Author name: oisinkelly

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

The Castefinn Childcare Centre is to close with the loss of 10 jobs. The news was discussed at a public meeting last night attended by staff, parents and other concerned locals. As many as 50 children were cared for at the facility. Councillor Patrick McGowan was among those who attended last night’s meeting – he

A Portstewart GP has said he believes his property was attacked by vandals in Greencastle because he has an English registered car. Dr James Harley, who has a holiday home in Greencastle, had his home and car attacked by youths over the weekend. He says a group of youths wearing hoodies attacked his house and

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,

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

The organisation that represents GPs says they haven’t been consulted on the Health Minister’s plans to provide free GP medical cards to the under 5s. The IMO says Dr James  Reilly should not raise parents’ expectations – when he has not discussed the plan with very doctors who would provide the service.   Last week

An 18-year-old man has been charged with manslaughter following the death of a 28 year old man who was assaulted in Omagh at the weekend. Darren McBrearty from Omagh was attacked in John Street at 8 o’clock on Sunday evening and rushed to hospital, where he died yesterday. The 18-year-old is due to appear at

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

A Donegal man has died in a car crash in Florida. Patrick Lynch lost his life in a single vehicle collision in late July. He is the son of Paul and Eileen Lynch formerly of Townparks, Convoy and now living in the US. Patrick will be buried in Convoy on Friday.