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07/11/18 Final weekend of Donegal Global Irish Festival

Donegal Global festival

C.L.G An Clochan Liath lining up for their play off against their Scottish visitors. 

 

Not even the hail showers could dampen the spirits of the people from Glasgow who visited Donegal last weekend for the final weekend of the Donegal Global Irish Festival. 

 

The fun continued in Dungloe where visitors both young and young at heart enjoyed a weekend of sport.

 

The weekend began with a spooky Halloween walk in Burtonport on Friday evening with a chance for the visiting young people to get to know the locals and suss out the competition for Saturday’s tournament.

 

On Saturday morning the C.L.G An Clochan Liath was a hive of activity as GAA players from Glasgow Gaels and Tír Conaill Harps were treated to a coaching session by former Donegal County players Neil Gallagher & Tony Boyle along with well known sporting hero Packie Bonner. 

 

The local teams then took on their counterparts from Dungloe and despite the hail showers everyone had the most enjoyable time.

 

Donegal Global Festival 3

Donegal select takes on a Scottish select as part of the Donegal Global Festival.

 

Speaking at the tournament Packie Bonner spoke about the importance of continuing to build on the county’s linkages with Glasgow and Scotland and that this event, which is part of the Donegal Global Irish Festival, is a great example of how to keep the relationship between Donegal and Glasgow relevant and meaningful to our children and young people. 

 

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Seamus O Domhnaill also came along on Saturday morning said that this weekend was special not only for the local people in Dungloe but for the visitors from Glasgow. 

 

“This is more than just a football tournament for these young people.  It is an opportunity to make memories, forge friendships and to visit a place that some of their parents or grandparents once called home.  It is about us reaching out to our diaspora and welcoming them back to Donegal.”

 

Speaking following the event Joanne Kilmartin, Donegal Diaspora Executive with Donegal County Council explained that the Donegal Global Festival was a hugely successful initiative and one that had established a strong platform to springboard to a much larger event in 2019. 

 

Donegal Global Festival 2

Cathaoirleach Cllr. Seamus O Domhnaill, Joan Crawford, Fáilte Ireland, Joanne Kilmartin, Donegal Diaspora Executive and former county player Neil Gallagher enjoying the sporting weekend of the Donegal Global Irish Festival

 

“The Donegal Global Festival is a joint initiative between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Fáilte Ireland and Donegal County Council and seeks to encourage our diaspora to visit Donegal during the shoulder period of the tourism season.   It is all about sharing the Donegal experience and building strong and positive relationships and memories that will see visitors returning to Donegal in the years to come” says Joanne Kilmartin.

 

She advised those interested to keep an eye on the Donegal Diaspora website www.donegaldiaspora.ie or follow the Donegal Diaspora project on facebook or twitter for plans for 2019. 

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