All over Ireland in the next few weeks County Fleadhanna make a welcome return after two years of Lockdown restrictions, and Donegal is no exception.

The Letterkenny Branch of Comhaltas are delighted to host the Donegal Fleadh from Friday 6th May –Sunday 8th May.

The Fleadh will be officially launched on Friday 6th May in Dillon’s hotel, Main St. at 8pm, followed by a session in the hotel and a “céilí and two-hand”  in the Bonagee Hall, 9pm- midnight, with music by Martin Duggan. Tea and sandwiches will be served at the céilí and admission is €10.

Fleadh competitions will be held in the ATU, Atlantic Technological University, (formerly LYIT) from mid-morning on the Saturday, with canteen facilities available.

On the Saturday afternoon a unique “sensory session” will be held in Alcorn’s Garden Centre, where visitors can allow their sense of taste and smell to be stimulated with food from Thyme Out and the possibility of a wee beverage too, while enjoying some traditional music and taking in the aromas of the great  variety of flowers, and shrubs and trees available there.  

There will be impromptu traditional sessions inside and out on Main Street, Saturday and Sunday afternoon as well as evening sessions in many pubs on those days, and the Letterkenny Comhaltas committee are confident that visitors will not be disappointed with what will be on offer. We encourage musicians young and old to come and entertain us with your music and song.

There will also be an online “share the tunes” competition where if you upload and share your session on Facebook and tag Fleadhlk, the one with the most likes will get a prize of €300. Competition opens at 10am on Friday and closes Sunday at 3pm.  Winners will be announced at Youth traditional session in the Silver Tassie at 4pm.

There will be a number of Irish language events held throughout the weekend too including  a pop-up Gaeltacht in Dillon’s Hotel 8pm on Friday 6th, a Ciorcal Comhrá at Chill Out Café Saturday at 12 midday and a Seisiún Scéalaíocht, (storytelling session) for 3-10 year olds at 1pm on Saturday in the Líonra office, Castle Street.

“To have the County Fleadh in Letterkenny is a great boost for the town and we invite everyone to come out and enjoy the weekend’s activities,” the committee said.

A full programme of events will be on sale in various locations throughout the county for more detailed information.

Back row left to right Joe Gibson (Fleadh Chairperson), Ronan Brophy, (committee), Majella McCarron,( Branch secretary), Jean Curran, (Branch Chairperson), Cora Murray , (committee), Seamus Gibson (Branch Treasurer)
front row left to right Shannon Duggan (PRO), Darius McColgan, (graphics) Saoirse Duggan, (Irish officer)

Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has questioned Minister Eamon Ryan over the actions of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) against Killybegs fish processors. 

The SPFA suspended in-factory weigh permits for two Killybegs fish processors, after a recent fish catch came via Foyle Port in Derry. The catch was landed at the Derry port by a Norwegian vessel whose Master sought to save the catch from SFPA’s weighing system that would render the fish unfit for human consumption.

The SFPA moved to punish the Killybegs processors involved, citing “that the landing took place outside of Ireland.”

Pearse Doherty asked Minister Ryan today: “Minister, do you regard Derry as outside of Ireland? Are you going to allow the SFPA to put a hard border on the island of Ireland? Are you going to allow the SFPA to punish our fishermen and fish producers for daring to challenge this madness?”

The Donegal TD said: “There has been widespread outrage at the actions of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) in Killybegs over the last number of weeks. Their actions will cost the local fishing community a huge amount of income and many workers have lost their livelihoods.

“They have forced some vessels to turn away from Killybegs never to return and others have had to turn fish for human consumption into fishmeal. Two fishing vessels were also forced to land in Derry only to then have their catch transported to Killybegs for processing.

“If that wasn’t bad enough, the SFPA have now removed the in-factory weighing permits from the two fish factories in Killybegs on the basis, and I quote, ‘that the landings took place outside of Ireland’.”

Buncrana businesswoman and quantity surveyor Claire Irwin has been announced as the special guest at the next Inishowen Development Partnership INBusiness Breakfast Event.

Following the exciting launch of the INBusiness series last month with an event held for the Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure sector, IDP, supported by Skillnet, are pleased to announce details of the next Business Breakfast specifically for businesses in the Inishowen Construction, Engineering, Transport and Manufacturing sectors.   

The event will take place in The Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana, on Friday 6th May, at 7.30am – 9.00am with special guest Claire Irwin; head of Claire Irwin Consulting Ltd and co-star of RTE’s popular series “Room to Improve”.  Eve-Anne McCarron, from Donegal Local Enterprise Office, will be there to share information about relevant financial supports available to these sectors and how to access them.  

Ana McColgan, Skillnet, says “We are delighted to have Claire as our keynote speaker at the next INBusiness event.  Claire specialises in professional quantity surveying and project management of construction projects and has a wealth of experience in residential new builds, renovation projects and deep retrofitting works.  Her straight-talking approach takes the worry out of financial and contractual construction issues.  Claire also has vast experience in commercial, retail and industrial projects throughout Ireland so it will be a great opportunity to hear from such an expert and trailblazer in the sector”.

