A young Inishowen woman has received the chance of a lifetime after bagging a coveted apprenticeship with an award-winning Australian designer.
Twenty-year-old Danielle McGilloway, from Tooban Upper, has been chosen to work with Souraya Chidiac, one of the hottest up-and-coming couture designers of the moment.
Based in Sydney, the Souraya label specialises in bridal and evening gowns, as well as its own range of designer and swarovski crystal accessories. The team includes renowned names Peter Lang, Pizzuto and Manzoni
Danielle, who studies Surface Design for fashion and interiors at the University of Huddersfield, will spend her placement year honing her craft at the design house.
Speaking to the Inish Times, she said she “couldn’t wait” to get started and revealed how this wasn’t the first time her name had been linked to a top design team.
She said: “I love the course I’m doing in Huddersfield; it basically involves anything to do with surfaces. One day you could be working on flooring, the next you could be covering cushions. Basically, if it has a surface, we create a design for it.
“In my placement year, I really wanted to learn about beading, embroidery and fabric manipulation, which bridal and evening design is perfect for. However, everyone in my course was finding it hard to get placement – it seems to be as a result of the recession. I contacted 40 different designers in the UK and not one got back to me.
“I decided to try further a field but when I contacted Souraya I thought it would be a long-shot. She’s a really big up and coming name and was recently commissioned to create Miss Australia’s dress for Miss World. But, she got back to me straight away and after asking me some questions, said I was exactly what they were looking for.
“I can’t wait to get started now. I’m so excited. She works a lot with lace, satins and silks and I want to learn how she creates the dresses.”
Danielle, who is the daughter of Margaret and Danny and has one younger sister, Eimear, had one of her creations showcased recently by EGE Carpets at the Surface Design Show in London.
The company were working in collaboration with the University of Huddersfield and tasked each of the students to create their own carpet design.
Danielle’s piece, which was based on Derry as City of Culture, wowed the company, who then made it into carpet and unveiled it at the show.
The former St Mura’s NS, Tooban, Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana and NWIFHE student said she was “over the moon” at the honour.
Danielle will leave for Australia later this week and when asked what she was most looking forward to – apart from working with Souraya – she quipped: “Bondi Beach!”

A considerate Clonmany man, who has raised thousands of euros for local charities over the past 16 years, handed over his final cheque last week.
Eddie Gill, from Cloontagh, is well-known throughout Inishowen for his fundraising dances and sponsored walks, which provided much-needed funds to charities such as the Foyle and Donegal Hospices, Carndonagh Hospital, Cashel na Cor Resource Centre and many more.
However, after a decade and a half of hard work, Eddie has organised his last dance and presented his final cheques to the Carndonagh Hospice and Cashel na Cor last week.
Speaking to the Inish Times, he disclosed how he was inspired to raise funds after the death of his wife and thanked everyone who had helped him over the years.
He said: “I started raising money 16 years ago, just after my wife, Annie, died. She had been in the Foyle Hospice and received great care. So, I decided to run a dance to get some money for them.
“The very first one was held in the Ballyliffin Hotel and the music was by John Craig and the Rodeos. I would’ve known John and after he heard about Annie he rang me up. We got chatting about the dances and he said if the date was right, he was right. He added that if I gave him tea and sandwiches, that would be classed as his wages and I have to thank him very much for that.”
After the success of the inaugural dance, Eddie went on to organise more in numerous hotels around the peninsula. Each of the dances raised money for various charities – primarily Foyle, Donegal and Carndonagh Hospices. They were always very well supported and attended, something Eddie said he was “very grateful for.”
As well as dances, Eddie was also involved in organising sponsored walks and throughout the years, helped in no small way by a number of people.
“There’s a lady called Brid McEleney who is always involved with us with everything we do,” said Eddie.
“She always makes the tea and sandwiches and must have made hundreds over the years. No matter what we do or organise, she’s there and I have to thank her very much.
“We’ve been helped by so many people. There’s a young fella from Ballymoney called Alaistair Coyles. I met him through the Clonmany Festival – where I’m a member of the committee. He goes to it every year and is a great performer himself. He has been a guest of all the dances and is doing very well for himself.
“Another guest was local accordion player John McGeoghegan. He’s great at the accordion and I have to thank them both also.”
Eddie revealed he had decided to cease fundraising three years ago, but following the sad passing of his sister, Bridie, recently joined with her family in organising another sponsored walk in aid of the Donegal Hospice.
However, after raising thousands of euro and providing much-needed support to many local charities and people over the years, Eddie has completed his fundraising swansong. On Thursday last, he presented two cheques for 350 euro each to the Carndonagh Hospice and Cashel na Cor Resource Centre.
He paid tribute to the many people who have helped him over the years and said he was still available to help out.
He said: “There’s so many people to thank. Thank you to the Malin Hotel, the Strand Hotel, The Ballyliffin Hotel and the now closed Pollan Hotel for their help and support with the dances.
“Thank you to the walkers, the sponsors, everyone who came to the dances, provided spot and door prizes as well as the items for raffles.
“For the last four or five years we ran a granny and granda competition at the dances and Lucy Boyce always made a beautiful bouquet of flowers to present to them. Thanks very much to her.
“I also have to thank Swilly Print, who made the posters for me and everyone who supported everything we did over the years.
“I might not be organising any more dances but I’m available if anyone wants me to help out at the door at other fundraising dances. Just let me know and it’ll be no bother

