Author name: oisinkelly

There could be major political upheaval on the way in Donegal, with the two Dail constituencies set to be merged and the total number of TDs cut from six to five. Nationally, it’s reported the number of TDs in the Dail will be cut by 8 under new recommendations to be published next month by […]

New figures published by the CSO today show that the average age in Donegal is slightly higher than in the rest of the country, with women slightly older that men. The latest analysis of last year’s census also shows that there is a higher than average level of age dependency in Donegal. Between 2006 and

Upwards of 8,000 people are expected in Donegal Town for the ‘Donegal Live’ event this weekend. The three day festival, which has been previously held in Dublin and Glasgow, features tourism, food and arts exhibitors from all over Donegal showcasing what they have to offer. There are also a number of concerts over the weekend

Donegal SW Deputy Thomas Pringle has challenged the government on the refusal of Dublin hospitals to treat patients from outside their catchment area due to funding issues by the HSE. Speaking during Leaders’ Questions, the Independent TD stated that a policy has emerged in the Dublin hospitals that is preventing seriously ill people from getting

A former teacher at St Columba’s College in Stranorlar has spoken of how she was told by Anne Gillespie that she had been threatened by John Gallagher several times before he killed her and her mother Annie in the car park of Sligo General Hospital in 1988. On today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Greta outlined how, just

The Justice Minister says he regrets that the Gillespie family were not told sooner that double killer John Gallagher was back in custody. John Gallagher shot and killed mother and daughter Anne and Annie Gillespie in the grounds of Sligo General Hospital in 1988 – he was tried for their murder but was found to

Donegal County Manager Seamus Neeley says there is a spirit of cooperation in Donegal which gives him confidence for the future. Speaking after the County Development Board’s annual strategy day, Mr Neeley acknowledged that there is concern at the financial situation, and no-one is understating the extent of the challenge facing the county. However, he

Calls have been made for more cross-border co-operation between the Gardai and the PSNI to combat the threat from dissident republicans along the border. The activities of Republican Action Against Drugs, and Monday’s find of a number of explosive devices in a flat in the Bogside in Derry were highlighted in the Dail yesterday evening.

A 30 year old man is due in court in Derry facing terrorism and explosives charges. The man wass detained during an operation in the city on Monday night which led to the discovery of several viable devices in the Maureen Avenue of the Bogside. Meanwhile, a number of people were evacuated from their homes

It’s reported this morning that gardai recently spent over two hours examining files in the offices of Donegal County Council. The Donegal Democrat reports that some of the files were removed as part of the investigation, which is believed to centre on the expenses claims of one councillor. Gardai are confirming that the investigation is

The trial of two men charged with murdering Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius has this morning heard claims that one of the two accussed, 30-year-old Avinash Treebhowoon, was the victim of police brutality. He had made a statement admitting involvement in the killing of the 27 year old Tyrone native, but his legal team said this

Funding of 120,000 euro has been confirmed for Port a Chruinn Pier on Gola Island. The Government has confirmed a grant of 90,000 euro towards towards repairs to the existing structure, including re-building the end of the pier and providing overlay of the existing deck. Donegal County Council is providing 30,000 euro to the project.

The Minister for Finance has said the Independent status of Revenue means that he cannot get involved in the Highland Bakery tax dispute which is threatening the future of 42 jobs. Donegal Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty raised the issue in the Dail this afternoon. It follows Monday’s stand off between the Bakery’s staff

The sister in law of double killer John Gallagher has expressed her belief that he still does not think he has done anything wrong. John Gallagher is back in detention after handing himself over to authorities yesterday. The 46 year old killed mother and daughter Anne and Annie Gillespie in the grounds of Sligo General

One person has been hospitalized and two others injured in separate incidents while walking along the N56 road in the centre of Loughanure. Locals say there is a ‘drop’ of several inches on the side of the road near to the Irish college that has caused the accidents over the past number of weeks. They’ve

Donegal County Council is well placed to avail of the opportunities provided by renerwable energy and the green economy. That’s according to the Director of Community Services Michael Heaney, who was addressing the Donegal Community Development Board’s annual strategy day today. He says there are many opportunities available, and the council is working on maximising

Donegal Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn has called on Revenue to negotiate with the management of Highland Bakery to allow it pay its tax liabilities but stay in business. A stand off between staff and agents of the Revenue Commissioners ended at the Letterkenny facility last evening. Bailiffs arrived at the premises to remove machinery but

A Donegal woman who told the High Court she cannot wear high heels as a result of a burn injury suffered when a hot water bottle in her bed split open has been awarded €65,000 damages. 25 year old Ann Marie McGee from Meenlaragh was 15 when the incident occurred at her home 10 years

The Department of Justice is confirming that double killer John Gallagher has handed himself in to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin. The 46 year old killed mother and daughter Anne and Annie Gillespie in 1988 in the grounds of Sligo General Hospital. He was tried for their murders but was found to be insane

One person has been hospitalized in recent weeks and two others injured in separate incidents while walking along the N56 road in the centre of Loughanure village. There is a ‘drop’ of several inches on the side of the road near to the Irish college that has caused the accidents. The ‘drop’ is quite near

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has been blocked this evening from raising the plight of Highland bakery staff in the Dail. He was seeking to raise the matter after today’s stand-off between staff and officials working on behalf of the Revenue Commissioners. The stand-off began this morning when agents acting on behalf of Revenue arrived at the

The Court of Criminal Appeal has reserved judgement in the case of three Northern Ireland men appealing against their convictions for membership of the IRA. In November 2010, Gerard McGarrigle, Desmond Donnelly and Jim Murphy  were convicted of membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the

