A new group has been formed in Moville to make the town a “big player” on the Irish music scene.
Moville Music Events, which will hold its first meeting in Rosatos at 9.30pm tomorrow, aims to make the town’s current music festivals bigger and better. Its brief will be to prepare better for them and by raising funds so that the best acts and bands can be attracted to Moville.
Starting out, it will be responsible for the DylanFest and BeatlesFest but it is hoped that it will be able to include other music fesivals in its brief so that all music festivals come under the one banner.
Moville’s DylanFest is arguably the biggest festival of Bob Dylan music in the world and the only one that is both indoor and outdoor and multi-venue. Most other ones are held in one venue and are either outdoor or indoor.
The BeatlesFest struggled for its first two years but made a major advance this year with a change to its place in the calendar to mid-August from dates in the past like mid-September.
DylanFest and BeatlesFest organiser Gerry McLaughlin said it was now time “to make them into really major festivals.”
He added: “I’ve probably taken them about as far as I can take them on my own and it is now time to let other people add their skills and enthusiasm to take them further and take those extra steps so that they compare with the likes of the annual Rory Gallagher festival which attracts thousands to Ballyshannon every year. I’m sure there are people about the town whose knowledge, skills and enthusiasm we can harness to make Moville a big player on Ireland’s music map in the way the Rory Gallagher festival has done for Ballyshannon.”
He added: “We will at least have plenty of time to prepare, unlike the first year of the DylanFest when there was only six weeks between getting the idea to putting it on. It got great publicity that year as it was on the Dave Fanning Show on RTE, Downtown Radio, Foyle Radio and in HotPress, the Daly Mirror and The Star as well as the local newspapers and radio stations.” Mr. McLaughlin said anyone anyone who feels that they can add anything is invited to go along to tomorrow night’s meeting.

A modern new building for a Moville school has been welcomed by past pupil and Government spokesperson on education, Senator Cecilia Keaveney.
Scoil Eoghan, built at a cost in the regionof €2.4m will open next Monday, November 16, for pupils, however, the brand facility will be open to the general public at the brand new facility on Sunday from 3pm – 6pm.
Senator Keaveney said the new school was an “extremely welcome boost” for the Moville community.
She said: “It is very exciting for all involved to be moving into this beautiful new building,” she said.
“For teachers and pupils alike it will be the first time that everyone is on the one site in a real building. I know that this new dynamic will be very positive for the school.
“For parents, and many of them are like me, past pupils, there is a curiosity to see what the new school on ‘our old site’ is like.”
She added she was honoured to have played a part in the delivery of the project.
“I was proud to have served on the board of management of the school,” she said.
“I am delighted the Minister has ensured that items such as the eco friendliness of the school will assist keep running costs lower.
“I know that the €40,000 for the ICT in the school will make it a very technology-friendly school too alongside the substantial funds made available to kit out the Arts Department.”
Senator Keaveney said the opening of the new school had been worth the wait.
“A number of months ago I wrote that I got my government to toss my old school,” she said.
“I also said I had got them to invest in a new facility.
“The bridge between one phase and the other was not very long and everyone’s patience is now rewarded. I congratulate all involved.”
An art grant of a further €25,000 was also awarded and individuals and groups are invited to submit ideas, sketches and designs to be considered by the school committee. The selected piece-pieces may be located on the exterior or interior of the building and should reflect the ethos of the school or the locality.
Submissions should be sent care of Father Paddy O’Kane, PP, Moville by Monday, November 23 next.

FAI CEO John Delaney will visit Maginn Park in Buncrana later this month to help promote an underage cross border coaching scheme.
Delaney will be joined by his northern counterpart, IFA President Raymond Kennedy, to launch the Football4Peace Ireland programme on Tuesday November 24th.
The scheme is a joint venture between the football associations on both sides of the border and IDP (Inishowen Development Partnership). It hosts football sessions for catholic and protestant schoolchildren in the cross border regions of Limavady, Derry and Inishowen.
It aims to promote peace and reconciliation through football on a cross border and cross community basis.
Football4Peace are holding three training sessions in early 2010 before hosting a tournament at Maginn Park at the end of April.

