Author name: oisinkelly

The million pound deal to buy the Old Herdmans Mill site in Strabane is expected to put an end to plans to bring an anaerobic digester to the site. The historic mill, which dates back to 1835, has been bought by Strabane Euromillions winner, Margaret Loughery. Donegal-based firm Connective Energy Holdings had submitted an application […]

Three men have been arrested this afternoon in relation to a series of burglaries in St Johnston and Newtowncunningham in the early hours of this morning. Between 1am – 530am a number of houses were targetted in these areas, and at around 530 three men were seen fleeing through fields near Craigadoos. After thorough searches

Revenue says it has collected 310 million euro from Local Property Tax and Household Charge, over ten million ahead of target, up until the end of June. Nationally, Property Tax compliance rates so far in 2014 are estimated to be 94%. So far in Donegal this year, 8.7 million euro has been collected, a compliance

The Old Hermans Mill site in Sion Mills has been bought in a million pound deal. The historic mill, which has been in the Co Tyrone village since 1835, has been bought by Strabane Euromillions winner, Margaret Loughrey. It was confirmed this afternoon, that after months of negotiations, that Margaret Loughreys Reymill Ltd has bought

Over 100 people gathered at Market Square in Letterkenny today at lunchtime to protest at the escalation in Israel’s offensive in Gaza, which has seen up to 250 Palestinians killed, dozens of them children. The situation intensified last evening when a ground offensive began, despite UN calls for the situation to be defused. Today’s Letterkenny

A man accused of an attack in Derry on a man who has still not regained consciousness has been refused a variation on his bail. Teddy Roulston, of Ballycolman Estate, Strabane, appeared before Derry Magistrates Court today in an effort to have the conditions of his bail changed to allow him to reside in Derry

The Aranmore Lifeboat has attended the scene of a overturned catamaran close to Loughross Point. The alarm was raised shortly after noon on Friday by a man on shore. Three people who were on the boat were able to swim to land and are uninjured. Efforts are underway to right the vessel which will be

There are reports of a number of attempted burglaries in homes in east Donegal over night. At least one home and possibly others were targeted by the burglars. In one of the incidents, a home owner challenged the men who fled the scene leaving their vehicle behind them. Last week, a number of homes along

Foyle MP Mark Durkan has again urged Northern Secretary Theresa Villiers to work with the Irish government and the Executive to establish a new North West Enterprise Zone which would boost investment, promote growth and create jobs in Derry and Donegal. Speaking during this week’s Northern Ireland Questions at Westminster, Mr Durkan called for a

    TV newcomer Harry Reid is heading to Albert Square to play bad boy Ben Mitchell – the fifth actor to take on the role in EastEnders. He will be seen on screen later this year when former jailbird Ben returns to the show after viewers discovered earlier this year that he had been

  Cheryl Cole’s marriage has reportedly not yet been made official. The 31-year-old star revealed she had tied the knot to her French boyfriend Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini during a secret ceremony on the Caribbean island of Mustique last week, but it has now been claimed that the marriage has not yet been registered. Officials at the

Deputy Joe McHugh has admitted its been a tough week since he was appointed the new Junior Gaeltacht Minister. He was speaking as part of a home coming last night in which he was welcomed by dozens of party members, friends and supporters. Deputy McHughs appointment as Junior Gaeltacht Minister has proved highly controversial this

Former Donegal County Cllr Dessie Larkin has been officially appointed as Letterkenny’s first ever Town Centre Manager. The former Mayor of Donegal and Letterkenny takes up his role on Monday, July 28. The aim of the new role is to help boost business in the town and increase footfall in the towns Main Street. And

EE has confirmed that they are on course to employ 300 people at a new customer service centre in Derry by the end of the year. The mobile phone network made the announcement in collaboration with digital communications company Convergys in April this year. Convergys Corporation is a US-based company that operates 150 customer service

A review has found that letters sent to around 200 Irish republican terror suspects – assuring them they weren’t wanted by police did NOT amount to an amnesty. Lady Justice Hallett looked at the scheme and found there was a lack of strategy and structure but not a breach of the law. The House of

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