JULY 2009

English King and Queen's visit to Inishowen recalled
RnaG documentary looks back at Buncrana port's role in history
Taken from Inish Times 29th July 2009

A visit by the King and Queen of England to Buncrana and how the English feared an attack by Napoleon from the seaside town is recalled in a radio documentary programme to be broadcast tomorrow, 30th July 2009.

"Ó Chéidh go Céidh" is a series of programmes currently being aired on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta at 1.30pm every Thursday throughout the summer.

Presented by Séamus MacGéidigh, the series features his travels to ports up and down County Donegal to discover the history of the port and its influence on the development of the surrounding area.

Tomorrow's edition features local man Jimmy Mac Giolla Bhríde talking about Buncrana, a port which has always been of strategic military importance due to its position in Lough Swilly, one of the deepest harbours in Europe, capable of accommodating the biggest boats in the world.

At the time of the Ulster Plantation in the 1600s, Inis Eoghain came under the control of Arthur Chichester, and most of the development which took place at the harbour from then until the early 20th century can be attributed to the English.

In the programme, Jimmy speaks to Séamus about the English fear of an attack by Napoleon from Buncrana which resulted in the Martello towers being built there.

He describes the scenes for listeners during the First World War when the whole British Naval Fleet was stationed on Lough Swilly for two years, and how, as a result, Buncrana became one of the first towns of its kind to get running water.

He tells him of a British Royal visit by the King Edward VII of England and his wife Queen Alexandria who came ashore in Buncrana in 1903, and of the great riches that may lie on the ocean floor at the mouth of the harbour there after the sinking of the Laurentic in 1917 with 43 tonnes of gold aboard.

You can catch this fascinating history of the port of Buncrana up until the present day on Ó Chéidh go Céidh, at 1.30pm on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.

Jimmy Mac Giolla Bhríde is originally from Gaoth Dobhair where he is known as Séamus Beag Shéamuis. A former primary school teacher he has been living in Buncrana since 1960 where he is very active in community life and very well-versed in its history.

A renowned traditional singer, he established the Inishowen Traditional Singers Circle in 1988 and has collected a lot of songs from Inis Eoghain and Derry since the 1970s. He has released two song collections himself, and has composed some songs as Gaeilge and is a regular contributor on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta on events and current affairs in Inish Eoghain.

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