Author name: oisinkelly

The man who died after falling into the sea near Portstewart harbour in County Derry yesterday evening was Stanley Duncan, the chief executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Northern Ireland. Mr Duncan had been fishing at rocks close to Victoria Terrace shortly before 5 o’clock when the accident happened. Other fishermen helped […]

The Chamber of Commerce in Derry is calling for progress on the upgrading of the A6 between Derry and Belfast. Chamber’s chief executive Sinead McLaughlin said this week that positive comments from Finance Minister Sammy Wilson and Secretary of State Theresa Villiers indicating their support for the urgent upgrade of the A6 is to be

Fire crews and locals spent nearly six hours last night battling a major gorse fire in Loughanure village. The fire started on the Crolly road just on the outskirts of the village and burned across the mountain on to the Annagry road. Four fire crews from Dungloe, Gweedore and Falcarragh backed up by local people

Last month was the coldest March on record in many parts of Ireland, except in the south and south west. Met Éireann’s issued a review of the month, showing monthly mean temperatures were up to 3 degrees below average in most parts. This was reflected in Donegal, where the mean temperature for march in malin

The Campaign for a Clean Estuary in Moville is calling on Donegal County Council to answer questions about the ownership of the sea bed, after publishing documents showing that the Crown Estates own the seabed of Lough Foyle. Spokesperson Enda Craig says he’s been in touch with the Crown Estates office, which has confirmed that

There were over 20 gorse fires in Donegal over the Easter period, and nearly 30 over the course of the past fortnight according to the Donegal Fire Service. Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Acting Chief Fire Officer Joseph Mc Taggart said the fire warning remains in place as dry weather and easterly winds continue

A garda inspector in Donegal has described the burning out of a garda’s private car in Kilmacrennan on Easter Sunday morning as an attack on rural policing in the county. Inspector Michael Harrison says the car was set alight at around quarter to six on Easter Sunday morning, and gardai are trying to determine who

A Buncrana councillor has voiced his concern over a recent spate of oil thefts in the town. Four homes were hit in the summerhill estate last Monday, while another theft took place in the same estate the previous week. One homeowner was confronted by a thief as he came into her kitchen. Cllr Ciaran McLaughlin

Police were attacked by youths throwing stones and other missiles at a 32 County Sovereignty Movement Easter commemoration in Derry yesterday. Around 200 people attended the event in the City Cemetery. Petrol bombs were thrown at PSNI vehicles, and at a police photographer who was taking pictures from outside the walls. No injuries have been

The Education Minister has confirmed that Buncrana will not be one of the areas that will see primary school patronage change away from the Catholic Church. It follows surveys of parents in 38 areas by the Department of Education – as part of the drive to provide plurality and choice in the types of primary

The fire service spent several hours last night bringing a serious gorse fire under control outside Dungloe. Three separate fire units were in attendance to tackle the blaze. The fire took hold in the Tubberkeen area near Dungloe at around 10 o’clock last night. Scores of local people joined fire officers from Dungloe and Gweedore

A 26-year-old man has been charged after an attempted armed robbery in Letterkenny last night. The man, who is originally from county Laois, produced a knife and demanded cash at the Glencar filling station at around 10 o’clock. Gardai were allerted to the robbery in progress and arrested the man at the scene. No one

A spokesperson for woodland owners in Donegal has called for a stop to the selling of our states forests. Speaking to Highland Radio, John Jackson stated there was a unanimous agreement among woodland owners that state harvesting rights and forestry lands should not be sold off. Mr Jackson says Donegal has a huge resource which

A spokesperson for fishermen on Arranmore Island says if ways are not found to boost the sector and allow inshore fishermen back on the water, the future of offshore islands may be in jeopardy. Gerry Early was one of a number of fishermen who addressed the Oireachtas Fisheries Sub-Committee in Leinster House this week. He

It’s thought that a Spanish Freezer vessel which went adrift while trying to leave Killybegs Harbour a week ago will be towed out of the port on Monday. The “Aldan” remains tied up in Killybegs while a deep sea tug makes its way from Gijon in Northern Spain to tow her away for repairs. Locals

