Author name: oisinkelly

A jury has been sworn in for the trial of a man accused of murdering another man on Arramore island two years ago. 41-year-old Stephen Boyle is accused of murdering 19-year-old Paul Boyle at Early’s Bar, Leabgarrow, Arranmore on October 3, 2009. Mr Boyle of Austen House, Cambridge Road, Kilburn Park in London has pleaded […]

Cuts to community employment schemes are already impacting on Donegal groups and communities. That’s according to councillor Patrick McGowan who is calling on government to reverse any plans to cut FAS schemes. Donegal County Council has been told of the positive work carried out through the schemes in schools, community associations and in assisting tidy

Over 21 and a half million euro has been allocated to local and regional road improvements in Donegal by the National Roads Authority. The bulk of the moey will go towards necessary improvements and restoration work agreed by the council. Specific improvements are being funded on the the airport road between Crolly and Carrickfin, the

Sinn Fein Donegal TD Pearse Doherty says he hopes a referendum on whether Northern Ireland should join the Republic, will be held within the term of the current Northern Assembly. His comments come after the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness revealed in an interview with the Irish Examiner that he sees no reason why

There’s been a jewellery robbery in Donegal town overnight. Thieves who broke into the Cameo jewellers in the Supervalu shopping arcade escaped with a large quantity of jewellery, including gold chains and watches. They broke in through a PVC panel and through a bathroom window before pilfering the most valuable items. The owner believes they

Failte Ireland has been accused of deserting Donegal with claims that northern Ireland and other areas are getting better treatment. Councillor Sean McEniff says that since  Northwest Tourism stood down in 2006 its replacement, Failte Ireland northwest, has completely failed Donegal. Councillor McEniff says the views of local representatives in the industry are being ignored

A 19 year old man has died in a one-car collision on the outskirts of Mountcharles, near Donegal Town. It happened at around 2am this morning. Gardai and members of the emergency services were called to the scene on the Station Road on Mountcharles shortly before 2 o clock this morning, following a single vehicle

Police have released the name of the man who was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning in a car crash near Omagh. Peter Fugill was 36-years-old and lived in Kinsale Park, Derry. He was the driver of a silver BMW which was the only vehicle involved in the crash on the Omagh to

One man has died following a single vehicle collision in Donegal overnight. Three other people have been taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries. Gardai and members of the emergency services were called to the scene on the Station Road on Mountcharles shortly before 2 o clock this morning, following a single vehicle collision.

European leaders will gather in Brussels later where they’re expected to sign-off on a new European Fiscal Treaty. It’s aimed at introducing tougher budget rules in member states. Once the details are finalised, Ireland’s Attorney General will be asked for legal advice on whether it needs to go to a referendum here or not. Peter

Around two thousand people took part in a march in Derry yesterday to mark the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday when 14 civil rights demonstrators were shot dead by British Army paratroopers. The decision to march had been opposed by the majority of the families of the dead and wounded but despite this and the

Protesters from Donegal have confirmed plans to bring the country to a standstill next month in their campaign against rising taxes and austerity measures. During the week of February 20, lorry drivers from the county will join other hauliers from around the country to converge on the capital, with a plan to block all roads

The surgical clinic has been cancelled at Letterkenny General Hospital this morning after what’s been described as unprecedented numbers attending A&E overnight. Dr.Couses clinic has been cancelled, but Fracture Clinics will go ahead as normal. The 20 bed overflow ward is full, with five patients on trolleys in casualty and six patients on trolleys in

The Health Minister in the North, Edwin Poots, has told the father of a baby who died from pseudomonas there would be no public inquiry into the deaths. Gavin Burke’s baby son, Caolan, died in Altnagelvin in December, just weeks before three babies died from a different strain of the bacteria in Belfast. Mr Poots

Derry  will host the 2013 All-Ireland Fleadh. The decision was made in  Dublin today when the members of the 31-strong central executive of Comhaltas cast their vote. Derry faced competition from Sligo and Ennis. The fleadh ttracts up to 300,000 visitors and is worth 40 million euros to the host venue. Derry was a late

Fine Gael Deputy Joe McHugh says that while their can be no guarantee given that Carndonagh Community Hospital won’t close, it is essential that it remains open. Over 400 people packed the Colgan Hall in Carndonagh last night over fears that the facility faces closure. The facility has 30 patients and recently had its number

