Author name: oisinkelly

There is anger in Castlederg after a Wreath laid at the Cenotaph for murdered Michael Darcy has been taken from the site. The wreath, to honour one of the founding members of the Castlederg Young Loyalists’ Old Boys Flute Band, was taken sometime between Sunday and Monday. Mr Darcy was shot by the IRA in […]

Lough Derg will have a new prior from the start of September. In his 2013 clerical changes for the Diocese of Clogher, Bishop Liam McDaid has named outgoing prior Monsignor Richard Mohan as Parish Priest of Clones in County Monaghan. The new Prior of Lough Derg and Parish Priest of Pettigo will be Fr Owen

A new survey has found that Donegal was the top location for Irish people who enjoyed a so called Staycation during the summer heatwave. According to figures from ebookers.ie, the county enjoyed an 800% increase in bookings. Other areas that benefited include Bray (400%), Adare (400%), Kildare (400%), Killarney (273%), Limerick (242%), County Cork (224%)

Parents are contributing an average of 400 euro a month per child for third level education. That’s according to a survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions which also shows that 80 per cent of parents have to lend financial support to struggling students. 71 per cent of parents now say their family budget

 The Archbishop of Lima has visited Michaella McCollum Connolly in jail in Peru. The Tyrone native and her Scottish friend Melissa Reid were arrested at Lima airport last week – and accused of carrying 11 kilos of cocaine between them. Archbishop Sean Walsh told the Irish Independent, he believed Michaella and Melissa were set up.

A Derry businessman who was the victim of a paramilitary-style shooting in his Waterloo Street shop has been charged with possessing CS gas canisters. Raymond Coyle was shot by dissident republicans for selling so-called legal highs in his shop in February 2010, and was threatened last year with execution. 55 year old Mr Coyle from

The Director-General of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann says there is a very unique spirit in Derry this week following the opening of the 2013 Fleadh Cheoil yesterday. Thuosands thronged Guildhall Square for the opening performed by President Michael D. Higgins and Deputy First Minister Martin Mc Guinness. Labhras O’Murchu says scarcely has the opening of the

The Coast Guard says there is little doubt that the quick actions of a member of the public saved the lives of two men who fell from a boat in Greencastle last evening. The Greencastle Coast Guard boat and shoreline team and Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 118 were tasked to the two men in the

The CEO of the Killybegs Fishermens Organisation has said another fleet decommissioning scheme may have to be introduced next year. Sean O’Donaghue was speaking after the European Commission announced deductions from the 2013 fishing quotas for a number of species, including a 10% reduction  in Ireland’s haddock quota, to offset overfishing last year. Sean O’Donaghue

The latest edition of the National Housing Construction Index shows that Donegal continues to report a percentage drop in planning commencements. The figures were compiled by Link2Plans-dot-com. The reported examined every housing construction planning application and planning commencement from January to June 2013, in the production of the National Housing Construction Index. The Index gives

Donegal anti austerity protesters says they intend to run candidates in next year’s local elections. The next meeting the activists from Donegal will be attending will be on September the 14th in Dublin. Donegal Action Against Austerity says the purpose of the meeting will be to agree a programme that candidates through out the country

The final hurdle for the extension of Dungloe and Glenties Sewerage scheme has been passed with the government today announcing over 5 million euro allowing the projects to progress. The long awaited work involves the provision of new wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations and sewers in Dungloe & Glenties. It is expected that work will

The family of a Tyrone woman – facing up to 25 years in prison in Peru – says they’re very concerned for her wellbeing. 20-year-old Michaella McCollum Connolly and a friend were arrested at Lima Airport on Tuesday – on suspicion of trying to smuggle 1.7 million euro worth of cocaine out of the country.

