DONEGAL’S hurlers are through to another All-Ireland Final after a fine win over Monaghan at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny today.

They will play Roscommon in the final at Croke Park in two weeks’ time after the Rossies overcame Tyrone in the other semi-final on Saturday.

Lee Henderson was Donegal’s hero as they claimed a 5-12 to 2-9 win over their fellow Ulstermen.

The Sean MacCumhaills clubman came back from injury and hit 2-03 after coming on in the second half. And it was a game-changer,

Monaghan had led by 2-05 to 1-05 at half-time.

But Donegal worked hard and with Henderson in top form, they overtook Monaghan with a combination of fine scoring up front and some good defensive work, limiting Monaghan to just four points in the second half.

Roscommon beat Tyrone 3-28 to 0-14 at Athleague.

“Farmers in Donegal and the North-West continue to struggle with the fodder crisis, which is still causing huge distress,” he said.

He added Minister Coveney needs to visit Donegal and see for himself and to extend the fodder transport scheme for a further two weeks at least, which should be reviewed on a weekly basis after that.

“Under the exceptional circumstances being experienced by farmers, the Minister needs to come up with a package of aid for farmers, unfortunately there is more unsettled weather forecast for next week.

“We need to see more direction and leadership from the Minister on this.

“The fodder crisis is not over and there now needs to be more forward planning for next year because there will be long term consequences following this present crises and there is every chance we could have a similar crisis in 2014,” said Cllr Mc Gowan.

MS Ireland is holding a tea/coffee day in Drumkeen Parish Hall, Drumkeen, for World MS Day, on Wednesday 29th May from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm. All proceeds from this event will go towards providing support and services to people affected with Multiple Sclerosis and their families in Donegal. Please come along & support this worthy cause.

Finn Harps FC

Finn Harps host Neven Maguire and community Chef Brian Mc Dermott in Jackson’s Hotel on Tuesday 28th May at 8pm sharp. Adm €20 Tickets Finn Park office, 074 9130070, Grainne @ 0866034270, Jackson’s Hotel, Gallagher’s Butchers, Link 2 Letterkenny and Wards Music shop Donegal Town.

School Fun Day

There will be a short family fun walk departing from St Patricks School, Drumkeen, on Sunday 9th June at 2pm, followed by fun activities and a cake sale. Tea and coffee provided. Bring your family and friends along and join the fun. Fancy dress optional. Sponsor cards available from the school or make a donation on the day. Proceeds to St Patricks N.S. Drumkeen.

Graveyard Mass

The graveyard mass will take place on Sun 16th June at 3pm.

Drumkeen Youth Club

Youth Club this Fri 31st May 7.30-9.30 pm Leaders this week John Guthrie, Sandra Kennedy.

Charity Skydive

Pauric Duffy will be doing a charity skydive on the August bank holiday weekend in aid of four charity’s. SNAP- Special Needs Accessible Park. MS Donegal. Little Angels School, Letterkenny & Temple Street Children’s Hospital. All donations greatly appreciated. Pauric can be contacted on 0877702622

Tyrconnel Martyrs Flute Band

Practice every Tuesday in the hall @ 7.00pm. All new members welcome. We’ll teach you to play the flute or drum and have some fun!!

Charlie Daly & H-Block Martyrs Sinn Féin Cumann Drumkeen

Lotto Results 22nd May 08, 16, 17, 22. No jackpot 1 winner €100 Brian Kerrigan, Mountcharles. Next weeks jackpot €1,100. Go raibh maith agat.

Drumkeen Community 4th Annual Car Wash

Thanks to everyone who contacted us with their ideas on where the proceeds of the car wash could go to. As there are all worthy causes, the committee will make a decision this week.

St. Mary’s GAA

Bingo Continues in Hall on Tues at 8.30 Lotto results for 14-05-13. 1 matched 3 KE,KY,DY,MN Annie Shaw @Bingo. Next’s weeks jackpot €3450 Lotto’s available from any committee member all proceeds from lotto’s go to the daily running of the club e.g. Buses ,washing of Jerseys ,pitch up keep etc. Anyone wishing to help selling Lotto’s Contact Mairead on 0872140060

Adult Cardio Céili Class

Adult Cardio Céili Class every Wed in Kee’s Hotel Stranorlar at 7pm. Contact Louise on 085 7229575 for details.

