Author name: oisinkelly

Almost 4,000 people turned out in Letterkenny in the early hours of this morning to greet the victorious Donegal All-Ireland winning football team. The panel didn’t reach Letterkenny until 1240am – over four hours behind schedule. And the proposed visit to Glenswilly, the home of captain Michael Murphy, was postponed. Meanwhile the schedule for todays […]

Following a harsh summer for farmers, the IFA is calling on the government to ensure farm schemes are maintained on December’s budget. Due to the wet summer, farmers across the country are facing a 400 million euro increase in feed costs this winter. Davie Keith of the Donegal IFA says this is putting extra pressure

Donegal companies are being encouraged to apply for funding under Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund. The Fund provides young companies in the ICT & Industrial sectors with early stage funding to test the market for their products and services and progress their business plans for the global marketplace. 15 companies are expected to benefit under

The European Parliament has approved the Gallagher Report by an overwhelming majority. The Gallagher Report legislates for hard hitting sanctions against non EU countries engaged in unsustainable fishing practices. The New Regulation is in direct response to the overfishing of mackerel by Iceland and the Faroe Islands in the NE Atlantic and will enter into

The INMO and IMPACT have called an emergency members’ meeting as there is increasing concern among staff working in Cregg House, Sligo relating to the future of the service. IMPACT claims the Daughters of Wisdom, who have responsibility for provision of services, have not advised staff of any plan which would ensure a safe and

Farming groups have welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that a new AEOS 3 Scheme will be opened to 6,000 farmers across the country. A maximum payment of €4,000 will be available to farmers in both Natura and non-Natura areas. The IFA says the AEOS delivers significant benefits to the rural environment and

The Donegal Senior Football team are touring the County today with the Sam Maguire Cup. The All Ireland Football champions were in Bundoran, Ballyshannon,Mountcharles and Dunkineely earlier and will be in Killybegs,Kilcar, Carrick, Ardara and Ballybofey. The team is significantly behind schedule but will finish up this evening in Letterkenny. All public car parks will

The Gardai are urging Donegal supporters to be vigilant this week, especially if they are travelling to see Jim McGuinness and the Donegal team. Gardai are appealing to people to take care and to ensure that their homes are secure before they go out this week. Garda Intelligence has stated that criminal gangs may target

The Sam Maguire Cup today will be in: Bundoran – 12noon Ballyshannon – 12.30pm Mountcharles – 1pm Killybegs – 1.45pm Kilcar – 2.30pm Carrick – 3.15pm Ardara – 4pm B’bofey – 6pm Letterkenny – 8pm

Donegal’s All Ireland winning football team enjoyed a hero’s welcome back to the county last night. Over 20-thousand people turned out at the Diamond in Donegal town, where they made the Sam Maguire feel at home. Donegal Manager Jim McGuinness, thanked all the fans for their fantastic support….

Two men have been sent forward for trial in custody over a €1.6 million drugs haul near Laghey earlier this year. 2,000 plants where discovered in a converted warehouse outside the south Donegal village in May. Detective Garda Paul McHugh told Donegal District Court this morning(Mon) that he had served books of evidence on 44-year-old

The last two of a series of community meetings to discuss The Gathering 2013 will take place this evening and tomorrow evening. The purpose of these meetings is to give people an opportunity to learn what the Gathering Ireland 2013 is all about and put forward their ideas for events they would like to be

Spot flooding has been reported in some parts of the country this morning – following heavy rain overnight. Met Éireann has issued a weather warning – as up to 50 millimetres of rain has fallen during the past 24 hours. Lisa Holland of AA Roadwatch has this advice when driving through flood patches on the

Gardai in Sligo are appealing for help to find the killer – or killers – of Eugene Gillespie. The 67 year old was found beaten and tied up at his home on Market Street following an aggravated burglary on Friday last. He died in hospital the following day. Superintendent Mary Murray from Sligo Garda Station

The County Board says the Donegal team will not be making any ‘scheduled stops’ in the county and are planning to be in Donegal Town at 8 o’clock this evening. Following their All-Ireland success the Donegal team visited Children’s Hospital in Crumlin and will stop in Cavan before undertaking the final stage of their journey

