For Laggan District Research

For all interested in the Laggan district, the book In the Days of the Laggan Presbytery is now available as an Ebook on the Ulster Heritage website.   Description of the book below:

By Rev. Alexander G. Lecky, B.A. Published 1908, 148 pages

In the Preface, Rev. Leck writes “these everyday transactions gives us a clearer picture of some phases of the social and religious life of by-gone times than would a record of the more important events with which the historian deals.”

The writer gleans a great volume of important information from the Minutes of the Laggan Presbytery including its origin, the division of the Presbytery, its subsequent re-unification which is followed by the re-division into three Presbyteries. He also discusses travel problems in the area and congregational disputes which include those between Strabane and Donagheady as well as Urney and Letterkenny.

The book includes transcriptions of the wills of Rev. Robert Cunningham, Mrs. Frances Cunningham and Rev. Hugh Cunningham; the names of the ministers of the Laggan Presbytery; and the names of those attending Presbytery meetings from 1672-1700 as Ruling Elders and Commissioners.


Link to purchase:  In the Days of the Laggan Presbytery

Ulster Heritage DNA Sale

From June 12, 2013 through June 19, 2013, we will reduce the following prices.

Y-DNA 12 to 25 was $49 Now $35
Y-DNA 12 to 37 was $99 Now $69
Y-DNA 12 to 67 was $189 Now $148
Y-DNA 25 to 37 was $49 Now $35
Y-DNA 25 to 67 was $148 Now $114
Y-DNA 25 to 111 was $249 Now $224
Y-DNA 37 to 67 was $99 Now $79
Y-DNA 37 to 111 was $220 Now $188
Y-DNA 67 to 111 was $129 Now $109

To order an upgrade at these special prices your members can log into their personal pages with their kit number and password. Click on the "Order Upgrade" button located on the right side of the menu bar. Then click on the "Special Offers" button.
ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY 11:59pm, JUNE 19, 2013, TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICE.

Link to purchase Upgrade:  Ulster Heritage

Gallagher Clan Gathering in September

Contact data for more information and links:

Adrian Gallagher
The Gallagher Clan,
Lisnanees,
Letterkenny,
Co. Donegal,
Ireland.
Tel. No.: + 353 (0)74 9124689 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting + 353 (0)74 9124689 FREE  end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Mobile: + 353 (0)87) 6680593
Skype: adrian.gallagher3
E-mail: postmaster@gallagherclan.org
Website: www.gallagherclan.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gallagherclan.org
Follow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Gallagher_Clan

6 April, National Tartan Day

Americans of Scottish descent have played a vibrant and influential role in the development of this country. However not until 1997 was this influence recognized by a single-year U.S. Senate Resolution that appeared in the Congressional Record of April 7, 1997. In 1998, National Tartan Day of April 6 was officially recognized on a permanent basis when the U.S. Senate passed Senate Resolution 155 recognizing April 6th as National Tartan Day. This was followed by companion bill House Resolution 41 which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on March 9, 2005. The passage of this bill was due to the work of the National Capital Tartan Committee, Inc. and president James Morrison.

The date of April 6 commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, which asserted Scotland's sovereignty over English territorial claims, and which was an influence on the American Declaration of Independence.

Canada has been celebrating "National Tartan Day" since 1993. The idea and motivation for creating a similar American holiday was provided by the Scottish Coalition, a group of national Scottish-American cultural organizations.

Irish Language in East Belfast

There is an increasing amount of research into Ulster's Irish speaking Protestant community.  Dr Peter Toner Sr's well known research into the predominately Presbyterian Gaeltachtaí (Irish speaking areas) in New Brunswick, Canada, in the mid 18th Century well into the 20th Century, made many aware of this largely understudied aspect of Ulster history. 

Many Irish speaking Ulster Scots descend from the migration of Argyll and Hebridean Redshanks into Ulster in both the 1500s and 1600s.  Recently as Irish census records of the early 1900s have come on line some Ulster Presbyterians have discovered Irish speaking ancestors. As these Ulster Scots migrated to the New World, they often brought their Gaelic language with them.

Below, a link to The Irish Times article Ulster says Tá, which highlights the growing interest in learning Gaelic among the Protestant community in east Belfast.

