Author name: oisinkelly

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

24 Garda stations in Donegal have been earmarked for possible closure as part of upcoming budget cuts. Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has asked Chief Superintendents around the country to draw up a list of Garda stations that could be closed as they prepare for a cut to their funding. More than 200 small stations could

Dana Rosemary Scallon is poised to make a late entry into the Presidential race. The former MEP and past Presidential candidate has said the announcement of her candidacy is imminent. Mrs Scallon is planning to make a press conference today or tomorrow at which she will make clear her intentions. It’s also understood that Mrs

Donegal Mountain Rescue Team is involved in a search for  missing woman in her forties on Slibh League A bulletin issued by the tem earlier this evening read “The team are still searching in the Slieve League area for a missing American female, aged 41 years, last seen yesterday (Saturday) evening in the Glencolumbkille area.

Martin McGuinness claims the Northern Ireland peace process will be strengthened by his involvement in the Irish presidential election. The former IRA leader’s been formally endorsed by Sinn Fein’s leadership. Mr McGuinness says he has a strong track record in peacemaking and that he’s received expressions of support from people who lost loved ones at

The ferry service between Greencastle and MaGilligan is to be suspended in October. Also the DRD in Northern Ireland are to spend £114 million on 20 new trains, while the services between Coleraine and Derry are to be reduced by 40%. There will also be a new rail timetable introduced in some parts of the

A paramedic has been assaulted by a man he was trying to give medical assistance to in Derry. The attack happened while the paramedic, along with a colleague, was responding to a call in Bank Place in Derry at around 1 o clock this morning. The patient struck out at one of the medics then

A man has stolen money after breaking into a shopping centre in Derry. He managed to enter through a skylight at the centre in Shantallow 730am this morning. He smashed a number of vending machines during his ten minutes inside. The intruder made off with a sum of money.

Gardai in Letterkenny are appealing for information after seven Charolais heifers were stolen from Drumaraghy, along the dual carriageway. The animals were stolen between 6pm on Thursday evening and 3pm on Friday afternoon. The heifers are worth about one thousand euro each and their owner has offered a one thousand euro reward to anyone with

Cigarette sales in clubs and pubs could be suspended for illegal smoking on the premises, Ballyshannon District Court was told. Lisa Finnegan, prosecuting on behalf of the HSE, said any smoking offence since July 1, 2009, could lead to a vending machine on the premises being closed for between a day and three months. Gerry

The Revenue Commissioners accepted 114 settlements between April and June of this year totalling over 26 million euro. 68 were for amounts of more than 100 thousand euro. 11 of these exceeded half a million and three of those 11 were worth more than a million. In Donegal there where 6 settlements totalling almost 950

It’s understood three Independent TDs have agreed to support Martin McGuinness’s bid for the Presidency. The  North’s Deputy First Minister is returning from the US today and he’s expected to be formally ratified as Sinn Fein’s candidate in the presidential election, at an Ard Chomhairle meeting tomorrow. Sinn Fein currently has 17 Oireachtas members, meaning

Gardai today(Fri) described a high-powered car chase when they arrested two men and a teenager after a gang of four abandoned a vehicle. The fourth man swam a river to escape into Northern Ireland, Judge Kevin Kilrane was told at Ballyshannon District Court. He heard that during two burglaries in neighbouring villages Laghey and Ballintra

It’s emerged that Pramerica Managing Director is heading up a new committee seeking donations for the construction of a €4 million Medical Education and Research facility at Letterkenny General Hospital. 40 medical students from Galway who are based at Letterkenny General as part of a strategic link up between the hospital and NUIG. The iniative

It’s emerged that the Irish government may face EU court action for failing to implement the 11 6000 Missing Children’s Hotline in line with commitments to do so by May. North West MEP Jim Higgins says there is an obligation to put the hotline in place, and not doing so leaves Ireland open to rulings

Tributes are being paid today to pharmacist Jim Mc Cormick, the driving force behind the Tidy Towns Committee in Letterkenny. The 69 year old father of three died suddenly last night while on holiday in Spain. As Chair of the Tidy Town’s Committee in the town, he has seen its performance improve to the point

The introduction of new housing benefit legislation in Northern Ireland could have a catastrophic effect for younger parents with shared access. The piece of legislation has already been passed in England and would see a drastic reduction in housing benefit for people under 35, forcing them to enter into shared accomodation,  rather than giving them

Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott has said he has no regrets about attending the funeral of Catholic police officer Constable Ronan Kerr. Mr Elliott and UUP colleague Danny Kennedy – both Orange Order members – are facing disciplinary proceedings by the order for attending the funeral. The Orange Order bans members from Catholic services and

Police in Derry are appealing for witnesses after confirming that a device found in the city last night WAS a viable pipe bomb. The object was found at a carwash on the Racecourse Road just before 10pm. Police are appealing for information on three masked men who were seen travelling in a silver car in

It’s reported this morning that a recent donation to Letterkenny General Hospital has kick started advanced discussions on the provision of a new Medical Education and Research Centre at Letterkenny General Hospital. It would provide a dedicated building for the medical students from Galway who are based at Letterkenny General as part of a strategic

A Donegal based bus company has been fined £400 for letting one of his vehicles to be driven in a dangerous state in County Derry. The 53-seater bus belonging to Reddin Coaches was stopped by police on the Limavady road on 26 February. When police examined the bus on February 26th, they found the windscreen

Three of the Counties six civic ameniety sites are to be tendered out to contractors. The sites at Milford, Letterkenny and Stranorlar are going out to contract, and it’s hoped that the three remaining sites in Dungloe, Laghey and Carndonagh will get a contractor in the near future. It’s hoped now that opening hours at

There was tight security at Letterkenny Courthouse this morning as a man appeared in connection with the stabbing of four people including a Garda outside a local nightclub. 46-year-old John Boyle was charged with four different counts of assault causing harm. He was also charged with the illegal possession of a knife. The attack happened

The President of Letterkenny Institute of Technology says discussions are ongoing which could see the college become part of a Regional Technological University. Speaking as the college celebrates its 40th anniversary, Paul Hannigan said they are in ongoing discussions with other institutions, particularly the University of Ulster. He says since it opened as Letterkenny Regional

North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher is calling for an administrator to be appointed to MFG, which ceased trading without warning last week. Mr Gallagher has written to Environment Minister Phil Hogan urging him to seek and support such an appointment. He says an interim solution must be found, and liquidation avoided if at

The retired GP whose Claudy home was targeted in a Real IRA bomb attack earlier yesterday morning says he and his wife have lived to serve their community, and will not be bullied into leaving it. A controlled explosion was carried out on the device found at Dr Keith Munro’s home early on Wednesday morning.

Letterkenny Town Council is examining ways of improving the junction of the Paddy Harte Link Road and Pearse Road, after Cllr Tom Crossan this week called for the construction of a roundabout to improve access. The council rejected the roundabout suggestion, but is inviting engineers to a meeting to discuss options based on the findings

The HSE is moving to improve facilities for terminally ill people in Donegal, with an initiative to ensure there are dedicated palliative care beds in all district hospitals in the county. The ‘Closer to Home’, initiative is led by nurses, and is intended to allow people too ill to travel to Letterkenny or another centre

It has been confirmed that work to complete the new Medical Block at Letterkenny General Hospital will resume on Monday. The project is almost a year behind schedule – work ground to a halt when the previous builders McNamara & Co went into administration. However an agreement has been reached which will see most of