Donegal TV will broadcast a series of weekly programmes next month with a big emphasis on the Gathering. Every Thursday during April, Donegal TV will be shown at 7 pm on the Sky Showcase Channel (191), Freesat Channel 400 and online at www. donegaltv.ie The first installment will be aired next Thursday, April 4 and

Donegal County Council is appealing to land owners and members of the public to exercise caution during the current period of dry weather and to take all necessary measures to prevent gorse fires and similar fires. With the current period of dry weather, gorse, heather and other undergrowth is extremely dry.  Fires are likely to

It’s emerged that what could have been a major pollution incident was averted in Killybegs harbour last weekend when a stricken vessel lost power in stormy conditions. The Spanish freezer vessel, “Aldan”, with 400 tonnes of fuel on board and a crew of 18, started drifting when the main engine failed about 10 minutes after

A group of fishermen from Donegal was in Leinster House this morning to address the Oireachtas Fisheries sub-Committee. It’s engaged in a study on how to promote sustainable coastal and island communities. In his submission, Aranmore Island Fisherman Gerry Early spoke of the effect the ban on draft net fishing is having on the island,

The Northern Ireland assembly agriculture committee has held an emergency meeting to assess the damage caused to farmers hit by the severe weather. A number of areas in the North have been particularly badly affected by snow drifts. West Tyrone MLA, Joe Byrne visited a number of farmers in the Glenelly Valley area of his

The main Donegal Easter Rising commemoration will take place at Drumboe Cemetery this weekend. The main speaker will be Sinn Fein President, Gerry Adams at 3pm. 2013 is the 90th anniversary of the killings in 1923 of four Irish Republicans in Drumboe Woods. There will also be commemorations in Drumoghill, Castlefin, Buncrana and Gweedore. The

The IFA has launched a campaign to encourage people to ensure they know where their dogs are at all times. It follows the publication of figures this week showing that over the past 12 months in Donegal, 76 sheep have been killed or injured by dogs in Donegal, the fifth highest incidence of such attacks in the

North West MEP Jim Higgins says arrangements must be put in place to allow for recognition of free travel passes by private bus operators. Mr Higgins says Bus Éireann has recently cut back on many of its rural services in favour of express routes, and private operators are now the only transport option for many

Another Donegal person has received a letter from the Department of Social Protection encouraging them to apply for a job abroad. Yesterday it was revealed that a 60-year-old man from the county recieved a letter from the department telling him about a bus driver job in Malta, paying 250 euro per week. Now a young Donegal teacher

Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle TD has hit out at a government plan to take €150 million from the Local Government Fund to write-down debt. Calling the proposal a “complete mockery of the entire government process”, the independent deputy claimed that as the Local Property Tax comes into force, more funding raised through car

The Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty is urging Social Protection Minister Joan Burton to clarify if it’s now the policy of her department to seek low paid jobs abroad for unemployed Irish people. The Donegal South West deputy raised the issue – after one of his constituents showed him a letter he received from

A Garda was asked to drive an ambulance to Letterkenny General Hospital because no paramedic was available, a county councillor has claimed today. Cllr Liam Blaney says the incident happened in the vicinity of the hospital. In a similar incident last year an ambulance was called out by a mother – but it was only

A new poll has found that the majority of people are in favour of harnessing Ireland’s wind energy potential. The MRBI poll for the Irish Wind Energy Association found 80 percent of those surveyed approve of the use of wind farms. A wind turbine collapsed during a storm in Donegal a few days ago and

Ardara has the worst footpaths in Donegal. Thats according to Donegal County Cllr Terence Slowey who has called on the Council to carry out repair works in the town. He says the footpaths in the town have deteriorated so bad that they are in a dangerous condition. And the Independent Cllr says that a number

Donegal County Council have condemned the recent decision to cut the number of beds in St Joseph’s Community Hospital in Stranorlar. It was revealed last month that the HSE are planning to reduce the number of beds in St Joseph’s. The proposal will reduce the current number of beds in the hospital from 75 to

Environmental Improvement Works are getting underway in Lifford and Strabane as part of an EU funded cross border project being led by the North West Region Cross Border Group. In a joint statement, Donegal Mayor Cllr Frank Mc Brearty and Strabane District Council Chair Cllr Thomas Kerrigan have welcomed the works. In Lifford, pavement strengthening

