Arranmore Challenge Fixtures now available for June Bank Holiday weekend 2015

Courtesy Mat.Loughnane

Arranmore Pipe Band at Rannagh Park

The Arranmore Challenge is an annual 7-a-side football tournament held every June Bank Holiday weekend. 16 teams compete over the 2 days for the cup and bragging rights.

The current reigning champions are Finn Harps.

For further details http://arranmorechallenge.com

 

2013 Champions Real Lypis Courtesy Hugh Early

Groups

groupA	groupB	groupC	groupD
Finn Harps Youths	The Rebels	Midland Warriors	St. Annes
Tory Celtic	F.C. Palatico	FC Internazionale	Damo's Dream
Stonecutters	Riverside F.C.	Real Lypis	Northern Tunnelling
Barhale	Arranmore Utd.	Gallagher Tunnelling	Clannad Celtic

Group Games

Day 1, 11:30	Finn Harps Youths	-	-	Tory Celtic
Day 1, 11:55	Stonecutters	-	-	Barhale
Day 1, 12:20	The Rebels	-	-	FC Palatico
Day 1, 12:45	Riverside FC	-	-	Arranmore Utd
Day 1, 13:10	Midland Warriors	-	-	FC Internazionale
Day 1, 13:35	Real Lypis	-	-	Gallagher Tunnelling
Day 1, 14:00	St. Annes	-	-	Damo's Dream
Day 1, 14:25	Northern Tunnelling	-	-	Clannad Celtic
Day 1, 14:50	Finn Harps Youths	-	-	Stonecutters
Day 1, 15:15	The Rebels	-	-	Riverside F.C.
Day 1, 15:40	Tory Celtic	-	-	Barhale
Day 1, 16:05	F.C. Palatico	-	-	Arranmore Utd
Day 1, 16:30	Midland Warriors	-	-	Real Lypis
Day 1, 16:55	FC Internazionale	-	-	Gallagher Tunnelling
Day 1, 17:20	St. Annes	-	-	Northern Tunnelling
Day 1, 17:45	Damo's Dream	-	-	Clannad Celtic
Day 2, 11:30	Finn Harps Youths	-	-	Barhale
Day 2, 11:55	Tory Celtic	-	-	Stonecutters
Day 2, 12:20	The Rebels	-	-	Arranmore Utd
Day 2, 12:45	F.C. Palatico	-	-	Riverside F.C.
Day 2, 13:10	Midland Warriors	-	-	Gallagher Tunnelling
Day 2, 13:35	FC Internazionale	-	-	Real Lypis
Day 2, 14:00	St. Annes	-	-	Clannad Celtic
Day 2, 14:25	Damo's Dream	-	-	Northern Tunnelling

TV3’s documentary series ‘Islanders’ premieres in April features Arranmore Island

Coming soon to a TV near you on TV3, Islanders is 4 part series following the lives of native islanders. Filmed in 2014, this observational documentary is the biggest in-house production undertaken by TV3 Productions.  Exploring the hidden treasures on the wild Atlantic way the series follows the highs and lows of island life.

Arainn Mhor Lighthouse Courtesy S. Mc Greevy

From Arranmore, Co. Donegal via Inishturk in Co. Mayo to Whiddy in Co.Cork, this four part series captures a way-of-life rapidly disappearing. 

Sunrise at Leab Garbh, Arainn Mhor Courtesy S. Mc Greevy

Set within breath-taking landscapes, the islanders’ stories are emotive, uplifting and told with honesty and frankness. Narrated by Irish actor Andrew Bennett (‘Angela’s Ashes’, ‘Garage’, ‘The Stag’), this is a landmark series for TV3 Productions and the BAI.  It is apt that Andrew is the narrator as he has recently starred as Davin in 'The Stag' aka 'The Bachelor Weekend' as Arranmore is famous for the craic and entertaining Stags and Hen Nights in the various pubs before arriving at Smuggler's Niteclub with lively music and spectacular views.

Islanders features stories including two brothers’ solemn promise to revive their island; a tug of loyalty between a mother’s children and her island; a long-distance love story set 14 kilometres out to sea;  A lone fisherman fighting bureaucracy to save his islands future and an embattled activist trying to galvanise her community.

Episode 1 begins 14 kilometres out from the Mayo coast, where the beautiful island of Inishturk reveals itself.  The series premiere also brings us down the coast to County Cork where we meet two contrasting brothers on Whiddy Island:Danny and Tim.  In Donegal, we meet Dr Shirley Gallagher (40s) – a typical Arranmore Islander, born off the island in London whilst her island parents were working there, the family were reared on Arranmore. Shirley is well-travelled, well-educated and well able to speak her mind.

