Author name: oisinkelly

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

The Canadian Ambassador arrives in Donegal tomorrow for a four day visit during which increasing commercial ties between Canada and the Northwest will be discussed. Donegal and Canada already have commercial ties through fishing with efforts ongoing to maximise that sector and to further improve tourism links. During his visit Loyola Hearn will visit Downings

Gardai say the investigation into the dissident republican murder of Andrew Burns in Co. Donegal remains open. Today 37 year old bus driver, Martin Kelly of Barrack Street, Strabane, Co. Tyrone was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the killing on February 12th 2008. Gardai believe at least two others were involved.

A man has been convicted of orally raping and sexually assaulting a female housemate in the house they shared in Donegal. The 38-year-old man had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the charges that were alleged to have taken place on October 30, 2010. The jury of five women and seven men

A Derry man has appeared in court charged with collecting and making digital or video recordings of police officers. 52-year-old Gerard Francis O’Donnell, a taxi driver from Strangford Park denied the charges, which came about following a police search of a house in Derry on June 20. The court was told that photos of police

A Northern Ireland man has been jailed for life at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Andrew Burns in Co. Donegal, four years ago. Martin Kelly of Barrack Street, Strabane, Co. Tyrone was convicted in December over the dissident republican shooting on February 12th 2008. Andrew Burns was shot twice in the back

Power has been returned to Arranmore. According the ESB 487 customers lost their electricity supply shortly after 9 o’clock on Monday night. It was deemed to0 late for ESB crews to travel across from the mainland, they arrived on Tuesday morning and the problem was fixed by 11am. An ESB spokesperson confirmed that a fallen

North West MEP Marian Harkin says the recent acquisition of Donegal Creameries’ dairy division by Connaught Gold will be good for the dairy sector in the West and North West. Speaking to farmers at a meeting in Roscommon, Ms Harkin said there are a number of challenges facing farmers north of the Dublin Galway line,

Figures released today show that, last year alone, over 49 million euro worth of goods were sold in Donegal on the donedeal website. Nationally the classified adverts website shifted over €1 billion worth of goods, an increase of over €300 million from the previous year. The Donegal figure of 49 million euro in 2011 is

It is reported that the Western Health Trust dealt with three cases of the pseudomonas infection before last Christmas in Derry. One baby being treated in Altnagelvin’s neo-natal unit died, while another made a full recovery. A third was transferred to the Royal Victoria hospital in Belfast. All three infants had a different strain of

Donegal County Ccouncil was fined €5,500, including costs, and rebuked by a judge today(Mon) for gross negligence in the protection of a river and its fish stocks. Judge Kevin Kilrane heard how Donegal County Council left two valves open after repairs to water treatment works. As a result sludge which should have gone into the

The PSNI has thrown its weight behind the bid to have Derry host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2013. In a statement released last evening, the Police said Such an event would no doubt be enjoyed by many, enhance the city’s image and bring a welcome boost to the local economy. Meanwhile, Comhaltas Dhoire released

The company that owns Oatfield has been called on to ‘show respect’ to its workers in Letterkenny and tell them definitively what their futures are. The call has been made by Senator Jimmy Harte who met again with workers last evening. The 15 that remain at Oatfields Plant in Letterkenny say they believe the plant

Letterkenny Institute of Technology could form part of a new technological university. The IT is in advanced discussions with Dundalk IT, GMIT, Athlone  IT and IT Sligo. If approved by the Government, the Border Midlands West Technological University would create the largest higher education institution in the state with 27,000 students. A steering group comprising

It’s reported the Government is considering introducing a new time limit for when social welfare recipients are expected to get off the dole. According to reports in the Irish Daily Mail, those on social welfare will have their payments cut  if they don’t meet the deadline. The report says that every unemployed person in the

The jury in the trial of a man accused of orally raping and sexually assault a female housemate have been sent home for the night having failed to reach a verdict. The 38-year-old man has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the charges that were alleged to have taken place on October

A small number of demonstrators have gathered outside the headquarters of the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation – formally Anglo Irish Bank – to protest at the payment of 1.2-billion euro to bondholders at the bank. The government has defended the payment – due to be made on Wednesday saying that burning the bondholders would have

The IDA didn’t create a single new job in new companies in Co Donegal last year. In 2011 there were 61 new companies in the country, but none of these new investments came to Donegal. The current 12 IDA companies in the county created 249 jobs in Donegal last year. Donegal North East Fianna Fáil

Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle says the HSE investigation into the death of local man Paddy Keeny in Killybegs must be allowed take it’s course. 87 year old Mr Keeny’s body was found in the harbour on Friday, he had gone missing from the local community hospital that morning. Speaking this afternoon, Deputy Pringle

The Donegal VEC holds its annual Adult Education Fair tomorrow in Letterkenny. The event, from 11am to 3pm at the Mount Errigal Hotel, will be highlighting education and training options from basic education to third level, and also offering advice on funding and support services. This is the 10th year of the fair, and Adult

Junior Gaeltacht Minister Dinny Mc Ginley says many of the job losses in Donegal were as a result of the closure of Gallagher’s Bakery, where 50 people have been re-employed. He says while it’s disappointing that there has been a net loss of jobs in Donegal, there are indications that improvements are on the horizon.

The Chair of the Derry branch of Comhltas Ceoltorai Eireann has confirmed they will appeal to the Ard Comhairle following a decision by the Standing Committee of the organisations’ Ulster Council not to back a bid for the All Ireland Fleadh to take place in the city next year. It’s understood the reason for the

There was a large turnout at the Highlands Hotel in Glenties last night for a meeting to discuss a controversial new windfarm scheduled to be built in Straboy, Glenties. There is anger after a decision to grant permission for the 20 turbine development was made despite a large number of submissions from people opposed to

Donegal will host its first ever ‘ Relay for Life’ in May with a public meeting in Letterkenny being held tonight (Monday) in an effort to sign people up. Relay For Life is a 24-hour walking relay that takes place throughout Ireland to raise vital funds in support of the work of the Irish Cancer

The threat posed by dissident republicans has bee given as the reason for Comhaltas to turn down Derry’s bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh next year. Following a vote by members of its Ulster Council at the weekend Comhaltas said it was impossible to support the application because safety was paramount. Two bombs exploded in

There was a net loss of over 130 jobs in Údarás supported companies in the Donegal Gaeltacht last year. The figures are contained in Uduras Na Gaeltachta’s end of year report. A total of 259 new jobs were created in the Donegal Gaeltacht in 2011. There were 1,876 full-time equivalent jobs in Údarás supported companies in

The has been an outpouring of grief in the south west of the county over the weekend with the funerals of three people who died tragically to take place this morning. 50 year-old Michael McIntyre, from Malinbeg will be laid to rest in Chashel – his body was discovered in Killybegs Harbour on Friday. Hours

Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister says he has not ruled out meeting the Queen in the future. Speaking to the BBC, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness said he was still pondering the issue and that the royal visit to the Republic last May, made an impact on him. During the Queen’s first visit to the Republic

Drivers from Donegal are the most likely to pull in and help a stranded motorist, according to a new survey from AA Ireland. A total of 61% of drivers in Donegal said they would intervene if they saw someone who needed assistance, compared to 40% of drivers in Kildare – who were rated the least

All roads in Derry and the Foyleside East and West Car Parks are open for again today after being closed on Thursday and a time yesterday after two explosions in Derry. Foyle Street, John Street, Bishop Street and the Strand Road were closed for a time yesterday, but they have reopened today. And the Foyleside

The trial of a man accused of raping his housemate in the Donegal house they shared together has reached closing stages at the Central Criminal Court. The 38-year-old man has pleaded not guilty to orally raping and sexually assaulting the 20-year-old woman on October 30, 2010. The jury of five women and seven men have

Two men have appeared in court charged with murdering a Donegal man yards from his Glasgow home. 20 year-old Asif Rehman and 19 year-old Adil Ishaq, who are both from Glasgow, were remanded in custody at Glasgow Sheriff Court after the death of William McKeeney at the weekend. Mr McKeeney, 57, who was originally from

Two bodies were recovered from Killybegs Harbour this afternoon(Fri), one of a 50-year-old fisherman and another of an elderly man who earlier went missing from a local hospital. The fisherman’s body was taken from the water, although he was not reported missing, when gardai launched a search for the missing hospital patient. The first body

The Government says it will offer assistance to ensure the best interest of workers at the Oatfield plant in Letterkenny if, as is expected, they lose their jobs. The remaining 15 workers on the site have expressed concerns over their futures after equipment was moved from the plant. This has increased concerns that the site

Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlain has called on the Finance Minister to issue an apology for suggesting people were leaving Ireland as a ‘lifestyle choice’ Deputy MacLochlainn says whether or not his comments were taken out of context,  Michael Noonan must recognise they are causing hurt to thousands of families who  have lost loved ones to