12 NEWS NEWSBRIEFS Public meeting Donegal anti-water charges activists are organising a public meeting/documentary showing next month. The event will be held in The Yard, Falcarragh on Thursday, May 11 at 8pm in solidarity with Jobstown protesters who were charged with false imprisonment of former Tanaiste, Joan Burton. Local activist, Owen Curran said: “The democratic right to protest is under serious attack in the Jobstown case. The point is, this could’ve happened to anyone who took part in protests and marches over the past few years including here in Donegal where the anti-water charges have been very active over the past few years."
Phantom of the Opera auditions Donegal Youth Musical Theatre (DYMT) will be performing The Phantom of the Opera this year. The group will be holding auditions for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic tale around the county on Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30. Intensive rehearsals for Phantom of the Opera will run for three weeks from July 17 to the August 12 in the Letterkenny area (schedule TBC), before running the performance in the fantastic An Grianan Theatre. All cast members must be aged between 12-21.
Letterkennypost
New Derry exhibition focuses on Donegal New exhibition incorporating poetry and photography will go on display in Derry The exhibition, which is called ‘Convergence’, opens at the Verbal Arts Centre at Bishop Street on Thursday. It will remain on display until June 30. The exhibition features the work of poet Noel Connor and photographer David Gepp. The two men were both born and brought up in Belfast, Noel in Andersonstown, David in Finaghy. Less than a mile apart, the two areas are connected by Finaghy Road North, an arterial route which crosses over and under the main Belfast/Dublin train line and the North/South M1 Motorway. Yet throughout their childhoods and teenage years, they would rarely if ever have travelled the length of this road, which joined or separated two
David Gepp
of the Protestant and Catholic communities of the city. A chance meeting three years ago led to a friendship and a shared love and fascination for a section of Donegal coastline where David has settled and Noel spends part of each year working. This show of their work represents only a small portion of the images they have derived from their creative response of this area. Noel Connor studied Fine Art there and in the North-
FAITHmatters During the Easter season the scripture readings recall for us the several visits of the risen Christ. They prompt us to an awareness that He is risen for us, is present to us now as the Victor over death and evil. The account in St Luke of the two disciples Cleopas and his companion on their way to Emmaus – a seven mile walk – is beautiful. “They were dispirited, their world seemed to have collapsed. As they were discussing the recent tragic events that had taken place in Jerusalem, Jesus drew near but their eyes were kept from recognising him. When he asked them what they were discussing, Cleopas replied, showing frustration, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there on these days.” They go on to relate about the death of Jesus, a great prophet who they had hoped was the one to redeem Israel. They referred to the empty tomb. “This stranger then who had joined them proceeds to point out to them the trust that was revealed by Israel’s own prophets concerning the Christ that he should suffer before achieving his triumph. It was a long explanation Jesus gave them because he began with Moses and went through all of the scriptures relating to the Messiah. When he had finished they had almost walked seven miles because they were beside Emmaus.” Let St Luke’s words take over:“So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. “When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave
Noel Connor
East of England, where he was later awarded a post-graduate scholarship to pursue research into Irish Literature. His images and writings have appeared in various publications including The Honest Ulsterman, North West Words, Krino, Lexicon, Outposts, The Times Literary Supplement, Poetry Review and Stand. He has exhibited widely in Ireland and Britain and been involved in many collaborations and publications
Time to get ready for the Church Hill Fair The time is approaching for the 23rd Annual Church Hill Fair. This has been a very successful event in the beautiful village of Church Hill surrounded by Gartan Lake, the Glebe Gallery and near Glenveagh National Park. Every year the Church Hill Fair makes a contribution towards a specific group or charity and in 2016 it was the very active Church Hill Development Group who benefitted. As part of planning and preparation for the forthcoming Fair a meeting is being organized in the village. A spokesperson for the organising committee said: "At this we’ll take feedback from previous events, look for new ideas and find out what has been successful elsewhere in order to incorporate them for 2017. "We’d like to invite anyone who is interested to come along on Wednesday, May 3 at 9pm to Wilkin’s Bar & Lounge."
Business group calls for greater investment Major investment in infrastructure projects can position the North West as a region of long-term sustainable economic growth. That is the view according to Ibec - the group that represents Irish business. The claim comes in the Ibec submission to the public consultation on the National Planning Framework, which calls for an ambitious long-term planning and investment strategy for Ireland to address the growing imbalance between the regions and the greater Dublin economy. The submission was formulated through extensive consultation with businesses
it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him, and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
with poets including Gerald Dawe, Maura Dooley, Seamus Heaney, and Tom Paulin. He spends part of each year working in Donegal. David Gepp studied at Nottingham College of Art and Derby College. The recipient of several Arts Council awards, his work has been widely exhibited. His work was the subject of the critically acclaimed BBC2 documentary ‘An Italian Dream’.
Thursday 27 April 2017
throughout the counties of Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo. Ibec North West Regional Director, Terry MacNamara said: “Inter-regional connectivity, by means of motorway between major urban centres, is vital in facilitating the coordination of development across wider regions. “Connecting cities and their regions will help spread the economic and population growth, which is currently concentrated on the east coast. “For the North West, advancement of the A5, investment in the N14 Letterkenny-Lifford, N4 Sligo-Dublin and the Atlantic corridor routes, are all
Ibec North West Regional Director, Terry MacNamara.
vital in countering the peripherality of the region, which has long deterred the investors and hindered economic development.” The new Plan must be underpinned by increased State investment, in context of the Public Capital Programme, in transport, broadband, water services, health and education infrastructure across all regions. This would have the knock on effect of increasing productivity, employment opportunities, and improved standards of living by reducing transport costs, connecting regions to cities, and attracting more private sector investment.