Author name: oisinkelly

It has been confirmed this morning that The Magee Campus of the University of Ulster is in line to get hundreds of extra student places. Britain’s Minister for Employment and Learning, Stephen Farry, said the greater share of the extra places allocated to the University of Ulster will go to the Derry campus. They will […]

The public is being encouraged to attend a consultation workshop on policing in Donegal to raise issues affecting their lives and communities and to give their ideas on how these issues could be addressed. The workshop, hosted by the Donegal County Joint Policing Committee, takes place next Monday in Stranorlar Training Centre between 7.30pm –

A €50 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) will allow construction begin of  Coláiste Ailigh new school building in Letterkenny shortly. It is one of 8 schools across the country which will be delivered using the  Public Private Partnership model. The new 350  pupil school in Letterkenny should be complete by the end

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association is estimating that up to 2pc of the national sheep flock — 50,000 animals — has been stolen in the last few years. In some cases, flocks of up to 200 sheep at a time are being rustled and their identity tags cut off before new ones are

Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says future legislation must factor in the concerns expressed by the high ‘No’ vote in the county, and he’ll be ensuring that the concerns of the people are recognised. He said while there are a number of possible explanations for the Donegal, he detected a very real fear

Both Donegal constituencies have returned resounding ‘No’ votes in the Children Referendum. Donegal South West returned a ‘No’ vote of over 56%, while Donegal North East had one of the highest ‘No’ votes in the country at almost 60%. Donegal South West was the first constituency to declare this morning, with 6,523 voting ‘Yes’ and

A 37-year-old man has died after falling from the balcony of a bar in Strabane. It happened at Dicey Reillys shortly before 2 o clock this morning. Police are investigating how the accident happened. They are appealing to anyone who was in the bar and witnessed what happened to contact them  

Youth workers are going all out to inform schools, sports and teenage clubs on the dangers of cyber bullying. Since the tragic death of Erin Gallagher less than a fortnight ago, Donegal Youth Service has been inundated with requests from across the north-west to inform teens about the perils of cyber bullying and how to

The Chief Constable of the PSNI has said he is “very concerned” about the threat dissident republicans may pose to next year’s UK City of Culture in Derry. The Real IRA has already carried out a number of attacks linked to Derry’s year as UK City of Culture. Matt Baggott said the dissident threat is

Northwest MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher has slammed Donegal North East Deputy Joe McHugh over a statement he released yesterday in relation to the opening up of the lesser spotted dogfish market. Speaking yesterday, Deputy McHugh said that Minister Simon Coveney had agreed terms with the European Commission to open up the Dogfish market from

A witness who tried to withhold evidence in the murder trial of Donegal man William McKeeney has been sentenced to 15 months’ detention. 19-year-old Umar Bhatti, was called to testify at the trial of his cousin, 19-year-old Adel Ishaq, and a friend, 20-year-old Asif Rehman. The judge, Lord Uist, warned Bhatti and then held him

Donegal football manager Jim McGuinness has been appointed as a performance consultant with Celtic soccer club, however, he will also remain in charge of the All-Ireland champions. Celtic released a statement this morning stating that McGuinness had joined the Glasgow club. He will be based at Lennoxtown and will help in the development of the club’s

The SDLP is to send a peition to the Transport Minister Leo Varadker in support of Malin Head Coastguard Station. Malin Head Coastguard Station is under threat of closure following publication of the Fisher Report, which recommends a reduction in the number of coastguard stations. The issue will be discussed at the SDLP party conference

It’s being reported that Jim Mc Guinness will take a role with the Celtic academy but will also stay on as Donegal manager. The All Ireland winning manager will take over as sports performance coach with the Academy, the job which will see him work at Parkhead three days a week and miss just one

Inshore fishermen in Inishowen mayhave a new market opened to them if an agreement reached last night is given EU council and parliament approval. Minister Simon Coveney has agreed terms with the commission to open up the Lesser Spotted Dogfish market from January 1st, subject to certain conditions. Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says the species,

