Author name: oisinkelly

Police say a Strabane security alert in which a number of homes were evacuated was an elaborate hoax. The Ballycolman Avenue/Melvin View area of the town had been cordoned off for a time today. Army bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion and declared the device a hoax. During the alert about 30 to […]

The Mayor of Buncrana says the primary reason for a significant fall in numbers signing on in Inishowen is emigration. There was a drop of 7% in the numbers on the live register on the peninsula. Most other offices recorded a drop – in Killybegs the number of the live register dropped by 14% Independent

The former head of the KFO has warned again that Donegal’s Mackerel fishing industry faces being wiped out if action isn’t taken to tackle the over fishing of stocks by other countries. Joey Murran claims the EU has done nothing over the last two years to stop Iceland and the Faroe Islands from multiplying its

This afternoon sees the launch of Donegal Business Week by the County Enterprise Board, with an emphasis this week on confidence and resilience. Over 800 businesses are taking part in a series of events between now and Friday, with business strategies being discussed along with issues such as wellbeing and risk taking. Enterprise Board CEO

There’s been a 3% drop in the year on year Live Register figure in Donegal. There were 21,267 people signing on the register in the county at the end of February, down 300 on the January figure and down 650 on the figure for February 2011. There were 4,615 people on the register in the

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s sent his congratulations to Rory McIlroy after he reached top spot in the world golf rankings. The Northern Ireland golfer became the second youngest world number one in the history of the sport after winning the Honda Classic in Florida. The victory comes just a week after Tourism and Sports Minister

Gardai are working with police in Spain and Slovakia to investigate a foreign currency investment scheme which has cost dozens of Irish clients millions of euro. The scheme had been promoted by a Letterkenny based financial advisor.. The scheme, run from an office in Barcelona, was portrayed as a “safe bet” which allowed people to

IMPACT’s North West spokesperson says health service managers are being set up to fail in Donegal. Health service unions are meeting with senior HSE managers this afternoon to discuss the executive’s budget and service plan. Richie Carrothers of IMPACT says he fears for the future of services across the board, particularly at Letterkenny General Hospital

Part of Benone Beach in County Derry was evacuated and sealed off for a time following the discovery of a device yesterday afternoon. It’s understood the device dated back to World War 2. Army explosives experts were called to the scene, and a controlled explosion was carried out to make the device safe.

There’s been a home heating oil theft from a filling station on the road between Letterkenny and Stranorlar. At around 5.10 this morning, 30 drums of home heating oil were taken from the N13 premises. The drums are royal blue in colour. Anyone offered oil for sale in suspicious circumstances, particularly in 20 litre drums,

A Donegal Deputy says returning emigrants are being unjustly denied social welfare payments and other supports, and Social Protection Minister Joan Burton must intervene. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says the Habitual Residence Condition has resulted in many returning Donegal emigrants being denied immediate access to social welfare support when they return home. The clause was

There’s been another armed robbery at a commercial premises in Derry, this time at a takeaway in the Spencer Road area of the city. Police say that at around 11.15 last night a man entered the premises armed with what has been described by witnesses as a hammer or pickaxe type weapon. He demanded money,

One of the most vociferous campaigners for victims of the Omagh bombing has died. Laurence Rush passed away at Knockmoyle Lodge nursing home outside Omagh early this morning. His wife Elizabeth, was among 29 people killed in the atrocity in August 1998 which was carried out by the Real IRA. Last year, a High Court

The funeral took place in Lifford this morning of 22 year old David Colhoun, the local man whose body was recovered from the River Foyle during the week. He’d gone missing last May after fleeing police custody in Strabane following his arrest for what was described at the time as a minor offence. His skeletal

A new survey shows that almost a quarter of pupils in Protestant primary schools come from a Catholic background. The ‘Our School Community’ survey also found that Protestant schools throughout Ireland cater for a broad range of religious and cultural diversity. Academic success and reputation was the most important reason for almost half of parents

The campaign group Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest says it remains convinced the proposed North West Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry remains on track, and will be delivered. It follows a meeting in Leinster House this week between the Oireachtas Health committee and its counterpart in the Stormont Assembly, at which cross border

A Donegal TD has suggested that the Irish economy could benefit greatly if we were to harvest copper and other metals from the sea off Ireland’s coast. Deputy Joe McHugh was speaking in the Dail during a debate on new legislation which will govern those who deal in scrap metal and cash for gold operations.