Donegal boss Jim McGuinness has resolutely defended his approach to Sunday’s All Ireland Semi-Final defeat to Dublin following extensive criticism of his side’s defensive tactics in the national media.
The Tir Chonaill panel has been accused of ‘spoiling’ and ‘anti-football’ tactics in yesterday’s papers and came in from particular criticism from the RTE panelists during Sunday’s game.
Joe Brolly and, in particular, Pat Spillane were particularly scathing at half time with the Derry pundit suggesting Donegal were a one dimensional side who had no plan B.
But McGuinness yesterday rubbished those claims and defended his side’s unorthodox strategy.
“I never said there was ‘No Plan B’. Throughout our Championship campaign we deployed different formations. Against Derry in the Ulster final we deployed a long ball game to try and get at their full back line while in the Kildare game we packed bodies into the middle third of the pitch and dominated them there.
“On Sunday our game plan was to play deep and turn the ball over and hit them on the break and that tactic worked well at 6-3.”
Reflecting on Sunday’s tense, low scoring game, McGuinness admitted that the loss of Karl Lacey to injury in the second half was a body blow for his side.
“Karl Lacey was a big loss to us both defensively and offensively, he punched holes in the Dublin defense and was a big part of our game plan.
“When the game turned our Plan B was to push Michael Murphy into full forward and try and get ball into him. At 7-6 we should have had a free when a Dublin player lifted the ball on the ground that would have levelled the scores but in the end Dublin’s pace and power saw them through.”
Having completed the first year of his three year plan, the Glenties man has surpassed all expectations this season in winning the National League Division Two and Ulster Championship and he believes the players can build on that next season.
“As a team I feel we have moved up the ladder and it’s now a matter of reevaluating things in the next week or two and looking how we can improve our fitness and power levels to move further up the ladder.
“As far as I am concerned there are two key groups of people, the first is the players and management and the second is the people we represent. It would be a folly for is to let the opinions in the papers affect our focus.
“When I took the job I selected the players who wanted to play for Donegal and had a passion for it and every player has shown that from the word go.”

