Cathaoirleach Cllr. Rena Donaghey welcomes you to the Donegal Connections Ezine

2nd Oct 2020
Donegal Connect Raises €3,000 for Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust
Foreground Cllr. Rena Donaghy, Cathaoirleach Donegal County Council presents a cheque to Colin Bell of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which was raised as part of the 2019 Donegal Connect celebrations. Background L – R: Garry Martin, Director of Services, Donegal County Council, Eithne Bell, Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust and John McLaughlin, Chief Executive Donegal County Council.

In my capacity as Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, I would like to welcome you to the Donegal Connections Ezine.  Our links with friends and family around the world are more important than ever in what has been a particularly challenging year due to the pandemic and with Brexit looming large.  

As Donegal enters a period of further Government restrictions, Covid 19 has placed extraordinary demands on each and every one of us as individuals, families, workers and business owners.  With very little prospect of holding large scale events this year and possibly well into 2021, we have had to adapt and rethink how best to conduct our business and engage with you, our global Diaspora.

It is with that in mind, and building on the success of Donegal Connect 2019, that I am pleased to tell you that Donegal Connect 2020 will be delivered virtually this year to audiences around the world.  So save the date Thursday October 08th 2020 and read more about this exciting event in the ezine.   

The launch of the event this year provided the perfect opportunity for me to make a formal presentation to Colin and Eithne Bell from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust with funds raised during Donegal Connect 2019. Donegal County Council was delighted to support this charity, established in 2013, which has supported numerous bereaved families, repatriating 969 loved ones to their families across the Island of Ireland including 32 Donegal families since its inception.

The search is on for Donegal's next female entrepreneurs.  Read about this exciting opportunity for our Diaspora with the launch of  AMBITION a pre-accelerator programme for female entrepreneurs run by Local Enterprise Office Donegal, in partnership with NDRC, which sources and builds digital startups to invest in and work with.  The closing date for applications is Sunday 11th October 2020.

Also in this edition you will read about an exciting Donegal County Council campaign #buydonegal weekend scheduled to take place during the weekend of 06th – 08th November.  This campaign will offer people a great opportunity to buy their special Donegal gift in time for Christmas, giving their loved ones something extra special from Donegal as well as helping to support businesses in the region.

Finally, many thanks to those of you who supported our #lovedonegal campaign on September 16th.  The campaign proved a huge success again this year; you engaged in your thousands to share your stories about why you love Donegal, keeping us firmly on the global map.

I hope you enjoy the ezine and encourage you all to stay safe and well and virtually connected.