Author name: oisinkelly

The CAO has published the second round of offers for college courses this morning, with over three thousand applicants are getting new offers. At Letterkenny Institute of Technology, the biggest drop for a Level 8 Honours Degree course is in Destination Tourism with Marketting in Killybegs, which has seen the required points fall from 295 […]

An Bord Pleanala has overturned permission for a caravan park in Clonmany. The Council had granted permsission to Paul Kerr for the development works in Tullagh, Rockstown but that was appealed by a John and Rita Friel. The plans were for the development of 67 caravan pitches, a single storey service building, pedestrian route to

The Minister for Health has confirmed that Emergency Medical Helicopter Service is to be extended to the North West Region The decision for EAS service to cover the North West region is in view of the recent difficulties at Letterkenny General Hospital arising out of the flooding. The service, for the past year, has been

A man has been airlifted by the Sligo based rescue 118 chopper to Letterkenny General Hospital. The man  fell from a cliff at Cruit Island near Kincasslagh. The Gweedore coast guard was also involved in this operation, one of several the 118 helicopter was involved in on what was one of its busiest days.  

 Donegal County Councillor Mick Quinn has described the section of the H.S.E. which processes Medical Cards as a shambles and not fit for purpose. He said In the two years since the processing of Medical Cards was transferred to Dublin, Donegal people have endured incompetence, arrogance and frustration when dealing with this Section. Councillor Quinnn

More than 15,000 people are set to converge on Derry for what the city’s Mayor says will be one of the highlights of the City of Culture year. The Walled City Tattoo begins this evening, and runs until Sunday. The event, which takes place in Ebrington Square, will feature 30 Highland and Irish dance schools,

A Strabane family are said to be at a complete loss as to understand why their car was burnt in an arson attack. The family car was destroyed in the Ballycolman Estate in the early hours of this morning. It’s understood the tyres were let down on the car before it was set alight. The

 The case of a  Donegal man who died after falling into the Liffey while attending a party on a floating bar is the subject of an “ongoing investigation which may lead to a criminal prosecution”. That is according to Inspector Martin Mooney of Pearse Street Garda Station who spoke at the opening of the inquest

Three people had a lucky escape today when their pleasure boat overturned at the mouth of the Gweebara estuary. One person was able to make it to shore and raise the alarm with the Rescue Helicopter from Sligo, Gweedore Coastguard and Arranmore lifeboat tasked to the scene. By the time they arrived on the scene,

Derry will play host to a major Jobs Fair and Advice Forum next month with companies from both Donegal and Derry seeking workers. Organisers say a wide range of vacancies will be available particularly with an emphasis on Information Technology , Media and Creative Industries in support of Digital Derry. Advice and guidance will also

The Garda Commissioner has agreed to increase the powers of the Garda Reserve to include enforcement of Public Order and Road Traffic laws, with members of the reserve currently being trained at the Garda College in Templemore. Confirmation of the change is contained in a letter to Donegal based A-Ceart founder Mary Clinton, who had

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association says Gardaí need better resources to deal with increasing crime, particularly theft, in the counties along the Border. In the latest incident last week, 14 bullocks were stolen from a field near Dungannon, Co Tyrone They were worth over €25,600. There have also been a number of thefts

The High Court in Belfast has refused bail to a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a market trader in Derry after he rented her a room for the recent fleadh in Derry. Ahmed Bouazzi, a 28-year-old Tunisian national with an address at Woodvale Mews, Derry, faces charges of sexual assault and possession of cannabis. The

A five member hasty team were deployed to Errigal on Monday afternoon after a hiker got separated from his colleagues in dense fog. The party had ascended the trail from the car park on the Dunlewy road in good walking conditions but on reaching the first of Errigal’s twin summits heavy fog was sweeping in.

  The people of county Donegal have a chance to share their views on the future of broadcasting in Ireland over the coming weeks by participating in a public consultation organised by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The consultation is aimed at informing the BAI’s strategy statement for the next three years. Under Section

A Killygordon resident has called on Donegal County Council to intervene and fix a sewerage problem which is spilling into her garden. Aisling says she has been sent from pillar to post by the Council as she tries to get the issue sorted. She claims the raw sewerage has been running into her back garden

A man has been taken to hospital following a two vehicle collision near Strabane. Police have been called to the Fyfin Road, Victoria Bridge, which is between Strabane and Castlederg. The road is blocked and motorists are advised to find an alternative route if possible. There are no details on his condition at this time.

