FAMOUS PEOPLE BORN IN DONEGAL
~ WILLIAM ALLINGHAM (1824~89) ~ Poet. Probably his most famous work is 'The Fairies' "Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren't go a-hunting, For fear of little men ..." which lines are spoken by The Tinker in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. He died in London and his ashes were brought home to his navie Ballyshannon where they were intered in the graveyard at St. Anne's Church of Ireland in the town. His English wife, Helen Allingham (1848-1926) was an artist and the first woman elected to the Royal Society of Watercolours.
~ Enya
~ GALLAGHER, RORY (1948-95) ~ Musician and songwriter, was born in Ballyshannon. He formed the band 'Taste' in the late '60s. In 1971 he was voted (ahead of Eric Clapton) Melody Maker's International Top Musician of the Year. His albums have sold over 30 millions copies worldwide. He died in London after developing complications following a liver transplant. Each year in Ballyshannon The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival takes place and on the 2nd of June 2010 the Rory Gallagher Bronze statue was unveiled in the town centre. In Temple Bar, Dublin there is a place name 'Rory Gallagher Corner' and under the sign hangs a bronze replica of his Stratocaster guitar. One of his most famous songs is probably 'Who's That Coming'.
~ McGETTIGAN, CHARLIE (b.1949) ~ Singer/songwriter and winner of the Eurovision (along with Paul Harrington in 1994. Their final score was 226 points which was 66 points ahead of the runner-up and the highest score ever in the Eurovision. Their winning song was 'Rock 'n' Roll Kids'.
~ Daniel O'Donnell (b. 1961) ~ Singer, was born in Kincasslagh
