Author name: oisinkelly

The Acting Chief Fire Officer in Donegal says the cause of yesterday’s massive fire at the Big Isle, Manorcunningham remains unknown. The blaze broke out in a shed used as a a store for recycling materials by the Ferry’s Refuse Company. The Letterkenny fire service, backed up by personnel from Stranorlar, fought the blaze, with […]

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

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

The trial of Donegal man John Downey who is charged with the murder of four British solders in the 1982 Hyde Park IRA bombing will begin in London on November 18th. The 61 year-old from Cresslough was arrested at Gatwick Airport last month, and appeared for a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey last evening.

There are 4,442 students in Donegal beginning State exams this morning, up slightly on last year. Nationally, 116-thousand students are expected to sit the exams. There are 1,995 students starting the Leaving Cert exam in Donegal today, 1,012 female and 983 male. A further 137 are sitting the Leavng Cert Applied, 55 of them female

The daughter of the late Letterkenny Town Councillor Tadhg Culbert, has been selected by Fianna Fáil to take his place on Letterkenny Town Council. Lisa Culbert, who has the unanimous backing of party members in Letterkenny, was formally nominated at a party selection convention at the Mount Errigal Hotel last night. She currently works as

SDLP Cllr Martin Reilly is the new Mayor of Derry. As expected, he was elected at last night’s AGM in the Guildhall, taking over from Cllr Kevin Campbell. Councillor Gary Middleton of the DUP has been elected as deputy mayor. The new mayor says he wants to meet with agencies and groups in the North

The President of the Donegal Hospice has said there’s no doubt that Relay for Life has impacted on the fundraising of other organisations in Donegal, including the hospice. Former TD Dr James Mc Daid was speaking after concerns were raised by a number of local charities and groups that the money raised by Relay for

A fire has broken out in a shed at the Big Isle in Manorcunningham. We understand the shed in the property of the Ferry’s Refuse Company. The fire service is at the scene, and gardai are monitoring the situation. At this point, they say the fire presents no danger, and is not affecting traffic.  

The parents of children in fifth class and below are being invited to an information meeting on the new Junior Cycle in Letterkenny tonight. The meeting, being hosted by the Department of Education and the National Parents’ Council, takes place in the Mount Errigal Hotel 7:00pm to 9:00pm tonight. Minister Ruari Quinn says the Junior

The government is being urged to clarify its intentions about the proposed sale of Coillte’s timber harvesting rights. The Impact trade union, which represents workers with the state forestry service says while certain Oireachtas members, including Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte have indicated that the plan is unlikely to go ahead, it’s now time for a

72 per-cent of Irish people believe the Garda presence on the roads has reduced since last year, according to a new survey published today. A poll of 20,000 motorists by the AA shows that many people believe there are less Gardai on the roads and a further 40 per cent don’t think road safety is

The Donegal Diaspora Conference takes place at Letterkenny Institute of Technology today and tomorrow, with the stated aim of “shining a light on the history of emigration, and on the emigrant both past and present” . The council says speakers from all over the world will share their own stories and their own research into

With just two weeks to go until the 2013 G8 Summit begins at the Lough Erne Golf Resort in Fermanagh, police in the North are warning of possible disruption in the period leading up to and during the event. In particular, the PSNI are highlighting the potential for delays in the area around Belfast International

A Derry man who appeared in court charged with assaulting two police officers and two custody officers has been remanded in custody. Lee Leonard Thompson of Claremont House, Richmond Avenue in Derry, also faced a total of 16 driving charges relating to incidents over the past three years. The 42 year-old appeared in Derry Magistrates

The former Chair of the Ulster Scots Agency has stepped aside as the Ulster Unionist Chief Whip. Lord Laird of Artigarvan and two British Labour peers deny breaking any rules after the Sunday Times implicated them in a lobbying scandal. Lord laird was also been filmed by the BBC Panorama programme and the Daily Telegraph

A 57 year old Ramelton woman who was the subject of a major search has been found and is safe. Gardai have confirmed tonight that Teresa Boyce has been located, and they and her family are relieved. They have thanked all those who helped in the search.

