Author name: oisinkelly

The NRA has confirmed that Compulsory Purchase Orders will be published next year to progress works at the Blue Banks outside KIlmacrennan. The project is one of a number on the N56 which were presented at a meeting between a Donegal County Council deputation and the National Roads Authority in Dublin last evening. Speaking to […]

A Letterkenny Councillor wants Eircom to review how it distributes its phone books. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh says that after the latest edition was circulated, many ended up littering estates around the town. He says books were left at unoccupied and derelict buildings and ended up being kicked around estates. He wants Eircom to distribute the

Talks will take place at the Labour Court tomorrow, aimed at resolving the dispute affecting Marks and Spencer branches here. A planned strike by 2,300 workers at Marks and Spencer has been called off today, pending the discussions. 15 of Ireland’s Marks and Spencer stores, including the Letterkenny branch, closed on Saturday 7th December as

A 100,000 grant has been announced for two youth projects in Donegal. Children and Youth Affairs Minister Frances Fitzgerasld announced the funding this afternoon for projects in Gortahork and Ballybofey. Junior Minister Dinny McGinley says it’s a significant allocation for two very important projects……….

A Donegal County Council delegation met with senior National Roads Authority figures in Dublin earlier today to discuss funding for the county’s roads network. A number of projects in the county were identified as funding priorities, with the all party delegation arguing that Donegal has been underfunded in recent years and needs more investment as

Paedophile Michael Ferry, who is serving 14 years for sex offences against schoolboys, won’t go jail for any longer after admitting a further 15 sex crimes today. The 58-year-old was sentenced to a further seven years to run concurrent. That means he won’t spend a day beyond late 2021 which is what his defence counsel

Gardai say they are very keen to locate a black Opel Corsa car taken from a family home in Ballyholey, Raphoe by knife point. Two Volvo cars collided in the Raphoe area last evening with the occupants of one of the vehicles fleeing the scene, it is thought the two youths later stole the Opel

One of two men jailed today for sex offences against a 13 year-old boy attempted to flee court during proceedings. He was one of two brothers in their early 20s who pleaded guilty to sex offences when they were 17 against a 13-year-old boy. The two, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of

A Donegal County Council delegation will meet with senior National Roads Authority figures in Dublin this morning to discuss funding for the county’s roads network. A number of projects in the county have been identified as funding priorities. For 2013 almost €19 million was initially allocated to local and regional road improvements in Donegal with

There are renewed calls for a reduction in the speed limit on the approach road into Letterkenny between the Dry Arch and Polestar roundabouts. The current limit is 100 kmph but Councillor Dessie Larkin is calling for it to be reduced. There have also been calls for a barrier to be erected in the middle

A Donegal County Councillor has called on the Council to explore the idea of tidal and wave power generated electricity in Donegal. Tidal and wave energy is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of power – mainly electricity. Cllr Noel McBride says that Donegal’s coastline has huge potential,

The latest Tax Defaulters list published by the Revenue Commissioners shows six settlements from Donegal, totalling just under half a million euro. Nationally, the Revenue Commissioners collected over 27 million euro in settlements between July and September from 88 people. In the largest of six settlements reached in Donegal, courier Aidan Caddye of Massreagh, Kilmacrennan

The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is insisting it came to an agreement with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009 to allow for the top-up of some salaries. Bosses at the CRC are appearing before the Dáil Public Accounts Committee over the top-ups scandal. Brian Conlon, who resigned as Chief Executive this week is not

A missing Convoy man, last seen in London in the 1970’s has been officially declared dead just short of his 87th birthday on Christmas Eve. Peter Edward Gallagher, better known to the family who last saw him 60 years ago as Eamonn, was declared officially dead by Judge John O’Hagan at Donegal Circuit Court. His

The share of household income from welfare payments has risen by 50 percent since 2004. That is according to a new report from the ESRI, which emphasises the importance of social welfare in reducing poverty. The increase of about 100 euro per family is largely down to unemployment and salary cuts. Herwig Immervoll of the

The European Parliament is recommending a ban on all fishing activities in areas with vulnerable marine ecosystems identified by the European Commission. Yesterday the European Parliament voted on a draft EU regulation on fishing deep-sea stocks in the north-east Atlantic. A small majority of MEPS voted against a ban on bottom trawling. However the MEPs

A prosecution against one of the largest trawlers in the world – the Dutch-owned Annelies Ilena – was adjourned at Donegal Circuit Court today. The Master of the super-trawler, 57 year old Gerrit Plug, is accused of breaches of EU fishing regulations off Tory Island last month. The vessel is free to continue fishing on

  A Jobbridge entry advertising three petrol pump attendant jobs in Donegal has been taken down.   Sweeney’s Spar Express at Ballyraine in Letterkenny had been seeking three people to take up the nine-month contracts, with the advert saying the successful candidates would get training in how to put petrol and diesel into cars.  

