It is with great sadness that we learned of the death today of Donal Dempsey R.I.P. one of the most dearest and dedicated members of Douglas Tidy Towns.

Donal was a well known and liked person in our community but it was as a hard working member of Douglas Tidy Towns that we got to know him well over many years. He was a familiar figure in Grange as he took on the job of keeping that area clean and litter free. Whilst we meet regularly every Saturday, Donal could be seen at work any day of the week. He also single-handedly painted the black and white markings on the roundabouts of Douglas and despite knowing he was very ill, he came out this Spring and assisted with the flower planting of containers and was down on his hands and knees weeding the village of Douglas. Donal died peacefully in Marymount Hospice.

We will all miss him and extend our sympathy to his relatives and friends. It can be truly said of him “Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann”.

Douglas Tidy Towns would like to upgrade (bilingually) the signage in the area and have identified the following. At our suggestion Cork County Council have indicated their willingness to erect street signs at these locations:

Douglas Tidy Towns would welcome input from the community in this regard. A proposal to name the walkway from East to West beside the N40 flyover as

River Walk / Bealach na hAbhann

is also being considered. Comments etc. to Douglas Tidy Towns, ℅ Douglas Community Centre, Church Road, Douglas or info@douglastidytowns.ie.

*** This event will be held indoors and will go ahead regardless of the weather. ***

In 1874, the present-day St Luke’s Church was consecrated. This was the third church on the site, replacing a smaller building that had been completed in 1786, barely one hundred years previously. Why did the Church of Ireland parishioners of Douglas decide to rebuild their church? And why did they choose a Gothic style for the new building? This parish was one where parishioners responded to the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland with energy and vigour, renewing their building to mark a new type of church community. Fashion, theology and democracy drove these changes. This Heritage Week, take a tour of St Luke’s Church, exploring the stories of the lay women and men, and clergy, who shaped it’s history. See the memorials to significant parishioners, and hear about Hugh Lane’s connection to St Luke’s in Douglas.

Start is at 2.30 pm.