A cyclist was taken to hospital for treatment after he struck a parked car outside Donegal town shortly before 5 o’clock on Monday evening. It is understood the cyclist hit the wing mirror of the car which was parked on the side of the Ballybofey road just outside Donegal Town. The cyclist was taken to

The Taoiseach has appeared to suggest that Sinn Fein was behind protests in Donegal on Monday. Enda Kenny was met by a vocal crowd of protesters at Loreto Community School last evening; his car was struck by a number of eggs as it approached the school. This was one of the most recent protests the

Highland Radio News has learned that the stand off at the Highland Bakery premises has ended. There are no further details at present. Below is the original story which was broken by Highland Radio News… A stand off has developed between staff and officials from the Revenue Commissioners at the Highland Bakery factory premises on

Army bomb experts have made safe a number of bombs in Derry. A security alert at Maureen Avenue in Derrys Bogside has ended, but a number of residents have not yet been allowed to return home as further tests are being carried out. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of dissident republican activity.

A Councillor in Derry’s Bogside says storing explosive devices in a residential area is highly dangerous, and lives could have been lost. Northlands SDLP Cllr John Bopyle was speaking after a security alert in the Maureen Avenue area during which a number of viable devicesd were found in a flat. A 30 year old man

The FAI has announced an investment of 100,000 euro in funding for soccor clubs in Donegal. Plans have also been announced for a Festival of Football in Donegal in July to coincide with the association’s AGM in Letterkenny. Senator Jimmy Harte says the FAI and Donegal County Council are to be congratulated on the initiative,

A security alert in Derry’s Bogside has now ended, however police remain at the scene carrying out further examination. Police say a number of viable devices found at a property in Maureen Avenue, a residential area, have been made safe by ATO and have been taken away for further forensic examination. A number of residents

The trial is underway in Mauritius of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey. 29-year-old Avinash Treebhowoon and 41-year-old Sandip Mooneea are accused of killing her while she was on honeymoon in January 2011. They both deny any involvement in Mrs McAreavey’s death. Police believe the daughter of Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte was strangled

Police remain at the scene of a security alert in the Maureen Avenue area of Derry’s Bogside although the street has now been reopened to traffic. Following a search operation last night, a suspicious object was found and a man, believed to be 30, was arrested on suspicion of dissident republican activity. All residents have

A Chinese woman accused of murdering her husband in Derry last year had in excess of £100,000 in her bank account, a police officer told Derry Magistrate’s Court today. 39 year old Suwei Shang of Francis Street in Derry is charged with murdering Damian Keenan on November 1st. During a bail application in Derry yesterday

The latest rent survey from Daft.ie suggest that the urban-rural rental gap is widening with rents in Dublin and Cork rising with the reverse being the case in the rest of the country. Prices in Ulster fell marginally but one of the biggest drops in rent prices was recorded in Donegal. In Ulster, rents in

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty has criticised the decision to continue with early polling on the county’s offshore islands. Voting in the Fiscal Treaty Referendum will take place on Monday next May 28th, four days before the rest of the county. Deputy Doherty says it’s an unfair decision which raises constitutional issues for those

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended  Loreto Secondary School, Milford this evening to present an award after it recently won the National Smart Class Initiative. Below is a transcript of the speech he delivered to students, teachers and parents at the school. I’m delighted to present this prize to Milford Loreto Donegal. Not just a SmartClass

Enda Kenny has been met by protestors during a visit to Loreto Community School in Milford this afternoon – with reports that his car was pelted by eggs. He was in Milford to make a presentation at the School which recently came first in the National Smart Class Initiative. There is anger at his late

The Managing Director of Largo Foods’ Donegal plant has confirmed that 60 full and part time jobs are to go. Ray Coyle said the jobs are going in the packing department, which to be automated. Mr Coyle concluded that if the jobs losses are not implemeted as part of a cost cutting exercise, then the

Police confirm that a  man has been arrested over an incident in Derry last month in which a pipe bomb was left under a car owned a police officer’s parents. The device was left at Drumleck Drive in the Shantallow area on the 15th April of April. The PSNI officer does not live in the

A woman has described how two men tried to hijack her car in Letterkenny as she drove home from a friend’s house. The woman was travelling along Pearse Road in the early hours of Sunday morning, she stopped to allow two men to cross the road but the men turned on her and tried to

Donegal South West TD Thomas Pringle is in the High Court today calling for his challenge to ‘effects’ of  the May 31 referendum on the Fiscal Stability Treaty to be heard sooner rather than later. Mr Pringle claims the Government intends to use a “Yes” vote in the referendum to push through another treaty in

A 26 yr-old man has been arrested in Derry today in relation to an incident in Drumleck Drive on the 15th of last month. What was described as a viable device was left under a car owned by the parents of a serving police officer.

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with murder and attempted murder after two sisters were shot, one of them fatally, in County Derry at the weekend. 18 year old Lauren O’Neill lost her life as she tried to prevent her 21 year old sister Brenda from being shot. Brenda O’Neill’s young children

Taoiseach Enda Kenny is in Donegal today for a number of engagements. He’ll visit the Pramerica plant in Letterkenny at lunchtime, before travelling to Milford where he will make a presentation at Loreto Community School which recently won the National Smart Class Initiative. Mr Kenny will conclude his visit with a number of engagements in

A councillor in Newtowncunningham is claining today that burglaries and break ins are becoming more prevalent in rural communities, and the lack of a visible garda presence is adding to the problem. Cllr Paul Canning says a premises in Newtowncunningham was broken into with a number of items, including security cameras, stolen. Also, he says,