegal Basement Sessions’ raised in excess of $32,000 – over three times more than his original target.

Donegal is never short of its heroes from daring deeds and in July, there was the story of 21-year-old Jane Friel from Castlefin, who was on a day out at Portsalon beach.

A family of four had been swimming at the beach when they were pulled out by the tide and couldn’t get back into shore.

Jane, a trained lifeguard, rushed out with a life ring to help the three young girls and a man. Jane swam out to reach the youngest girl and managed to bring her and another girl back to safety.

She said: “I would consider myself a very strong swimmer and I really struggled swimming against the current. Usually you don’t realise that you’re in bother until it’s too late.”

Before Covid-19 took a grip, legions of Liverpool supporters in Donegal were poised to celebrate the Reds’ winning of the Premier League title.

Liverpool clinched the crown in June after the pandemic delayed the campaign.

A Donegal schoolboy gained worldwide fame in February after writing to Jürgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, asking him to stop winning games.

Man Utd fan Daragh Curley and his brother Dylan with his letter from Jurgen Klopp. (North West Newspix)

Ten-year-old Daragh Curley – a Manchester United fan from Glenswilly – wrote to the Anfield boss as part of a school project.

Daragh wrote: ‘Liverpool are winning too many games. If you win nine more games then you have the best unbeaten run in English football. Being a United fan that is very sad. So the next time Liverpool play please make them lose. You should just let the other team score. I hope I have convinced you to not win the league or any other match again.’

Daragh was stunned when he received a response from Klopp.

The German told the Donegal youngster that Manchester United were ‘lucky to have you’.

Klopp wrote: ‘As much as you want Liverpool to lose it is my job to do everything that I can to help Liverpool to win as there are millions of people around the world who want that to happen so I really do not want to let them down.’

Sport locally ground to a halt for much of 2020, but there were still moments of cheer.

Donegal’s big success in 2020 was the winning of the Irish St Leger by Rathmullan’s Oisin Orr. The Donegal jockey delivered a masterclass to win on board Dermot Weld’s 7/1 chance Search For A Song at The Curragh.

Oisin Orr in action

It was a first top level win for Orr and Weld said: “He gets horses to relax very well. I think he has wonderful hands and he fills horses with confidence.”

Ollie Horgan is another man who instills confidence. Famously outwardly pessimistic, Horgan continued his great feats of escapology as Finn Harps maintained their Premier Division place for 2021. Harps stayed up without the need for a play-off and Horgan’s standing in the League of Ireland rose further.

There were heroes and heartwarming tales aplenty in 2020.

Sometimes, we just have to look closer.

The frontline workers were the real heroes of 2020, whose role in fighting the crippling pandemic would hardly be justified by words here or even a round of applause at the doorstep.

Their selfless work, even when there was a lack of the basics at times, should give us all a lesson for 2021: One of hope.

The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rt Rev Andrew Forster, has called on the community to be thankful for the things that are most precious this Christmas.

In his 2020 Christmas message, Bishop Forster said Christmas has not been ‘cancelled’, as celebrations and hope remain strong.

Christmas Message from Bishop Andrew Forster:

Christmas will soon be upon us and then, just as quickly, it’ll be gone and we’ll be into the New Year, with all its uncertainty.

For as long as I can remember, Christmas has been an exciting time: a time for gathering as family, exchanging gifts and celebrating the birth of Jesus. There was a sameness to our celebrations – what we call ‘tradition’ – which made it all very comforting and reassuring and uplifting.

This year, though, and certainly for the first time in my lifetime, things are going to be different. They have to be different.

The coronavirus has made 2020 a harrowing year for so many people, especially those who lost loved ones during the year and were unable to grieve for them or bury them in the customary way. Those were particularly hard crosses to bear.

The virus is still with us, spreading fear in the community, and leaving anguish and heartache in its wake. So, Christmas 2020 is going to be quite unlike any other Christmas in living memory.

We can look at this two ways. We can decide that this is going to be the worst Christmas ever – after all, what is there to celebrate? Or we can decide to make this one of the most memorable Christmases ever – certainly in our lifetimes.