Sinn Féin members of Donegal County Council are urging Cllr David Alcorn to withdraw his nomination to the new board of Udaras na Gaeltachta until questions raised in an anonymous letter about expenses claims he made between 2006 and 2009 are answered. Party Whip Cllr Mick Quinn says while the claims are being investigated, they

The funerals are taking place in New York today of two year old Brendan and four year old Connor Moore, both of whom died in Superstorm Sandy on Monday of last week when they were wrenched from their mother Glenda’s arms as she tried to get them to safety. Their father Damien is a native

There are calls for Strabane Canal and Moorlough to be included in the Waterways Irelands Business Plan. Waterways Ireland was developed under the Good Friday Agreement, and it is responsible for developing Irelands canals and inland waterways. Strabane canal is a four-mile stretch of waterway linking Tyrone and Derry, and the Council has recently carried

It’s emerged that Donegal has the highest proportion of college students who receive  grants, with 90% of first time students in the county in receipt of support. That contrasts with the Dublin figure of 31%. After Donegal, students from Roscommon and Leitrim are next when it comes to grant payouts, with the trends showing a high

Gardai have seized another €70,000 of the drug 4-MEC after another premises was searched in Letterkenny. It follows the seizure of €140,000 of drugs posted to an address in Lettekenny earlier this week. A 28-year-old from Portstewart has been charged in relation to the find, he’s being remanded in custody at Letterkenny Garda Station and

Four Independent TDs are calling for emergency legislation to allow for the children’s referendum to be postponed. It comes after the Supreme Court ruled that the government had spent public money putting out one-sided information. The Tanaiste says the referendum will go ahead as normal. The current law prevents a referendum from being delayed except if a

Now on Sale  “The Return of Sam”  Donegal’s Journey to All Ireland Glory. A cd compilation to commemorate Donegal’s 2012 All Ireland success with  Highland Radio’s championship coverage mixed with great Donegal music, including highlights from the All Ireland final with David Oliver’s fantastic Homes of Donegal. There’s also tracks from Free Whiskey, Goats Don’t

Calls are being made for a change in legislation from Stormont to enable more funding for the Magilligan – Greencastle ferry service. East Derry MLA John Dallat has lobbied for a funding package which would see the Lough Foyle service linking Greencastle and Magilligan operate all year round. The service currently only operates for part

As voting takes place today on Donegal’s offshore islands, the Supreme Court has found the government has used public money for the Children’s Referendum campaign in a manner which was not fair, equal or impartial. It’s decision overturns last week’s High Court ruling against challenger Mark McCrystal – but finds it’s too close to polling

Sinn Fein in Derry are calling for proper facilities to be provided for people appealing the rejection of Disability Benefits and other allowances after it emerged that appeals are now being heard in the courthouse on Bishops Street. Foyle MLA Raymond Mc Cartney says previously, hearings have taken place in hotels and other neutral venues,

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said while there are laws in place to deal with bullying, including cyber bullying. However, he confirmed to the Dail that he is asking the Law Reform Commission to examine the issue to see if improvements can be made. Minister Shatter called for a new focus from parents and schools,

A High Court action against Donegal County Council over the co-option of Michael McBride to replace Senator Jimmy Harte has been dismissed. Letterkenny solicitor Dessie Sheils brought forward the challenge on the basis that Jimmy Hartes post should have been filled by a non-party candidate. But yesterday at the High Court Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne

The grandfather of the teenage girl, Erin Gallagher, who took her own life after being bullied online, says he hopes his grand-daughter’s death will not be in vain. Today would have been Erin’s 14th birthday. The 13 year old took her own life last month after being subjected to cyber-bullying on the website ask.fm. Speaking

Donegal Councillor David Alcorn says he doesn’t believe a letter raising questions about expenses claims will impact on his appointment to the new, slimmed down board of Udaras na Gaeltachta. The anonymous letter, signed by a “concerned taxpayer” includes copies of expenses claims made by the councillor and Udaras bhoard member between 2006 and 2009.

