New online local historial community launched in south Donegal
Fisherman and local Bundoran historian, Seanie Carty, set up the social media page as 'A public space where people can upload old photos, history and stories from Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Tullaghan and the surrounding areas in order for them to be enjoyed for generations to come'
While spring clocks turned forward at the end of March, the historical community in south Donegal has returned back in time with the recent launch of a new interactive Facebook forum, Where Erne, Drowes and Duff meet the Sea.
Fisherman and local Bundoran historian, Seanie Carty, set up the social media page as “A public space where people can upload old photos, history and stories from Bundoran, Ballyshannon, Tullaghan and the surrounding areas in order for them to be enjoyed for generations to come.”
Over Easter time, the page reached the remarkable milestone of a thousand members, thanks to the many caring people who possess a deep love for their local history. Seanie dedicated this milestone moment to his fisher friend and local history mentor, the late Sean Meehan.
The first online presence of its kind in south Donegal, Where Erne, Drowes and Duff meet the Sea, is a welcoming community that prides itself on creating an interactive open book, empowering locally connected people at home and overseas to freely see and share their local history in real time.
Fr Paddy was a Bundoran native and a unique historical figure in Donegal. He held the singular distinction of becoming the Editor and President of the Clogher and Donegal historical societies.
Fr Paddy’s “philosophy was that unless people recorded local history it would be lost forever and his book on Magh Ene is clear evidence of this, as there are many gems recorded by him which otherwise would have been forgotten.”
In June 2022, the Magh Ene Historical Society reprinted Fr Paddy’s book with the intent that hopefully it would “provide a basis for future generations on which to build other historical projects.”
Where Erne, Drowes and Duff meet the sea is one of the people’s historical projects currently being built with the full support of the local historical society. As the famous Annals of the Four Masters were compiled on the riverbanks of Bundrowes, in today's Bundoran townland of Magheracar, Where Erne, Drowes and Duff meet the Sea, is in many ways a modern-day, social media version of the annals for recording and compiling local history.
Seanie and the south Donegal historical community know that through the sharing of old photos, history and stories, the people will keep their proud local history afloat – Where Erne, Drowes and Duff meet the sea – casts light on the old mariner’s truth that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”
Éamon Ó Caoineachán (Eddie Keenaghan) is a writer, poet and historian. He is originally from Bundoran, but lives on the Gulf Coast of Texas. His work features in IrishCentral, Irish Times, History Ireland, Sligo Champion, Impartial Reporter, and Crannóg. He is currently in the PhD in Arts research programme at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick