Author name: oisinkelly

The remains of Andrew Duffy, who tragically died after falling into a canal in Dublin on Sunday night, have been returned to his home in Termon. They arrived in Golldrum at around 915pm last night. The funeral of the 24-year-old Donegal fan will take place tomorrow at 12 noon. Scenes of deep emotion greeted the […]

Buncrana Town Council and Donegal County Council have announced that the first annual Tip O Neill Donegal Diaspora Award will be given to journaslist and commentator Niall O’Dowd, one of the most prominent members of the present day Irish Diaspora. Mr O’Dowd was born in Ireland and emigrated in his mid twenties to the US

A top Donegal consultant, who is widely known for his appearances in a hard-hitting national road safety campaign, has said that excessive drinking is becoming a serious problem in Ireland. Dr Gerry Lane, a consultant in emergency medicine at Letterkenny General Hospital, says we have the second highest level of consumption in Europe. And he

Donegal County Board and GAA clubs here are likely to get just 13,000 tickets for the All-Ireland final. The exact number will be made clear next Monday, after next Sunday’s other semi-final clash between Mayo and Dublin. There was 35,000 Donegal fans at Croke Park on Sunday for the semi-final win over Cork, so a

Security cameras look set to be installed in taxi cabs in Derry to protect drivers from false rape allegations — as well as assault and robbery. The move comes after footage from a camera led to the successful prosecution of a man found guilty of attacking a taxi driver. This success prompted other drivers to

The owner of Target Express says his company fell behind on its payments to Revenue, but they were catching up fast. Last night, the haulage company, who sponsors the Tyrone gaelic football team, confirmed that it is to cease trading, with the loss of almost 400 jobs, after the Revenue Commissioners froze the company’s bank

A Donegal councillor says it’s ironic that the government is pushing septic tank inspections and improvements at a time when it is not living up to its own responsibilities. At a recent meeting, Cllr Ian Mc Garvey raised questions about securing a site for a sewerage plant at Rathmullan, to be told that a preliminary report has

Donegal Youth Service will host an information workshop tonight for young people leaving home to study for the first time next week. The workshop takes place at the Youth Information Centre in Letterkenny at 7pm this evening. Staff will be there to help students and parents with information on a range of issues from budgeting to tenants’ rights. This

The GAA is being criticised for not doing enough to protect players who are gay. It follows a speech by Cork hurling goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack that he was verbally abused during matches, adding that he completely ignored the taunts. The inter-county player told a Pride launch in Derry people with megaphones were shouting homophobic

Driving experts are assessing a Road Safety Authority report that suggests driving test pass rates differ, according to where you sit the test. The unpublished report says the national pass rate is 54.56%. Ennis in Co. Clare has the highest pass rate – at almost 68 per cent – while Kilkenny has a pass rate

A man charged with raping a schoolgirl in the grounds of Foyle College in Derry last year was back in court today. 20 year old Adam Titheridge with an address at from Willow Walk in London, is charged with causing the girl grievous bodily harm and carrying out an aggravated assault on her the July

Book retailer Eason is creating fifty new jobs this year, with the opening of four new franchise stores, one of them in Letterkenny. The company already operates a store at the Courtyard Shopping Centre, and is now planning to open a second branch at Letterkenny Shopping Centre, at the site previously operated by Proctors Newsagent.

The Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce has confirmed a number of clerical appointments, to take effect at the end of next month. Both Dungloe and Drumoghill will get new Parish Priests, but there’s further evidence of the extent to which the number of priests is falling with confirmation that Leitermacaward and Doochary will lose

Sinn Féin is urging the Government to abandon plans for a property tax next year and introduce a wealth tax instead. The party says people should only pay tax on assets totalling more than one-million-euro. At the weekend, it emerged the coalition’s told the Troika it will introduce a ‘value based’ charge for next year

A Strabane man who has admitted posting a series of racist insults on the Liverpool FC website could be facing six months jail when he is sentenced later this week. The posts on a discussion board on the clubs website were all sent from the home computer of 26-year-old Jason Roulston of Mount Carmel Heights

Jim McGuinness has paid tribute to the Donegal supporters and the part they have played in the Ulster champions’ run to the All-Ireland final. His men overcame Cork in front of over 55,000 fans, over 30,000 of which were Donegal fans yesterday. They will now face either Dublin or Mayo on 23 September. McGuinness’ men

