Our President - Col. Declan O'Carroll
The 36th President of the County Donegal Historical Society is Col. Declan O'Carroll, a native of Bundoran who now, resides in Letterkenny. He served in the Defence Forces for 42 years before retiring in 2005 in the rank of Colonel.
Declan joined the Army as a Cadet in 1963 and was commissioned into the 6 Inf Bn in Custume Barracks, Athlone in 1965. He was posted to Donegal at the outbreak of the conflict in Northern Ireland in 1969 and served in a variety of appointments with the 24 Inf Bn FCA and the 28 Inf Bn within the county. He later had the honour and distinction of commanding both battalions.
Declan moved to Defence Forces HQ., in Dublin when he was promoted to Lt. Col and was appointed Director of Public Relations for the Defence Forces. In 1998 he returned to Donegal as Officer Commanding 28 Inf Bn in Finner Camp until 2001.
During his career he served with the United Nations in Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Syria on the Golan Heights and finally in Croatia in 1996.
On promotion to Col. in 2001 Declan became Director of Administration in Defence Forces HQ., Dublin. Following a year in that appointment he finished his military career in as head of the Irish Military Office on the Partnership for Peace programme at NATO HQ.in Brussels for over three years from 2002-2005.
Col. O'Carroll played Gaelic football for Donegal (1961-1974) and was a member of the first Donegal team to win an Ulster Championship in 1972. He is the holder of two Railway Cup medals with Ulster.
An enthusiastic local historian, our President has written and published histories of Finner Camp Ballyshannon, Rockhill Ho. Letterkenny, Fort Dunree, the Battle of Scarrifollis 1650 and a biography of Lt Col James McMonagle as well as being a regular contributor on historical matters to the DHS Annual and the Letterkenny Community Christmas annual.
He is married to Eleanor with three adult children Emma, John and David.
President's Chain
The County Donegal Historical Society received a Presidential Chain of office at the County House, Lifford on the 11th September 1971. The presentation was made by Mr. E. W. R. Cookman, the immediate past President, in the same room where the inaugural meeting of the Society was held on 20th December 1946. At the function, the President, Dr. J. D. Simms, was invested with the chain of office. Past Presidents or their relatives subscribed to the gift to commemorate the Silver Jubilee Year.
The silver gilt badge has the name of the Society in Irish and English. The centre piece is quartered with illustrations representing important periods in the history of the county. The stone fort of Grianan Ailigh on its elevated site recalls the pre-Christian era. There are numerous reminders of this age scattered throughout the county as court cairns, portal dolmens and other Celtic forts but the Grianan is the most notable example. The early Christian period and its missionary activity of St. Columba and others is represented by a monk seated at a writing desk. Below is the motto "Peregrinari pro Christo" - to be a traveller for Christ. The O'Donnell arms, which is primarily an arm with a cross held in the hand, was selected for the centuries when this Gaelic clan held sway over the most of the county. The last quarter depicts the well-preserved ruin of Donegal Castle on the banks of the River Eske, for the planters of the Ulster Plantation. The picturesque castle was rebuilt in 1610 and incorporated a section of the O'Donnell Castle.
The chain has gilded links with a separate link for each of the seventeen Presidents from 1946-70. This number will increase as the names of new Presidents are added. The chain was made by Weir & Sons, Dublin and the Society has taken out an insurance policy for it. E. W. R. Cookman 1971
Past Presidents
*1947 – Andrew Lowry, Argery, Raphoe.
*1948 – Rt. Rev. Dean Molloy, D.Ph., V.G., P.P., Dungloe.
*1949 – Capt. J. Hamilton, Ballintra.
*1950 – Sean D. MacLochlainn, Lifford.
*1951 – Rev. Dr. J. H. Bewglas, Raphoe.
*1952 – An tAth. P. MacLoinsigh, P.P., Aghyaran.
*1953 – Rev. R. Laird, The Manse, Ardstraw.
*1954 – Patrick J. McGill, N.T., F.R.S.A.I., Ardara.
*1955 – Miss C. Atkinson, Cavangarden, Ballintra.
*1956/1957 – Fr. Terence O’Donnell, O.F.M., Rossnowlagh.
*1958/1959 – Mr. J. C. T. MacDonagh, Ballybofey.
*1960 – Denis Verschoyle, Cape Town, South Africa.
*1961 - Eamonn MacLoinsigh, An Clochan, Gleann Fhinne.
*1962/1964 – P. Urr. O’Gallachair, Cluain Eois & Drom Mor.
*1965 – Harry P. Swan, Buncrana.
*1966/1967 – Rupert S. O’Cochlainn, Dublin.
*1968/1970 – E. W. R. Cookman, M.A., Raphoe.
*1971 – Dr. J. G. Simms, Dublin.
*1972/1973 – Liam MacMeanman, B.A., O.S., Fal Carrach.
*1974 – Sean Mac Loinsigh, O.S., Convoy.
*1975/1976 – Brian Walsh, F.S.M.C., Letterkenny.
*1977/1979 – J. D. Williams, Letterkenny.
*1980/1982 – Dorothy Borland, Fanad.
*1983 – Edward MacIntyre, Strabane.
*1984/1986 – Cecil King, Ballyshannon.
*1987/1988 – Liam O’Doherty, Derry.
1989 – Arthur Spears, B.E., Lifford.
*1990/1992 – Arthur Lemon, Waterford.
1993/1994 – Seamus Gildea, Glenties.
*1995/1996 – Mairead Dunlevy, Dublin.
1997/1998 – Patrick J. Dunleavy, Dungloe.
1999/2001 - Edward O’ Kane, Cavanacor House, Ballindrait, Lifford.
2002/2005 - Anthony Begley , Ballyshannon.
2005/2007 - Vincent O’Donnell, Inver
2007/2009 - Helen Meehan, Inver
2009/ - Col. Declan
O'Carroll, Letterkenny
(Asterisk denotes deceased)