Author name: oisinkelly

Councillor Terence Slowey has Fine Gael party whip restored

 Fine Gael General Secretary, Tom Curran, has confirmed today that membership of the Party whip has been restored to Councillor Terence Slowey. He had the whip removed in 2011 after a government ethics watchdog found the councillor had claimed double expenses for the same journey. Cllr. Terence Slowey claimed a mileage allowance for a conference

Councillor Terence Slowey has Fine Gael party whip restored Read More »

Riverdance company seeks to stop Eastern European “tribute shows”

Riverdance is in the High Court today – in a bid to prevent ‘illict unauthorised’ shows from taking place in Eastern Europe. The dance company is seeking ‘as a matter or urgency’ an order restraining a Co Kerry music promoter from using the Riverdance name and infringing copyright. Lawyers for Riverdance founders John McColgan and

Riverdance company seeks to stop Eastern European “tribute shows” Read More »

Organisers of Castlederg commemoration reject Villiers call to cancel it

Organisers of a republican parade in Castlederg have rejected all last minute calls not to go ahead. The British Secretary of State yesterday called on the organisers of the commemortion to cancel it, even at this late stage. Theresa Villiers called the parade “deeply insensitive” but she said there is no legal criteria to stop

Organisers of Castlederg commemoration reject Villiers call to cancel it Read More »

Flood risk at hospital had been flagged in new ED planning conditions

It’s emerged that the risk of flooding in the new wing at Letterkenny General Hospital had been flagged over 10 years ago. The Donegal News has seen documents which indicate that one of the planning conditions attached to the new Emergency Department building was that before work began, flood attenuation measures were to be agreed

Flood risk at hospital had been flagged in new ED planning conditions Read More »

Bishop Boyce announces a number of positional changes within Raphoe Diocese

 The Bishop of Raphoe has announced a number of changes to cleric positions within the Diocese. Bishop Philip Boyce has announced that Fr Seamus Gallagher, currently Parish Priest for Newtowncunningham and Killea will move to Frosses in Inver. He will be replaced by Father Ciaran Harkin in Newtowncunningham who is returning from sabbatical. Newly ordained

Bishop Boyce announces a number of positional changes within Raphoe Diocese Read More »

Update – Minister says once formalities are cleared, Alcorn can take his Udaras seat

The way could soon be cleared for Cllr David Alcorn to take his seat on Udaras na Gaeltachta. 11 months after anonymous allegations surfaced about irregularities in his expenses clainms, the Standards in Public Office Commission has cleared Cllr Alcorn of any wrongdoing. He had been nominated by Donegal County Council to sit on the

Update – Minister says once formalities are cleared, Alcorn can take his Udaras seat Read More »

Durkan pledges to meet with opponents of Maydown Gasification Plant

The North’s Minister for the Environment has pledged to assess all relevant evidence in relation to the proposed gasification plant at Maydown. A number of concerns have been raised, not least in Donegal, as to the impact the facility could have on the enviroment and people’s health. Among those to raise concerns was Donegal County

Durkan pledges to meet with opponents of Maydown Gasification Plant Read More »

Amnesty International backs call for independent inquiry into the Omagh bombing

Amnesty International has joined some of the bereaved Omagh bomb families in calling for a public independent inquiry into the Real IRA atrocity and the investigation into it. Twenty-nine people were killed in the 1998 car bombing, the 15th anniversary of which will be marked a week from today. The families of some of the

Amnesty International backs call for independent inquiry into the Omagh bombing Read More »

David Alcorn expresses anger at council as he’s cleared of any expenses wrongdoing by SIPO

Donegal County Councillor David Alcorn has been cleared of any allegations of expenses irregularities by the Standards In Public Office Commission. The Fianna Fail representative has released a statement confirming the investigation has ended. In a statement released today, Councillor Alcorn said he was treated in a ‘disgraceful’ manner by the local authority who took

David Alcorn expresses anger at council as he’s cleared of any expenses wrongdoing by SIPO Read More »

Letterkenny Mayor detects a renewed sense of hope after latest hospital briefing

The Mayor of Letterkenny says there is a renewed sense of hope about the future of Letterkenny General Hospital, and staff morale is improving by the day since the flooding which knocked out 40% of the hospital’s capacity at the end of last month. Cllr Pascal Blake received a briefing at the hospital this morning,

Letterkenny Mayor detects a renewed sense of hope after latest hospital briefing Read More »

Cutliffe renews call for open recruitment of polling clerks ahead of Seanad referendum

