Author name: oisinkelly

An urgent High Court challenge by Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty against the Refrendum Commission is to be heard later this evening. The court has adjourned proceedings until 8 o’clock tonight to allow the Commission notice of the case. The Donegal South West TD wants the court to review the Commission’s alleged assertion that the opportunity […]

A body has been found by divers searching for missing 17-year-old Rhys Jack at a disused quarry near Strabane. The teenager had been missing in the quarry on the Backtown Road in the town since yesterday evening. Rhys and four of his friends had gotten into difficulty on a makeshift raft in the water yesterday

There are fears of widespread bed closures after the HSE West forum was told this month that acute hospitals in the region are still in a difficult financial position. A senior official with the HSE has indicated that net expenditure was just over €26 million overbudget by the end of March. Over €20 million of

Donegal County Council has backed a motion which describes the governments decision to scrap elections to Udarus Na Gaeltachta as undemocratic. The current board of Udarus will be disbanded this year to be replaced by a new board made of selected members. The decision is backed by Junior Gaeltacht Minister Dinny McGinley. One of the

A Donegal Councillor has urged parents to deter their children from swimming in disused Donegal quarries in the wake of the drowning tragedy in Strabane A search operation will resume this morning for a missing teenage boy at a disused quarry on Strahans Road in the Backtown –  he went missing  last evening. It is

Donegal County Council has released figures which show that its postal bill for last year was in excess of 250 thousand euro. Of its six offices, most money was spent on stamps at its HQ in Lifford – almost 145 thousand euro. The bill out of its Letterkenny office was 34 thousand. The least amount

A search operation is resuming for a missing teenage boy at a disused quarry in Strabane. It is believed he was on a makeshift raft with three other teenagers when they went into the water at the quarry on Strahans Road in the Backtown area last evening. The other teenagers were rescued. Police, firefighters and

The County manager has committed to doing all he can to tackle the problem of unfinished estates in Donegal. There are an estimated 130 unfinished estates in the county with problems including no lighting, unfinished footpaths and sewage pumping stations that are failing. Some work has been done to address the problems in the past

The trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey is expected to hear further forensic evidence today. A British expert told the court yesterday that there’s no DNA evidence linking the pair to the crime scene. They deny the charge of killing Michaela, who was on her honeymoon when she died in January of

The Health Minister says a cross border approach remains the best option of securing all services at Lifford Community Hospital. In February the HSE confirmed its intention to cease residential care at Lifford Community Hospital in 2012 with all other primary care and day services continuing as normal. Since the start of March a public

The Donegal Road Safety Group, responsible for the annual road safety events for students, has been honoured with a Civic Reception by Donegal County Council. Earlier this year the Council won the ‘Council of the Year’ award at the Local Authority Members Association Awards for its flagship Road Safety Road Show. The award  recognised the

Boots Ireland is to offer its customers lower priced prescriptions from this Friday. The pharmacy chain is announcing this morning that it will dramatically reduce the cost of the majority of prescription medicines, by an average of 25 percent. According to Boots, the cost of medication for an asthmatic can be more than 94 euros

The search is continuing for a teenage boy missing in a flooded quarry in Strabane. It is believed he went under the water at the quarry on Strahan’s Road in the Backtown area this evening. Three other teenagers who were on the water in an inflatable boat have been rescued.

The Acting Chief Fire Officer in Donegal is urging people to do what they can to prevent gorse and forest fires. Joseph Mc Taggart was speaking after a gorse fire in Glengesh at the weekend saw four units of the fire brigade joined by helicopter support to put out a blaze that lasted over 30

The trial of two men charged with the murder of Michaela McAreavey has heard that no DNA from either of the accused was found in her hotel room in Mauritius or on her body. Mrs McAreavey, a 27-year-old teacher, was found dead during her honeymoon at the Legends Hotel in January 2011. Hotel workers Avinash

A Donegal Councillor says sharing staff and premises could be the key to keeping services in small towns. At today’s council meeting, Cllr Paul Canning called on officials to survey areas within our rural communities in order to facilitate shared premises and services between An Garda Siochana, The Health Board and Donegal County Council. Cllr

Donegal North East TD Charlie McConalogue says Education Minister Ruari Quinn must reconsider proposed changes to the third level grant system which he claims would discriminate against hundreds farmers and self employed workers in Donegal. Minister Ruairí Quinn has confirmed that proposals to include capital assets in the means-testing for third level grants are at

The Donegal Relay for Life is set to raise three time more money than expected. The committee had set a target of raising 100,000 euro for the Irish Cancer Society. The actual figure, as of 6 o’clock yesterday, was 282,000. The Donegal Relay for Life Chairperson is Robert O’Connor…………. North West MEP Pat The Cope

Thousands of pre-school children across the Border counties are taking part in the Border Child Care Network’s Play Awareness Week which starts today. The BCCN says play is often seen as a trivial pursuit, yet it is one of the most important activities that children will engage in throughout their early years. BCCN CEO Denise

Health Minister Dr James Reilly has confirmed the new Emergency Department, medical admissions unit and other wards will open at Letterkenny General Hospital in September. Speaking to Highland Radio News in Glenties this morning, Minister Reilly also confirmed he has instructed hospitals in Dublin not to refuse treatment to patients from Donegal and elsewhere on

Health Minister Dr James Reilly is in West Donegal for a number of functions this morning. Later this morning, he will open the new extension at Dungloe District Hospitalm, but first, Minister Reilly will open the new €1.6 million Primary Health Centre in Glenties. The new centre will see Primary Care Services and Community Service

