Author name: oisinkelly

New figures released by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland show a massive increase in student enrolments in Letterkenny Institute of Technology at a time when both staff levels and budgets have reduced. Between 2007 and 2013, LYIT lost the equivalent of 21 fulltime lecturers – a decrease of 10.1% – as a result of cutbacks […]

The Donegal IFA says farmers will feel a severe financial impact from new trailer load regulation introduced by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar. From now on there will be a maximum load height restriction of 4.65 metres, a move the IFA has described as excessive. The association says it will add millions of euro to the

There were 17 arrests in Derry last night as thousands turned out to celebrate Halloween. The majority were arrested for disorder offences. Police have described it as a success praising so many people for coming together and enjoying the events in a safe and peaceful manner. Donegal gardai report a very quiet night with no

The Committee for the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is to visit Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan next year to ensure that the benefits of the Peace Process spread into the border counties. The announcement was made by the Committee’s Chairperson. Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh, after a delegation from the committee met

A rescue team from Donegal will joing the extensive search operation which is due to recommence this morning for a man feared missing on a mountain in county Mayo. The alarm was first raised on Wednesday when the man failed to return home from a walking expedition on the Mweelrea  Mountain, near Louisburgh. Mayo Mountain

A new report on the National Counselling Grants Programme reveals that over a third of Donegal cancer patients who availed of the service sought counselling less than one year after a cancer diagnosis.  Another 36 per cent of clients required counselling within two years of diagnosis, highlighting the need for emotional support following the completion

The latest independently compiled listenership figures show that Highland Radio remains the most listened to local radio station in the country. The figures show that 66% of people who listen to the radio, listen to Highland Radio – an increase on the last set of figures. The figures compliled for the JNLR through an IPSOS/

Two men charged in connection with the finding of mortars on Derry’s Letterkenny Road in March will face a preliminary enquiry on November 28. 35 year old Seamus McLaughlin of 19c Eastway and 37 year Gary McDaid of 121, Glenowen Park are charged with conspiracy to cause explosions either in the North or the republic

The HSE has confirmed that Caredoc is to take over the out of hours GP service currently operated by NoWDOC, with no change to the service that patients currently receive. The HSE said this afternoon its objective is to see the service developed and enhanced as much as possible. According to the HSE’s statement this

There was good news on the jobs front for the west and northwest today. 80 new jobs are expected to be created at Knock Airport after Ryanair announced three new routes – to Eindhoven, Glasgow Prestwick and Kaunas. While more than 60 jobs are being created in Derry by Sainsbury’s. They’ll be rolled out from

The Central Statistics Office has released its Statistical Yearbook of Ireland 2013 today. It provides detailed information on a range of topics including population, the labour force and statistics on housing. The figures show that at the last census, the population of Donegal stood at just over 161 thousand; this is an increase of 9.4%

Donegal County Council says there is no threat to jobs as a result of the establishment of Irish Water. From January 1st, Irish Water will take over the council’s role in the maintenance and administration of the water supply network. As part of that transition, the Council is pushing to clear outstanding non-domestic accounts, with

A man in his 20s was arrested after a bar owner on the Strand Road reported someone trying to take money from the till and bottles of drink shortly before 10pm on October 30th. A man was arrested on suspicion of burglary in a house in the Steelstown Road area around 2.30am today (31st). Police

The post office in Greencastle has been reprieved. It had been proposed to close the premises, but after local consultation, An Post has confirmed that the facility will be left open for a year on a trial basis. Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says he believes the community there will use the Post

Donegal County Council is stepping up its campaign of disconnecting non-domestic water customers who fail to pay their bills. The council says it has initiated proceedings against a number of customers who have not responded, or made any meaningful attempt to address the arrears on their account. Over the past two weeks, around 30 non

A married garda in his 30s has gone on trial at Letterkenny Circuit Court charged with the sexual assault and harassment of two female colleagues. He denies the charges. It’s alleged the sexual assaults took place between November 2010 and May 2011, some of them in a Garda Station in the county. The garda is

Working mothers across Donegal are set to lose an average of around €3,300 during their maternity leave as a result of cuts introduced in the budgets for this year and next. That is according to Donegal Fianna Fáil Deputy Charlie McConalogue who has accused the Government of engaging in a targeted attack on working mothers.

Last week, two year old Jack Beattie from Lifford was the first child from Donegal to use BUMBLEance, the World’s 1st interactive children’s ambulance.   BUMBLEance is transporting sick children from all over Ireland to their treatment centres in an attempt to make like a little easier for the child and their parents. Little Jack

A leading Donegal solicitor has again highlighted the cramped conditions at Letterkenny Court House. Paudge Dorrian says yesterday the courtroom was packed and has warned of a potential risk to people’s health and safety. He has also highlighted the plight of prisoners who often confined to a space in a prison van the size of

A Letterkenny Town Councillor has called for a quick resolution to the traffic lights debacle at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. There has been criticism of the lights and the negative impact they have had on traffic since they went active on the Port Road earlier this month. However, they were removed on Tuesday morning

A Donegal County Councillor says she doesn’t believe a five year sentence was enough for the man found guilty of beating and robbing Greta Lilly. In a crime that made headlines across the country, Greta Lilly was dragged from her bed, beaten and robbed by 49 year-old Thomas Alcock  – he was this week jailed

Police are asking members of the public in the Whitehouse Road area of Derry to be vigilant and to report any suspicious objects to police immediately. A thorough search was carried out earlier this week following information that suggested there may be something suspicious in the area. Officers went door to door talking to local

