Author name: oisinkelly

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

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