A matter of Record - Unique insight into the history archives of the Donegal Democrat

This week’s offering from the archives of the Donegal Democrat newspaper show the Military helping out with the Rate collecting, after the foundation of the State, Irish dancing in Mountcharles, the storage of petrol, record pilgrim numbers attending Lough Derg during the War, the very first water polo match held in the county and POst Office sub postmasters invoking a call against the Department of Posts and Telegraphs which included that their treatment went against the teaching of a Church and a Papal encyclical pertaining to a workers charter, writes Michael McHugh. And check out a couple of back to School adverts from 90 years ago

Donegal Democrat, August 1923 - 100 years ago

Defaulting Ratepayer sued - The Military to assist in executing Decrees for Rates 

Mr John Gillespie Rate Collector, Ballyshannon sued a sewing machine agent, now residing at Bundoran for poor rate owing out of a house occupied by the defendant, lately in College Street, Ballyshannon.

The Rate Collector proved that the necessary notices had been served and the Justice gave a decree with costs.

In reply to a question of the Rate Collector, the Justice said that the military would assist in the execution of such decrees for rates on application being made.

Storage of Petrol - To the Editor

A Chara - According as motor vehicle traffic increases, the quantity of motor spirit stocked in the various towns and villages must increase in proportion.

Now I should like to be informed whether the authorities, whose duty it is to safeguard the public, are careful to see that all petroleum products are properly stored.

Under the Petroleum Act an officer, generally the Inspector of Weights and Measures, was appointed to inspect the storage of Petroleum products but I am unable to find under our new Government anyone responsible for this duty. It is a serious matter for the property owner, especially when the local fire hose is generally out of order when required. 

Signed: INFERNO

(On checking the date, I see that this is from July!) 

Donegal Democrat, August 286, 1933 - 90 years ago 

Tanatallon Notes - A very enjoyable party was given at the residence of Miss Maraquita and Patricia MacManus - daughters of the distinguished Irish author - Seamus MacManus at which a large number of the local people were invited. 

After the supper - which was a sumptuous one - dancing was indulged into the small hours of the morning.

The following attended - Misses Rosaline and Norah O’Sullicvan, Norah and Cathleen Canning, Rosaline and Kitty Mulreany, Frances and Molly McRory, Kathleen McHugh, Rene and Mary Mulhern, Margaret and Nuala Flood, Claire and Kathleen O’Sullivan, Marion Marsden, Messrs. Michael Mulhern, Brian MacRory, Cathal and Cormac O’Sullivan, Sean and Seamus Dunlevey, Desmond O’Sullivan, Vincent Chandler, Manus O’Boyle, Michael Gallagher, Alph Canning, Bennet Mulreany, Cahir and Bennet Tierney, Anthony Kelly, Misses Dolly and Teresa Tighe, Peter and Colm Tighe, Eddie Travers and REamon Lord and Mrs Gilmore. 

During the dancing a number of songs were rendered by Messrs Brian MacRory, Bennet Tierney, Michael Mulhern, and the ladies contributing were Miss Rene Mulhern, Miss Teresa Tighe, Miss Cathleen O’Sullivan danced a couple of hornpipes, as also did Mr Anthony Kelly.

(There were a number of local efforts to get Mountcharles replaced with the native Irish townland of Tanatallon)

Donegal Democrat, August 28, 1943 - 80 years ago

Lough Derg Pilgrimage

Despite transport difficulties and other restrictions imposed by the war, more people performed the pilgrimage to Lough Derg this year than in any year since written records began to be kept in 1861 of the numbers who annually visit Station Island.

In all there were 16,746 pilgrims at Lough Derg between June 4 and August 16, which is 2,004 more than last year and exceeds the previous record year by 1,931.

The figures were given by the Prior, Very Rev. Fr. Ward, when he addressed some 600 pilgrims present on Monday of last week, the concluding day of the present season.

Father Ward emphasised that increasing numbers, consoling as they were, were not to be as highly prized as the knowledge that the pilgrimage was living up to its reputation of being unique in the Catholic world by reason of its austerity and the spirit of prayer and penance which pervaded it.

Fr. Ward has made a point of prefacing his daily instruction by a short sermon in Irish, and many pilgrims have rarely had the opportunity of listening to the Word of God expounded in Gaelic, and have been deeply impressed by the Prior's easy, fluent style.   

Back to school back in 1933 was a late calling at the end of August as well 

Donegal Democrat, September 4th 1953 - 70 years ago

Erne Club’s successful Home Gala - Water Polo at Creevy

Ballyshannon 1, Bundoran Nil.

Two hundred spectators were present at Creevy on Friday evening to witness the Erne Swimming Club’s first “Home Gala” held under I.A.S.A. rules.

Feature event of the pleasant afternoon’s entertainment was the water polo challenge - the first ever played in Co Donegal - between Bundoran and Ballyshannon, which proved to be as enjoyable as it was novel.

Ballyshannon were deserving winners of the polo match, being more direct and methodical in their play, seemingly possessing a better knowledge of the game that their opponents, who suffered under the delusion that it was more important to play the man than the ball.

Ballyshannon’s score came midway through the first period when after a good passing movement in which Stephens, Sweeny and Gallogley figured, Sweeny scored with a throw from far out. 

D. Sweeny proved himself the best player in the game and he was ably assisted by M. Dalton whose experience was evident and B. Stephens, a dashing forward.

Best for Bundoran, who have good material at their disposal were - J. Battisti, a natural in the water and Dick Cassidy.

The teams under referee Mr. T. McGowan - Ballyshannon: B. Burke, D. Sweeny, M. Dalton, J. Slevin, B. Stephens, T. Flanagan, R. Gallogley.

Bundoran: E. Gallagher, J. O’Carroll, N. Dolan, J. Cleary, J. Battisti, D. Cassidy, J. Gilmartin.  

Donegal Democrat, September 6, 1963 - 60 years ago

The Post Office Dispute - Donegal votes confidence in Executive  

A representative meeting of the Donegal members of the Sub-Postmasters’ Union, held at Ballyliffin last Sunday, enthusiastically endorsed the action of the Executive in reaction to the dispute with the Department and voted them every support “in this fight for justice”.

The report added:

The disparity in the Eire and “Northern” Ireland rates of remuneration and conditions of employment were discussed and the view was expressed that since the formation of thai State in 1922, the Eire Sub-Postmasters, in relation to their counterparts in “northern” Ireland had considerable worsened, which was the cause of the present discontent . . . 

The absurdity of the bargain rates for telephone calls that were formerly trunk calls was also discussed.  

It was felt that no pretext justified a phone call being cheaper than a postage stamp. And a resolution was passed that the minimum charge should be at least 6d and that the duration of local calls should be the same as for trunk calls, i.e. three minutes.

The Erne Bus Service ran from Enniskillen to Bundoran and in the other direction, you could head on to Belfast as this Donegal Democrat advert from August 1943 illustrates 

Instances were also quoted where sub postmasters were on continuous duty 14 hours per day without any provision for meals, rest or relaxation. Regret was expressed that the public health authorities were not concerned over the health of the sub postmaster and his assistants. The inability of the sub-postmaster to take part in the social life of the district was also stressed. 

The refusal of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs to discuss the grievances of sub-postmasters with the Union was contrary to the teaching of the Church and in the opinion of the Executive also contrary to the dogma of the encyclical entitled the “Workers’ Charter.”