Donegal County Council says it hasn’t got the money to provide public toilets in Rathmullan. This depsite the town having 65,000 visitors last year, second only to Rossnowlagh. Local Councillor Ian McGarvey has called for public toilets and changing rooms to be provided and to include access for people with a disability. He has welcomed

A defence solicitor has said that the Public Prosecution Service was in danger of being seen to be ‘politically motivated’ in their decision to prosecute three men in connection with a dissident republican parade in Derry last year. The comments by Mr. Ciaran Shields came during the case against Gary Donnelly (42) from Iniscarn Road,

29 jobs have been lost today with the news that two businesses owned by the Lafferty Family in Creeslough are to be wound up by order of the High Court. Today, Justice Peter Kelly appointed an interim liquidator. The family’s Vivo shop and filling station has been allowed to continue trading until the case is

Colaiste Ailigh in Letterkenny has ranked second in the Ulster counties in The Sunday Times Parent Power 2013 guide to the top 400 Irish secondary schools in the republic. The school finished 43rd in the country overall. The survey ranked all 723 secondary schools in the republic on progression to universities in Ireland, Northern Ireland

Conor and Ella were the most popular baby names in Donegal last year replacing Ryan and Sarah The CSO has released the top five boys and girls names for 2012. Nationally, the top five boys names last year were Jack, James, Daniel, Sean and Conor; whilst the girls were Emily, Sophie, Emma, Grace and Lily.

Hundreds are expected to attend a public meeting tonight to get an update on the campaign to save services at Carndonagh Community Hospital and to discuss the future direction of the campaign. There have been further closures of beds at the facility which is being attributed to unfavourable HIQA reports on staffing levels. Former GP

An investigation has been launched after a senior Donegal County Council official was targeted in a fake racist e-mail campaign. Highland Radio news received the email just after midnight last night which falsely claimed to come from the well-known council official. It’s understood that hundreds of media outlets locally and nationally recieved the email which, while

The right of a man charged in connection with the finding of mortars in Derry in March to a fair trial could be ‘subverted’ by police attempts to get him to turn supergrass a court has heard. A defence barrister was speaking at a hearing involving 37 year old Gary McDaid of 121, Glenowen Park

Gardaí are hoping a 24-hour intensive crackdown on speed this weekend will save lives on the roads. Last year, six people died over the June Bank Holiday weekend. In July gardaí instituted Operation Slowdown and noticed a 50 percent reduction in speeding. The slowdown got underway this morning at 7am, and continues until 7am tomorrow

Derry’s Guildhall has reopened after a major refurbishment which has taken over two years. Tonight the Mayor’s Ball will be the first event to take place in the newly refurbished building – Mayor Kevin Campbell says it’s a significant restoration which will completes an important link from the City Walls to Ebrington…

The high-profile Irish republican Marian Price, has been released from custody after more than two years. The convicted IRA bomber had been in custody since May 2011, when the former Northern Ireland Secretary, Owen Paterson, revoked her licence. She was moved from Hydebank Prison to a hospital on medical advice last June. She is now

Apple’s co-founder believes criticism of the tech firm’s tax arrangements is justified. It’s after the company’s CEO blamed world tax laws for a political backlash on low rates. Speaking at a business conference in Derry, Steve Wozniak said people are not taxed on profit, they are taxed on income, and corporations should be taxed the

Donegal County Council is to get an extra 8 members under proposals published this evening by the Local Electoral Area Boundary Committee. The extra number reflects the increase in the county’s population to just over 161,000, and also the fact that the councils in Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Bundoran and Letterkenny are to be abolished. There had

DOUBLE killer John Gallagher (47) threatened his brother by making the shape of a gun with his hand and pulling the trigger, Strabane Magistrates Court has heard. For the third week running Gallagher appeared in court charged with making threats to kill and harrassment. The charges arise out of a incident between him and his

487 cruise ship passengers stranded in Killybegs are to be flown to Portsmouth tomorrow. MV Voyager docked in Killybegs on Tuesday for the second stop on a nine day ‘Celtic Treasures’ cruise, but was unable to leave when problems developed with two onboard generators on Tuesday. The problem remains unresolved, and the ship’s owners ‘Voyages