If 2020 has taught us anything, it is to recognise and appreciate what really matters in life: being with those we love, looking out for one another; caring for each other; worshipping together. Things that we once took for granted are now, we realise, the most precious things.

So, this Christmas – if we’re able to gather in our small groups – we should be extra thankful for the company of those around us. Thankful for what we have. Thankful for those who have provided the food we’re going to enjoy. Thankful for those working in our shops, or who’ve delivered cards and parcels to our doors. Thankful for those wonderful people in our health services – doctors, nurses, porters, ambulance drivers, carers, ancillary staff; staff in our pharmacy shops. Thankful for our scientists who are pitting their wits against the coronavirus. Thankful for our emergency services workers. Thankful for our teachers. We should be thankful, too, for those who will be giving up their Christmas so that we can enjoy ours. And we should pray God’s discernment for our leaders who have complex problems to deal with and difficult decisions to make.

Last weekend, the headline in one of the Sunday papers proclaimed, ‘Christmas cancelled for millions’. Christmas has not been cancelled. Yes, it will be very different this year, but it hasn’t been cancelled. The name given to Jesus at his birth, Emmanuel, means ’God with us’. In 2020, the significance of that name became obvious to many people. My prayer is that the truth of God’s presence may become evident to each and every one of us.

So, this Christmas and in the New Year, we can be thankful to God. As we celebrate the coming of Jesus into the world, we remember that humble stable where he was born. A place of isolation, vulnerability and uncertainty became a place of hope, hope that can become the foundation stone for a better future for each one of us.

I wish you all the peace of Christ this Christmas.

A Buncrana choir who swapped singing for swimming this Christmas has raised over €2,000 for the Inishowen Food Bank.

For the past 25 years, the Motley Crew enjoyed Christmas caroling on Buncrana Main Street. But, with those plans cancelled due to Covid-19, members decided to make a real splash instead.

The group completed a sponsored sea swim on Monday – the Winter Solstice. Volunteers braved the icy cold water at Ludden Beach in a bid to inspire others to support families in need this Christmas.

Funds raised will be donated to the Inishowen Food Bank, which was set up in April in response to an identified need in the peninsula that has been exacerbated by COVID-19.

Motley Crew Sponsored Swim at Ludden – 21st December 2020

The exact total is not yet known as donations continue to come in on GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/8950e792

Swim organiser Miriam Killeney said: “I would like to thank everyone who took part and those who were so generous with donations, particularly Crana College students who collected nearly €400.”

Motley Crew Sponsored Swim at Ludden – 21st December 2020

Motley Crew Sponsored Swim at Ludden – 21st December 2020

It’s a Christmas miracle of sorts!

One of the world’s most brash and outrageous singers Suzi Quatro has admitted she is a huge fan of none other than Daniel O’Donnell.

And she has even written to him a Christmas message to express her admiration for the Donegal singer.

Daniel performed an impromptu online song just a couple of days before Christmas to test out some new equipment ahead of a St Stephen’s Day online gig.

But one fan who messaged him online was none other than rocker Quatro who was a huge star herself back in the day.

Suzi wrote “Wanted you to know Daniel….that I am actually a big fan…..and yes it really is me!!!..have been for ages…old school..love it. Merry Christmas.”

Rocker Suzi Quatro

Others fans swamped Suzi’s message with replies saying they remembered her and her music

One fan, Tania Thomas wrote “Really you? My 2 favourite singers in one place as I was just ‘stumbling in.’

Another, Charles Duguid wrote “Suzi, you must have some Irish connection.”

Daniel was joined for the Facebook live message by his grandchildren Olivia and Archie as he sang ‘Snowflakes.’

Archie did momentarily interrupt his famous grandfather but Daniel took it all in his stride.

And as he finished his song and signed off, the Kincasslagh singer agreed to return to playing a game of ‘Monsters” with the children.

Daniel will perform his Facebook Live concert of Christmas classics tonight as part fo a St Stephen’s Day special at 8pm on his own Facebook page.

Unfortunately, he missed singing with his local choir at midnight mass at St Columba’s Church on Christmas eve after parish priest Fr Pat Ward opted to put all masses online because of fears over Covid.