The Community Development Board in Donegal has decided to keep the Donegal Gathering brand going next year and beyond. The Gathering concept had been pioneered in the county last year as part of a concerted attempt to reach out to the Donegal Diaspora. The feeling locally now is that the brand is gaining recognition and

The Donegal Gathering calendar of events has been officially launched today, with over 140 events taking place between now and the end of the year. Speaking at the launch, Maire Aine Gardiner of Failte Ireland said at the core of The Gathering will be local community groups and event organisers, and a large part of

Highland Radio has confirmed today it will be seeking to retain its licence to provide a broad-format local radio service in North Donegal. Expressions of interest were invited by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland in January, and today it was confirmed that two expressions of interest have been received. The formal application process will now

The Mayor of Donegal has revealed his past struggles with depression.  The National Conference on Sport aiding Mental Health (SAM) which is being hosted by the Mayor, Cllr. Frank McBrearty and Donegal County Council was launched yesterday. The Mayor has identified Sport and Mental Health as his two key themes during his year as Mayor.

A shop owner is appealing for information after a substantial sum of money was stolen at knife-point from his premises on Sunday evening. A male wearing a balaclava and gloves entered Callaghan’s XL Store on Main Street, Letterkenny at around 9.15 pm. The shop assistant was forced at knifepoint to empty the till and hand

Bryson Recyling are to take over the day to day operations of the counties civic amenity sites. There are currently six sites in Donegal in Laghey, Dungloe, Stranorlar, Letterkenny, Milford and Carndonagh. Those sites were being run by Donegal County Council, but they have struck a deal with Bryson. Cllr Seamus O’Domnhaill says he hopes

Independent Cllr Ian McGarvey has blasted the Government for their continued neglect of the elderly. The HSE announced cuts to Home Help, Home Care Packages and Personal Assistance hours last year. Cllr McGarvey says he’s been approached by many elderly people in his area who have lost their home help who desperately need it. He

A Donegal County Cllr has called on a closer relationship between Donegal County Council and Derry City Council. Sinn Fein Cllr Jack Murray says in particular there are waste management problems in the villages of Killea and Bridgend. And he says if the two Councils work together, then they could find a solution to the

British Prime Minister David Cameron is planning to make his first visit to Derry this year. Foyle MP Mark Durkan says the Tory leader has indicated to him that he hopes to travel to the UK City of Culture to attend one of the 2013 events. If the Tory leader does come to Derry, it

Derry Magistrate’s Court was told today that there are reports still outstanding in the case involving three Derrymen charged in connection with the finding of a rocket in a car in the city in December. A Crown lawyer was giving an update in the case of 47 year old Damien Harkin from Westland Avenue, 42

Concern is being expressed in Derry for the future of St Mary’s Community Centre in the Creggan after a number of groups reported being told the centre would no longer be available. Thje parish run facility does not receive any external funding, and Sinn Fein locally have today contacted the parish authoities seeking discussions on

A man who was taken from the Swilly at the Port Bridge in Letterkenny on Thursday last has died in hospital. Patrick Mc Elroy of Ballyboe, Lisnmonaghan was rushed to Letterkenny General Hospital after emergency services were called to the scene on Thursday afternoon. However, he died at the hospital yesterday. His funeral will take

Sinn Féin says the government needs to explore other ways of raising funding, instead of punishing people with the property tax. The party will today launch a draft repeal Bill to have the tax removed from legislation and to return the money to those who have already paid. They argue that the tax on family

The Health Minister has said that he is committed to developing more co-operation with the North when it comes to the health service. Planning permission has been granted for the new Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital, which is being funded by the Irish Government and the Stormont Executive. The location of the unit at Altnagelvin

A technical examination is underway after a wind turbine came crashing down at the weekend. Pictures show the 250 foot high wind turbine flat on the ground in the bogland at Loughderry-duff near Mass, Portnoo. A spokesman for the developers North West Wind Ltd, said that they were awaiting the outcome of a “technical evaluation”

Police in Derry are appealing for information following an attack on a police car in the city earlier today. The attack took place in the Brandywell Avenue area at  around 11.40. Stones were thrown at a police car as they assisted with a palm Sunday church service in the area. Anyone with information on the