Author name: oisinkelly

Police in Derry are appealing for information following an assault and car hijacking in the Waterside area on Saturday last, 17th February. At around 8 o’clock last Saturday morning, a 47 year old woman parked her car in the Fountain Hill area of Derry. As she got out, a man approached her and threatened her […]

Donegal County Cllr Brendan Byrne has confirmed that he will not being going forward with defamation proceedings against Cllr Terence Slowey. Cllr Byrne said that documents that were sent to Cllr Slowey and the County Manager Seamus Neely, claiming to be from former County Manger, Michael McLoones solicitor were actually sent in error. And the

More than one in three children live in poverty in Strabane and Derry. The figures revealed in the UK wide Campaign to End Child Poverty, Child Poverty Map were released by children’s charity Barnardo’s. According to the official UK government definition child poverty means a family of two adults and two children with an income

Today’s reconvened meeting of Donegal County Council finally got underway shortly after 12  noon today, after members spent the morning in private session to discuss a matter related to the minutes of a meeting last year. However, a short time later, the meeting adjourned for lunch. A large contingent of local and national media had

The Derry based software firm 8over8 is to create over 30 jobs as part of a 2.7 million pounds expansion. The company, which supports the energy and oil industries, is based in the Science Park at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey says there’s a very talented and skilled

It’s emerged that Donegal will have the third highest number of septic tank inspections from this summer.   The Environmental Protection Agency says tanks in Donegal, Galway, Cork and Kerry will be prioritised because groundwater in those counties is most at risk of pollution. The EPA says 30 local authority inspectors will examine 1,000 tanks across

Passengers using Donegal Airport will soon be able to buy an inclusive ticket from Donegal to London. British Airways has confirmed a codeshare agreement with Loganair that will link Donegal Airport to London Heathrow via a connection in Dublin.   Loganair will operate the route from Donegal to Dublin, with passengers then transfering to British

The number of Irish MEPs looks set to be reduced from 12 to 11, following a vote today by the Constitutional Affairs Committee in Europe, to reduce the number of Irish MEP seats. A total of 15 seats are to be cut from member states to comply with the Lisbon Treaty. Northwest MEP Pat the

Gardaí have said there has been a highly visible policing presence in Galway today, with hundreds of students expected to converge on the city centre for “Donegal Day”. The event does not have the backing of either third level institution in the city or the students’ unions at NUI Galway and GMIT. Gardai have confirmed

The Director of An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny has confirmed there is an issue with the theatre’s roof which has resulted in leaks to the administrative office and one dressing room, but is stressing there is no health and safety issue at present. Concerns had been expressed that the facility might have to close, but

A Castlederg Councillor has called for more to be done to address the issue of anti-social behaviour following the latest incident in which a number of cars were damaged in Young Crescent area. Several cars were damaged in a car park in the early hours of Sunday morning. Councillor Derek Hussey is seeking a meeting

The HSE has confirmed that visiting restrictions remain in place at St Joseph’s, Hospital, Stranorlar due to a number of suspected cases of the winter vomiting bug. The restrictions will remain in place until the situation is resolved, and the HSE says all appropriate infection control measures are being taken. In meantime, people are being

A Buncrana Town Councillor has called for every effort to be made to secure the public ownership of the Swan Park area of the town before the council is disbanded. Swan Park is very popular with visitors, families, fishermen and is used by locals for walking and relaxation. Councillor Nicholas Crossan says that while the

Donegal County Council says the response to the Donegal Diaspora website launched last week has been very positive, with hits from as far away as Vietnam and Nepal. The council’s Director of Community Services says there have been severasl thousand hits on the website, while a large number of comments on the linked Facebook page

Police in Derry have warned they’ll be clamping down on businesses that have illegal gaming machines on their premises. The warning follows a number of complaints from members of the public regarding gaming machines in the City. In a statement today, Police in Derry say gaming machines are not permitted in fast food outlets, video

The first meeting for Team Captains for Relay for Life Donegal teams is scheduled to take place on Tuesday 5th March at 8pm in Mount Errigal Hotel. At the meeting, team t-shirts and information packs will be distributed with a priority given to teams registered in advance. There are over 50 teams registered but we

A Donegal man has admitted to the sexual abuse of seven victims over a 16 year period. His victims were five males and two females. The man, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 14 counts of indecent assault, sexual assault and rape between 1984 and 2000 in Donegal and

A Donegal Deputy says companies that receive funding through Bord Iascaigh Mhara schemes should have to create a certain amounts of jobs and prove they have done so. Thomas Pringle TD wants the creation of jobs as a condition of grant aid under the seafood business development and seafood processing schemes. He says that while

It’s emerged that Enterprise Ireland had a net loss of 129 jobs in Donegal last year, in contrast to the rest of the country, where the national net gain in jobs was considerably higher than in 2011. The figures are being highlighted by Donegal South West Deputy and Sinn Fein Finance Spopkesperson Pearse Doherty. He