Donegal has been hit with a yellow wind warning for St Stephen’s Day.

Walkers and those out and about after Christmas Day have been warned to wrap up and take care by Met Eireann.

Some parts of the country are set to be hit with strong winds and heavy rain as Storm Bella crashes into the country.

Met Eireann has issued a yellow wind warning for Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

The alert warns: “Through Saturday afternoon, evening and night, westerly winds associated with Storm Bella (named by UK Met Office) will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65km/h with gusts of 90 to 110km/h.

“With the combination of strong winds, high waves and forecasted storm surge, there is a risk of coastal flooding.

“Further updates will be issued as necessary.”

The yellow warning is valid from 12pm on Saturday until 6am on Sunday morning.

Forecaster Liz Walsh said Christmas Day will be bright and dry with temperatures reaching 9C but added that “potentially stormy weather” is expected on December 26.

She said: “Whilst Christmas Day itself promises to be a generally quiet day weather wise with increasing cloud, and patchy rain and drizzle, mainly over northwestern areas, our weather looks set to turn much more unsettled as we head into the festive weekend.

“A briefly milder spell of wet and windy, potentially stormy, weather is expected on Saturday in association with Storm Bella named by the British Met Office earlier today, with much colder weather following for Sunday and into early next week.

“Some very cold air currently emerging from northwest Canada and Greenland, is expected to meet relatively warm air over the western Atlantic, resulting in a powering up of the Polar Front Jet Stream.

“A complex low pressure system, named Storm Bella by the UK Met Office this morning, is tracking eastwards over Greenland today (Christmas Eve).

“The low looks set to engage the developmental zone of this powered up Jet Stream, which will help to deepen it to the north of Iceland on Friday, Christmas Day.

“Storm Bella will be tracking eastwards over parts of Iceland by Saturday afternoon, and is expected to have grown into quite a large feature by then, generating a vast swathe of gales, westerly veering northerly, across the North Atlantic as it interacts with the Azores high to the south.

“Storm Bella is then forecast to track southeastwards towards the North Sea whilst deepening a little more into Saturday night bringing a spell of wet and very windy weather over Ireland for Saturday afternoon/evening/night as an associated squally cold front tracks southeastwards over the country.”

The vaccination of hundreds of elderly people in nursing homes across Donegal will begin in January as part of a nationwide campaign.

More than 70,000 residents across the country will begin on January 11th.

Aras Ui Dhomhaill Nursing Home in Milford and the Ramelton Community Nursing Unit will be the first facilities in Donegal to get the vaccine on January 13th before it is rolled out quickly to other nursing homes across the county.

Under draft plans developed by the HSE, vaccination teams will travel to each of the 583 HIQA older persons residential care facilities, both public and private, to administer two doses over a six-week period, according to independent.ie

It will take three weeks to administer the first dose, and a further three to deliver the second.

It is estimated that it will take each vaccinator 12 minutes to administer the vaccine with a target of injecting 35 vaccines per day.

The following are the Donegal nursing homes to receive the vaccines and when the doses will be administered.

