Author name: oisinkelly

A new strategic partnership has been formed between Letterkenny Institute of Technology and the ITs in Galway-Mayo and Sligo. The three colleges will begin working on joint projects in September, and will also consider how to achieve the status of a  Technological University for the Connaught Ulster region within five years. The formal signing of […]

It’s emerged that one of two Donegal student pilots currently in Limbo in the US paid a five figure sum in fees to the Waterford based Pilot Training College just three weeks before training was suspended because of contractual issues with its partner college in Florida. The two Donegal students are among 80 who are

Letterkenny Town Council has been told that while the policy in the town and the county is to encourage the formation of residents associations with a view towards resolving issues, the experience at The Fairways on the outskirts of Letterkenny suggests otherwise. There have been long standing problems with sewage infrastructure, with the County Council

Donegal County Council says it is monitoring the Algae Bloom which is effecting Donegal’s coast and will advice the public if and when it believes any action is necessary. Most of the west coast of the country is effected by the naturally occurring bloom but, according to the Marine Institute, the problem is worse off

Eist agus cuidiú has announced that all of it workers are to be redundant and that the company is going out of business. ‘Eist agus Cuidiú’ was established in August of last year as a financial services call centre which offered help to people to get out of financial trouble through debt management. It employed

The North’s Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Michelle O’Neill visited Arranmore Island today for talks with local fishermen. Minister O’Neill was accompanied by a number of local Sinn Fein politicians including Deputy Pearse Doherty. Fishermen on the island say they were impressed by the minister’s understanding of the issues facing island fishermen, many of which are

A cross border manhunt is underway following a post office robbery in Derry. At around half past ten this morning, two armed and masked men entered the sub post office on the Culmore Road and threatened staff, before making off towards the border in a car which had earlier been hijacked. Local councillor Angela Dobbins

The judge who ordered a €2.50 drinks price minimum in a seaside resort clubs was today told that one club breached the spirit of his ruling by not charging for mixers with shorts. Garda Supt Leo McGinn told Judge Kevin Kilrane that there was an attempt to circumvent what he believed was the “spin” of

Letterkenny is to be included in the ban on smoky coal from next year. The ban – which prevents the sale and distribution of smoky coal in certain areas – is to be extended to all of Dublin county and added to 7 towns across the country. Minister Phil Hogan says Letterkenny will be included

327 new residential and commercial buildings were recorded in Donegal for the first six months of 2012, according to new figures released today by GeoDirectory. The figures represent a year-on-year decrease of 41% compared to the same period in 2011 when 557 new buildings were added in the county. The 327 new buildings identified in

A campaign has been launched encouraging the public to report racist and sectarian incidents they may encounter. The scheme is independent and confidential and aims to support people who have witnessed or experienced a racist or sectarian incident. Dr. Karin White, Cultural Diversity Officer with Donegal County Council, says there is a problem with racism

The Can’t Pay Won’t Pay group has produced a number of reminder letters sent out to home owners in Donegal warning them to pay the household Charge despite them having already paid it. Member of the group, Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, says this shows the lack of proper organisation by the government and Donegal

The High Court has refused to restrain the government from ratifying the European Stability Mechanism Treaty. Ratification is imminent following a challenge by independent TD Thomas Pringle who argued the ESM treaty, which provides for a 500 billion euro permanent eurozone rescue fund, breaches the Irish Constitution, EU treaties and EU law. While Ms Justice

Circuit Court appeals for Donegal cases due to be heard in the High Court today have been moved to Castlebar, a decision which is being questioned by Senator Jimmy Harte. He says he’s been contacted by legal representative and clients who cannot understand why they must travel to Castllebar to have their cases heard by

The Campaign Group Cooperating for Cancer Care North West says Letterkenny General Hospital is on track to be approved as a colorectal cancer screening centre. After a delegation met with hospital management, the group says targets on waiting lists can be met. However, the group says some capital investment will be necessary, and they are

A new survey shows disposable income in households around the country has dropped again. The latest edition of the ‘What’s Left’ tracker from the Irish League of Credit Unions shows 1.8 million people have 100 euro or less each month after their bills are paid. Over half a million people have no disposable income left

Trial lawyers for the two defendants in the Michaela McAreavey murder are due to make their closing statements in Mauritius today. The prosecuting cousel delivered his final submission on Friday. The nine members of the jury are expected to begin their deliberations on Thursday after they have been addressed by the presiding judge. Two hotel

The Director of the Earagail Arts Festival has described Rockhill House as an unrecognised gem. Paul Brown was speaking as the first two days of the 24th festival were based in the grounds of Rockhill House, which recently passed into the ownership of Donegal County Council, along with the former army base in Lifford. Paul

Police in Derry are investigating an arson attack at an electricity sub station in the Daisyfield Park area at around twenty past nine on Friday evening last. The blaze caused substantial damage to the sub station and affected electrical supply to parts of the city for a period of time. Fire service and police personnel

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an arson attack at a house in the Cuthbert Street area in the early hours of yesterday morning. At around 4.50am, it was reported that a wheelie bin had been pushed against the front door of a house and set alight. Rubbish had been placed at the

The North West Alcohol Forum has welcomed yesterday’s decision by a judge to impose a minimum unit price for alcohol to end an ongoing drinks price war in Bundoran. Two night clubs, Paris and Jumpin Jacks owned by rival cousins in the town, have seen shots sold in one for as little as 50 cent

An analysis of crime figures published today suggests that the Donegal Garda Division is one of the counties in which you are least likely to be the victim of muder, mugging or burglary. However, the county is in the top five for both physical assault and rape and sexual assault. The figures were compiled by

Thousands of Orange Order members are travelling to Rossknowlagh today for the annual Orange Parade, the first major event on the Orange calendar since this week’s groundbreaking Seanad address by Grand Secretary Drew Nelson. Mr Nelson said this week the order would like to march in Dublin, but for now, the annual Rossknowlagh march remains

The 24th Earagail Arts Festival kicks off today and runs until the 22nd of July. Over the two weeks, events will take place in venues all over the county, with a wide array of international acts, but also a strong emphasis on local talent under the “Made in Donegal” brand. Meanwhile, the Clipper Round the

There have been calls for investigators to look into what role, if any, the North’s Deputy First Minister played on Bloody Sunday. 13 people were shot dead by the British Army in Derry in 1972. The Saville Inquiry said it was likely Martin McGuinness was in the city and ”probably armed with a sub-machine gun.”

