Author name: oisinkelly

Infrastructure Minister to visit sites of Strabane flooding

The North’s Infrastructure Minister has committed to visiting Strabane soon, following multiple large flooding incidents that have plagued parts of the town in recent times. There have been repeated floods in both the Ballycolman estate and Pearse Gardens areas of the town in recent years with claims there may be a major structural problem within […]

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Women in first trimester not an increased risk of Covid-19 – Dr Eogan

Women in the early stages of pregnancy aren’t at increased risk when it comes to contracting Covid-19, according to a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist. Dr. Maeve Eogan says there isn’t any evidence to suggest the first trimester poses a higher risk. It comes amid concerns from teacher unions about the decision to bring unvaccinated pregnant

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Ballybofey continues to have highest commercial vacancy rate in country

The commercial vacancy rate in County Donegal is the highest in Ulster at 16.8%. The latest GeoView Commercial Vacancy Rates Report for the second quarter of this year found that Ballybofey remains the town with the highest commercial vacancy rate in the country at 29.3%. In other areas of the county, Letterkenny has a vacancy

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Students in Derry and Strabane encouraged to consider financial career

Derry and Strabane students from years 13 and 14 have been encouraged to consider a career in financial services after 94% of students passed a pilot programme. This comes as 17 out of 18 students passed the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment level 2 Fundamentals of Financial Services exam. The four participating schools were:

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NPHET recommending restrictions be lifted in six weeks

It’s believed NPHET’s recommending Covid-19 related restrictions should be lifted in as little as six weeks’ time. Following a meeting yesterday, it’s understood public health officials are recommending the government introduce a ‘personal responsibility’ model. It’s thought rising rates of vaccination will present the government with more options, as it prepares to publish its updated

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Husband of mother who died with Covid urges people to get vaccinated

The husband of a woman who died with Covid 19 in Derry after giving birth to their daughter has urged people to get vaccinated. Josh Willis and his wife Samantha welcomed their baby daughter Eviegrace last week. Samantha passed away on Friday at Altnagelvin Hospital, after developing complications from Covid. The 35 year old wasn’t

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52 pharmacies in Donegal now registered to provide vaccines

52 pharmacies in Donegal are now listed on the HSE website as providing vaccines, with people over the age of 12 being invited to register with a local pharmacy if that’s how they wish to receive their vaccination. Meanwhile, the Vaccination Centre at Letterkenny Institute of Technology is still operational, having administered over 90,000 vaccines

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Irish passport office needed in the North – Órfhlaith Begley

A West Tyrone MP has called on the Irish Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, to establish an Irish Passport office in Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin’s Órfhlaith Begley claims that her office has been inundated with requests and complaints from people in the North who are seeking to obtain an Irish passport, but

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Teaching Unions criticise decision to make pregnant teachers return to classrooms

The country’s three main teaching unions say it’s “incredible” that pregnant teachers are being sent back into schools this coming term. Women in the first 14 weeks of their pregnancy are currently unable to take a vaccine, but are expected to teach in person classes. The Minister for Education, Norma Foley, defended the measure, saying

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Gardai “more prepared” to police crowds at Tyrone Kerry clash

The Garda Commissioner says the force has learnt lessons from last weekend’s All-Ireland hurling final. It comes after huge crowds gathered on the streets of Limerick, Cork and close to Croke Park before and after the game. Several pubs around the Dublin stadium were told to close for a time in the interest of public

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Mica families prepared for resumed Working Group discussions

A family representative on the Defective Blocks Working Group says they will be returning to full discussions in the coming weeks with a comprehensive document that clearly outlines their position. Affected homeower Eileen Doherty says considerable work has been done over the summer, and family representatives in Donegal now have a clear and unified position

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Numbers awaiting hospital beds in North-West down significantly this morning

  The number of people waiting on a bed at hospitals in the North-West continues to decrease. 12 people were waiting on a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, down significantly from peak figures last week. 3 people are awaiting a bed in the Emergency Department and 9 elsewhere in the hospital. Meanwhile, at

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NW Migrants Forum launch booklet to help people navigate politics

The North West Migrants Forum has launched an information booklet to help people navigate politics in the North. The toolkit has been produced as part of the organisation’s Effective Activism and Campaign for Change project, focusing on the Common Travel Agreement which the group says discriminates against many residents of Northern Ireland and the Republic

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Students begin to return to school today

From today, schools begin welcoming back students following the summer break. The majority of the Covid-19 measures in place will remain the same as the last academic year. However, CO2 monitors are being made available to help improve ventilation. Sinn Fein education spokesperson, Donnchadh O’Laoghaire, says the government must ensure class time isn’t impacted in

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Lough Swilly Junior Angling Club hosts hugely successful national championships in Rathmullan

The All-Ireland Junior Angling Championships hosted by the Lough Swilly Junior Angling Club in Rathmullan at the weekend have been described as an overwhelming success. Lough Swilly Junior Angling Club Chairman, Charlie Devlin, said the event had raised the profile of the sport in the North West, while also helping the local economy. “Almost 30

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Holohan: No “major concern” about vaccinated-only live events

The Chief Medical Officer here says there wouldn’t be any major public health concerns for an outdoor event for vaccinated people only, such as the Electric Picnic festival or other outdoor live entertainment events. Dr Tony Holohan added that he was hopeful of Covid restrictions being eased ‘well before’ Christmas, but added that current disease

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Anne McCloskey: Derry GP under investigation for unsubstantiated vaccine claims

A Derry doctor is being investigated by the Health and Social Care board, about a video posted on social media over the weekend. Derry GP Anne McCloskey made a number of unsubstantiated claims about the effects of Covid-19 vaccines in the nine minute video that has been shared widely amongst the so-called “anti-vax” community on

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Graduate Medical School will help keep doctors in the NW – Dean

The Founding Dean of the new Graduate Medical School at Magee College in Derry says bringing medical students to the region will be a very important component in ensuring there are enough doctors in the future. However, Professor Louise Dubras says it’s also important that further training opportunities are provided for graduates who elect to

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