Author name: oisinkelly

The British Irish Parliamentary Assembly have announced that their next meeting will be in Donegal in March 2013. The meeting, which will take place between March 3rd and 5th will coincide with the Irish presidency of the European Union. It’s already been confirmed that the Taoiseach and a number of European representatives will attend the meeting. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh, who […]

The Harte and McAreavey families are suing the hotel in Mauritius in which Michaela McAreavey was murdered. 27-year-old Mrs McAreavey, from County Tyrone, was killed at the Legends Hotel on the island in 2011. The claim by the families is understood to amount to £1.3m. The case is expected to be heard in the country’s

The Fianna Fail leader has launched an attack on the main governing parties in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in Co. Kildare this afternoon, Michael Martin accused Sinn Fein and the DUP of putting party political advantage ahead of the common good. Deputy Martin added that much work still needed to

Construction equipment worth around £200,000 has been destroyed in an overnight arson attack in Derry. Just after 3 o clock this morning, police received a report that a bulldozer parked at a construction site at Brooke Park had been set on fire. Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, said the machine was being used in a

They’ve hit the headlines all around the world in world including Britain, Australia, France and even China, and now the Ballyhea Protest Group are coming to Donegal. Ballyhea is a rural parish in Cork that has been marching every Sunday in protest against the conversion of private bank debt to sovereign debt since March, 2011.

Donegal County Council is inviting the public and interested parties to have an input in to its Corporate Plan for 2012 to 2014 which is currently being prepared. A Corporate Plan is a Statement of Strategy that will provide strategic direction to the work of the Council over the lifetime of the elected council. In

Around one hundred people have taken part in a protest march this afternoon in support of home helps. The march started at St Conal’s Hospital in Letterkenny – the group was joined by around 100 others as it arrived at the town’s Market Square. The rally was jointly organised by Impact and Siptu. Before the

Ulster GAA in partnership with the Michaela Foundation has announced plans for a major fundraising event to remember the life of Michaela McAreavey and her contribution to the GAA community. Donegal GAA have given their full backing to this event and have announced that this will be the first competitive game for Donegal since lifting

A number of cars were damaged on Moville’s main street this morning by a runaway bus. The incident happened around school going time, but thankfully no one was injured. The bus and up to seven cars were damaged in the incident. Local Councillor and Donegal’s Deputy Mayor Martin Farren says the situation could have been

Hundreds of people have gathered in Letterkenny this afternoon for a march and rally in support of home helps. The march is being jointly organised by Impact and Siptu. Siptu spokesperson Declan Ferry says the Labour Court has referred the issue of home help contracts back to the Labour Relations Commission, but in the meantime,

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been seized in the north west in recent weeks by the PSNI. The PSNI’s northern wide Operation Torus, a street-level drug dealing initiative, has recovered more than £1million in drugs since its launch on August 20. There were 246 Searches in G-District, with 135 arrests and

A Donegal VEC member is repeating calls for polling clerk positions to be advertised. Peter Cutliffe says he has written to the County Registrar in Donegal on a number of occasions, but received no reply. He says advertising the positions would give young unemployed people an opportunity to get much needed work-experience. However, he says

The life and legacy of Peadar O’Donnell is being remembered in Dungloe this weekend with a series of debates which the organisers say provide an alternative to the McGill Summer School. Peadar O’Donnell was born in Meenmore in 1893, and died at the age of 93. He was a republican socialist, and an opponent of

The Apprentice Boys of Derry are to receive over 2 million pounds in European funding. The grant, from the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, will be used to fund a new shared historic visitor centre. The money will also be used to renovate the current Apprentice Boys’ Memorial Hall on Society Street in Derry. Governor of the

A Donegal Senator has accused Sinn Fein of ‘speaking out of both sides of their mouths’ when it comes to rural garda stations. Sinn Fein have campaigned to prevent the closure of rural garda stations in Donegal. And speaking in the Dail this week, Sinn Fein Deputy Pearse Doherty hit out at the Justice Minister

A man has appeared in court in Letterkenny today following an overnight incident in which a garda car was rammed. 23-year-old Cathal Dunleavy, from, Glenvar, Kerrykeel, appeared at Letterkenny District Court today charged with 16 different offences. They include fifteen charges of speeding and another charge of stealing a car. The court heard how a