  A Senior Government Minister is dismissing reports that pensions will be cut in the next budget. The Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney was responding to newspaper reports that the Government is looking at cutting the old-age pension by around 10 euro a week, to make savings of up to 300 million euro. The government needs

A Republican parade has passed off peacefully this afternoon in Castlederg in Co Tyrone. The Tyrone Volunteers Day Parade commemorated republicans who died during the Troubles, including two IRA men killed by their own bomb. Several hundred bandsmen and republican supporters took part in the march. Hundreds of protesters, including some family members of IRA

There was a major boost for Castlefinn this evening with the news that a new Childcare service is being put in place. It emerged last week that the current service was to cease with the loss of as many as 10 jobs.  A public meeting was told however that every effort would be made to

With thousands of students in Donegal due to get their leaving cert results next week, drinkaware dot ie has urged them to celebrate responsibly. The website points out that it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of the night and end up overdoing it. Approximately 2000 students sat the Leaving Cert

The annual Apprentice Boys of Derry parade is taking place today with activity on the Cityside starting at 9 o’clock. The Apprentice Boys Parent Clubs, accompanied by 9 Bands will parade around the City Walls, lay a wreath at the War Memorial in the Diamond and then parade to St Columb’s Cathedral for a church

A 20-year-old woman whose family launched a worldwide Facebook campaign when she disappeared has been arrested by police in Peru on suspicion of trafficking $2.3 million of cocaine. Celebrities and sports stars had taken part in the plea for information and the Irish government had become involved. It turned out that dancer and part-time night-club

The HSE has released the following update on services at Letterkenny General. Services operating normally Maternity, Dialysis and Chemotherapy services have not been affected by flood damage. The hospital is providing limited Paediatric services for GP referred patients who do not need access to radiology services. The Laboratory service is operating with some limitations. Patients

 It is hoped that Radiology and the Emergency Department at Letterkenny General Hospital will be up and running within days. At a media briefing today, the HSE and Hospital management said mobile units are on site that would allow these services to return shortly. It was pointed out however that it will be many more

A 36 year old Tyrone woman has been remanded in custody at Dungannon Magistrates Court, charged with having a remote control receiver which could be used to trigger a bomb. Nuala Gormley from Dromore was also charged with having a transmitter and antenna in circumstances likely to be of use to terrorists. She told police

The North’s Education Minister John O’Dowd, has announced that preliminary work on phase one of the Lisanelly Shared Education Campus in Omagh is scheduled to begin on-site in the autumn. In a statement today, Minister O’Dowd confirmed he has approved the business case for Phase 1 of the Lisanelly Shared Education Campus project. He said

 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

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

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

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

People in Donegal are being urged to explore their own county during Heritage Week, which takes place from the 17th to the 25th of this month. Over 100 events are planned for Donegal, and a Heritage Week brochure published by Donegal County Council and The Heritage Council has been launched today by Junior Minister Dinny

 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

A Dunamanagh shopkeeper has said he closed the local post office as it was no longer paying him to keep it open. Dunmanagh Post Office on the Berryhill Road closed this week, it’s the second rural Post Office to close in the Strabane District area, Clady Post Office also closed earlier this year. Dunamanagh shopkeeper

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

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

People are being urged to be cautious after reports of a number of distraction type pickpocketing crimes in the Letterkenny area. It is understood that the incidents occured in busy shopping areas. The victims were approached by strangers and either justled or distracted by money on the ground, allowing the thieves to carry out the

A teenager charged with the manslaughter of a man in Omagh threw a single punch during an altercation outside a bar in the town. 18-year-old Christopher McClean, from Main Street in Gortin, is accused of killing Omagh man Darren McBrearty in John Street. 28-year-old Mr McBrearty had been on a life support machine since the

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

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

Quad bikers using a track adjacent to Strabane cemetery have been urged to respect the sacred site. A field alongside the graveyard has been the focus of complaints on several occasions in recent weeks. Sinn Féin Councillor Jay McCauley claimed that handbrake turns were even being performed in Strabane Cemetery at the Head-of-the-Town. He says