One of Inishowen’s oldest residents is today celebrating a special birthday – her 102^nd.

Family and friends of Daisy Smyth from Ballyloskey, Carndonagh, will gather in her home for a quiet celebration to mark the milestone, which Daisy informed the Inish Times she has reached due to “hard work, independence and lots of tea.”

Daisy was born on 31^st August 1908 in Cartruse, Newtowncunningham, the youngest of Richard and Mary Ann Cresswell’s seven children.

Tragically, her parents passed away when she was just seven years old “from the bad flu” and she and her siblings were separated, going to different members of the family.  Daisy was cared for by her aunt and uncle Liza and John McLaughlin on a farm in Carndonagh, known as The Parks.

She wasn’t reunited with any of her siblings until she was 61 years old, after her brother John came over from California and a small family reunion was held, much to everyone’s delight.

As a young girl, she attended Craigtown National School, Wesley School and Carn Tech and married her husband David on April 23, 1935 after meeting him while attending Donagh Church, from which they used to walk home together. The couple went on to have five children, James, Greta, Ray, David and Maureen.

Daisy’s husband David died in 1975 and, sadly, her eldest son James also passed away a few years ago, both of whom she misses very much.

Daisy finds great delight in her 13 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren and recently, she was over the moon to become a great-great grandmother for the first time, to little Jacob Bond.

Daisy’s daughter Maureen said her mother had always been a hard worker.

“She had her own little home industry as you could call it. She sold eggs, milk and butter on the farm and worked very, very hard. She would tell you hard work is one of the reasons why she has reached over 100 years of age!

“She was also always a very independent and a very active lady.”

Daisy was also very active in the community, helping out at Donagh Church and getting involved in the Mother’s Union. In her later years she enjoyed travelling and has had numerous trips to England and Scotland to visit her children. In 1976, she made her first long-haul flight when she visited Maureen in Texas and this was followed by trips to France and Spain.

Up until recently, Daisy frequently attended the Day Centre in Carndonagh. She enjoys drinking tea and watching TV, especially the soaps, gardening and cooking programmes.

Daisy was keen to pay tribute to the great work of her “wonderful” home-help Helen Kelly, who has been with her for many years.

Throughout Daisy’s life, she has seen many world changing events, including two World Wars, the sinking of the Titanic, the Easter Rising, the discovery of penicillin, women winning the right to vote, the first man on the moon, the invention of television, the assassination of John F Kennedy and the discovery of the Internet.

On her 100^th and 101^st birthdays, Daisy received a “Happy Birthday “letter from President Mary McAleese. She  is now looking forward to receiving yet another, on the landmark occasion of her 102^nd..

Ulster Senior League Cup Final

By Gary Ferry

Sports Reporter

ALL eyes will be on Leckview Park in Letterkenny this Sunday as Cockhill Celtic take on Derry City in the Ulster Senior League Cup Final. Kick off 5pm.

It is the final that all local football fans wanted to see as Ulster Senior League leaders Celtic take on a  multi-talented Derry City side in a final that is sure to live up to expectations.

Celtic are a team on fire at present and they raced to the top of the USL with a 4-1 demolition of Buncrana Hearts at the weekend where they sit one point clear of Letterkenny Rovers with just three weeks remaining.

But for now, the race for the league title has taken a back seat as Cockhill prepare for Sunday’s final, and manager Donal O’ Brien insists that his team have a tough task ahead of them.

 “We know we have a tough game but we have to go out and enjoy it,” he told the Inish Times.  “We are in good form and we can leave the league behind us but we are playing Derry City, who in my opinion, are the best footballing side in the league. What John Quigg and Hugh Harkin are doing is great. I don’t think I’ve seen a better second team in my life and of course if you have a great second team you’re going to have a great first team.”

Derry City manager John Quigg has already overseen a victory over Cockhill this season, with the league encounter finishing 2-1 in favour of the Candy Stripes. But Quigg admitted the game proved there is nothing between the two sides.

“At the minute, Cockhill are the best team in the league because they are top but we feel we can give anyone a game. We have won our last six games and Cockhill have won their last six so it will be a tight game. We neat them in the league but that game could have gone either way.

“But we have reached the final of the Foyle Cup, the final of the Pat Harkin, this final and we are in the semi-finals of the Knockalla Cup, so the boys are doing well. Derry City is a part time club but these boys are training three or four nights a week. They are putting in the work and they are seeing the rewards now.”