Neilie, Muireann and Donna Courtesy Web

Also a resident of Arranmore is mild-mannered fisherman Neilie Kavanagh (40s). Although preparing for the busy season ahead, Neilie is heartbroken over the decline of the inshore fishing industry in Arranmore. He is the custodian of his father’s boat – the St. Anthony, built by his father on Arranmore over 40 years ago. Neilie has worked or lived all his life off the shores of Arranmore as an inshore fisherman.

A day at Donnelly's bog, Arainn Mhor Courtesy S. Mc Greevy

With many twists and turns along the way, Islanders will follow the lives and stories of these characters to learn what threatens their survival, to discover a different way of life, and to share in what it means to be an islander.

 

Cian Sweeney to represent Donegal Town in NFTE Regional Final

Cian Sweeney

Cian is the winner in the junior competition of Foróige NFTE, Donegal town, and will attend the regional finals at LYIT, Letterkenny on Thursday 19^th March 2015.  The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) is a cutting edge, world recognised, youth entrepreneurship education and development programme.  It is managed and provided by Foróige in Ireland.

For anyone that knows Cian, his first love is machines with motors.  They come in all shapes and sizes but mostly if there is a boat attached, you will have his attention.  But he will settle for cars and interestingly now sewing machines.  Cian attends Gaelscoil na gCeithre Máistrí with his siblings, Cormac and Aoibhe.  His other interests include playing the bagpipes and is planning to join the Arranmore Pipe band at the earliest opportunity.

When he saw his Mother, Arranmore woman, Annette (Mary Eddie) Gallagher making the most intricate patchwork for gifts for her friends and family he had an idea.  He wanted to enter the Foróige NFTE competition to make money making Christmas decorations. 

Annette supported his venture by helping him with costings; materials, labour and she also supplied the material from her various sources garnered from around the world.    The fabric used was sourced from New York City, Glasgow, Dublin, Limerick and Buncrana.  The patterned fabric from the different sources provided a unique look to the craftwork made by Donegal Town's Enterprising youngster.  Cian also sourced local tweed from Hanna Hats.

In Donegal Town, at the Foróige NFTE final, Cian was interviewed by a 2 judge panel, Susan O'Reilly - Bank Manager of Bank of Ireland and Nathalie Cannon - Administrator for Foróige in Donegal Town.  He came armed with his dossier which included photographs and a set of accounts.  He was unable to show his craftwork as he had sold out of produce at the Christmas market and had borrow ones to show the judges.  When asked 'Would you change anything about your business? Cian responded 'No, but I would expand my product line to make crafts for all occasions and not just for Christmas'. 

Donegal Town's youth officer, Kerry Gallagher remarked "Cian gave a fantastic presentation at the local business plan competition and completely wowed the judges with his enthusiasm and skills. His products are amazing and they could tell how much time and effort he puts into his business. Cian is an exceptional young person and we are very proud of him in the DECK Youth Project. We wish him all the best in Letterkenny where we have no doubt he will impress the judges with his products"

Cian is preparing for his next launch which is coming soon.  We wish Cian the luck of the Irish as he attends the regional final on Thursday 19th in LYIT in Letterkenny.

Story: Shirley Gallagher

Photos: Annette Gallagher

Choosing Freedom, the conscious pursuit of personal values: Dr. Shirley ...

Arainn Mhor Island Community Elects 16 Councilors

Steering Group Members Dr Shirley Gallagher and Councilor Frances Early at Polling Station, Ionad an Chrois Bhealaigh, Arainn Mhor

Voting was brisk all day

On the 26^th May 2014, the island of Arainn Mhor elected Councilors for the first island council.  In fact, 85% gave their opinion by coming to the voting centre at Ionad an Chrois Bhealaigh, by post, email and proxy.  In contrast, the recent local and European elections had a turnout of 50%.  Based on Muintir na Tire’s guidelines people were asked to choose a balanced council with age, gender and place to be considered and this was carried out by the electorate. 