Parish Hall

Anyone wishing to book the hall should contact Charlie Quinn on 91/34010 or 087 7728608

Drumkeen Notes

Anyone wishing to have material included for next week

Please Email: drumkeennotes@gmail.com or text 086 4083625 (Deadline Saturday @ 6pm) Please note the new deadline.

They come from Glenties man, they’re All-Ireland champions, man!

GLENTIES has another all-Ireland title to celebrate – this time in soccer.

Scoil Mhuire Glenties today became All Ireland Champions in the Girls Primary School Competition at the Aviva Stadium.

Playing Cregmore Galway , Miltown Malbay Clare & Stonepark Longford, the 5-a-side side went on to win the tournament.

The team players are Bronnagh Gallagher , Shana Quinn , Niamh O Donnell , Amy Boyle Carr , Danielle Mc Devitt , Sophie Connaughton , Niamh Agnew & Orlaigh McGuinness.

The team are on their way back to Glenties tonight for celebrations and a homecoming.

The day was made complete when Danielle McDevitt was named Player of The Tournament.

She’s definitely one for the future!

Danielle – Player of the Tournament

Moya Doherty became a huge success story on the back of Riverdance which was first aired during the Euroviison Song Contest.

This week she was in Dublin auditioning dancers for her ne show Heartbeat of Home.

The show debuts at the Bord Gais Theatre in Dublin on October 2nd.

Hundreds of dancers auditioned for the parts and will know shortly if they are part of Moya’s plans for what could be Ireland’s next dance sensation.

KILCAR singer Rory Gallagher missed out on becoming an internet millionaire with his YouTube hit ‘Jimmy’s Winning Matches’

The song went as Donegal built their way to All-Ireland glory last year.

But Rory has admitted in a Sky TV News interview today that he didn’t market the video properly by partnering with YouTube which could have made him a fortune from advertising.

The Sky News report also featured a man who uploaded a video of one of his children biting his older brother’s finger.

Charlie Bit My Finger made the family €500,000 in advertising revenue.

But Rory didn’t seem too bothered in his interview today.

Sure he did it for Donegal – not the money!

The ruined cottage on Gola Island

The owner of this run-down and derelict 19th century Donegal cottage has been hit with a property tax bill – valuing it at between €100,000 and €150,000.

The property, on Gola Island off the west coast of the county, hasn’t even been lived in for more than half a century.

But it didn’t stop the Revenue sending the Gallagher family, natives of the island off Gaoth Dobhair, a bill including it on the second tier of payments for the Local Property Tax.

The blunder was discovered this morning by Pearse Doherty, the local TD, who was on a visit to the island.

“There have been several blunders with bills sent to children, and in some cases to people who are deceased,” said the TD.

“I thought it was a wind up when I heard about this today, and I did laugh.

“But when I saw the bill and spoke to the owners, it turned out not to be a prank at all.”

Tara Gallagher, whose mother owns the old homestead, said they had thought the Local Property Tax bill was a joke.

“To be honest we just laughed it off,” she said.

“But I’ve spoken to Pearse Doherty and he has advised us to contact the Revenue and explain the situation, otherwise we might have to actually pay the bill and fines on top of that.

“The house was the family home of my mother and hasn’t been lived in for 50 or 60 years.”

EXCLUSIVE: Fianna Fail Micheal Martin leader has paid a secret trip to Co Donegal, we can reveal.

Mr Martin spent more than three hours visiting residents of the Glencar area of Letterkenny in an unannounced visit yesterday.

Residents were shocked to find Mr Martin at their doors when they went to answer them.

He was accompanied on the visit by Fianna Fail stalwarts Ciaran Brogan, Dessie Larkin and Victor Fisher.

