The Leader, Nollaig 1988

THESTORY0 F"DONEGAL" - :!~~~~~~~s;~e:r~ which he says is unfair and un– reasonable. Different governments by allowing unlicenced broad– casting to operate for so long, have given a legitimacy to them, during which time these stations have built up a close and important relationship with the local community which is now an accepted part of the local scene. It is unfair to de– stroy "Local Radio Stations• which provide much pleasure and enjoyable entertainment to our people. THEHORSE to Fine Gae~ ~otio~ on local radio m Dall The other day an age-yellowed clipping of a ballad came my way. Like every ballad, it 1ells the tale of how a horse called "Donegal" romped home a 7-1 to the dismayof a Glasgow bookmaker, and the delight of the Tirconaill punters who backed him. I'm told the ballad is at least fifty years old, but I could get no further information about its history. A man who fol– lows the ponies told me there is a horse called "Donegal II", but whether "Donegal II" has broken any bookies I don'1 claim to know. Here is the ballad in the hope that some reader may remember or know of the event and tell usmore about "Donegal's" victory and the sorrowful bookie. "When I was mooching a bob from a bookie to back a double today", says Paddy Coffey, "he said he was stone broke as every Donegal man in Glasgow backed "Donegal" with him the other Saturday - a seven to one shot": Today I met a bookie, a most dismal-looking bloke, And when I mooched a bob from him, he says "I'm stoney broke, For there's not an lnnishowen man in Glasgow, big or small, But backed with me one Saturday a horse called "Donegal". The horse came home at sevens, and I near went off my head, And I says to my poor missus, "How I wish that I were dead", For I had to pawn my furniture, and pictures off the wall, For to pay the many punters, who were backing "Donegal". The Murphys and the O'Oohertys in thousands came to me; difl'~•fl""~ .. ~~i'l!~Si.~,..I The O'Oonnells and McLaughlins, 1111 and folk they call McGee; JINGLE BELLS Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh Oh jingle bells, jin_gle bells.jingle all the way _ Oh what fun it is to ride on a one horse open sleigh. Dashing through the snow on a one horse open sleigh, Over fields we go laughing all the · way, Bells on bobtails ring making spirits bright, Oh what fun it is to sing a sleighing song to-night. The McGuinnesses and Raffertys, and persons named McFall, All pawned their shirts and trousers for a plunge on "Donegal". Ballyshannon men, Bundoran men and men from Lifford town, Surrounded me like honey bees to plant their dollars down; While Buncrana men and Carn men persistently did call On me that cursed morning for a punt on "Donegal". The ladies backed in hundreds, and many said to me: We will back him in a double, for a win and 1,2,3; And while he keeps in form sure we do not care at all If there never grew a pratie in the County Donegal". CHANDELIER IRELAND Lighting Specialists and Gift House Port Road, Letterkenny ~ Tel:;;«5 ( ·AvAit ··oFOURDESIGN ) ( ANDFITSERVICE ) Wewish all our customers a HappyChristmas and a Prosperous NewYear 12 Eireann recently. Deputy Harte calls on all Donegal TD's to support the Fine Gael motion on local radio which comes before the Dail on Wednesday December 14th. Paddy Harte says all local stations in Donegal togethe r with stations throughout the Republic will be compelled by law to close down on December 31st 1988, with no guarantee of being back on the airwaves again, "If you don ' t stop knocking that door, I 'll get you undressed and· have you in bed, young man." Paddy Harte has asked everyone in Donegal who has voted for the TD's in the past to contact these TD's again im– mediately. Deputies Neil Bla– ney - High Conaghan - Mary coughlan - Pat "The Cope" Gal– lagher - Paddy Harte and Dinny McGinley, to impress upon them the importance of sup– porting the "Fine Gael" motion wednesday evening in Dail Eireann. Deputy Harte says "everyone knows what will hap– pen if the stations close and who will get the licences, and I know I express the opinion of many people in Donegal when I say a lot of these stations have justified their existence and on merit surely qualify for licenc– ing to legally operate and it would surely be a backward step to close them all down." FALCARRAGH AGRICULTURAL SHOW Committee members many years ago.