Link:  Irish Language in East Belfast

Ulster and the Scottish Lowlands, genetic links

The Niall of the Nine Hostages haplogroup (genetic signature) was one of the first large family groups discovered by DNA testing.  It was designated as the Northwest Irish modal, because so many Irish in northwest Ireland have this paternal ancestry. It genetic short hand it is called the R-M222 family.

The R-M222 branch of the Y-DNA tree  has a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) called M222. As more men participate in DNA testing an interesting pattern has developed.  This diagnostic marker is not only found in many individuals whose roots lie in the counties of Northwest Ireland and Ulster in general, but it is also found in the Scottish Lowlands.

The map above shows the area where this profile is most often found. In the county of Donegal an incredible 20% of the population share this paternal ancestry.  The map shows where the R-M222 is found in significant numbers, but it is also found throughout Ireland and Scotland, from the Orkney islands south to the shires of northern England.  It even shows up in Iceland and Norway.

The Picts Today

In a literally sense we are our ancestors.  As geneticists make advances to DNA testing they also add to our understanding of our early history.  Scientist believe that have isolate the 'Pict' genetic signature and there are many of them still around, both in Scotland, in Ulster, and throughout the Diaspora; link to article below.

Link:  The Picts Today

Scottish Poets Coming to Ireland

Agus Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge ag ceiliúradh 70 bliain ar an bhfód i mbliana, tá an-áthas orainn nach fada uainn anois go mbeidh na filí Albanacha in ár gcuideachta do Thuras na bhFilí, an clár malartaithe is faide bunaithe idir Éirinn agus Albain.

Is gearr uainn anois go mbeidh na filí Albanacha ag tabhairt aghaidh ar an tír seo i gcomhair Thuras na bhFilí na bliana seo agus tá an-áthas orainn go mbeidh siad ag tabhairt aghaidh ar Chontae Mhaigh Eo agus ar an ardchathair mar chuid de Thuras na bliana seo. Beidh seo á reáchtáil ag Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge i gcomhar le Fèisean nan Gàidheal ón 17-20 Aibreán 2013.

Go hiondúil bíonn beirt fhilí, ceoltóir agus amhránaí traidisiúnta i ngach grúpa.

Ag teacht chugainn beidh an file aitheanta as Dún Éideann Meg Bateman agus an file as Oileán Uibhist a Deas Gillebrìde Mac Ille Mhaoil (MacMillan) agus is iontach uaidh Gillebrìde amhráin a rá chomh maith agus is minic a bhíonn sé le cloisteáil ar an gclár Sruth na Maoile ar RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Ar Thuras na bliana seo freisin beidh an fidléir iomráiteach as na Garbhchríocha, Allan Henderson agus an t-amhránaí Gàidhlig as Oileán Uibhist a Deas, Sìneag Nic an t-Saoir, bean óg a bhí ar an Turas seo cúpla blain ó shin le linn de Thuras na bhFilí cuairt a thabhairt Dhún na nGall agus Oileán Thoraí.

Beidh na cuairteoirí Albanacha ag tabhairt aghaidh ar cheantar Iorrais agus Oileán Acla i gContae Mhaigh Eo i gcomhair dhá oíche mhóra filíochta agus siamsaíochta.

Ar an gCéadaoin, 17 Aibreán, beidh oíche mhór filíochta agus ceoil in Áras Inis Gluaire i mBéal an Mhuirthead, áit a mbeidh an file áitiúil Caitlín Ní Chonghóile ag léamh filíochta i gcuideachta na bhfilí Albanacha agus beidh an fliúiteadóir Joe Byrne agus an t-amhránaí sean-nóis iomráiteach Síle Uí Mhongáin as Dubh Thuama ina gcuideachta.

Beidh Máirtín Mac Donnchadha, iar-láithreoir RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta ina fhear an tí ar an oíche agus tá céad míle fáilte roimh fhilí, amhránaithe, ceoltóirí agus damhsóirí áitiúla a bheith i láthair.

I rith an lae ar an Déardaoin 18 Aibreán reáchtálfar ceardlanna i Scoileanna Náisiúnta éagsúla timpeall an cheantair agus beidh deis ag daltaí scoile, muintir na háite agus cuairteoirí aithne a chur ar chultúr, teanga agus ceol a chéile agus eolas a fháil ar na cosúlachtaí agus ar na difríochtaí idir an dá thraidisiúin.