O’ Brien has a full strength squad to choose from ahead of the final with Jimmy Bradley expected to shrug off an injury he picked up against Buncrana at the weekend. And O’ Brien is confident that his side can do the job against the Candy Stripes.

“It will be a big test for us,” he admitted.

“It’s not a do or die game but we have to go out and enjoy it and play the way we can. Derry like to play football and we like to play football and whoever turns up and whoever takes their chances will win. It’s even stevens between two good footballing sides.”

Burt priest elevated to PP

The curate of the parish Burt, Inch and Fahan has been elevated to parish priest.

Fr. Michael Porter has become PP of Leckpatrick  succeeding Fr. John Doherty (a previous curate of Burt, Inch and Fahan) who has retired.

Fr. Porter, a native of Buncrana, became CC of Burt, Inch and Fahan in 1997 and has overseen a number of parish projects, including the renovation of Inch church, the refurbishment of St. Mary’s Hall in Burt and the repair of Aegnus Church in Burt in which he recently celebrated his 25^th anniversary to the priesthood.

He was also instrumental in getting legendary Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell to perform in a fundraising concert in the church.

Fr. Porter is succeeded as curate by Fr. Gerard Sweeney who has been transferred from the Glendermott parish in the Waterside area of Derry.

Derry-born Fr. Sweeney was ordained to the priesthood in in June 1993. After his ordination, he was curate in Melmount in Strabane until 1995 when he was appointed CC to Holy Family parish in Ballymagroarty, Derry where he remained until 1997 when he moved to St. Patrick’s parish (Pennyburn, Derry). In 2006, he was transferred to the parish of Killyclogher where he remained until September last year when he was appointed curate of Glendermott.

The change, the only one in Inishowen, is one of a number of clerical appointments announced by the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Dr. Seamus Hegarty.

The full list of changes is –

Right Rev Mgr Bryan McCanny VG, PP, Three Patrons, Derry, to become PP, Limavady;

Rev Michael McCaughey, CC, Glendermott (Waterside) to become PP, Three Patrons, Derry;

Rev Patrick Baker, CC, Maghera to become PP Lavey;

Rev Michael Porter, CC, Burt, Inch, Fahan to become PP, Leckpatrick;

Rev Michael Canny, currently Administrator, St Eugene’s Cathedral to become Administrator Templemore (St. Eugene’s Cathedral and St Columba’s, Long Tower);

Rev Kevin McElhennon, CC, Cappagh to become Administrator, Pro Tem, Cappagh;

Rev Joseph Gormley, CC, Dungiven to become CC, Cappagh;

Rev Francis Lynch, OP, CC, Holy Family, to become CC, Dungiven;

Rev Brian O’Donnell, Administrator, Lavey, to become CC, Maghera;

Rev Roland Colhoun, Administrator, Templemore (St Columba’s, Long Tower) to become CC, Glendermott (Waterside);

Rev Gerard Sweeney, CC, Glendermott (Waterside) to become CC, Burt, Inch, Fahan;

Rev Paul Farren, Priest in Residence, Leckpatrick (and Director of Diocesan Catechetical Centre) to become Priest in Residence, Glendermott (Waterside), while also remaining Director of Diocesan Catechetical Centre;

Deacon James Devine to become Deacon, Templemore;

Rev John Doherty, PP, Leckpatrick, to retire;

Rev Michael Collins, PP, Limavady to retire;

Rev Patrick McLaughlin, CC, Lavey to retire.

Fr. James Chesney, the priest alleged to have been the main suspect in the Claudy bombings which killed nine people in 1972, was “committed” to his work while ministering in Inishowen, parishioners have said.

A report published last week by Al Hutchinson, the Police Ombudsman in the North, revealed Fr. Chesney was transferred to  Donegal after RUC investigations fingered him as a main suspect in the triple bombing which claimed the lives of four men and two women, aged from 38 to 65, and three children, the youngest of which was eight years old. Over 30 people were injured in the August 9 attack.

Mr. Hutchinson’s findings, which took eight years to compile, revealed Fr. Chesney was never questioned by police about the killings after the then Cardinal, William Conway, Northern Ireland Secetary of State William Whitelaw and senior RUC officers came to an agreement to have him transferred to Donegal in 1973. Fr. Chesney died in 1980 at the age of 46 after being diagnosed with cancer.

Following the publication of the report, two former RUC detectives told of how they sought to pursue inquiries that Fr. Chesney was one of the bombers but were instructed by senior officers not to proceed. One of them claimed he was within 15 minutes of searching the cleric’s home in Co. Derry but was told by superiors that “things were under control and not to go” to the priest’s house.

