Guth & Tuairim, Eanáir 1982

UIMH. 10 IML. 3 EANAIR 1982 WACH 30p Donegal Person. of 1981 -- ·· ......... ,_ . . .... ....... ... ······• .. . - - Dona.l K. O~Bovle The Donegal Person of the Year 1981 is Mr. Donal K. O'Boyle from Bunbeag, Gaoth Dobhair. At three months old Donal developed polio· so from a tender age until he was seventeen he spent most of the time in and out of various hospitals in Dublin, Galway and Glasgow. It was after a series of operations in Glasgow at the age of fifteen that Donal took his "first steps". Although his lert side is completely paralized he can now walk with the aid of a stick and sheer determination. Due to his long periods in hospital Donal was unable to attend school except for a sh~~ of eight– een months in National School where""l'fe''111!P'~aught by his late father who had to carry him to and from the school. Donal is self educated .and despite such setbacks he is now a member of the Institutes of Journalist, and contributes to newspapers and mag– azines both here and in Britain. For the past ten years he has covered the Eurovision. · He has worked extremely hard helping to improve the facilities and services tor his fellow handicapped and is fearlessly outspoken· in demanding a better deal for them. He has carried out several national surveys of the handi-. capped in an effort to discover the areas of greatest need. He has been instrumental in locating many handicapped people in Co. Donegal who were totally unaware of their entitlements and manY of these have been rehabilitated and are n~ in gainfUl employment. He is Secretary of the North West Handicapped Committee and a few months ago was delighted to be presented with a coach from the Manchester United Suprorters Club tor the disabled to travel to work in North West Donegal. He has also got ramps and wheelchairs, donated from the banks, in Ballrooms, Hotels, Football Grounds and other places or entertainment to ensure that the handi– capped could gain access to these places. At the moment he is instrumentaL in trying to build a day centre for the handicapped in Dungloe and providing a sheltered workshop on the Gweedore Industrial Est~te. Two years ago the Ma1:-y from Dungloe Festival was almost at its end. Donal took up the task of keeping it going by giving advice to the young committee who round themselves in debt and he kept them together and it is still going, thanks to his efforts. He vas also a great help to the Glenswilly Festival Committee, has helped to promote the Letterkenny International Folk Festival and has also advised the National Youth Donal is a tireless worker who doesn't take no for an answer and his achievements are ~' despite his disability. He richly deserves to have tbi, honour conferred on him. Comhghiirdeachas Donal. From "The Derry Journal" of Monday, 19th Jan. 1914. NEW YEAR HOF£? The New Year's come to us again With hidden joys and woes, Which slow, unfolding, hour by hour, Contrain us bide its mighty power, And wait what 1 twill disclose. r-by_;__th_e_l_a-te---· Hrs. Kathleen Matthews, Filcarrach. 0 Eire, ~stic, hopeful land, What has it brought for thee? Ah1 sure not sorrows, as of yore, But hapiness and peace 1n store, And palms of victory. And ye, our Eire's martyred dead, Soon may ye see, with pride, The good crop saved, whose seed we've sown, The harvest reaped, your blood has grown - Cause won for which ye died. For oh! vhen we a nation rise, Will not your very clay Be thrilled to know ye strove like men To haste by voice and sword and pen This dawning of the day. Development Organisation. And we - oh, may we ever strive, ------~--------------------------------~-----------L--yFrom new year until old, To further more our ·country's cause, To win her fame, renown, applause And still her rights uphold. The photograph shows part of the road leading to the ncottages" in Mfn Lirach. It is in a s~ocking state of disrepair and completely littered with potholes. Despite DllJlerous requests to have this road tarred nothing has been done by Donegal County Council. Perhaps it will take a serious injury to move the powers-that-be? This treatment of the householders who have to use this "road" cannot be tolerated aQ7 longer. We now publicly ask our local representati~• CouncillOrs Kelly, Coll and Delap and Pat the Cope,T.I to get the message across to them in Liftord. This road must be repaired J:IQlo[t