Author name: oisinkelly

The Sunday Times University Guide has described Letterkenny IT as the most improved college in the country, and runner up in the Institute of Technology of the Year category. In its annual assessment which has been published today, the guide praises the college for its retention rates, which have gone from being among the worst […]

The father of the 41 year old Kelly Jones who was found safely last Wednesaday after a four day search has spoken of his joy when he was reunited with her at Sligo General Hospital. 64 year old Rick Jones, a retired Professor at Georgia University is expected to bring Kelly home to the US

A Donegal TD says people who welcomed Martin McGuinness’ appointment as Deputy First Minister for Northern Ireland should embrace his bid for the Presidency. Martin McGuinness came third in the latest Sunday Business Post opinion poll  – with 16 percent support. David Norris is favourite to win on 21 per cent, while Labour’s Michael D

Up to 20 thousand people are expected in Bundoran over the next week for Eurosurf Bundoran 2011 which gets underway later today. The parade of nations will commence in Bundoran this afternoon at 3pm. Comeptition starts on Sunday with the worlds top surfers battling it out over a weeks competition. The event is expected to

Letterkenny Institute of Technology has been named as the runner up Irish Institute of Technology of the year. It came behind Dublin Institute of Technology in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012, The guide is one of the most read in the world and contains full lists of the major third-level institutions in Ireland and

It’s reported this morning that the US tourist found alive after going missing for five days told gardai she cannot remember most of her ordeal. The Garda Press Office is not confirming that a formal interview has taken place, but the Irish Independent is reporting that 41 year old Kelly Jones has told gardai she

The main Fintown to Glenties road has re-opened following an earlier crash. A man was injured in the single vehicle incident close to Fintown. He was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital, his injuries are not life threatening.  

373 thousand euro has been approved by Donegal Local Development Company to the Doe Community Association for upgrade works in Creeslough. It is a further boost for the town which was awarded €560,000 by the National Roads Authority for improvement’s to th main street. A contractor to do the work has been selected but not

Derry, Strabane and Letterkenny will join 30 towns and cities across Ireland tonight as part of Culture Night 2011. The event sees galleries, museums, churches and other cultural sites open late so visitors can experience what they have to offer. Culture Night, which has been running since 2006, offers live performances, tours and workshops in

A list of Garda stations to be closed in Donegal could include a number of one-man stations and border town stations. The stations understood to be up for closure include Culdaff, Glencolmcille, Carrick, Annagry, Burtonport, Creeselough, Dunfanaghy, Rathmullen, Ramelton, Pettigo, Churchill, Brockagh, Carrigans, Newtowncunningham, Convoy and Malin. Public meetings have been planned against the moves.

Gardai are investigating after a suspected arson attack in Letterkenny in the early hours of this morning. A skip was set alight on the town’s Main Street close to Blake’s Bar. Gardai and two sections of the local fire service were quickly on the scene of the blaze which broke out around 1.30am. Gardai quickly

An Bord Pleannala has given the go ahead for a controversial new research project of the west Donegal coast which some locals fear will be the precursor to offshore wind farms. Queen’s University in Belfast plans to build fifty four – 5 tonne – concrete pillars along coast to the west of Falchorrib Pier, close

The ICSA is calling for an increase in inspections at the country’s metal recycling centres in the wake of an increase in the theft of metal. There have been numerous cases in Donegal this year of farming machinery, gates, pot holes and other metal items being stolen. The ICSA says it is to easy for

A group of 30 TDs and Senators will undergo suicide first aid training. The safeTALK training takes place for the first time at Leinster House TODAY and is being run by the Office for Suicide Prevention. The Cross Party Group on Mental Health decided to undergo the training in response to the 486 deaths by

MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher says he is disappointed that the European Fisheries Minister refused to meet with Island representatives today. The minister, Commissioner Maria Damanaki is in Ireland today on a two day visit. The islanders had planned to present the Minister with a survival plan for Islands – they argue that their fishing

The head of the Ballyliffen Local Development Company says she was shocked and disgusted to hear the story of a Waterford tourist who, along with his family was terrified by so called ‘boy racers’ during a recent visit. Eoin McMahon, his wife and children were visiting Inishowen on Friday and pulled in at close to