Donegal Pet Rescue says it is shocked at the discovery of a lamb found hanging from a tree in Letterkenny. Following a tip off from a member of the public representatives from the group found a lamb hanging dead around 10ft of the ground from a tree in the Lurgybrack area. Donegal Pet Rescue has

The Fianna Fáil leader is promising “swift and comprehensive” action against anyone named in the Mahon Tribunal report as having abused their position in office. His comments can be seen as meaning that action will be taken against former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern if the tribunal finds against him. Opening his first Ard Fheis as leader

Police in Foyle investigating the sudden death of a woman in her 40s have issued an appeal for information relating to her last known movements. Forty-one year old Michelle Clift was last seen in the Foyle Park area around 8.30pm on February 29th. Her body was recovered from the river close to playing fields in

It was confirmed today that legendary rockers Horslips and former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor are to headline this year’s Rory Gallagher tribute festival. The event takes place in Ballyshannon from May 31 to June 3. Also confirmed as playing the festival are Dr Feelgood and former Thin Lizzy and Motorhead guitarist Brian Robertson. The

A member of a gang which fled from gardai in a high-speed chase after stealing gold, jewellery and cash in a crime spree was jailed today for six months and fined €1,000. Ballyshannon District Court heard that Edward Connors was among a group of three men and a juvenile who carried out three burglaries in

The HSE is being urged to make a definitive statement on when the long awaited new bloc at Letterkenny General Hospital will be operational. Donegal Cllr Liam Blaney, a member of the HSE West Regional Forum, raised the issue of the new Emergency Department and Medical Assessment Unit at a meeting in Galway this week,

The chaplains and management at Letterkenny General Hospital are inviting people to a inter-denominational Service of Remembrance later this month. The service is being held for those who have suffered miscarriages, still-births and neo-natal deaths at the hospital. The Service of Remembrance will take place at 4 p.m. on Sunday, 11th March, in the Church

Over 350 people turned out in Brinaleck last night for a meeting of the “Can’t Pay Won’t Pay” campaign, addressed by local priest Fr Brian O’Fearraigh. The priest’s decision to publicly back the campaign and address the meeting was the focus of a major discussion on Highland Radio’s Shaun Doherty Show yesterday morning. Meeting organiser

Donegal County Councillorr Ciaran Brogan has said fundamental questions must be raised about how the Letterkenny General Hospital is funded. He was responding to yesterday’s confirmation from HSE CEO Cathal Magee that Letterkenny General Hospital’s financial situaton is being reviewed by the executive’s board. The head of the HSE said Letterkenny General Hospital faces major

A mass protest will be held in Letterkenny tomorrow week against cuts to school funding, particularly as they affect small rural  schools. The organisers says the protest will highlight a number of issues, including cuts to some DEIS schools, and the impact changes to pupil – teacher ratios will have on Donegal’s smaller schools. Spokesperson

A Donegal County Councillor has called Minister Leo Varadkar  to reinstate the Local Improvement Schemes across the Country which he says are hugely important for Donegal. The LIS Scheme allowed the council repair lanes or roadways outside the County Roads network providing  10% – 15% of the cost was paid by the users of the

The Sandhouse Hotel in Rossnowlagh is under new ownership having been sold at auction in Dublin today. We understand its current manager, Paul Diver, bought the property for 650 thousand euro. The 3.2 acre site includes planning permission for 16 apartments as well as the 55-bedroom hotel, which also has a spa on site. The

A Catholic priest based in Gweedore has defended his calls for people not to pay the household charge. Fr Brian O’Fearraigh says he will attend a Cant Pay Wont Pay meeting tonight in Brinaleck, were he will speak out against the charge. The priest says he believes the charge is an unfair and unjust tax.

