Author name: oisinkelly

Significant number of expressions of interest in former Co Derry army base

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

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Castlefin Cllr expresses concerns about location of anaerobic digestor

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

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Bloody Sunday families welcome announcement that PSNI seeking to reinterview Saville witnesses

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

Bloody Sunday families welcome announcement that PSNI seeking to reinterview Saville witnesses Read More »

Highland Radio records listnership increase and remains Ireland’s No1 local radio station

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

Highland Radio records listnership increase and remains Ireland’s No1 local radio station Read More »

‘Letterkenny Live’ cancelled due to a lack of financial support

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

‘Letterkenny Live’ cancelled due to a lack of financial support Read More »

Police investigating Bloody Sunday seek to re-interview Saville witnesses

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

Police investigating Bloody Sunday seek to re-interview Saville witnesses Read More »

Two elderly people are ‘roughed up’ and robbed in their Donegal homes

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

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Mother of teen who died in Castlerock says gas fitter’s guilty plea spared the family a trial

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

Mother of teen who died in Castlerock says gas fitter’s guilty plea spared the family a trial Read More »

Ilex says Derry should have a tourism flagship comparable to Belfast’s Titanic Centre

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

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ABP upholds refusal of planning permission for Ballintra windfarm

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

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Calls for staffing embargo to be lifted at Killybegs Community Hospital

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

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400k spent on Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way signage described as ‘silly money’

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

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Defence Forces confirm terrorist threat against Donegal based soldier

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

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Ebrington regeneration could lead to over 2,000 new jobs – ILEX

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

Ebrington regeneration could lead to over 2,000 new jobs – ILEX Read More »

Deputy claims Letterkenny General flooding is distracting from growing staffing crisis

The Dail has heard claims that flooding at Letterkenny General Hospital last year has taken the spotlight off the growing staffing crisis at the hospital. Padraig MacLochlainn pointed out that the hospital currently has 6 Medical Registrars when in fact it needs sixteen – he says that is a crisis in what is a key

Deputy claims Letterkenny General flooding is distracting from growing staffing crisis Read More »

SF says border counties are being ignored under National Jobs Plan

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

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Minister promises action as Derry suicides are raised in Stormont

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

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Foul smell at Dungloe housing estate raised in council chamber

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

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Letterkenny woman injured in crush to be moved from ICU as condition improves

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

Letterkenny woman injured in crush to be moved from ICU as condition improves Read More »

HSE reverse decision to get rid of full-time Public Health nurse on Arranmore Island

The HSE have reversed their decision to get rid of the full time Public Health Nurse on Arranmore Island. It was announced last week that the full-time nurse on the island, Susan McGarvey was to be replaced with a part time registered nurse. Locals had argued that removing the full-time nurse would of left the

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PARC founder says penalty points loophole still hasn’t been fully addressed

The Donegal based founder of the Road Safety Organisation PARC says many drivers are still avoiding penalty points because the courts are not passing on the details of drivers who receive points. Susan Gray was speaking after meeting with Transport Minister Leo Varadkar in Dublin last evening. Previously, it emerged that a loophole existing whereby

PARC founder says penalty points loophole still hasn’t been fully addressed Read More »

71 lifeboat launches in Donegal in 2013 with 47 people rescued

RNLI lifeboats brought just under thirteen-hundred people to safety last year. Figures released by the charity today are based on returns of service from all 44 lifeboat stations across Ireland. In Donegal, Arranmore remains the busiest lifeboat station wit6h 32 call outs rescuing 33 people last year, Lough Swilly launched 25 times and rescued eight

71 lifeboat launches in Donegal in 2013 with 47 people rescued Read More »

Public to have input on new proposals governing windfarm development in Donegal

Donegal County Council has proposed a number of amendments to the County Development plan regarding wind farms. The proposals include that any wind turbine that is erected in the county must be ten times the tip height away from a residential property. And the Council has also announced that it will allow the public to

Public to have input on new proposals governing windfarm development in Donegal Read More »

Councillor calls for dredging at Magheroarty pier but says long term solution needed

A Donegal County Councillor has called for dredging work to take place this week at Magheroarty pier. 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 wants the Council to begin

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ISPCA investigates after dog is found in Falcarragh with bull wire around its neck

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the discovery of a Collie found straying with bull wire embedded in its neck. The dog was found by a member of the public close to a beach in the vicinity of Erraroey, Falcarragh, Co. Donegal on Thursday 23rd January. The local Dog

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Staff member hospitalised after pepper spray attack during Strabane robbery

Police in Strabane are investigating after a premises in the town was robbed on Saturday night. A masked man wearing gloves and armed with pepper spray entered the premises on Beechwood Avenue in Melmount Road at around on 5.30Saturday evening. At least one staff member was sprayed in the face, requiring hospital treatment. It’s understood

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Former senior HSE member shocked at ‘unjust’ decision to remove Arranmore nurse

The former HSE’s co-ordinator of services for elderly people in Donegal says he is shocked that Arranmore Island is to lose its full  time public health nurse. Half of the islands population attended a meeting on Saturday night to discuss HSE plans to replace the public health service nurse on the island with a part

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Faulkner back with a bang

Inishowen’s Damien Faulkner returned to sportscar racing in Florida at the weekend. At the Rolex 24 hours  in Daytona, the first round of the all new IMSA Championship,  Damien’s team GB Autosports ended the endurance race in 25th place after a difficult opening weekend. They lost alot of time early in the race after Damien’s

Faulkner back with a bang Read More »