Author name: oisinkelly

Chair of Letterkenny JPC says the town should retain a local policing partnership

The Chairperson of the Letterkenny Joint Policing Committee is calling for the establishment of a new body to oversee policing in the town and its environs. This week saw the final meeting of the outgoing committee, which is being abolished along with the town council from the end of the month. Cllr Dessie Larkin says […]

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Gardai appeal after thieves steal 16 thousand euro worth of Boat engines

Gardai last night appealed for information in their search for eight boat-engines stolen from anglers in the one night. Thieves struck at Lough Eske outside Donegal town and cut through chains to steal the engines worth a total of more than €16,000. Although there were guests at two nearby hotels on the lake, the thieves

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Tirconaill Tribune poll shows rise in support for Independents in Letterkenny/Milford

An election opinion poll published in this week’s Tirconaill Tribune for the Letterkenny/Milford Electoral Area shows non-party candidates are set to win almost 43% of the first preference vote. The poll among 500 people in the area shows party profiles since the last local elections in 2009. Fianna Fail is on 23%: down by 17.7%:

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Deputy Pearse Doherty reveals name of latest Garda whistleblower in the Dail

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty has named Garda Keith Harrison as the latest whistleblower, during a Dáil debate on the Guerin Report. He told the Dail that Garda Harrison was victimised after arresting a colleague who had been drink-driving. He claimed he was office bound for a period of two years, while the officer

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Tourism bodies accused of again forgetting Donegal exists

A Buncrana Councillor has claimed that once again, Donegal has been excluded from tourism literature produced by Tourism Ireland. Councilor Mary Kelly made the claim over a leaflet produced promoting County Carlow, which shows routes to or from every area of the republic with the exception of Donegal. Northern Ireland is also excluded. Councillor Kelly says

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Donegal County Council to consider banning circus animal acts

Donegal County Council is to consider banning animal acts in circuses. The issue was raised this week at the final meeting of Letterkenny Town Council’s Municipal Committee by community representative Kathleen Murray. She says the recent Duffys Circus in Letterkenny included performances by a group of sea lions which attracted some public protest. Petitions to

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Residents of Lifford estate plagued by sewerage to hold public meeting

Residents of a Lifford housing estate, which has been plagued by overflowing sewerage, are to hold a public meeting tomorrow evening. A stream of foul smelling sewage water has streamed down Hazelwood Drive onto the main Lifford to Letterkenny Road for six and a half years now. Donegal County Council have told residents in the

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KFO expects significant compensation payments after 11 vessel owners win safety tonnage appeal

11 Irish fishermen, the bulk of them based in Donegal and members of the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation, have won a second case against an EU commission decision not to grant them extra tonnage on the basis of money they spent on safety measures in 2001. KFO Chief Executive Sean O’Donaghue says the work was done

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Calls for council to review how it allocates Housing Adaptation Grants

Donegal County Council is being asked to review its eligibility criteria for Housing Adaptation Grants. The issue was raised in the Letterkenny Town Council chamber by Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle, who said officials in Lifford apply a list of illnesses, and if an applicant does not have one of those conditions, their application is rejected.

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Buncrana based ICARE gets funding boost for new premises

Buncrana Town Council has allocated 70 thousand euro to the Icare group. Inishowen Children’s Autism Related Education is based in Buncrana but provides services across the peninsula. It aims to improve the quality of life of individuals with autism and their families with a number of initiatives including restpite care. Chairperson Angela Tourish says the funding

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Gardai closing in on those responsible for spate of aggravated burglaries

The Letterkenny Joint Policing Committee has been told gardai are hoping to make arrests in relation to a number of aggravated burglaries earlier this year. The committee was told there’s been a fall in reported crime in the district from January 1st to April 30th this year. Thefts were down in the first quarter, but assaults

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Update – Reilly plays down fears that maternity services may be downgraded

The Health Minister is downplaying fears for the future of maternity services in the West and North West. Questions have been raised over the future of Letterkenny General Hospital’s obstetric unit in a confidential report commissioned by the HSE. The closure of up to four obstetric units in the west and northwest is mooted in the

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Amazing three days – Deignan

Cycling’s Giro d’Italia reaches Italy today. Having spent the opening weekend in Ireland the first Italian stage is a 112 kilometre race ending with several circuits of the city of Bari. Letterkenny’s Philip Deignan is 40th in overall general classification 49 seconds behind the leader Australia’s Michael Matthews. Philip has praised the Irish support as

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Irish Water to invest over 55 million euro in Donegal infrastructure

Irish Water says it will invest nearly 1.8 billion euro between now and 2016 in improving the water infrastructure and says it will explore all options in order to raise the cash. In Donegal, 46 million euro will be spent on waste water treatment schemes in 13 locations including Ballybofey, Raphoe, Letterkeny, Moville and Falcaragh.

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Buncrana Mayor predicts a fall off in funding in absence of town council

The Mayor of Buncrana says the town will not enjoy the same level of investment and maintenance once the town council is abolished. After over 100 years in existence, the last monthly meeting of Buncrana Town Council was held last night. Mayor Peter McLoughlin predicts a significant drop in money spent in Buncrana when it becomes

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St Eunan’s students hand letter to Taoiseach calling for college investment

Students from St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny have asked the Taoiseach to support their calls for investment in the facility. In 2012 planning permission for an extension to the college was overturned after being appealed to An Bord Pleanala. Funding has since been provided for pre-fabs. Nicolas Lane presented the letter to Enda Kenny today

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INTO urges local election candidates to oppose Donegal school closures

The President of the Irish National Teachers Organisation has been meeting with Donegal local election candidates seeking support for a reversal of budget cutbacks which is threatening small schools. The INTO says that some small schools have already last a teacher with more to follow, they claim it is an untenable situation which will force

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Pharmacy becomes the latest department to reopen at LGH after last year’s flooding

The Pharmacy Department at Letterkenny General Hospital has reopened today with what’s been described as one of the most up to date and modern facilities in the country. The unit was opened by Junior Health Minister Alex White, who also toured the hospital and was briefed by management on the progress being made to restore

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Call for Letterkenny forum as Town Council meets for the final time

Letterkenny Town Council holds its final meeting tonight with one councillor describing it as a dark day for Letterkenny. Councillor Ciaran Brogan is now proposing that the setting up of a forum in the town including community groups, Letterkenny Chamber, the Tidy Towns Committee and the Gardai. He says the forum would help address the

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Over 1,000 people turn out for ‘Darkness into Light’ in Letterkenny

Over 1,000 people people have taken part in The Pieta House, Darkness into Light walk for suicide prevention in Letterkenny. The 5k fundraising event got underway at quarter past four this morning at 39 venues across the country. 80,000 people took part across Ireland, with members of the Irish Diaspora also taking part in events

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Fitzgerald on Guerin report: If reform is needed, reform will happen

The Justice Minister says a Commission of Investigation will be held and the Cabinet will hold first discussion on it on Tuesday. Frances Fitzgerald has also accepted there were deficiencies within the Department that must be addressed. And she says it is clear that the operation practices and procedures within the Garda force were inadequate

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KFO claims unanimous public support for proposed 35m euro biomarine plant

The official launch has taken place today of the new biomarine plant in Killybegs which, when completed will create in excess of 50 jobs for the area. Flagged earlier this year, this morning Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland held an Information Meeting this morning to give more details of the €35 million state-of-the-art plant. It will generate

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