The findings of the report have led to calls for an apology from the Catholic Church and outraged relatives demanding a fresh investigation.

However, retired Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Dr. Edward Daly, who questioned Fr. Chesney about his links with republicanism, said he had “serious doubts” about the allegations.

Bishop Daly said while Fr. Chesney “made no bones” about his sympathies with republicans, he “denied absolutely” any activity in the movement.

Welcoming the fact Mr. Hutchinson’s report found “no evidence of any criminal intent” on the part of any Church official, Bishop Daly said to his knowledge there was no evidence against Fr. Chesney, just intelligence.

Following his move from Co. Derry, Fr. Chesney served in the Malin Head. Six years later he moved to Sligo before returning to Inishowen to serve chaplin in the Nazareth House in Fahan.

Those who knew him said they were surprised at the allegations. In Malin Head, John McLaughlin said he did not believe Fr. Chesney was “capable of this.”

He added: He was a lovely man and never once discussed politics during his sermons.”

In the parish of Fahan, a plaque was erected in 1984 in Aileach Youth and Community Centre in recognition the role Fr. Chesney in the setting up of the local Youth and Social Club.

Willie McLaughlin said he, too, was surprised by the allegations.

He said: “He was very committed, especially to the youth, and helped us get the Youth Club up and running. He was our priest.”

Soccer – Four Lanterns Ulster Senior League 

Cockhill Celtic 4

Buncrana Hearts 1

In this highly eventful game in front of a huge crowd at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds it was the home side who claimed all three points to move top of the Ulster Senior League.

The opening was frantic as both teams took a little time to settle, on six minutes Cockhill’s Garbhain Friel made room in the box only to shoot wide into the side netting with other options available. 

Hearts had the advantage of a stiff breeze in the first half but on 9 minutes it was the home side who took the lead. Jimmy Bradley found space in his own half before playing a ball in behind the Hearts defence, where Mark Moran showed strength and pace to get past Gary Duffy and race inside the box to square for Malachy McDermott who side-footed into the net from eight yards past the unlucky Lee McFadden who managed to get a hand on it.

Hearts produced their first chance of note after 25 minutes when Patrick McMyler found space at right back to play a good ball into the box only for the unmarked Johnny McCarron to head over from ten yards when well placed.

Hearts now started to pile on more pressure to force an equaliser and on 38 minutes they were awarded a free when Barry McColgan was adjudged to have brought down Gerard McLaughlin. Cutliffe took the free from 22 yards and with the aid of a deflection, off the wall, was bound for the net only for Cockhill keeper Stephen Conroy to produce a wonder save to tip it over the bar.

Buncrana got back on level terms on the stroke off half time when John O’Loughlin played a ball over the defence to the feet of Cutliffe inside the box, the strike made room to shot high to the net from eight yards and the teams went in at the break all square at 1-1

Cockhill spurned a great chance to take the lead on 67 minutes when a free by Gerry Gill on the corner of the 18yard box was not held by McFadden but McKinney’s shot from 6 yards hit the post and back to the keepers thankful arms.

On 80 minutes Gill found space on the right wing for Cockhill and as he wriggled his way past Barry McFadden produced a great cross to the back post for captain Liam O’Donnell to power a header home from eight yards to send the Cockhill section of the large crowd into a loud roar of celebration that was matched by the jubilant players.

The visitors restarted the game reduced to ten men as Cutliffe got his marching orders after some words to the referee. Hearts changed things again and went with a 3-4-2 formation to try salvage something from the game but this created more problems.

n 84 minutes they were cut open like a knife through butter as Kieran McLaughlin picked the ball up in the home defence before combining well with Paul McKinney on the wing. McLaughlin advanced with the ball at his feet into the Hearts half and after another 1-2 on the edge of the visitors area with Garbhain Friel produced a cool finish low to the keepers bottom right hand corner.

3-1 up at this stage the home side started to play the ball around with ease and the Hearts players looked tired.

Cockhill wrapped things up on 88 minutes when a ball over the top caught the Hearts defence high and Aiden O’Donnell raced through to lob the keeper from just outside the area. Hearts tried to get something late in the game but the home defence stood firm. A good and entertaining derby game played in good conditions before a large crowd. The 4-1 score after a tight opening period gave the home side a deserved victory (third win over Buncrana this season) to move them a point clear of Letterkenny in the title race although Rovers having a game in hand. A good team performance from Cockhill with McMyler and Timlin showing well for the visitors.