The sister of a man who was killed on Bloody Sunday has described the British Ministry of Defences offer of compensation as repulsive. Linda Nash, who’s 19-year-old brother William was killed, said it has never been about money for the Bloody Sunday families. A statement from the British Ministry of Defence confirmed today that compensation

Martin McGuinness says he never killed anyone during his time in the IRA – nor was he indirectly responsible for the deaths of anyone. The Sinn Fein presidential candidate was speaking following speculation about the role he played during his time in the IRA in the 1970s. Yesterday, Government Minister Phil Hogan said he did

X-Ray services are to be restored at Donegal and Killbegs Community Hospitals from next Monday. The units had been closed for the past two weeks, and the HSE had given no date for their reopening. Senator Brian O Domnhaill asked in the Seanad last night that the units be open two days a week. But

Rescue teams had searched the area around an Old Rectory in Glencolumbcille, were an American tourist was found alive yesterday, on a number of occasions over the past number of days. 41-year-old Kelly Jones, who had been missing since Saturday morning, was discovered yesterday just a number of kilometres from the hostel she had been

Fianna Fail Councillor Ciaran Brogan says he took the decision to seek a special Council meeting to considering nominating Dana as a candidate in the presidential election in the interest of democracy. It emerged last evening that at the request of Fianna Fail members, the Mayor Noel McBride has agreed to call the meeting for

Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle has said his position hasn’t changed over a letter penned by David Norris to Israeli authorities seeking clemency for his former lover, who was convicted of raping a 15-year-old Palestinian boy. Senator Norris is expected to make further contact with TD’s and Senators today as part of his attempt

The Canadian Ambassador to Ireland is in Buncrana today with the town’s Mayor Nicholas Crossan saying it is a great opportunity to increase ties between Canada and the north west. This will be Loyola Hearn’s second visit to the area this year and he will meet with fish producers from the area, which do business

Those unemployed or in search of work opportunities are being encouraged to attend the “Working Together to Make the Future Happen” Event taking place today. The free public drop-in event is aimed at showcasing to the unemployed the many opportunities within the county to re-enter the workforce. The event is multi-agency and will be attended

Highland Radio News can reveal that Donegal County Council is to hold a special meeting to considering nominating Dana Rosemary Scallon as a candidate in next month’s presidential election. At the request of Fianna Fail members, the Mayor Noel McBride has agreed to call the meeting for next Tuesday at 10am. Providing that councillors receive

The Garda press office has confirmed that a 42 year old man was arrested this morning following a planned search of a house at Meendernasloe , Annagry. Gardai executed a warrant to search the premises and the man was subsequently arrested for possession of a controlled substance. He was charged under the misuse of drugs

A Waterford tourist has been describing how he and his family were terrified by so called ‘boy racers’ during a recent visit to Donegal. Eoin McMahon alongwith  his wife and children were visiting Inishowen on Friday and pulled in at Pollen Bay in their camper van to stay over night. They claim they were then

Captured by Dermot Donavan, Donegal Mountain Rescue, this is the moment Kelly Jones is winched aboard the Search and Rescue helicopter on her way to hospital. Having been missing since 11am on Saturday morning, the 41 year-old from Georgia was found safe in an out house close to where she was staying. It is understood

An American woman who had been missing in south Donegal since Saturday has been found. Kelly Jones was located in an out building by local volunteers along with the gardaí. She is being taken by helicopter to Letterkenny General Hospital. The 41 year-old from Georgie has no injuries but is believed to be suffering from

The Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte has said he expects the sale of a minority stake in ESB to take place next year. Speaking in the Dail last night, Minister Rabbitte said an expert group would report back in November on how best to proceed with the transaction. Sinn Fein hit back

Senator David Norris has this evening received the formal backing of Fingal County Council in Dublin for the Presidential ticket. He does however still require the endorsement of three other councils – something his spokesperson says he’s confident will happen by next week’s deadline. It is understood that he will seek the support of Donegal

A man remains in a critical condition at Letterkenny General Hospital following a car crash in Gweedore this morning. The man, believed to be a trainee doctor, was injured in the crash on the N56 close to An Chuirt Hotel. The N56 road at Meenacuing, Gweedore remains closed this evening as Gardaí carry out a

