Exhibition celebrating the work of Donegal people in Scotland wins LAMA Award

A major exhibition celebrating the work of Donegal men and women in Scotland between 1940 and 1990 has won the inaugural Ceangal Local Heritage Award at the Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA) All-Ireland Community & Council Awards at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.

The project is a collaborative initiative by the County Donegal Heritage Office, County Museum, County Archives and the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies as part of the implementation of the County Donegal Heritage Plan.

The Ceangal Local Heritage Award recognises outstanding local authority-led community initiatives that preserve and celebrate local history and culture. 

Cllr  Paul Canning (Cathaoirleach, Donegal County Council), Dr Joseph Gallagher (County Donegal Heritage Officer), Dr Martina Moloney (Chairperson, The Heritage Council) and John McLaughlin (Chief Executive, Donegal County Council)

'The ‘Working Over By: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland 1940-1990’ exhibition highlights the occupations, working conditions and work experiences of Donegal men and women in Scotland,' explained Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer. 

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“We’re delighted that the contribution that these Donegal men and women made to life and society in Scotland and in Donegal has been recognised in this way.  There are few families in County Donegal that have not been affected by emigration or participated in seasonal migration so this exhibition has resonated with so many families.  Even since the exhibition opened, people have been coming forward with photographs and accounts of their and their families’ working lives in Scotland.  All the material gathered will form part of the ‘Working Over By’ archive that will be lodged in our County Archives and made available for future generations.”

RTÉ’s Marty Whelan interviews Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer after Donegal County Council won the Ceangal Local Heritage Award for the ‘Working Over By: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland 1940-1990’ project

The main ‘Working Over By’ exhibition is on display in the County Museum in Letterkenny and its run has been extended until Easter.  The exhibition contains photographs of Donegal people at work in a variety of industries and workplaces in Scotland from 1940 to 1990 including farms, buses, railways, building sites, engineering projects (such as tunnels, bridges, dams or hydro-electric schemes), shipbuilding, domestic service, hotels, shops, biscuit or chocolate factories, sport, health service and the religious life. 

It profiles Donegal men and women who worked on a seasonal basis as well as those who settled in Scotland.  People attending the exhibition will also be able to listen to extracts of interviews with Donegal people who worked in Scotland. 

Through personal accounts, photographs and objects from national repositories and those submitted by members of the public, the stories of these people, their occupations and their working conditions are highlighted.  Over the course of the exhibition, Donegal people at home and abroad are encouraged to record their own family’s story.   

The exhibition is accompanied by two free A5-size publications.  The ‘Working Over By’ booklet is a 104-page booklet that provides an illustrated overview of several occupations and gives a flavour of the Donegal immigrant experience in Scotland between 1940 and 1990. 

Brothers Dinnie and John Gallagher working In Edinburgh circa 1966. Image courtesy of Mary Gallagher

The ‘Glasgow Corporation Transport & The Donegal Connection’ booklet is a 52-page booklet that provides an insightful and engaging account of Donegal men and women who worked on the Glasgow Corporation Transport buses, trams, trolleybuses and subway.  Glasgow Corporation Transport was an important employer of many Donegal people over the years.        

A travelling version of the ‘Working Over By’ exhibition that has been in the Glasgow City Archives since September 2025 has proved very popular too and its run has been extended until Easter by popular demand.  Discussions are underway with the Irish Consulate to bring the exhibition to Dundee and Edinburgh this year.

Mary McGinley, Derryreel, Falcarragh, pictured with her co-workers on Glasgow Corporation trams in the 1950s. Image courtesy of Mary McKeown

The Ceangal Local Heritage Award was sponsored by The Heritage Council in partnership with the Local Authority Members’ Association (LAMA).  Cllr. Damien Ryan, Chairperson of LAMA, commented: “The 31 local authorities throughout the country have been always very supportive of the Awards and of LAMA and that is very much appreciated, especially in this momentous 20th Anniversary year of the Awards.  People came for the awards from all the counties throughout the country.  These awards are a thank you to those who have worked so hard at the many different projects across the country.  The commitment of what people do locally and the volunteers create the life blood and backbone of our great country”

The ‘Working Over By: Donegal Emigrant Working Lives in Scotland’ exhibition will run in the Donegal County Museum, High Road, Letterkenny, F92 K123 until Easter.  Admission is free and the County Museum is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4:30pm (closed for lunch 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.) and is open on Saturdays from 1pm to 4:30pm. 

If you would like to contribute to the exhibition or would like to find out more, please contact the County Donegal Heritage Office on (074) 916 3824 or by e-mail at donegalscotland@donegalcoco.ie