The Council has released details of the roads it intends to close to facilitate the 2013 Donegal International Rally. The closure cover  Friday, Saturday and Sunday – the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of June. The council says that persons wishing to object to the closure should submit objections in writing to the Roads & Transportation

Gardai are investigating the vandalism of three mature trees in the Glencar park area which will now have to be replaced. A Highland Radio listener says she witnessed a group of youths stripping the bark from the 12 year-old trees which the Town Gardener says cannot be saved. Councillor Tom Crossan says it was an

A newspaper editor has been fined the equivalent of €1,200 for publishing photographs of the body of Michaela McAreavey. The 27-year-old daughter of County Tyrone GAA manager, Mickey Harte was murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius in January 2011. The Mauritian Sunday Times published pictures showing the crime scene and her body last year. Editor

A Belfast woman who sunk and became trapped in sand on the Five Fingers Strand in Inishowen has called on the council to erect signs warning of the danger. The scenic stretch of beach near Malin Head is hugely popular with locals and visitors alike, however ‘Jan’ has told how she and her husband had

Highland Radio News can reveal that Raphoe Town Football Club has been granted permission to build a new Football pitch, clubhouse and car park. In January, conditional permission was granted for the development to be located at Drumineney, Raphoe but that was appealed to An Bord Pleanala. After the council awarded permission  a small group

There are calls for the Council, Toursim authorities and local anglers to come together to help make Donegal an internationally recognised recreational fishing destination. Councillor Ian McGarvey says not enough is being done to maximise the tourism potential of the county’s rivers, lakes and sea. In the short term, he wants a the council to

Efforts will be made to see if the Donegal backed Gaeltacht Scholarship scheme can be extended after in excess of 500 people submitted applications for places this year. This week, 34 people were awarded a Gaeltacht Scholarship which is worth a total of 25 thousand euro. Councillor David Alcorn is Chair of Coiste Na Gaelge He says

The CEO of the Galway and Roscommon University Hospitals Group says that everyone from Galway to Donegal should be proud of the group and the hospital’s under its control.   Bill Maher was addressing members of the HSE West Forum after it was confirmed last month that hospitals in Letterkenny, Sligo and Castlebar have been

It’s been suggested that specially trained fire fighters could be deployed as a backup to the Ambulance Service in instances when an ambulance on call cannot respond to an emergency within an acceptable time frame. The call has come from Donegal North East Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn, who says he’s received representations from trained fire

Cross-border student access to higher education will dominate a special committee meeting attended by the Education Minister later today. The issue will be discussed during the Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement later today (10.30am). The meeting, which is divided into two sessions, will hear from Minister Ruairi Quinn and representatives from

A man described as pillar of his community has been sentenced to three years for a series of sex offences against three sisters that started when they were 12 years old. Frank McHugh, 66, of Narin, Portnoo, Co. Donegal, was sentenced to three years with 11 months suspended when he admitted 17 sexual assaults on

A bar in London has been slammed over its decision to name a cocktail ‘Sundae, Bloody Sundae’. The ice-cream based drink – served at the Adventure Bar in Covent Garden – comes complete with a small, green army man carrying a rifle. 14 people died when members of the Parachute Regiment opened fire on a

The Taoiseach is being told to “get off his arse” and deal with the issue of legislating for assisted suicide. It comes after Enda Kenny rejected a call from Independent TD John Halligan to legislate in restricted circumstances, saying it was not open to him. Tom Curran – partner of  Donegal native Marie Fleming, who

Rescue services have responded to an emergency call in the Malin Head area, the second in two days. On Wednesday afternoon a man has suffered a broken leg in a fall in the Dunalderagh area. He was tended to at the scene by a rescue crew before being transported to hospital by the  him to

Carndonagh District Court has awarded four pubs a license to serve alcoholic drinks 23 hours per day. Cavanagh’s Bar in Greencastle, The Seaview Tavern and Farren’s Bar in Malin Head will now be allowed to serve drinks to fishermen from Monday to Friday from 2am until 1am. Judge Paul Kelly advised the  bar owners that