Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal South West TD Pearse Doherty has confirmed that Sinn Féin will be calling for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum to abolish the Seanad, which will take place on Friday 4th October. Deputy Doherty, who has been appointed as the party’s referendum campaign director, said this morning that the government should have refered […]

The latest independently compiled listenership figures show that Highland Radio remains the most listened to local radio station in the country. The latest JNLR figures compiled by IPSOS /  MRBI survey show an increase in Highland Radios market share both during weekdays and at weekends. In this franchise area, Highland Radio has a market share

Police in Scotland have confirmed that a body found in Paisley on Wednesday was that of 25 year old Barry Doherty, a native of Carndonagh who hadn’t been seen for over a week. Mr Doherty had been reported missing after he was last seen at his home on Monday July 15th. Meanwhile, 44 year old

The Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the A5 project. An all party delegation from the North West cross border region met with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny in Dublin last evening. At the meeting Enda Kenny said that the Government were committed to the A5 project, and he confirmed that the revised funding package of

It’s emerged that a number of life belts have been removed from the Peace Bridge in Derry. The life belts were cut from their bays and thrown into the water. Local Cllr Kevin Campbell was Mayor f Derry until last month, and has described this as mindless vandalism which is putting lives at risk. He’s

In what’s believed to be the first case of its kind, a trial at Letterkenny Circuit Court could not go ahead because not enough jurors were present. Earlier this week, 28 potential jurors arrived at the court for two trials. However, with both the prosecution and the defence each able to challenge seven jurors, all

An all party delegation from the North West cross border region will meet with the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny in Dublin this afternoon to discuss future funding of the A5 Donegal to Dublin dual carriageway project. At a recent meeting, officials in Northern Ireland reaffirmed a commitment to the project and now there are calls on

Power has been restored to the 1500 hundred homes and businesses in Buncrana who lost their electricity this morning. The outage affecting the Ballymagarry area and was first reported at 11.30 this morning. The ESB initially said s power was not likely to be returned before 3.30pm but the problem was resolved by lunchtime.

200,000 euro in Leader funding has been announced for Mevagh Dive Centre to allow it expand its tourism activities. The project will involve the purchase of a custom built boat licensed to carry twelve passengers and two crew, at a total cost over over 330,000 euro. The company says it wants to wishes to attract

Donegal County Council has agreed to support and promote a Cross Border ‘Greenway’. In June the Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that a Derry/Donegal cross-border greenway cycle project would bring thousands of visitors to the northwest every week and should be persued. The issue was raised by Fine Gael Councillor Noel McBride this week,

The Supreme Court has deferred its hearing into whether Marie Fleming, the Donegal woman who failed in a landmark case on assisted suicide, will have to pay her own legal costs. Counsel for Ms Fleming, who has multiple sclerosis, told the court it was seeking to have the State cover the costs of her legal

The military police and gardai have launched an investigation after the death of a Donegal based soldier at a barracks in Dublin. 32-year-old Private Patrick ‘Paddy’ Conlon fell from a height in McKee Barracks, in the early hours of this morning – in what’s described as a tragic accident. Private Conlon was based in the

Inishowen’s new Superintendent has told a meeting of local public representatives that he is confident he has the resources available to hit to tackle border crime. That is according to Councillor Jack Murray who was amongst those who met with Superintendent Andy Archibald this week following a recent spate of burglaries and robberies along the

A man remains on the run this morning  after gardai found 290,000 euro worth of cannabis plants. The man fled a shed at Higginsstown, Ballyshannon, when drugs squad detectives seized 350 cannabis plants. A coastguard helicopter with a Garda aboard joined the search for the fleeing man. Gardai sealed off the shed where the plants

Overcrowding at Letterkenny General Hospital has led the HSE to ask the public not to attend the emergency department unless completely necessary. Figures from INMO show this morning that there were 3 people being treated or awaiting treatment on trolley. A total of 16 were listed as additional patients, on beds, trolleys or chairs, on inpatient

The Revenue Commissioners say 89% of eligible homeowners have already paid their property tax, with 175 million euro already collected, over 4 million of it in Donegal. As was the case with the Household Charge, Donegal has the lowest compliance rate in the country. Under the self assessment model implemented by Revenue, just over 5

It’s been confirmed this afternoon that Donegal Town is to be the site of one of eight Regional Headquarters for Irish Water. Environment Minister Phil Hogan says it’s been decided to base the North West centre of operations in Donegal, with 32 jobs being created as a result. The jobs will be drawn from the

A 70-year-old man charged with a series of sex offences against boys in west Donegal is to stand trial in October. Garda Ciaran Cassidy told Glenties District Court today(Wed) that he had served the book of evidence on the man. The 70-year-old is charged with offences dating back to 1984. He was accused of six

Strabane District Council is to commission a river safety study in the area of Newtownstewart where a man drowned at the weekend. 34 year old James Kincaid drowned close to the Vaughan’s Holm playing grounds in Newtownstewart, and local councillor Derek Hussey says the tragedy raises questions about access to lifesaving equipment in and around

