To mark the 1,500th anniversary of the birth of Colmcille, County Donegal Historical Society has published a special edition of Donegal Annual 2021, no. 73.
It is a celebration of one of Ireland’s greatest saints, a man of Donegal birth who became an international icon. Contributors include local authors and established historians from home and abroad. How has the Columban tradition fared over the centuries since his death? The Vikings had little respect for his achievements as revealed in an engaging article by Darren McGettigan. By the seventeenth century, his reputation was enhanced when the Church of Ireland named its new cathedral in Derry in his honour as evidenced by William Roulston from the Ulster Historical Foundation. By the nineteenth century, Colmcille was perceived as a man of significant stature, especially in his native County, and this is the subject of an article by Nollaig MacCongáil, a former Registrar and Vice-President of University College, Galway. Decade of Centenaries As part of the Decade of Centenaries, there is also an interesting section on the War of Independence in Donegal. Seán Boner has carried out extensive research in south-west Donegal on this period. There are also some new insights on the war in Inishowen, revealed here for the first time, in the previously unpublished papers of the Lanigan family of Carndonagh; three Lanigan brothers were jailed in 1921, according to the owner of the newly-discovered archive, John Reynolds. With dozens of maps, illustrations, photos, book reviews and charts, the Donegal Annual is strongly recommended reading for everyone who is interested in Colmcille and the War of Independence. Among the regular features is a bibliography of recently-published books relating to Donegal; Rory Gallagher has compiled this section with assistance from the library staff of Donegal County Council, including Una Matthewson and Frances Crampsie.It is encouraging to see much material being published despite the lockdown. The Donegal Annual is a veritable treasure house of literary and historical riches and will be in great demand. Copies are on sale in local shops or you can have postal delivery by contacting the Secretary, Mrs Una McGarrigle at unamcgarri...@hotmail.com -- www.cotyrone.com http://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/ _______________________________________________ UlsterAncestry@cotyrone.com UlsterAncestry Mailing List Searchable Archives: https://www.mail-archive.com/ulsterancestry@cotyrone.com/ https://lists.cotyrone.com/mailman/listinfo/ulsterancestry Website: https://cotyrone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CoTyroneIrelandGenealogy/
