A local community initiative has begun to honour the Donegal Tunnel Tigers by building a Wall of Remembrance for deceased workers.
Generations of Irish emigrants have worked in tunnels across the UK for decades. Now, it is hoped that those who died in accidents or from ill health relating to work can be remembered locally.
A meeting will take place in Dungloe next Saturday 28th July to form a committee to set plans to erect a Wall of Remembrance for these Donegal men.
Organiser Hugh Rodgers said: “The Donegal Tunnel Tigers are known through the world, from digging the hydro dams in the north of Scotland, to the Channel tunnel and throughout the world.
“Sadly some of those great men paid the ultimate price, losing their lives, a lot of those were only young men.
“It is hoped that we can set up a committee and to plan what type of memorial would be appropriate. Nearly every parish in Donegal has lost someone that was working in tunnels down through the years. It’s only right that these great men would be remembered.”
The public meeting will take place at 4pm at the Dungloe Ionad Teampall Chróine (Old Chapel). A representative from Kane Tunnelling who offered to help find funding for a memorial will be in Donegal on this date. It is hoped that people from all over Donegal will be in attendance.