CLONMANY AND BALLYLIFFEN EDITORIAL

The parish of Clonmany, in the north east of the peninsula, includes the two villages, Clonmany (known as The Cross to locals), and Ballyliffen. It is a treasure trove of outstanding beauty, historic landmarks, first class facilities and fascinating folklore. It was once described as the ‘most Irish parish’ and it does epitomise the Irish culture and landscape.

Clonmany has been translated as both “The Meadow of St Maine” and “The Meadow of the Monks”. Although the village itself is the youngest in Inishowen, the Clonmany area is steeped in history, with dolmens, forts and standing stones dotting the landscape. There was a monastery set up in Columban times over 1500 years ago. The site is the three cornered piece of ground between the road and the Dresden laneway. The monastery lands extended from the school heights to the sea. There were two white, pillared stones marking the entrance to the monastery lands (known locally as Adam and Eve). One can still be seen in the school playground and the other was on the opposite side of the road where W. Acheson’s house stands.

Doagh Famine Village
One of the most visited tourist attractions locally is the Doagh famine Village. Pat Doherty, left school at 13 to work in the building trade. When he was travelling around other parts of the country, he noticed that there seemed to be more tourists visiting other areas. After a while, he got fed up with all the driving he was doing and wanted to work nearer home. He combined his interest in heritage with his old family home and set up the Doagh Famine Island Visitor Centre. Since it has started Pat has been adding new attractions every year, and his interest in the local heritage along with what is happening globally is reflected in his exhibits and displays. He is a natural story-teller and the tours are fascinating. His innovative idea of Santa’s lap-land brings tourists to the area in a quieter tourist season and families travel from all over for this magical and festive experience.

Glenevin Waterfall
The spectacular Glenevin waterfall, 2 kilometres from Clonmany is part of a beautiful valley walk that is a credit to local community groups. The walk is well designed and sign posted with picnic areas and footbridges, which lead the adventurer to the wedge shaped waterfall. Fresh mountain water cascades over black rock from an astounding height of thirty feet. The basin below is called Pohl-an-eas (meaning ferment pool) from the foam, which lies on the surface of the pool.

Festivals
The Clonmany festival is a popular annual event in the village calendar, and has been running over forty years. The festival committee work hard putting on a varied programme of music, workshops, sporting events and fun sessions. The McGlinchey Summer School was set up in 1998 to explore the history and traditions of Inishowen and the North West.

Charles McGlinchey
Charles McGlinchey was a weaver and tailor by trade. He was born in Meentiagh Glen in 1861 and lived most of his long life in his native place. He lived through a time of great social change and observed life in his local environment with a keen eye. He was a natural story-teller and a great wit. In his late eighties, Charles McGlinchey and Patrick Kavanagh, a local schoolmaster of Gaddyduff national school struck up an intimate friendship and Kavanagh patiently transcribed McGlincheys’ stories by longhand. The stories document local life including the famin, poteen, poets, publicans and pilgrimages. They were then edited by Brian Friel into a book, “The Last of the Name”.



McNeill’s Roods
After the Battle of the Boyne, Col. Mc Neill, a Scotch planter, lived at Binion and kept a band of Herdsmen or Yowmen to keep the people down. Any girl he fancied, his herdsmen brought her to Binion and there was great ill feeling over all the girls he wronged. Many people cursed him and vowed vengeance. Any girl who had a baby of his got a rood of land as maintenance. There are many of McNeills "roods" about the parish. One of them is the piece of ground where "Ballyliffin Hotel" is built.

On one occasion he went to the fair of Pollan (June 1709) and tried to seize a girl but she escaped. His way home was over Annaugh Hill, and at a place called "Gallach", some Ardagh men attacked him, and felled him with a stone, and he died from the wounds inflicted. The night after he died, a sidewall in Binion House fell and people said it was the Devil carrying him off. His grave is at the corner of the old Churchyard facing Binion.

Famine Story
During the famine, the English people offered soup and bread to the people of Clonmany on conditions that they would go two Sundays to the Protestant church. The poor people would not turn against their god and preferred to die of starvation rather than part with their faith handed down to them by St. Patrick. One poor woman with fourteen of a family that lived in Straid yielded and agreed to go to the Protestant Church. The second Sunday she went when service was over the minister called her up in front of the pulpit.

