Category: Old Donegal

Caolan Ward

St Eunan’s Caolan Ward has been named the Player of last years Donegal Senior Football Championship.

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta announced the 29 year old as the winner of the Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh award, for his performances during the 2021 campaign, helping his club to a first senior title in seven years.

Caolan, a member of the Donegal senior team since 2016 now has three winners medals with St Eunan’s.

Gradam Shéamuis Mhic Géidigh is presented each year to the player of the Donegal Championship, as selected by a committee of 12 sports journalists in the county, chaired by Damien Ó Dónaill, Regional Manager of RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta. This is the first time the award has been presented since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Cathal Mac Grianna will present Caolan with the award at St Eunan’s Annual Dinner Dance on Friday.

Damien Ó Dónaill said:

“Caolan was selected for the award due to the unrelenting leadership he displayed this year in the St Eunan’s jersey. The club had a huge year, and Caolan was at the heart of that achievement. It’s wonderful that to be able to present the award again this year to such a worthy recipient, and that it will be a great friend of Séamus Mac Géidigh, Cathal Mac Grianna, a proud Gaeltacht man with a long history with St Eunan’s, who will make the presentation.”

Broadcaster Séamus Mac Géidigh was synonymous with Donegal GAA, and the voice of Gaelic Games in that county until his untimely death in 2016. This award was established to honour his memory. Recipients to date are Michael Murphy, Mark McHugh, Odhrán Mac Niallais and Ciarán Thompson.

The award was created by sculptor Redmond Herrity using Donegal Granite carved in the shape of Errigal, with an image of Séamus engraved to the front.

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An investigation is continuing into an overnight fatal house fire in Glenties.

Gardaí were alerted to the scene shortly after midnight.

Fire services extinguished the fire and suspected human remains were located inside the property.

Gardai say that they are treating the incident as a tragic accident.

A forensic examination of the scene is due to be carried out this afternoon.

Gardai say that a file will be prepared for the Coroner’s Court.

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2,646 families are currently on the housing waiting list in Donegal while 7,700 properties are lying vacant.

Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says the housing crisis in the county is having a knock on effect by forcing people into the private rental sector.

He is calling on the Government to step in and provide the resources to Donegal County Council to increase public housing across Donegal over the coming years.

Deputy MacLochlainn says there’s an urgent need for vacant properties to be brought back into use:

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Cabinet ministers have signed off on a cut in excise duty on petrol and diesel.

There’ll be a 20 cent per litre reduction on petrol and 15 cent a litre on diesel.

Green diesel will be cut by 2 cent a litre.

The changes will take effect at midnight.

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A huge funding boost for Donegal’s islands has been widely welcomed.

Over €2 million has been sanctioned for 14 road upgrade projects on Arranmore, Tory, Inisbofin and Gola island.

It’s also been agreed that the roads will once the works are carried out be taken in charge of by Donegal County Council.

Chair of Arranmore Island’s Comharchumann, Jerry Early says the funding will go a long way in improving the roads for both locals and visitors:

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Meanwhile, Donegal Labour Representative Seamus Rodgers says the roads now falling under the remit of Donegal County Council has been a long time coming:

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On this week’s Business Matters, Ciaran O’Donnell talks to Raphoe farmer, John Graham, about his decision to set up Ballyholey Farm Shop in 2014.

Ciaran also speaks to Philip O’Kennedy, chairperson of Letterkenny Community Centre Committee, about the centre’s ambitious five-year business and strategic plan that was approved by the board at the end of 2021.

Listen back here in association with LYIT:

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Amnesty International is holding a vigil this week in Letterkenny in solidarity with Ukraine.

People are gathering at Market Square on Thursday at 6pm.

Colm Gorman is Executive Director of Amnesty International Ireland:

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Concern has been raised over plans to demolish a block of 16 apartments providing independent living in Dungloe.

The properties were built 20 years ago by Cluid Housing in conjunction with the HSE however, it’s believed 10 of the flats have been lying vacant for over 10 years.

The plans propose houses been built on the site but not until 5 years time.

Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District, Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher says there is a serious need for these apartments to help alleviate the housing crisis:

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Donegal County Council has committed to looking at providing more parking at Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny.

Many plans are afoot to enhance the amenity including a new adventure area and further development of the green area there.

But the current car parking facilities have been deemed inadequate to cope with the expected rise in footfall as a result of the plans.

Cathaoirleach of Letterkenny Milford MD Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh says the park is already hugely popular and its important people can park in a safe and convenient manner:

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The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Graham Warke made a special presentation to Brian Dooher, manager of the successful Tyrone Senior GAA team in recognition of their Senior Football Championship All-Ireland title 2021, during a reception in the Guildhall on Monday night. On Brian’s left is Ciaran McLaughlin, Ulster GAA President and included are senior players, club representatives, family members and elected representatives.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, hosted a reception for Ciarán McLaughlin on Monday night in recognition of his appointment as President of Ulster GAA. Also in attendance at the reception were members of the 2021 All-Ireland winning Tyrone Senior Football team, including joint-manager Brian Dooher and players Cathal McShane and Ronan McNamee.

Mayor Warke said: “I was delighted to have Ciarán and his family in the Guildhall to mark his achievement of becoming President of Ulster GAA. I know that it’s a very proud moment not just for Ciarán and his family, but for his club Strabane Sigersons and for Tyrone as a whole as well.

“It’s really fitting that he has taken up this role just a few months after Tyrone won the All-Ireland title again, and I was really pleased to be able to acknowledge that achievement at the reception as well. I was especially delighted that we had members of the winning panel from our own council area in attendance at the reception – Brian, Cathal and Ronan.

“For both Ciarán as Ulster GAA President and for the Tyrone team, it takes a lot of hard work and commitment to reach their level of success and I want to wish them all the very best in the months and years ahead.”

Tyrone joint-manager Brian Dooher added: “It was a great honour to be invited to the Guildhall and we’re very appreciative of the Mayor’s invitation. I suppose we’re back in the cut and thrust of a new season again and winning that All-Ireland probably feels like the distant past, but it’s good to reflect on it again at nights like this.

“It gives everybody a bit of lift when you get a bit of success and it gives a whole new group of young children a real interest in Gaelic games, and that’s what we’re about – we try to get as many people playing as possible.”

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