Níos déanaí san oíche tá tráthnóna pléisiúrtha d’fhilíocht agus siamsaíocht geallta in Óstán Oileán Acla áit a mbeidh léamh filíochta dátheangach leis na filí Albanacha i gcuideachta an fhile Art Ó Súilleabháin agus beidh ceol agus amhráin leis na cuairteoirí mar aon le ceol den scoth leis an bhfidléir aitheanta Julie Ní Longáin as Baile Uí Fhiacháin i gCo. Mhaigh Eo.

Cuirfear clabhsúr bríomhar le Turas na bliana seo le Comórtas Filíochta an Choirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill, ar an Aoine, 19 Aibreán in ionad Cois Teallaigh, 46 Sráid Chill Dara i gceartlár Bhaile Átha Cliath áit a mbeidh an scríbhneoir, staraí liteartha, craoltóir Alan Titley mar Fhear an Tí ar an oíche agus beidh an file aitheanta Gabriel Rosenstock agus Meg Bateman mar mholtóirí ar chomórtas na bliana seo.

Tá Comórtas Filíochta an Choirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill, comórtas filíochta Gaeilge agus Gàidhlig arna eagrú mar ócáid lárnach le linn Thuras na bhFilí in onóir an Choirnéil Eoghain Uí Néill, fear a raibh baint lárnach aige le tús a chur lena leithéidí de Thuras sa bhliain 1970.

An aidhm atá le Turas na bhFilí, ná na naisc idir pobal agus traidisiúin na hÉireann agus pobal agus traidisiúin na hAlban a threisiú ionas go gcothófar teagmháil leanúnach idir an dá thír.

Bígí faoi dhraíocht le filíocht agus siamsaíocht den scoth mar aon le neart amhrán as Ghàidhlig agus Gaeilge le linn Thuras na bhfilí 2013.

 

© Foilsithe ar Gaelport.com 26 Márta 2013

Ulster Foods

on right, Emmett McCourt

Published on 21/03/2013 10:10 in the Derry Journal 
This is the Derry chef who has a bigger passion for food than the Irish do for potatoes.

Emmett McCourt, a lecturer at the North West Regional College picked up the Best Local Food Promotion Event/Initiative 2013 prize at this year’s NI Food and Drink Awards, for his Irish Food Heritage Project.

In doing so he beat off stiff competition from major food events including The Balmoral Show, The Flavours of Tyrone and famous Tayto Crisps Potato Festival.

A delighted Emmett who penned the book ‘Feast or Famine’ told the ‘Journal’ that judges felt the IFHP had the “widest and most varied reach over many sectors,including Culture and Art.”

“We’re all about celebrating Irish food,” revealed Emmett. “The IFHP is about local people and suppliers. Not only is our food the best, but it really unites us. The book is the main driving force but we also have an app coming out in the next few months. It is a massive achievement for us especially coming in ahead of the Balmoral Show which has in excess of 50,000 visitors.”

With over 25 years experience in the food industry Emmett McCourt has travelled the world working in many countries perfecting the art of cooking. However his earliest influences come from growing up in ‘Thundering Down’ - Creggan Terrace.

“I’d like to thank the many who helped me including Brenda Stevenson, Guildhall Press, Culture Company (Martin Melarkey and his team), Digital Derry, NWRC, DCC.”

Food for Emmett has been a constant journey of love and passion for over two decades. Emmett also demonstrates locally and nationally in stores and at major food events working with Ulster Pork and Bacon, NI Good Food, The Lough’s Agency and the Great Game Fairs of Ireland – endorsing ethically sourced and sustainable local ingredients, wherever possible.

Emmett has co-authored the book ‘Food Reflections of Northern Ireland’ and has also contributed to Irish Country Sports and Country Life magazine’s cookery pages. His other passion is fly fishing and he has contributed to ‘Willow Pitch’, a highly successful, limited-edition angling book.

Ulster surnames; Mountain

The surname Mountain might seem a strange Ulster surname, but is simply an anglicised form, in this case a straight translation of the Gaelic surname Ó Sléibhín, or descendant of Sléibhín.  Sléibhín is a diministive of Sliabh (a mountain).  In Ulster, the name of a branch of the Cinel Eoghain.  Ó Sléibhín is also anglicised as Slaven. In the Ulster Heritage DNA Project there are several Mountains families that match Slaven families. When researching one's family history it is always helpful to know both the Gaelic and various anglicised forms of a surname.