MARK Farren made his long awaited return to Derry City yesterday after overcoming a brain tumour.
303 days again in Monaghan, Farren bid farewell to his team mates, the club and its fans as he was forced into early retirement, forced with the prospect of undergoing a life changing operation in a bid to remove the illness which threatened his career and his life.
Farren signed off in style that night, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 win which sealed the First Division title for Derry City and an immediate return to the Premier Division.
On that night Farren said he would be back, and he kept to his word as he was officially unveiled as a Derry City player yesterday.
And speaking to the Inish Times he admitted that the prospect of donning the red and white again is an amazing feeling.
“It will be emotional,” he said. “It will feel really strange to be honest because it’s been ten months since my last game, so it will be emotional. With the operation I had I wasn’t too positive but my recovery got better. My surgeons have seen me and they’re happy and they are happy enough for me to go back which I’m delighted with. I will get my six month scan continually for ten years and I will keep getting check ups but I hope to be here as long as I can be. I’ll see how the next two months go and see how I bed in.
“Hopefully I can put it all behind me now. Stephen (Kenny) was saying that I’m the first person he knows of in world sport to do this, to come back to do this. Hopefully I’m doing this for other people also, to show them that you can come back and play contact sport with an injury like this.”
Farren has been a regular visitor to the Brandywell club all season, and he has kept his fitness up in the hope that he would get the all clear to return. But the Greencastle man admitted that the wait has been tough.
“I came in earlier on just to be around the boys even though I wasn’t doing anything,” he recalled. “I couldn’t do anything because my skull was healing. I was just there to say hello really. It was hard watching them training and watching the team doing well, without being involved was difficult. I thought about my health first of all but obviously you want a wee bit more. It’s hard just watching.
“It was very important to me that the club allowed me to come in and I can’t thank them enough to be honest. With James McClean moving on spaces became available. I have been talking to the surgeon a lot and he had hoped for July but he put it back to September and I respected his decision.”

Promising

Farren makes his return to the team at a promising time with his team mates going for a League and League Cup double and the striker knows he will not just walk back into a team doing so well at present.
“The team’s flying so I’m not going to walk into the team,” he acknowledged. “I don’t expect anything like that so I’d be happy to come off the bench if I get on the bench. I’d be happy with that.
”I’m getting fitter but obviously I haven’t played any matches. There are no matches for me to play so the first match will be Sligo and if I can be on the bench for that I’d be really delighted but it’s hard for me to get match fitness at this stage of the season. The reserves have finished their games so all I have is the first team so it’s going to be difficult for me to get games. But I’m there anyway.”
Farren is currently on 107 goals for Derry City, just five behind the club’s all time top goal scorer Liam Coyle but breaking the record is not something Farren is overly concerned with at this stage.
“Loads of people have mentioned it,” he continued. “It’s something to think about. I’m only five away so it probably gives me more drive to come back and try and do something. But hopefully the team don’t need me at all. If I can come off the bench and help the team get a win or score an equaliser or anything, I’m glad to help. But the team’s flying at the minute and I think the team have done really well this year and it would be nice for them to go on and win it.”
Farren also paid tribute to football fans around the country, who,. He says have been relentless in their support in the past eighteen months.
“The fans have been unbelievable. Derry fans and even fans of Linfield, Glentoran, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers have been great. I’m really thankful for all the best wishes they’ve given me throughout the year.”

Inishowen’s first-ever orienteering course for children is currently being mapped out and is expected to attract youngsters from throughout the county as well as further afield, the Inish Times can reveal.
Community groups and bodies from around the peninsula have come together to kick start the initiative in Buncrana’s Swan Park, including Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP), Buncrana Tidy Towns, Youthreach, Buncrana Environmental Group, Crana College, Green Schools and Buncrana Town Council.
The facilitators have also been in consultation with Gartan Outdoor Education Centre in Letterkenny and have enlisted the expertise of experienced orienteering and mapping expert John Spence, who has been a member of Thames Valley Orienteering club in England for over 40 years.
Sean McGrory, Youth Development Officer with IDP, one of the key facilitators in the project, joined Mr Spence and Brendan McLaughlin, of Buncrana Environmental Group, to install the first “dummy” marker posts at Swan Park last week. They were used as a guide for Buncrana Town Council to install the official markers later in the week.
Speaking to the Inish Times, Mr McGrory said the facility would have huge benefits for everyone who used it and would greatly enhance the area.
He said: “This will be here in the town, for all to use – for example schools, clubs, scout groups, visitors and everyone throughout Inishowen and beyond.
“The benefits of it are huge. It gets people involved in something practical, allows them to learn new skills, learn spatial reasoning, think three dimensionally, improves map reading and much, much more.
“We’ve been paying to take groups to orienteering courses for ten years and had this resource right on our doorsteps. It’s something we always wanted to do and is neutral cost and carbon neutral.
“It all came about after I was approached by the Tidy Towns, who were keen to get even more young people involved in their initiative. A key player in getting it moved forward too was Youthreach, who went around the orienteering courses in Gartan and Roe Valley and completed an environmental impact study. They were fantastic and got involved in creating a public amenity that will be used for decades to come.
“We’ve been in consultation with a number of groups and really hit gold with John Spence, his expertise has been invaluable.”
Michelle McKenna, youth co-ordinator with Buncrana Tidy Towns, said they were “over the moon” the project was going ahead.
She said: “I approached Sean and he was incredibly enthusiastic. He came up with the idea for the orienteering course and it all went from there. I thought it was a fantastic idea as we have the facility right here in Buncrana.
“We did a presentation to Buncrana Town Council who were very much on board with us. Cllrs Lee Tedstone and John Ryan gave us a lot of help and myself and Sean had meetings with Gartan to discuss how we could progress it.
“The children, scouts and groups are very excited by it all. All Inishowen schools will be able to take advantage of it and we can also change over with other schools throughout the county – they could come down to us and we could go up there. There’s so many possibilities with it.”
Mr Spence explained the maps used were “very specialised”, detailing every tree, bend etc. and revealed Swan Park was an “ideal location” for an orienteering route.
He said: “Orienteering is fabulous. It teaches young people so much. And it’s always changing; there are different routes for different days. You’re always thinking and questioning.”
With the first phase complete, the official route is expected to be launched around mid-May.
Mr McGrory said there were many more possibilities for expansion and new ideas.
“The only thing stopping us is our imagination,” he said.

