Letterkenny Post

Animal cruelty shock

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:09:41 +0000

By Anna Devine
A donkey called Bobby, who suffered one of the worst cases of animal cruelty ever seen in Donegal, has inspired a petition to highlight the need for better animal cruelty laws in Ireland.
Volunteers from DDS found Bobby last Friday, severely malnourished in the old coast guard station building near the Fanad Lighthouse following a tip-off from the public. He passed away at around 7am on Saturday morning.
Mr Danny Curran, manager of Donegal Donkey Sanctuary, told the Post, “there is a lot of cruelty to donkeys and we are here to help stamp it out.”
And he added: “He was found in an old derelict building lying in 18 inches of slurry with nothing for him to eat.”
Now the ‘Justice for Bobby’ campaign is underway to challenge outdated animal cruelty laws. The DDS hopes to change the fact that there is no requirement for ear tagging of equine animals (horses and donkeys) in Ireland and therefore no traceability. It is also very hard to get a conviction for animal cruelty.
Mr Curran said he would be bringing the petition to the Minister for Agriculture at Leinster House by donkey and cart.
Mr. Curran believes that the donkey was trampled on by cattle as it lay on the floor of the building. The vet confirmed the donkey had early onset of pneumonia also as a result of exposure.
DDS received a tip-off about two donkeys in the building but only found one. Mr Curran said, “we are still trying to find out what happened to the other donkey.” According to the tip off, the donkeys had been there through the summer months.
When asked why the donkey would have died the day after being rescued Mr Curran says they were just contacted far too late. “A lot of people are scared to contact us until things get really bad. Then we have the other extreme of getting called too early.”
The DDS promotes education about donkeys. If you are thinking of getting a donkey, you should get in contact with them for advice on how to look after them.
Mr Curran said that, “People sometimes don’t realise the cost associated with getting a donkey. They sometimes need a vet and they have to be housed and fed and people start to cut corners. For example if they have overgrown hooves – it affects their overall body health.”
Gardaí are investigating the death of Bobby and members of the public who have any information are urged to contact the Gardaí.
To sign the petition click here: http://www.petitiononline.ie/petition/the-donegal-donkey-sanctuary-wish-to-announce-their-justice-for-bobby-campaign/1411

Soviet Rockall fears!

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:08:18 +0000

Documents released in the State Papers from 1981 have shown that the Irish Intelligence Service, G2, feared that the USSR would seize Rockall and turn it into a underwater ballistic missile bunker.
During the early 1980′s, nuclear attacks was greatly feared across Europe as the Cold War between the American/European Allies and the former USSR intensified. Many intelligence agencies believed that the USSR was looking to set-up a base somewhere in the Atlantic and both the Irish and British believed that Rockall was a possible site.
Rockall is an inhospitable and inhabitable rocky outcrop located 250 miles of the north west Donegal coast. It has long been disputed between the four nations of Ireland, the UK, Denmark and Iceland.
The continental shelf around the rock is rich in fishing grounds and in recent years research has also found that it it rich in oil and gas buried underneath the shelf itself. Whoever would control the rock would also have the rights to the oil and gas, and also the fishing rights.
It is believed that during the Cold War, British, American and Soviet submarines were constantly patrolling the area around Rockall in case any of the three nations would try to take control of the rock.
Rockall has been a constant source of territorial disputes with the Republic of Ireland, Britain, Iceland and the Faroe Islands all making claims in the past.

Letterkenny gives back to SVP

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:06:12 +0000

By Anna Devine
The St Vincent de Paul in Letterkenny has said that the generosity shown by the community in Letterkenny over Christmas was “just amazing.”
Speaking to the Letterkenny Post, Rose Glacken, Letterkenny area president said that, “people came from everywhere to give us donations.”
At the beginning of December, they were very worried they would be inundated with requests and that they might not be able to meet demand but the community was more than generous.
Ms Glacken said they had a “very successful church gate collection” followed by donations of cash, vouchers, gifts and food from business groups, community groups, schools and individuals. “We were overwhelmed at the generosity shown by people and we are very grateful.”
She continued: “I think people are thinking a lot more about community now. We’d like to see more support for neighbours that may be living alone though.”
Ms Glacken confirmed that they had more people contacting them than previous years although exact figures are not available at present. The general consensus from volunteers countrywide was that “everybody was extremely busy and much busier than other years.” In 2010, the amount of people seeking help from SVP increased by 40%.
Ms Glacken says that they were worried that people who hadn’t come to them before would be unable to take that first step.
“People find it difficult to make that first call,” she said. “We’re very anxious to reach out to people who maybe experiencing financial difficulties.
“January is a very difficult time, with a lot of worry, new charges and VAT increases that affect prices across the board.”
The SVP are here to help people from all walks of life – families with youngsters or children at college, older people, students and individuals that just want a listening ear.
“We try to do it in a sensitive way. It is a core principal of the SVP that all services are highly confidential,” she said.
You can contact the SVP at Lower Main Street (074 9129503) or Aughininshin (074 9122366).