A woman has described those who took flowers from her parents grave as ‘low life scum’. ‘Caroline’ told the Shaun Doherty Show how her young daughter had placed flowers on her grand parents grave on the morning of St Valentine’s Day – within two hours they had been stollen. The flowers had been placed to

Dates for SEA SESSIONS, Ireland’s biggest and best surfing and music festival have been announced for June 21 – 23, 2013 and will be back for its sixth successive year at Bundoran, Co. Donegal. As well as Bundoran, or “Fundoran” to the surfing community, the festival will include tour events at Lahinch and Sligo. Following

Plans to replace the Rural Transport Scheme with a new model which does away with local involvement have been described as ridiculous by a Donegal TD. Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the Rural Transport Scheme has been successful and cost-effective scheme since its inception in 2002, and asks why would the Government seek to

Invest NI has promised to run a number of workshops in Derry to help local businesses tender for government contracts and other public service opportunities. The procurement training had been sought by Foyle MLA Pat Ramsay, who says the level of bureaucracy involved in such applications can be a major deterent to small companies who

A woman was airlifted to hospital last evening after falling while hill walking near Horn Head. The woman was part of a group of five walking the Mc Swyne’s Gun Loop on Horn Head near Dunfanaghy when she fell and sustained a suspected ankle fracture. Malin Coastguard tasked the Mulroy Coastguard Cliff Rescue Unit, the

St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar is closed to visitors at present due to a recent outbreak of the winter vomiting bug. Both the Finn View and Barnes View wards are closed pending an inspection today. The Woodville Unit is not affected, but officials at the hospital  are urging people to think very carefully before visiting,

The group representing town councils believes that the Governments local reform plan will cost jobs and deprive communities of local services. Under the Governments plan named ‘Putting People First’ the country’s 80 town councils, including Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballyshannon and Bundoran will be replaced by municipal districts and the number of councillors will be cut by

The Mayor of Letterkenny has welcomed the level of commercial planning application in the town and the strong indications that a major retailer set to establish a Letterkenny base. A number of planning application are before the council for the extention or redevelopment of business premisses while there are also plans that would facilitate a

A Buncrana Town Councillor has called on the local authority not to pursue some people who he believes  parking tickets unfairly There is a half an hours free parking on Buncrana’s Main Street to encourage people to shop local but the rule does not apply to the town’s carparks. Councillor Ciaran McLouchlain says that this

Police investigating the death of Constable Philippa Reynolds last week will revisit the scene today in an attempt to speak to potential witnesses and gather more information about the incident. 27 year old Constable Reynolds was killed when the driver of a stolen Toyota Land Cruiser drove into an unmarked police car at Dale’s Corner

 The latest figured from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show 8 people on trolleys at Letterkenny General Hospital. The figures from the INMO were compiled this morning. One person is on a  trolley at Sligo General Hospital. The news that 8 people are in trolleys at Letterkenny General comes in the same week it

A protest is to be held outside a hotel part owned by Councillor Sean McEniff in Dublin. ‘Anti-Fascist Action Ireland’ says the protest, outside the Camden Court Hotel tomorrow afternoon, is a reaction to Councillor McEniff’s comments on travellers. He has called for the segregation of travellers from settled communities. AFA Ireland says the Councillor

Fine Gael councillor Barry O’Neill has received a sinister package linked to the burning of a controversial house intended for travellers which was gutted. Mr O’Neill received a Mass card with what gardai said was “an unpleasant message” at his home in Ballyshannon. A man was yesterday quizzed by gardai about the package delivered a

While Donegal continues to buck the trend by being the only county in Ireland to see a rise in planning applications last year it was one of the worst performing counties in terms of project commencements. Link2plans dot com has examined every housing construction planning application and planning commencement from January through to December 2012,

It is hoped a preferred site for a new school in Buncrana will be confirmed shortly with the Donegal VEC again stating that the development remains its number one priority. The search for a site for a new school campus, that would house Crana College, The Gaelscoil and Gaelcholaiste, has been going on for a

A Donegal County Cllr has hit out at claims that Inishowen Electoral Area Cllrs are not fully committed to the Aghilly Rd in Buncrana. Speaking at Buncran Town Councils monthly meeting earlier this week, Town Cllr Ciaran McLaughlin asked for an explanation in a delay in funding for improvements to the road. And Cllr McLaughlin

People in Buncrana are being invited to become involved in determining how the town develops in the future, with two different plans going out to public consultation in the coming weeks. This week, the local Town Council agreed a series of draft amendments to the existing Buncrana Development Plan. Those amendments are now being published

Detectives from the PSNIs Serious Crime Branch have arrested two men in Derry on suspicion of dissident republican activity. The men aged 43 and 44 have been taken to Antrim Serious Crime Suite for questioning. It’s not been confirmed what specific incidents, if any, the arrests are linked to.