Author name: oisinkelly

TDs promise to fight for the retention of Donegal’s specialist pre-schools

A large crowd turned out in Letterkenny last evening to discuss HSE plans to close two specialist pre-schools in Donegal. The HSE says it will close St Agnes Specialist Pre-School in Donegal town next year, while it is feared that Ballaghderg Pre School in Letterkenny will cease operations some time in 2015. The Executive plans […]

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Councillor concerned over impact new hospital board will have on services in Donegal

The lack of northwest representatives on the new Hospital Board for the West could very well have a negative impact on healthcare services in Donegal. That’s according to Councillor Ciaran Brogan who says that all of those appointed to the board appear to be Galway based. It was announced last month that Letterkenny General and

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Councillor Lisa Culbert takes her seat on Letterkenny Town Council

Lisa Culbert has formally taken the seat vacated on Letterkenny Town council by the passing of her father Tadhg. Fianna Fail TD Charlie McConalogue was among those in attendance to see the 27 year-old take her seat last night. Councillor Lisa Culbert, who works as a Clerical Officer in the Outpatients Department in Letterkenny General

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23-year-old man appears in court in Derry charged with hit and run

A 23-year-old Derry man has appeared in court charged with causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving. David Gerard McCloskey of 138 Creggan Heights in Derry appeared on five counts in relation to an incident on June 7. 23-year-old David Gerard McCloskey McCloskey was charged with causing injury by dangerous driving, failing to remain at

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Home-coming celebrations this evening for boxer Jason Quigley

Hundreds of people are expected to turnout in Ballybofey tonight to welcome back European Middleweight boxing champion, Jason Quigley. The 22-year-old from the Finn Valley won gold on Saturday afternoon. Quigley’s home-coming celebrations will take place with an open bus tour around the Twin Towns this evening, following by a special function in the Finn

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Public meeting tonight to establish a branch of People Before Profit in Donegal

A branch of the People Before Profit Alliance is being established in Donegal. Dun Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett will address a meeting at Jacksons Hotel in Ballybofey tonight. Her says there are a number of people in the county interested in becoming involved, and tonight’s meeting will be an attempt to harness what is

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Update – St Eunan’s College principal says department is committed to extension

St Eunans College in Letterkenny will be granted funding for its prefabs to be replaced with permanent accomodation. The funding is part of the governments nationwide 15 million euro prefab replacement scheme. The college is the only school in the county to be included in the latest scheme. Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte has welcomed the

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Update – Missing children, rubbish and traffic chaos reported as thousands descend on Rossknowlagh

There was a major search on the beach at Rossknowlagh yesterday afternoon following two separate reports of missing children. Initially, a 6 year old boy was reported missing, and a major alert was called by Malin head Coastguard after it emerged he had last been seen near the water at 4 o’clock. Malin Head Coast

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Update – Man released from custody in Letterkenny murder investigation

A 37-year-old man arrested in relation to the murder of Bogdan Michalkiawicz in Letterkenny has been released. The man was arrested last Thursday and detained at Letterkenny Garda Station under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. The body of Mr Michalkiawicz was discovered at the Westside Apartment complex in Letterkenny on the 

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Donegal County Council hoping for significant portion of national road repair funding

It is hoped that Donegal County Council will get a significant portion of the government’s new 50 million euro fund to repair road surfaces. The money has been announced for repairs and restoration of 600km of regional and local roads. The funding will be awarded based on the length of road in each county with

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Council eases Stranorlar Electoral Area water restrictions for Friday night

Water restrictions in the Stranorlar Electoral Area will be eased tonight (Friday) with only areas supplied from the Tievebrack Reservoir – above Castlefin/Castlederg Road affected. Supply will be switched off during the off peak period 10.00pm to 7.00am. Water supply in other areas will continue to operate as normal. The council says these restrictions are

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Facebook to work with school authorities to tackle cyberbullying

Facebook has agreed to work directly with Irish schools to tackle cyber-bullying. The agreement was brokered at a meeting between the social network and the Department of Education yesterday after a recent meeting due to be attended by a school principals’ body was cancelled. Facebook has been under growing pressure after a number of incidents

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Update: Brian O’Domhnaill seeking judicial review of SIPO expenses allegations

  Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has been granted leave to apply for a judicial review regarding an investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission into expenses claims he made while a member of Donegal County Council. The decision has led to the postponement of a SIPO public sitting which was due to begin

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Campbell says ‘sensational’ claims are muddying the waters in LYIT Killybegs debate

There was a mixed response from Donegal County Councillors to calls for the local authority to back the retention of Letterkenny Institute of Technology’s Tourism  Campus in Killybegs. The issue has been raised by Councillor John Campbell who says the retention of the campus is crucial to the town – its future is in the

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Quinn says people shouldn’t have to pay for substandard water supply as council implements restrictions

Those whose water supply is not up to an acceptable standard should be exempt from paying water charges. That’s the view of councillor Mick Quinn who has said it’s unfair to expect the likes of restaurants that can’t serve tap water to pay high water charges. He’d like the same exemptions to apply to residential

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Signs needed to warn motorists of new pedestrian crossings in Muff – Murray

Donegal Councillor Jack Murray is welcoming new pedestrian crossings in Muff, but says signs are  needed to warn motorists that they are there. Two drop-kerbed crossings with coloured tar on the road have been laid in the village, but Cllr Murray says more work is needed to improve pedestrian safety…………….

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Sinn Fein Cllr Ruiari McHugh has been appointed as new chair of Strabane District Council

Sinn Fein Cllr Ruiari McHugh has been appointed as the new chair of Strabane District Council. Fellow Sinn Fein Cllr Michelle McMackin was appointed vice-chair. It is likely this year will be the last sitting of Strabane District Council, with Strabane due to merge with Derry City Council next year. Cllr McHugh said it’s a

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Update – SF in Strabane says Carlin will not resign following Facebook comments

Sinn Fein have said no action will be taken against Strabane District Cllr Karina Carlin. The SDLP in Strabane yesterday called for Cllr Carlins resignation over comments she made on a social networking site. Cllr Carlin used bad language on her facebook page to describe the SDLP, while she also called a SDLP member a

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Raphoe man jailed for 5 years after being caught with almost €20,000 worth of heroin

A Co Donegal man who was caught with almost €20,000 of heroin has been jailed for five years. Gerard Colhoun from Munitirtinney, Raphoe was sentenced by Judge John O’Hagan at Cavan Circuit Court today. Colhoun was jailed for 5 years today for possession of heroin for sale and supply. Colhoun was suspected to be selling

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Killybegs based survey vessel to determine oil and gas potential of the Atlantic Margin

A major 2D seismic survey has been initiated to reveal the true oil and gas exploration potential of Ireland’s Atlantic Margin, with BGP Explorer, the ship carrying out the probe, to be based in Killybegs. Announcing the €20 million project, Junior Minister Fergus O’Dowd said this is is by far the largest regional seismic survey

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Rectifying Lifford and Twin Towns water problems will cost millions – Council

It’s estimated by Donegal County Council that it would cost €7.8 million to fix the water problems between Lifford and the Twin Towns. A spokesperson for the council said that the fix would have to be delivered over two phases. The first phase of work is costed at €2.9 million and the second phase costed

Rectifying Lifford and Twin Towns water problems will cost millions – Council Read More »