Traffic numbers down at Donegal Airport

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:02:51 +0000

By Chris Ashmore
The number of passengers taking flights from Donegal Airport fell by 14.3% in 2011 – down to 40,102 from 46,825 in the previous year.
The downturn in the economy is being cited as the major contributing factor with fewer leisure trips, in particular, being made.
“This is due to recessionary times really,” commented Marketing Manager, Pauline Sweeney. “Tourism in the North West Region has been hardest hit and also less people are making leisure trips to Dublin now than before.”
Earlier this year management welcomed the awarding of a three year contract by the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport to Flybe/Loganair on the Donegal/Dublin route while the services were cut at other regional airports.
“The reduced traffic would have been a factor in the carrier appointment with lesser capacity aircraft while leaving the number of rotations of two flights per day to and from Dublin to service and develop new markets,” she said.
Despite problems with high winds, the airline had an excellent operational record with over 90% on time performance since they started in early November.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, Leo Varadkar announced funding for regional airports in 2011 with Donegal Airport being awarded €42,630.
Major runway works approved by the Department were also carried out in 2010/11 with all contracts coming in on time and under budget.
The airport has endured a checkered history. Originally developed as a grass strip – and partly to service businesses on the Gweedore Industrial Estate – the throughput of passengers was just 2,784 in 1985.
Over the years a variety of airlines operated services with mixed success. Aer Lingus, Ryanair, Loganair, Malinair, Brightair, and Ireland Airways were among the carriers.
However, the introduction of the Public Service Obligation contract – which subsidises provincial air services – was a huge boost to regional airports like Donegal.

Wind hit 168kph

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:10:35 +0000

High speed winds in Donegal earlier this week could have been caused by a rare meteorological event called a “sting jet”, according to Met Éireann forecasters, writes Anna Devine.
The strongest gust in Ireland (168km per hour) was recorded at Malin Head early on Tuesday morning.
Several thousand people in Donegal had their electricity supply cut off on Monday night and Tuesday morning due to one of the worst storms in recent years to hit the county.
Hundreds of telephone lines were also down but by Wednesday most homes had power and telephone services operational again.
Met Éireann forecasters say they are almost certain a “sting jet” caused winds to reach up to 172km per hour.
Forecaster Siobhán Ryan described the hurricane force wind speed recorded at Malin Head as being “exceptional” and ranked it among the highest winds in Ireland that she could remember.
A “sting jet” is a rarely occurring surge of high-momentum, high energy air which appears like a curling scorpion’s tail on weather maps. This is caused by rapidly descending cool dry air in contact with warm moist air. The depression that brought the winds later moved on to Scotland and Scandinavia.
Malin Head Coast Guard reported gusts reaching violent storm force 11 levels – hurricane like gales.
Wave heights of 10 metres were recorded where normally winter seas reach heights of 3 to 4 metres only.
Structural damage in various parts of the county was largely confined to roof tiles and slates coming off roofs. Signage in some areas was also badly affected while fallen trees caused some minor problems.
Meanwhile, 56 members of ESB staff have travelled to Scotland to help with the storm clean-up operation there.

