Author name: oisinkelly

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar made an unannounced visit to Malin Head Coastguard Station during a visit to Donegal yesterday. After addressing the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Mr Varadkar travelled to Inishowen with Deputy Joe Mc Hugh. Once again, the fututre of the coastguard station is in doubt after the publication of a consultants’ report […]

Independent TD Thomas Pringle has said he is “extremely pleased” that the Supreme Court has today decided to refer three questions to the European Court of Justice on the validity of the ESM Treaty. Pringle had argued the ESM treaty, which provides for a 500 billion euro permanent eurozone rescue fund, breaches the Irish Constitution,

A District Judge has said he will consider granting anonymity orders in drugs cases. District Judge Barney McElholm made the comment during a preliminary enquiry by 41-year-old Daniel Gerald Doherty at Derry Magistrate’s Court this morning. Doherty, of Liscannor Park, is charged with possession of Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply

A senior Government Minister says he plans to spend his summer holidays learning Irish. The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says he’s hopes to spend some time in the Gaeltacht in Donegal next month. He says he’s doing it so that he’ll be able to do more media interviews and debates as gaelige in the future…

More than 82-thousand people, under the age of 25 were unemployed in Ireland in April of last year, with Donegal having the second highest level of youth unemployment in the state. Youth unemployment in the county was 49%, just 1% less than Limerick City. That’s according to figures published from the 2011 Census. The wholesale

It’s been confirmed that the Permanent TSB branch in Donegal Town is one of 16 which will close over the next four years as part of a major restructuring programme. Elsewhere, four branches will close in Dublin, four in Cork and three in Tipperary. Branches will also close in Kildare, Wexford, Mayo and Waterford. The

The HSE has confirmed that officials are exploring cross border options for service delivery at Lifford Community Hospital. It emerged yesterday that a consultation process on the future of the hospital which was to have begun this week has been deferred. In a statement to Highland Radio News today, the HSE says while this work

A new initiative aimed at increasing accessibility for people in Donegal and Tyrone is being launched in Strabane this morning. The “Change a Little, Change a Lot” programme encourages businesses and comm unity organisations to make small changes in their premises to allow easier access to their premises by people with a disability. Supports will

A fresh investigation into the murder of Michaela Mc Areavey is underway in Mauritius Police on the island have begun DNA testing of hotel staff working on the day of the murder 18 months ago. Detectives are at the former Legends hotel today to collect samples from 216 employees. These will be compared with traces

A juvenile has been arrested in Derry in connection with in Moss Park off the Glengalliagh Road last weekend. There were several reports of incidents in the area from Thursday to Saturday last week. The boy, whose age hasn’t been disclosed, was arrested by the PSNI last night.

Donegal farmers who have been battling against poor summer weather conditions got some positive news yesterday. The European Commission has agreed to bring forward 50 per cent of the annual payment to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy. However, local IFA Chairman PJ Mc Monagle says the announcement falls short of the 70% advance which

A 24-year-old man with no previous convictions appeared under the influence of drugs when he appeared before Judge Paul Kelly at Glenties District Court yesterday. Shane McDonnell admitted theft, public order offences and drugs possession and the court was told he was addicted to cannabis and alcohol. Judge Kelly, who expressed concern about McDonnell’s condition

Enivronment Minister Phil Hogan has confirmed he’s to cut the number of councils and councillors under local government reforms. Speaking at the Macgill Summer School in Glenties yesterday evening the Minister said the property tax, and other reforms, will go ahead. Details of local government reforms were due to be agreed at this weeks cabinet

The Environment Minister Phil Hogan has confirmed that the revenue commission will be responsible for collecting the new property tax when it comes in to force. Speaking at the Magill summer school this evening, he said the plan all along was for revenue to take over the tax – and he’s denied he’s passing on

A man in his 20s has been arrested in Derry. He is being questioned by police investigating the vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs. The man has been taken to the serious crime suite in Antrim. It is understood the arrest is linked to a police operation in Creggan, Derry, on 12 July, when several

A judge has refused to allow a Derry man accused of rioting to return to live at his home which is close to the scene of the disturbances. 43-year-old Seamus Bradley, from Moss Park, is charged with riotous behaviour, assaulting and resisting police and attempted criminal damage. Mr Justice Weir said he had seen TV

Donegal County Council says it has received no reports of people calling to houses in Donegal seeking to collect the household charge. It’s been alleged by the Can’t Pay Won’t Pay campaign that a number of homes in the west of the county have been called to by people claiming to be from the council.

A Donegal man is hitting out at the agency that collects the Household Charge after he mistakenly paid the tax and didn’t recieve a refund. Darren from Carrigans paid the charge in March, but he found out a few days later that he shouldn’t of paid the charge, as the estate that he lives in

City of Derry Airport’s website is now live and fully functional after it went offline  last evening. Flights were not affected while the website was down, and the airport is  apologising for again for any inconvenience.  

There may be a glimmer of hope for the future of Lifford Hospital following the issuing of a memo yesterday by a senior HSE official in Donegal. John Hayes, Head of Acute Services has issued a memo deferring the consultation on the future of the Hospital pending exploration of potential cross border options and a

A Donegal woman has claimed before the High Court that she was raped in the home of a US embassy official here more than 35 years ago after a drug was put into her drink in the embassy bar. 60 year-old Ailish Nic Phaidín has sued the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the State arising

A warning has been issued after reports that a number of homes have been visited in West Donegal by people who are claiming they are collecting the Household Charge on behalf of the council. Donegal County Council has already issued a warning stating they will not be calling at people’s homes to collect the charge.

