Author name: oisinkelly

The Social Protection Minister says she wants to save 1.5 million euro a year by abolishing the special welfare payment for religious ceremonies. Joan Burton’s told the Dáil the payment was meant to be for exceptional events and that welfare recipients should be able to plan ahead for communions and confirmations. And she says that

Failte Ireland have descovered a new most northerly point in Ireland  – Mizen Head. Yesterday, the tourism Minister Michael Ring unveiled the final ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ route to 300 top overseas tour operators attending Ireland’s largest tourism trade fair. However the official map released by Failte Ireland has replaced Malin Head with Mizen Head. ‘Wild

The border diocese of Clogher has been singled out for failing to prevent child abuse in the past. The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church criticised the former bishop. The Diocese consists of County Monaghan, much of County Fermanagh with parts of Counties Tyrone, and Donegal. The reviewers said it was clear

There are fresh concerns over the decentralisation of 800 civil service jobs to Ballykelly after the majority of workers said they were against the move. It was announced last September that 800 Department of Agriculture jobs would be moving from Belfast to Ballykelly at the site of the former Shackleton Army Barracks. But in October

The Dail has heard calls for a specific plan to be put in place to attract new employers to Donegal. The issue was raised by Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue who again was critical of the IDA pointing out that, last year, only 1 out of 88 national IDA site visits throughout the country came to

The Education Minister says the current criteria for school investment is such that there are no plans to replace Scoil Mhuire in Stranorlar with a new school building. The project was previously included in the government’s Capital Investment Programme but was removed by the current education minister’s 5 year programme. The issue was raised in the Seanad

Land at a sports centre in Derry could be used for camping space to cope with an influx of visitors expected in the city for the All Ireland Fleadh. Organisers of the Fleadh expect 400,000 visitors to converge on the city from August 12-18. The organisers of the all-Ireland fleadh have applied for permission to

The Minister for Public Expenditure and reform has re-stated the government’s commitment to making savings of 300 million euro in the public sector wage bill this year. Brendan Howlin made his comments in the Dail last night after asking the CEO of the Labour Relations Commission to make contact with unions to see if the

A man is continuing to be questioned this morning after he was arrested in relation to dissident republican activity in Derry. Detectives from the Serious Crime branch arrested the 44-year-old last night. He was taken to Antrim police station for questioning. Police said his arrest was in connection with dissident republican activity in Derry in

Belfast Crown Court has heard that the Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams never confronted his brother Liam about child sex abuse allegations involving his daughter. During interviews given under caution to the PSNI in February 2007, Liam Adams rejected claims that the Sinn Fein president had quizzed him about the alleged abuse of his daughter

Letterkenny Circuit Court has been told that the trial of a man charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of eight men in July 2010 is not ready to proceed. Shaun Kelly of Hill Road, Ballymagan, Buncrana, is facing trial in relation to the fatal crash between Clonmany and Buncrana. Mr Kelly was in court

Tourism Minister Michael Ring today unveiled the final ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ route to 300 top overseas tour operators attending Ireland’s largest tourism trade fair. It’s Ireland’s first co-ordinated long-distance driving route, stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula to Kinsale in County Cork. The final route was unveiled at the Meithal 2013 trade fair this morning following

The Fianna Fail Ard Fheis will hear Donegal motions calling for party members to be consulted more when it comes to the election of a party leader or if the party is considering entering a coalition. The motions come from Claudia Kennedy from Bundoran, who is also seeking re-election to the party’s National Executive. Ms

Four people have been brought to hospital following a three car collision outside Ballybofey this morning. It happened before half past nine at Barney Logue’s Bridge on the Glenfinn Road. Fire and ambulance crews attended the scene, with two adults and two children brought to hospital. None of their injuries are life threatening. The road

Donegal County Council is to examine two entry roads into the village of Carrigans to try and determine the cause of a recent high number of road traffic collisions in the area. Councillor Paul Canning has suggested that the road surface may be to blame, particularly after long dry spells. However he was told that

The Mayor of Letterkenny says the council will not be recognising the findings of the Irish Business Against Litter league. It was announced yesterday that the town was back into the league having previously been ommitted. Buncrana which finished 8th overall last year has been dropped. Relations between IBAL and Letterkenny Town Council have, in

It’s reported that eight out of 10 new homes are never inspected by local authorities for fire hazards and structural defects, with even less happening in Donegal. The Irish Independent says that’s despite the fallout from the Priory Hall controversy in Dublin. Local authority inspectors are supposed to carry out random checks on new buildings.

