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Donegal Town 550: History and Remembrance Conference As part of the Donegal Town 550 programme, historian Helen Meehan and Dr Matthew Potter are organising a one-day history conference on Saturday, August 24 in the Central Hotel, Donegal Town, F94 AE26 from 8.45 am to 5pm. The theme will be the history of the county with an emphasis on Donegal Town. In 1474, Lady Nuala O'Donnell established a Franciscan Abbey on the shores of Donegal Bay while at the same time, her husband Red Hugh O'Donnell the First, Lord of Tir Chonaill founded Donegal Castle. From 1474 onwards, the town of Donegal grew up around these two great buildings and became the capital of Tir Chonaill. Under the O’Donnell lords, Donegal town was virtually the capital of an independent country between 1474 and1603. During this Golden Age, the O’Donnells were treated as sovereign princes by the Kings of France, Spain, and Scotland. Sadly, it was not to last and the Battle of Kinsale of 1601 resulted in the overthrow of the O'Donnell's and for the first time, the county of Donegal came under direct English rule. However, that was not the end of the story. Donegal Town was reputedly the place where the Annals of the Four Master were written and in subsequent centuries, it became a flourishing port and place of business; the leading centre of Donegal tweed; a bastion of Donegal GAA. Contact: Matthew Potter 0857357436, [email protected] Event Information: A talk, conference or reading - Free
![HMS Wasp 1884 Commemoration and Presentation This event takes place in August 24 from 12pm to 2pm at Tau Cross Tory Island, Oileán Thoraigh ]On September 22, 1884 the Wasp sank on Tory Island resulting in the loss of 50 crew members were drowned. There were six survivors. Since then fact and fiction has morphed and with this the 140th Anniversary of the disaster, an effort at discovering the truth is being made with an emphasis on the personal lives of the crew members. A walk and a talk will take place on Tory Island, beginning at 12 noon when transport will bring participants to the lighthouse and An Reilig Ghallda(foreigners graveyard), for a short ceremony. Returning to the Club for a powerpoint presentation which will begin at 1.30pm approximately. The event is free and open to young and old. No booking is necessary. Participants are advised to wear suitable clothing and walking shoes. The presentation will be bilingual and the entire event should last two to two-and-a-half hours. Contact: Stair agus seandalaoíchta na noileán 087 3912067, vincentbreslin1@gmail.com Event Information: A guided or specialist tour - A talk, conference or reading - Suitable for families - Free](https://www.connachttribune.ie/jpim-static/image/2026/04/21/16/iconic-upload-2024_08_23-Tory-1724415831565.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=475)
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HMS Wasp 1884 Commemoration and Presentation This event takes place in August 24 from 12pm to 2pm at Tau Cross Tory Island, Oileán Thoraigh ]On September 22, 1884 the Wasp sank on Tory Island resulting in the loss of 50 crew members were drowned. There were six survivors. Since then fact and fiction has morphed and with this the 140th Anniversary of the disaster, an effort at discovering the truth is being made with an emphasis on the personal lives of the crew members. A walk and a talk will take place on Tory Island, beginning at 12 noon when transport will bring participants to the lighthouse and An Reilig Ghallda(foreigners graveyard), for a short ceremony. Returning to the Club for a powerpoint presentation which will begin at 1.30pm approximately. The event is free and open to young and old. No booking is necessary. Participants are advised to wear suitable clothing and walking shoes. The presentation will be bilingual and the entire event should last two to two-and-a-half hours. Contact: Stair agus seandalaoíchta na noileán 087 3912067, [email protected] Event Information: A guided or specialist tour - A talk, conference or reading - Suitable for families - Free