Hundreds are expected on the streets of Letterkenny for a rally in support of the Donegal Home Help Service. At 1 o’clock, the march will proceed from St Conal’s Hospital to Market Square where speeches will be made and a soup kitchen set up. The HSE announced earlier this month that 1,500 hours per week

The Governments north and south are again being urged to agree a funding package which would see the Lough Foyle service linking Greencastle and Magilligan operate all year round. The issue is to be discussed by the Regional Development Committee in the North in the next few weeks after it was raised by East Derry

13 per cent of Irish Traveller woman have seven or more children, compared with just 0.4 per cent of women in Ireland generally. That’s according to CSO figures, which show 29-thousand-573 Irish Travellers were counted in last year’s Census, accounting for 0.6 per cent of the entire population. The information is contained in a CSO

A so called supergrass who infiltrated the IRA for the British security services has said he has been abandoned by MI5 and left with mental health problems. Derryman Raymond Gilmour, who now lives in south-east England, was the only witness in a trial of 35 IRA suspects which collapsed in 1984. He claims he saved

Two men are appearing in court in Letterkenny today following an overnight incident in which a garda car was rammed. We understand that shortly after midnight, a chase began when gardai attempted to stop a car at the Mountain Top in Letterkenny for alleged traffic offences, and during the chase, a garda vehicle was damaged.

Special payments to soldiers for serving in border areas will be high on the agenda when the Public Accounts Committee meets to discuss allowances paid to the defence forces. A large proportion of the border duty allowance is paid to soldiers serving in Finner Camp in South Donegal. At present, 65 different allowances are currently

The justice minister has defended the closure of rural garda stations in Donegal stating the aim is to have more gardai out on the streets rather than behind desks. Minister Alan Shatter was responding in te Dáil to Deputy Pearse Doherty who raised the issue following a meeting of 200 hundred people in west Donegal

A High Court judge is today expected to reserve judgement in a case taken by the owners of homes in a West Donegal housing estate which suffers from subsidence because it was built on a bog just over four years ago. ‘Radharc An Seascan’ at Meenmore has 15-houses, mainly used as holiday homes. The insurance

A two vehicle crash has led to the closure of the Port Road in Letterkenny. The crash, at the Clanree Hotel, occurred at around 6 o’clock this (Wednesday) evening. Gardai say the Port road will be closed for a number of hours (as of 6.15pm) while the collision is dealt with. No details of injuries

Inishowen Community Radio has gone off the air. In a statement on its Facebook page today  it was confirmed that Inishowen Community Radio is no longer and that station has just closed down The statement concludes ‘ thanks for tuning in over the last 12 years -Staff/ volunteers would like to thank you so much’

A man charged with the manslaughter of journalist Eugene Moloney has been sent forward for trial. 21 year old trainee mechanic Gary Burch of Kennington Close, Templeogue in Dublin is accused of killing the 55 year old last June. Eugene Moloney received a blow to the head while walking home on Camden Street in Dublin

The Arranmore Lifeboat has been involved in an operation this morning after a small fishing boat got into difficulty in Donegal Bay. The small fishing boat, with two men onboard, is said to be in no immediate danger. The alarm was raised shortly before midday.

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty will debate the issue of Garda resources in rural Donegal with Minister for Justice Alan Shatter in a Topical Issue Debate in the Dáil this afternoon Speaking in advance of the debate Deputy Doherty said it is becoming increasingly clear that the Gardaí in Donegal are inadequately resourced to respond to

The Oireachtas Joint Transport Committee has been told that there is an anomoly in Donegal where a bus route leaves Rathmullan in the morning, but doesn;t return there in the evening. The issue was raised by Deputy Joe Mc Hugh as senior Bus Eireann staff appeared before the committee to answer questions about national and

New anti-drug driving measures are recommended in a report compiled by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety which is being launched today. The measures include a series of roadside tests – such as walking in a straight line and balancing on one leg. Donegal campaigner, former councillor PJ Blake, says that while any initiative is

The mother of Daniel Allen says she doesn’t know if she will ever see her son again, after he was ordered to leave Derry by the vigilante group RAAD. Daniel, who’s brother Andrew Allen was murdered by RAAD in Buncrana in February this year, has been cautioned by the PSNI that his life his under