She went up and according to the rules of the protestant church it was necessary to cover her with a black cloak in order to make her a perfect Protestant. The woman refused to put on the cloak. The minister asked her why then did she come to church. She replied, “I only came until the new potatoes come.”

The next Sunday the soldiers drove the people of Straid and Gaddyduff and the surrounding townlands into the Protestant Church by force. The minister approached them with a long dish having on it small pieces of common white bread which he called Holy Communion. One big fellow shouted in Irish “Don’t take it from him.” With that the big fellow caught a loaf of bread that was on the dish and struck the minister on the head. An uproar got up. The Minister was tossed and the dish was trampled on. After a furious fight the poor fellows were driven back to their cells badly wounded. But it had the effect that the English soldiers never attempted to convert the people of Clonmany again by force.

Holy Wells
There were different holy wells around the Clonmany area with different folklore attached to them. Colmcille blessed one in Binnion and in Pollan and they were both reputed to heal all kinds of diseases and ills. There is also one at the top of Sliabh Seact. The legend was if any-one muddied the water, a mist would come down, and the traveller would go astray until the mist cleared. The story goes that one unlucky man, muddied and was lost. His people went to look for him in the morning and found him dead in the heather.

Did You Know


It was off Dunaff Head that Wolfe Tone was captured in 1798 by the English and brought to Buncrana and on to Dublin, where he was sentenced to death.

The Urris area to the west of the village of Clonmany was the last bastion of the Irish language in Inishowen.

The monastery at Clonmany was home to the Miosach, a copper and silver shrine, which is now located in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

The first Clonmany festival was to celebrate emigrants’. Much of the spirit was due to the generosity of people at home welcoming home the emigrants from England, Scotland and America.

Poteen was the main industry in the area in the 1800’s

It is said that there is a 'cave' in a field of Mr Bradleys at Cleagh and the fairies come out every night and sing there. If you go down into this cave you go through an underground passage from it to Crossconnell.

The first houses in Clonmany were built round a crossroads, hence the local name of “The Cross”.

The recently restored Market House was built to collect rents and used as a social and commercial centre. Grain, seeds, wool and kelp were bought and sold on the Tuesday and Friday markets up until the mid 60’s.

I CARROT BELIEVE IT

Whoever said that it hasn’t been a great year for growing vegetables didn’t talk to Colm Moyle and his grandchildren in Muff. Colm has been successfully growing vegetables for years and has recently passed the baton of giant carrot growing to a few of his 16 grandchildren who all love watering and tending the perfectly formed vegetables. So what is their secret? The children are eager to share their growing tips.

“We grow them in sections of plastic drainage pipes” explains one. “We put them in the ground and filled it with potting compost. We plant three seeds in each pipe and when the seeds sprout, only the strongest is left to grow.” Another thinks that the feeding is important. “We fed the carrots every week with an organic plant food,” he adds enthusiastically. The eldest has measured and weighed the root. “The largest one we grew weighs 2lb 12oz (1.25kg) and the top of it is 18 inches across.” He tells me. “When the long root was on it measured 3 feet,” he adds.

So would the children be eating the giant carrot? “Ugh no!” they all say, “It doesn’t look tasty at all”. Colm steps in. “I think we are going to be eating soup until the spring,” he says with a wry smile.

FUN CARROT FACTS

The average person will consume 10,866 carrots in a lifetime
Carrots were the first vegetable to be canned commercially.
You can get 2000 carrot seeds on a teaspoon.
Carrots were first grown as a medicine not a food.
If carrots were made into bio- fuel, it would take approximately 6000 of them to drive one mile.

EDITORIAL - INISH BEAUTY LASER CLINIC

“Being pampered isn’t just for the women, there is the Blue Room for the boys”.


Fancy being pampered?

Inish Beauty Laser Clinic is officially opening its doors tomorrow and everyone is welcome. Proprietor, Claire McElhinney has a unique choice of treatments from rejuvenating your skin to extending you eyelashes as well as massages and nail painting. Claire, from Culdaff, has spent the last 10 years in Dublin where she went to a private collage and trained as a Beauty Therapist getting a C.I.B.T.A.C & C.I.D.E.S.C.O Diploma.