Donegal ~ Aras Ui Dhomhaill Nursing Home ~ 13/01/2021

Donegal ~ Beach Hill Manor Private Nursing Home ~ 14/01/2021

Donegal ~ Lake House Nursing Home ~ 15/01/2021

Donegal ~ Nazareth House Nursing Home Donegal ~ 18/01/2021

Donegal ~ Buncrana Community Nursing Unit ~ 19/01/2021

Donegal ~ Aras Gaoth Dobhair Nursing Home ~ 20/01/2021

Donegal ~ Aras Mhic Suibhne Nursing Home ~ 21/01/2021

Donegal ~ Archview Lodge Nursing Home ~ 22/01/2021

Donegal ~ Brentwood Manor Private Nursing Home ~ 25/01/2021

Donegal ~ Brindley Manor Private Nursing Home ~ 26/01/2021

Donegal ~ Harbour Lights Nursing Home ~ 27/01/2021

Donegal ~ Hillcrest Nursing Home ~ 28/01/2021

Donegal ~ St. Eunan’s Nursing Home ~ 29/01/2021

Donegal ~ Ramelton Community Nursing Unit ~ 13/01/2021

Donegal ~ Carndonagh Community Hospital ~ 14/01/2021

Donegal ~ Donegal Town Community Hospital ~ 15/01/2021

Donegal ~ Dungloe Community Hospital ~ 18/01/2021

Donegal ~ Killybegs Community Hospital ~ 19/01/2021

Donegal ~ Lifford Community Hospital ~ 20/01/2021

Donegal ~ The Sheil Community Hospital ~ 21/01/2021

Donegal ~ St. Joseph’s Community Hospital Donegal ~ 22/01/2021

Donegal ~ Falcarragh Community Hospital ~ 26/01/2021

Donegal ~ Rock Community Nursing Unit ~ 27/01/2021

Donegal ~ Larissa Lodge Nursing Home ~ 28/01/2021

Donegal ~ Hillcrest House Nursing Home The Lodge ~ 29/01/2021

A special fundraiser is uniting people in Donegal and Melbourne in memory of Mary Ellen Molloy, a much-loved young woman who passed away last Christmas.

Mary Ellen, from Ardara, died at the age of 26 following a tragic car accident in Melbourne, where she been working as a psychiatric nurse.

Mary Ellen is dearly missed by her parents Terence and Angela, brothers John Ross and Karl Joseph and her wide circle of family and friends.

This St Stephen’s Day, a “Walk With Me” 5km walk/run event will be held in six locations in Donegal from 12noon to raise funds and promote awareness for Downstrands Family Resource Centre counselling services for people who have lost loved ones. Funds will also be donated to The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, whose services support bereaved families in the event of the sudden death of a loved one abroad.

John Ross Molloy, Mary Ellen’s younger brother, is organising the event, which aims to celebrate Mary Ellen’s life and to remember all loved ones who have passed.

On the other side of the world, a community came together last weekend to ‘Walk with Me’ along a trail in Melbourne.

This Saturday in Donegal, walks will begin from 12 noon to 3pm at Pearse Memorial Park Ardara, Narin Beach, Meenaneary Community Centre, Blue Haven Kilcar, Ionad Fiontraíochta Sliabh Liag and Lough Eske Castle. Due to Covid-19, all participants are asked to adhere to social-distancing.

Writing on GoFundMe (click here to visit), John Ross said: “Comprehending such a tragic loss, so sudden and unfair, has felt to be impossible on some days.

“Some of us reached out to counselling services, which has proved invaluable in the healing process.

“Making time and talking to each other is what is getting us through this, just as we had done so many times with Mary Ellen.

“We wanted to do something in her memory so we decided on a walk, as it would join us all together as family, friends, community, to spend time with each other.

“Inspired by her, we wanted this walk to be in memory of all our loved ones who have passed away, called “Walk with M.E.” We are so grateful to have such amazing counselling services, in the Downstrands Family Recourse Centre available to help us, we want to help back, by fundraising for them and to raise awareness on mental health , considering Mary Ellen’s career and her belief in counselling, and how this service can help people smile again, this just seems right the right idea to to remember Mary Ellen.”

To donate to the GoFundMe page please visit: https://gofund.me/9723c31a

A further 1,025 cases of Covid have been recorded in Ireland today.

Two further deaths of people with Covid-19 has also occurred.

The figures also show that on Christmas Eve, there were 26 confirmed cases of Coronavirus at Letterkenny University Hospital.

There has now been a total of 2,194 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland and 84,098 confirmed cases.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 had been detected by whole genome sequencing at the National Virus Reference Laboratory in UCD.

“Further testing in the coming days and weeks will establish the extent to which it is present here. In the meantime, it is vitally important that we each stay at home, avoid social contact and avoid all forms of non-essential travel,” he added.

“It is particularly important that those who have arrived from the UK strictly self-isolate for a full 14 days following arrival. They should not interact with others, visit others, socialise or go shopping.

Dr Holohan said the HSE is making arrangements to test recent arrivals from the UK and also renewed his appeal for people to limit their contacts as much as possible over Christmas.