When one resident asked Mr Martin why there were no cameras or media, he replied: “This isn’t for the cameras; this is about getting to know the real issues affecting ordinary people.”

Cllr Ciaran Brogan today confirmed the visit had been hush-hush.

“The party leader has been travelling throughout the country to meet and greet people,” said the Donegal County Councillor.

“He spent more than three hours in Letterkenny and we just went door to door to meet people and discuss their lives and how current Government policies are affecting them. He was here to listen.

“He got a very very positive response on all the doorsteps.”

The Deputy First Minister in the North tweeted a tribute – mentioning a poem he penned two years ago in the Donegal County Councillor’s honour.

Cllr Fullerton was shot dead by the UFF at his home in Cockhill Park, Buncrana, Co Donegal on May 25 1991.

Below is Mr McGuinness’s poem – named after the Dam named in Eddie’s honour.

Fullerton’s Dam

Purple heathered hillsides clothe the peaty bogs leaching streams of water swimming pools for frogs.

Down along the glenside a rich brown vein does run to meet and greet another beneath the rising sun.

Here below twin bridges the Crana springs to life amid kamikaze midges where father found his wife.

At castle gates salmo waits out in the Swilly blue for destiny and a leaper’s spate to bring her home so true.

A creator with an earthy face decreed his plan would make this valley the perfect place to gather raindrops in a lake.

It looks like the organisers of Donegal’s Relay for Life have had their prayers answered on the weather front.

The forecast says today and tomorrow are expected to stay dry with sunny periods.

Organisers are keeping their fingers crossed for a repeat of last year’s sunshine which set the stall out for what proved a truly remarkable day.

But in many ways there has been even more hype about this weekend’s event at the LYIT.

And organisers say it promises to be even bigger that last year’s event.

Some registration takes place this afternoon but the official opening ceremony will not take place until 5.30pm.

We will bring you all the pictures and the news from the event both today and tomorrow.

Below is a provisional list of events which are subject to change as the day goes on.

SAT 25TH MAY AT LYIT

3.30pm – 5.30pm SURVIVOR AND CARER REGISTRATION

5.30pm WELCOMING AND OPENING CEREMONY

6pm SURVIVORS LAP FOLLOWED BY CARERS LAP & TEAM PARADE

7 – 10.30 pm LIVE ENTERTAINMENT including Jimmy Buckley, Lisa McHugh,

Robert Mizzell, Johnny Brady,Grainne Gavigan,Sailor Bill,Arcanadh

Kim Dickinson, Lee Mulhern, Donegal Tenors, Maire Brennan,

Mairead Ni Maonaigh

10.30pm – 11pm LUMINARIA CEREMONY

11 – 12 pm LIVE ENTERTAINMENT by Sontas

SUN 26TH MAY AT LYIT

Midnight – 7.30am NIGHT TIME FUN including Celtic Tiger, Anne Biddie, Paul McCahill,

Richie Remo, DJ Scoop

6.45am-7.20am DAWN CHORUS MASS with Scoil Mhuire Gan Small Choir

7.30am – 9am MORNING EXERCISE AND LIVE ENTERTAINMENT with Mr Motivator, Alec Black and Stack of Barley

9am –10am GOSPEL HOUR BROADCAST LIVE ON HIGHLAND including Survivor Choir, Colmcille Choir, Relay Choir, Charlie McGettigan

10am -11am ECUMENICAL SERVICE BROADCAST LIVE HIGHLAND

11am –5.15pm LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON THE STAGE including Jackie Sharkey,

Ian Smith, Paul Kelly, Simon Peters, David Craig, Brian Kerrigan,

Seamus McGee, Sneak Preview, Trevor Loughrey, Ryan Turner Band,

Shane McLoughlin

1 pm – 4pm HEALTH FAIR OPENS

5.20pm – 6 pm FINALE AND CLOSING CEREMONY

Highland Radio is broadcasting live from the event throughout 24 hours and the event is also being live streamed around the world, link available on www.relayforlifedonegal.com

Correct at time of going to press.

Final Score: Burt 1:10 Malin 1:05.

