Author name: oisinkelly

Motorists are being warned that the price of petrol is expected to hit an all-time high next week. According to AA Ireland, the cost of a litre of petrol will increase on average to 1 euro 70, while diesel will rise to 1 euro 60 per litre. These figures are a national average – prices […]

National Heritage Week  kicks off for a week today with Donegal set to host the fourth highest number of events in the country Between now and next Sunday over 90 events will take place across Donegal most of which are free. Only Dublin, Cork and Galway have more. Organisers say there is something for everyone

A Donegal County Councillor is looking for a seat on the new board of Udarus NaGaeltachta having applied for a position via a government jobs website. Councillor David Alcorn is a member of the current elected board which is being replaced by a board appointed by the government. Having already served over two decades, Councillor

The Irish Farmers Association is calling on the government to introduce a number of measures to ease the losses incurred by Donegal’s Shelfish Farmers as a result of Algae Bloom. The bloom is now leaving Donegal’ shores – last month it lead to losses at a number of Donegal farms while two beaches in the

Letterkenny Live 2012 gets underway tomorrow (Saturday) with organisers expecting it to be the biggest and best so far. There are concerts on the festival gig rig at Oliver Plunkett Road on Saturday and Sunday nights. Bressie, Aslan and the Kanyu tree play Saturday while Sunday is Country Night with Susan McCann, Hugo and Off

A Derry Councillor says parents of youths found to have caused criminal damage should be forced to pay for it. Sinn Fein’s Tony Hasson says an increase in anti-social behaviour, vandalism and crime committed by young people in Derry is hard to explain. However he says that a major deterrent would be to hit parents

A Donegal Deputy has expressed deep concern that drastic cuts to frontline health services in Donegal are being secretly planned to tackle the budget crisis in the health service. The HSE overspend was €280m at the end of May and is expected to hit over €500m at the end of year. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says

The police are to re-examine the death of a Strabane teenager whose body was found in the River Mourne 36 years ago. Denise O’Donnell was 19 when she died. Her family have always believed that there was foul play. Karina Breslin-Carlins oldest sister was good friends with Denise and she says the news brought the

Transplant Team Ireland are flying out to Croatia today for the 7th European Transplant and Dialysis Games. Ireland will have the biggest team at the Games which will involve over 300 athletes from 28 countries throughout Europe. The Irish team of 26, ranging in age from 18 to 70-plus, includes 17 men and 9 women,

Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has labelled changes to the appointment process for Údarás na Gaeltachta as nothing more than ‘Jobs for the Boys’. Senator Ó Domhnaill confirmed that he has not sought a nomination to the new board of Údarás na Gaeltachta after democratic elections to the board was ended this year in favour

Police in Derry are appealing for information following the report of a suspicious approach in the Sheelin Park area on yesterday afternoon. It’s been claimed that at approximately 2.50pm, a white van with three men on board approached an 8 year old girl. One man from the van approached the girl and grabbed her arm

Two teenagers who were told they would be shot if they did not leave Derry have fled the city. It has emerged the 19 year olds were told to be out of Derry by 11 o clock last night. The threat was issued by two armed and masked men late on Tuesday night when they

A series of public meetings will take place in Donegal next month to promote the Gathering Ireland 2013, and allow people put forward their ideas for Gatherings they would like to be involved in. The meetings will take place in Letterkenny, Buncrana, Dungloe, Ballybofey and Donegal Town The organisers say organising a Gathering event can

Street lights may need to be switched off – and community-run sports clubs will no longer exist – if people don’t comply with the household charge. That’s the warning from the CEO of the Local Government Management Agency, Paul McSweeney. Many county and city councils around the country say they will struggle to provide local

The Gaeltacht Minister is urging people interested in being appointed to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta to express that interest before tomorrow evenings deadline. Elections to the board have been scrapped – the government will now appoint seven members from the applications which have been received. The Chairperson will also be appointed by government.