Shauna McClenaghan, Joint CEO at IDP, further adds, “The aims of INBusiness are to bring businesses and entrepreneurs together, to collectively identify gaps and the needs of those in the trade and construction industry, including challenges.  In 2021, IDP as part of Inishowen SEC won the SEAI award for the ‘Inspirational Energy Community’ category.  Details and information on SEAI and additional supports will be provided on the morning”. 

A FREE hot breakfast will be provided to all attendees The event is open to Inishowen businesses of all sizes, relevant to the sector, including Sole Traders, Partnership and Limited Companies.  Places are limited, and booking is essential.  To book your place visit https://inishowen.ie/eventer/inbusiness-industry-breakfast/ or for further queries, please email:  christine@inishowen.ie.   

Donegal County Council in collaboration with BASICC has finalized and published a Regeneration Strategy for Ballybofey-Stranorlar town centres. The Strategy is an exciting and ambitious vision for the town centres setting out key priorities and actions for regeneration up to 2040 and beyond.

The Cathaoirleach of Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, Cllr Gerry Crawford said “I am delighted to announce the final publication of the Ballybofey-Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy. It brings together all the community ideas and input to the process since the very first consultation event in Kee’s Hotel in November 2019 and provides one vision which showcases the scale of opportunity that exists in the Twin Towns.”

He added, “The publication of this Strategy is our strong statement of how Ballybofey-Stranorlar town centres can be vibrant, viable and attractive places for people to live, work and visit while also functioning as important service hubs for the wider rural community.”

The Regeneration Strategy was prepared by Pasparakis Friel Architects. It includes 42 projects across 7 districts within the town centres including a tree lined arrival avenue, Main Street public realm, connected walkways and urban greenways, riverside parkland, town centre housing, options for the reuse of vacant buildings and options to open up backlands as examples.

Kieran Doherty, Chairman of BASICC explained ‘We have worked closely with the Council and the wider community in the Twin Towns to co-design the Regeneration Strategy for the town centres. We believe that this publication gives us an exciting vision and lots of projects to progress on a collaborative basis. The people of the Twin Towns are an activated community and this process has helped to stimulate more creative ideas and ambition for the future. We now look forward to continuing to work collaboratively to develop various projects further so as to enhance Ballybofey-Stranorlar to be even better than it is today.”

Liam Ward, Director of Community Development and Planning Services added, “The publication of this Strategy is a key piece of work to guide future projects and future funding applications in the towns. There is clear momentum for exciting regeneration initiatives in the Twin Towns and this will be supported and activated further over the coming months as The SEED Project, funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund progresses, providing new civic space, replacement car parking and substantial new enterprise space in the heart of the towns. This investment, together with the future Finn Harps development, the Peace IV multi-sports facility and the ongoing Feasibility Study for Drumboe Woods will help to catalyst other projects that have been identified in the Regeneration Strategy and position the towns as viable and competitive places”.

Ronan Friel of Pasparakis Friel Architects reflects on the process saying, “Ballybofey-Stranorlar is a place full of exceptional assets like the strong community spirit, the natural environment anchored by the River and Drumboe Woods, the extensive heritage in the form of wonderful historic buildings and the interesting history and culture encapsulated by key figures like Frances Brown, Isaac Butt or the Irish geographer and natural scientist, Joseph Barclay Pentland. All of these key assets offer a rich canvas to design creatively for authentic, diverse, accessible and attractive town centres and help to define the unique quality of Ballybofey-Stranorlar. As a result, the Regeneration Strategy provides a masterplan that is bursting with potential and opportunity for the Twin Towns to be even more attractive, sustainable and accessible than they already are. We look forward to seeing the various projects develop and the transformation of the towns as a great place to live, work and visit”.

The Ballybofey-Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy and Action Plan is available to download at Donegal County Council (donegalcoco.ie)

A planned ESB outage impacting parts of Ballinacor, Ballyarrell, Belalt, Killygordon and surrounding areas that was scheduled for Sunday, May 8 has been postponed and will be rescheduled in due course.

ESB Networks has said customers will receive correspondence to notify them of this change and separately, on when a date for the rescheduled outage will take place.

ESB Networks carries out planned outages for public safety reasons and to facilitate the upgrade of the electricity network.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused,” a statement said.

Broadcaster and journalist Caoimhe Ní Chathail returns for a new series of Croí na Ceiste le Caoimhe to investigate the growing issues affecting young people today.

Each week, Caoimhe tackles a question central to young peoples’ lives by inviting members of her generation to discuss and share their experiences to get to the heart of the matter. Over four episodes she talks to young people to get their thoughts on a range of major issues in their lives from religion and the environment to sex education and body image.