It’s being claimed that busloads of drunken youngsters from Donegal are descending upon Derry at the weekends. Derry City Cllr Sean Gallagher claims that these youngsters from Donegal are telling their parents that they are going to the cinema and bowling alley. But in fact the teenagers are getting off in the Pennyburn Industrial Estate

The Sandhouse Hotel in Rossnowlagh could have new owners by the end of the day as it is up for auction in Dublin. The property is part of the €10.3 million portfolio of buildings on offer at the sale, which will take place at the Shelboure Hotel. The auction includes 100 lots ranging from investment

Police in Derry are appealing for information after it emerged this morning that a pipe bomb was  made safe in the city yesterday. Police were called to a green space near McGill Court yesterday afternoon, after a member of the public reported seeing a piece of copper piping. Army technical officers examined it, and declared

Five schools in Donegal are to be offered the chance to replace prefabs with permanent accomodation as part of a €35 million programme covering 200 schools. The list to be announced by Minister Ruairi Quinn this afternoon includes four national schools and one secondary school in Donegal. The national schools are Annagry National School, Woodlands

The Irish Farmers’ Journal has published a study today showing that Donegal is one of 15 counties which saw agricultural land prices fall. The average price of agricultural land in the county last year was just under  €9,400 an acre. That’s 5.2% down on the previous year, but slightly higher than the Irish average of

The body found in the River Foyle near Porthall this week has been identified as that of David Colhoun. Gardai confirmed last evening that following consultations with State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, they are satisfied the remains are those of the 22 year old. More DNA tests will now take place before the remains are

The head of the HSE has identified Letterkenny General as one of the hospitals facing the biggest challenge in 2012. The Irish Medical Times reports that Cathal Magee told the Board of the Executive that immediate action is being taken by the HSE to review the plans of Letterkenny General and a number of other

Eamon O’Cuiv has resigned as Deputy Leader of Fianna Fail and as the party’s spokesperson for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Míchael Martin says that Deputy O’Cuiv’s refusal to support the Parliamentary Party’s position on the Fiscal Compact meant that it was no longer feasible for him to occupy these roles. Deputy O’Cuiv says he

Skeletal remains found in the River Foyle near Porthall yesterday have been identified as 22-year-old David Colhoun. Garda Supt Vincent O’Brien said that following consultation with State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, they are satisfied the remains are that of the 22 year old. The remains will be removed from Letterkenny General Hospital on Friday afternoon

There appears to be a split emerging in Fianna Fáil after the deputy leader suggested he may not agree with campaigning for a Yes vote on the referendum on the Fiscal Compact Treaty. Party leader Micheál Martin has been adamant the party will campaign for a ‘yes’ vote, but Éamon O Cuív has indicated he

Over 350 people from Donegal have been participating in today’s anti-austerity protest in Dublin, with organisers says they’re getting a very good reception. Marchers have been highlighting opposition to the household charge and new septic tank legislation, as well as calling for an end to cuts in services such as health and education. Over 6,000

The use of mobile phones while driving is to be the focus of the next  Donegal Road Safety Working Group campaign, with a garda enforcement campaign running alongside it. Inspector Michael Harrison told Highland Radio News today that there is an unacceptably high level of mobile phone use by drivers in Donegal, particularly around Letterkenny.

More skeletal remains have been found in the Foyle near Porthall, Lifford, this morning, with indications that this will make identification easier. The find was made shortly before 11 o’clock by divers. Yesterday, some remains were found, but they were incomplete. Now, it’s believed all the remains have been recovered, and today’s find means dental

It’s reported that ASDA is close to agreeing a deal to buy the former Arntz Belting site in Derry. According to the BBC, the company hopes to open a new store on the 12 acre site at Pennyburn which could create up to 430 jobs. It’s expected that an application will be made as soon