On Wednesday, 2nd September in Moville.
- Mr Brendan Byrne, Mayor, County Donegal, will launch THE FID- EMIGRATION MONUMENT, 11 AM, Moville Old Pier
- There will be an EXHIBIT of images from Moville Scoil Eoghain Per Cent for Art project by Locky Morris, at Carrowmena suite, Caiseal Mara Hotel. 11.30 AM.
- The Mayor will then launch the book Across the Atlantic- Emigrating from Moville and Derry , 12 PM, Carrowmena Suite, Caiseal Mara Hotel.
In 2007 representatives from Derry City Council, Inishowen Rural Development, the University of Ulster, the Ulster American Folk Park and local community groups visited New Brunswick, Canada. 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.
1ST –2ND SEPTEMBER- CANADIAN DELEGATION ARRIVES IN DUBLIN AND TRAVEL TO DONEGAL
On Tuesday 1st September 2009 a high level Canadian delegation led by the New Brunswick Minister for Supply and Services, Hon. Dr. Ed Doherty, will arrive in Dublin from New Brunswick. There the delegation will meet with the Minister of State for Natural Resources, Mr. Conor Lenihan TD. They will be taken on a tour of Dáil Éireann, and will be received at the Canadian embassy.
Later on Tuesday, the delegation will fly to Derry and will stay at the Carlton Redcastle Hotel, in Inishowen on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night.
Wednesday will commence with a meeting between the delegation and the Mayor of Donegal and the County Manager, Mr. Michael McLoone, to be followed by the launches of The Fid Monument and the book, Across the Atlantic: Emigrating from Moville and Derry.
The Fid- Moville Emigration Monument
In Greencastle Maritime Museum the artist Locky Morris encountered an example of a ‘fid’, the small handheld 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.
Across the Atlantic- Emigrating from Moville and Derry 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.
Delegation meet with Inishowen Partnership and Derry City Mayor
Later on Wednesday the Canadian delegation will meet with Inishowen Development Partnership at Greencastle Maritime Museum and be conducted on a guided tour of the Inishowen peninsula. That night they will attend an official dinner hosted by the Mayor of Donegal at McGrorys in Culdaff.
On Thursday, 3rd September the delegation will meet with Councillor Paul Fleming, Derry City Mayor at the Guildhall and will spend the day in Derry. On Friday they will meet with officials of Donegal County Council in the Carlton Redcastle Hotel.
Full itinerary enclosed with this press release. For more information contact
Ms Niamh Brennan, Donegal County Council Archives Service, 074 9172490
Mr Declan Sheehan, Public Art Office, Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, 074 9121986