The new four-part series made for BBC Gaeilge by Waddell Media with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, starts on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 10pm on Monday 09 May.

In the first episode, Caoimhe asks how important religion and spirituality is to young people growing up today. 

She visits Sam Ó Fearraigh in Donegal to discuss his recent conversion to Judaism and asks if and how it has changed him. 

Caoimhe Ní Chathail and Sam Ó Fearraigh

In episode two, Caoimhe investigates peoples’ experience of Sex Education. Where does their knowledge and understanding come from? Are they learning in school, from parents, from peers or online? Caoimhe visits universities to find out how they are informing their students about sex.

In episode three, Caoimhe asks whether social media is changing how we feel about our bodies. She goes behind the camera with model Shade Fairley from Belfast, meets magazine editor, Megan Roantree and challenges four young women to take a break from social media to test whether the platforms are negatively impacting how they feel about their bodies. 

In the final episode of the series, the focus is on the environment and the eco-anxiety in young people,that could stem from worries about climate change and the future of the planet.  Caoimhe meets with Moya Doogan from Bun an Inbhir to go shopping in a charity shop and talk about how bad fast fashion is for the environment.

Moya the Thrifter le Caoimhe Ní Chathail

All four episodes in the series are available to watch on BBC iPlayer from Monday 9 May. 

Croí na Ceiste le Caoimhe is produced by Waddell Media for BBC Gaeilge with funding support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund.

The Buncrana and Carndonagh districts of Donegal have recorded Ireland’s lowest Covid-19 rates again this week. 

The two Inishowen local electoral areas have been listed among the lowest rates in the country throughout this month.

As of Monday, Carndonagh has the lowest rate in the country at 153.3 per 100,000, followed by Buncrana (192.3 per 100,000).

The Lifford-Stranorlar LEA has Ireland’s ninth-lowest Covid-19 rate this week at 262.7 per 100,000.

Milford is the only area of Donegal with above-average rates this week. Sixty-six new cases of Covid-19 were detected by PCR among locals in the area in the past fortnight. The incidence rate is now 479.3 per 100,000.

The national average rate, as of Monday, was 405.7 per 100,000.

The Letterkenny LEA had Donegal’s highest local rate last week. It has now fallen to 389.4 per 100,000, with 116 new cases confirmed in the past fortnight up to Monday 25th April.

The rate is also down in the Glenties area, where 80 new cases were detected, resulting in a 14-day rate of 334.5 per 100,000.

The Donegal LEA recorded 87 new cases in the past fortnight, down from 111 in the previous two week period.

The 14 day incidence rate for the entire county of Donegal, as of today, is 307.8 per 100,000 down from 377 per 100,000.

The public is being invited to celebrate Europe Day with EUROPE DIRECT Letterkenny on Monday 9^th May at 11.00am in Central Library.

The event will be free and refreshments will be provided.

Presentations will be given on behalf of The European Commission including:

• An Economy that works for people.
• Next Generation EU: Irelands recovery and resilience plan.

Speakers will include Joy Harron from the Strategic Funding Unit and Economic Development of Donegal County Council. This is an opportunity for you to gain a better understanding and overview of the latest news and calls on The Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme, Atlantic Area Programme, NW Europe and Peace Plus. You will also gain an insight into what EU funding is available and some examples of recent projects.

Toni Forrester, CEO of the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, will also give a talk on the role of the European Union in creating and fostering a strong economy in Donegal and Ireland.

Europe Day commemorates the signing of Schuman Declaration. This ambitious plan aimed to secure long-term peace in post-war Europe that is considered the beginning of what is now the European Union.

EUROPE DIRECT Letterkenny is here to answer your questions on the EU and to provide:

• Information on the European Union
• Access to publications and brochures from EU institution
• Access to PCs to search for EU material
• A freephone link to the Europe Direct Helpdesk
• Events, including talks, exhibitions and competitions

To book this event please email eudirect@donegallibrary.ie. Alternatively, you can telephone 074 91 24950 or call in to Central Library Letterkenny.

A Letterkenny-based dad and TikTokker is set to appear on an exciting new gameshow on Channel 4.

Richard Hammond’s Crazy Contraptions is the former Top Gear host’s first ever series on Channel 4, in which engineering enthusiasts must battle to create the most ingenious contraptions using everyday objects.

One of the quick-thinking challengers is Mike Sneddon, a personal trainer, originally from Bury outside Manchester. Mike moved to Letterkenny three years ago with his wife Emma, who is a native of the town.

Next Friday (6th May) will see Mike and two pals competing on the leftfield engineering show. Mike has a degree in engineering, but he pursued a career in sales after college and then studied to be a personal trainer. He now works in Bodyworx Gym in Milford.

He had to recall all of his engineering knowledge once again when Richard Hammond pitted the team against three civil engineering students for episode two. One of the quirky tasks was to create a machine that allowed Hammond to boil his kettle while sitting on the lavatory!