A reminiscing couple, who honeymooned in Buncrana during the Fleadh Ceol in 1980, are to share their trip back to the town in a television programme, to be broadcast tomorrow night on TG4.
The town will be showcased on “Mí na Meala” which recently returned to screens for its third series.
It features Irish married couples who met in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and the 80’s reminiscing on their courtship, wedding and honeymoon and this week focuses on Áine & Caomhín Ó Flatharta, who honeymooned in Buncrana and Rossnowleagh.
The couple met and fell in love in London in the late 1970s. Both were keen Irish dancers and when a traditional music and dance show they were part of was invited to perform at the Fleadh Cheoil in Buncrana in 1980 they thought what better way to use the homecoming opportunity than to tie the knot!
They had the wedding in Áine’s house in Moycullen, Co. Galway and then set off in their Rover 2000 toward the Fleadh, camping along the way in the seaside resort of Rossknowlagh.
The programme took them back to their Buncrana honeymoon destination to see whether they’ve still got what it takes to hit the floorboards, arm in arm.
Part one features the early days with the couple as they take the viewer through their first meeting, their courtship and their marriage day, using photos, video footage and other memorabilia blended with archive from that period.
Part two sees the couple taking a visit back to where they spent their honeymoon, allowing them to recall special places or moments from that time, and examining the changes which have happened in the meantime.
The series gently touches on travel, changing times, the evolution of marriage and relationship, changing cultures, history, gentle humor and aims to entertain a broad, prime time audience of all ages.
It is billed by the programme makers as “a nostalgic trip down memory lane for the couples but is also a opportunity to look at the way marriage and the build up to marriage has changed, how prices have changed, how choices has changed.
“Not alone are we on a journey back in time with the couples, but also we cleverly examine the changes that have taken place over time for the Couples and Marriage in general.”
It will be broadcast tomorrow, Thursday November 12 on TG4 at 8pm.

Massive weekend for Moville, Malin, Urris and Burt

This Sunday will prove to be a pivitol day for four local GAA clubs as Moville bid to reach their first Ulster final and the promotion / relegation league play-offs are decided.
Moville return to Brewster Park in Enniskillen to take on Antrim Champions St Teresa’s on Sunday in the Ulster Junior Club semi-final (throw in 12.45pm).
The Belfast club overcame Cavan’s Butlersbridge in the Ulster quarter final at Casement Park on Sunday in a game Moville boss Eddie Devine attended.
Devine left that game with a high regard for Sunday’s opponents.
“They’re a hard working team who get men behind the ball very quickly and are strong runners off the ball with good support play and we’ll have to counteract that,” he said.
“A place in an Ulster Final is a massive incentive for our players and our work ethic must match their’s if we are to beat them.”
Sunday’s game is Moville’s second successive game at Brewster after they overcame Fermanagh champions Belnaleck there last week and Devine is comfortable with a return to Enniskillen.
“We were hoping for Celtic Park in Derry but we’re happy enough to return after we won there already, it’s a good surface and the rain won’t stop the game being played.”
Moville didn’t have a league game at the weekend but the intensity of their training sessions means their manager knows they will be ready and he appealed to the local community to come out and support his side.
“We always train intensively and Gerard Faulkner and Jimmy Hegarty have been geeing up the players in training. We have a good blend of youth and experience in this side and the players have prepared well. If everyone wins their personal battles and stays focused we can progress.
“We’ve been delighted with the support we’ve received from the local community up to now, Moville is a small town but people have come out in great numbers to support us and I hope they do on Sunday because this is a group of local players who want to do something positive for their area and create a feel good factor.”
Meanwhile Urris and Malin are both bidding to step up a level to Divisions 1 and 2 respectively. Malin drew with Termon in their promotion play-off at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny on Saturday and that game will be replayed at Convoy this Sunday (Throw in 2.30pm).
Louis Walsh’s side made a poor start to Saturday’s game, trailing by four points at half-time, but they took the tie by the scruff of the neck in the second and, but for some wayward shooting at the end, could have won the game.
In the Division 3 play-offs Burt will be fighting to avoid relegation, after two successive defeats to Naomh Columba and Cloughaneely left them in the bottom three in the table, when they take on Na Rossa at MacCumhaill Park (Throw in 1.15pm).
Urris are bidding to go in the opposite direction when they battle it out with Cloughaneely in the Division 3 semi-final at the same venue (Throw in 2.45pm).

A much-loved member of the Buncrana community was laid to rest yesterday.
Columba Quigley was a well-known and respected figure in the local community, having participated in the life of the town through his contributions as a teacher, secretary of Buncrana Tidy Towns Committee and local notes correspondent for the area.
He sadly passed away on Sunday and following yesterday’s 11.00am Requiem Mass at St Mary’s, Cockhill, was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery.
Cllr Rena Donaghey, who worked alongside Mr Quigley, said the community would feel his loss deeply.
“Columba was a highly respected and very hard working member of the community,” she said. “He taught in Crana College for a long number of years as a PE teacher and was a very popular member of the public.
“He was in Tidy Towns for two years and in that relatively short time he made a huge impression.”
She continued: “Ever since he joined he was very eager and very energetic; he took on board what we wanted to put across and set up the website for Buncrana Tidy Towns, that was all his doing, and it has been a very worthwhile project.
“We were even shortlisted for the Zurich Award in Dublin and Columba travelled with his sister and me along to that.”
Cllr Donaghey said he always done his best for his town.
“He always had Buncrana at heart; as secretary of Buncrana Tidy Towns, he was the hardest working secretary we ever had,” she said.
“He will be sadly and greatly missed by everyone that knew him, not least the members of Buncrana Tidy Towns.”
She added: “I just want to take this opportunity to extend our very sincere sympathy to his wife and children on their very sad loss.”
Mr. Quigley is survived by his wife Eileen, sons John and Dermot and daughter Colleen.

