Author name: oisinkelly

The Chairperson of the Letterkenny Municipal District says it’s regrettable but understandable that the council did not buy Rockhill House and its lands. The former country manor estate and Irish Defence Force Barracks will be sold at public auction next month with a guide price of 260 thousand euro. It and the former Lifford Barracks were offered to the council […]

It’s emerged that the Minister for Environment may overturn a decision by Donegal County Council to impose new conditions on wind-farm developments. At the end of last month County Cllrs voted to vary the County Development Plan in favour of restricting windfarms. They voted 18-11, to create a set back distance ten times the tip

A man is due to appear in court in Strabane today in relation to two armed robberies in the town in the past month. Another man will also appear in court charged with offences connected to yesterday’s robbery. A 25-year-old man will appear in Strabane Magistrates Court today charged in connection with two armed robberies

A new survey shows 7% of people would choose Donegal as there favourite ‘Staycation’ destination. More than 1,700 people took part in the survey which was carried out by property website MyHome.ie. The site currently has over 4,000 Irish holiday homes available for rent. Donegal was the 5th most popular destination behind Wexford and just

The MacGill Summer School has heard how young people are bored with politics because of too many broken promises. The summer school’s heard that many young people who voted in 2011 are unlikely to do so again because of the current government’s actions. The school’s been discussing the apathy of young people in current affairs.

A protest will take place at Glenburnie Beach in Moville this afternoon to highlight the possible implications of the proposed Movile Greencastle Sewerage Scheme for the beach. The Campaign for a Clean Community says for the past number of days, the beach has been a hive of activity, and it has focussed the minds of

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of robbery following an incident at a supermarket in Strabane this morning. Just before 8am, when the shop was due to open, a masked man carrying a knife went into the store in the toen centre. The man went to the cigarette counter in the Supervalu store

Met Eireann recorded the highest temperatures of the year at Ireland’s most northerly point yesterday – and there could be more of the same today. Temperatures peaked at Malin Head yesterday at an incredible 25.7C! And Met Eireann says today and tomorrow will be a repeat of the glorious weather of yesterday. But forecaster Jean

A Donegal Councillor says Dungloe is now effectively without a library as a result of the public service moratorium. The library had been staffed by two people, one of whom has retired. That person was not replaced, and now the library only has one staff member, which means whenever she is ill or on holiday,

A dolphin which was spotted in the Foyle on Sunday last has died. Earlier in the week, large crowds came out in the vicinity of the Bog Road to see the dolphin, who was nicknamed “Flipper” by some local people. However, it became clear on Tuesday evening that something was wrong, and yesterday it was

The jury in the trial of John Brown, the brother of Eurovision winner Dana, will resume its deliberations this morning. The 60 year old is accused of five counts of indecent assault against two underage girls in the 1970s. The jury of six men and six women were sent out to consider a verdict yesterday

A former Chair of the Chamber of Commerce in Strabane has questioned claims that the Three Rivers Project, which got planning permission yesterday, will provide a major boost for the town. Backers of the 50 million pounds project say it could create up to 1,700 jobs. The Three Rivers Project includes a 90-bed hotel. a garden centre,

The £50 Million Strabane Three Rivers Project which has the potential to create up to 1,700 jobs has today been given the green light by the SDLP Minister for the Environment, Mark H Durkan. The project includes a 90-bed hotel, a retail food store, a garden centre, petrol filling station, a children’s play area, a

A man’s guilty plea to causing the deaths of eight men in a road crash has spared their families further trauma, a local priest has said. Shaun Kelly, of Hill Road in Buncrana, pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving yesterday. The crash at Meenaduff, between Buncrana and Clonmany in July 2010 was Ireland’s worst

A 32-year-old man has been shot in both legs in an attack in Derry. The incident happened in the Lincoln Courts area at around 11.30pm last night. The man was taken to hospital for his injuries which police described as not life-threatening. Police have appealed for information and can be contacted on the non-emergency number

Bus Eireann has extended the deadline for applying for the school transport scheme and set up an emergency number for people experiencing difficulties. Initially, applications were only being accepted online, but Fianna Fail transport spokesperson Charlie Mc Conalogue says that was excluding a number of eligible people, particularly in remote areas such as Donegal. He’s