 

Mike Sneddon and Richard Hammon

Speaking to Donegal Daily, Mike said: “I absolutely loved it but was certainly the three most stressful days of my life. I was three full days of filming, and our contraptions were made in the most overly complicated way and entertaining way.

“It was really really good fun. Richard was amazing and a really nice guy. Every person on the crew was really nice.”

Mike came to be on the show through a series of events which began with lockdown. When Covid-19 hit and his workplace closed, Mike began a TikTok channel to pass the time. His first video, a life hack, got 150,000 views and soon he branched into comedy skits, dances and a podcast. The channel led Mike to make friends with fellow TikTokkers in the UK – Joshua Cubed and Baz Wright. When Joshua got the call to appear on Crazy Contraptions, he extended the invite to his online pals.

Richard Hammond, Baz Wright, Joshua “Cubed” and Mike Sneddon. (Front) Expert judge Zach Umperovitch. Photo: Channel 4 / Optomen

The entire experience, Mike says, has conjured a new interest in the world of TV and film. “I’m thinking that I would like to do this more, ” he said. “I’ve been applying for roles as extras in shows.”

Richard Hammond’s Crazy Contraptions begins on Channel4 on Friday 29th April at 8pm. Mike and his team begin the contest in the second episode on 6th May at 8pm.

In the meantime, you can watch Mike’s home-produced shows and TikToks on his channels:
TikTok: Dad.Dancer
Podcast details at www.thelockin.co.uk
Instagram: @Dad.Dancergram

The Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Donegal Sport Centre’s annual charity 5K run and walk has raised €1,448 in aid of the Donegal Hospice.

The event took place in Letterkenny on 5th April, which attracted almost 200 participants. The annual event was not only a charity fundraiser but also one of a series of events to launch the transition of Letterkenny Institute of Technology to University status, now named Atlantic Technological University (ATU).

All proceeds were in aid of the Donegal Hospice. Pictured is the ATU organising team and Anne McGowan from the Donegal Hospice receiving the money raised. Thanks is extended to all the athletic clubs in the northwest, the local community, and the ATU students and staff who participated in the event.

Helen Kennedy, ATU Donegal Sport Centre Manager, states that the event, now in its ninth year, is an event that encompasses all levels and abilities and generates great community spirit and generosity.

“It is more than a race or walk – it is an event that generates great community spirit and the generosity shown each year for charitable causes displays this.  It is growing each year and ATU Donegal extends thanks to all participants, organisers, volunteers and helpers.  ATU Donegal Sport Centre is delighted to welcome everyone through its doors, children and adults, at any time, not just for the 5K.”

For more information, please visit https://www.lyit.ie/Student-Hub/Sports-Recreation/Sports-Centre

St Eunans U.15 Camogie team who recorded a a good win over Dungloe recently.

The captain of the team was Ella Homer and top scorer was Cassie Lambe with 7-5 from play and frees.

Next up is the Donegal Feile Qualification and this team could be representing the county at the national finals.

The game was played in Gaoth Dobhair in breezy conditions.

Manager Joe Lambe was delighted with the performance and all the parents that travelled to the game

“The Breed Of Me” is a first poetry collection from Donegal/Fermanagh journalist Gerry McLaughlin and it will be launched in Rockfield Community Hall in Ballyshannon this evening.

The location is the on the site of Gerry’s former Primary School on Friday April 29 at 7.30 pm.

It will be launched by two old hurling friends of Gerry’s, ex Galway captain Joe Connolly and a fiery poet from Connemara called Sean O’Coistealbha and another hurling friend called Conor Hayes is also a special guest.

There are over 60 poems in the collection and many of them are tributes to those who have passed on, to his family, friends, neighbours and figures in the GAA who made a big impression on Gerry growing up on the Donegal/Fermanagh border in the 1960s and 1970s and in his playing career.

Incidentally that was a career on the pitch which did not end until he was aged 45 in 2003 when he lined out for Naomh Eoin hurlers in Sligo.

Gerry explains the background to the book and how the influence of his family and sport flow out of the book like roots from tree.

“There are poems of places that will forever hold my heart, like Meenaleck in the Rosses where I was the first of Willie and Rose’s children to “see the light of a Gaeltacht morning”. after three miscarriages and a death, Cloghore where I grew up and played football and hurling on the green where Donegal were never defeated.

“They are also about my mother Rose McGuire’s home in the hills of west Fermanagh in Tullygrevagh-my long stepping ancestors and about my granny Tessie Ward’s people who were and are the bards who will always inspire me.

“There are poems about UCG and Galway that eternal city of my youth-one about Belfast in dark days where I worked as a young reporter with the Irish News (still do), but most of all about Corlea the world’s loveliest townland to where my father Willie McLaughlin came to in 1925.
The poems are rooted in history a subject I loved in UCG are about ordinary real people who had an extraordinary effect on me.

“I suppose you could call it folk poetry-and no I did not spend hours agonising over a word but I think some of them must have come to me when the moon was in a dangerous position.

