Author name: oisinkelly

The Manager of the City of Derry Airport has welcomed news that a new route to Lanzarote from the City of Derry Airport has been included in Falcon Holidays summer sun schedule for 2013. Damien Tierney says the addition of Lanzarote as a sun destination for passengers in the North West was a significant boost […]

A bird-watching facility at Fort George beside the River Foyle in Derry has been destroyed in an arson attack. The vandals struck sometime between Tuesday night and yesterday morning, torching the wooden structure. It is thought that those responsible for the damage may have doused the area in petrol before setting it alight. The bird-watching

Sinn Fein’s Finance spokesperson has described a row between the Ceann Comhairle and Independent TD Luke Ming Flanagan as “political banter”. Deputy Flanagan hit out at Sean Barrett’s Dail chairmanship in a newspaper article. The Labour Party Chief Whip Emmet Stagg has said the comments were out of order. But Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty says

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association has described as “lunacy” proposed changes to the assessments of third level maintenance grants. It’s thought that the changes may see productive assets, such as farmland and machinery, being included in the means testing of the grants. The I-C-S-A says it’s worried such changes could result in children

The Donegal IFA has said the farming community will not tolerate any changes which would result in children from low income farm families being excluded from third level grants. There are concerns that productive assets, such as farmland, will be included in the assessment of third level maintenance grants. Farmers claim the existing system already

Donegal looks set to be bathed in wall-to-wall sunshine for the rest of this week, sending temperatures soaring. Forecasts for the next few days are for bright, sunny skies with barely a cloud in sight. And temperatures are set to reach the mid 20’s on Friday. But sun-lovers should make the most of the warm

The bellboy at Legends Hotel who disappeared from Mauritius before he could give evidence at Michaela McAreavey’s murder trial has returned to the island to speak with detectives involved in the new probe into her death. Police were under pressure to speak with Rajiv Bhujun, who was with her husband John McAreavey when he discovered

There has been a significant spike in the number of people on trolleys at Letterkenny General Hospital. Figures compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show 8 people on trolleys at the hospital this morning either awaiting or being treated. The figures of late have generally shown few if any on the trolleys at

The Government has announced grants totalling just over 110,000 euro for Donegals islands today. 81,000 euro will be sanctioned by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, while Donegal County Council will sanction the rest of the grant. The money will be spent on improvement works on Arranmore and Tory Islands on various facilities

Plans for Strabane’s first pedestrian bridge looks to be back on following an £873,000 cash boost from Stormont’s Regional Development Department. Minister Danny Kennedy announced this morning that Strabane had been successful in securing the money from the Active Travel Demonstration Fund. The move has been warmly welcomed and almost certainly guarantees that the long-talked

Donegal County Council says it expects to raise 4 million euro this year from the holiday home tax. If that figure is realised, it would bring the total yield through the tax in Donegal to 12 million euro. The Non Private Principle Residence charge was first introduced in 2009. In a statement Donegal County Council

Traders are angry after Environment Minister Alex Attwood further postponed an announcement of seven major planning applications in Derry, originally due at the end of June. The applications include several major retail developments and at least one hotel, with developers keen for a decision in time to be ready for City of Culture year 2013.

A Donegal Deputy says the loss of a bus service from Donegal to Dublin for sick patients must be blamed on the Health Minister and not the HSE. The Marley’s bus for seriously ill Donegal patients to Dublin hospitals was discontinued last month. Pádraig Mac Lochlainn says that while the HSE made the decision to

The National Housing Construction Index has shown the continued drop in construction activity in Donegal, but shows a marginal increase in Donegal Planning Applications. The research shows that from January to June 2012, 615 planning applications were submitted in Donegal. This compared to 575 in 2011 resulting in a marginal increase of 2%. Donegal was

Police are appealing for information following an indecent assault that occurred in Derry City Centre on Sunday morning last. Sometime between 2.30am and 3am, a 22 yr-old woman was walking along Magazine Street when she was grabbed by a male and assaulted. The woman managed to break free and run off. The male is described

Derry City Council has been accused of “dragging its heels” in responding to a five point plan presented to it by the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Traders Association in April. The plan lays out ideas of how to regenerate Derry city centre and includes a relaxation of planning regulations to enable faster decisions and the

