1924 saw Donegal's first ever appearance in Croke Park

While many readers will recall Donegal playing in their first senior GAA All Ireland semi final at Croke Park in football against Offaly back in 1972, very few will realise that a fledgling Donegal senior hurling team, with a strong input of hurlers who had come to the county either through their membership of the Free State Army or the Civic Guard, saw Donegal make its first ever appearance in Croke Park a century ago.

Suffice to say that the result against Limerick reflected the deep chasm in skill levels between the Ulster and Munster champions teams in the final result, but nevertheless it marks an important historic sporting statistic.

And again while played in 1924, it was the penultimate stage of the previous year's hurling championship.      

Donegal had earned their way to the Ulster final with victories against Derry (played October 14 1923) and then Antrim in the Ulster hurling final not played until April 6, 1924 - a near six month gap. 

That September in 1924 Galway eventually defeated Limerick in the final of 1923, Galway's first ever All Ireland senior hurling championship on a score of 7-03 to 4-05.

And don't forget to read some other fascinating items of the Donegal Democrat newspaper archives below as well:

100 year ago - May 2, 1924 - All Ireland Hurling Championship Semi Final

Donegal v Limerick

At Croke Park on Sunday, Limerick (representing Munster) beat Donegal (representing Ulster) in the semi final of the All Ireland Championship of 1923-24 by 7 goals and 4 points to 1 point.

The game was played under the most unfavourable conditions. The slippery state of the field told heavily against the Donegal representatives, who lacked the experience of their well trained rivals.

The hurling was an indifferent display, Limerick, represented mainly by their usual championship team, having matters all their own way and easily winning.

It was the first visit of the Donegal team to Dublin and though outclassed in the play, they fought stubbornly to the end.

Despite their failure before such a formidable combination as that of Limerick, they showed that the Gaelic Games are making encouraging headway in Donegal.

Mr P. Kennedy, Dublin refereed.

The Donegal hurling team that was listed was: Jerome Mackey, J. Clooney, J. Carroll, J. McMahon, M O’Doherty, M. Ryan, N. Mulhall, P. Tobon, B Sweeney, D Taylor, M Kelly, C. Parkinson, M. Kelleher, D. Lenihan.

90 years ago - May 5, 1934 - Ballyshannon District Court

In an adjourned committal order, against a Derries, Ballintra man, the defendant who appeared in court, paid a further £1 on account of the amount due.

Justice - As I want to get rid of you, could you pay a further 10s, next court day?

Defendant - Aye, and I want to get rid of you. I may tell you that the next payment is not going to be as big (Laughter).

Justice - I will adjourn the case till next Court to see if you will pay 10s. If not the full costs will be added.

The defendant then left the Court briskly.

Above: A Donegal Democrat photo from May of 1964, 60 years ago and the marriage of great Donegal GAA player 

of the sixties, P.J. Flood 

80 years ago - May 6, 1944 - Opening of New School at Letterkenny

The new Letterkenny Vocational School - one of the finest in the country - was formally opened on Wednesday of last week, after being solemnly blessed by Most Rev Dr MacNeely, Lord Bishop of Raphoe.

Mr James O’Neill, Chief Executive Officer of the County Committee said:

“It was with feelings of much satisfaction and some pride that I assisted at the opening of this fine school today. As I went over to the building with its large well lighted and well appointed classrooms, my thoughts went back to a time just forty years ago when I was first sent to Letterkenny to conduct classes.

“I remember that considerable difficulty was experienced in getting accommodation for the class and we were not too fastidious in those days: barns, outhouses, stores etc. were all availed of. Accommodation was secured in the old bond store in the Main Street. The room was quite large but I cannot say that it was well lighted and as for heating there was no provision in that respect whatever.

Notwithstanding these drawbacks the class was well attended throughout the terms - a period of some eight weeks.”

60 years ago - May 1, 1964 - Donegal is reading more, Non-Fiction is becoming more popular

A total of 230,000 books were read in 1963 - an increase of 11,763 over the previous year - at the 21 branch libraries throughout the county, was reported by the Donegal Co Librarian, Mr G. McNamara at the quarterly meeting of the Library committee.

ABOVE: A Democrat advert of 1954-05-07 and the Circus advert for 'Buff Bill' ? surely flying close to another similiar name

Fiction reading accounted for 64 per cent, children's reading 25 per cent and non fiction 11 per cent.

“It is encouraging to note,” stated Mr McNamara “a gradual but definite increase in the reading of non-fiction works.”

He added that the range of educational books available for children over the past year in particular has increased and from branch librarians’ reports such material would appear to be growing in popularity amongst children.

50 years ago - May 3, 1974 - Donegal Town Fire destroys Bakery

A fire broke out early on Wednesday morning gutted Duncan’s bakery, New Row, Donegal Town, and caused damage estimated at several thousand pounds.

Destroyed were valuable machinery, an oven, twenty tons of flour, valued at £2,000 and a large quantity of wrapping paper.

The outbreak was discovered by a Garda on town patrol, who raised the alarm and alerted people living nearby.

Mr Patsy Duncan, owner of the bakery, was going to work and arrived on the scene of the fire shortly after it was discovered.

Mr Cathal McGinty who lives next door to the bakery evacuated his home at the height of the blaze and took his three children to his brother’s house.

Donegal Fire Brigade was quickly in action but so fierce did the flames become that the Ballyshannon brigade was also called in.

Several hours elapsed before the firemen were satisfied that they had the outbreak contained.

40 year ago - May 4, 1984 - Killybegs carpets are no more - World famed firm closes

Production of the world famed Killybegs carets has ceased and the manufacturers Donegal Carpets Ltd., of Killybegs have announced that their factory and design office will close with the loss of approximately 20 jobs.

Killybegs carpet making started in 1974, but was reopened by the present Donegal Carpets Ltd.The staff are hopeful that the liquidate will find a purchaser for the weaving looms.

Donegal Carpets has produced carpets for all the State owned properties in the world, including Leinster House, Aras an Uachtarain, Iveagh House, Dublin Castle and Irish Embassies.

The quality of “Donegal” carpets was also appreciated by other governments and carpets have been made for the White House, Buckingham palace, Windsor Castle and Lancaster House.