Donegal North East Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh has welcomed the Minister for Education’s decision to allocate a new classroom and a fourth teacher to St. Brigid’s National School, Glenmakee.
Principal Celine Quigley said the extension, which will be the
Deputy McHugh paid compliments to the school’s board of management and teachers for the work they put in to securing new classroom and the extra permanent teaching position.
He added: “I have been working with the Department of Education, the parents’ committee and the board of management on this issue for some time, and I am pleased that there has been a positive outcome.”
He concluded: “Some time ago when I visited the school the quality educational and community service that the school provides in the local area was very apparent. The new classroom and the additional teaching post will facilitate teachers in the provision of high-quality education in an appropriate learning environment.”
school’s third permanent classroom, will make a huge difference to the 82-pupil school, especially since pupil numbers are set to increase significantly over the next few years.
She said: “We still have a chalet but this will be our third permanent classroom. We’ve been very close to having the fourth teacher for a while and we’re delighted it’s been granted now and this was followed by the go-ahead for the extension.
“It will be a great boost to the school, especially considering pupil numbers are due to increase quite a bit over the next couple of years.”
The new classroom is now at the planning stage and the school has been benefiting from a number of top initiatives recently, including the addition of new flower and vegetable raised beds, along with 15 new laptops and a laptop charging trolley, all funded with assistance from the parents association.

