Author name: oisinkelly

Details have emerged that a homecoming is to be held this evening for Donegal Deputy, Joe McHugh after he was named as the new Junior Minister for the Gaeltacht. Minister McHugh will arrive in Lifford at 7 o’clock, and is due at his Letterkenny Constituency Office at 8 o’clock, where he will meet and greet

  Homeowners across the North West are being urged to check their homes for signs of cracking by a group which is investigating the possible relationship between cracking on external walls and the use of mica in bricks. The Mica Action Group says serious sporadic web like cracking has appeared mainly on external walls of

A report released today into the so-called ‘On the Run’ letters has described the system of dealing with the letters as a “messy compromise”. The reports author, Lady Justice Hallett said there was a lack of strategy and structure but not a breach of the law. It’s believed 200 Republicans were given the letters –

  Lindsay Lohan has reportedly “cut ties” with her “sobriety circle.” The 27-year-old actress, who completed her sixth stint in rehab last summer, recently moved to London in a bid to get her career on track but has sparked concern she is partying too much. A source told gossip website RadarOnline.com: “Everyone thinks Lindsay moved

Britney Spears reportedly wants to get pregnant when her Las Vegas residency ends next year. The ‘Toxic’ hitmaker, who has sons, Sean, eight, and Jaden, seven, with ex-husband Kevin Federline and previously admitted she is eager to have a daughter, can’t wait to start a family with her boyfriend, David Lucado, despite rumours she is

The Your Store shop on Strabane’s Melmount Road has been targeted by an armed robber. At around 7.30pm last evening the man entered the shop brandishing a knife – he threatened a female member of staff before escaping with a small sum of cash. It is the third time in 18 months that a shop

Sinn Fein has been accused of supporting the Property Tax by calling on the public to ask for it to be reduced as part of a council public consultation process. Local authorities can vary the basic rate of the tax within their own area by a maximum of 15% either up or down. Sinn Fein

A report is due out later today into the so-called ‘On the Run’ letters. It’s believed 200 Republicans were given the letters – which told them they weren’t wanted by the police. The inquiry was set up by the British Prime Minister after the collapse of the trial of Donegal man John Downey – who

A memorial to two UDR soldiers murdered by the IRA has been defaced only hours after a prayer service was held to remember them in Co Tyrone. An IRA poster was erected and two remembrance crosses removed from the scene at Corgary Road in Castlederg. The memorial marks the deaths of Norman McKinley and Heather

Conradh na Gaelige are calling on the Taoiseach to reverse his decision of appointing Donegal Deputy, Joe McHugh as Junior Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs. Enda Kenny appointed Deputy Joe McHugh on Tuesday, and soon afterwards Deputy McHugh admitted his Irish was not up to scratch. Conradh na Gaelige held a protest outside the Taoiseach’s office

A Donegal man has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for defilement of a child under 17 years of age. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to two charges relating to a 14-year-old girl, who was described in court as vulnerable. Letterkenny Circuit Court heard that they first met in

The Taoiseach’s defended his decision to appoint a Gaeltacht minister who can’t speak fluent Irish. He says Joe McHugh ‘has the language inside him’ – and that he’ll take a refresher course to make sure his Irish is up to standard. Opposition leaders have accused the Taoiseach of insulting Gaeltacht residents by appointing a minister

A suspended Garda who was due to enter a plea today on charges of harassing two women has had his case put back to allow him engage with mental health services. 38 year old Donal Maguire with a former address at Millbrook Avenue in Kilbarrack, Dublin is now living with his mother in Co Donegal.

A Fianna Fail TD says the new Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs cannot communicate with his target audience. Éamon Ó Cuív has raised concerns that Joe McHugh is not a fluent Irish speaker. The Donegal North East TD – who is from outside the Gaeltacht area – says he will take a “refresher course” in the

Beef farmers are threatening to withdraw from the Quality Assurance Scheme, saying that what was intended to be a bonus has become a stick with which to beat farmers. Malcolm Thompson, the Donegal based treasurer of the ICSA claims factories are reducing prices on the basis that they are now treating the bonus as a

A man who shouted at police officers “I will have you shot”, has been given a five month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months. 43-year-old Declan Smith, from Glenabbey Road in Derry, was arrested on Monday after he verbally abused police officers who were on patrol near his home. During a special sitting of Derry

