INISHOWEN JOBLESS 'TAKING THE BOAT'
As Inishowen's unemployment levels reach savage and record levels with 5,005 people claiming the dole one youth leader says 'hope' must emerge from our deep depression.
Figures released on Friday showed Buncrana's live register figures (which covers the Inishowen peninsula) have risen dramatically since this time last year.
There are now 5,005 people signing on compared to 3,939 people last year.
Worryingly, because of the increase in people signing on in the seaside town, fears are now growing Buncrana will soon steal Letterkenny's crown as the dole capital of Donegal.
Letterkenny had 5,644 people signing on compared to 4,269 this time last year.
In total there are a whopping 21,473 people unemployed in Donegal.
Concerned youth club chairman PJ Hallinan told the Journal he's extremely worried for people's well being and mental health.
He said unemployment is having a huge impact on Inishowen people's lives.
He told the Journal: "It is worrying to say the least; it's depressing as well.
"Where can we go from here? I just don't know at this moment in time. I sincerely hope things start to pick up.
"What the problem really is here is there is no local type of job opportunities coming out because nothing is moving, business is very poor. I hope we are at the bottom of this and we will rise again. "
Mr Hallinan said while he was not surprised with the latest jobless figures, he felt angry so many people were out of work.
He said: "This is a scary place for people to be in. There are people that are in a really bad place.
"I think the government needs to look seriously at supporting young couples who have mortgages and give them some help.
"There are a lot of things that could be done if there is support.
"Depression is there because there is no work and the greatest therapy we have is work."
He said the trend for people to emigrate for work was back and just the other day he caught a glimpse of a group heading to Australia - this he said brought him back to his youth when leaving was the only option for people.
He said: "There was a lot of young men heading off to Australia the other day, It brought me back to when they were leaving the town on bus loads going to england, years ago.
"This give me quite a shudder to think of those that were brought up in that era where 'takin' the boat' was the only option.
"To see us going back there is sad.
"It saddened me to think they are going out on the bus loads and they are going again but they are young they are educated and able.
"They have a lot of things going for them. Their parents were there to see them off but parents are parents and I am sure when they returned home there was tears of sadness, lots of cups of teas and worry."
He said the only option now was for the jobless was to take up courses, re-skill and become multiskilled people.
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Weather for Derry
Friday 25 May 2012
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Temperature: 14 C to 24 C
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Wind direction: East
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