Donegal Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie McConalogue says his party’s decision not to facilitate the nomination of anybody in the Presidential race is a good one. The Parliamentary party made the decision unanimously this morning after a divisive row last week. The decision effectively ends the Presidential hopes of Dana and Senator David Norris. Deputy Charlie

A man has been injured in a single vehicle collision in Gweedore. The man,  believed to be a trainee doctor was injured in the crash on the N56 close to An Chuirt Hotel. He has been removed to Letterkenny General. The road will remain closed for a few hours ( as of Tuesday 3pm)

Martin McGuinness has hit out at what he calls the “West Brit elements” around Dublin and in the media, who have criticised his nomination for the Presidency. Mr McGuinness is among the Aras candidates meeting people attending the National Ploughing Championships in Co Kildare today. He says he is a “genuine peacemaker” with a contribution

The search for a missing American tourist is going to be concentrated on the Slieve League area today. 41-year-old Kelly Jones from Georgia in the USA was last seen at around 11 o clock on Saturday morning. She had been in Co Donegal for ten days on a hiking holiday. PRO of the Donegal Mountain

Figures released by the government show that there are currently 1,134 homes in need of social housing support in Donegal This is a decrease of almost 36 % compared to 1993. The figures released by the Department of the Environment show that around 100 thousand households are on Local Authority waiting lists around the country.

Vital X-Ray equipment bought by the people of Killybegs and Donegal Town is sitting unused because of HSE staff shortages. Radiographers who normally operate the equipment have been transferred to Letterkenny General Hospital to work there. This means that the Killybegs and Donegal Town units have been closed for the past two weeks and no

A new project has been launched in Strabane with the aim of trying to discourage young people from getting involved in anti social behaviour. The ‘Hold It Down’ Project has been developed to inform young people aged 13 to 16 of the effects of becoming involved in anti-social behaviour on themselves, their family and their

The company which owned the historic Herdman’s Mill in County Tyrone owed its creditors more than £10m when it went into receivership earlier this year. Ulster Bank, the largest creditor, is owed more than £6m. Invest NI, a secured creditor, is owed £2.5m. The mill ceased spinning linen in 2004 and the Herdman family had

A new survey show the benefit of shopping around for home heating oil in Donegal. The National Consumer Agency has published the results of a home heating oil survey, which reveals that savings of up to €30 can be made by shopping around in some local areas of Donegal. The highest price recorded in Donegal

Ballybofey man James McGee was given a hero’s welcome back to the Twin Towns yesterday evening. On Sunday, James and his prized dog ‘Becca’ became the first Donegal team to win the World Sheepdog Trial, when they topped the pile at the event held in Cumbria. James and ‘Becca’ came through an entry list of

Former MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon has formally entered the presidential race, asking TDs and Senators to nominate her. At a press conference in Dublin she said the contest should not become known as the “what if” election. She wants Oireachtas members to nominate her has as an independent, and says she’s asked Independent TDs and

Four people were towed to safety yesterday after their fishing boat got into difficulity just off the coast of Killybegs. The vessel had broken down in rough conditions after setting off on a fishing trip from Killybegs. After recieving a call the Bundoran RNLI lauched and towed the boat to safety, the rescue helicopter, coastguard

The Chairman of the Irish Farmers Association is calling on all farmers in the county to be vigilant after seven Charolais heifers were stolen a Letterkenny farm. The Charolais heifers were to be sold at market on Thursday, were first discovered missing on Friday afternoon from a shed on a farm at Drumardagh. The farmer,

Hundreds of jobs are to be created in Co Tyrone as part of the Opportunity Omagh development, which is set to include a Tesco superstore. Planning permission at a 37-acre site on the Derry Road was granted last summer and is to include leisure, offices, business start up units, primary healthcare, petrol filling station, hotel

The manager of Derry City Football Club has been found guilty of speeding. Stephen Kenny was fined £250 and has had six penalty points imposed on his driving licence. Mr Kenny pleaded guilty at Derry Magistrates Court to driving with excess speed while on his way to a football match earlier this year. The 39-year-old

A search is continuing this morning for an American woman who has gone missing in the Glen Head area. The 41-year-old tourist had been staying at a hostel in Glencolmcille, she hasn’t been seen since she went for a walk on Saturday evening. A search was carried out in and around Sliabh League yesterday, but