This long awaited Cup Final was set to be a competitive, intense and dramatic game, the opening half seing Burt scoring the first three points of the game. Malin defence were put under pressure, with Malin goalkeeper Lee McDaid making three consecutive saves which disrupted the Burt attack.

Malin’s Christopher Mc Laughlin (F) replied with a point, while Burt got a further three points, leaving the Half Time Score Burt 0.06 Malin 0.01.

The second half saw the Malin attempt a comeback, but Burt matched three points with three of their own, leaving the scoreline Burt 0.09 Malin 0.04.

Shortly following this the Burt side were reduced to 14 players, however were able to place another point and goal to step forward with Burt 1.10 Malin 0.05. The game took a dramatic turn when Malin’s Mid- fielder Jonathon Mc Laughlin powered through the Burt defence and placed a low controlled shot to into the back of the Burt net, leaving the score line Burt 1.10 Malin 1.05. The final few minutes of the game were dramatic with both teams fighting to gain scores, however on this occasion the home side of Burt won against their Malin opponents. Final Score Burt 1.10 Malin 1.05.

Burt Team: Mark Mc Elhinney, Tom Doherty, Kyle Mc Grath, Conor Bradley, Shaun Gallagher, Kyle Long, Matthew Doherty, Sean Mc Hugh, Ryan Mc Laughlin. Ryan Doherty, Mark Coyle, Calvin Gallagher, Paul Mc Grath, Tony Cregan, Stephen Mc Cafferty. Subs: Dylan Clarke, Matthew Mc Dermott, Jonathon Mc Daid, Aaron Doherty, Callum Porter, Caolan Mc Dermott, Jordon Arbuckle, Shaun O’ Donnell, Sean Mc Bride, Josh Arbuckle.

Malin Team: Lee Mc Daid, Ruaidhri Mc Carron, Peter Doherty, Thomas Mc Laughlin, Aiden Bambrick, Ryan Doherty, Conor Mc Colgan, Jonathon Mc Laughlin, Christopher Doherty (PM), Christopher Mc Laughlin, Andrew Mullan, Tiarnan Stevens, Conor Mc Geoghegan, Aaron Mc Laughlin, Danny Mc Carrron. Subs: Diarmuid, Joe Doherty (PM), Cian Stevens, Niall Kelly, Mitchell Dutton, Donall Walsh, Jordon Mc Laughlin, Joe Doherty, Cormac Cullinane.

Robbie Williams in Derry on Friday

A HOST of top pop stars are spending the weekend in Donegal – thanks to the BBC Radio One Big Weekend in Derry.

An after party is underway at The Bailey in Redcastle, while a host of stars are booked into the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny.

And there are rumours that singer Robbie Williams is among them.

He took to the stage in Derry on Friday for a quick song with Dizzee Rascal – and 12,000 people lucky enough to get tickets went wild.

Derry’s lack of hotel rooms has been a massive financial boost for Donegal this weekend.

Sarah Cox, the Radio One DJ, has been seen in Letterkenny.

The BBC wouldn’t comment on where all the stars over the next few days are staying.

Olly Murs, Rita Ora, The Script and Bruno Mars are all appearing over the three day festival.

There are even rumours of surprise appearances by both U2 and One Direction.

And all of them are choosing to stay in Donegal, away from the crowds in Derry City.

The Mount Errigal has been buzzing all evening – with more guest staying at Gallaghers Hotel in Letterkenny.

Several suites at the 5-star Solis Lough Eske Hotel have also been booked out.

THE gang at the score.ie have come up with a superb list which shows why you’re a Donegal fan.

It is quite brilliant.

And frankly, not worth trying to replicate.

So you can read it here below – and then tell us on DD your signs of being a Donegal fan.

http://www.thescore.ie/donegal-jim-mcguinness-4-923865-May2013/

Finn Harps threw away an early lead to surrender all three points to Wexford Youths this evening.

Harps started brightly and after a fine passage of play out of defence Sean McCarron was left with a simple tap-in to make it 1-0 in the 17th minute.