Police in Derry are investigating a report of criminal damage in the Cottage Row area of Eglinton overnight. A report was received at 9.40 am this morning, Wednesday 24 July that damage had been caused to the cricket pitch. The covers of the pitch had been pulled apart and a substance poured over the grass

The manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says he believes the hospital’s inclusion in the new West/North West Hospital Group will be beneficial for the hospital, and ensure it is properly resourced. Speaking after the announcement of a new Endoscopy Unit for the hospital this week, Sean Murphy says Letterkenny General is the one of the

Donegal students who are entitled to a third level grant are being urged to apply to SUSI immediately. Students have just one week left to submit their applications for the upcoming college year. The deadline has been moved forward by a month and all applications must now be in by Thursday 01 August. Fianna Fáil

Donegal County Council’s marathon budget discussion in December and January have been described as a farce after it emerged that an adjustment of up to 3.3 million euro is being sought by council management. The County Manager is seeking to make the cuts to address a significant disimprovement in the council’s revenue deficit which is

  A stand off between local residents and a Traveller family in Convoy continues this afternoon. It’s understood that a traveller family is attempting to occupy a site in the town. It is claimed that threats against residents have been made today and the gardai have been informed. Donegal County Council had earlier blocked off

Some residents of the Foxhills housing estate in Letterkenny are without water this morning following a decision by electric Ireland to cut power to a pumping station due to an unpaid bill. The company has been issuing warning letters for almost two years but the bill has remained unpaid by either residents or the developer

The government has sanctioned €4.4m to develop a new Endoscopy Unit at Letterkenny General Hospital. Welcoming the announcement, Deputy Joe McHugh said that construction of the unit will start this year, and the unit should be operational by early 2016. €3.2m will go towards building and enabling works, with the remainder of the money going

A 74-year-old man described as a pillar of his local community has been fined €1,000 after admitting that he sexually assaulted a middle-aged woman. Although he put both arms around the woman’s upper torso and pushed his genital area into her side a decision on entering his name on the sex offenders register was deferred.

Donegal County Council has adopted a new policy for taking over housing estates. The council’s policy had to be revised due a high profile Court Case this year which ruled that Donegal County Council immediately to take over responsibility for public areas and services in two new housing estates following a legal dispute with the

Donegal County Council is being asked to withdraw from the controversial  JobBridge scheme. Councillor Jack Murray made the call after it emerged that of the 67 people the council has taken on through the scheme, none have gone on to get a job with the council. Councillor Murray says this proves the scheme is ineffective

A Donegal chiropractor who broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and then assaulted her has been sentenced to five years in prison at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. On April 4th 2010, 33 year year old Helen McEvily was at home after a night out when 46 year old Kevin Ginty climbed in through her

A post mortem is due to take place today on the body of a woman recovered from the sea off the coast of Donegal yesterday evening. It was feared a young child had been with the woman and a search was due to resume this morning – it has since been confirmed that no child

A government audit of Donegal County Council has identified six main areas of concern. They include concern over the council’s financial standing and it’s deviation from purchasing and tendering processes. Responding to the report, council management says that in most cases the concerns have been or are being addressed. Greg Hughes reports………..

A Donegal man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court today charged in connection with a hit and run on Benone Beach yesterday which left a 4-year-old child and her mother in hospital. 30 year old Paul John Doherty of Ballynahone, Fahan faced a total of seven charges in connection with the incident which left the

Donegal County Council is being asked to pass an emergency motion today backing the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. The immigration reform bill is currently before the House of Representatives in the US. The Lobby says every politician in Ireland needs to make representations in an effort to get it passed. The Lobby’s Donegal Spokesperson

A coroner has refused to hold an inquest into the presumed death of Mary Boyle, who went missing in 1977 at the age of six. The request for the inquest came from her twin sister Anne Doherty, who had hoped an inquest would focus attention on the case and prompt a renewed garda investigation into

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh is to meet with the Taoiseach later this week to impress on him the importance of upgrading the Letterkenny to Strabane road as part of the A5 project. The A5, which is delayed because of planning issues, was discussed at a recent meeting in Belfast during which officials on both sides

The body of Lisa McGowan who had been missing for almost two weeks has been found. The 44 year old disappeared from her home in Drumquin on Tuesday July 9th. Hundreds of people joined the search for Lisa on Saturday as fears grew for her wellbeing. It is understood Lisa’s body was found by search

The family of a Donegal man who has been missing from his home in Scotland for a week have made an appeal to the public for help in finding him. Originally from Carndonagh, Barry Doherty was last seen in Paisley Renfrewshire last Monday night. His family say they are very anxious about his wellbeing and

The man who tragically drowned on Saturday afternoon near Ardara, has been named as 24 year old Conor Cunningham from Donegal Town. The father of two who was originally from Clonmel in Tipperary, but has been living in Donegal for two decades, got into difficulty while swimming at Maghera Beach at around one o’clock. Emergency