COCKHILL CELTIC 0
SLIGO ROVERS 4

By Johnny Craig
Sports editor

Cockhill Celtic crashed out of the EA Sports League Cup despite putting in a brave performance against Premier League and cup holders Sligo Rovers at Maginn Park.
A crowd of over 1,200 fans packed the sun-drenched Buncrana venue for what was the biggest competitive game to be staged in Inishowen in living memory.
Sligo manager Paul Cook made only three changes from the team that lost to Bohemians in their FAI Premier clash on the previous Friday while Cockhill fielded the same side that defeated Buncrana Hearts in the League Cup at the weekend.
The visitors started brightly and on seven minutes Conroy parried a Davoren cross into the path of Dillon whose low shot flashed past the right post.
Moments later, Keane rattled the crossbar from close range as the visitors piled on the pressure.
Sligo came close again on 11 minutes when Russell was inches over with an acrobatic overhead kick from close range.
Cockhill responded three minutes later when McElroy headed wide from Gill corner.
However, Celtic’s luck ran out when Sligo took the lead on 18 minutes when a Russell cross from the left was not properly cleared and Ndo tucked the ball home to the bottom right hand corner from 11 yards.
Throughout the remainder of the first half, the home side defended bravely and looked dangerous on the counter-attack without testing Clark in the Sligo goal.
The home side were dealt a blow just after the half-hour when their experienced centre-half McElroy limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Derek Doherty, a change which saw McDermott move to the back four with the substitute taking over his midfield role.
Rovers got the perfect start to the second half when on 49 minutes Dillon’s deep cross from the right found an unmarked Doyle who headed to the bottom right hand corner.
On the hour, Cockhill had their best chance of the game when Moran’s perfectly waited through ball released McKinney but Rovers centre-half McGuinness recovered to block his shot at the expense of a corner.
The home side came close again a minute later when a Gill corner from the left broke for Moran but he shot angle straight at the keeper from an acute angle.
On 67 minutes, Gretaro clipped the Cockhill crossbar with a 25 yard shot and stand-in centre-half McDermott made two crucial tackles to deny Sligo, first on 75 minutes when he slid in well to deny Gretaro following good work down the left by substitute Blinkhorn before denying Horgan in full flight.
At the other end, Cockhill’s McDermott volleyed narrowly wide from a corner.
Sligo ended the game as contest in the 79th when Gretaro rifled home a free kick from 30 yards and they added a fourth with five mintues remaining when substitutes Blinkhorn and Horgan combined for the latter to tap home.
COCKHILL CELTIC: Stephen Conroy, Kieran McLaughlin, William McLaughlin, John McElroy (Derek Doherty, 34 mins), William O’Connor, Malachy McDermott, Liam O’Donnell (capt), James Bradley, Paul McKinney (Michael O’Connor, 81 mins), Mark Moran (Aiden O’Donnell, 70 mins) and Gerry Gill.
SLIGO ROVERS: Brendan Clark, Owen Doyle (Daryl Horgan, 63 mins), Joseph Ndo, Danny Ventre (capt), Iarlaith Davoren, Jason McGuinness, John Dillon (Matthew Blinkhorn, 63 mins), Gavin Peers, Rafael Gretaro, Alan Keane and John Russell.

Tributes have been paid in Buncrana to a former Kentucky Mayor who played a pivotal role when Fruit of the Loom first came to the peninsula and “epitomised great Southern hospitality.”
Robert L Miller was the Mayor of Campbellsville, Kentucky for 33 years and passed away in February last at the age of 83.
In the late 1980s, when the McCarter family struck a deal with Union Underwear (who owned the Fruit of the Loom brand name and later became Fruit of the Loom) to invest in Buncrana, a contingent from the then Urban Council visited Campbellsville, where a company plant employing thousands was based.
Two of the group were former Mayors Dermot McLaughlin and Joe Doherty. They were hosted by Mayor Miller, who, they explained not only taught them a lot about what was needed in Buncrana but was also inspired by the town as well.
“He was a first class person and an excellent public representative,” said Mr McLaughlin, who was Mayor at the time.
“We went over to determine the role of the Town Council in relation to the fantastic work the McCarters were doing, We went to Campbellsville to see what was needed in terms of infrastructure and sewage, the impact of the company on the town etc.
“Mayor Miller accommodated us in so many ways; he gave us access to all the different departments and showed us everything we needed to know.
“We had all booked into a hotel but he was having none of it and invited us into his home. He and his late wife Bernice were very gracious people and it was an honour to meet them.
“He took us to the Green River Lake, which was similar to what the Pollan Dam is now. One of the points he emphasised to us all was that there was a very strong partnership between themselves and the community and how this was extremely important.
“His contribution explained how the council, community and company could all work together to enhance the area and create a valuable asset.”
Cllr Joe Doherty agreed and said they found despite being thousands of miles apart, the Councils had very much in common.
He said: “All the Mayors of Kentucky regularly met up and we attended this meeting. We realised that the issues they dealt with, fixing lights, footpaths – all those things you try to do to help the community, were the same as we dealt with in Buncrana. Bob Miller was very hands on with the community.”
Mayor Miller, a US Navy veteran of World War II, visited Buncrana in June 1991, after Campbellsville was twinned the town. He was hosted by Cllr Doherty, the Mayor at the time.
He described the visit as “a great honour” and shared an anecdote that represented the marked differences in climate between the two countries.
He said: “We toured Inishowen over two days and he just marvelled at it all. He was awed by Swan Park and it actually provided the inspiration for Campbellsville City Park that he set up when he went back home.
“I remember we went to Dunree and we were apologising because it was very foggy and raining but they thought it was just fantastic. They said: ‘What are you apologising for, we never see this; it’s marvellous.”
“It was a real pleasure for me to host Bob and his wife and he became a great personal friend. Along with the McCarters, his contribution to Buncrana through the role he played with Fruit of the Loom was second to none. It was a great honour to have met and worked with him and my sympathies go out to his family and the people of Campbellsville.”
His sentiments were shared by Mr McLaughlin.
He said: “I appreciate all he did for Buncrana and the fantastic way he accommodated us. They talk about great Southern hospitality but he epitomised it. I am deeply saddened by his death and my sympathies go too to his family and the people of Campbellsville.”
When he passed away, Robert Miller was described by his local newspapers as “a community icon” and “a visionary who donated countless hours of his time to make the community better.”
He was predeceased by his wife Bernice and survived his wife Jeania Judd, who he married in 2002, a son and two daughters.