Schools across Donegal are being urged to play their part in raising awareness of cancer and much-needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society by getting involved with this year’s Relay for Life. Primary Schools will have the opportunity to play their part in a very special way this year by organising their very own ‘Primary

Police in Foyle are looking to identify the occupants of a small blue van seen in the Bantry Road area around 6.30pm on April 21st. The two males inside the van, one of whom had white hair and one ear pierced, stopped to speak to three children. The occupants, or anyone with information, is asked

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey has presented a petition to the Northern Ireland Assembly opposing the closure of on-site nursery facilities at the University of Ulster’s Magee Campus in Derry. The Employment and Learning Spokesperson says the proposals from senior management at the University of Ulster would force those who rely on the service out of

Bundoran Town Councillor Philip McGlynn has been elected the new Chair of the Donegal VEC. He was elected to the position this morning. Mr McGlyyn said it was a great honour to take up the post and said providing a new school campus for Buncrana as his number one priority for his term:

14 people are on trolleys today at Letterkenny General Hospital either receiving or awaiting treatment. The figures were compiled this morning by the Irish Nurses and Midwives organisation. It is a particularly high figures, the INMO normally reports single digit numbers for Letterkenny General in its trolley watch figures. At Sligo General Hospital there are

The IFA has repeated calls on the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to do more to help hard-pressed farmers cope with the unprecedented fodder crisis. Association president John Bryan has challenged the Minister to deliver on a number of measures identified by the association, including advances on Disadvantaged or Single Farm payments. The association says

A Co Donegal farmer who sexually abused seven children has been jailed for 12 years. 43 year old Peter Corcoran of Dunmore, Falcarragh has pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 15 sample counts of indecent assault, sexual assault and rape between 1984 and 2000.   He was described in court as evil, very

A Carrigart carpenter has been speaking of his experience after the surviving Boston bombing suspect was captured in his next door neighbour’s back yard. Brendan Toye from Carrigart was at his home in Watertown when a SWAT team knocked on his door and evacuated him, his wife Lori and his son Garvin. This morning, he,

The Connacht Gold Co-op has indicated prices may have to increase because farmers are being paid too little. The company, which proposes to change its name to Aurivo, has reported a record turnover of €407m in 2012, an increase of 18%. This is being mainly attributed to the acquisition of the milk and retail stores

Letterkenny will be included in this year’s Irish Business Against Litter league which is being launched this morning. Buncrana, which clean to European norms in 2012, is not included this year, with IBAL saying towns which are in least need of examination are being omitted for funding reasons, and after coming 8th overall last year,

The former administrator of the Diocese of Derry has been ordained as the new Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh. Bishop Eamon Martin will succeed Cardinal Sean Brady as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland when he retires in two years time. 52 Bishop Martin is a former Principal of St Columb’s College in Derry,

A man has died in a fire in a flat on Derry’s Waterside. The fire broke out at Winchester Park in Kilfennan shortly after 11.30 last night. Police and the fire service say it’s not yet known how the fire started. A full examination will be carried out at the scene later.

Two men who broke into the offices of Derry’s traffic wardens in an attempt to get cash have been jailed at the local Crown Court. Gary Sheerin (36) of Brookdale Park and James Patrick Rush (34) of Creggan Heights both in Derry pleaded guilty to breaking into the offices in Queen Street on June 17

A Donegal County Council has called on the local authority to publish all information it has on the taking over the county’s water supply by ‘Irish Water’. ‘Irish Water’ is a state agency which will take over the running of the country’s waster supply from local authorities. There are concerns about the impact it will

The funeral has taken place of Cllr Tadhg Culbert. He was buried in New Leck Cemetery after Funeral Mass in St Eunan’s Cathedral at 11 o’ clock. The Tipperary native came to Letterkenny in 1973, working as a post office clerk. As a mark of respect, Letterkenny Post Office closed for the funeral. His coffin

A man guilty of the murder of a Derry man has today been told he will serve a minimum of sixteen years in jail. 49 year-old Paddy Harkin  was beaten to death with a hammer in his flat in Bayview Terrace in February 2011. He died from head injuries. Paul Greatbanks, who is 48 and