Claire carried on her training. “After college I specialised in eyelash extensions and then worked as a full time Beauty Therapist in the Pretty Woman Beauty Salon and Laser Clinic in Dublin”.

“After all of the training and experience, I felt confident enough to return to Donegal and set up my own business, providing clients with the best and latest treatments and products in the beauty industry”. Claire continues.

Claire has the perfect setting for the business. “The new premises is behind Serenity Hair on Malin Street, and is a world away from the hustle and bustle of the busy street”. Claire tells us. “It has its own courtyard with seating area, and on sunny days you can sit outside and relax in between treatments”. Bliss…..


Claire specialises in:

IPL Laser treatment: for all that unwanted hair, Acne, Pigmentation, and Skin Rejuvenation.

Germaine De Capuccini specialised facials: that include our alternative to Botox and face-lifts.

Semi permanent eyelash extensions which last 4-6 weeks- a must have for that special occasional.

A luxury spa pedicure chair: where you can have a wonderful massage at the same time as getting your feet done.


Claire has created a relaxing and social beauty centre. With her eye for detail and knowledge of the latest methods in beauty care, Inish Beauty Laser Clinic has every treatment you will ever need under one roof. Keep an eye out for the special offers and beauty packages for formals, weddings and special occasions. For more information call Claire on 074 9373917

5 MINUTES WITH - AILEEN

Aileen lives in Magherinture, Buncrana with husband Frank and son Garbhan, who is a trainee electrician. She has been running her highly successful dog grooming company for 6 years after making the decision to leave work and follow her love of animals. Her hard work and determination has paid dividends as she is now fully qualified in the fine art of animal care. Aileen’s Dog Grooming is going leaps and bounds as people from all over the peninsula take their pets in for a shampoo, a brush, a haircut, or to get their nails clipped. If your dog needs some grooming, then you can contact Aileen on (074) 9363873

What music do you like?
I move around a lot in the daytime, so I tend to listen to the radio a lot. I enjoy Highland in the morning but tend to turn over to RTE 1in the afternoon and listen to the Joe Duffy show. It’s always good for uncovering controversies and scandals.

What would you never throw away?
I hoard clothes. I even have them from when I was in my 20’s. I keep thinking I will fit back into them one day.

What book are you reading?
I tend to read more books in winter. I have been three months trying to get through a book called “Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems” written by Cesar Millan, who is well known for his National Geographic channel called the Dog Whisperer. The book is a great training program for dog owners.

What was your favourite childhood game?
Rounders. I used to play a lot in Marian Park in Buncrana. The green had four concrete squares set in the ground, which made ideal bases for the game.

Have you been to the cinema recently, what did you see and was it any good?
I was at the cinema about six months ago and for the life of me I can’t remember what I went to see. It obviously wasn’t very good…

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?
I usually read from the back. I start off at the classified pet section to see what dogs are for sale.

What is your idea of a good night out?
Going for a nice meal and a drink with friends. I love trying new places, the last one was Primavera, the new Italian restaurant in Buncrana.

Have you a favourite TV programme?
Desperate Housewives and Prison Break. There will be a new series of Desperate Housewives out in the winter. It’s so easy to get hooked in.

How do you relax?
I go swimming every morning and enjoy walking the dogs. I have three, Harvey, a Golden Retriever and Gizmo and Chloe who are Lhasa apso’s. I also exercise my horse Merlin whenever I get a free minute.

What job did you want to do when you were a child?
I wanted to be a vet. I loved animals. I remember keeping stray dogs and cats in a makeshift “house” made in a neighbours plot of land, unbeknown to my mother. I would get up early and take the stray cats for a walk in my coat hood.

Where would you like to go for your holidays?
Back to Kenya. I went on safari there a few years ago and went to the National Parks to see the big cats. I would like to see the gorillas in Uganda too.

Your idea of heaven?
Lying on a beach.

Have you ever been asked to groom something unusual?
I got a phone call form a man who wanted me to groom his miniature horse once. I am still not sure if it was a hoax or not… he never rang back.