Donnchadh Mór

Link to short article on an Ulster Redshank family.  The Redshanks were Highland Gaelic families that migrated to Ulster in the 1500 and 1600s.

Donnchadh Mór

An Ulster Shannon Family

Shannon is the anglicised form of the Gaelic surname Ó Seanáin.  One Shannon family from Ulster is asking assistance in the search for their family history.  They are participants in the Ulster Heritage DNA Project and their match group at the 67 level includes several Shannon families and one McKee (Mac Aodh) family.  Below is a short summary of the family's genealogy.   All Shannons are encourage to participate in the DNA project and also, if you know more about this family's history to post a comment with your contact data.

Looking for Descendants of Andrew Shannon

 

1.  Andrew Shannon, born in 1780 in Ulster.  He married Margaret Judge.  Her date of birth and marriage are unknown.  They had one son, James Shannon, born in 1798 in Maghera, Co. Londonderry.

 

2.  James Shannon married Maria Meek in 1818 in Tullyroan, Co. Armagh.  She was born about 1798 in Tulyroan.  James Shannon was a subscriber from Maghera for two copies of the book The Orange Minstrel, or Ulster Melodist, by Robert Young, Londonderry, 1832.  The location and dates of death of James and Maria are unknown.

 

James and Maria had four children:

            i.  Margaret Shannon, born 10 Oct 1820 in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry.

            ii.  William Shannon, born 23 Feb 1824 in Maghera, Co. Londonderry.

            iii.  James Shannon, born 2 June 1829 in Maghera, Co. Londonderry

            iv.  Thomas George Shannon, born 21 June 1837 in Magherafelt, Co.

            Londonderry

 

3. Margaret Shannon married James McKay on 8 June 1852 at Dungiven Church of England, Co. Londonderry.  James McKay was born in 1832 in Ireland.

 

Margaret and James McKay had three children born in Ireland:

            i.  William James McKay, born 22 April 1854 in Londonderry, Co. Londonderry

            ii.  Mary Charlotte McKay, born 26 Sep 1856 in Londonderry, Co. Londonderry

            iii.  Joseph McKay, born in 1861 in Londonderry, Co. Londonderry

Margaret and James McKay and their three children immigrated to Canada in 1861 and died there.

 

4.  William Shannon immigrated to Canada in about 1849 and died there.

 

5.  James Shannon married Letitia Leathem on 1 Jan 1856 in Portadown, Co. Armagh at St. Gobhan’s Church of Ireland, Seagoe Parish.  She was born 8 March 1828 in Ireland.  James and Letitia had one son, Robert Walker Shannon, born 2 Nov 1856 in Portglenone, Co. Antrim, and the three immigrated to Canada in 1857 and all died there.

 

6.  Thomas George Shannon immigrated to Canada with his brother James and his family in 1857 and he died there.

Ulster Surnames; McCann

In Irish surname books McCann is normally stated to be an anglicised form of the Gaelic surname Mac Canna which means 'son of Annadh.'  Other forms in Gaelic are Mac Cana and Mac Anna.  The McCanns were lords of Clann Breasail and originated on the south side of Loch Neagh in County Armagh.  While this is certainly true for the majority of McCanns in Ireland and the Diaspora,  DNA testing has revealed that McCann is some cases is the anglicised form of Mac Eáin.  Mac Eáin is normally anglicised as McKean, McKane, etc., but occasionally as McCann. 

The anglicising of Gaelic surnames was done very haphazardly and standard forms are rare.  Fortunately DNA testing can often ascertain the correct original for of the McCann surname. 
Not only is McCann sometimes a form of Mac Eáin, but the reverse is true also, in a few cases DNA testing revealed that McCane can also be a anglicised from of Mac Canna.  

DNA Test Sale Extended Through Today

Family Tree DNA's Big Holiday Sale extends through today, Thursday, 03 January 2013. I want to encourage you to upgrade to as many STR markers as you can afford, especially the current maximum, 111 markers, which makes placing you in a haplotype cluster a lot easier. The sale ends at midnight, Houston, Texas, time, so get your orders in!

