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Facelift for Buncrana Lighthouse
25.01.10
THE historical and
cultural heritage of Buncrana and West Inishowen is
getting a facelift thanks to the activity of a group
of local volunteers.
From tidying up Friar Hegarty's historic grave at
Ned's Point to the ongoing restoration of the old
Buncrana Lighthouse, the West Inishowen History and
Heritage Group have been busy in 2009. |
The group will hold its
AGM on February 11, in Scoil Mhuire Library and
everyone is invited to come along to see what they
have achieved so far and hope to achieve in the
coming year.
Among this year's triumphs was securing funding to
restore the old lighthouse removed from Buncrana
Pier last year.
West Inishowen History and Heritage Group PRO, Aidan
Grant explained: "The Department of Rural, Community
and Gaeltacht Affairs along with Inishowen
Development Partnership have provided this funding. |
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The old lighthouse is
currently being restored by a local engineering
firm.
"When the work is finished, the lighthouse will be
presented to Buncrana Town Council as a gift to the
town. It is hoped the Council will identify a
suitable site and erect the lighthouse as a monument
to mark the maritime history of Lough Swilly." |
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The group has also
given the Fr. Hegarty memorial a much needed
facelift.
"The memorial was starting to look a bit uncared for
but it now looks much better," added Aidan.
The group's most frequent activity is the delivery
of local history talks in Buncrana Library regularly
throughout the year. |
Previous topics
included the Donegal Churches of Liam McCormick; the
Buncrana herring industry in the 1920s and the Lough
Swilly Railway.
The local heritage group are also involved in a
cross-border multi-media initiative to commemorate
the 400th anniversary of the Ulster Plantation in
association with an historical group from Co Derry,
the Derry and Donegal Museum services and the Nerve
Centre in Derry.
Meanwhile, in the coming year, they hope to host
regular talks, walks and Swilly boat tours, publish
newsletters and "do our bit" to attract tourism
including supporting a new campaign to highlight the
importance of Grianan of Aileach in Burt.
"If all goes according to plan, we will publish a
booklet identifying sites of local interest around
Inishowen for Summer 2010. There are many important
sites around the peninsula that a lot of people are
unaware of. The booklet will cover areas such as
Urris, Desertegney, Buncrana, Fahan, Inch and Burt.
This will be of interest to tourists and locals,"
added the group PRO.
The group is seeking new members. Membership is only
€10 for the year. If you would like more information
on the group, please contact Adrian Grant on 086
0885193 or visit
www.buncranahistory.com . |
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