Enough is enough – protests planned

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:07:31 +0000

Thousands of people are expected to attend a number of protests around Donegal this weekend as fury mounts over budget cuts, VAT increases – notably the hike in fuel prices – and the imposition of a household charge and septic tank fee.
Protest rallies will take place at 3.00 pm on Sunday in Letterkenny, Castlefin, Convoy, Raphoe, Rossnakill, Buncrana, Rossnowlagh, and Ramelton (which has a 2.30 pm start).
The driving force behind the protests is Inishowen man Joe Murphy who last month drove to Dublin in a 25 mph protest against the budget and fuel prices.
“Enough is enough. That is the slogan that I am using,” he told the Post. Having received huge support for his Dublin protest, he has now been spurred on to mobilise people around the county.
“The Government seem to forget that Donegal is a rural county,” he said, pointing out the without proper public transport people need private vehicles to get around. He also feels that people are fed up with the never ending cuts and now the imposition of new taxes like the household charge.
“I’ll be driving around the county in my van with a loudspeaker and I hope more towns and villages will get involved and organised,” he said.
Among those who will be in attendance at the rallies in Convoy and Raphoe will be John McLaughlin of JML Transport in Convoy. Last year he staged a number of protests about fuel prices, and he has now arranged a meeting for all hauliers in the Mill Park Hotel in Donegal Town on Sunday, January 15th at 3.00 pm.
“We want everyone working together towards a mass demonstration later in the month,” he stated.
Many hauliers have already gone out of business while others are struggling to cover costs. His fuel bill for a full tank of diesel costs over €2,000 – that’s up around €600 on the cost just two years ago.
The Irish Road Hauliers Association has drawn up proposals calling for a tax rebate to hauliers, similar to one received by the farming and fishing industry – but it has been ignored even though figures show it would have seen a net revenue gain for the state.
“It’s ridiculous what is going on. For every €20 you spend on diesel, over €14 goes to the government,” he stated. Unleaded petrol now typically costs around €1.54 a litre while diesel is around €1.51.
Meanwhile, the Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay campaign – which has already staged a series of protests against the household charge and septic tank charge – is planning further public meetings around the county over the next few weeks.

Siberia to Alaska swim bid

admin — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:54:36 +0000

Donegal long-distance swimmer Anne Marie Ward is taking the plunge again – in the first ever official “Ice-swim” anywhere in Europe.
Her task is to swim for one mile on New Year’s Eve where the water temperature will be lower than five degrees.
And she’ll be doing it in Donegal. Mulroy Bay is the preferred venue, but there are a number of other locations on stand-by – in order to ensure the temperature is low enough!
She can only wear swimwear and one cap.
World extreme ice swimmer Ram Barkai from South Africa and Nuala Moore from Kerry – who swam with Ward in the Round Ireland Swim in 2006 – will join her.
Barkai, the founder of the International Ice Swimming Association, holds the record of the most southerly ever swim – in the Antarctic.
But the Donegal swim is only a taste of things to come in 2012 for ambitious Ward and Moore.
Next August, they plan to be part of a 30-strong relay team that will swim across the 86 kilometres Bering Strait between Alaska and Siberia.
The Ice Swim in Mulroy Bay on New Year’s Eve has its own demands, physical, emotional and physiological.
“I love a challenge,” quipped Ward (45) from Portnablagh whose previous swimming achievements include swimming from Tory Island to the mainland, the English Channel and the North Channel.
Last year she won the prestigious Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year Award.

Harps draw winners

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:56:38 +0000

Sean Quinn, Seamus Gallagher and John Campbell, committee members, Finn Harps are joined by Club Chairman Joey O Leary and striker Blain Curtis, to present a cheque of €5,000 to Monster Draw winners, the Doherty family from Ramelton. Martina and Pete Doherty are joined by their children Alisha and Pete. Finn Harps would like to thank everyone who supported this years draw. Photo courtesy of Gerard McHugh Photography.

Painting auctioned for €75,000

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:53:03 +0000

A painting of a Donegal vista by Paul Henry was sold for €75,000 to a private art collector from California, in an Irish art auction held by Whyte’s last week.
The sale of the painting entitled, Altan Lough, exceeded all expectations. Estimates put the sale value at between €40,000 and €50,000. But according to Ian Whyte, “there was big interest in this painting and quite a few bidders.”
The painting is of Lough Altan or ‘Lake of the Hillock’, a mountain tarn or lake virtually inaccessible by road. It is situated five or six miles from Gortahork.
The buyer is a private art collector in California, Mr Whyte explained.
The Californian outbid a caller from Belfast who withdrew at €70,000. Other bidders withdrew at €42,000, €60,000 and €65,000.
The previous owner is an Irish man living in London.

Will council adjourn early for drinks?

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:48:20 +0000

A Letterkenny councillor has called for an end to the tradition of adjourning the December monthly meeting of Letterkenny Town Council – for Christmas drinks.
In recent years, the council has just dealt with statutory business with questions being tabled by councillors often getting just a brief mention while motions have been held over to the January meeting.
But Cllr. Dessie Larkin believes that this has sent out the wrong message.
“I have never been in favour of it,” he told the Post.
He pointed out that the meeting starts at 7.00 pm and the business could easily be completed before adjourning for Christmas drinks.
He recalled that the early adjournment of meetings for Christmas drinks came in about a decade ago.
By adjourning the meeting early it means that some items are held over and can be out of date or of less relevance by the time they are brought up again in January