April 2004

'The Donegal Corridor and Irish Neutrality during World War II.'

Historian Joe O'Loughlin a native of Belleek, County Fermanagh was the guest speaker in McNamara's Hotel on Thursday 29th April, 2004 to talk about the theme: The Donegal Corridor and Irish Neutrality during World War II.' Over fifty people attend the historical evening which was hosted by Moville Branch Library. Gerard Duddy acted MC for the evening's event.

Joe grew up along the border during the war years, when flying boats were a regular sight in the skies. He has gathered from many sources a considerable amount of information on World War II as it affected Donegal and Fermanagh.

During the war years of 1939-1945 over 200 aircraft came down in Eire - nearly twenty landed in and around the Inishowen Peninsula, Co. Donegal. Joe spoke about the many aircraft crashes, the meaning of 'benevolent neutrality' and the experience of those interned in the Curragh during the war years amongst other themes.

For those who missed the historical evening a transcript of the talk by Joe O'Loughlin is available at Moville Branch Library. Contact details are as follows:

Gerard Duddy
Branch Librarian
Moville Branch Library
The Square
Moville
Inishowen
Co. Donegal
Republic of Ireland
Email: movillelib@donegalcoco.ie

Future talk organised by Moville Library in September 2004.

Historian Joe O'Loughlin will speak on the theme: 'Shot at Dawn.' This was a sentence passed mainly during the First World War - 1914/18, on soldiers who were accused of breaches of discipline at the front. Offences that merited this sentence were many and varied; treason, desertion, disobeying an order, spying, collaboration with the enemy, cowardice, sleeping on duty, striking a senior officer, mutiny, theft and being absent from leave.

For further details contact Moville Branch Library - 074 93 85110

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