Author name: oisinkelly

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

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

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

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

The man that Fine Gael approached to run for the party in the Local Elections in May in the Buncrana area, has said he is disappointed in how the party has treated the Town’s Mayor. Independent Nicolas Crossan says a senior member of Fine Gael approached him asking if he would run – this despite

Donegal County Council will send its Mayor, his Deputy and two council executives to New York for Saint Patrick’s Day in what is being described as nothing more than a junket Mayor Ian McGarvey, Deputy Mayor Cllr Michael Mc Bride, the County Manager and another senior official will spend a week in New York at

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

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

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

A Donegal man is one of two men who have pleaded guilty to a number of terrorist offences. 28 year-old Gerard James McManus from Letterkenny pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to having a firearm with intent to endanger life on 21 November 2009 in Garrison, Co Fermanagh. He, along 35-year-old Kevin Barry Nolan, were

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

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

Buncrana Mayor Cllr Peter Mc Laughlin says he’s been shafted by Fine Gael folllowing the party’s Inishowen Selection Convention at the weekend. It was decided to choose three candidates, with the possibility of adding a fourth candidate to the ticket, despite the fact that Cllr Mc Laughlin had put his name forward. He says another

Donegal County Council meets today for the first time since facing dissolution at its budget meeting a fortnight ago. The Glenties Windfarm Information Group says it will be monitoring today’s meeting after the initiation of a public consultation on proposed new windfarm regulations was deferred in November and December. A workshop to discuss the issue

Motorists are being advised to drive with care this morning after high winds hit parts of the West and North West last night. Strong gusts ranging from 100-to-130 kilometres per hours battered parts of Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Kerry and Limerick last night. So far, ESB Networks are not reporting any major problems

The manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says while media attention has been on the facility’s restoration and rebuilding programme in the aftermath of last July’s flooding, the reality is that the main focus of staff and management has been to deliver patient care. Sean Murphy told a weekend press briefing that despite that fact that

Donegal County Council will meet tomorrow for the first time since the marathon budget meeting a fortnight ago. After four days it had looked certain that the local authority would collapse for the first time in its 118 year history. But the Council was dramatically saved from the brink of dissolution at the eleventh hour.

Gale force winds are set to continue over the next 48 hours with Met Éireann forecasting heavy, thundery downpours of rain and hail. The west is affected by an orange alert, with warnings in particular for extremely high winds in parts of Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Kerry and Limerick. While a status yellow

The heartbroken mother of missing Derry teenager Andrew Quigley revealed yesterday how she tried to get her son help for his drug and alcohol addictions but was turned away. Colette Quigley spoke out at a rally held near Derry’s peace bridge. The rally was called exactly a week after Andrew’s personal belongings were found on

It’s been confirmed that a new bridge is to be approved for planning at Fintra in Killybegs. Donegal County Council are to confirm at their meeting on Monday that the construction work has been approved. The bridge is a vital link giving access to Kilcar, Carrick and Glencolmcille. Although planning has been approved, funding as

House prices in Donegal remained flat in 2013 according to the latest Irish Times Property Price Guide. It is the first year since the economic collapse that prices have not dropped here in the county. The Irish Times Property Price Guide shows that prices will rise in Donegal and the Northwest by around 2.5%. Property

A weather warning has been issued for the Northwest for today with severe gusts and heavy rain. The warning comes after a similar warning from Donegal County Council on Friday. Met Eireann forecster Harim Loach says the storm system will return Sunday morning, and coastal areas will be especially effected by damaging gusts: Meanwhile Gardaí say

The family of a missing teenager, who is believed to have taken his own life in the River Foyle, have thanked local people who attend a rally on Saturday. 19-year-old Andrew Quigley, from Galliagh, went missing in the early hours of Saturday morning. A number of his personal belongings were later found beside the River

There is concern that the full time Public Health Nurse on Arranmore Island could be lost. Labour Council Election Candidate Seamus Rodgers says it his understanding that the current nurse will be transferred to the main land. Mr Rodger’s says the local concern is that it is the intention of the HSE to only provide

Donegal Pet Rescue says its was both shocked and disgusted this week after 10 Springer Spaniels were surrendered to its care Six 18 week old pups and four adult females and one Labrador were surrendered into the rescue services care. Donegal pet Rescue says after being contacted by a person in Lifford to take the

A Letterkenny Town Councillor is calling on the public to be vigilant following a spate of car break-ins and an apparent increase in burglaries. Councillor Gerry Mc Monagle was speaking after seven cars were broken into on Wednesday night in the Whitethorn Park estate. Damage was caused to the vehicles and a number of items

Donegal County Council has received notice of extreme weather conditions this weekend. An Atlantic storm depression will develop in mid Atlantic on Saturday and is likely to track north-eastwards across the Atlantic and will pass the North West of Ireland during Sunday. There is potential that some severe southwest to westerly winds will develop on

The Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says the rebuilding  and restoration of the facility following last year’s flood is continuing. The Emergency Department is on track to be reopened in mid March, and key radiology and diagnostic services are being reintroduced from next month. Sean Murphy paid tribute to staff, saying their perseverance and dedication

A Donegal man has today denied murdering four British soldiers in an IRA bomb attack in London’s Hyde Park in July 1982. John Downey who is 62 is accused of killing Simon Tipper, Dennis Daly, Roy Bright and Geoffrey Young. The Household Cavalry members were killed as they rode from their barracks in Knightsbridge to

A Killybegs man has been talking about a Christmas trip to Amsterdam with friends that ended in him being assaulted and in Intensive Care. Telling his story in his own words for the first time, Ronan Kennedy said he was mugged assaulted and pushed into the freezing waters of an Amsterdam canal. He says he