A Donegal County Cllr has hit out at the latest Jobbridge positions advertised in Co Donegal – three petrol pump attendant jobs. Sweeney’s Spar Express at Ballyraine in Letterkenny wants three people to take up the nine-month contracts. An advert on the Jobbridge website says the successful candidates will get training in how to put

Japanese IT company Fujitsu has announced 192 new jobs in Derry as part of a £12m investment. The jobs will include posts in administration, finance and human resources. There will be 177 full-time positions and 15 business apprenticeships. It is anticipated that recruitment will begin in the new year. Managing Director of Fujitsu Northern Ireland,

Gardai have said that a man is lucky to be alive today after he tried to apprehend robbers outside a wakehouse in County Donegal last night. A man was at the wake of his friend James McDaid in Elaghbeg, Burnfoot last night. While tin at the wakehouse, he was told that two men were trying

The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church is to publish its audits of eight church entities today. It will also look at the response by Christian Brothers to allegations of child sexual abuse in day schools over the past 38 years. The audit reports are the fourth instalment made by the Irish

A Donegal County Councillor has said that Irish Water must meet with Cllrs within the next fortnight. Irish Water will takeover water services from local authorities on January 1st. The Councils Director of Environmental Services gave a presentation yesterday outlining the takeover. Cllr Ciaran Brogan said he still has huge concerns surrounding the takeover:

The sentencing of two women who pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle cocaine out of Peru in August has been postponed. Michaela McCollum, from Dungannon, County Tyrone, and Melissa Reid, from Lenzie near Glasgow, both 20, admitted trying to smuggle cocaine worth £1.5m. Prosecutors demanded more information on the gang the women said had coerced

Donegal County Council has been branded a ‘circus’ by a number of members of the public who attended yesterdays Council meeting. Council meetings are open for the public to attend, although this rarely happens. But up to 10 people packed the public gallery yesterday. Highland Radio News spoke to a number of them after the

The Mayor of Donegal Cllr. Ian McGarvey and the County Manager Seamus Neely have today signed the Donegal County Council Book of Condolence in memory of Mr. Nelson Mandela. The books of condolence will be available for signing at all Public Service Centres and at the County House in Lifford from 9am to 5.00pm Monday

Letterkenny Hospital says it is experiencing an increase in the number of patients with diarrhoeaand vomiting. The hospital says that as it is usual for norovirus or winter vomiting bug to circulate in the community at this time of year, visitors to Letterkenny Hospital are being asked to follow advice issued by the hospital. People

Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher has described the Council’s position on the sewage problems in Altan Housing Estate in Burtonport as completely unacceptable. Tenants in Altan say they have been inflicted with sewage problems since they moved in to the Estate a few years ago. In reply to an official question by Councillor Gallagher, the council

Donegal County Council has given a presentation to Cllrs outlining the handover protocol of water services to Irish Water. Irish Water will takeover water services from local authorities next month. Donegal County Council says local authorities will act as agents for Irish Water from January 1st. The duration of the initial service level agreement will

Sinn Fein candidate for the E.U. Northwest / Midlands constituency has accused the current sitting MEP’s of being absolute failures for the northwest. Matt Carthy is in Donegal to meet local groups and businesses and will this evening launch the party’s discussion document, Standing Up For Rural Ireland. Mr Carthy says the document lays out

The twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranolar are hosting a boxing club fight night to help raise funds for Console, the National Suicide Charity. The Fight Night at Jackons Hotel, Ballybofey takes place on Sunday, December 15th, doors open at 7pm and boxing begins at 8pm. “Console hopes to open a full time centre in

A former director of a local charity in Derry has been sent for trial on a series of fraud and forgery charges. Eddie Kerr stepped down as Director of the Seeds Charity last year – it was set up in 2005 to provide support to migrants who moved to the area. The 59 year-old of

Gardai are investigating claims that a woman and her daughter were the victims of a drive by shooting in Letterkenny at the weekend. The two were working at a chip van in the Newmills area of the town when a shot was fired at their vehicle by a passing car. They were not injured but

Drinking out on Christmas night could be a thing of the past throughout Donegal this year. The news comes after Garda opposition to a Christmas night extension made by a club in Bundoran. Speaking in Ballyshannon District Court on Friday, Garda Inspector Dennis Joyce, stated that judge Paul Kelly was refusing applications to sell drink

“Support your local economy by shopping local.” That’s the message from Sinn Fein councillor Ciaran McLaughlin in the build-up to Christmas. The festive period is generally the busiest time of the year for retailers. Last year saw a strong Christmas trade in many towns around the county, and the Buncrana Town councillor has called for

A Donegal County Councillor has criticised the levels of policing in rural areas throughout the county. Councillor Gerry Crawfords comments come after a number of homes were burgled in the Raphoe area over the weekend. At around 5 o’clock on Sunday morning, four homes were burgled in the Dromore and Ballyholey area. A quad bike,

ESB workers say they won’t proceed with strike action that would have left one in four homes in darkness. The announcement follows a breakthrough this evening in LRC talks between staff and management at the electricity supplier. ESB workers had set a deadline of Monday December 16th as the date that they would down tools,

Marks and Spencers in Letterkenny is closed today – as workers have gone on strike. The industrial action is part of a national campaign by workers and Mandate Trade Union, in a row over the company’s defined pension scheme. Over 2,000 workers at 17 M & S stores around the country have walked off the

An arts project highlighting the issue of domestic violence has been launched at the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny. The 16 Days Against Violence campaign is an annual event, to raise awareness and educate people about what is happening and what needs to be done to tackle it. North West MEP Marian Harkin launched the

It’s been confirmed that there will be a Donegal Gathering next year, with Donegal County Council’s Director of Culture and Enterprise saying a momentum has been created which the council intends to utilise and build on. Speaking after an event to mark the end of the nation Gathering this week, Michael Heaney said the Donegal

A Sinn Fein Councillor in Strabane has accused an SDLP representative of reckless scaremongering for claiming that rural schools could close in West Tyrone. Speaking on Highland Radio News during the week West Tyrone MLA, Joe Byrne claimed that 40 rural schools in Tyrone were under threat. And he claimed that schools who didn’t have