A climber who had to be taken by rescue helicopter from Slieve League yesterday afternoon has died. The man is believed to have suffered a heart attack while out with another climber yesteday afternoon. Donegal Mountain Rescue, Killybegs Coastguard and the rescue helicopter were on the scene just before 1 o clock. The man was

A 24-year-old Donegal supporter has died after falling into a canal in Dublin. Andrew Duffy from Termon was out celebrating Donegals All-Ireland semi-final win after watching the game at Croke Park. It’s understood that he and a friend were making there way to were they were staying when he slipped and fell into the canal

Donegal have reached their first All Ireland Football Final since 1992. The Ulster champions defeated Cork by 16 points to 1-11. Jim McGuiness’s men led by a point at half time and a superior second half performance ensured victory despite an injury time Colm O’Neill goal for Cork. Dublin or Mayo await Donegal in the

A young boy has escaped injury after lifting up a live World War II mortar shell from a beach in County Derry. The child found the bomb while he was walking on the shoreline around Magilligan on yesterday afternoon. Army bomb experts were called to the scene and they disposed of the shell. The Police

A 41-year-old former classroom assistant at Derry school has been sentenced to probation for sexual assault on a female pupil. John Arthur of Hillcrest was convicted of the offence which occurred on May 13 last year. Derry Magistrates Court heard that the incident happened the morning after a social get together where pupils and teachers

Donegal fans in Dublin for tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi final are being invited along to a unique world record event in the capital. Already, a large number of festival goers from the Donegal are expected to make the journey to Dublin this weekend for the Tall Ships Races 2012. Organisers predict that one million people will

A 59-year-old man is due in court in Omagh this morning charged with rape. The charges relate to an alleged serious sexual assault in Enniskillen in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A 16 year old scout has been airlifted to hospital after she was injured while walking in Glenveagh. The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team was called out just before 7 o’clock last night after the girl dislocated her knee in rough ground close to Lough Sallagh area of the Derryveaghs. She was one of a group

There has been a significant increase in the number of woman in Inishowen seeking help having been the victim of domestic abuse. The ‘Lifeline’ service is based in Inishowen and offers assistance to woman and children In 2011 the centre received a total of 472 calls but in the first six months of this year

On the final day of events at the 7th European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Zagreb, Croatia,Transplant Team Ireland has secured another 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals. The brave athletes enjoyed great success at the Games despite competing in extremely hot weather of around 40 degrees. The 26 strong Team will return

With fuel hitting €1.80 a litre, motor tax increases on the way and a hike in VRT likely –  the government is lost for viable solutions to the economic crisis. That is according to anti- VRT campaigner Ryan Stewart who says rural Ireland will be crippled by these new measures. He says those who live

Donegal farming is in the worst crisis in a generation and unless the weather picks up in the coming weeks, then many farmers could go to the wall. A former Donegal IFA chief says in his 30 years of farming he has never seen anything like it. Newtowncunnigham farmer, Keith Rouslton says the first cut

A Donegal TD says public representatives from all parties need to unite to defend rural Ireland. Deputy Padraig MacLochlain was speaking after it was confirmed this week that the services of a Community Welfare Officer where being withdrawn from St Johnston, Fahan, Culdaff and Bree. He believes this coupled with post office and Garda station closures and

The Donegal County Board has threatened legal action again any companies reproducing replica shirts and flags. In a statement the board says that some clothing companies are producing replica Donegal GAA jerseys, T shirts, poloshirts, flags, etc,using the Donegal GAA Crest / Logo. They point out that the Donegal GAA Crest is patented and Donegal

Emergency services have attended the scene of a two car crash in Annagry this afternoon. The crash happened on the Ranafast road at around 3pm. Gardai and two ambulances responded to the incident. It is understood three people have been injured and at least one has been taken to hospital. None of the injuries are

Community welfare Services are to be withdrawn in a further three more areas of  Donegal from next week. On Wednesday the services of a community welfare officer were withdrawn from St Johnston and now services are being withdrawn in three areas of Inishowen. The services from Fahan, Culdaff and Bree will cease from Monday 27th

