On the 31st May 1916, Patrick Clarke wrote to Dublin Castle from Letterkenny with the following words: “Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, May 31st 1916 The Hon. Undersecretary, Dublin Castle Hon. Sir, I have a boy 14 years of age, although he would pass for a boy of 15 years, is strong and healthy, but has a horror for
Read More17th March 1863: LETTERKENNY CELEBRATES THE MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCE OF WALES
Today, Charles, the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla visited Letterkenny as part of their short tour of the Northwest of Ireland. Whilst they were no doubt welcomed with a céad míle fáilte, we doubt the celebrations were as exuberant in the town as they were upon the marriage of his great, great grandfather,
Read MoreON THIS DAY: 22nd May 1866: THE OPENING OF THE DONEGAL DISTRICT LUNATIC ASYLUM
It was revealed that it was 150 years ago today that St. Conal’s Hospital (or the Donegal District Lunatic Asylum as it was known then) was opened. George Wilkinson, who had also designed the Workhouse, drew up plans for the building of a new hospital in the early 1860s for the Lunacy Board and Matthew
Read MoreON THIS DAY: 18th MAY 1921: A NIGHT OF TERROR ON THE MAIN STREET
In May 1921, during the height of the War of Independence, Peadar O’Donnell was commanding an IRA flying column in West Donegal and large detachments of British forces from Derry were sent to that area in an attempt to capture them. O’Donnell issued an order to Anthony Dawson, O/C of Letterkenny Company in the absence
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