“I started to write them as a way of coping with grief at the loss of my parents Rose and Willie McLaughlin who died in 2017 and 2018 within nine months of each other.
I began to think about them and the qualities they gave us, our own people , “The Breed Of Me”, my father Willie who filled my world with songs, stories and tales of GAA giants he played with and he was a great actor too.

“My mother was a queen of the land of books but had to work from a very young age and she gave me a love of words, and she was wise and witty but above all-kind.

“The GAA has always been a huge part of my life and I got that from my father and played hurling for Fermanagh for 22 years from 1975-19997, for UCG, for Liam Mellows, Galway, for Aodh Ruadh, Ballyshannon, for Erne Gaels, Belleek, for St Paul’s, Belfast, for Commercials, Dublin, for Melvin Gaels Leitrim and finally for Naomh Eoin Sligo as well as minor football and handball for Fermanagh.

“I am including one called “Song Of the Hurler” which just came to me one bright May evening, an anthem to all my hurling heroes.

“But most of all, many of these poems are in memory of people who deserve to be remembered, my heroes of home-my eternal legends who should never be forgotten and may their songs always be sung under mellow moons.

“The Song Of The Hurler” is for all the hurlers I played with in UCG, Fermanagh, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Antrim and Galway. I played in an All-ireland JHC final in 1977, a NHL Div Three final in 2003, Ulster finals in 1986, 87, 90 and 97 and lost them all and hated losing but I loved playing the greatest field game in the world and made some great friends and will never forget that comeback in the 1984 county final against Donagh when we truly “walked like kings in our own townland and sang rebel songs deep into the dawn”.

Song of the hurler

I am the smack of a sliotar on a green field of May
When the beating heart of a hurler knows
That his aim is true, and his love is near
And his hurl is a wand of Heaven under an Irish sky
I am the smash of the ash for the blue and gold
Of those bounding boys of Sliabh na mBan
The giants of Tipperary who bent the knee to no man
I am the cool clean strike of Eddie Keher
For the black and amber and the Rose of Mooncoin
I am the granite in the ‘guth’ of the great Joe Connolly
When the West awoke in 1980 and the moon danced on Claddagh
And the world was only as wide as a woman in maroon
I am the voice of Joe McDonagh who sang the song of songs
The greatest anthem of the dispossessed
I am the smiling face of Anthony Daly when the Banner scraped the sky
And looked the stars in the eye and told Biddy Early..goodbye!
I am the roar of the crowd when Christy Ring was carried shoulder high
By those giants of Wexford who held a hero in their hands.
I am Nicky Rackard the most brilliant of those brawny boys of Wexford
I am Mick Mackey, a gladiator in Limerick green who went through defences like a German tank on tour.
I am the darting D J Carey, black magic wrists, veins of ice
A shimmering Shakespeare of ash- sorcery of summer
I am Terence “Sambo” McNaughton-the eternal warrior of the Glens
Who was never afraid to go in where timber tests the soul.
I am every man who followed Cu Chulainn
And played the game of the Gael-the game of the gods
With flashing scimitars of ash on sweltering Sundays in Thurles Town
Home of the great Jimmy Doyle who died with very little
Apart from a photograph of his hero Christy Ring next to his heart
I am every hurler who won a county championship.
For the pride of his village and the glint in the eye of his girl
I am the follower of the great Matt Hughes our own local hurling hero
I am Gerry McLaughlin who held a hurl for almost 30 years
And played in six different counties-sometimes under strange names
When I was young and thought I was grand
And will never forget 1984 when we hurled like heroes
And won THAT centenary county title for our tiny town on the Banks of the Erne
And we walked like kings in our own townlands
And we sang rebel songs deep into the dawn.
For the song of the hurler is forever strong and forever young.

First-time buyers now face mortgages of an average of €250,137 following a €20,000 increase in the past year.

The rapidly-rising figures were released by the banking industry.

It is the second-highest level ever recorded and just €1,700 less than the peak in the first quarter of 2008.

The figures are contained in the latest report from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).

It shows solid growth in mortgage activity in the first three months of 2021, driven mainly by first-time buyers and re-mortgage/switching.

However, house prices continue to rocket for those trying to get onto the property ladder.

And for many considering building their own homes on family sites, the cost of building materials is also continuing to spiral.

For first-time buyers, mortgage drawdowns in the first quarter increased by almost 10% compared to the same period in 2021.

A total of 9,910 new mortgages to the value of €2.5 billion were drawn down by borrowers since January 1st.

This represents an increase of 9% in volume and 17.3% in value compared to the same period in 2021.

Alongside first-time buyers, the average mover purchase mortgage reached a new high of €293,817, some €17,000 higher than a year earlier.

The Lifford Old Courthouse is about to host its first prisoners in 100 years tonight in a unique charity challenge.