Ahead of the Seanad Referendum, a senior Labour Party member in Donegal is again calling for the positions of polling clerks to be advertised publicly. Peter Cutliffe has long called for polling clerk positions to be advertised to give people on the live register an opportunity of some employment. While Donegal County Council has given

Cutliffe renews call for open recruitment of polling clerks ahead of Seanad referendum Read More »

Donegal waste disposal business claims it’s being wrongfully linked to illegal dumping on imposter Facebook account

The director of a Donegal waste disposal business claims he’s been wrongfully linked to illegal dumping on an imposter Facebook account. Jim Ferry of Rossbracken House, Rossbracken, Letterkenny has gone to the High Court to find out who is behind the social media page  Jim Refuse Ferry . The courts heard comments on the

Donegal waste disposal business claims it’s being wrongfully linked to illegal dumping on imposter Facebook account Read More »

DUP to meet PSNI Assistant Chief Constable over Castlederg parade

The DUP are due to meet Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton later to discuss a republican march planned for Castlederg. There has been much controversy surrounding the parade, and just last week DUP Cllr Ruth Patterson was arrested over comments she made about the planned republican parade. Tyrone Volunteer’s Day parade will commemorate the county’s

DUP to meet PSNI Assistant Chief Constable over Castlederg parade Read More »

Concern over threats and intimidation from travellers at Ballybofey car park – Cllr McGowan

A local councillor has stated his concern over the ongoing situation at the Supervalue carpark in Ballybofey, where a large group of travellers parked up yesterday afternoon. Speaking to Highland Radio this afternoon, Cllr Patrick McGowan stated that staff in the local businesses were threatened along with members of the public. A number of business

Concern over threats and intimidation from travellers at Ballybofey car park – Cllr McGowan Read More »

Work underway at LGH to establish interim Emergency and Radiology facilities

Letterkenny General Hospital is to provide support to GPs and the NowDoc service to allow minor injuries to be treated away from the hospital. Details of the initiative were confirmed at a lunchtime press briefing today. Meanwhile, mobile x-ray and scanning equipment arrived at the hospital last evening. Work to commission that equipment is now

Work underway at LGH to establish interim Emergency and Radiology facilities Read More »

Education Minister tells MacGill Summer School he wants country back to full employment

Education Minister Ruasri Quinn says he wants to see full employment again within eight years, and the government must do all it can to make that happen. Speaking at the MacGill Summer School last evening, Mr Quinn recalled how, during the period of the Rainbow Coalition in the mid 1990s, a similar goal was set

Education Minister tells MacGill Summer School he wants country back to full employment Read More »

Update – 35 Donegal businesses face water disconnection as council adopts a “get tough” policy

Donegal County Council’s Finance Director says there’s been a surge in the payment of non-domestic water charges, and is warning that water disconnections now loom for outstanding accounts. July saw a major campaign initiated by the council’s new Income Collection Unit. Garry Martin says in early July, the council issued approximately 3,000 arrears reminder letters

Update – 35 Donegal businesses face water disconnection as council adopts a “get tough” policy Read More »

Solicitor calls for public enquiry into LGH flooding as Manager says it could happen again

The Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital has said there is no guarantee that the hospital will now flood again. The hospital was devastated by flash flooding this day last week, taking out 40% of the hospital’s capacity. Heavy rain has been forecast for the Northwest this weekend, and speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show a

Solicitor calls for public enquiry into LGH flooding as Manager says it could happen again Read More »

Update – Castlederg parade gets go-ahead as DUP Councillor apologies for Facebook comments

The Parades Commission has decided to allow a republican parade to march through Castlederg later this month, but with restrictions. The parade is to commemorate Tyrone’s republican dead, including two IRA members killed by their own bomb in 1973, and is backed by Sinn Féin. Earlier, a DUP councillor’s apologised for comments she made on

Update – Castlederg parade gets go-ahead as DUP Councillor apologies for Facebook comments Read More »

SF president praises “communal” spirit of the response to hospital crisis

Sinn Féin president, Gerry Adams said this afternoon it could take a year before all services are fully restored at Letterkenny General Hospital, and the HSE and the government must commit themselves to provide all that is required to allow that happen as soon as is safely possible. Mr Adams visited the hospital along with

SF president praises “communal” spirit of the response to hospital crisis Read More »

Update – Quinn meets with Donegal Down Syndrome Association in Glenties

The Secretary of the Donegal Down Syndrome Association had a brief meeting with Education Minister Ruari Quinn in Glenties this afternoon . Gina Grant says MInister Quinn was receptive, and has promised further discussion on their call for more supports for children starting school. Ruari Quinn is addresing the MacGill Summer School this evening on

Update – Quinn meets with Donegal Down Syndrome Association in Glenties Read More »