The North’s Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has turned the first sod at the site of a new Innovation Growth Centre at Omagh Enterprise Company. The new facility has the potential to create around 200 new jobs, as part of the Irish Central Border Areas Network’s Innovation Enterprise Programme. It’s intended that the new centre will

Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin has told the MacGill Summer School that if the Constitutional Convention does not discuss issues of substantive reform, it will be a missed opportunity. He said there is simply no doubt that the Irish political system failed in recent years, and our political system, as set out in the Constitution,

The Government’s accepted the report of the Dáil electoral boundary commission. It’ll cut the number of TDs from 166 to 158 at the next election. The Cabinet today gave permission to Environment Minister Phil Hogan to draft legislation to give effect to the changes. As a result Donegal’s two constituencies will be merged in to

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Doctor Diarmuid Martin has called for new investigations into abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. He’s told the MacGill Summer School in Glenties there should be research-based investigations – to shed light on what happened in the Magdalene Laundries, and in some mother and baby homes. Archbishop Martin says that

Video has been released of the helicopter rescue of  Coastal Cancer Challenge Eventer who collapsed with exhaustion after Climbing Muckish at the weekend. Donegal Mountain Rescue Team tended the casualty and were then assisted by Marshalls to bring the casualty down by stretcher through a steep section. The Team were then concerned that the casualties

The Irish Cancer Society has said at least €200,000 of the money raised during Relay for Life in May will be spent in Donegal. The event in the grounds of LYIT saw over 400 cancer survivors joined by thousands of others in what is believed to have been the biggest ever Relay for Life event

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty has welcomed the arrest of senior executives of Anglo Irish Bank. The Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson said these arrests and charges were a long time coming. And Deputy Doherty said that three and a half years has been too long of an investigation….

The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Sean Fitzpatrick has appeared in court following his arrest at Dublin airport this morning. The 64 year old of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow has been charged with 16 offences as part of an investigation into fraud at the bank. Dressed in chinos, loafers a navy jacket, blue

It’s emerged that a man shot in both legs in a gun attack in Derry on Sunday night was a prominent dissident republican. The man has been named locally as Jimmy Deery, a leading member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committeee movement. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Mr Deery was shot by members from within

Sean Fitzpatrick, the former chief executive of Anglo Irish Bank has been arrested in Dublin this morning as part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at a financial institution. He was detained by Gardai attached to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. It’s part of an ongoing investigation by Gardai from the

A recovering alcoholic who tried to force his partner to drink vodka from a bottle and then raped her at a house they shared in Donegal will be sentenced next week. He pleaded guilty to rape, aggravated sexual assault and assault, on August 17, 2008. Garda Claire O’Hara told the Central Criminal Court that the

The Minister of State for Small Business has launched the Donegal Food Strategy which has the ultimate aim of promoting Donegal as a food producer and exporter on the Island of Ireland. Launched last evening at Glenveagh Caste, the stratedy sets out a road map for creating more food businesses as well as improving profitability

A Donegal judge has said that four penalty points for a few kilometres over the speed limit would be disproportionate punishment. Judge Kevin Kilrane permitted two defendants who were travelling at 109 and 111 kilometres per hour at the same 100 km/h Road Safety Authority checkpoint to make charity payments of €100 each to the

The former PD leader and Tánaiste Michael McDowell says the government’s proposal to abolish the Seanad is nothing more than a gimmick. He told the MacGill Summer School in Glenties last night that scrapping the Seanad would amount to the mutilation of the constitution. Mr McDowell said he believes the government’s proposal will fail……….. Earlier,

The Taoiseach says the government intends to press ahead with a referendum to abolish the Seanad – despite the objection of six former members. Prominent former Senators from across the political spectrum today launched a campaign to save the Seanad from abolition. Enda Kenny was speaking this (Monday) evening at the MacGill Summer School in

A Snowy Owl has made its home on Arranmore, for the time being at least. A Highland Radio Listener spotted the creature last week far away from its normal home in the Arctic. It is the second time a Snowy Owl has made Arranmore its home. Experts say, if not disturbed by humans, the bird

Two men are due in court this afternoon, as part of an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at Anglo Irish Bank. The former Anglo Irish Bank Director Willie McAteer, who’s 56 and originally from Rathmullan, was detained this morning – whilst a second man – who’s also in his 50s – has also been arrested.

At the MacGill Summer School, a Fianna Fail Senator has called for new rules to allow for TDs  to be disqualified from office for ethical breaches. Senator Averil Power was speaking earlier in Glenties. She says all newly elected TDs and Senators should be made to sign up to an ethical code of conduct which

New figures show a decline in young Irish people heading off to the Gaeltacht during their summer holidays. Nationally, less than 24 thousand children are attending Gaeltacht courses this summer, compared to 28 thousand in 2008. The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is confirming that there’s been a continuous decline in the numbers

Town councillors in Donegal will be awaiting news from tomorrows cabinet meeting, the last before the summer break. Proposals to abolish a number of town councils will be discussed during the meeting, although it will be the autumn at the earliest before anything can be done. Last year, Environment Minister Phil Hogan indicated that smaller

This is the 32nd year of the MacGill Summer School, exploring the theme Reforming and Rebuilding the Republic. Tonight, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will address the event, this morning and this afternoon, the background to the Mahon and Moriarty Tribunals will come under the spotlight. The Director of the school is Dr Joe Mulholland. Speaking on

A 20 year old man is due in court in Enniskillen today charged in relation to an incident in Strabane on Saturday morning. He’s been charged with arson with intent to endanger life following a fire in the Springhill Park area. A family of three inside the house managed to escape after they were alerted