A West Tyrone MLA says the people she represents do not want new road signs along the border which read  ‘Welcome to Northern Ireland’ The Lifford to Strabane road is one of eight border locations earmarked for the erection of the “Welcome to Northern Ireland” signs. The roads service says the signs remind drivers they

A 15-year-old Glenvar boy, who had been reported missing, has been returned home safely. Ciaron McLuaghlin left his home in the early hours of Sunday morning with a Chelsea sports bag. Gardai in Milford had issued a statement on Sunday for information, after the boy went missing. But Gardai said today that the boy had

A District Judge at Derry Magistrate’s Court today granted anonymity to three men accused of possessing £150,000 worth of cannabis due to what he described as the threat from ‘certain criminal elements.’ District Judge Barney McElholm cleared the court before the case involving the three men from the city began. He cited judgements in the

A man in his 70’s has died in a road traffic collision The incident occurred just after midnight on Monday when his car veered off the road and into a field at Meenmore, Fintown. His body has been removed to Letterkenny Hospital for a post mortem examination. Forensic collision investigators are due on the scene and

Gardaí in Milford have issued an appeal for information about a 15-year-old boy who has been missing from Glenvar since yesterday. Ciaron McLuaghlin was left his home in the early hours of this morning with a Chelsea sports bag. He is described as being 5’5 in height, with blonde hair and blue eyes. When last

SDLP Omagh councillor Seamus Shields has died after a long illness, the party’s leader has confirmed. The 65-year-old, who represented the Mid-Tyrone ward, was a retired primary school principal who later qualified in 2007 and practiced as a solicitor. Mr Shields was a councillor for 23 years and also served on the board of the

Three men have been charged with drugs offences after being arrested in the Blackthorn area of Derry on Friday. Two men, aged 21 and 44, are charged with supplying cannabis, possessing it and possession with intent to supply. They have also charged a 30-year-old man with possession of cannabis, possession with intent to supply and

A 65 year-old fisherman is recovering in hospital having been rescued from the sea on Saturday afternoon. The man was fishing alone between Malin Head and Glengad when his boat sank. Wearing a life jacket and with a radio, the man became stranded on rocks before making a mayday call. Malin Head Coastguard tasked the Greencaste Coastguard

Sinn Féin have launched a campaign aimed at getting Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to introduce relatively simple measures that would reduce the cost of sending a child to school. Two surveys earlier this week – by Barnardos and the National Consumer Agency – have indicated that stretched household incomes are making it increasingly difficult to

A Donegal Deputy has called for the retention of Malin Head Coastguard, especially in the wake of what happened this week. Six people were saved earlier this week after the got into difficulty at Tramore Strand close to Rosbeg, the rescue was co-ordinated by the Malin Head Coastguard. And they were also called out to

A 31-year-old man has been charged with attempting to smuggle cannabis with an estimated street value of £3,000 into the UK via City of Derry Airport. The man, who is originally from Portugal but currently lives in County Tyrone, was detained after he got off a flight from Faro to Derry on Thursday. He was

Donegal County Council has again stated that the high volume of non-payment of the Household Charge will effect spending on core services within the county. The Government confirmed this week that the council could have its funding cut by 4 million euro in September if the level of compliance in paying the household charge remains

A County Councillor, who has been critical of  RTE’s coverage of County Donegal, says he is not surprised the state broadcaster opted to screen Dublin versus Laois in the All-Ireland over Donegal versus Kerry. The TV rights are shared by RTE and TV3 – RTE had the first choice of games for the All Ireland

Irish Water Safety has paid tribute to the heroic efforts of those who saved the lives of 6 people who got in to difficulty in the sea off Donegal yesterday. Four children were body boarding at Tramore strand close to Rosbeg when they were caught in a current – two lifeguards also got into difficulty.