However Wexford rallied after the goal and Joe Mulcahy went close for the home side just a few minutes later.

Peter Hutton’s side looked like they had weathered the storm when Wexford struck just before the break through Mulcahy.

Both sides had chances after the restart but it was the home side who made the decisive breakthrough when Aidan Keenan netted to make it 2-1.

Harps buckled down and tried to level the score again.

They were thrown a lifeline when Wexford were reduced to ten men when Thomas Croke was red carded.

But as hard as they tried they could not find the Wexford net.

After two impressive displays against Mervue in the league and Derry City in the League Cup, Harps will be disappointed to have dropped all three points.

MAYBE we should invite RTE sports journalist Marty Morrissey to Donegal more often – as the sun shone during a live TV interview this evening with Donegal manager Jim McGuinness.

The county manager and the erstwhile hack were on the beach at Portnoo for the live link-up to the studio in Dublin for the Six-One News.

“Jim tells me the sun shines like this all the time,” said Marty as the pair discussed this Sunday’s Ulster Senior Football Championship clash at MacCumhaill Park.

Of course it does Marty!

On the more serious matter of the match, Jim says his team is ready for the clash of the Ulster titans on the first round.

“Preparations have gone very well for us,” said Jim.

“We have got a good run in this year. Last year we had just a two week turnaround to face Tyrone.

“Our preparations have gone really well and the boys know at this stage what it’s all about and it’s about going out and executing our own game plan on Sunday.”

Morrissey asked Jim about relegation to Division 2 of the National League – and the fact that McGuinness has had his All-Ireland winning team together for the first time since the All-Ireland win.

“It’s all about the Championship at the end of the day; this is a game that has been on the horizon for a long time,” said the Glenties man.

“Tyrone have a very good league campaign under their belt but from our point of view we have been building towards this day and the boys have been working very very hard.

“You want a good run into this (game) and you want to know that the boys know what it’s all about and I feel that that is the case.”

The RTE sportsman wanted to know how Jim could whip up his team again for another All-Ireland challenge.

Jim revealed the management had “dropped the players back down again” with a view to whipping them back up again.

“Time will tell,” said Jim.

“The players are as focused as ever; they are working very hard and everybody knows there’s a lot riding on the game and we’re just looking forward to it now.”

Marty added: “And we’re looking forward to it too. Jim tells me the sun is always shining here in Donegal!”

That’s right Jim – haven’t seen rain in weeks!

We all look forward to the first signs of Summer; the stretch in the evenings, warmer weather and the mouth-watering aroma of a BBQ being grilled.

If you are planning to cook this weekend, don’t let your good habits in the kitchen go up in smoke when you light the barbeque – an evening alfresco should bring memories of friends, family and food, not tummy bugs! Here are 7 golden rules from safefood for how to get it right every time.

Keep perishable foods like salads, coleslaw and quiche in your fridge until you are about to serve them.

BBQ foods like burgers, sausages and kebabs, pork and poultry must be cooked and piping hot all the way through. You know they are cooked when there is no pink meat and the juices run clear. Steaks or whole meat joints of beef or lamb can be served ‘rare’ as harmful bacteria are on the outside only (and not in the centre).

If you like to marinate your meat, make sure any marinade used on raw meat is not then used as a sauce to coat vegetables or cooked meat as it will contain raw meat bacteria.

If you choose to barbeque any frozen food, it must be completely thawed on the bottom shelf of your fridge before you cook it.

When handling raw meat and poultry, wash your hands thoroughly and frequently, most importantly before going on to prepare salads and other ready to eat foods.

Once your meat is cooked thoroughly, make sure to keep cooked meat separate from raw meat and to use separate chopping boards, cooking utensils and plates. Harmful bacteria in raw meat, poultry and their juices can contaminate cooked food and lead to food poisoning, something your guests won’t thank you for.

If there are leftovers from your barbeque, allow the food to cool before refrigerating, however make sure to refrigerate food within two hours of cooking. Always remember with leftovers – if in doubt, throw it out.

For more information on food safety and healthy eating including recipes, visit www.safefood.eu and enjoy your barbeque, whatever the weather!