Childhood sweethearts marry after 49 years

Two Inishowen childhood sweethearts finally tied the knot last week – after 49 years.

Love-struck Madge Collins and Frank Hirrell, both from Carndonagh, first fell in love when they were both 16 and 19 respectively.

However, after a few months they parted ways and went on to live their lives separately. 

Madge, who will be 67 next month, married local man Jack Collins and had ten children, six girls and four boys. She now also has 43 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Frank, who turned 70 on Saturday last, moved to England where he married Sandra Appleton.

Sadly, both were widowed and Frank moved back to Ireland in 1993.

Then, seven years ago, fate stepped in and Frank and Madge met and fell in love once again.

Their love was sealed at their marriage in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Carndonagh last Thursday, followed by a reception in the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin, which was attended by 250 delighted friends and family.

Speaking to the “Inish Times” as they honeymooned in Bundoran, the newly-weds revealed how Frank didn’t recognise his future wife when he saw her after 42 years and said their love was “meant to be.”

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw him after 42 years,” said Madge.

“I wasn’t going out much after Jack passed away but that night my daughter wanted to pick me up a bit and said to me ‘Why don’t you come down to McGonagle’s Bar to hear a bit of music?’ A man called Patrick McLaughlin was playing and he was great so I thought I’d go down. When I walked in I saw Frank and just couldn’t believe it. But he didn’t recognise me at all!

“Frank’s sister-in-law called us down then and she told me to sit down beside her. Sure didn’t she edge over until she got me and Frank sitting beside each other! We got talking, went out again a few nights later and that was that. You know I think it was just meant to be.”

The couple decided to get married “about a year ago” and the wedding day was very much a family affair.

“The whole family was there apart from one of the grandchildren who unfortunately couldn’t get off work,” explained Madge.

“My sister Nuala Doherty was bridesmaid and Frank’s brother Tommy was best man. My daughter’s wee girl and boy, Stephanie and Shane Lynch, were flowergirl and pageboy. They were all looking great. It really was a brilliant day. The meal was beautiful and everyone had a brilliant time. It was all family and our friends; we just really enjoyed ourselves. We had the Dukes of Hazzard car because it looked great and we thought it would be good craic.”

Madge’s stunning outfit was made by her talented dressmaker daughter Bridie Doherty, from Clonmany.

Madge paid a touching tribute to her other half.

“He’s very, very good to me. He always was even since before we were married. He’s just made my life this past few years and picked me up from where I was before. He gave me a new life really.”

The  Northern Ireland premiere of “A Shine of Rainbows,” filmed extensively in Inishowen during the summer last year, will take place in Belfast at the beginning of December.

“A Shine of Rainbows” tells the story of how a lonely orphan’s life is transformed by an extraordinary woman who defies her dour husband’s disapproval, and suppresses the tragic truth about her own future, to teach the boy to conquer grief and discover the magic in nature and in himself. 

The Cinemagic Film Festival will roll out the red carpert on December 2 for a gala screening which is expected to be attended by the stars of the film, Aiden Quinn, Connie Nielsen, John Bell and Jack Gleeson along with director  Vic Sarin and writers Catherine Spear and Dennis Foon.

Sharon Simpkins, from Moville, who plays the teacher in the movie will be joined by a host of extras from the peninsula who also took part in the film.

However, film buffs who have been eagerly awaiting the film to come to the peninsula will not be disappointed as the Donegal Film Office is planning to run a bus for local people to attend the premiere and an opportunity to meet the cast and crew at a reception following the screening.

If you want to mix with the cast and crew of “A Shine of Rainbows” and be part of the premiere, contact the Donegal Film Office by November 11 next on 074 9373718 for further information.

Interest in the film has grown recently especially since its trailer is currently being broadcast on the internet video site YouTube highlighting numerous stunning scenic shots of Inishowen.

Inishowen Carnival get the Halloween season off to a bright start with an Autumn Lantern parade in Carndonagh this Sunday, October 25.

The event starts at 6.30pm when the Diamond area of the town will be lit up by a variety of lanterns and light sculptures made by local artists and carnival group members. 

The parade itself will arrive in the Diamond at around 7.00pm and will feature children from a number of local schools who have been involved in lantern making workshops over the last number of weeks. 