The government has been officially advised to change Ireland’s election laws to allow for bigger constituencies, including an amalgamated Donegal constituency which will see the number of TDs in the county reduced by one. Following a vote in June, the Constitution Convention has now formally submitted its report, which says each constituency should be represented

A shopfitting company with bases in Muff and Derry says up to 100 jobs are under threat because of the potential loss of a Tesco contract. Martin Mc Cafferty, Managing Director of Rock Shopfitting Services claims Tesco is withdrawing contracts from them on both sides of the border in favour of a multi-national company. However,

A 36 Derry man who has been in a coma for seven years following a sectarian attack has been asked by the Social Security Agency if he is fit for work. Paul McCauley was attacked by a gang at a barbecue on the Waterside in July 2006. He suffered severe brain injuries and is now

Sinn Fein is calling on the Government to set up a school book scheme. It says a state scheme – where pupils would borrow books at the start of the year – would cost the Government an initial 45 million euro. But it’s claimed the cost would fall quite rapidly as the books continue to

The Donegal Road Safety Group PARC has welcomed written confirmation from the Garda National Traffic Bureau that forms for recording road traffic collisions will now include a field for recording Hit and Runs. The group has lead the campaign arguing that in the absence of such a field the true level of Hit and Runs

A Donegal man has failed in a High Court bid to block Donegal County Council’s plans to build a waste water treatment plant on the shores of Lough Foyle. The action was brought by local man Enda Craig of Carnagave, Moville. Mr Craig had legally challenged the development on environmental impact grounds and the adequacy

A Defence Forces spokesman has confimed that a controlled explosion has been carried out on an suspect device found outside a house in Inishowen. The controlled explosion was carried out by an army bomb disposal team who arrived at the scene in Gleneely by helicopter this afternoon. Minor damage was caused to a door of

Gardai investigating a fatal  hit and run near Bundoran believe a car found close to the scene may not have been involved in the incident. A senior officer said an inital examination of the car meant it was unlikely to have been involved – although further testing tomorrow will be carried out. It was found

An 18 yearold man and a 24 year old woman have appeared at a special sitting of Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with attempting to hijack two cars on Saturday. There was no bail application granted, and both defendants were remanded in custody for a video link hearing on 12 September. 24 year old Hannah Kerrigan

The Mayor of Buncrana has said he does not see where jobs are going to come from, even if there is an economic recovery in Europe as some commentators are suggesting. Cllr Peter Mc Laughlin says emigration remains a major issue in Buncrana, a fact which was highlighted recently when it emerged that All Ireland

A number of men from the North West have begun studying for the priesthood in Maynooth today. Twenty new seminarians have started today in St Patricks College, over 25% of them from the region. Four are from the diocese of Derry, two from Raphoe and one from Clogher.

It’s emerged that the family of a Real IRA member murdered by his former colleagues are to be compensated, although half the amount will be withheld because he had a criminal conviction. Kieran Doherty was shot dead and his body dumped on Derry’s Braehead Road close to the Donegal border in February 2010. His mother

The man killed in a suspected hit and run incident outside Bundoran at the weekend has been named locally as Alan Mc Sherry, a native of Liverpool who had been living in County Leitrim for nearly 20 years. He was in his late forties. In a tragic twist, it’s emerged that Mr Mc Sharry’s body

A Donegal senator says reports that members of the Seanad are seeking thousands of euro in funding to set up local offices are inaccurate being spun by elements of the pro abolition side ahead of October’s referendum. The request to Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin is reported in today’s Sunday Times, which says a request

The body of a man, believed to be the victim of a “hit and run” incident, has been found on the outskirts of Bundoran. The man, in his late 40s, was discovered shortly after 5am this morning on the Newtown Road about a mile outside the town. Gardaí said the man appeared to have been

The Northwest’s Search and Rescue Helicopter services is unaffected by a helicopter crash off the coast of Scotland which cost the lives of four people.   The company which operates the  helicopter that crashed also provides the search and rescue helicopter which operates out of Sligo. CHC cancelled operations today as a mark of respect

A Northwest MEP says we need to do more to make the 11 6000 hotline more widely known. Jim Higgins has welcomed the new hotline which to ensures a rapid response during the crucial first hours after a child’s disappearance, helping parents and guardians access the support they need. The MEP says however, that he

The Holywell Trust and Foyle Hospice are calling on the public to get involved in tomorrow’s Wave on the Walls. They currently have around 800 people registered for an attempt to form a human ring around the walls in Derry and need at least 400 more to achieve the goal. Mark Lusby Project Coordinator with

It is that time of the year as Children prepare for a return to school. Here is some back to school material from a nutritional perspective & lunch box ideas. It has been prepared by Dr. Catherine Logan, Nutrition Manager with The National Dairy Council and you may find it a useful resource at this time. …