A mini community Heritage Weekend in Letterkenny will be marked with the unveiling of a wall display commemorating the local businesses in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
The display, to be launched at the Donegal County Museum on Friday, May 19th, will feature a map and list of all the premises that occupied the Main Street and some of the surrounding areas during that period.
Following the weekend, the display will be permanently exhibited at the Courtyard Shopping Centre.
It will include former commercial outlets such as John Dunne’s store on the High Road to Sam Roulston’s hardware shop at Lower Main Street and from Nan Murphy’s newsagent business at Port Road to Sam Roulston’s coal yard which was located across the road from the hardware premises.
The Heritage Weekend will continue on into Saturday (20th) where the Battle of Farsetmore, dating back to May 8th 1567, will be recalled with an address by Tomas O Brogain of History Ireland at McGettigan’s Hotel.
This year represents the 450th anniversary of what is described as one of the most ferocious battles fought on the banks of the Swilly River. The battle brought Hugh O’Donnell and Shane O’Neill into bloody conflict and the result will be announced at the talk!
Meanwhile, Billy Patterson will give a talk on his family connection with the County Donegal Railway enterprise. The address takes place in the Station House Hotel on Sunday 21st commencing at 7.30.p.m.