Author name: oisinkelly

Letterkenny retains Gold medal as Tidy Towns results are announced

  Moynalty in Co Meath has been named as Ireland’s tidiest town. Letterkenny has again been awarded a Gold Medal, securing 313 points this year, two behind category winners Killarney and three behind Moynalty in County Meath, the overal winner this year. Letterkenny was also named as the North West regional winner and the recipient

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Delay in opening Irish Cancer Society Daffodil Centre in Letterkenny

The Irish Cancer Society says its long awaited Donegal Daffodil Centre will be open at Letterkenny Shopping Centre by Wednesday at the latest. The centre was to have opened today, but the society says there have been a number of unavoidable delays. The initial centre was under construction at Letterkenny General Hospital, but those plans

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Funding announced for special needs classes in Carrick and Letterkenny

The Department of Education has announced extra special needs classes for primary and post-primary schools in Donegal. The announcement is part of a national scheme, which plans to role out a total of 118 new classes throughout the country over the coming month. There will be new Autistic Spectrum Disorder classes in Carrick Vocational School

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Strabane SDLP Councillor condemns gun and explosive findings in the town

An SDLP councillor has condemned the latest incidents that took place in Strabane over the weekend. Yesterday a gun was found in a hedge in the Ballycolman housing estate, leading to a number of houses being evacuated. Then this morning police were called to Cemetery road, where suspected explosives and bomb making material were found.

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Martin McGuinness in Donegal to launch historical and cultural atlas

 A historical, environmental and cultural atlas of county Donegal is being launched today. The Atlas brings together the diversity of material written about Donegal’s history, landscape and people. It’s being launched by Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness, who has a long association with county Donegal – his mother was from near Buncrana. The North’s Deputy First

Martin McGuinness in Donegal to launch historical and cultural atlas Read More »

Tony Abbott predicted as clear winner in Australian general election.

The Australian state broadcaster, the ABC, says Tony Abbott is the clear winner in the country’s general election. The conservative opposition leader has beaten Labor’s Kevin Rudd, bringing an end to six years of Labor rule in Australia. The ABC says the opposition coalition has won 74 seats already, indicating they’ll get a clear majority

Tony Abbott predicted as clear winner in Australian general election. Read More »

Donegal Sinn Fein reps travel to Louth for party’s pre Dail ‘Think in’

 Sinn Féin’s holding its annual think-in today. The party’s TDs and Senators are meeting at Carlingford in Co Louth to plan their strategies for the year ahead. Members are likely to focus on the party’s plans for the forthcoming Seanad referendum, in which it’s recommending a Yes vote. They’re also likely to consider the party’s

Donegal Sinn Fein reps travel to Louth for party’s pre Dail ‘Think in’ Read More »

IBEC says Donegal CoCo is making efforts to ease costs burden on businesses

A group representing Irish businesses says water and waste water charges continue to rise despite the recession. That’s according to a new report from IBEC this morning, ‘Addressing the challenge of local authority costs’. It finds that many business are continuing to pay boom times rates despite the financial pressures which they are facing. Donegal

IBEC says Donegal CoCo is making efforts to ease costs burden on businesses Read More »

Junior Health Minister says air transfer from LKG to Cork was not at her request

Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch has said she has no idea who decided to use the air ambulance to transfer her from Letterkenny General Hospital to Cork last month after she was suddenly taken ill. Ms Lynch was on an official visit to Letterkenny Hospital on July 31st to view first hand the damaged caused

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ESB to appeal council refusal for major development windfarm at Ballintra

ESB wind development Limited is appealing a decision by Donegal County Council to refuse it permission to construct a major wind farm in South Donegal. ESB wind development Limited sought a ten year planning permission for the development consisting seven wind turbines, access tracks, transformer station and all associated site works. Each wind turbine would

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Donegal Deputy shocked after banks reveal they have issued 14,721 repossession letters

Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD has expressed shock at the revelation that some 14,721 repossession letters have been sent by the four banks that appeared before the Oireachtas Finance Committee this week.   Deputy Doherty said an additional 2,439 requests for voluntary surrender were sent out. Speaking after the final committee meeting of

Donegal Deputy shocked after banks reveal they have issued 14,721 repossession letters Read More »

NI man who went on the run in Donegal admits breaching terms of sex offenders register

A convicted rapist from Northern Ireland who went on the run in Donegal  has admitted breaching the terms of the police sex offenders register. 29 year-old Joseph McCabe  pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to failing to notify police of his intention to travel outside the UK. Released from jail last April, McCabe and another

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Chairperson of Strabane District Council to face a motion of ‘no confidence’

 The Chairperson of Strabane District Council is set face a motion of ‘no confidence’ next week. Ulster Unionist Derek Hussey says he will table the motion against Sinn Féin’s Ruairi McHugh at Monday’s monthly meeting – its only the third time in history such move has taken place. The move is off the back a

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Reports show that Donegal has one of the lowest rates of Suicide in Ireland

According to new reports published today, Donegal is one of the three counties with the lowest recorded rate of Suicide in Ireland. Across the country, the rate of suicidal behaviour has stabilised but we still have the fourth highest rate of death by suicide among young people in the EU. Three reports on suicide and