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has congratulated Jim Mc Guinness and his team on Donegal’s All Ireland Football Final win, saying the people of Mayo don’t begrudge them their victory. Mr Kenny, whose father won an All Ireland medal with Mayo in 1936, says while he’s disappointed Mayo hasn’t bridged the 61 year gap since the county’s

A man has died in Inishowen in what gardai are treating as a tragic accident. Gardai say the man fell from a ladder into a boat at Leenan Pier outside Clonmany. Shortly before 12.30, Malin Head Coastguard was contacted by the ambulance service and asked to send a helicopter to get the casualty to hospital,

With days to go until the deadline, it’s reported today that less than 1 in 10 septic tanks has been registered at a special lower cost, with Donegal returning one of the lowest percentage registration rates. A reduced 5 euro fee is in place until the end of the month, before the full charge of

A thousand jobs are going on offer from today – in Canada. Recruitment firm Diamond Global Canada is setting up its European headquarters in Dublin, and wants to fill the vacancies within a year. The jobs are in construction, food services and skilled trades in firms across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland. Company president Audrey Guth

Jim Mc Guinness has arguably become the most talked about football manager of recent times. His two year tenure has seen a phenomenal transformation in the Donegal team, culminating in yesterday’s victory. Speaking to Charlie in the Burlington Hotel last night, he said he’s really looking forward to the journey home this evening……

Yesterday’s Croke Park clash was inevitably going to be an emotional affair, and that was as true in the Highland radio commentary box as anywhere else. Here are Charlie Collins and co-commentator Declan Bonner, a key member of the 1992 All-Ireland Winning Team, at the end of yesterday’s final.  

Donegal is preparing to welcome the county’s Senior Football Team home to Donegal Town tonight following yesterday’s All Ireland Football Final victory over Mayo in Croke Park. The 2-11 to 13 points victory came two years after Jim Mc Guinness took over as manager, and completes what’s been a remarkable journey for the team. Speaking

Sam Maguire is heading to the hills, Donegal have beaten Mayo 2-11 to 13points in the All-Ireland senior football final at Croke Park. Michael Murphy and Colm McFadden with the Donegal goals – both inside the opening ten minutes of the game, Mayo reduced the gap to 3 points at half time but Donegal ensured

People from across the Northwest have reported seeing bright objects in the night sky, thought to be meteors. The trail of fragments passed across the sky at about 10.55pm with sightings reported from Donegal, Derry, Sligo and across the rest of Ireland and Britain and as far away as as The Netherlands. Malin Head Coastguard

Donegal and Mayo County Councils have issued a joint road safety appeal ahead of tomorrow’s All Ireland Final. The ‘Slow Down for the Showdown’ campaign is urging supporters from both counties to be aware of the road as they travel to Dublin or around the county over the coming days. Eamon Browne of the Donegal

The Health Minister has written to Buncrana Town Council, confirming that all doctors working in the state should have a basic level of fluency in the English language. In May of this year, the council backed a motion moved by Cllr Mary Kelly calling for standards to be introduced. Now, the department has replied saying

The Donegal Manager Jim McGuinness says that his team is not the finished article and has some improving to do. Donegal, unchanged from the semi final win over Cork, play Mayo in the All-Ireland Final this Sunday hoping to take the Sam Maguire back to the Hills  for the first time in 20 years and

A security alert close to the offices of Derry City Council is over. Two viable devices were found close to the building on the Strand Road in the early hours of this morning. They have since been made safe. Those evacuated from their homes have been allowed to return while all roads in the area

The Campaign Against Household and Water Taxes is calling on the Social Protection Minister to clarify whether people trying to claim social welfare will have to prove they’ve paid the household charge first. It follows reports that a woman received a letter from her social welfare office last week – seeking an appointment with her,

Buncrana Town Council will hold a workshop with county councillors from Inishowen and Letterkenny in the coming weeks to consider the future of the Lough Swilly Ferry linking Buncrana and Rathmullan. In a submission to Buncrana Town Council last evening, a County Council Official told members that the Swilly service, which ran on a reduced

