Author name: oisinkelly

The Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has officially opened the new wastewater treatment complex in Letterkenny. There had been suggestions that a number of local public representatives would boycott his visit in protest at the scrapping of the local Town Council and the refusal by the Minister for a meeting to discuss it. However, […]

A new community alert system is being put in place in a number of town lands across Letterkenny in response to a spate of crime over recent weeks and months. It follows a well attended meeting earlier this week called by local man Noel Sweeney The initiative covers town lands stretching from the top of

The Chairman of the Labour Party in Donegal has confirmed to Highland Radio News that he has quit the party. Peter Cutliffe told Highland Radio last month that he was considering his position claiming he no longer felt the Labour party represented the people. He was also upset after it emerged Senator Jimmy Harte’s wife

Two men have been returned for trial to Derry Crown Court on charges linked to the death of police constable Philipa Reynolds in Derry on February this year. 26 year-old Shane Frane whose address was given as HM Maghaberry Prison and Conor Clarence, 24, whose address was given as 27, Bond’s Hill in Derry appeared

The case against a Derry man who was murdered in the city last month has been formally dismissed at Belfast Crown Court. 35-year-old Barry Joseph McCrory was due to have been sentenced for an attempted robbery just before Christmas 2011. Barry McCrory had claimed that his robbery bid on the Santander Bank in Derry was

As the fight to preserve almost 300 vehicle licensing jobs in Coleraine continues, a deputation from the NIPSA Trade Union is in London for a series of meetings today. They’re meeting with the Transport Minister Robert Goodwill, and also addressing the Northern Ireland Select Committee at Westminister. NIPSA Assistant Secretary Ryan McKinney is leading the

North West MEP Jim Higgins has added his voice to the growing clamour for an extension of the REPS scheme. 13,000 Irish farmers will exit REPS 4 this year, but cannot apply for the new AEOS scheme until 2015. It’s also been claimed that the new scheme is overly restrictive, with many applicants being refused.

The IFA says the drafting of new multi annual plans for the development of aquaculture are a “defining moment” for the sector and coastal economies and could have a huge benefit for Donegal Those views were expressed by the Association’s Aquaculture Executive Richie Flynn who yesterday addressed over 100 national government, European Commission and parliamentary

Judgement has been reserved in a High Court case taken by Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill seeking to halt an investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission into alleged duplication of expenses claims. The Commission was due to begin a public session concerning the expenses matter, but that was postponed after Senator O Donhnaill

A Donegal man was amongst five people with alleged links to dissident Irish republicanism who have made a second private appearance in court charged with terrorism offences. Four of the accused were also charged with a plot to murder Johnny Adair and Samuel McCrory, former high-profile members of the loyalist UDA. The five are charged

The government is being urged to prepare for the ending of flouoridation in Irish water supplies. The call from Independent Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle comes as the Department of Health announces the establishment of a working group examine the practice. On Friday, Sinn Fein will introduce legislation in the Dail to end fluoridation, amidst claims

Sinn Féin says it has secured new secret tapes relating to Anglo Irish Bank. The party says it’s not making the tapes public now on legal advice, but reserves the right to do so. Finance Spokesman Pearse Doherty says he has passed the recordings to the Gardaí and the Central Bank. And he says many

The Irish Wildlife Trust is claiming that illegal dumping and large scale turf harvesting are threatening Glenveagh National Park. In a letter to management at Glenveagh, the trust says large areas of sensitive habitat are being destroyed by what it claims is the use of machines to extract large volumes of turf on a commercial

The management board of the Ecclesville Centre in Fintona have said that the Jamboree in the Park will go ahead next year. A number of people were “crushed and trampled on” during the country music festival over the weekend. The organisers of the event met last night to discuss safety concerns surrounding future events. Chairman

A Councillor has called on the mining company, awarded ten prospecting licences in the Stranorlar area to outline details of their plans to the council and the local commnunity. Connemara Mining has been awarded ten prospecting licences covering gold, silver and base metals. The area was selected by Connemara’s geologists following a extensive review of

A conference highlighting the issue of Irish female suicide, cyber bullying and Facebook amongst others gets underway in Sligo today. The Psychological Society of Ireland are hosting the four day conference and they are hoping to shine some light on many of the issues pertaining to social issues affecting the youth of Ireland. It follows

There was a large turnout at a public meeting in the Letterkenny Council Chamber last night expressing opposition to the government decision to abolish the town council structure and replace it with expanded county councils from next year’s local elections. Councillors were joined by community and business leaders, who expressed concern that Letterkenny’s status as

The Buncrana Road in Derry has reopened between the Skeoge Road and Templemore Sports Complex following an earlier security alert. The Coshquin, Whitehouse and Groarty Roads remain closed. Police say they are searching the area following reports of suspicious activity, and army bomb disposal experts are at the scene.

