heated people coupled with a within the competency of the kc~ne.r appredatiun :uf the hhs- lirilbh Guvcr11mcut to confer, torical and literary associations rather than uetray his fatherof the district, a.!ld an intro- land.? His bones are in the Episcoduction to its scenic attractions, pa1lian Churchyard, on the outwould convince him that it i1s skirts 10f Stranorlar, under his far from being devoid of interest. favourite tree, which was his The Finn Valley boasts of few daily haunt as a boy li~ing with industries except those for which his faither, the Rector, in the adGod intended it - agriculture joining Rectory, now, alas totally 1and its subsidiaries. ltis inland demolished. -- position with consequent high Stranorlar too, boasts of having transport costs militates against been the birthplace of the blind the establishment of concerns re- poetess, Frances Browne, whose quiring ~mported materials. True, "Songs .of Our Land" will ever it has 1some textile factories thrill an Irish hea.rt. The house which wax 1and wane as fortunes where she was reputed to have vary, and it neighbours Convoy been born has been oc.cupied f:or whose famous Woollen Mills are a life-time by Mr. Francis a land mark, but as long as men Thompson, himself a rem·arkable live thev must eat and while it craftsman, whose work in woodfosters agriculture it can never turni.ng with home-made too ls fail. and machinery is so ingenious, Stra.norlar, the headquarters that he was taken specially to of the Donegal Railways, is the the Royal Dublin Society Spring seat of all 'the Parish Churches, Show to demonstrate it. of which Ballybofey does n.ot Before ;the establishment of boast 1a 'Single edifice. The Catho- St. Eunan's College, the business lie Church stands as solid and premises in Stranorlar .now firm as it was when erected over owned by Mrs. Annie Sieyes iwas 95 years ago, and its altar piece the "Latin School',, which was is an object of admiration of 1attended in their student days every vi1sitor. The National by ,many distinguished ecclesiSchools, erected in 1888, are be- astics, including Father )kFadcoming t:oo small f.or the school den, of Gweedore fame. population despite major ex- Ballybofey is the business tension works in 1928. A Techni- ce.ntre, whose main street does cal School, erected in 1939, is not hold a single house in which c~mmodious, attractive, and use- some business is not ;conducted. ful, pf!oviding for pupils for miles Some of the 1most modern and around and imparting instruc- well-stocked drapery establis.htion which has en1abled many of ments in the county are located those who passed through its there. portals to engage in :responsible, ,Ballybofey and Stra.!lorlar secure, a:n::l well-paid occupations. dwellers are sports lovers an-5 Who of. the older generation many outdoor games are prohas not heard 1of Istaac Butt, the imoted and supported, including father of Home 1Rule, that cpure- Gaelic football, soccer, tennis, souled patriot who rejected the cricket, handlbal1, and the twinhighest judicial post in Ireland towns' team oan a1ways make a 348.
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