The first weekend in October is the Fiddler’s Weekend in Glenties. Musicians of all kinds will be converging on the town. There will be plenty of ‘ceol caint agus craic’ from Friday to Sunday and if you are a fan of traditional music Glenties is the place to be that weekend.

The Ardara Business Association welcomes everyone with an interest in Irish traditional music and dancing to a special weekend in the town in October. There will be all kinds of dancing, Céilí, Barn, Old Time, Ballroom and Sets. It is advised that all visitors book accommodation in advance, but those who haven’t will be assisted at the Nesbitt Arms Hotel. An ‘all in ticket’ may be purchased at the Hotel reception for 25 Euro. This allows the guest to attend all events or rotate between events for the weekend. Admission is 5 Euro for a single event. The Festival is being held on Friday 10th Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October. For more information contact Marie at 074-9541103, Steve at 087- 2424590 or Anthony at 087- 2206557.

Congratulations to Danielle Mc Geehan, who was selected as the Harvest Queen 2003 at the Festival Dance in the Highlands Hotel, Glenties. Originally from Manchester but living in Glenties for over a year she was representing ‘Roddy’s Bar’. Her grandparents Paddy and Mamie Mc Geehan live in Derries, Glenties.

Congratulations and best wishes to Catherine Clancy, a native of Glenties who was recently appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner in the Garda Siochana. She is the first woman to hold this rank and she was also the first woman to hold the rank of Chief Superintendent.

Congratulations to the local minor team who won the County semi-final on Sunday in Ballybofey and best wishes for the Final when they meet Buncrana.

Congratulations to Aoife Mc Donnell, who played for the Donegal Ladies team who beat Sligo in the All Ireland Junior Semi-final recently. Aoife is a daughter of Frank and Teresa (nee Gallagher) Mc Donnell, Drimnasillagh, Glenties.

Sincere sympathy is extended to the family, relatives and friends of Louis Walsh, Ballybofey and formerly of Glenties, who died on Wednesday 17th September ’03 and was buried in Glenties on Friday.

There was a big crowd about town again this year for the Festival, especially on Friday, the Harvest Fair Day and on Sunday for the Float and Band Parade and other events, which were taking place. Stalls of all kinds, Clothes, Shoes, Toys and Tools etc. lined the street on both sides on the Harvest Fair Day. They were only allowed on one side of the roads into town this year and they were out past the Convent Gate on the Mill Road, up the Glen Road to the school, out past the Garage on the Station Road and down to Ard Patrick on the Narin Road. There were also fortune-tellers, games to play, and prizes to be won, bouncing castles, Mc Gurk’s Amusements and loads of other things to do. Weather wise the Harvest Fair Day was good until evening when we had a few showers, Saturday was lovely but we had some rain on Sunday.

On Saturday 6th September 2003 Anita Breslin and Stuart Burns were married in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties. Fr. Nigel Ó Gallachóir C.C. Glenties officiated and celebrated Nuptial Mass. The bride is a daughter of Anne (nee Bonner, Straboy, Glenties) and Michael Breslin, (native of Corr Point, Lettermacaward), now living in London, and the groom is a son of Robbie and Lorraine Burns, Hames, Middlesex, England. Her father gave the bride away and her friend, Sharon Kennedy, her sister, Marion Breslin and her cousin, Donna Collins were bridesmaids. Neil Burns, brother of the groom was bestman. Calvin Hale, Scott Ravenscroft, Stephen Breslin, David Bates, Andy Knowles and Leigh Hale were ushers. Nicole Mc Nally was a flowergirl and Thomas Bonner was a pageboy. The reception was held in Harvey’s Point Country Hotel, Lough Eske, Donegal Town and the honeymoon is being spent touring in Ireland.

Congratulations to Packie and Annie Mc Dyre, Derries, Glenties, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last weekend.

Congratulations to Anita Breslin and Stewart Burns from London who were married in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties on Saturday last. The bride is a granddaughter of Maggie and the late Charlie Bonner, Straboy, Glenties.

Requiem Mass for Toni Campbell, (daughter of Evelyn and the late Dr. Dermott Campbell), who died in London on August 12th 2003, was concelebrated in St. Connell’s Church, Glenties by Fr. John Mc Loone, Fr. Patrick Prendergast, Fr. Joseph Briody and a friend of the family on Thursday 4th September. Readings and Reflection were read by friends of the family. Toni’s uncle Charlie, his wife and daughter, her aunt Gay and her daughter read Prayers of the Faithful. Music was by the local choir. Ashes of the deceased were interred in the old Kilkenny Graveyard, where there is a memorial to her late father. She is survived by her husband, Neil, her mother, Evelyn, sisters, Patricia and Grainne, uncles, aunts, other relatives and friends, to whom sincere sympathy is extended.

The death took place in Dungloe Hospital on Thursday 4th September 2003 of Andy Mc Devitt, Cloughernagore, Fintown. His remains were brought to the home of his niece, Anne Morrow, Main St. Glenties later that evening and to St. Colmcille’s Church, Fintown on Friday evening. Burial took place in Fintown after Requiem Mass on Saturday. Andy’s brother, Peter died in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar on Sunday 31st August 2003 and burial took place after Requiem Mass in Fintown on Tuesday 2nd September. Sincere sympathy is extended to their niece, Anne Morrow, Main Street and nephew, Conal Mc Devitt, Station Road, Glenties, to all the nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The death took place recently in Philadelphia, U.S.A. of Charlie Mc Cahill formerly of Loughnacruiche, Glenties. Sincere sympathy is extended to all his relatives.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Bried Melly, Strasallagh, Glenties on the death recently of her sister, Una Manley, which took place in Dublin; also to her sister Philomena Faulkner, Ballybofey and to her husband and family and all her relatives and friends.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Conal Mc Devitt, Stranaglough and Anne Morrow, Main St. Glenties on the death of their uncle, Peter Mc Devitt, Cloughernagore, Fintown, which took place in St. Joseph’s Hospital, Stranorlar on Sunday 31st August 2003; also to all the relatives and friends.

Congratulations to our local minor team who won the Divisional Final, when they defeated Dungloe in Ardara on Friday evening.

Winners of the recent Fly-Fishing Competition on Lough Finn were -1st – Derek Mc Hugh, Letterkenny. 2nd – John Greene, Loughanure. 3rd – Charlie Bonner, Dungloe. An Cumann Iascaireacht would like to thank the local committee members for their work during the season. They would also like to thank their sponsors, weigh-in venues and all anglers who supported them during the fishing season. Go raibh maith agaibh uilig.

The Harvest Fair Festival takes place this year from Thursday 11th until Sunday 14th September.

Head, Ardara, which took place on Thursday 21st August 2003.