Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal County Cllr, who sparked a huge controversy earlier this year over remarks he made about the travelling community, has been put forward by Fianna Fail to be the next Mayor of Donegal. Cllr Sean McEniff, who said in January that all travellers should live in isolation, has been selected to run for Mayor […]

Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh has told the Dail that he believes it’s too late to talk of reforming the Seanad, and it’s time to give the people the choice of whether to scrap or maintain it. In 2002, he was elected to the Seanad, and recalled that on the first day, reform

MEP’s are welcoming the announcement by EU Employment Ministers after they brokered a deal to maintain the European Globalisation Fund. The allocation provides co-financing support for approved programmes of guidance, training, education and enterprise supports for workers who are made redundant. The deal allows the council to enter into negotiations immediately with the European Parliament

Anyone who hasn’t paid the Household charge by the end of this month will be hit with a 200 euro bill from the first of July. The charge is 145 euro before then and anyone who has yet to pay it is being reminded to do so, before the duty of collecting the fee is

An American woman who was arrested and charged with dissident republican activity along with her husband in Derry, has been granted bail at the High Court in Belfast 32-year-old American woman Lesley Concannon, a mother-of-one and dance teacher, faces charges of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life, and having articles for use in terrorism.

Agriculture and Marine Minister Simon Coveney has said he’ll make enquiries about LYIT’s plan to relocate it’s School of Tourism from Killybegs to Letterkenny. The proposal is contained in the institute’s three year financial plan, which was presented to the Higher Education Authority today. Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle raised the issue in the

The number of tourists coming to Ireland has increased by just over 7 per cent in the first three months of the year – compared to the same period last year. 1.2 million overseas visitors came here in the first quarter of the year. The figures also show the tourists are spending more – with

The General Manager for Donegal Community Services with HSE has said that community hospitals here are going to have to use the existing staff they have to the best of their ability. A HIQA report released yesterday was highly critical of conditions at Carndonagh Community Hospital and St Josephs Hospital in Stranorlar. While admitting that

There may be rain on the way…but don’t put away the barbecue just yet. Donegal’s famous weather predicting postman says we’re in for a good summer this year. He says despite this weekend’s blip, there’s more BBQ weather on the way. Michael Gallagher explains why he thinks we’re in for a good one:

Police in Foyle have made three arrests after a vehicle made off from a routine checkpoint on Strand Road shortly after 11.30am yesterday, but details are only emerging now. A stinger device was used to try and stop the car at the Expressway however the driver continued to evade police, at times driving in a

Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte says the decision not to sell off the harvesting rights on state owned forests shows the public interest has been put first. Last evening, the government confirmed it will not proceed with the sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights, and will instead look towards reforming the forestry board, possibly by merging it

Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh has called for a review of last year’s decision to means test Farm Assist. Speaking in the Dail, Deputy McHugh said that changes in Budget 2013 to the Farm Assist scheme have put pressure on many farmers with small holdings. The Donegal North East Deputy cited the example of one

The North’s Transport Minister Danny Kennedy says funding intended for the delayed A5 scheme should be redeployed to other roads schemes in order to support the construction industry and local economy. In a statement, he says the A5 has not been abandoned, and remains an Executive commitment. However, he says pending the completion of more

A public meeting is to be held to discuss the future of St Josephs Hospital in Stranorlar. A HIQA report released yesterday expressed concern about a number of issues, including the admission and discharge of residents and the security of the building and the maintenance of the premises.   Questions were also raised about nutritional

The mother of a 37 year old Derry man awaiting trial on mortar charges says she fears for his life after several alleged approaches were made to him in Maghaberry Prison by men attempting to recruit him as an informer. Gary Mc Daid has applied to be transferred to the prison’s republican wing, but that’s

Three fishermen have been taken to Letterkenny General Hospital for treatment having been rescued from the water off Fanad Head. A rescue operation, co -ordinated by the Malin Head Coast Guard, was launched following a mayday call at 1.30pm this afternoon. The fishermen’s boat sank a short time later with the three men taken from

Some of the families of those who died on Bloody Sunday have given a cautious welcome to the news that a video contribution from General Michael Jackson no longer forms part of an installation Derry’s Guidlhall A number of family members said they were angered, distressed and insulted when they learned that General Jackson was

A Donegal County Cllr has said he is alarmed, but not surprised by HIQAs report. A HIQA report has criticised two community hospitals here. The inspections at Carndonagh Community Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar both found significant shortcomings Cllr Patrick McGowan said he sympathises with management and staff at St Josephs Hospital in

The Health Information and Quality Authority has criticised two community hospitals in Donegal. The inspections at Carndonagh Community Hospital and St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar both found significant shortcomings The inspections were carried out on the 10th and 11th of April respectively. In the case of Carndonagh Community Hospital, the inspectors concluded that staff could

A Fianna Fail Senator says he has confirmation from the Health Minister that to the two special pre schools in Donegal will be closed before the end of 2015. Hundreds of people have attended meetings in recent months as part of a campaign to try and keep both facilities open – the HSE wants to

A former secretary for Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle has told how she was fired from her job two days after receiving a card from him wishing her ‘a lovely Christmas’. Joan Blackbyrne has taken an unfair dismissal case against the Donegal TD and the Houses of the Oireachtas. Legal representatives for the Houses

A 47-year-old man has been charged with the murder of Bogdan Michalkiawicz in Letterkenny last month. Dariusz Weckowicz, a Polish native of no fixed abode, was arrested and charged at Letterkenny Garda Station at midday before appearing at Carn District Court this afternoon. When the murder charge was explained to him, Mr. Weckowicz replied: “I

An Bord Plenala has overturned Donegal County Councils approval of 25 large turbines on a 475 hectare site near Glenties. The councils decision to approve the Straboy wind farm was appealed by at least 14 local residents as well as the Golden Eagle Trust, the Gweebarra Conservation Group and the Irish Peatland Conservation Council. Straboy

The security alert in the Springhill Park area of Strabane has now ended. Springhill Park has re-opened to traffic and residents have been allowed to return to their homes. It has been confirmed that a  suspicious object discovered in the area was a viable pipe bomb. The alert let as many as 30 people being

It’s been claimed that local communities in Donegal could lose out on vital funding from Europe for community projects as a result of significant under-spend in the LEADER programme. Environment Minister Phil Hogan admitted that millions in funding provided by Europe for the LEADER programme could go to waste as it won’t be drawn down

A Letterkenny Councillor is welcoming news that the European Commission is planning to abolish roaming charges. The Commission wants to merge all 27 EU countries into a single telecom market – and is set to announce detailed plans in August. Last year, Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle moved a motion at Town Council level calling on

A nurse consultant from Raphoe, Co. Donegal, has been awarded an MBE for her trailblazing work for patients with multiple sclerosis. Bernadette Porter who has been awarded an honorary award for services to nursing, has pioneered projects to help thousands of patients at The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. She was the

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is being again being urged to make a case for farmers in Donegal to be compensated for losses suffered during the fodder crisis. The call has come from Donegal North East TD, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn who headed up a Sinn Fein group whih met with a delegation from Donegal IFA. Deputy

It has been revealed that for one of the first times outside Dublin, a financial reward will be on offer for information on the murder of Seamus Doherty in Churchill. The body of the 67-year-old was found at his home on the morning of the 17th of June 2012. A post mortem revealed Mr Doherty

The brother of the late journalist Eugene Moloney has called his violent death senseless and unnecessary. Sean Maloney made his comments at a sentencing hearing today. Sentence will be passed in two week’s time.    CCTV shows the 55 year old’ s killer punching him in the head and then dancing in celebration when the