The parade will include costumes and props from the carnival group’s 2009 Aurora production inspired by myths and legends of the Northern Lights, giving it more of an autumnal wintry feel than a Halloween theme. 

Carnival project manager, Kevin O’Neill, stressed while this was “not strictly” a Halloween parade the group would be delighted if those attending would give their Haloween costumes a “first public airing” for the occassion.

After a circuit or two of the Diamond, the parade will stop for a brief singing and choral performance by children and young people who have been working with local singing tutor and founder member of the Inishowen Gospel Choir, Siobhan Shiels, featuring a number of songs with a spooky Halloween flavour.

 Following the singing performance, the parade will make another circuit of the Diamond before heading back to the carnival offices at Tul na Ri. The lantern garden will remain switched on until around 8pm.

Mr. O’Neill said carnival group were delighted students from the Transition Year in Carndonagh Community School have volunteered to help out during the event and that performers from Inishowen Speech and Drama Classes run by Movania Parkinson will be performing in the parade.

 Halloween night itself will see the carnival group performing again as part of the Halloween Carnival in Derry where they will be joined by dancers from the Aisling Dance Academy in Ballybofey and Buncrana. The 30 strong carnival group section will feature a combination of flags, lanterns and dancers and performers with an alien theme.

Anyone wishing to take part in or help out at these events should contact 9373375 or see www.inishowencarnival.com for more details.

Mr. O’Neill said the Carnival Group was grateful to support from the Arts Council of Ireland, Donegal County Council and Inishowen Development Partnership through the Leader Programme for making the projects possible.

Call to restore historic HP Swan Collection to Inishowen

Historic artefacts being held in the National Museum, which are claimed to “belong to the people of Inishowen,” should be returned to their “rightful owners,” according  a local councillor.

Calling for the Harry Percival Swan Collection to be given back to the peninsula, Deputy Mayor of Buncrana, Cllr Peter McLaughlin said the return of the local historian’s artefacts to Inishowen would be a tourism boost for region as they were “part of its history.”

Cllr McLaughlin said a possible home for the collection would be the proposed new Artlink Gallery in Buncrana. The local arts organisation is currently looking at the possibility of acquiring a building or site in the town for this purpose.

Speaking to the “Inish Times,” Councillor McLaughlin said if all the relevant organisations worked together, they could help Artlink while also “tying other tourism attractions together.”

He said: “Artlink promote all types of art and have done a lot of fantastic work in Inishowen through the years.

“They’re looking for a site or building for a gallery and like everything else they also need funding. 

“H.P. Swan is an important part of Inishowen. He wrote many books about here and his travels. Swan Park is named after him and you also have the link to Swan’s Mill and the fact that they first brought electricity to Buncrana in 1923.

“His artefacts were donated to the people of Buncrana and are part of the history of Inishowen. If this was say in Kerry or somewhere else down the country these would be brought down and displayed. 

“But it costs money and there’s no adequate place to put them. Everything is linked together and if the County Museum, Artlink, Buncrana Town Council, Buncrana Town Council and other relevant authorities work together we could accommodate Artlink and also bring all these other attractions together. This could help Inishowen as a whole.

“We’ve always been looking to bring them down and it came down to funding but there’s no better time than now to bring them here.”

He said tourism in the peninsula could benefit greatly from the attraction.

“One of our main chances of survival in the current time is tourism. We live in a beautiful area and people come here for many different reasons. It’s about tying it all together. We need to build an identity for ourselves. I hesitate to say the word ‘brand’ but we need something like a tourism product.

“I was in Killarney and they were complaining about it being quiet – I counted about 20 buses of people parked.

“We can only achieve all this if we marry a number of things together and H.P. Swan’s artefacts could connect all that, give them something extra to see. While Artlink can promote the arts side of it, collectively we can all achieve what we’ve been looking for. When people come here they want things to see and do and it’s about bringing it all together collectively.

“These artefacts of H.P. Swan’s are all part of our history. It’s another aspect of the tourism product and it brings people to the area for another different reason. Some come for beauty, some come for sport, some come for many other things, there are a number of attractions of Inishowen.  H.P. Swan’s artefacts are important because while they can facilitate Artlink they can also facilitate other aspects of the peninsula as well.”

H.P. Swan travelled extensively and collected a number of antiquities and lore, which formed the basis if his articles and books. His best known works include “The Book of Inishowen,” “Romantic Inishowen,” “Twixt Foyle and Swilly” and “Voyage Around Africa.”

The artefacts were at onc stage held in the County Museum in Lifford.

Judith McCarthy, Donegal County Museum Curator told the “Inish Times” that due to a problem with the building a number of years ago the collection was taken to the National Museum. When the building was restored, the collection was not brought back as others took its place.

She added that the National Museum carry out a rigorous process of assessment to ensure a building adheres to a number of curating and conservation requirements before they allow a collection to be held there.