A loophole in enforcement of the law that allows convicted motorists to escape penalty points will be closed by the end of the year, the head of the Courts Service has promised. new figures reveal just a third of the 31,664 drivers convicted of the motoring offences in court since the beginning of 2013 had

Sinn Féin’s deputy leader says Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael should go into government together. Mary Lou McDonald says the two parties have a lot in common – and the things that divide them are no longer relevant. She was speaking after both Micheal Martin and Leo Varadkar ruled out going into power with Sinn

A Fine Gael minister says Sinn Féin can’t be part of a government until Gerry Adams admits his role in the Troubles. Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Leo Varadkar says Sinn Fein mustn’t trust the public if it refuses to discuss Mr Adams’ alleged role within the IRA. The Sinn Fein president

The acting Garda Commissioner has suggested the number of Gardaí within the force is too low. Noirin O’Sullivan says it’s “challenging” to maintain a full policing operation with the current numbers within the force. The overall number of Gardaí is now under 13,000 – down from over 15,000 in previous years. And Noirin O’Sullivan told

A Inishowen man charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight people in Inishowen in 2010 has pleaded guilty. 25 year old Shaun Kelly, of Hill Head, Buncrana, initially pleaded not guilty this morning but then changed his plea, as his trial was about to start. Mr Kelly has been released on his bail

Sinn Féin’s upping the pressure on Fine Gael over the nomination of Phil Hogan as EU Commissioner. The party says the former Environment Minister is among the worst possible nominees to take the job in Brussels. Deputy Hogan’s likely to be officially confirmed by MEP’s in September, and is tipped to take the Agriculture job.

There are calls for increased PSNI patrols in the Culmore area of Derry after vandals smashed car windows and slashed tires at the weekend. Earlier this year there were several incidents in the Elmvale, Ardanlee, and Spruce Meadows areas in which attempts had been made to break into a number of cars and in other

A Derry man living and working in Thailand who was reported as missing by his family has been found safe and well. 37-year-old Matthew Boyle moved to Bangkok nearly three years ago to work as a senior business analyst and currently runs a bar in the capital city. His family became concerned as while he

Midlands North West MEP Matt Carthy has written to Taoiseach Enda Kenny urging him to reconsider the nomination of Phil Hogan as EU Commissioner. Independent MEPs Midlands North West Luke “Ming” Flanagan, and Marian Harkin have also come out in opposition to Mr Hogan’s candidacy, meaning the majority of MEPs in the Midlands Northwest are

A 28-year-old man whose body was discovered in the River Finn yesterday evening has been named as Eddie Gildea. The popular Letterkenny man’s body was recovered shortly after 6pm yesterday evening. Eddie Gildea was fishing with friends at an area known as Salmons Leap with friends yesterday morning. It’s understood that the 28-year-old Letterkenny man

A public meeting has been called for Gweedore this evening to address concerns that holiday makers in caravans and tents are dumping rubbish and human waste at (and close to) Port Artur beach. With the lack of facilities provided, locals says they are left disgusted that the beach has been used as a toilet and

One of Enda Kenny’s most senior former advisors says it’s inevitable that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil will share power. Frank Flannery – a former director of elections for Fine Gael – told the MacGill Summer School that it’s “destiny” that the two parties will work together. Mr Flannery was the mastermind behind Fine Gael’s victory

The former justice minister Michael McDowell has launched a scathing attack on the government’s plans for Garda overhaul. Speaking at the MacGill Summer School the former Tánaiste said an independent Garda regulator will make the force less democratic. He says An Garda Siochana is also the national intelligence service – and needs to be kept

The results of a post-mortem examination on two brothers found dead at their home near Tubercurry in County Sligo are expected later today. 20-year-old Shane Skeffington, and his nine-year-old brother Brandon, died following a suspected murder suicide on Sunday night. The younger boy was found with fatal stab wounds, while his older brother’s body was

The trial of an Inishowen man charged with eight counts of dangerous driving causing death is expected to begin today. 24-year-old Shaun Kelly will appear before Judge John O’Hagan at Letterkenny Circuit Court to answer charges arising out of Irelands worst ever road accident outside Clonmany in July 2010. Seven of Mr Kelly’s friends were