Sinn Feins Finance spokesperson has played down claims that Gerry Adams position as party leader is under increased pressure after last nights ‘Disappeared’ documentary. In a Boston College taped interview with deceased IRA commander Brendan Hughes, which was played for the first time last night in the BBC programme, Hughes accused Mr Adams of ordering

A Donegal Councillor says he is disgusted at what he says is the Government trying to have water meters installed through cheap labour. Jack Murray was responding to a jobbridge advert which is aiming to recruit a water meter installer in Donegal. He says while he is absolutely opposed to the taxing of public water

Connemara Mining has been awarded ten prospecting licences in the Stranorlar region of Donegal covering gold, silver and base metals. Spanning 413km2, the area was selected by Connemara’s geologists following a extensive review of gold opportunities in Ireland. Historical records of the Donegal area show certain anomalies consistent with gold while the geology shares similarities

Police in Derry are investigating reports of an armed robbery and car theft last night. Two takeaway restaurants in Derry were robbed by a masked man with a hammer. Two cars were also broken into. Police have said that they received reports at 7:20pm of a masked man breaking into two vehicles in the Lenamore

A Strabane District Cllr has called on Donegal County Council to foot the bill of sending old tyres back into the county. It’s emerged that police in Strabane seized 250 tyres which were being brought into the town from Donegal. It’s understood the tyres were destined for an illegal Halloween bonfire at the old Adria

The Letterkenny tidy towns committee held its annual awards ceremony last night, and also laid out its strategy for the next year. Schools, residents groups and businesses were honored for their efforts in another successful for year for Letterkenny in the tidy towns competition. Anne Mc Gowan is chairperson of the Letterkenny tidy towns committee.

The Garda Assistant Commissioner has launched a new ‘Farm Security’ Crime Prevention Booklet in Tipperary which was originally trialled in Donegal. This booklet was produced by An Garda Síochána in partnership with the Irish Farmers Association to assist in preventing farm related crime. The booklet aims to build on the success of existing good crime

The organisers of a one act drama festival taking place in Letterkenny later this month say they hope it can be the precursor to a full drama festival in An Grianan Theatre in the future. Nine companies from around the country are taking part in the event from the 21st to the 23rd of November.

It’s reported this morning that a doctor at Letterkenny General Hospital has been suspended following allegations that a child was physically assaulted in recent days. The hospital is confirming an investigation, but is not confirming reports that a four-year-old child was struck in an incident which was reportedly witnessed by a parent. . In a

Eircom crews are working to restore a phone services to as many as 50 customers following the theft of cabling in the Kincasslagh area at the weekend. 200 metres of cabling was taken on Saturday night. Its only the latest in a series of similar crimes in recent months. Joseph Gillespie of Eircom says it

Gardai in Buncrana are seeking information about two collisions in close proximity outside the town last night. In one instance, a Silver BMW four by four left the road at Ludden at 9.25, and the driver left the scene. At the same time, a silver Mitsubishi Lancer left the road at Lisfannon and ended up

The Mayor of Letterkenny is conceding that the campaign to save the town council structure has been lost. Cllr Pascal Blake was speaking after receiving a letter from the Environment Minister refusing a meeting this week on the basis that the decision has been made and face to face discussions would be pointless. Minister Phil

Representatives of the Glenties Windfarm Information Group are among a group of activists travelling to Brussels today for meetings with senior EU Commission officials. The Brussels visit has been organised by Independent MEP Marian Harkin, who says the visitors will be briefed on relevant EU policies. She says windfarms have a role in Ireland’s future

Local musician Gary Doherty has been selected by Sinn Fein to replace Cllr Cora Harvey on the Donegal County Council. The Castlefin man, who has a degree in politics, contested yesterday’s selection convention with Christina McGranaghan. Last month Cllr Harvey announced that she would not be seeking a nomination to run in next years Local

Letterkenny Sinn Fein Councillor Gerry Mc Monagle has accused Environment Minister, Phil Hogan of political cowardice. The councillors comments come as the minister plans to visit Letterkenny next week to open the new Water Treatment Plant in the town. Cllr Mc Monagle said “once again Minister Hogan is refusing to explain his decision to abolish Town

An Omagh District Councillor has voiced his concerns over reports of overcrowding and safety issues at the Jamboree in the park event in Fintona last night. People who attended the country music event took to Facbook and Twitter today to voice their anger over the events organisation. The Jamboree has taken place the past two

The body of a man in his 60’s has been found outside a house in Falcarragh. The discover was made late yesterday evening. The man’s body has been removed to Letterkenny General Hospital where state pathologist Marie Cassidy will carry out a post-mortem later today.  

A Sinn Fein councillor in Donegal says over 17,000 homes in the county will lose their telephone allowance next year, under the provisions of Budget 2014, and that this will have serious consequences. Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher says the importance of landlines in a rural county like Donegal cannot be overstated, with many personal and

A married Garda in his 30s has been found guilty of sexual assault and harassment of two female colleagues. Garda Kevin Corby was yesterday found guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court of two charges of harassment and one charge of sexual assault on dates between 2010 and 2011 in Donegal. Corby was also found not guilty of

An unofficial referendum on Irish unity is to be held later this month in Strabane and Lifford. The ‘United Ireland – You Decide’ campaign was officially launched in Strabane this afternoon under the “People’s Referendum” banner. Speaking at the event, campaign Chairperson Grace McDermott pointed out that the right to a vote on the reunification

Isa Arthur has been speaking of her devastation over the death of her sister Suzy, following a burglary in her home. In July of this year, two elderly sisters, Suzy and Isa Arthur, aged 89 and 91 were robbed and beaten at their home in Donegal. Suzy was badly injured and taken to hospital, never