Over €140,000 worth of the drug 4-MEC has been seized in a major drugs swoop in Donegal. As part of an intelligence-led operation involving Revenue’s Customs Service, the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Letterkenny Drugs Unit, approximately 4 kilograms of the drug were seized in an operation yesterday. The seizure was the result of

The former Wings guitarist Henry McCullough is critically ill following a heart attack. Mr McCullough, from Portstewart, County Derry, and who is a frequent visitor to Donegal and has spent much time in Ramelton, is one of the best known guitarists in the world, performing with a host of legendary artists. Mr McCullough is being treated

Gardai have discovered a body washed up on rocks at Bundoran. The body has been discovered in recent hours in an area known as Roughey. Gardai have cordoned off the area. At this stage Gardai have said they are treating the incident as a personal tragedy.

The Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil has told TDs they can’t behave like ‘gurriers shouting on a street at each other’. The intervention from Seán Barrett came after a rowdy morning in the Dáil – with deputies heckling over home help cuts, the pensions of former bankers and homelessness. The exchange came shortly after Taoiseach

Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue says the government response to the crisis in Student Grant applications is unacceptable. Responding to questions from Deputy Mc Conalogue, Fianna Fail’s Education Spokesperson, Junior MInister Sean Sherlock said much of the delay was because applicants did not provide all necessary information. He said the new SUSI applications

Donegal singer Daniel O’Donnell, has become the first artist to have a different album in the UK charts every year for 25 consecutive years. The Kincasslagh man’s latest album, Songs from the Movies and more, has made it to number 7 just a week after its release. Daniel has had 37 different albums in the

A Donegal Senator is claiming that the scale of proposed job losses and cutbacks at An Post and Eircom is tantamount to another attack on rural Ireland. Senator Brian Ó Domhnail has raised serious concerns about the impact on communities in the North West of 1,500 planned redundancies at An Post and potentially up to

Twenty patients have been evacuated from a ward at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry after a small electrical fire. About 30 firefighters were called to the seventh floor of the hospital just before 10 o’clock last night. No-one was injured in the blaze, which started in an electrical switch room. It took firefighters about two hours

The retrial of two men being sued over the Omagh bomb atrocity will not begin until next year. A civil action brought against Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly has been delayed due to the illness of a defence lawyer. They are defending an action brought by relatives of some of the 29 people, including a

The Project Director of the Gathering has rejected claims made by the Irish actor Gabriel Byrne that the initiative is a scam – and a shake-down of the diaspora. Jim Miley says the comments represent the views of only one man – and many others have warmly endorsed the Gathering. The tourism initiative aims to

The newly appointed CEO of the Donegal Vocational Educational Committee has said there are many raw emotions and feelings in Finn Valley College and the community in the Twin Towns and beyond following the death by suicide eight days ago of 13 year old Erin Gallagher. In a statement, Shaun Purcell says the VEC acknowledges

A 25-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with an armed robbery of more than £23,000 from a local off licence. Gareth Cullen of 9, Daly Crescent in Derry was charged with robbing the off licence of the money on February 20 this year. He also faced a charge of possessing a firearm

Letterkenny’s local economy will lose almost 4 million euro over the next four years as a result of increased college fees, and cuts to the student maintenance grant. That’s according to the Union of Students in Ireland. There are currently 3,000 students attending Letterkenny IT, 2,004 of these students recieve a maintenance grant, while 996

  Gardaí have released a man they’d been questioning about the murder of a prison officer in Northern Ireland. 52-year-old David Black was shot dead on the M1 in County Armagh last Thursday, while on his way to work at Maghaberry jail. A 29-year-old man was released from custody at Carrick-on-Shannon station in County Leitrim

The North’s Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, will not be attending the funeral of murdered prison officer, David Black tomorrow – reportedly because the family doesn’t want him there. A Sinn Fein spokesperson says Mr McGuinness would be happy to attend if the family requested it. Mr Black, a father of two, was gunned down

Experienced Irish mental health nurses and midwives are urgently required in Sydney and other areas of New South Wales as their health board launches a new recruitment drive for 70 Irish nurses. Galway-based recruitment agency ICE Group are co-ordinating the campaign in partnership with New South Wales Health who are facing a shortage of registered