Derry, Sligo and Ennis will find out today which of them are to be the venue for next year’s all-Ireland Fleadh. The traditional music festival attracts up to three hundred thousand visitors. Derry was a late confirmation on the shortlist after the Ulster Council withdrew its support following two bomb explosions in the city last

The organisers of a Bloody Sunday commemoration march in Derry tomorrow (Sun) say the anniversary should continue to be an “iconic day” for public demonstration. Most of the families of the 14 people who were killed on January 30, 1972 say they won’t be on the ‘March for Justice’ which will take place over the

Unionists are be urged to attend a uniting Ireland debate being held by Sinn Fein in Derry this afternoon. Uniting Ireland -Towards a New Republic is one of a series of conferences in Northern Ireland, the Republic, the UK and north America. Ulster Unionist MLA, Basil McCrea, will speak along with the deputy First Minister,

In excess of 400 people attended a public meeting in Carndonagh this evening to discuss fears the local hospital may close. Earlier in the week Dr John Madden highlighted concerns that the facility could be shut down by the HSE. The facility has 30 patients and recently had its number of beds reduced -it is

Donegal will host two full stages of the 2012 An Post Ras. The stages will be coming to the county between Wednesday 23rd and Saturday 26th of May next. The race, now in its 60th year, will be a boost for local tourism and will put on show some of Donegal’s most scenic areas. The

Gardai have recovered a quantity of cannabis and a quantity of herbal cannabis in the Carrigart and Downings areas. Officers made four seizures during a number of searches this week. Gardai have said investigations are continuing.

A Donegal Company which has just received ISO Quality Certification and doubled its workforce says it expects further growth this year. Gartan Technologies, based at the Enterprise Business Centre in Letterkenny, designs payroll and staff rostering software, particularly for emergency services. The company now has 14 staff, five of whom were employed last year during

The Chairperson of the County Development Board in Donegal says there are very good communications between the councils and other agencies in Donegal, and the organisers of the  City of Culture events. Cllr Dessie Larkin says Donegal has a representitive on the board of Derry’s regeneration company ILEX, and this coupled with ongoing links between

The body set up to organise the UK City of Culture celebrations has been criticised by councillors in Derry. Derry was chosen as the UK’s inaugural City of Culture in July of 2010 and will take the mantle next year. SDLP, DUP and Sinn Fein members have accused the Culture Company of not doing enough

The government has been ordered to change the VRT regieme following a European Commission ruling that the amounts being imposed on some vehicles do not comply with European Union law. The commission said it was wrong and unfair that people who import vehicles under three months old, or with less than 3,000km on the clock,

A total of six people have been arrested during police drug searches in Limavady. Police said several significant seizures were made from houses in the Glens area of the town during yesterday’s operation. The haul included suspected cocaine with an estimated  street value of more than £30,000 and what’s been described as a cannabis factory”

The parents of a baby who died in hospital from the Pseudomonas bacterium have called for a public inquiry into the outbreak. Caoimhe Campbell and Gavin Burke’s son Caolan was 10 days old when he died in Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. It happened in December, weeks before three babies died from a different strain of

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny says greed, spawned by people going mad borrowing during the celtic tiger years, was responsible for the economic collapse in Ireland. Enda Kenny’s told the World Economic Forum in Davos that the extent of personal wealth – created on credit – led to the arrival of the IMF. He’s also blamed

The latest figures from the CSO highlights the decline in people’s disposable income in Donegal as the recession started to kick in. The figures released today cover the period from 2000 to 2009 and show that while disposable income in 2009 was 7,000 euro more than 2000 – it had peaked in 2008. Donegal has

Police in Derry are becoming increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of a 15 year old girl from the Cornshell area of the city. Aoife O’Hagan was last seen in the Omagh area on Monday last. She has been in touch with family members on various occasions via her mobile phone however she has not returned

The Irish Cancer Society is setting up six new Daffodil Centres across this country over the next year, including one at Letterkenny General Hospital. This morning the organisation has announced it’s investing 3-point-6 million euro in the new centres, which will be staffed by specialist nurses and volunteers. CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, John

Donegal has hit the national headlines again today following last night’s earthquake recorded in the north of the County. Dozens of listeners to Highland Radio have contacted us today telling their stories of when the 2.2 on the Richter scale tremor struck. While not strong enough to cause any structural damage, the quake shook furniture

As the Department of Education and MInister Quinn continue their review of Deis schools and  consider other cuts, the Irish Primary Principals’ Network is holding its annual conference today, with an emphasis on small schools. The conference is sending out a bleak message, suggesting that budget changes to the staffing of schools with 86 pupils

An earthquake measuring 2.2 on the Richter scale has struck north Donegal. Many listener contacted Highland Radio this moring having experienced the small earthquake overnight. Tremors was felt in areas including Kerrykeel/Fanad,  Downings, Letterkenny and Buncrana. The British Geological Survey confirms that their equipment in Buncrana recorded a magnitude 2.2 earthquake at 1.04 this morning.