A 32-year-old man appeared at Derry Magistrates Court yesterday charged with stealing items from the home of Bishop of Derry, Most Rev. Dr. Seamus Hegarty.

Seamus Devine, of Bloomfield Park, Galliagh was granted bail and ordered not to contact the Bishop or go near his home. Devine denies entering the Bishop’s house on Buncrana Road on Friday last as a trespasser and stealing a number of items.

The court heard how the Bishop believed the intruder in his home was carrying a weapon after he was awakened and confronted by him in his bedroom doorway in the early hours of the morning.

The intruder then asked the Bishop how to get out of the house to which he replied: “through the back door.”

After he left, the Bishop discovered a number of items were missing, including his ring, his wallet and watch, some antique coins, two bottles of alcohol and a set of rosary beads.

The court was told the Bishop’s credit card was later recovered from a fire near his home and found some of the stolen items in Devine’s home.

By Johnny Craig

Sports Editor

Glengad welterweight Michael McLaughlin has been handed an exciting debut bout by top Irish promoter Brian Peters.

The 26 year-old Carn ABC member will fight in front of his home fans on the undercard of Paul McCloskey’s second European Title defense at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny October 2^nd.

The show, which will be televised live by RTE, is sure to attract a sell-out crowd to the 2000 capacity arena and speaking to the Inish Times at a press conference to announce the bill last Wednesday, McLaughlin admitted that he can’t wait to make his first appearance as a professional with Dublin’s Gavin Prunty his likely opponent.

“I’m delighted to be making my pro debut and especially in my home

county of Donegal,” he said. “I’ve had over 100 amateur fights and I feel I’m ready to make the step up so I’m excited about the challenge.

“There’s been talk of fighting Gavin Prunty who would be a tough opponent. He has 4 wins from 5 fights and I know he’s a bit of a

show boater but if he starts that with me then I think I can knock him

out.”

“I’ll be a bit nervous on the day but he doesn’t have the experience I

have from the amateur scene and I’ll be going in there to take his

head off.”

Michael has been training full time in Belfast’s legendary Breen’s Gym and head coach John Breen will be in his corner for the bout.

“I’m travelling up and down four days a week with my Dad Niall for training in Breen’s gym and the training has been brilliant. I’ve been

there for two or three months and we’ll be stepping it up now in the

build up to October 2nd.

“I’ve started sparring last week and I’ve been in with Michael Kelly

who will fight Frankie Gavin for the Irish Title in Birmingham in

September. There’s six weeks to go now and I’ll be doing plenty of

sparring so that I’m super fit for the fight.

“The training in Carn was always intensive but this is a step up in

Breen’s Gym and theirs a higher standard of sparring partners although

I was lucky in Inishowen that I could go to the Illies to spar with

William McLaughlin. There’s a very high caliber of pro in Breen’s Gym

with Paul McCloskey who’s a European Champion and EU Champion Andy Murray and so I’m learning all the time.”

McLaughlin’s first bout in the paid ranks is sure to attract huge support from the sporting public of the peninsula and he admits he is looking forward to putting on a show for them.

“There are a lot of people in Inishowen looking for tickets already and

hopefully I can get the local crowd behind me and give them something

to cheer about,” he concluded.

Tickets for the Hunky Dorys Fight Night priced from €40 go on sale from 9am on Wednesday, September 1st from Ticketmaster.ie / 0818 719300, The Aura, Letterkenny: 074 9106422, The Radisson Blu, Letterkenny: 074 9194444, Eurospar, Dungiven: 028 77741245 or Julie, Dungiven: 07745 698372.

The opening of a new mobile phone shop in Roscommon is proving to be good news on the Inishowen jobs front.

Digitalfone 02, the Telecom communications company based  in Buncrana who operate the 02 stores in the North and West, have announced they are to expand again with plans to open a new 02 store in Roscommon Town in October.

Francis Callagan, dealer principal for the group, said he was “delighted” to make the announcement pointing out the opening of the new store created further employment at its head office in Buncrana .

 He said: “For every new store the group opens in other parts of the country this has a knock on affect in increasing employment levels at the groups head office based in Buncrana.”

And with plans to open more stores,  includind anotrher one towards in the of this year, in other parts of the country, more jobs are in the pipeline for Buncrana.

Mr Callaghan added because of the expansion plans the group were welcoming CVs from interested persons with the suitable qualifications for placement at their two inishowen stores in Carndonagh and Buncrana .