Favourite animals?
My ultimate favourite has to be dogs, then horses, then cats.

What couldn’t you live without?
My dogs. They give me so much pleasure, especially Chloe (pictured) she is the Queen of the household.

Biggest fear?
Spiders. When I was young a friend and I were in a shed and one crawled up my friends leg. She screamed and flicked it off and I still don’t know where it landed. I had the biggest panic attack….

Biggest thrills?
I love seeing the transformation of a dog before and after grooming. Especially untidy dogs like Rough Collies. They love it too and often do a dance afterwards. Getting the horse onto the beach is another great thrill.

What is your idea of a good night in?
A good film a bottle of wine, with a pizza. It’s a luxury I save for the weekend.

Do you have a hobby?
My job is my hobby and I love what I do. But to get away from everything, I go horse riding.

Biggest disappointment?
I used to ask Santa for a pony every year and was always disappointed to see he hadn’t put one underneath the stairs for me.

Which period in history would you most like to have lived through?
The Wild West in America, just for the horse riding.

World’s most useful invention?
The mobile phone. I would still prefer to live without it but they become so much a part of life.

What do you have for breakfast?
Grapefruit, cereal and fruit.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
It was a big step for me to leave work and follow my interest in dog grooming. A few friends told me to go for it…..

Personal philosophy?
Follow your heart.

InishOH! - WATER - EDITORIAL

Magreth McGill is a passionate woman with strong ideals and purpose. I am talking to her about her new business venture with her partners Sharon McGilloway and Robbie Henry. Microwater Ltd is the only Irish provider of alkaline, ionised water -inishOH!

“I want to change people’s water drinking habits” she tells me. “This water tastes better, is better for you and it is local. Never mind being an armchair journalist –get a bottle and see what you think,” she challenges.

The Taste Test
Now I do like my water. I rarely go to the pub as all I ever drink is water, I don’t even have tea or coffee, preferring to drink hot water. It is not something I think about, it is something I do. I nip into Fullerton’s in Buncrana, one of the local suppliers around Inishowen. There are three sizes of bottles and they are slightly more expensive then the other bottled waters. I pick up a bottle and take it to the check-out. “Do many people buy this?” I ask the woman serving me. “Yes, it seems to be going well.” She smiles back.

Back home, I call Julie and we sit down to try it out. I pour two glasses, we pick them up, look at each other and drink in unison. It tastes lighter somehow. “What do you think?” I ask Julie. “It is soft,” she says. “It just slips down the throat,” I comment. We taste it again. Then Julie goes to the tap and pours two glasses of water. There is a definite difference. The taste of the inishOH! is definitely better and it sounds strange, but it is easier to drink.

Health Benefits
Magreth is telling me about a testimonial she got last night from a customer who lives locally and had been suffering with irritable bowel syndrome. This woman tried the water and for the first couple of weeks she felt a bit irritable as the toxins from her bowels were released. Then, after a fortnight, she started to feel much better than she had for years, the symptoms had cleared up and people commented on how well she looked. “This happens because inishOH! is alkanised. ”Magreth explains. “inishOH! can help balance excessive acidity which weakens all our body systems”

Water Cooler Service
Microwater Ltd provide a local water cooler service to businesses and Magreth is keen to promote the benefits of using a local provider. She is passionate about keeping the business local, processing locally, employing locally, supplying locally and providing support to local charities. With all the talk these days about our carbon footprint, it does make sense for local businesses that provide a water cooler service to their employees and customers to look for local suppliers. It also makes business sense to provide water that has health benefits to staff and customers. The water coolers can be rented or purchased from inishOH! and an inclusive price includes delivery, installation, maintenance and cleaning.

Local Charities
Five cents from every bottle of inishOH! purchased goes to local charities. “We like to target charities like the kidney foundation or a children’s charity or with a sport emphasis” Magreth explains. “Charity begins at home, so we want to keep the money in the local community.”

Body’s Choice
As I re-read the article, I feel a little thirsty. Both glasses of water are sitting beside the computer. Without even noticing or thinking about it, I watch my hand deliberately choose the inishOH! glass. My body knows what is good for it!