Someone in Donegal is waking up a millionaire this morning. There was one winner of last night’s lotto jackpot, worth almost 5.5 million euro. The 12 euro quick pick winning ticket was sold in Topshop, Killea. The numbers drawn were 1, 11, 13, 14, 15 and 37. And the bonus was 30. Shop owner Chanban

Disadvantaged schools in Co Donegal are still facing major cuts to resources, according to Donegal North-East Deputy, Charlie McConalogue. Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said his department was still seeking cuts in teaching posts in Deis schools. Addressing the Oireachtas Education Committee yesterday, the Minister said that while the current review of Budget changes would

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has promised to look at how the Telecommunications Regulator Comreg assesses mobile and broadband coverage in rural areas. Speaking in the Dail last evening, Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says at present, performance and coverage is based solely on population considerations, and that’s putting some rural communities at a disadvantage, particularly in

Four Donegal music venues are in the running for IMRO National and Ulster Live Music Venue of the Year and Sea Sessions has also been shortlisted in the IMRO Music Festival of the Year category. The Irish Music Rights Organisation will announce the winners at their fourth annual awards ceremony, at the end of February

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty is amongst a delegation from the Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform is in Berlin today. They are to meet their German counterparts from the Bundestag’s Budgetary and European Affairs committees. The Irish delegation says they are looking forward to positive, frank and open discussions on many fiscal issues,

Remedial works have begun on the £50m Three Rivers Project along the Strabane and Lifford border. Located on the former Camel’s Hump site, the private investment includes an employment park, learning campus, sports complex, supermarket and wildlife centre. The project is hoping to create upwards of 500 jobs while hundreds more positions are in the

Inishowen Tourism says there’s been a major upsurge in visitor numbers since the Northern Lights became visible in the local skies.  In recent days, hundreds of people have been visiting the area in the hope of seeing the lights. However, there are fears that people may be distracted while driving, and the AA is expressing

A retired man is to face trial in March charged with 32 sex offences over eight years. The man was remanded on €1,000 bail to appear at Donegal town Circuit Court on March 27. Judge Paul Kelly told the west Donegal man at Glenties District Court today(Wed), where the book of evidence was served, that

Junior Minister Fergus O’Dowd has defended the administration of oyster licenses on Lough Swilly following questions in the Dail from Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle. Deputy Pringle told the Dail that at present, oyster licenses are issued by Inland Fisheries Ireland, but there are no checks on whether applicants hold a commercial sea fishing

A public meeting is being held over fears that Carndonagh Community Hospital faces closure as part of the HSE’s cost cutting measures. The facility has 30 patients and recently had its number of beds reduced with concern locally that the hospital may now be closed altogether. It is argued that the hospital provides key services

A man has been injured in the Creggan area of Derry in a punishment style shooting. Police have said he was put into a car at Ferguson Street shortly after 7.30 last evening and taken to an area between Rinmore Drive and Central Drive. He was shot once in the lower right leg. He is

Gardai are investigating a house fire in the Killygordan area overnight. It is thought arson has not been ruled out on the property in Ballinacor which is understood to be vacant. It is understood that one of the houses was found to contain commercial explosives. Gardaí have sealed off the houses as a precaution and

The has been another twists in Derry’s efforts the host the All Ireland Fleadh next year. Last night the Ulster Council of Comhaltas reversed its decision not to endorse Derry’s bid to host the All Ireland Fleadh. The threat posed by dissident republicans was given as the reason by the Ulster Comhaltas to turn down

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty has called on the the government to abandon its property tax plan and reverse the household charge in view of the collapse in property prices. Sinn Fein’s Finance spokesperson has also presented an alternative plan and called on the government to seek re-negotiation with the Troika. Deputy Doherty made