Link To Join:   Ulster Heritage DNA Project

New Kits Current Group Price SALE PRICE Y-DNA 37 $149 $119 Y-DNA 67 $239 $199 mtFullSequence (FMS) $299 $199 SuperDNA (Y-DNA 67 and mtFullSequence) $518 $398 Family Finder $289 $199 Family Finder + mtDNAPlus $438 $318 Family Finder + mtFullSequence $559 $398 Family Finder + Y-DNA 37 $438 $318 Comprehensive (FF + FMS + Y-67) $797 $597 Upgrades Current Group Price SALE PRICE Y-Refine 12-25 Marker $49 $35 Y-Refine 12-37 Marker $99 $69 Y-Refine 12-67 Marker $189 $148 Y-Refine 25-37 Marker $49 $35 Y-Refine 25-67 Marker $148 $114 Y-Refine 37-67 Marker $99 $79 Y-Refine 37-111 Marker $228 $188 Y-Refine 67-111 Marker $129 $109 mtDNAPlus $149 $129 mtHVR1toMega $269 $179 mtHVR2toMega $239 $179 mtFullSequence Add-on $289 $199

Ulster DNA Test Sale!

Family Tree labs, which are used by the Ulster Heritage DNA Project, have their year-end sale on going.  The prices are significantly reduced and  anyone wanted to participate in

:

New Kits Current Group Price SALE PRICE Y-DNA 37 $149 $119 Y-DNA 67 $239 $199 mtFullSequence (FMS) $299 $199 SuperDNA (Y-DNA 67 and mtFullSequence) $518 $398 Family Finder $289 $199 Family Finder + mtDNAPlus $438 $318 Family Finder + mtFullSequence $559 $398 Family Finder + Y-DNA 37 $438 $318 Comprehensive (FF + FMS + Y-67) $797 $597 Upgrades Current Group Price SALE PRICE Y-Refine 12-25 Marker $49 $35 Y-Refine 12-37 Marker $99 $69 Y-Refine 12-67 Marker $189 $148 Y-Refine 25-37 Marker $49 $35 Y-Refine 25-67 Marker $148 $114 Y-Refine 37-67 Marker $99 $79 Y-Refine 37-111 Marker $228 $188 Y-Refine 67-111 Marker $129 $109 mtDNAPlus $149 $129 mtHVR1toMega $269 $179 mtHVR2toMega $239 $179 mtFullSequence Add-on $289 $199

To order this special offer, log in to your personal page and click on the Order An Upgrade button in the upper right corner. A link to the login page is provided below. ALL ORDERS MUST BE PLACED AND PAID FOR BY MONDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2012 11:59:00 PM CST TO RECEIVE THE SALE PRICES.                             Link to sale:   Ulster Heritage DNA Project

New Issue of the Donegal E-Zine Up!

 

Welcome to the Donegal in Touch e-zine.  This e-zine is part of the Donegal Diaspora Project. Through this project Donegal is reaching out and connecting with people in all parts of the world who have a connection to or interest in Donegal.  This e-zine is sent to people in all parts of the world.

 

 

Please feel free to pass this e-zine on to others that you feel might be interested in it. Any views, comments or contributions to the e-zine are very welcome.  The latest edition of the e-zine can be viewed or downloaded via the Donegal County Development Board website - http://www.donegalcdb.ie/ using the following link:

 

http://www.donegalcdb.ie/media/wwwdonegalcdbie/content/cdbphotos/Donegal%20Community%20in%20Touch%20Ezine%20-%20Issue%2017.pdf

 

 

For further information on Donegal or on the Donegal Diaspora Project, please contact Roisin McBride at rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

 

 

Fáilte go ríomhiris Dún na nGall i dTeagmháil. Tá an ríomhiris seo ina pháirt de Thionscnamh Diaspóra Dhún na nGall. Tá Dún na nGall ag síneadh amach agus ag nascú le daoine ar fud an domhain a bhfuil gaol nó suim acu leis an chondae. Cuirtear an ríomhiris seo chuig daoine i ngach cearn den domhan.

 

Seol an ríomhiris seo chuig duine ar bith a mbeadh suim acu ann, le do thoil. Beidh fáilte roimh thuairimí, ráitis nó eolas don ríomhiris. Tá an eagrán is deireannaí don e-iris le fáil le léamh nó íoslodáil ó suíomh idirlín Bord Forbartha Chontae Dhún na nGall - http://www.donegalcdb.ie/ ag an nasc seo a leanas:

 

 

Chun tuilleadh eolais ar Chontae Dhún na nGall nó ar Tionscnamh Diaspóra Dhún na nGall, dean teagmháil le Maria Nic Fheargusa ag maria.ferguson@donegalcoco.ie nó le Róisín Nic Giolla Bhríde ag rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie.