The latest unemployment figures for July show a month on month increase on those signing on the live register in Donegal. There were 23,223 on the register last month an increase of 307 on the previous month. Year on year there was a fall of 761 but many people put that down to emigration due

343 complaints over the last five years have been made to Donegal County Council by people living in local authority owned estates or properties. The complaints cover a range of matters such as dogs, late night parties, children’s behaviour, graffiti and backyard burning. The council has 25 applications for transfer where anti-social behaviour is seen

An Bord Pleanala has rejected plans for the development of St Eunan’s college in Letterkenny, upholding an objection lodged by a local residents association. The plans included the demolition of the1979 annexe to the rear of the school and the existing gymnasium to be replaced by a new 900 pupil school building on three floors

Frost, Rain and Blight experienced this year so far is putting increasing pressure on Donegal’s potato farmers. That is according the IFA which says  the poor conditions will inevitably drive up the price of the product to the consumer. The Irish Farmers Association was responding to media claims that Donegal potato farmers are damaging their

The Department of the Environment is seeking an independent planning expert to examine its internal review of alleged planning irregularities published last June. The review of complaints about planning in seven local authority areas found “deficiencies” but no evidence of corruption or abuse of public office by officials. The internal review was criticised as a

Three teenagers from Donegal last night received leadership certificates during a gala ceremony in Dublin. Michael McGlynn, Laura Knox and Shaun McMenamin where among a group of nine from the Northwest that took part in the 4th Annual Foróige Albert Schweitzer Leadership for Life Conference which was attended by 270 young delegates from around the

The salmon fishing season on two Donegal rivers has been extended due to poor weather and floods. In a statement released today, it was announced the annual closed season for salmon and sea trout using a draft net, which came into operation yesterday, is to be extended until midnight on the 14th August in a

A 47-year-old man has been described as a hero after six children were rescued off the coast of Donegal today. The man, who is an uncle of some of the children, helped five of the group to safety. He himself was then taken to Letterkenny General Hospital as a precaution. The children were believed to

An emergency meeting of Bundoran Town Council was held this afternoon in response to AIB’s announcement last week that it is to close its branch in the town. Bundoran is one of 8 of the banks branches in Donegal which are set to close before the end of next year. Following other meetings in the

Staff at Donegal VEC have expressed their shock and sorrow following the news that acting CEO Mary Ann Kane passed away earlier today. Mary Ann Kane lost her battle against illness, leaving those who knew her shocked and saddened. The Administration Offices of Donegal VEC in Letterkenny will be closed tomorrow as a mark of

Emergency services were called to assist a group of children that got into difficulty off the coast of Portnoo in Donegal in the last hour. The coastguard lifeboat and helicopter were alerted to the incident near Loughros Point just before 3 o’clock this afternoon. According to Arranmore RNLI, three of the children got into diffculty

The Irish Farmers Association in Donegal are denying that potatoes are being sold for more than they should be. It’s been claimed today that a bag of potatoes weighing 7lbs cost 5 euro, that’s at least 2 euro more than the same bag could be bought for in most shops. It was also claimed that

An inquest into the death of Donegal born journalist Eugene Moloney has been put back until the conclusion of a criminal trial. The 55 year old received a blow to the head while walking home on Camden Street in Dublin city centre in the early hours of the morning on June 24th. Dublin City Coroner

A polish woman living in Donegal has described a Judge’s comments as a generalisation and unfair. It comes after Judge Mary Devins compared the social welfare system to a charity for Polish people, at Castlebar District Court last Friday. In a statement last night, she apologised for the remarks, saying they were intended to be

Gardai are searching for two six-ft men who mugged a local on a cliff-top walk in Bundoran. The victim, aged 20, was attacked in broad daylight as he patrolled a popular walk alone in the west end of the town. Gardai said he was threatened, then viciously assaulted and forced to produce his wallet and

Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has called on the Health Minister James Reilly to justify a HSE taxi bill of over €28 million last year, while axing a bus for Donegal patients that cost less than €100,000. The HSE confirmed a 10% increase in taxi costs in 2011. The bill for staff taxis alone was

Donegal County Council is preparing to tender for legal services after the issue was highlighted by the auditor who examined the authority’s accounts for last year. No major problems were uncovered, but a number of issues of concern were raised by the auditor. According to the audit, retrospective approval was received for approximately 21,000 purchase

As parents scrimp together the costs of getting their children back to school there is a warning that the bills will keep coming throughout the year. Two surveys this week – by Barnardos and the National Consumer Agency –  have indicated that stretched household incomes are making it increasingly difficult to meet the costs of

A circus scrapped its appearance in a seaside town last night(Wed) because it couldn’t get council permission to use an emergency site. Courtney Circus sought permission to use Bundoran town centre car park when a sodden field which was pre-booked proved unsuitable for crowd safety. Circus bosses hoped they would be given a seafront car-park