Voting in the Fiscal Treaty referendum gets underway on Donegal’s islands today. Voting at the two booths on Arranmore gets underway at 10.30 and finishes at 7.30, while polling booths are open on Gola, Inishboffin, Inishfree and Tory from 11 to 3. In total, 765 people living on islands in Donegal South-West are entitled to

It’s emerged that Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has repaid some travel expenses after it emerged that he lived closer to Leinster House than he initially claimed. Last May, he submitted a claim based on his Falcarragh home being 370 km from Leinster House, placing it in “Band 12”, which entitled him to almost 33,000 euro

The Donegal Relay for Life has just ended in the grounds of Letterkenny Institute of Technology, with organisers saying it was successful beyond all expectations. At the peak of the event last night it’s estimated that over 5,000 were on the site for the Luminaria candle lighting ceremony. From 6 o’clock yesterday to 6 this

Forest and gorse fires have broken out in parts of South Donegal. A blaze at Glengesh was spreading so fast, that fire fighters had to call the Defence Forces for assistance. The Air Corps has dropped over 21 thousand litres of water on the flames. Troops from the 28 Infantry Battalion, 4 Western Brigade based

Two men have been remanded in custody as gardai continue investigations into a €1.6 million haul of cannabis plants. Ming Sun, 44, and Xia Hua He, 34, both Chinese nationals, were charged with possession, possession with intent to supply and cultivation of cannabis in a warehouse at Trummon, Laghey, Co. Donegal, last Friday. Judge Kevin

The Irish Cancer Society is expecting to raise tens of thousands of euro this weekend in Donegal with the inaugural “Relay for Life”, a 24 hour event centred on the track at the LYIT in Letterkenny. As well as the fundraising walk and other initiatives, there will also be an ecumenical service and events to

A Donegal TD says that what he called  the Government’s austerity policies are not achieving anything, and nothing has changed. Donegal NE TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn was speaking during a debate on the economy. He told the gathering that nothing’s changed since this Government took office 15 months ago…………..

Gardai seized an estimated €1.6 million worth of cannabis plants yesterday in a remote area of Donegal, believed to be one of the biggest ever in the county. Gardai say the plants were seized during a planned operation in a large warehouse on an industrial estate at Trummon outside the village of Laghey. As part

The Director of Community Development on Donegal County Council says he believes members will find a formula to allow the county avail of wind energy opportunities while protecting the landscape and environment of Donegal. The issue is dominating much of the discussion on the new County Development Plan which is currently being finalised. Michael Heaney

Gardai seized €500,000 worth of cannabis plants tday(Fri) in a remote are of Co. Donegal. The plants, with sophisticated growing equipment, were found in a warehouse at Trummon, outside Laghey near Donegal town. Two Chinese men, aged 34 and 24, were arrested and are being held at Ballyshannon Garda station. The raid, with local detectives

A pensioner has been transferred to hospital in Dublin today following an explosion on a boat at Bunbeg harbour last night. The man, who is from the Annagry area,  was initially removed to Letterkenny General Hospital following the blast on the pleasure yacht. It is understood that two men were on the boat at the

Vandals have been slammed for damaging a plaque left at the scene of a collision which resulted in the death of Garda Gary McLoughlain. Superintendent Kevin English has said the Garda’s family are devastated after the plaque was sprayed with paint and broken in half. Half of the plaque was then placed on Garda McLoughlainn’s

The Garda Commissioner says a senior officer has been appointed to review the case of John Gallagher. 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 and was found guilty but insane. He absconded from the Central

One of the remaining members of Donegal Action Against Austerity has said in retrospect, protesting against the Taoiseach’s visit to Milford on Monday may have been a bad move. Joe Murphy was speaking after a number of key figures left the group, including the Donegal Action for Cancer Care group, and DAAA founder members Ryan

Fianna Fail TD Charlie McConalogue has called for serious deficiencies in Donegal’s broadband access to be dealt with by the Government. The National Broadband Plan is to be rolled out next month with the Government stating they are committed to bringing fibre-powered broadband to 90% of homes and business across Ireland. Deputy McConalogue is urging

Another three key members of Donegal Action Against Austerity have left the organisation, citing a lack of discipline and the decision by some members to protest at the Taoioseach’s visit to Loreto Community School in Milford on Monday. Ryan Stewart, John McLaughlin and Trevor Kilpatrick say the group had decided not to protest, but a

Donegal County Council has unveiled it plans to provide paid summer work placements for up to 30 students. Applications are invited from full time students, who are currently undertaking a third-level course in Engineering, Business, Finance, Arts or related disciplines. The council says that applicants must have completed two full academic years at third level

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has called for a more co-ordinated approach between authorities North and South in planning for future educational needs. Deputy McHugh says that with changing populations and school closures, the latter most notably in the North, more students living close to the border may be sent to school in the neighbouring jurisdiction.

Donegal Action for Cancer Care has officially resigned as a member of Donegal Action Against Austerity. The announcement was made at a committee meeting on Wednesday night, with DACC saying they were unable to continue their association with DAAA because of what they termed the recent actions of some members of DAAA, which were contary

This new investment from 21 Irish seafood processing companies is projected to generate over 142 additional jobs within the sector. The companies are based in Wexford, Dublin, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Louth and Kerry. The 15 and a half million euro investment by these firms, is supported by grants of 3.2 million under the EU co-funded

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