The sustainable scientist, Dr Shirley Gallagher committed to the IEE funded project Smarter Multi Level Governance (SMILEGOV)[1] in August 2013 and has principally funded the project through her consultancy SysPro;Systems for Progress Limited.  Working with the National Community Council Charity, Muintir na Tire[2] and the Community Council Steering Group, she set up an island community council.  She said

 

Dr Shirley Gallagher casting her vote

‘I would personally like to congratulate all elected Councilors who have been nominated by the friends, family, peers and neighbours.  It is a true endorsement and shows that islanders want unity, cohesion and action.  The council and its sub committees have been set up to unite the island.  I would like to thank everyone involved from those that showed up at the initial meeting on future job opportunities on the 3^rd November 2013, to those who got involved with the poll asking the islanders should we have a council, the steering group, CFFAM for hosting all the meetings and facilitating printing and to the islanders that cast their votes on Monday last and obviously to the Councilors who have agreed to work together to make Arainn Mhor a better place to live, work and play.’. 

Councilors Frances Early and Denis O' Donnell

The Councilors have a broad range of skills and are scattered throughout the island with 9 townlands represented on the council and the age range is spread from youth to elder (20-70’s).  The council provides a broad church of islanders with both cooperative’s represented as well as local businesses and island organisations.  Islanders were asked to record their priorities on a needs analysis form and these have been collated by the steering group so the council has a clear mandate from the people.  

There will be an Inaugural Island Council Meeting at Wednesday 4^th June at 6.30pm at Chulturlann.

Name		Townland	Occupation
Adrian	Begley	Aphort	Clinical Hypnotherapist
Frankie	Bonner	Ballard	Builder
Seamus	Bonner	Illion	CEO CFFAM
Sally	Brady	Ballard	Administrator CFFAM
Frances	Early	Illion	Retired
Jerry	Early	Poolawaddy	Publican
Michael	Early	Ballard	Retired
Rachel	Early	Leabgarrow	Administrator
Theresa	Gallagher	Cloughcor	Housewife
Neily	Kavanagh	Ballintra	Fisherman
Paula	Killeen	Ploghog	Hotel Manager
John	Mc Hugh	Falagowan	Researcher
Noirin	Mhaoldomhnaigh	Ballard	Bainnestoir Com
Denis	O Donnell	Illion	Secretary of Outgoing Steering Group
Patrick	O Donnell	Poolawaddy	Carpenter
Anthony	Proctor	Leabgarrow	Builder

Dr Gallagher explained

‘‘the first step was to listen, then engage and finally to empower people.  The huge turnout highlight that islanders want unity, change, and value being involved.  By providing a democratically elected council for the island with the help and support of Muintir and the steering group, I have left a legacy.  I have hope that the Chairman/Mayor of the island as well as the Mayor of County Donegal will commit to the ‘Pact of Islands’, this will complete the remit of SMILEGOV on Arainn Mhor.  By having to leave the family home at 12, it does provide an inherent ability to bridge gaps and find solutions.  There was a lack of joined up thinking and this new initiative incorporating cooperatives, many island businesses and stalwarts of the community will open a new chapter on life in Arainn Mhor.  The European Funded Climate KIC project that has begun in April 2014 with 2 islanders out of 9 Irish pioneers highlights Arainn Mhor is on the cutting edge of sustainability and I believe it will go from strength to strength”

The island community of Arainn Mhor was a Finalist as a Green Community Award in 2014 under the project Regen Arainn Mhor along with the champion for the island regeneration project, Dr Shirley Gallagher in the Green Leader category.  Thanks to the Red Ferry who supported the initiative (www.arranmoreferry.com)

 

SMILEGOV, a 20 month project is a high level initiative, examining the major barriers to creating a low carbon society on islands.  The project is bringing together various stakeholders and the multilevels of governance required to achieve the EU target of 20% reduction in Carbon and 20% increase in renewable energies by the year 2020.   The crux of the project is to engage all stakeholders including islanders to agree to the Pact of Islands[3], a promise to engage in examination of sustainable practises and achieve the targets of Kyoto.  As a result, the key focus of the project was to create a system of democratically elected representation on an island level on the island of Arainn Mhor.

 

Council Fundraiser Raffle Prize Original Oil Paintings Slieve League by Artist Marie Lafferty and Flat on a Beach by Local Artist Annie Bonner  €2 ticket at Killeen's and Early's.  From L-R Noreen Gallagher, Shirley Gallagher and Annie Bonner

Outgoing Steering Committee Members Shirley Gallagher and Annie Bonner have both donated paintings to provide the council funds.  They are available for viewing in Killeens Hotel and Early's Bar and raffle tickets at €2 a strip can be purchased in these locations.  The raffle will take place during the Summer 2014.

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[1] www.sustainableislands.eu

[2] www.muintir.ie

[3] Pact of Islands