The news comes less than a year after Digitalfone 02 created new jobs with the creation of new stores in  Ballina  Co Mayo and the complete re-fitting of its Inishowen outlets. New jobs were created in Buncrana, and Carndonagh as part of this expansion in both Retail and Sme sales while a further  positions were announced for its store in Ballina,  increasing the job numbers of people employed by the company.

The was a large turn out for the funeral on Saturday last of Fr. Joseph Quigley. He was 84 and recently celebrated 60 years in the priest.

Fr. Quigley, who died the previous Wednesday, had become well-known and popular in the Buncrana area where he had lived for the past 10 years after falling ill.

Born in Durham in England, he became a close friend of Joe Logue, from Glasgow (whose father John was from Inch) while studying for the priesthood at Millhill College. Through their friendship, Fr. Logue became a regular visitor to Inishowen, staying with Elizabeth Doherty in Fahan and later with Josie McLaughlin and her family in Trillick, with whom he was staying at the time of his death.

 Following his ordination in 1925 as a missionary of St. Joseph’s Society, he taught at a college in Freshford in Kilkenny for  six years before carrying out missionary work in Africa.

However, after 14 years he developed chronic malaria and came back to Ireland to be treated at the tropical disease hospital in Drogheda.

Following his recovery, he returned to England to help with the  recruitment to the priesthood and minister as rector in Burnhall, Sheffield as well as spending a number of years in Doncaster.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 2000, he returned to Trillick in Buncrana to be cared for by his close friend, Josie McLaughlin.

Despite his illness, he helped out in the Buncrana parish on numerous occasions, visiting the local schools on regular occasions and for a number of years celebrating Mass in the Convent of Mercy (Scoil Mhuire). He also celebrated Mass in Buncrana Nursing Unit every Saturday.

Speaking to the Inish Times, Josie described Fr. Quigley as “a saint.”

She added: “He was the most gentle and holiness man I have ever known. I just could not say enough about him. He was so nice. Just ask anyone in the town. He was very kind, a saint. He helped out in the parish whenever he could and had a great rapport with the young people, regularly visiting the schools.”

St. Mary’s Oratory in Buncrana was packed for his Requiem Mass on Saturday. A total of 24 priests where in attendance. Concelebrants included Bishop of Hallam (Doncaster), Most Rev. Dr. John Rothsorne and the Vicar General of Millhill College, Rev. Bernard Fox.

Following Requiem Mass, Fr. Quigley, who would have been 85 on September 4 next, was laid to rest in Cockhill cemetery.

By Johnny Craig

Sports Editor

Malin Ladies are bidding to win remarkable successive county titles this Sunday when they face Ballyshannon side Aodh Ruadh in the Intermediate County Final at Convoy (Throw in 4pm).

The girls in black and amber have successfully made the transition to Intermediate football this year, following their Junior League and Championship wins last season.

Indeed, such has been their success so far in the League this year that they have genuine aspirations of playing alongside Moville in the top tier in 2011. 

Despite losing many of their key players to injury and emmigration this season, they have won four of their six league games this year, and remain in the hunt for promotion.

The Connolly Park girls booked their place in Sunday’s showpiece by beating a highly fancied Ardara side in a play-off in Ballyshannon after they won a game a piece in their two legged semi-final.

But coach Eamon Ryan, who jointly manages the side with Susan Byrne, believes his side will have to be at their best to win Sunday’s decider.

“We will be going into this game as underdogs,” he told the Inish Times.

“We are familiar with Aodh Ruadh having played them twice in the League. We lost in Ballyshannon and won in Malin although they were missing some players when we won.

“I felt we were playing at an Intermediate level last year and although we’ve lost some players the young girls who have come in have done well.”

Malin won last year’s Junior Final with Robert Emmets at a canter but Ryan believes his side’s experience in the subsequent Ulster Club Championship will be of benefit on Sunday.

“We travelled to Mayobridge last year and won before losing to the Tyrone champions, those were tough games and they will stand to us.

“The Malin people are great at coming out for these games, we received great travelling support in our away championship games last year and I know they will come out in numbers again in Convoy.

“With Moville getting knocked out of the senior championship to Termon this is Inishowen’s last chance for a ladies county title this year so hopefully people from other clubs will come along too.”

Ryan is sweating on the fitness of forward Emma Donaghey for the game but other than that he has a clean bill of health.

“We’ve lost four of our front six from last year this year so Emma would be a big loss but the girls who have come in have done well so it certainly isn’t all doom and gloom.”