Live the Journey...

SEPTEMBER 27TH - OCTOBER 6TH 2019

WWW.DONEGALCONNECT.COMDETAILS & BOOKING AT

BRINGING ALL THOSE WITH DONEGAL ROOTS & CONNECTIONS BACK HOME TO JOIN THE CELEBRATIONS

10 DAYS OF EVENTS TO CELEBRATE OUR COUNTY’S RUGGED BEAUTY, FOOD, CULTURE, ARTS, MUSIC, SPORT,

HERITAGE, BUSINESS & INNOVATION

Creating new opportunities for

investment, business and employment

growth by connecting with our Diaspora

Highlighting our great quality of life and the benefits

& practicalities of relocating to Donegal

Live the Journey...

Donegal Connect is funded by Fáilte Ireland under the Global Irish Initiative. Additional funding, operational support and sponsorship comes from: Donegal County Council, Donegal Local Enterprise Office, Donegal Diaspora, Donegal Tourism, Letterkenny Institute of Technology,

Udaras na Gaeltachta, IDA Ireland, Donegal Food Coast, Pramerica, Abbots Diabetes Care, Randox, Harvey’s Point Hotel, and Donegal Global Irish

Donegal Diaspora Project, Donegal County Council, Local Enterprise Office,

The Enterprise Fund Business Centre, Ballyraine, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland

Tel: +353(0)749160735 Email: info@donegaldiaspora.ie

Details & booking at www.donegalconnect.com

FRINGE EVENTSEvent: Ballybofey Big Birthday Bash Date: 27th - 29th SeptemberTime: All Day Venue: Ballybofey

Event: Songs for an Autumn EveningDate: 28th SeptemberTime: 8pmVenue: The Reading Room at Harvey’s Point Hotel

Event: Twin Towns Walking Festival Date: 4th - 6th OctoberTime: All DayVenue: Stranorlar /Ballybofey

Event: Wainfest children’s Arts and Book FestivalDate: 5th - 13th October

Time: VariousVenue: Various Locations

Event: Donegal East Running Events present a ½ Marathon and ¾ MarathonDate: 29th SeptemberTime: 10amVenue: Ballybofey

Event: Guided Walk – Rossnowlagh Ramblers Date: 1st October Time: 10amVenue: Meeting Point – Main Car Park Rossnowlagh

Event: A Taste of Downings Fare: Food And Gift Stalls, Family Fun Date: Sat 5th & Sun 6thTime: All DayVenue: Donegal Boardwalk Resort, Downings

Event: Traditional Boats of Ireland – The Dónal Mac Polin CollectionDate: 27th Sept - 6th OctTime: 10am - 4.30pm Venue: Donegal County Museum

Event: Disappear Here International Film FestivalDate: 27th - 29th SeptemberTime: All Day Venue: Ballyliffin

Welcome Fáilte

We are delighted to launch the programme of events for Donegal Connect 2019. Over 50 events will take place over 10 days from September 27th – October 06th. The programme will have something for everyone: from culture and arts, to music and food; from heritage and genealogy to clan gatherings; from business and investment opportunities, to education and career development. Our programme also includes networking events and workshops on the practicalities of relocating or returning to Donegal.

But Donegal Connect isn’t just about these amazing events. The objective of Donegal Connect is to entice people to make the journey back to explore the county and find out why it is a great place to visit, to relocate to, to grow up in, to be educated in, to work in, to invest in or to retire in. It’s about creating a global network of those with Donegal roots or connections and giving them a chance to ‘connect’ with the people in the county and with one another for the benefit of all. Through connecting with our Diaspora, we want to create new opportunities for our county – investment, business development and job opportunities.

Very significant economic and infrastructural investments have taken place in the County over the past 20 years and with the further developments in education, infrastructure, cross-border relations and in business, the County is set to continue to grow and create new opportunities for employment and investment. We want all of our County, at home and abroad, to benefit from this and want everyone to make the journey with us. Donegal Connect is our invitation to you to join with us in the journey.

Cllr. Nicholas Crossan - Cathaoirleach Donegal County Council

Seamus Neely - Chief Executive Donegal County Council

Tá lúcháir orainn clár na n-imeachtaí do Nasc Dhún na nGall 2019 a sheoladh. Réachtálfar os cionn 50 imeacht thar thréimhse 10 lá ó 27 Meán Fómhair go 6 Deireadh Fómhair. Tá ábhar suime sa chlár do gach duine: bíodh sin cultúr agus ealaíon, bia agus ceol; oidhreacht, ginealas agus teach le chéile na gclann; deiseanna gnó agus infheistíochta; oideachas agus forbairt gairme. Chomh maith, beidh ceardlanna ar siúl chun léargas agus eolas praiticiúil a thabhairt doíbh siúd ar mhian leo athlonnú nó pilleadh go Dún na nGall.

