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NEWS
Thursday 1 December 2016
Letterkenny Post Council support urged for 50th Mary from Dungloe festival
NEWSINBRIEF Christmas tree festival St. Mary’s Church of Ireland is holding their Christmas Tree Festival this weekend. The opening night and preview of the festival will commence with an Evening of Popular Christmas Music on Friday at 8pm by the Donegal Abbey Singers and local artists. Mulled Wine and Mince Pies will be served. The festival will be opened for public viewing on Saturday from noon to 6pm and Sunday from 2pm to 5.30pm and will conclude with a Community Carol Service at 6pm.
Christmas Day dinner The 11th annual Christmas Day dinner for people living on their own will be held in the Conwal Parish Hall, behind the Church of Ireland on Christmas Day from 1pm until 4pm. This event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Radisson Hotel. The purpose of the day is to help people who are living on their own to break through isolation and loneliness on the day, to provide company and celebration. Transport can be provided if required. If you wish to avail of a dinner or have any enquiries please contact Kathy on 0868676565.
By Chris Ashmore chris@letterkennypost.com
Shaun McGuinness, Garry Clarke, Robert Love, Martin Moylan, Jeremy Worth and Peter Orsi pictured with All-Blacks jersey.
Historic All-Blacks signed shirt presented to rugby club Letterkenny RFC were privileged to receive Shaun Fogarty, NZ defence attache to France and Belgium, as their guest, prior to the All Blacks match in Dublin. Accompanied by New Zealand rugby enthusiast Brian McCutcheon from Dunedin, the All Blacks fans were treated to an evening reception in Letterkenny Rugby Club with music from award winning local musician Tracey McRory from Inishowen. Shaun Fogarty contacted Letterkenny RFC last year to invite club members Jeremy Worth and Robert Love to Belgium and the grave of Ramelton born
Dave Gallaher as part of a NZ commemoration of the WW1. During the return visit, Shaun and Brian stayed in Dave Gallaher’s original home in Ramelton, which is now a local run B&B, and toured North Donegal including Fanad lighthouse. At the rugby club reception, Tracey McRory played pieces on the harp and the violin, one dedicated to the sad tale of Bernard McGeehin from Raphoe, other was a moving piece as a tribute to Dave Gallaher. Brian McCutcheon presented Letterkenny RFC with an official signed All Black Jersey from the recent tour.
This has particular significance as it is signed by the whole New Zealand Rugby squad who were famously beaten by Ireland in the superb Irish victory over the All Blacks in Chicago. Shaun presented a NZ traditional military ‘lemon squeezer’ hat to the club to mark the occasion. Jeremy Worth responded by presenting the visitors with a plaque of the club crest. Despite losing to the All Blacks in the return fixture in Dublin, Ireland finished off 2016 with another impressive win over Australia, meaning that during this year they have taken all the big Southern Hemisphere scalps.
A Donegal councillor is calling for closer ties between Donegal Co. Council and the Mary from Dungloe Festival Committee. Next year the famous festival will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Cllr. Maire Therese Gallagher (SF) maintains that there is no other event in Donegal that reaches out as much across the world as the Mary from Dungloe Festival. It attracts considerable numbers to the county and provides a direct and indirect economic benefit to the area. “It’s an international festival with worldwide representation,” she said, adding that a partnership approach with the council would help in its promotion as a countywide festival as it benefits the whole county. Her motion calling on Donegal Co. Council to recognise the International Mary From Dungloe Festival as a county festival as Kerry County Council recognises the Rose of Tralee was passed. It was also agreed to liaise with the local organising committee. Meanwhile, Cllr. Enda Bonner called for the restoration of financial support from the council to the festival to be restored to the €10,000 figure that existed some years ago. He noted, with disappointment, that the grant was reduced in recent years and financial support, of a lesser amount, now comes out of the Strategic Development Fund. He also praised the organising committee for its efforts and how they had kept the festival going and commented that it had no real debt.
Euro Giant. Courtyard Shopping Centre, Letterkenny
074 912 5177
• Decorations • Lights • Gift Bags • Hats • Santa Suits • 2 Pc. Wine Glass Set €5.00 • Inflatable Figures from €10.00 • Decorations, Gift Wrap, Hats, Boxed Cards • Greeting Cards, Kids Suits, • Gift Bags etc. • Candy Cane , Boxed Chocolates. Also wide range of Gifts and Stocking Fillers
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