 

With kind regards

 

 

The Donegal - community in touch / Dún na nGall - pobail i d'teagmháil Publication Team

 

 

______________

Roisin McBride

 

Donegal County Council

Tel: +353 74 9172461

Fax: +353 74 9142130

E-Mail: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie

Website: http://www.donegalcoco.ie/

 

 

Fuair an Fhantaisíocht an Bua ar an Réalacht

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Fuair an Fhantaisíocht an Bua ar an Réaltacht

Tá an t-olltoghchán thart, agus rinne Meiriceá an rogha mhícheart, faraor.  Cad a tharla?

Is iomaí duine atá lán de dhóchas gan bhunús, ar cuma leo pé rud a rinne Obama sa réaltacht.  Is maith leo Obama mar choincheap, mar shamhail, mar ídéal.  Ní féidir leis aon rud olc a dhéanamh a chuireadh isteach ar thacaíocht a leithéid de dhuine.  Agus rinne sé a dhícheal!

Bíonn sé an-deacair uachtarán atá i réim a bhuachaint, mar tá buntáistí aige atá an-chumhachtach.  Ina measc, is iomaí duine a ghlacadh an daibhal a bhfuil aithne acu air, seachas ceann nua.

Bíonn an preas ag tacú le Obama, agus do aon duine nach n-éisteann le raidió cainte agus nach bhféachann ar Fox ar an teilifís, agus nach bhfaca na díospóireachtaí, níl aon fhios acu go ndearna Obama rudaí olca, nó go bhfuil droch-smaointe agus droch-iompar aige.  Ní bhíonn ach scéalta maithe faoi.  Agus scéalta olca faoi na Poblachtánaigh.  Nuair a insítear go bhfuil na Poblachtánaigh ag insint bréag, níl aon fhios acu nach fíor sin.

Bhí stoirm mhór in oirthear na tíre a chur isteach ar an toghchán.  Ní raibh teilifís ná peitreal ag a lán daoine, agus ní raibh na hiomaitheoirí críochnaithe ag caint leo.  Ní bhfuair siad an deis.

Ach thar aon rud eile, is léir go bhfuil níos mó daoine sásta le rialtas an-mhór, an-dhaor, agus an-chumhachtach, seachas bunreacht agus bun-phrionsabail na tíre.  Is fearr leo dea-chaint ná ciall cheannaithe.  Is fearr leo stuif a fháil ó Washington, cé go mbeidh fiacha ollmhóra ar a bpáistí, agus go mbeidh an tír ar fad bun os cionn sul i bhfad.  Is maith leo stuif.

Tá na ceathracha móra i mbun na tíre.  Fuair Obama an bua ar an dá chósta agus in áiteanna a bhfuil ceathracha móra.  Ní bhfuair sé faoin tuath.  Luíonn sin le ciall, mar bíonn Obama ag iarraidh airgead a thógáil ó mhuintir na tíre ar fad chun é a roinnt le muintir na gcathracha.

Tá beagán taithí ag Obama ar an bpost anois, ar a laghad, agus tá sé níos cáilithe ná a bhí in 2008.  Ach ní bheidh air toghchán eile a sheasamh, agus beidh sé ag iarraidh a rogha rud a dhéanamh as seo amach, níos mó ná riamh.  Tá ceannas an Tí ag na Poblachtánaigh go fóill, agus mar sin, tá bac éigin air.  Ach ní féidir linn na botúin a rinne sé go fóill a cheartú.  Tá an deis sin imithe.

Tá jab deacair os a chomhair, pé rudaí a dhéanann sé.  Tá súil agam nach ndéanann sé a lán dochair.  Ach tá imní orm go ndéanfaidh.  Tá Meiriceá níos lú, níos laige, níos faide i dtreo na heite clé, agus níos boichte anois.  Go ceann tamaill.  Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach...

Remember the Alamo

The epic battle fought at the Alamo in 1836 is still an event that inspires people who value liberty.  Many among the Alamo defenders were of Ulster ancestry.  The state of Mississippi recently honoured her sons that fell there.  Link to story below. 



