Category: Old Donegal

Mona McSharry signed off Ireland’s FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships on Tuesday with the team’s 18th Irish Senior Record of the meet in the 200m Breaststroke Final.

Before this week Mona McSharry’s lifetime best in this event in short course format was 2:25.08, with teammate Niamh Coyne holding the Irish Senior Record at 2:22.70.

McSharry broke that on Tuesday morning, posting 2:21.59, and again in the Final setting a new standard at 2:20.19.

Across her four events at these Championships she reached three Finals and set eight new Irish Senior Records.

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Mona McSharry set Ireland’s 18th national record at the World Shortcourse Swimming Championship on Tuesday.

The Sligo swimmer shaved nearly a second and a half off her hours-old best in the final of the women’s 200-metre breaststroke.

McSharry had to settle for 7th, having been in the bronze medal position with 50-metres to go.

During the course of the championships the former Ballyshannon Marlins swimmer broke set new national records on eight occasions.

The EU has agreed new rules that will mean digital Covid certs for travel will expire nine months after someone’s last dose of a vaccine.

It’s in a bid to increase vaccine uptake across the bloc.

The rules apply to travel within the EU and take effect from February 2022.

According to Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, the nine month expiration date will only apply to international travel, but not for domestic use such as within hospitality in Ireland:

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Cabinet Ministers have signed off on measures to provide financial support to the businesses impacted by the latest Covid restrictions.

The employment wage subsidy scheme is being reopened for businesses with a more than 30 per cent loss in turnover.

While the Covid Restrictions Supports Scheme payments scheme will open to bars, restaurants and other businesses which close due to the restrictions.

Those businesses that stay open but are earning less than 40 per cent of turnover when compared to 2019 will also now qualify for the payments.

The measures will cost around 100 million euro for the month of January.

Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath says they needed to make an intervention:

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A total of 100 clubs, groups and organisations in Donegal have been allocated €104,000 under the Covid-19 Return to Sport Funding Programme.

Donegal Sports Partnership (DSP), with support from Sport Ireland and the Irish government, announced the approval of sports club and community funding allocations this afternoon (Tuesday).

The small grants awards are aimed at supporting sports clubs and community organisations in their efforts to deliver sport and physical activity in parallel with Covid-19 pandemic. The funding approved is directed towards additional costs such as sports and sanitising equipment, venue hire, training and education, and community engagement programmes.

Welcoming the funding allocation, Donegal Sports Partnership Coordinator, Myles Sweeney, thanked the clubs and community groups for taking the time to complete the online application forms.

“Around 160 applications were received across the three funding streams of sports clubs, community organisations and coach/volunteer support. To date, approximately €100,000 has been awarded which is a significant investment to grassroots sport. We are hopeful that a further round of funding for clubs and communities will be presented in early 2022,” Mr Sweeney said.

Giving her reaction to the latest funding announcement, Chairperson of Donegal Sports Partnership Board of Directors, Anne McAteer, thanked the directors and staff members of the DSP for their time and dedication to community sport and physical activity during 2021.

“Investment of funding into our communities is vital to maintaining and sustaining sport in Donegal, and ensuring that our communities can continue to avail of the benefits of sport and physical activity,” Ms McAteer commented.

The DSP Chairperson also recognised the challenges for sport and physical activity across the region, and the significant impact the pandemic is having on volunteering and sport leadership.

Earlier this month, DSP was approved additional funding of €98,200 to support the ongoing return to community support and physical activity.

The full list of local clubs, groups and organisations to receive funding from the latest announcement is as follows:

Return to Sport Community Development Fund 2021 – Community Groups

Bundoran Community Development Organisation €2,500
Clonleigh Parish Community €1,000
Club Oige Meevagh €1,000
Coiste Edan Fhionn Fhraoich €1,000
Coiste Fobartha Cnoc Fola €1,500
Comharchumann Aran Mhór €2,000
Comhlacht Fobartha Anm Tearmainn €2,000
Coole/Cranford Community Centre €1,500
Donegal Horizons €1,500
Donegal Town FRC €1,000
Downstrands FRC €1,500
Finn Valley Sports €2,000
Fobairt Dhún Lúiche €1,000
Greencastle Development Association €1,000
Illies Community Centre €1,500
Inishowen Children’s Autism Related Education Ltd €1,500
Irish Wheelchair Association €500
Moyne Ulster Scots €1,000
Newtowncunningham Orange Hall (Project Orange) €1,500
North West Parkinsons €600
Rosnakill Tourism & Activity Centre €1,500
Sonas Youth Club €1,000
Spraoi & Spóirt €3,000
Ulster GAA €900

