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AUGUST 2009
Emigration Monument to be unveiled
A delegation from Canada will be arriving in Moville Wednesday 2nd
September for the unveiling of Inishowen's emigration monument 'Fid'.
The monument was designed by well-known artist Locky Morris and will
be unveiled by Donegal Mayor Brendan Byrne.
The delegation's visit will include an exhibition of images from
Moville's Scoil Eoghain and joining Mayor Byrne in the launch of
a book titled 'Across the Atlantic- Emigrating form Moville and
Derry'. Their visit follows on from a trip when representatives
of Derry City Council, Inishowen Rural Development, the University
of Ulster, the Ulster American Folk Park and local community groups
visited New BrunswicK, Canada in 2007. The purpose of the visit
was to explore the cultural and historical links between the north
west of Ireland and Canada generated by over one hundred years of
emigration from Moville and Derry to the New Brunswick area and
beyond.
A spokesperson from Donegal County Council said: "In Greencastle
Maritime Museum the artist Locky Morris encountered an example of
a 'Fid', the small hand held tool turned from a piece of wood, used
by fishermen for splicing ropes and nets and by sailmakers for opening
holes in the sails without tearing the material. "Locky Morris's
striking new sculpture both recollects that form of a 'Fid' and
the beacon flames lit on the hills by Lough Foyle for emigrants.
The monument, which is being erected on Moville's historic old stone
pier, represents Moville's maritime history and the legacy which
emigration has left on this town and community."
The group will see the monument unveiled at 11a.m. before attending
the book launch which is being held at 12noon at Carrowmenagh Suite
in the Caiseal Mara Hotel. The book is a small illustrated publication
consisting of a number of short articles relating to the history
of emigration from Derry and Donegal, written by some well-known
local historians and academics. The articles demonstrate the surviving
connections and links between the people of New Brunswick and the
North West of Ireland.
The publication was put together by the archivists from Donegal
County Council and Derry City Council's Heritage and Museum Service
who have also contributed articles on the sources available for
tracing one's ancestors, particularly in relation to emigration.
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