Mississippians at the Alamo Remembered

Happy Halloween!

The night of Halloween has its beginning with the Gaelic festival of Oíche Shamhna (Eve of Samhain) and is one of the oldest folk festivals in the world.  The first of November, Samhain, is halfway between the autumn equinox and the winter solstice.  For thousands of years and into the twenty-first Century the festival has been celebrated and enjoyed in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and in the many places the sons and daughters of these lands have settled in around the world.

Samhain, Halloween, also has a serious side. On the eve of Samhain the barriers between  'Otherworld' and our world grow weak and the spirits and ghosts of passed ones could walk among us in our world.   To counter act and protect against the ill effects of this opening between the worlds the custom guising came into practice.  Guising is to dress up in costume, preferably one very scary, in order to frighten any ghost or spirit that might do one harm.  This custom lives on in our Halloween costumes and our 'trick or treating' rituals. 

The great Robbie Burns wrote a engaging poem of Halloween, Ulster Heritage Magazine posts the first verse of the poem:

Upon that night, when fairies light
On Cassilis Downans dance,
Or owre the lays, in splendid blaze,
On sprightly coursers prance;
Or for Colean the route is ta'en,
Beneath the moon's pale beams;
There, up the cove, to stray and rove,
Among the rocks and streams
To sport that night.

 

 

The best of Halloween, Samhain, to everone....

 

 

 



Donegal Conference event in November

Golden Bridges Award - Donegal & New England – 8 & 9^th November 2012

Donegal will be participating in the 2012 Golden Bridges Conference over the 8^th & 9^th November promoting Donegal and the North West, and recognising the achievement of people in the United States, on behalf of the people of the North West of Ireland. This year’s event will have special focus on the Donegal Gathering 2013 Project and the Donegal Global Diaspora Project. 

If you are interesting in attending the conference or would like further information, please find attached the conference brochure.

With kind regards

Roisin

____________

Roisin McBride

Donegal County Council

Tel: 00353 749172461

Email: rmcbride@donegalcoco.ie

 

Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival

A reminder to all the  6th Dandridge Scots-Irish Music Festival is on 29 September. It features Bagpipe & Snare Drum Competitions, Irish Step Dance & Highland Dance Demos, Highland Games Athletic Demos, and will have tonnes of good music and food.  Dandridge is located east of Knoxville is a scenic part of Tennessee.      Link: Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival

Donegal Wins!

Donegal have won their second All-Ireland Football Championship title in a wave of emotion at Croke Park, beating Mayo 2-11 to 0-13 this afternoon.   Comhghairdeas!   Link:  Donegal Wins

The Knox Families of Donegal

Donegal's Ivan Knox

Ivan Knox is a retired self made business man and much more, he is also a published poet and historian of the families and events of the Finn Valley in County Donegal.  He has a website with excellent data on not only the Knox families of old Donegal, but of the many families they are related to by marriage. 



Link: Knox Family Records  

Sale on Ulster Heritage DNA Testing

The Ulster Heritage DNA Project uses Family Tree labs in Houston, Texas.  The lab is currently running a 72 hour only sale on DNA testing.  This is an excellent time to participate in the Ulster Heritage Project and a much reduced rate.

Dear Family Tree DNA Project Administrator,

It seems that every time we run a super sale that a few people email us days later that they were traveling, sick or just hadn't looked at their emails in time, so for all of you who have wanted to entice a friend, neighbor or reluctant relative to get involved in Genetic Genealogy here's one more opportunity, but it will last for only 72 hours. These are the only two options on sale, and they are geared specifically for newcomers. This sale will end on Saturday, August 25, at 11:59PM.

New Customers Only Current Price SALE PRICE Family Finder + Y-DNA 12 $339 $249 Family Finder + mtDNA $339 $249

If you take advantage of this sale, just tick the Ulster Heritage Project and your results will automatically go into our project. Link To Join:  Ulster Heritage DNA Project

Family History Class in Belfast

(from the Ulster Historical Foundation) 

Our popular family history class returns on the 25th September. This is a 10 week course taught at Stranmillis University College, Belfast on Tuesdays from 7pm to 9pm. We look at census, church and civil records as well as wills, estate papers and valuation documents. The course also includes a visit to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI). Price £55.00 (£45.00 concession). For further information and booking please contact lifelong@stran.ac.uk or 028 9038 4345.