Bomb disposal experts in Derry continue to examine two suspect devices found close to the offices of Derry City Council. One of the devices was found at the rear of the building with the other at the front. Strand Road was closed for a time but has since re-opened to traffic. Staff at Derry City

The families of two men murdered in Derry in 1976 are holding a press conference at the Pat Finucane Centre, Rath Mor Centre, Derry later today. Both families have recently received reports from the Historical Enquiries Team. Jim Loughrey was shot at his home in Greysteel on 14th November 1976, and died a week later

A former Letterkenny General Hospital Doctor who fraudulently obtaining a refund for an old laptop which he claimed was new, has been found guilty of professional misconduct. Dr Alabi Emmanuel Gbadebo was before a Medical Council fitness-to-practise inquiry yesterday. He was also found to have concealed his pending trial for the fraud from the HSE

Retired people in Donegal who still like to keep active are being encouraged to volunteer for Ireland’s largest youth organisation, Foróige. Older people with an interest in art, drama or music or those who simply want to share their life experience are being encouraged to apply. In Donegal, Foróige has 25 clubs, 5,000 young members,141

The latest information from the Census show that almost 10% of County Donegal’s population lives alone. The Central Statistics Office today released the latest publication in its series of Census 2011 results. Today’s publication, “Profile   5  Households  and  Families  –  Living Arrangements  in Ireland”, examines living arrangements in Ireland in terms of households and families.

A Donegal County Councillor has welcomed confirmation from the Taoiseach that there is no legal standing in the threats made by some councils to withdraw third-level grant applicants because of their family’s non-payment of the household charge. Yesterday Donegal County Council confirmed it wasn’t ruling out asking for proof of household charge payment from third

Sinn Fein’s spokesperson on Justice has called for the government to listen to the concerns of rural Ireland and commit to not closing any more rural garda stations. Speaking in the Dail, Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn quoted a recent IFA crime survey and the comments of a former assistant Garda commissioner to make his argument

There are renewed calls for a reduction in the speed limit on the stretch of road in Letterkenny between the Dry Arch and Polestar roundabouts. The current limit is 100 kmph but Councillor Noel McBride is calling for it to be reduced to just 60 kmph. There are concerns that reducing the speed to such

Home Help workers in the North West are holding a demonstration outside the HSE’s offices in Sligo later – in protest at the HSE’s decision to cut their working hours. Last month the HSE announced plans to make savings of 130 million euro in the health service, between now and the end of the year.

The Taoiseach has told the Dail that Clare County Council are not legally allowed to withhold grants from third level students. It emerged yesterday that the Council had written letters to grant applicants asking them if they’ve paid their household charge. It says it will prioritise the processing of grants for applicants who’ve paid their

Donegal Road safety group PARC’s campaign to have penalty points extended to learner drivers for a number of offences has progressed a step. The group want two points put on the license of a learner driver found driving unaccompanied by a fully licensed driver – they also want a two point penalty for those caught

A North West MEP says he will strongly resist proposed changes to legislation that could lead to tractors requiring an NCT. The EU plans to force farmers, who own tractors capable of doing speeds of more than 40km/h to do a Vehicle Test in the same way that Trucks are presently tested. MEP Jim Higgins

Donegal RNLI lifeboats launched 24 times during the summer months in Ireland Volunteer lifeboat crews in Lough Swilly launched 13 times, while Arranmore volunteers launched eight times and Bundoran launched three. In its latest report the RNLI highlights a number of rescues over the summer during which the loss of life was averted. The lifeboat

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has today condemned cuts to children’s and adolescents’ mental health services following cuts to the provision of travelling to provide the services. The issue was raised by the Deputy in the Dail. It was revealed yesterday that child and adolescent mental health services in the HSE West have been stopped travelling

Donegal County Council are refuting claims from a number of Councillors that they are bankrupt. After this weeks monthly Council meeting, Sinn Fein Cllr Mick Quinn claimed that there is a lack of clear information on the council’s finances and he said that the council was bankrupt. Independent Cllr John Campbell backed Cllr Quinns claims.