Thirteen well-known Donegal faces are braving a night behind bars in a bid to ‘make bail’ that will be donated to local charities across the county.

The ‘inmates’ will leave their families for one night and stay in one of the old (and cold!) historic jail cells. They’ll be pleading for support during the night in the hope of seeing the light of day tomorrow.

To donate see idonate.ie/jailbreak2022.

Participants include TV presenter Grainne Gallanagh, Highland Radio presenter John Breslin, boxer Jason Quigley, digital media guru April McManus, local singer songwriter Kenny Crawford, Donegal Woman editor Rachel McLaughlin, No Barriers founder Johnny Loughrey, sports manager Patsy McGonagle, Irish influencer Caoimhe Harkin, Donegal Coolest Place on the Planet host Erin McGinty and the Viking Dippers trio Paddy Browne, Bobby Roberts and Frank Power.

Their chosen charities include Donegal Hospice, Cancer Care West, ALONE Donegal, No Barriers Foundation, Breast Cancer Research, Asthma Society of Ireland, Little Angels School, Ohana Zero Suicide Training and Rocco’s Road To Recovery.

Gillian Graham is the manager of Lifford Old Courthouse and she says Jailbreak is a great way for local businesses, charities and organisations to raise funds for their groups, schools or clubs: “Located in the heart of Lifford, Lifford Old Courthouse has been used widely by the community and local groups over the years, with all income reinvested back in to improve our facilities and create additional employment. We have also collaborated with local groups to provide services to the wider community such as Meals on Wheels. Our Jailbreak games have proven really popular with school groups, hens and stags, and other groups and we wanted to take it another step further with an overnight Jailbreak event that could be used as a novel way for charities and local organisations to fundraise. The upcoming event with the brave thirteen will hopefully spread the word about what we’re doing and how other groups and organisations can book.”

Gillian has been involved with social enterprises for over 25 years. “There are lots of great social enterprises throughout Donegal and we’re delighted to be able to raise awareness of what they do. It’s great to have representatives from other social enterprises like Johnny Loughrey from the No Barriers Foundation and Patsy McGonagle from Finn Valley AC.

“Alongside raising funds for charity, we really hope this event will also raise awareness of just how important social enterprises are for the local community and what a wide variety of work we do.

“The event has been made possible under the ARISE Programme, an awareness raising campaign for social enterprises throughout Ireland. A social enterprise is business that works primarily to improve the lives of people, reinvesting any profits into their core mission. Lifford Old Courthouse is one of the many social enterprises in Donegal and we are delighted to be able to show what is possible from community run groups.”

Pictured along with Gillian Graham and Patrick McHugh from Lifford Old Courthouse are in-mates (l-r) Johnny Loughrey, Bobby Roberts, Paddy Browne, Frank Power, Jason Quigley, April McManus, John Breslin, Rachel McLaughlin, Grainne Gallanagh and Kenny Crawford. Missing in-mates include Caoimhe Harkin, Erin McGinty and Patsy McGonagle. The event has been made possible under the ARISE Programme, an awareness raising campaign for social enterprises throughout Ireland. To find out more and donate see idonate.ie/jailbreak2022.

Looking forward to the event Patrick McHugh, Events Manager at Lifford Old Courthouse said: “We are really excited about the first ever Jailbreak event on the 29 April and we cannot thank the participants enough for giving their time and support. The group will take part in various games to earn treats and rewards for the night and we’d like to thank local sponsors for their ongoing support. The group is raising money for some brilliant organisations and charities and I hope people can get behind them with their efforts. We’ll be releasing a series of videos online via our social media platforms, so be sure to check them out to find out more. You can donate online at www.idonate.ie/jailbreak2022.”

Established over 25 years ago, Lifford Old Courthouse has an overall objective of preserving the historic building, creating local employment and promoting arts, heritage, culture and community throughout Lifford and the surrounding areas. The east Donegal social enterprise employs ten staff.

The Jailbreak project was approved by Government with support from the Dormant Accounts Fund. For more information on Lifford Old Courthouse or to find out details to host your own Jailbreak charity event visit liffordoldcourthouse.com or call +353 (0) 74 91 41733. To donate see idonate.ie/jailbreak2022.

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council has criticised the water supply in Inch Island as “an absolute disgrace”.

Buncrana Cllr Jack Murray has called on constituents to make their frustration known to Irish Water after supplies on Inch Island were disrupted for three days in a row.

Another water main burst is reported in Tooban.

Inch Islands residents are expected to be without water until 4pm today as repairs take place.

Posting on social media, Cllr Murray said: “It’s an absolute disgrace. I’d ask everyone affected to email operations@water.ie and make a complaint.”

The record time for the North West 10k was set 24 years ago by Dublin native Noel Berkeley who has confirmed that he will be on the start line for the 25th anniversary event.

A long time resident of Middleton, Co. Cork Berkeley set the record time of 29 minutes and 14 seconds in May 1998 while a member of the Dundrum, South Dublin Athletic Club.

