Last Friday marked the start of a new era for Ballyshannon installed a new town clock in the south Donegal area following a huge community drive.
The timing system on the clock is set to be activated by the end of this week with the second face of the clock being replaced on Friday afternoon.
Following a lightning strike of their own in 2014, the old clock was damaged beyond repair, prompting a south Donegal regeneration group to take matters into their own hands.
Several community fundraisers later and enough money was raised for the new clock, a project the Ballyshannon Regeneration Group have been involved with from the beginning.
Cllr Barry Sweeney, who is a founding member of the group, told Donegal Daily: “It means an awful lot to the town of Ballyshannon.
“People have come together and it one of those symbolic gestures to get the town clock up and running again.
“It means more than just a clock, I think the people of Ballyshannon see it as a bit of a revival or regeneration.
“Not only are you getting the clock ticking again, but you are also getting the town ticking again.
“There was a real positive mood about it and there was a buzz about the town,” he added.
“The community raised the money for this clock and they are not seeing the fruits of their labour and the fruits of the money that was put into the project.”
The original clock face was built in 1878 when an agreement was struck between the planning authorities and Belfast Bank.
The building was later owned by the Royal Bank before an amalgamation with the Provincial Bank resulted in the Allied Irish Bank forming there in 1966.
Local businessman Eamonn McNulty, who now owns the building, purchased the property from the well-known Gallogley family earlier this year.
Cllr Sweeney continued: “The building was bought about 10 months ago and the new owner, Eamonn McNulty, has helped greatly with the project.
“He is doing a lot of the physical work as well, he is up and down the stairs and the ladders and he is a man of 80-years-old – his work has been great.”