The company which hopes to create 20 jobs in Letterkenny within three years says talented people and the track record of LYIT were the reasons for the decision to come here. KeyedIn Solutions is establishing its European Software Research and Development Centre at the Co-Lab in the town. Killybegs native Eugene Blaine is Chief Technical

Police in Strabane are appealing for parents, youth and community leaders to assist in making this year’s Halloween festivities safe and fun. The police says that they want to make it clear that they take Halloween seriously and anyone caught breaking the law will be dealt with robustly. Strabane Area Commander, Chief Inspector Andy Lemon

A Donegal Deputy says that while the latest IDA backed jobs for Letterkenny are to be welcomed the agency needs to be doing much more in Donegal in terms of job creation. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the IDA have this year only facilitated two site visits to Donegal – there were no such visits last

A Donegal Deputy has called on the Government to come up with a specific plan to tackle youth unemployment. There are now almost 5,000 people under the age of 25 unemployed in Donegal. Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie McConalogue wants a focus on training younger people to fill the numerous jobs available in the ICT sector.

Donegal County Council has admitted that a number of people across the county, who have already paid the Household Charge, have received a reminder letter that they may still be liable to pay. The Council says it is regrettable that this has happened and apologised for any inconvenience or stress caused with the blame seeming

An Bord Pleanála is hosting a public hearing in to a proposed wind farm project near Glenties. Straboy Wind Energy has been granted planning permission by Donegal County Council to erect 22 wind turbines over a 474 hectare site covering six townlands near Glenties with 21 conditions attached. 15 third parties objections to the permission

The Environment Minister has announced plans for the abolition of 83 local authorities – nearly all of them town councils – as part of plans to save 420 million euro. The number of Councillors will also be slashed by 42 per cent – from over sixteen-hundred to nine-hundred-and-fifty. 500 local authority staff will also be

Two Derry men, one of them a brother of murder victim Andrew Allen, have been cautioned by the PSNI that their lives are under threat. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has called on those who issued the threat to lift it immediately, saying he has been aware of tensions involving two local men over recent weeks.

Strabane District Council have rejected a motion asking for a letter to be sent to the Norths Agriculture Minister asking for an explanation why Ballykelly was chosen over Strabane for the relocation of 800 civil service jobs. It was announced in September this year that the Department of Agriculture in the North would be moving

It’s been confirmed that the plastic bag levy being introduced in the North next year will lead to the creation of 10 new jobs in Derry. Stormont Minister Alex Atwood has confirmed the team which will implement the charge will be based in the city. The new regulations, which come into force in April 2013,

In excess of 3,000 secondary school pupils from across Donegal will attend the annual, award winning Road Safe Road Show in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny today and tomorrow. Donegal County Council in association with the Donegal Road Safety Working Group host the hard hitting shows. They show in graphic detail the consequences of

A group of people who suffered during the Troubles will today ask the Government to acknowledge the “inadequate” security levels provided – from the Republic’s side of the border – during the conflict. Victims will today meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The group from Fermanagh says IRA attacks in the North were often planned by

Over 120 new jobs have been announced by 5 companies in Donegal, Limerick and Dublin. Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton says the investment from high-growth emerging companies is great news for the country. The Donegal investment will see 20 positions created in Letterkenny by KeyedIn Solutions. Consero, ZenDesk and DITA are creating a total of 80

Donegal Sinn Féin representatives have met the PSNI to discuss cross border crime in what is being described as historic,frank and positive meeting. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn said the meeting with the PSNI in Derry was an initiative instigated by growing concerns as to the activity of cross-border crime and a perception that gangs can

Two men have been convicted of murdering a 57-year-old Donegal man outside his home in the south side of Glasgow. Asif Rehman, 20, and Adel Ishaq, 19, attacked William McKeeney in Melville Street, Pollokshields, on 15 January. Mr McKeeney, who was originally from Malin Head, later died at the city’s Victoria Infirmary. Rehman and Ishaq,

A 39-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court today  charged in connection with the shooting dead of an RUC constable in 1993. Christopher O’Kane of 107 Kular Court in Derry faced a total of five charges. He was charged with assisting offenders in the killing of Constable Michael Ferguson between January 23 and 25