A Donegal County Cllr has hit out at the appointment of Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh as the new Junior Minister for the Gaeltacht. It was announced yesterday that the Fine Gael TD would be replacing fellow Donegal Deputy, Dinny McGinley. And speaking to Highland Radio News yesterday, Deputy McHugh admitted that his own Irish was

The funeral of the County Derry clergyman who died in a drowning accident off St John’s Point in Donegal at the weekend takes place today. A service of thanksgiving for the life, faith and ministry of the Rev Dr Stewart Jones will take place in Donemana Presbyterian Church this afternoon at 2 o’clock. His family

The Taoiseach says his new Minister for the Gaeltacht will take a “refresher course” in Irish. It’s emerged that neither the senior Minister Heather Humphreys nor junior Minister Joe McHugh have fluent Irish. Although new Culture Minister in the Department Aodhán O’Riordán is an Irish speaker. The Taoiseach says Minister McHugh will be getting his

Donegal North East Deputy, Joe McHugh is to replace Deputy Dinny McGinley as Junior Minister for the Gaeltacth. Deputy McHugh has said that his appointment came as a shock. But Deputy McHugh says his lack of Irish will not hold him back:  

The trial of the Inishowen man charged with dangerous driving causing the death of eight others has been listed for next Tuesday. Shaun Kelly, Hill Road, Ballymagan, Buncrana appeared today at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Prosecuting barrister Patricia McLaughlin told Judge Matthew F. Deery that a jury will be required in the case and asked it

Donegal South West Deputy Dinny McGinely has confirmed to Highland Radio News this afternoon that he is to retire from politics. The Fine Gael TD who has been in Dail Eireann for 33 years announced that he will not run in the next General Election. It was announced this afternoon that Deputy McGinley was to

Pramerica in Letterkenny has been named among Europe’s best workplaces by “Great Place to Work”. Pramerica earned the Number 23 spot in the category of best large workplaces, having ranked at Number 14 in the Ireland’s Best Workplaces survey published earlier this year. The “Great Place to Work” study is intended to identify and recognise

A security alert in the Westlake area of Derry’s Waterside is over. An explosive device was discovered at around 7am on the ground behind the rear wheel of a parked car, and after a technical examination, a controlled explosion was carried out. The device, which is described as ‘viable’, was made safe and removed for

The new cabinet meets for the first time today, with the line up for junior ministerial positions high on the agenda. An announcement is expected later on the new ranks, with a number of promotions and demotions expected. It’s already been confirmed that former Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan will be given a role responsible for

There is speculation that one Junior Minister will be given specific responsibility for rural development, an indication being welcomed by the Council for the West. It’s issued a statement calling on the Government to implement, as a matter of extreme urgency, the recommendations made by a commission established to promote economic development in rural areas.

Donegal County Council has begun a public consultation on potential variations to the basic rate of Local Property Tax in the county from next year. The 2012 Act which brought in the tax allows local authorities vary the basic rate within their own area by a maximum of 15%. This means that Donegal County Council

The CEO of the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation has welcomed the retention of the Marine Portfolio by Minister Simon Coveney. Earlier, the addition of Defence to his existing briefs was criticised by the IFA in Donegal, but KFO Chief Executive Sean O’Donaghue says the Minister has always maintained a keen interest in the fishing industry, and

Irish Water Safety says it is extremely concerned at the recent number of deaths in diving accidents. The death of 57 year-old Rev Dr Stewart Jones on Saturday brought to 5 the number of divers deaths in a short space of time. Dr Jones from Donemana died after getting into difficulty while diving off St

A man accused of dangerous driving causing eight deaths is expected to go on trial tomorrow. In May, Judge John O’Hagan told both prosecution and defence that he was making a peremptory order that the trial of Shaun Kelly will start on July 15th at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Mr Kelly, 24, is charged with the

A Donegal Deputy has called on the new Education Minister to defer reform of the Junior Cert for one year to allow for meaningful consultation with secondary school teachers. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the new Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan needs to make a clean break from the policy of her predecessor. The main opposition from

Aircraft in Irish skies were targeted by potentially deadly lasers 170 times in the last 18 months. The Irish Aviation Authority says that its received reports from pilots of 158 such strikes in 2013. In March of last year, a laser beam was shone at a plane coming in to land at Donegal Airport. And

The Head of the IFA in Donegal has criticised the decision to add Defence to the portfolio of the Minister for Agriculture. It was confirmed as part of last weeks cabinet reshuffle that Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine Mr. Simon Coveney will now also take responsibility for Defense. Donegal IFA Chairperson PJ McMonagle