BBQ Recipes

Summer Beefburgers (Serves 4 to 6)

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

600g (1lb, 5oz) lean minced beef

1 tablespoon sage, chopped

1 large egg, beaten

1 whole garlic clove, peeled

Black pepper

For the garnish

4 to 6 hamburger buns, halved

1 large beef tomato, sliced into 4 thick slices

Lettuce, mild onion and red peppers

Low-fat mayonnaise or tomato sauce

Method

Cook the onion and garlic in a frying pan with some oil until soft (approximately 2 minutes on a medium heat).

Put the mixture in a large bowl and leave it for a short while to cool.

Add the mince, sage and egg. Mix well and season with pepper.

Shape the mixture into thick burgers (put some flour on your hands to prevent the meat from sticking to them). Put the burgers in on a covered plate or in a sealable container.

Keep the burgers in the fridge until you are ready to cook them.

Cook the burgers on the barbeque. Turn them regularly and make sure they are cooked all the way through. This may take at least 25 minutes. If you prefer, cook the burgers in a hot frying pan for 10 to 12 minutes on each side.

While the burgers are cooking, toast the burger buns on the barbeque or in a toaster.

Rub the clove of garlic over the ‘inside’ of the bun to give it a garlic flavour. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Place a slice of tomato on the garlic side of the bun and season with pepper.

Before serving, make sure that the burgers are cooked thoroughly, by cutting into them with a clean knife and checking that they are piping hot all the way through, there is no pink meat remaining and the juices run clear.

When cooked, serve the burgers immediately in the prepared buns and garnish with lettuce, mild onion and red peppers, and a small dollop of low-fat mayonnaise or tomato sauce.

Citrus summer chicken (Serves 4)

Ingredients

4 boneless chicken breasts

Salad to serve

(try it with low-fat and low-salt sauces)

For the marinade

Zest and juice of 1 orange

Zest and juice of ½ lime

1 inch of fresh ginger

2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

1 tablespoon olive oil

Freshly ground black pepper

Method

Put the zest and juice of the orange and the lime (or a drop of lemon juice if you haven’t got a lime) into a bowl. Peel the ginger, grate it finely and add it to the bowl with the garlic.

Whisk in the olive oil and then stir in the black pepper. Using a large knife, cut each chicken breast in half. Add these to the marinade and make sure that each portion is well coated.

Cover the bowl with cling film and put it on the bottom shelf of the fridge for at least 1 hour.

Cook the chicken on a hot barbeque for 25 to 30 minutes, turning it often.

You can also use chicken thighs or drumsticks for this recipe. Adjust the cooking times depending on the meat.

Before serving, check that the chicken is properly cooked by removing it from the heat and cutting into the thickest part of it with a clean knife to make sure that it is piping hot all the way through, there is no pink meat remaining, and the juices run clear

The scene of the crash at Lurgeybrack outside Letterkenny

BREAKING NEWS: Gardai and the emergency services are at the scene of a serious accident at Lurgybrack outside Letterkenny.

It is understood at least one person has been trapped in a car after a collision close to the local national school.

It is unclear as to the extent of the person’s injuries.

The accident happened just after 4.15pm.

Traffic is down to one lane but appears to be flowing.

One eye-witness told Donegal Daily that the scene looked bad.

“There is a car which has appeared to have collided onto its side.

“The emergency services are at the scene and they appear to be trying to cut the person from the car,” he said.

There are two fire tenders at the scene as well as three ambulances and two units of the Gardai.

A CO Donegal woman is set to have all her hair shaved off tonight – to raise money for cancer victims.

Edel Kirwan Roulston will get the barber’s treatment at Redicans Ard Ri bar.

All money raised will go towards funding the Good and New Galway cancer bus which takes patients from Donegal to Galway for treatment.

A good night’s craic is guaranteed with Brian Kerrigan providing the entertainment.

There is also a prize raffle – with events beginning at 10pm.

“A close friend and an uncle both died from cancer in the past six months so I’m doing this in their memory,” said Edel.