AT THE outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the regularity of the Derry boat sailings began to dwindle, as U-boat activity in the North Atlantic made a dangerous journey much more hazardous. Ships like The Thistle were re-commissioned for war service and only returned to Derry quay after the conflict. This, however, was at a time when Ireland’s conflict with Britain for its national independence was just getting underway and in which the Derry boat would play an important

IN 2017, the Irish language television channel, TG4, broadcast a programme, Bus Ghlaschú, about the bus services between Donegal and Glasgow that acted as a vital link between the two places. It was so popular that it was also picked up by BBC Alba, the Scottish Gaelic channel and would have reminded many people of the long and difficult journey as well as the many happy reunions enabled by the bus.

GLASGOW'S Irish History Group has hosted its inaugural Irish Culture and Heritage Conference.