Ach tá i bhfad níos mó taobh thiar de Nasc Dhún na nGall ná na himeachtaí seo. Is é an cuspóir atá ag Nasc Dhún na nGall ná daoine a mhealladh ar ais chuig an chontae chun go bhfeicfidh siad cén fáth gur áit iontach í Dún na nGall chun cuairt a thabhairt, chun athlonnú, chun fás aníos, chun dul ar scoil, chun a bheith ag obair, chun infheistíocht a dhéanamh nó laethanta suaimhneacha a chaitheamh inti. Baineann sé le gréasán domhanda a chruthú doíbh siúd a bhfuil fréamhacha nó naisc acu le Dún na nGall agus deis a thabhairt dóibh ‘nasc’ a dhéanamh le daoine eile sa chontae agus leoga leo féin ar mhaithe le gach duine. Is mian linn deiseanna nua a chruthú dár gcontae – infheistíocht, forbairt ghnó agus deiseanna fostaíochta agus sin a dhéanamh fríd ár nasc lenár nDiaspóra.

Rinneadh infheistíochtaí fiúntacha eacnamaíochta agus infreastruchtúir sa chontae le 20 bliain anuas agus le cois na bhforbairtí breise san oideachas, san infrastruchtúir, i gcaidreamh trasteorann agus i gcúrsaí gnó, is léir go bhfuil fás agus forbairt i ndán don chontae agus go gcruthófar deiseanna nua fostaíochta agus infheistíochta. Is mian linn go mbainfidh gach duine as an chontae, bíodh siad sa bhaile nó thar lear, leas agus tairbhe as seo agus go mbeidh siad uilig linn ar an turas seo. Seo cuireadh duit ó Nasc Dhún na nGall le bheith linn ar an turas seo.

FRIDAY 4TH OCTOBERTIME

8pm Christy Moore in Concert - SOLD OUT

10am -12.30pm Connecting our Donegal Associations and Networks: Creating Global Networks

Villa Rose, Ballybofey

2pm - 4pm ‘Navigating Future of Work’ Business Symposium Pramerica, Letterkenny

8pm Donegal Voices Choral Concert St. Patrick’s Church, Ballyshannon

Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran

EVENT VENUE

SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER9.45am Go Visit Donegal - Tourism Tour 4:

Fanad Peninsula to Sheephaven BayStarts Letterkenny Catherdral Quarter

12.30pm -3.30pm

#innovationisland: Oileán Árainn Mhór - informal workhop on coding kids, virtual classrooms, Ireland’s first offshore digital hub and remote working

MODAM, Arranmore Island

7pm Donegal’s Poetic Atlantic Way: Donegal Imagery, Poetry Recitals & Music

Regional Cultural Centre,Letterkenny

7.30pm Donegal Bay and Bluestacks CarnivalTheme: Journeys and Travelling

Streets of BallyshannonFree Open Event

8pm The Henry Girls & Erdini in Concert Leghowney Community Hall

7:30pmBooking Required

Donegal Food Coast: Donegal Tasting Menu The Lemon Tree Restaurant,Letterkenny

9pm Donegal Bay and Bluestacks Donegal Fiddlers in Concert Highlands Hotel, Glenties

1pm - 6pm Donegal Food Coast: Donegal Harvest Lunch Castle Grove Country House,Letterkenny

SUNDAY 6TH OCTOBER11am - 2pm

3pm

7.00pm - 8.30pm

7.5km Walk over the Bridge of Tears -Famous local emigration landmarkRTE Radio 1, Sunday Miscellany - Live Recording

LUXE presents a Donegal Connect Outdoor Theatre Spectacle Featuring The Henry Girls

Bus from Ionad Naomh Fionnan, FalcarraghAbbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon

Fort Dunree, Buncrana

8pm Donegal Voices Choral Concert St. Mary’s Church, Stranolar

TUESDAY 1ST OCTOBERTIME

10am- 4pm

6pm

Who Do You Think You Are? Trace your roots with this introduction to the Genealogy Resources of Donegal County Council’s Culture Division