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an attempted armed robbery at business premises in the Blucher Street area of Derry last evening. Shortly after 5.40pm a man, carrying a baton entered the premises and demanded money from a member of staff. The man smashed a number of television screens in the premises before

A number of August 15th bonfires went ahead last night in Derry, but no incidents have been reported. There were fires in Creggan and Gobnascale, as well as Galliagh, where a three day festival began on Monday in a bid to stop the fire. Earlier efforts to remove bonfire materials in the Galliagh area led

Fianna Fáil is calling for the reinstatement of a full time Citizen’s Advice Service in Buncrana. The service has recently been reduced from a five day week full time service to a one/two day a week service causing significant difficulties for people in the area needing advice on their payments and entitlements. Deputy Charlie McConalogue

Alcohol Action Ireland is asking those who got their leaving cert results today to celebrate responsibility. Around 56,000 students received their results today and a number of events will be held in pubs and nightclubs across the country. Drinkaware-dot-ie is appealing for greater vigilance in the sale of alcohol to young people. And Fiona Ryan

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education and Skills Charlie McConalogue has called on the Government to ensure there is sufficient third level places for Leaving Cert students. The Donegal Deputy has expressed concern that a potential significant increase in points across a number of courses, particularly such as science and technology , will increased competition for

The sister of a missing County Tyrone teenager has said she has lost faith in the ability of the police to investigate her disappearance. Arlene Arkinson is presumed murdered, and has been missing since August 1994. The 15-year-old disappeared after going to a disco in Bundoran and was last seen getting into a blue Mini

Donegal County Council has confirmed this afternoon that more non domestic water disconnections have taken place in recent weeks. The council has been adopting a get tough policy, with officials saying that will continue for the rest of the year. 12 disconnections have taken place to date, and in a statement this afternoon, the council

The Adult Education Officer with Donegal VEC says 22 people did the Leaving Cert through their office this year, with some very positive results. Martin Gormley says there is an increase in the numbers of people contemplating going back to education as a result of the economic situation, and he’s advising those who are interested

The decision of the European Commission to approve changes prepared by the Department of Agriculture under the 2012 Disadvantaged Area Scheme has been described as most disappointing by Independent MEP Marian Harkin. Ms Harkin is calling for the new requirements for payments under the DAS to be interpreted in the most flexible way by the

It has been conformed that the Council has finalised land negotiations and works on the Trusk Road Footpath are due to commence shortly. The news will be welcomed by pedestrians and motorists who use the stretch of road, in particular the residents of the Weavers Estate who have been waiting for this footpath for 10

Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill claims the Government’ review of the Domiciliary Care Allowance has again targeted the families most in need of assistance. The Government instigated a review of the DCA towards the end of last year, which resulted in over half of the children with autism and severe intellectual disabilities losing their payments

55,815 people, the vast majority of them secondary school students, receive their Leaving Cert results today, just under 2,000 less than last year. A total of 2,046 people sat the Leaving Cert exams in Donegal in June – that is around 10% less than last year. Last year more females than males sat the exam

A salvage operation is being planned after a truck carrying building materials went into the sea off Owey Island pier yesterday afternoon. It had been previously reported that the building materials were for a home owned by Daniel and Majella O’Donnell – but Dan Gallagher, who is renovating a property on the island, says the

The holders of the  two winning tickets for the Lotto Plus 2 draw from last Saturday each collected their separate prizes of €250,000 in Dublin today. Pat O’Hagan from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, a retired Post Office worker, said he was ‘delighted’ to collect his Lotto Plus 2 prize of €250,000 today. He bought his ticket

It was a happy afternoon in National Lottery offices today when the holders of the two winning tickets for the Lotto Plus 2 draw from last Saturday (11 August 2012) each collected their separate prizes of €250,000. Pat O’Hagan from Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, a retired Post Office worker, said he was ‘delighted’ to collect his

North West MEP Jim Higgins fears the refusal of the Garda Commissioner to give the AG in the North access to a report into the death of Donegal woman Sinead Mc Daid may have an impact on cross border cooperation, and set a worrying precedent. Speaking to Highland Radio News today, Jim Higgins said the