The Irish Coast Guard has refused to be drawn on whether or not it is in favour of retaining a full service at Malin Head Coast Guard Station. A independent report presented to government last month recommends that the number of rescue centres is reduced from three to two and that Malin Head Coast Guard

Accounts filed by singer Daniel O’Donnell’s main company show a 2 million euro increase in profits from 2009 to 2011. However, the 50 year old says it’s not about the money, he just loves to sing. Returns recently filed by DOD Promotions Ltd, for the three years to last December show accumulated profits increased by

A Road Safety Campaign to combat speeding on Irish Row in Raphoe will be stepped up tomorrow when residents from Castle Grove distribute leaflets around the area highlighting their concerns. The initiative began in March at a meeting coordinated by the Respond Housing Association. Since then, Donegal County Council, the Donegal Road Safety Working Group

A 29-year-old Derryman has been charged with possession of explosives. Joseph Hugh Allen from Broadway in Creggan was charged with possession a pipe bomb and other items on a date unknown between the first and 14th of September last year. His arrest was related to fingerprints found on items found during searches after attacks last

Three Jordanian paralympian squad members accused of sexual assault in Northern Ireland have pulled out of the Paralympic Games. The Jordanian team has been training in Co. Antrim, in advance of next week’s competition. The three were detained on Monday and appeared in court in Coleraine yesterday. According to the Associated Press, the Jordanian Paralympic

As concern grows about the number of small and medium sized businesses being given loans, Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte has asked the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan to allow firms go to the Credit Review Office before approaching the banks for finance. He says when businesses refused loans go to the CRO, up to 50

The upward trend in petrol prices is set to continue, with a litre of unleaded now costing well over 1.70 euro a litre in many Donegal filling stations. Speculation is rising that the price will hit, and possibly exceed, 1 euro 80 cent in a matter of weeks. David Horgan is the Managing Director of

Two new classes for children with special needs have been sanctioned for County Donegal from September. The classes will be located at Dromore National School, Killygordon and the Vocational School, Killybegs. Dromore National School will facilitate pupils of primary school age while Killybegs will facilitate the post primary stage. Minister Dinny McGinley has welcomed the

The former Ulster Bank building in Derry’s Waterloo Place is be given a facelift and internal renovation. According to the Derry News today, the 1.8 million pound package will be unveiled by Minister Nelson Mc Causland during a visit to the site later this morning. It’s expected almost 477,000 pounds will come from the Department

A Buncrana Town Councillor has joined in the criticism of RTE’s weather forecasts and claims that negative inaccurate predictions have damaged Donegal’s tourism industry. Letterkenny’s Mayor, Dessie Larkin has hit the national headlines over his claim that RTE often get the forecasts wrong and that Donegal experiences a much better summer than was portrayed. Buncrana

Detectives in Foyle are investigating a report of a suspicious approach to a child in the Claudy area yesterday evening, the third such incident in recent weeks. Police do not believe these three incidents are linked however they are keeping an open mind. In each case, very different descriptions of the males involved were reported.

A man accused of killing journalist Eugene Moloney has been remanded for a further 4 weeks for service of the book of evidence. 21-year-old trainee mechanic Gary Burch of Kennington Close, Templeogue has been charged with manslaughter. The 55-year-old journalist received a blow to the head while walking home on Camden Street in Dublin city

There’s been a fire at Limavady Fire Station in County Derry. A fire alarm went off at the part time station on Catherine Street just before 9 o’clock this morning. The blaze had was centred on a store room and was brought under control about an hour later by fitrer fighters from Dungiven and Derry.

Gardai are preparing to begin their investigation into the cause of a fire which gutted the site of the old Swilly Hotel in Buncrana overnight. Diversions around the site have now been lifted, and the Lough Swilly Ferry is back on the water after an earlier suspension. The building had been disused for some time,

The Community Welfare Clinic in St. Johnston is to cease from today, with people being advised to use the service in Letterkenny. Stranorlar area Councillor Cora Harvey says this is another attack on rural Donegal, at a time when the services of a community welfare officer are most needed. She says a notice was posted

The total number of vacant commercial units or premises recorded in Letterkenny is signifcantly above the national average. According to figures released today by GeoDirectory, the amount of vacant commercial unts in Donegal stands 1,140 or 12% of the total stock – 1% higher than the national average. But Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory, says