And 24 years later that record still stands and shows what a great run Berkeley had that day.

North West 10k Chairperson Neil Martin said it was fantastic news that the record holder had committed to coming to Letterkenny on Bank Holiday Monday to be part of the 25th North West 10k celebrations.

“This is great news to have Noel Berkeley the man who set the course record 24 years ago coming all the way from Cork to be part of the North West 10k anniversary event. 29 minutes and 14 seconds was a terrific time and the fact that it hasn’t been bettered since just shows what a quality runner Noel was at that time. He was an elite athlete who won a series of national titles” Mr Martin said.

Noel Berkeley who was 34 at the time was better known all over Ireland as the ‘King of the Road’. He was a long-distance runner with the 10,000 metres his speciality and he competed in the men’s 10,000 metres at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Amazingly Berkeley set the North West 10k record two weeks after running the London Marathon and a fortnight before the Vienna Marathon. So why did he decide to squeeze in a trip from Dublin to Letterkenny in May 1998?

Quite simple it was the prize money to break the record time.

“A very good friend of mine Vincent McQuaid from Glaslough in Monaghan told me about the Letterkenny race. He said there was good money for it so I rang up the organisers. They said there was 100 pounds for the winner and 500 pounds to break the record. I just told them to get the money ready and I’ll be up to collect it!”

Berkeley acknowledges that a lack of confidence was something that he didn’t suffer from and another motivating factor was he was jobless at that time so money was needed.

But when he got to Letterkenny on that Saturday evening along with Vincent McQuaid there was a gale blowing he says and not conducive to setting a new record time.

“I said to Vincent this doesn’t look good but I needed the money and just went for broke. Patsy McGonagle was at different points encouraging me on. I don’t how he kept up with me because I was flying!”

29 minutes and 26 seconds was the record time set by Seamus Power the previous year.

Berkeley crossed the line in Letterkenny that May evening in 1998 to set a new record bettering the Power time by 12 seconds.

And no one has bettered that time since. That night Berkeley and McQuaid probably set another decent time as they went back to Monaghan Town to down some pints in the Squealing Pig Bar.

Vincent McQuaid had ran in the first North West 10k in 1997 and many more after that and had third and fourth place finishes.

Noel Berkeley had a stellar athletic career. He competed with and beat the best in the country.

“I suppose qualifying for the Olympics was the career highlight. I would have won the national 10,000m six times and was in nine Irish teams for the World Cross-Countrys’. I had great time for Eamonn Harvey from Donegal who was a coach. He would have been with me at one of the World Cross-Country Championships.”

After leaving secondary school at De La Salle Churchtown he studied Business Marketing at University of Oklahoma and then took up a course at the National Botanic Gardens. For the past 23 years he is the proprietor of Olympic Landscapes and lives in Midleton.

What about running now?

“I do little bit and did a four miler last week with the my daughter but I’m kept physically fit with the work that I am doing. Put this way I am not coming to Letterkenny to break the course record for a second time!”

He only ran the North West 10k once but it was worth it and he remembers it very well.

“Yea it’s hard to believe that it’s 24 years ago. It’s great work for the committee to have kept it going and I want to wish them all the best now with the 25th anniversary event. I see that it has raised over 833,000 euros so they are heading towards the million which is great.

“I am really looking forward to being in Letterkenny on Monday to take part in this 25th anniversary run for three charities that deserve the support of the people. The committee has been in contact with me over the last couple of months. It’s nice to be remembered and to be included in the book with Seamus Power who won the very first 10k” Berkeley said.

A Letterkenny man has been refused bail over fears that he may interfere with witnesses.

John Paul McGinley is charged with damaging windows and also a range of traffic offences including dangerous driving.

The 18-year-old, with an address at Glenard Park, Letterkenny, was arrested on Saturday last.

He was due to appear in court on April 4th last but never turned up.

When arrested McGinley told Gardai that he was not driving the car.

Gardai said that McGinley had been “actively avoiding arrest” and had not stuck to his bail conditions.

Detective Garda Derek Connaughton said he believed said there was a strong possibility McGinley would interfere with witnesses if released on bail.

“He has no respect for bail,” added Garda Sergeant Jim Collins.

His solicitor, Mr Rory O’Brien, had applied for bail in the case.

Judge Deirdre Gearty refused bail saying she had “significant concerns’ that McGinley would interfere with witnesses.

She remanded him in custody to appear again by videolink at Letterkenny District Court on May 3rd.

Letterkenny Lions Club are running a fundraiser next week in aid of Ukraine refugees.

Enjoy a night at the movies and some catch-ups afterwards this Thursday 5th May.

The volunteer group is holding a movie night in Century Cinemas at 7.30 and showing the movie – Belfast with finger food afterwards in Backstage.

Tickets €20 can be bought on the night or from any Lions Club member.