Carndonagh will crack open the top entertainment next week as it celebrates its jam-packed second Easter Monday parade.
The town will be thronged with floats, bands and fancy dress as well as wacky and wonderful Easter bonnets, Inishowen vintage cars and tractors, a spectacular performance from the Inishowen Carnival Group and much more.
Music and entertainment kicks off in the town centre around 1.30pm and the unique fundraiser that is the Colgan Community and Resource Centre ball roll follows at 2.00pm on Bridge Street.
The eagerly-awaited parade then takes place at 3.00pm and is set to be even bigger and better than last year, with the Buncrana and Muff Accordion Bands joining St Mary’s Pipe Band from Limavady, along with colourful and entertaining floats and entries from community and sports groups, businesses and individuals from around the peninsula.
The organising committee have extended an invitation to everyone, groups and clubs in Inishowen to take part on the day and they’re still looking for their very own Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
The party atmosphere will continue with competitions for best shop front, best float and fancy dress and there will be also be face painting for the kids.
One of the highlights of the day will be the appearance of Inishowen Carnival Group who are aiming to recreate their spectacular performance at the recent St Patrick’s Day parade in Dublin.
The performance was inspired by the animals of Dublin Zoo and included leopard, zebra and flamingo dancers as well as large mobile carnival props including lions, tigers and a huge polar bear.
There will be traffic restrictions in place on the day and the town centre will be closed off from 12.00pm on Monday. However, there will be ample parking around the town and outskirts and those who possess a disabled parking badge will be allowed closer access. There will be detours around the town and stewards will be on hand throughout the day to assist.

Floats are asked to assemble from Tul na Ri car park from 1.00pm onwards. A stewards’ meeting will take place in the Inishowen Development Partnership offices in Pound Street tomorrow evening at 8.00pm.
–

It goes without saying when it comes to an engaged couple planning their big day – it’s the bride that has the say. Many would go as far to say it would take a brave groom to take on the onerous task.
Well, that’s what happened when Buncrana woman Nicola O’Hagan wed John Masterson earlier this year.
It’s hard to believe but Nicola, from Linsfort, had absolutely no input with John organising everything within a three week deadline which meant he had to buy the wedding dress, choose the venue, organise the flowers, buy the bridesmaid dresses and sort out the music and flowers. In fact, as many couples can vouch for, the list is endless. All Nicola knew was she was getting married and nothing else.
A brave groom indeed considering a wedding usually takes up to a year to organise with most of the input coming from the bride.
So, did John manage to pull it off and within the timeframe? Did he think of everything on that long list? Were the invites sent out in time? Did the dress fit the bride? Did she like the venue? Did his mother-in-law stay out of the way? And, most importantly, was Nicola happy? Well, you can find out in “Don’t Tell The Bride” (9.55pm, RTE 2, Monday next, April 25) the new RTE series which follows six brave grooms as they attempt to organise their weddings – with in contribution from their future wives.
The series follows the stressed grooms who, with the help of their best men, attempt to put their original plans into place.
Like the other five grooms, John was given 10,000 euro to spend and, along with Nicola, signed a contract in the presence of a lawyer in they agreed to no communication within the three week time frame. So that meant no phone calls, no emails etc.