Central Library, Oliver Plunkett Road, Letterkenny

9.45am-10.45am

Donegal Women in Business Conference - Looking Back, Moving Forward

Donegal Food Coast - Harveys Food Experience

Lough Eske Castle, Donegal Town

9.45am

1.30-4pm

Go Visit Donegal - Tourism Tour 2: The Gaeltacht Experience

Launch of CoWork Plus Bundoran – Remote Working Space

Starts from car park atGlenveagh National ParkBundoran Community Centre, Main Street, Bundoran

Harveys Point, Donegal Town

9.45am-10.45am

Who Do You Think You Are? Trace your roots with thisintroduction to the Genealogy Resources of Donegal County Council’s Culture Division

Donegal Public Service Centre, Drumlonagher, Donegal Town

EVENT VENUE

FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER

THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

SUNDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

TIME6.30pm-9pm

10am- 4pm

WEDNESDAY 2ND OCTOBER

10 – 5pm Free public entry to iconic Donegal places like Donegal Castle, Glebe Gallery, Doe Castle & other OPW sites.

Various locations

9.45am Go Visit Donegal - Tourism Tour 3: The Inishowen 100 Starts from car park at An Grianan Hotel, Burt

8am - 2pm “ Driving our County Forward - Our Vision and How We Achieve it Together”

Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny

THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER

7.30pm Idir Dhá Thír (As Gaeilge): Agallaimh agus comhrá le daoine Gaeltachta a d’obair thar lear.

Acadamh Ghaoth Dobhair,Páirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair, Na Doirí Beaga

10am – 4pm Lá Oscailte Údarás na Gaeltachta agus gteic@Gaoth Dobhair G-Teic, Gweedore

1pm-5.30pm

Dath an Uisce/Ab Origine: Gaeltacht Exhibition(runs until 25th October)

An Gailearaí, Gweedore

Open Day Teach Mhici Mac Gabhann: Birthplace of the author of Rotha Mór an tSaoil

Gortahork

12 – 6pm Monreagh Ulster Scots Heritage and Education Centre: Family History Festival

An Grianan Hotel, Burt

Donegal Food Coast: The Wild Atlantic Seafood Experience The Market House Restaurant, Donegal Town

6.00pmBooking Required

Donegal Food Coast: Traditional Evening Leo’s Tavern, Crolly6.00pm8pm - 10.30pm

6pm - 9pm

8pm - 11pm

2pm

On the eve of the Donegal Connect launch come and enjoy an informal evening with the 2019 Tip O’Neill award recipients, Frank McGuinness, Pat Doherty, Patrick C Dunican Jr & Daniel J Hilferty

Live the Journey: Working and Living in Donegal Practical jobs, careers and relocation advice.

‘Pilleadh Abhaile’ Homecoming Altan Concert

A Donegal Feast at the Foot of Errigal with local chefs and food producers.

Special Scór Concert - Celebrating 50 Years of Scór in County Donegal

Siúlóid Ghabhla/Walking Tour of Gabhla

11am to 1pm Donegal Connect Opening Event with special guest Packie Bonner

Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny

The Great Hall, Ulster University,Magee Campus

From 10.50am Tip O’Neill Golf Classic Ballyliffin Golf Club

Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny

7.30pm -10.30pm

Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Awards Gateway Hotel, Buncrana

8.30pm Donegal Food Coast: Meet the Producer Arnold’s Hotel, Dunfanaghy5.00pmBooking Required

Donegal Coast: Seafood and Sláinte Quay West Restaurant, Donegal Town

5.00pmBooking Required

Donegal Food Coast: Foyle’s Friday Fish Feast Foyle Hotel, Moville

12 noon - 4pm Donegal Food Coast: Dunfanaghy Food Festival The Village Green, Dunfanaghy

8pm The Billy Finn Sessions - Memorial Concert for this accomplished uilleann piper and flute player

Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon

Amharclann, Ghaoth Dobair

Errigal Hostel, Dunlewey

8pm - 9.15pm ‘My Dad’s Blind’ - Best Production at Dublin Fringe Festival 2018

An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny

1pm - 6pm Donegal Food Coast: Castle Grove Harvest Fayre Castle Grove Country House,Letterkenny

An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny

10.30am - 4.30pm

A Long Farewell - Emigration of Donegal Women 1845-1950 Exhibition (runs until 6th Oct)

Fort Dunree, Buncrana

9.45am Go Visit Donegal - Tourism Tour 1 - Donegal Bay Drive Meet at Public Services Centre, Donegal Town

Ghabla

EVENT VENUE

SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

WWW.DONEGALCONNECT.COMDETAILS & BOOKING AT

5.00pmBooking Required

Donegal Coast: Seafood and Sláinte Quay West Restaurant, Donegal Town