Donegal Nutritionist Sorcha McElchar from Sorchas Healthy Living looks at the weight loss fads to watch out for this summer.

With summer just around the corner you may be feeling the pressures of getting the infamous ‘Summer body’.  The term summer body is a term used mainly by social media, that indicates the human body should look a certain way for summer.  A bit silly really.

If you search ‘How to get a summer body’ or something similar on Google you will be accosted with fad diets, cleanses & detoxes, unrealistic workouts or workouts that are easy, but not effective.  Some people spend a fortune on this just to get that ‘summer body’, and very little achieve their goal.  That is mainly because we are all different, not everyone’s body type is the same.  Everyone loses weight differently and even if you do need to lose weight you still must nourish your body.

You should also remember that losing more than 2lbs per week is clinically seen as malnutrition, so not good.  Slow and steady wins the race.  By losing weight slowly in a controlled way you are also more likely to keep it off. 

Losing weight should be a decision you make to achieve better health for YOU!  Nobody else.  It should be so you can feel healthier, happier, and more comfortable in your own body.  Not to fit into an outfit you’ve picked out that is 3 sizes to small, or to look good in a bikini or swimming togs.

The most searched things on Google when it comes to a summer body are

1. How do I get a summer body fast?
2. How long to get in shape?
3. How can a girls get a summer body?
4. What is the perfect summer body?
5. Can I get a summer body in 1 month?

Obviously, there are loads more, but you get the gist.  People want a quick fix.  A magic pill.

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are the main sources of #summerbody posts.  Picture of slim, toned smiling people wearing skimpy clothes, and not looking one bit self-conscious.  You may feel the urge to be just like them, or you may feel a bit depressed that you aren’t like them.

These social media platforms are also rampant with toxic diet culture weight loss hacks that have NO scientific backing, and some may even be harmful.  Don’t get me wrong, there are some genuine Dietitians, Nutritionists (me!) and fitness instructors on these platforms that will give you good, scientifically sound Nutrition and weight loss advice.  Another thing you need to look out for, mainly on TikTok, is when you see a duet where one person is showing they are overweight and then they mix some concoction together and it magically makes them slim.  Meanwhile this surgeon is nodding away as if he agrees with this farce.  If you look at the description you will see the surgeons TikTok video is being used without his permission.  He is not agreeing with the magic mumbo jumbo at all.  There are a few of these floating around so be aware.

It’s completely normal for you to want to feel good in your own skin, but you need to be kind to your body.  You only have one!  However, you can work on improving your health.  In doing that you should naturally feel more confident.  Here are a few tips that you can use to help improve your overall health and wellbeing so you can enjoy the summer months!

1. Salads don’t have to be boring and unsatisfying.  There are so many amazing, simple salad recipes out there.  Adding things like chickpeas or beans (not baked beans!) and seeds add some great protein and fibre which will keep you fuller for longer.  Avocado or a simple olive oil or rapeseed oil-based dressing will add in the healthy fats.  This will also make it more satisfying, and fat is a flavour carrier, so it’ll improve the taste.  I like to make my salads nice and colourful.  Try adding as many colours as you can and you get a lovely refreshing, satisfying and nutritious salad.
2. I always say increasing your fibre intake will help with weight loss.  This is true, but it will also hello improve your gut health, which we now know effects your mood, cognitive ability, sleep etc.  Fibre can be found in wholegrain foods like wholegrain pasta, rice bread.  Nuts & seeds, all beans, and fruit & vegetables.  Aim to get at least 25g of fibre per day.
3. Drink water!  Most people don’t drink nearly enough water.  Especially if you increase your fibre consumption, you need to drink plenty of water.  1200-2000mls per day at a minimum.  More in warm weather are when you’re exercising as you can easily become dehydrated from sweating if you don’t replace the lost minerals.  Drinking enough water will also help with your skin, hair, and nails.
4. Don’t deprive yourself of any foods.  You are not dieting; you are simply adding in more nutritious foods and gradually you will have less and less room for the foods that are less nutritious.  This doesn’t mean you can’t have that 99 with a flake, or a dessert after dinner.  Practice mindful eating.  Eat slower and wait 10 minutes before going for seconds.  Ask yourself if you are hungry or just bored.  If you are hungry then eat.  If not, then find something to occupy your mind.  Check out my video on Mindful Eating to learn more about how to do this.  
5. Finally, let yourself get excited about food.  The more you nourish your body with good, wholesome food, the better you’ll feel.  It will be clearly visible to your friends and family even if you haven’t lost a ton of weight.  Most importantly, you’ll feel great!

You can also check out my video on 7 Healthy Weight Loss Tips for a few more ideas to lose weight, but in a healthy, realistic, and most importantly, sustainable way.

Check out my Blog www.sorchashealthyliving.com for some easy to follow Recipe ideas, and if you would like a more personalised one-to-one service check out my service page where I offer Nutrition Consultation, Nutrition Packages and Personalised Nutrition Plans.