Author name: oisinkelly

A petition has been presented to the Assembey at Stormont this morning seeking the retention of Immaculate Conception College on Derry’s Waterside. It’s the only Catholic post-primary school on the Waterside, and Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey says parents, teachers and pupils are anxious that it remain there. He says with the proposed move of Foyle […]

A man’s been arrested in Derry by detectives from the Serious Crime Branch investigating dissident republican terrorist activity. In a statement, the PSNI confirmed they arrested a 41 year old man in the Derry area this morning. He’s been taken to Antrim Serious Crime Suite for questioning.

It’s emerged that Letterkenny General Hospital has asked GPs to minimise referrals to the hospital because of a shortage of Junior Doctors. A letter sent to GPs last week which has been seen by Medical Journalist Priscilla Lynch of delays in out patient and diagnostic appointments because consultants have to prioritise. Speaking to Greg Hughes

A crowd of around four thousand people took part in the 42nd anniversary march in memory of Bloody Sunday in Derry when 14 people were shot dead at a civil rights march by British army paratroopers. The march, organised by some of the relatives of the dead and injured, is the third one to take

A North West TD has called on the government to establish a redress scheme for victims of abuse within the schools system. Deputy Charlie McConalogues comments come following last weeks landmark judgement from the European Court of Human Rights, which found the state liable for the sexual abuse suffered by Cork woman Louise O’Keefe while

There’s been calls for an end to social media drinking game Neck Nomination. The calls come following the death of a 22 year old man in Dublin and a 19 year old man in Carlow over the weekend. The drinking fad sees young people being videoed drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period

Motorists are being advised to drive with extreme care – following the latest bad weather to hit the country. Met Eireann has issued an orange weather alert for today, with high winds and hail hitting the North West. While gritters have been out on all main routes throughout Donegal overnight, the council is urging motorists

The Orange Hall in Manorcunningham has officially reopened following a massive €174,000 renovation project. The project was funded by the International Fund for Ireland and the Leader programme, with management stressing it is a facility for the whole community. Built in the middle of the last century, the venue is one of 17 Orange halls

A West Tyrone MLA has today launched a campaign to have a dedicated Autistic Sensory Unit based in the Strabane District. Michaela Boyle says in recent weeks, she has met with local parents and educationalists in the Strabane area on the need for a dedicated ASD Unit, and she says there is no doubt that

Ireland experienced the largest fall in unemployment in Europe last month. Eurostat says the unemployment rate for the whole of Europe was 12 per cent in December. Both Ireland and Latvia’s rate fell from 14 per cent to 12.1 per cent when compared with December 2012. Donegal North East Deputy, Joe McHugh has welcomed the

Update – Donegal County Council warns the Quay Car Park in Donegal Town will close from this evening as Met Eireann was that coastal and low-lying areas could be hit by more flooding over the next few days. Strong winds, combined with high tides, are expected to put flood defences to the test. The council’s

There have been a “significant number of expressions of interest” in a former army base in County Derry. Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, was given free to the Northern Ireland Executive by the Ministry of Defence in 2011. After a failed attempt to sell the site, the executive recently sought suggestions for the redevelopment of Shackleton Army

A County Councillor says the people of Castlefin need more information of the impact, if any, a new Anaerobic Digester would have on them and the environment. Plans have been submitted to Donegal County Council for a new Anaerobic Digester to be built by Glenmore Estate Ltd. The digester processes organic material creating fuel. Local

The brother of one of those killed on Bloody Sunday says he was pleasantly surprised that Detectives from Serious Crime Branch publicly announced they are seeking to re-interviewing witnesses who gave evidence to the Saville Inquiry. More than 1,000 witnesses, consisting of local people and former soldiers, are being asked to make statements as part of the criminal

The Health Service Executive says it doesn’t expect any adverse impact on services – as a result of a cut to hospital budgets. It was revealed today that there will be a two hundred million euro reduction in funding this year – to three point seven billion euro. It means that on average – there

The country’s only official survey of listeners to radio in Ireland has delivered great news for Highland Radio. The latest JNLR/MRBI survey shows that Highland Radio has retained its position as Ireland’s No1 most listened to local radio station in Ireland. The station has recorded a weekday increase in Market Share and a double digit

The Committee of the ‘Letterkenny Live’ music festival says a lack of financial support from some businesses and the scrapping of the Town Council were deciding factors in not running the event this year. ‘Letterkenny Live’ was held over the last three years and attracted good crowds to performers which including Bressie, Aslan and Ryan

Garth Brooks says he’s ‘blown away’ by demand for tickets to his Irish concerts – all three of which have sold out today. The third date at Croke Park in July was added this morning shortly after tickets went on sale. Hundreds of people queued in towns and cities across Ireland in the hope of

Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the events of Bloody Sunday announced today they are to begin re-interviewing witnesses who gave evidence to the Saville Inquiry. More than 1,000 witnesses, consisting of local people and former soldiers, are being asked to make statements as part of the criminal investigation. As part of this investigation, detectives

Dredging work is to begin at Magheroarty Pier tomorrow morning after calls were made earlier this week. Currently boats cannot use the pier because of the influx of sand there. Magheroarty pier is popular among local fishermen and it is also used by the Tory Island ferry. Cllr Seamus O’Domnhaill says a weather warning won’t