A judge today(Fri) set a minimum price in a seaside town hit by a club drinks war. The lowest price any club can charge for any single measure, spirits or beer, in Bundoran is now €2.50. The order laid down by Judge Kevin Kilrane followed a running prices battle between two night-clubs in the town,

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team was put on standby this morning for a missing walker in the Slieve League area. Three people were walking over night but  got seperated –  one hadn’t returned by this morning. The alarm was raised to the Garda in Glenties who later located the man at a another nearby hostel,

A report published today by Fisher Consultants on the marine emergency response regimes is proposing that Malin Head Coast Guard Station be closed. Under the proposals presented to government, Dublin would be made the main coastguard centre with reduced functions at Valentia and  Malin becoming obsolete. Minister of Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar is

It has emerged that 2 of the 80 of trainee pilots left stranded at Florida Institute of Technology when their course was halted are from Donegal. The trainees – who each paid around 85-thousand euro in fees to The Pilot Training College in Waterford, were grounded last week because of a contractual dispute between the

There were 22,084 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of June, down 2.5% on June last year, but up 4.8% on the previous month. There were year on year falls in the numbers signing on in six of the county’s eight offices, but slight increases in Ballyshannon and Dunfanaghy. June traditionally

A research project carried out by a Trade Union official suggests while Donegal is the county with the highest unemployment average in the country, seven of the top ten unemployment blackspots in Ireland are in Limerick. Figures in the 2011 census show Donegal with an unemployment rate of 26%, compared to a national average of

The Donegal County Council depot at Newtowncunningham has been broken into, with damage caused to the inside of the compound and a quantity of equipment taken. Local Cllr Paul Canning says the break-in was discovered at around 8 o’clock this morning, and an inventory is being taken to determine what has been stolen. In the

A judge has refused to hear a defamation case because the woman defendant couldn’t afford legal representation and he brelieved she was deprived of her human rights. Judge Keenan Johnson urged former Bundoran town traffic warden Patricia McCafferty to seek free legal aid although it cannot be provided by the taxpayer under Irish law for

There’s been a broad political welcome in Derry to the announcemrnt that the PSNI is preparing to launch a murder inquiry into the deaths of 13 eople on Bloody Sunday. It follows of a review of the findings of the Saville inquiry which found that none of those killed by British soldiers in Derry in

Concern is being expressed for Donegal’s coastal Marine life due to the emergence of algal bloom which is also referred to as the red tide. Most of the west coast of the country is effected by the naturally occuring bloom but, according to the Marine Institute, the problem is worse off the coast of Donegal.

Johnston Press, owners of the Donegal Democrat Group of newspapers, has announced  a detailed review of its publishing strategy for the Donegal market. As a result of the review, the company has announced the following proposal today to staff: * Closure of the Donegal on Sunday title; * Reduction and re-organisation of editorial resources to

The PSNI is preparing to launch a murder inquiry into the deaths of 13 people on Bloody Sunday. It follows a review of the findings of the Saville inquiry, which found that none of those killed by British soldiers in Derry in January 1972 were armed. British Prime Minster David Cameron apologised to the victims’

A High Court action by a Donegal woman abused as a child by her Irish dancing teacher has been put on hold to await the result of his Supreme Court appeal. Michael Quigley of Barnhill Park, Letterkenny is challenging a ruling from last year that ordered him to pay 42-year-old Dana Doherty 400-thousand euros damages.

The HSE has rejected proposals from GP’s to reduce the overnight NowDoc service in Carndonagh and Derrybeg. Under the proposals the so called Red Eye service, between 11pm and 8am, would have been withdrawn from Carndonagh and Derrybeg and provided centrally from Letterkenny. The decision to reject the proposals has been welcomed by the union

The IFA President is calling on the government to secure an advance of 50% on the Single Farm Payment for the middle of October, and ensure the full payout of Disadvantaged Area payments in September. The association says the move would  improve cash flow for farm families, and provide some certainty in meeting credit deadlines.

A man charged in connection with the finding of improvised explosive devices in Derry in May was reused bail at the local Magistrate’s Court. Thomas Anthony Friel (31) of Gartan Square in the city is charged with possessing explosive devices and other material on May 21. The court was told that on that date police

211 unfinished housing developments have been completed as part of a drive on addressing the country’s 2,000 ghost estates. In a further 523 housing estates, plans are in place and in many cases work has been started. The Housing Minister has published a report on progress being made in tackling the problem. 19 unfinshed estates

The body that represents members of the Defense Forces says it’s wrong to claim that all members of the army in counties like Donegal get a border allowance. The claim was made by Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming, who is highlighting the amount of money paid in allowances across the public sector. However, PDFORRA spokesperson

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the new North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association. The body, which is intended to facilitate discussion and debate on matters of mutual serious interest between the Assembly and the Oireachtas, was formally announced by Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett and Assembly Speaker Willie Hay last evening. The