Dr Matthew Potter launches Donegal Annual at Donegal Castle

There was a large attendance in Donegal Castle for the launch of the 76th edition of Donegal Annual, the journal of County Donegal Historical Society, by Dr Matthew Potter. Click on the arrows to see Siobhan McGowan's photos of the event.

There are over 20 articles in the current publication, two of which relate to archaeology: Brian Lacey with Aodh MacGairbheá and Peter O’Toole have surveyed Inishdooey island while Graham Hull has carried out excavations in the Glenties area. 

Two relate to music: the editor, Dr Seán Beattie, writes on harp history of the county, while Rev Dr Pádraig Ó Baoighill writes about the fiddler, John Simí Ó Dochartaigh. 

Helen Meehan, Eunan O’Donnell and Darren McGettigan cover aspects of Donegal Town history to mark the celebrations of Donegal 550. 

Martin McGinley covers the stranger-than-fiction story of Samuel Bayne of Ramelton who emigrated to America and died in 1924. 

Other articles deal with the Muff-born philanthropist John Gwynn, and Olwyn Gormley records the life story of George Vaughan, MP, Buncrana, who has left a remarkable legacy in the Vaughan Charity Trust. 

The Drumboe executions are dealt with by Dr Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh. 

County library staff, including Una Matthewson, provide a listing of over 250 books and articles written about the county this year and there are also book reviews. 

To mark the centenary of Donegal teams playing in Croke Park, Martin McGonigle offers an interesting sidelight in GAA history. 

Margaret Wynne has an account of a Jewish refugee, Lisa Fisher, in Ballyshannon in the 1940s. 

The Bearnán Chonaill is a topic covered by Tom Cannon, a USA historian, while Yorkshire-based artist, Karen Rann, marks the bicentenary of the Ordnance Survey with an article on OS work on Slieve Sneaght in 1824. 

Pat Lavelle covers maritime history in his study of coastguard stations, especially Teelin. 

The story of a remarkable Letterkenny woman, Emma Saxelby, a distinguished academic and educator, is told by Dr William Roulston of the Ulster Historical Foundation. 

Rev Raymond Blair contributes an article on a tour of Donegal in 1886. 

Shannon McGaffin visits Cruit island. David Heffernan deals with the Plantation in Inishowen. 

The President, Joe Gatins, warmly welcomed all visitors, who came from across the county and also Dublin, Belfast and Fermanagh. Joe Gatins also thanked the OPW and Donegal Castle staff who provided facilities at Donegal Castle and local hotels for their support of the launch.

Hugh Devlin, Secretary, acted as MC and encouraged anyone with an interest in the history of the county to join the Society. 

Five Field Days have been arranged, the first of which will be on Sunday, June 9 at Letterkenny with Hugh Devlin as guide.

 Heritage Week will be marked by the Society in August by a visit to Creeslough and Ards with Charlie Gallagher as guide and Anthony Begley will bring visitors on a guided tour on Sunday, 25 August of Ballyshannon, to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous poet, William Allingham, in the town, starting at the Abbey Centre. 

Seán Boner will take visitors on a guided tour of Lifford on Sunday, July 21. All tours start at 3pm and full details are on the website donegalhistory.ie and on Facebook. 

Anyone who wishes to join the Society may do so online at the website, where a membership form is available with payment online or by cheque.