A Donegal County Cllr has called on the Mayor of Donegal to debate further a trip to America on St Patricks day. It was revealed on Monday that the Council will send its Mayor, his Deputy and two council executives to New York for Saint Patrick’s Day. Mayor Ian McGarvey, Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Mc

Gardai are appealing for information after two older people were ‘roughed up’ and restrained during a raid on their homes outside Lettekenney. Between 9pm and 11.30pm on Monday, a group of young man barged there way in to two separate homes on the outskirts of Letterkenny. In one instance an older woman was restrained as

The mother of one of two teenagers who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in County Derry over three years ago has said the deaths took her family’s future away. In 2010, Neil McFerrin and Aaron Davidson, both 18, were overcome by gas from a boiler at an apartment in Castlerock. Earlier this week, gas fitter

Derry needs a flagship tourism project, ideally on the scale of the Titamic Centre in Belfast. That’s according to Ilex, the regeneration company which is overseeing the development of the Ebrington site on the Waterside. The second stage of consultation on the future use of the site followiong last years City of Culture is now

A Donegal Councillor has called for progress to be made on developing the county’s old unused railway network for walkers and cyclists. Old railway lines in Co Mayo have been successfully redeveloped for walking and cycling, and this has resulted in a huge boost for tourism there. Cllr Terence Slowey says Donegal has the potential

An Bord Pleanla has upheld the refusal of planning permission for a wind energy project in Ballintra in South Donegal made up of 7 wind turbines. The ESB International development, which had previously been refused by Donegal County Council, would have been in the townlands of Ballymagroarty and Ballynacarrick and included turbines with a height

Pepper spray has been used in a robbery in Strabane for the second time in less than a week. A woman working in a fast food premises on Bradley Way was sprayed by a man who entered the shop shortly after 8 o’clock last night and demanded money. He was armed with a knife as

The HSE recruitment embargo means that many elderly people are forced to receive care far from their homes and communities. That is according to Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle who was speaking in the Dail this week on the staffing problems at Killybegs Community Hospital. 8 of the 48 beds at the hospital are currently closed because

Strabane and Lifford will host its first ever cross-border half marathon this year. It’s understood the event will be held on Sunday May 11th, but a route and other details are still being finalised. The race will be used by many as a prep run for the Derry marathon which takes place on the 1st

Its been revealed that the signage in Donegal promoting the Wild Atlantic Way cost over 400,000 euro. The figures were provided to Inishowen Cllr Paul Canning who submitted a question at the recent meeting of Donegal County Council. The 2,500 km route which stretches from Inishowen to Kinsale in Cork includes 156 strategically placed discovery

The Defence Forces has confirmed that a death threat made against an Irish soldier based at Finner Camp is currently being investigated. The soldier has allegedly been threatened by a terrorist group and the authorities say they are taking the situation seriously. In a statemant, the Defence forces said that the Garda authorities are working in

Proposals to develop the Ebrington site in Derry could provide about 2,400 permanent jobs, according to the urban regeneration company Ilex. The second stage of consultation on the proposals began last evening with a public meeting at St Columb’s House. 18 hundred responses were received in the first stage of the consultation, with 83% saying

The Chairperson of a group appointed to look at Ireland’s options for new electricity networks is pledging to take a ‘cool, unbiased’ look at the options involved. The government announced yesterday the group would look at reports from EirGrid on the various underground and overground options for the infrastructure. It could delay the planning process

It’s emerged that at least 8 schools in Donegal are on course to lose at least one full teaching post in September as a result of what Fianna Fail is calling the Government’s attack on small schools. Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue claims if Minister Ruari Quinn has his way, some Donegal communities

Sinn Fein says certain regions are being left behind by the Government’s Action Plan for jobs. The party’s spokesperson on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, David Cullinane, welcomed this morning’s announcement of 30 new jobs in Cork, but warned that many counties continue to be forgotten by Government, particularly in the border regon and the South

The North’s Department for Regional Development minister has committed to looking at a multi-agency approach in a bid to stem the tragic loss of life through suicide in Derry. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey spoke in the Assembly about the “despair and heartache” suffered by Colette Quigley whose teenage son Andrew was reported missing along the

Donegal County Council’s response to ongoing pollution problems with a water treatment plant at a housing estate in Dungloe has been described as “disappointing”. For months, residents of Gort Na Mona have been plagued by a foul smell coming from the nearby water treatment plant which is located close to the children’s play area. Families

Gardai are to carry out a review of queuing arrangements outside Dublin nightclubs after an 18 year old Donegal student was injured in a crush outside Copper Face Jacks on Monday night. Niamh Cannon from Letterkenny was one of 15 hundred young people attempting to get into the nightclub. Her condition has improved, and she

Raids to check weighing scales were carried out on all fish factories in the port of Killybegs today. Searches of all nine plants in the town started at 11 a.m. and continued for most of the day. They were carried out by the NSAI Legal Metrology Service – the statutory body responsible for regulating and

An 18-year-old from Donegal is said to be recovering in hospital following a crush on Harcourt street in Dublin last night as over a thousand people queued to get in to the Copperface Jacks nightclub. The Letterkenny woman, who attends the Marino College of Further Education remains in St James Hospital  – she is now