Reports show that Donegal has one of the lowest rates of Suicide in Ireland Read More »

Enforcement Order served on West Donegal windfarm to block erection of turbine

Donegal County Council has served an enforcement order on the directors of Loughderryduff windfarm. The order was attached to the entrance gate of the windfarm between Ardara and Glenties yesterday. The enforcement order relates to the alleged erection of a wind turbine without planning permission, apparently to replace a turbine which collapsed at the site

Enforcement Order served on West Donegal windfarm to block erection of turbine Read More »

Health ministers urged to act on potential for NW Connected Health Corridor

The Health Ministers in Stormont and Dublin are being urged to examine the possibility of creating a North West Connected Health Innovation Corridor to promote digital medicine in the region and maximise the potential of electronics and information technology. Foyle MLA Maeve Mc Laughlin says a conference in Derry in May heard that such a

Health ministers urged to act on potential for NW Connected Health Corridor Read More »

“Into the West” welcomes indications that Old Waterside Station in Derry may be restored

It seems increasingly likely that the old Waterside Station in Derry could be restored to give the city a new railway base The Into the West rail campaign group is welcoming indications that Translink’s preferred option is the restoration of the Old Waterside Station. As well as campaigning for this outcome, Into the West spokesperson

“Into the West” welcomes indications that Old Waterside Station in Derry may be restored Read More »

Fanad and Killybegs included in new 2.5 million euro Lighthouse tourism project

The government has announced 2.5 million euro in EU funding to renovate Irish lighthouses to boost tourism in Ulster. The project will see operational lighthouses – which are now unmanned – transformed into tourist accommodation. The Fanad Head Lighthouse in Fanad and St John’s Point Lighthouse Killybegs are included in the trail. It’s expected the

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West Tyrone MLA calls for reform of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

The Vice-Chairperson of the Agriculture Committee at Stormont says the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is in need of urgent reform. West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne, who is also the SDLP Agriculture Spokesperson says the farming and food processing sectors in the North will only progress if DARD reconnects with the people it should

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Donegal People opposed to government austerity policy urged to attend Dublin protest

Donegal people who oppose the Government’s policy on addressing the financial crisis are being encouraged to attend a mass ”Peoples Assembly” in Dublin later this month. Members of the protests groups in Donegal including Donegal Action Against Austerity and CAHWT are expected to be well represented at the protest at the gates of the Dail

Donegal People opposed to government austerity policy urged to attend Dublin protest Read More »

Funding available for local groups in Donegal wanting to help build peace through the Arts

Community groups and Local Authorities across Northern Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland that want to tackle signs of sectarianism and racism in their communities now have the opportunity to benefit from an investment of £3.125 million. The ‘Building Peace through the Arts – Re-Imaging Communities’ funding programme will support arts

Funding available for local groups in Donegal wanting to help build peace through the Arts Read More »

Pearse Doherty says banks are moving to slow in dealing with mortgage arrears

 The head of Bank of Ireland will appear before the Oireachtas Finance Committee this morning. Richie Boucher will face questions from TDs and Senators about the banks performance when it comes to meeting Central Bank targets on dealing with people in mortgage arrears. Yesterday, the head of AIB, David Duffy told the Committee that his

Pearse Doherty says banks are moving to slow in dealing with mortgage arrears Read More »

Efforts underway to ease flooding risk in parts of Letterkenny

A Letterkenny Councillor is pressing for funding to replace storm pipes in the Glencar area of Letterkenny, and alleviate flooding problems in the Glenwood Park and Beechwood areas. Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh says the natural watercourse from Glencar runs through Glenwood and Beechwood via undersized storm pipes, which are not capable of  moving the volumes of

Efforts underway to ease flooding risk in parts of Letterkenny Read More »

O’Domhnaill says council will serve Enforcement Order on wind energy company

Donegal County Council is to serve an enforcement order on a wind energy company instructing them to cease preparatory work to erect a wind turbine in West Donegal. The turbine became trapped today while being transported on the Maas to Ardara road ; it is understood that the turbine, which is worth over 1 million euro,

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Higgins believes new fuel marker system can help defeat launderers

Northwest MEP Jim Higgins says he believes new cross-border efforts could eliminate illegal fuel laundering. He says authorities are working together on a cross-border basis in order to effectively wipe out fuel laundering by implementing a new fuel marker system. Fuel laundering is a particular problem in border areas with customs raiding a number of

Higgins believes new fuel marker system can help defeat launderers Read More »

Councillor claims stranded wind turbine was going to be erected at Loughderryduff without planning permission

A Donegal County Councillor has claimed that a wind turbine, which became trapped while being transported on the Maas to Ardara road, was going to be erected without planning permission. It is understood that the turbine, which is worth over 1 million euro, was to replace a turbine which fell over in high winds on

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Pearse Doherty launches Sinn Fein’s campaign in favour of scrapping the Seanad

 Sinn Féin has launched its campaign in favour of scrapping the Seanad. The party says that although the Dail is in need of reform, the Seanad will not be reformed if it’s saved. The party says it would have preferred to see the Constitutional Convention consider the matter first. But its Finance Spokesman Pearse Doherty

Pearse Doherty launches Sinn Fein’s campaign in favour of scrapping the Seanad Read More »