A remembrance service is being held in Greysteel this evening, 20 years after eight people were murdered at the Rising Sun bar. Two gunmen from the Ulster Freedom Fighters opened fire on the Rising Sun bar on 30 October, 1993. They shot dead seven people while another man later died of his injuries. Torrens Knight

The Taoiseach’s defended the actions of the Revenue Commissioners in the way they’re collecting the Local Property Tax for next year. Anyone who pays the tax in a one-off method – by cheque or debit or credit card – will have to inform revenue of this in the next week, and make the payment by

A Councillor who launched a fundraising campaign to help a 96 year-old woman who was beaten and robbed in her home has welcomed the conviction of the man found to be responsible. In a crime that made headlines across the country, Greta Lilly was dragged from her bed, beaten and robbed by 49 year-old Thomas

A Donegal man is amongst five Irish Republican terror suspects have appeared in court charged with conspiring to commit acts of terrorism. 39 year-old Anton Duffy, a native of Donegal along side Martin Hughes, Edward McVeigh, Paul Sands and Stacy McAllister are also alleged to have conspired to murder. They are charged with planning between

It’s been revealed that only 3% of Jobbridge Public Sector interns in Donegal secure employment. Donegal South West Deputy, Pearse Doherty, obtained the figures, and he says it raises serious questions about the scheme. He says the figures are shocking, and he says the young people who are participating in Jobbridge are being exploited:

Almost 300 drivers have avoided a conviction and penalty points in the Northwest so far this year because they made a donation to charity. In the Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim areas 290 motorists avoided conviction. And the Department of Justice confirmed that, up to the end of August, 1,049 people in Ireland avoided a conviction

The trial of a man charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight men in Inishowen will begin in January Shaun Kelly appeared this morning at Letterkenny Circuit Court charged with the deaths in Clonmany in July of 2010. Defence barrister, Mr Peter Nolan, made the application for an adjournment as there are a

A 27-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with firearm and explosive offences. Ryan O’Reilly of 35, Meadowbank Court in Derry faced a total of 9 charges relating to a find made in the city last December. He was charged with possessing two pistols, a sub machine gun and two magazines under suspicious

Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating after a newly married couples home was the target of an alleged arson attack over the weekend. Two vans and a garage were burnt at around 9 o clock on Saturday evening while the couple where at their OWN wedding reception. Gardai are treating the incident as arson, and they

Gardai are renewing their appeals for information into a robbery in the Feddyglass, Raphoe area on the 1st of July this year. Suzy Arthur was at home at Tullyrap just off the road from Letterkenny to Lifford with her sister Iza at 5 o’clock on that evening when three men broke into the house and

A letter bomb has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service office in Derry. The building on the city’s Limavady Road was evacuated at about 1230pm today. Police said the bomb was similar in make-up to two devices found in postal sorting offices in County Antrim on Friday. One was addressed to the chief constable,

In Derry a man has been charged with possession of hand grenades and firearms The 27 year-old – who was detained in Derry yesterday – is also accused of having a stun gun and CS gas spray. He’s due to appear before Derry Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

The Nynes Gala Service Station in Letterkenny has closed with the loss of up to 10 jobs. The service station in the Killyclug area has been open for a number of years and included a small cafe area and mini-supermarket. Local councillor Gerry McMonagle said it’s concerning news for the area:

Inishowen Sinn Féin councillor Jack Murray has commended the local community in Muff after a protest was staged in the village to demand a safe crossing in the village. The protest, which was organised by the local Sinn Féin cumann in conjunction with local residents, was staged on Saturday afternoon to highlight the danger of

Police in Derry have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious object in the Mimosa Court area of the Waterside. A security alert has been ongoing since the discovery of the object in the early hours of this morning. A number of homes in the area have been evacuated. The YMCA centre in Drumahoe

Frylite in Strabane is to create 19 new jobs in the town. The jobs announcement is part of 2 million worth of funding from Invest Northern Ireland. Frylite supplies, collects and recylces cooking oils for a range of food companies across Ireland, the UK and Europe. The company is one of Strabanes biggest employers. Frylite

Drivers are being urged to slow down this Bank Holiday weekend. There have been 13 more deaths on our roads compared to this time last year. 153 people have been killed in road traffic collisions to date. Gardai and the RSA are appealing to motorists to observe the speed limits. Interim CEO of the RSA

Winter time officially starts tonight. At 1am tonight, clocks, watches and all other time sensitive equipment should be put back one hour. This means that you will have an extra hour in bed tomorrow. Winter time runs until 30th March next year.

A man who was reported missing in the Ballybofey area last night has been located safe and well. Gardai had issued an appeal last night just before 8pm for a missing man who was in an agitated state. But it was confirmed this morning that the missing man was located late last night.  

Donegals Jason Quigley will be going for gold in the boxing world championships in Kazaksthan this morning. The 22-year-old will take on the home nations Zhanibek Alimkhanuly for the Middleweight World Title. The bout will be on RTE 1 and the BBC red button for 1050am onwards. The fight is also being shown live on

Up to 50 people turned out for a protest outside Donegal North East Deputy Joe McHughs constituency office this lunchtime. During the rally anti-austerity protesters handed a letter of resignation into the Fine Gael Deputies office. The protest organisers want Deputy McHugh to sign the letter and send it to Enda Kenny. But Deputy McHugh

Donegal County Council is dealing with an oil spill on the outskirts of Termon this afternoon which has caused a number of minor accidents. Gardai say the spillage is at its worst on a four kilometre stretch from Termon village out towards the viaduct on the Creeslough Road. Meanwhile, following heavy rain and some flooding