The best present people can give to their loved ones this Christmas is to strictly adhere to the public health advice, he added.

Meanwhile, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly last night confirmed that he has signed the regulation authorising the use of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine in Ireland.

The first delivery of almost 10,000 doses is due tomorrow – with the first vaccinations on 30 December.

Just before the Covid pandemic closed down the world in March, a young Donegal schoolboy stole its heart.

Daragh Curley wrote a personal letter to Liverpool FC asking them to stop winning games has been left stunned after receiving a letter back from Jurgen Klopp.

Glenswilly schoolboy Daragh penned the letter in late January to the German manager as part of a school project.

But the last thing the 10-year-old Manchester Utd fan was expecting was a lengthy reply from the world-famous manager.

Daragh’s mum Tricia was at their local post office, McFaddens in Glenswilly, when they told her they had a registered letter for her son.

When Daragh opened the letter he found a personally-signed letter from Klopp explaining why millions of Liverpool fans around the world would not like his team to lose games.

In the letter, the Glenswilly National School pupil asked the Liverpool manager to take it easy on other teams.

He wrote “Liverpool are winning too many games. If you win 9 more games then you have the best unbeaten run in English football. Being a United fan that is very sad.

Man Utd fan Daragh Curley and his brother Dylan with his letter from Jurgen Klopp. (North West Newspix)

“So the next time Liverpool plan please make them lose. You should just let the other team score. I hope I have convinced you to not win the league or any other match again.”

Daragh’s dad, well-known local solicitor and self-confessed Man Utd fan Gordon Curley told Donegal Daily he was equally as stunned by the personal letter.

He said “I’m obviously a Man Utd fan but I have to say I really admire Klopp. What I really liked about the letter to Daragh was that it was personal.

“You could tell by the language that he was using German phrases and that it was a personal response.

“Daragh couldn’t believe it and it was great to be able to bring it into the school and show his teachers and all his friends.”

In the letter back to Daragh, Klopp said he noted Daragh did not send him good luck but he was always delighted to hear from young football fans!

However, he wrote “Unfortunately, on this occasion, I cannot grant your request, not through choice anyway. As much as you want Liverpool to lose it is my job to do everything that I can to help Liverpool to win as there are millions of people around the world who want that to happen so I really do not want to let them down.

“Luckily for you, we have lost games in the past and we will lose games in the future because that is football.

“The problem is when you are ten years old you think that things will always be as they are now but if there is one thing I can tell you as 52 years old it is that this most definitely isn’t the case.”

Klopp also praised Daragh for his passion for football and said that was the best thing for him to have.

He added “Having read your letter, though, I think I can safely say that one thing that will not change is your passion for football and for your club. Manchester United are lucky to have you.

“I hope that if we are lucky enough to win more games and maybe even lift some more trophies you will not be too disappointed because although our clubs are great rivals we also share a great respect for one another.

“This, to me, is what football is all about. Take care and good luck, Jurgen.”

The story, which first appeared on Donegal Daily, turned Daragh into an overnight celebrity and he even appeared on the Late Late Show alongside Roy Keane.

He left Roy gobsmacked when he told him he wanted to play rugby rather than soccer.

THERE are plans to develop a new amusement arcade in Donegal Town.

Plans were submitted for the development to Donegal County Council last week.

The permission has been sought by Michael Crossan for a change of use from a fast food takeaway on Main Street, Donegal Town.

The proposed development will include an amusement arcade and a pool room.

Donegal County Council say that a decision is due on February 18, 2021.

AFTER almost 40 years of service, a school principal was given a big send off this week as he headed into retirement. 

Charlie Cannon was given a guard of honour by students and staff at Errigal College as he bid farewell.

Charlie has been within the Donegal ETB for nigh-on 40 years.

“Even though our students were restricted in what they could do to mark the occasion, they did us proud on Friday and gave Mr Cannon a send-off he deserved,” Errigal College said.

Principal for the school for the last eight years, he has been teaching for 38-and-a-half years and has been at Errigal College for the last 35 years.

Danny McFadden will take over as the new principal of Errigal College.