It is being suggested that a lack of communication from the Ireland manager with Shay Given may have accelerated his decision to quit international soccer. With a glittering career for Ireland behind him, Shay Given took the unusual step of announcing he was quitting international football via twitter. The 36-year-old Lifford man, who won 125

North West MEP Jim Higgins says a decision by the Garda Commissioner not to facilitate a new inquest into the death of a 22 year old Donegal woman in 2001 is “bizarre and illogical”. The Attorney General in the North is being asked to open a fresh inquest into the death of Sinead Mc Daid

Ireland’s most capped player, Shay Given has announced his decision to retireme from international football. The 36-year-old won 125 caps for his country over a 16-year career. The Lifford man described it as “a most difficult decision” but has told the FAI that he would be willing to come out of retirement to help his

A Donegal Sinn Fein Councillor says Environment Minister Phil Hogan must rethink the cutting of Donegal County Council’s share of the Local Government Fund to reflect the low level of Household Charge compliance. Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher says a comparison of the compliance figures with the CSO’s annual disposable income statistics show that the higher

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is seeking expressions of interest from people interested in being appointed to the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. The deadline for applications is Friday next, the 17th of August. There has been strong opposition in Donegal to thje changes. Elections to the board have been scrapped, with

There were 13 arrests in Derry over the weekend in relation to public order offences in the city during and after the August Apprentice Boys Parade. Petrol bombs were thrown in the Bogside last night and on Saturday, but no major incidents have been reported and the parade passed off peacefully. Six juvenilles have been

The manager of the Irish athletics team says he believes sprinter Usain Bolt is coming to Donegal. Patsy Mc Gonagle was speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty from Heathrow Airport as the team preares to return home. Inevitably, the issue of a Bolt visit arose after Highland Radio’s Sunday Sports programme got to speak with the

A man’s been arrested and charged after two men were hit by a car in Portnoo in the early hours of yesterday morning. The incident happened at 3am, when the car mounted a ditch, hitting the two men. Both men were brought to hospital with minor injuries, one was discharged yesterday morning, the other earlier

A Derry Councillor says the Culmore area needs investment to tackle antisocial behaviour in the area, with all community facilities being concentrated on Inner Shantallow, and Culmore being left out of the loop. It follows a weekend arson attack which saw a 70 year old hut at the Lough Foyle Yacht Club set alight. Last

Ten petrol bombs were thrown in the Bogside area of Derry last night with children as young as seven reported to be present in the area at the time. There were a total of ten arrests in Derry over the weekend after the annual Apprentice Boys August parade passed off without major incident on Saturday.

There’s been another incident of crime in the Newtowncunningham area, this time in a Chinese Takeaway. At around 8.20 last night, it’s reported two men in their late 20s arrived at the City Chinese takeaway with their faces partially covered, one remained in the vehicle whilst the other entered the takeaway armed with an knife

Four men have been arrested after petrol bombs were thrown in Co. Derry. It happened last night in the Bogside and Lecky road area. The trouble came after the annual Apprentice Boys Parade in the city, which had passed off without major incident earlier in the day. There were 6 arrests, five males and one

The Divisional Controller at Malin head Marine Rescue Centre says he’s hopeful that when determining the future of the base, Transport Minister Leo Varadkar will bear in mind successes such as yesterday’s rescue on Lough Swilly. A man who was swept out to sea from Five Fingers Strand was brought on board the Lougn Swilly

The cost of medicine in the north versus the south is back in the spotlight again with claims that private patients in Donegal and other Border counties are crossing to buy their prescription drugs much cheaper. It is estimated that heart patients who don’t have medical cards can save up to €80 on a month’s

The annual Apprentice Boys of Derry parade will take place today, with significant traffic disruptions possible. Police say this is the largest loyal order parade in Northern Ireland with 15,000 people and 140 bands expected this year. Diversions will be put in place from around 10.30am in various points around the city centre, and traffic

Police in Derry are appealing for information following a suspicious approach made to a 10 year old girl in the Ballymagroarty area last night, Thursday 9th August. Sometime between 9.30pm and 10pm, as the girl was playing in a green area behind Ennis Place in the vicinity of the Community Centre she was approached by