Return to Sport – Sports Clubs Development Fund 2021

Aileach Football Club €800
Aodh Ruadh GAA Club €800
Ardara GAA Club €1,000
Ballybofey & Stranorlar €1,200
Ballyliffin Golf Club €1,200
Ballyshannon Rugby Club €800
Buncrana Hearts FC €800
Carndonagh Boxing Club €800
Castlefinn Celtic FC €1,200
CLG An Tearmainn €800
CLG Baile Na nGalloglach €1,000
CLG Beart GAA €800
CLG Na Dúnaibh €1,200
CLG Naomh Padraig, Muff €1,200
Cockhill Celtic FYC €800
Convoy Arsenal FC €1,200
Culdaff FC €1,000
Donegal Bay Cycling Club €800
Donegal Bay Rowing Club €1,000
Donegal Bay Sub Aqua Club €1,000
Donegal Boardriders Club €800
Donegal Sea & Turf Paddlers Club €800
Donegal Town Basketball Club €800
Drumbar United FC €1,200
Drumkeen United FC €1,000
Drumoghill FC €800
Dunfanaghy Badminton Club €800
Dunfanaghy FC €800
Dungloe Boxing Club €800
Dunlewy FC €800
Dunree Boxing Club €800
East Donegal Pony Club €1,200
Fanad Gaels GAA Club €1,200
Fanad United FC €1,000
Finn Valley Rugby Club €800
Finn Valley Women’s FC €800
Finn Wheelers Cycling Club €800
Four Masters GAA Club €800
Glen Rovers €800
Glenswilly GAA Club €800
Gweedore Celtic FC €1,200
Iasc na Mara Swimming Club €800
Illistrin FC €800
Inch Bowling Club €500
Keadue FC €800
Killybegs GAA Club €1,000
Letterkenny Blaze Basketball Club €1,200
Letterkenny Boxing Club €800
Letterkenny Cricket Club €1,000
Letterkenny Rovers FC €1,200
Letterkenny Rugby Club €1,200
Lifford & Strabane AC €1,200
Lifford Celtic FC €800
Lough Swilly Yacht Club €1,000
Loughros Point Rowing Club €1,200
Malin GAA Club €800
Milford United FC €800
Moville GAA Club €800
Naomh Brid GAA Club, Ballintra €1,200
Naomh Colmcille GAA Club €800
Naomh Padraig GAA Club, Lifford €1,000
North Pole Cycling Club €1,200
Raphoe Boxing Club €800
Raphoe Town FC €1,200
Rashenny FC €800
Rathmullan Celtic FC €800
Redcastle FC €800
Robert Emmets GAA Club €1,200
St Catherine’s FC €800
St Johnston Orange Hall Indoor Bowls Club €800
St Mary’s GAA Club (Gaelic for Mothers & Others) €1,000
Swilly Rovers FC €800
Tir Chonaill AC €800
Twin Towns Boxing Club €1,200
Whitestrand FC €800

Photo Donegal GAA

The GAA has today confirmed the fixtures for next season’s competitions.

Declan Bonner’s first outing will be against Mayo on Sunday 30th January and with McHale Park not available that game will be at Markievicz Park in Sligo at 1.45pm.

Donegal’s first home game against Kildare on the 6th February throws in at in Ballybofey at 2.30pm.

Donegal have four home games next season with McCumhaill Park to host three and the O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny to host their final game at the end of March.

The Tyrone game on Saturday 26th February under floodlights at 7.30pm and Monaghan on Sunday 13th March at 1.45pm will all be played at the Ballybofey venue.

The fourth home and final divisional game against Armagh on 26th March will be in Letterkenny at 1.45pm.

That’s just several weeks before the two sides clash again in the championship in Ballybofey.

Donegal’s away game to Kerry is in Killarney on Sunday 20th February at 1.45pm and the trip to Croke Park to face Dublin on Sunday 20th March will have a 3.45pm throw in.

Sun 30th Jan Mayo v Donegal @ Markievicz Park, Sligo 1.45pm
Sun 6th Feb Donegal v Kildare MacCumhaill Park Ballybofey 2.30pm
Sun 20th Feb Kerry v Donegal Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney 1.45pm
Sat 26th Feb Donegal v Tyrone MacCumahill Park Ballybofey 7.30pm
Sun 13th Mar Donegal v Monaghan MacCumhaill Park Ballybofey 1.45pm
Sun 20th Mar Dublin v Donegal Croke Park Dublin 3.45pm
Sun 26th Mar Donegal v Armagh O’Donnell Park Letterkenny 1.45pm

2021 football winners Tyrone start their Division One campaign at home in Healy Park to Monaghan at 3.45pm while Derry begin their Division 2 stint on Saturday 29th January against Down at Owenbeg at 5pm.

In the GAA Master Fixture List for the 2022 split-season, the All-Ireland finals will be played on successive Sundays on 17 for the hurling and 24 July for the football.

It’s emerged that Stage 1 applications made to the Mica redress scheme are currently not being processed by Donegal County Council.

The local authority has confirmed a holding letter has been issued to homeowners advising that their application cannot be further progressed due to an outstanding clarification needed from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

As a result 90% of costs already incurred by homeowners through the preparation of an engineers report will not be paid out until the clarification relating to proposed remedial works is received from the Department.

Vice Chair of Donegal County Council’s Mica Redress Committee, Councillor Albert Doherty is calling on the Government to urgently step in and put an end to the impasse:

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Works is underway to repair an underground leak impacting the Lough Mourne water supply.

Irish Water says the work hopes to ensure supply over Christmas and minimise impact due to ongoing night time restrictions in Raphoe, Convoy, Blairstown, Magheraboy, Carnone and Meenahoney.

Repairs are expected to be completed by 5pm this evening.

A man has been arrested in Donegal as part of an ongoing investigation into a €20 million property registration fraud.

Gardaí attached to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and Dundalk arrested the man his 40s, today.

He is currently being detained at Milford Garda station.

Gardai say the investigation involves a fraud of up to €20 million and the use of fraudulent documentation to remove mortgage charges held by Financial Institutions on properties, thus allowing the sale of those properties without repaying the mortgages.

In this case, mortgage charges were removed from 12 properties, with 6 of these properties being sold.

This is the 12th arrest as part of the investigation.

Gardai have launched an investigation into a criminal damage incident in Letterkenny.

A window pane at Celtic apartments in Letterkenny was smashed shortly after 10:50pm on Sunday night last.

Gardai are appealing to residents who may have heard or seen anything suspicious to come forward.