Author name: oisinkelly

The former Chair of Independent Fianna Fáil, said that the merger of Independent Fianna Fáil and the main Fianna Fáil party never really worked, and that it was a mistake. Speaking to Raidió na Gaeltachta Jimmy Begley said that Independent Fianna Fáil had never really been welcomed into the Fianna Fáil camp, that they had […]

The Association of Municipal Authorities in Ireland holds its annual conference today with Letterkenny Town Council’s representative predicting concerns over local government reform will dominate proceedings. There is an uncertain future for Town Councils, particularly those in less populated areas, as the government looks to streamline local government in an effort to save money. Letterkenny

Three men are due in court today charged in connection with a spate of suspected arson attacks across south Inishowen. Gardai are investigating  eleven incidents of fires in the Buncrana area since early July. The arson attacks have been described as random and some  have occurred in isolated rural areas.  Properties targeted included unoccupied buildings; 

The news that Meitheal Forbartha na Gaeltacht (MFG) is to close has been described as another crushing blow to the Gaeltacht. MFG channels both government and EU funding to businesses and community organisations across the Gaeltacht throught a number of schemes including the Rural Development Programme. It is claimed the company told staff last evening

A 19 year old Donegal man who has won a place on the IRFU’s development programme for Leinster has been detained by a judge who called him a spoiled brat. Darragh Farragher from Kinroose, Donegal Town  was remanded in custody to St Patrick’s Institution for five days by Judge Kevin Kilrane before sentencing for previous

The Derry Regeneration Company ILEX says it will open the Parade Grounds at Ebrington in December, creating the biggest open public space in the city. As part of the opening ceremony, they want to place a time capsule in the grounds, reflecting the life, culture and community of the city in 2011, as well as

Almost 70% of Donegal businesses with websites are now using social media like Facebook and Twitter, but the majority want help with what they should be saying online. That’s according to a sample survey conducted in the county by PR company ‘ Inis Communications’. Business in the county are more likely to update their social

A 32-year-old man appeared at Donegal District Court today accused of a sex assault on a woman. Sgt Angela Cummins said she arrested the man earlier today and when he was charged he made no reply. Supt Jim Coen said the Director of Public Prosecutions had consented to the case going forward for trial at

Two Derrymen have been banned from flying on commercial airlines after they appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court today charged with being abusive and threatening to a member of a cabin crew and being drunk while on an airline. 32 year old John Patrick Johnston of 35, Carnhill and 31 year old Paul Daniel McIntyre of

Older people are becoming more isolated and lonely according to a new report from the St. Vincent de Paul. It says loneliness is the single biggest problem facing older people particularly those living in rural areas. It is blaming the closure of post offices and a lack of local transport. John Mark McCafferty of the

South Donegal farmer Patsy Brogan’s trial on operating a sheebeen, due to be heard today, has been further adjourned at Donegal District Court. The case is now listed for hearing at the same court on October 5 Brogan has already denied at an earlier hearing that he operated a “shebeen” in a shed called the

Donegal man Nick North has finished an endurance challenge he undertook to raise money for Charity. The 53 year-old undertook a  3,000km run which began at Mozambique’s northern border with Tanzania and finished at its southern border with South Africa. In blistering heat, the long distance runner has effectively run 66 marathons back-to-back since he

North West MEP Marian Harkin is welcoming confirmation from Environment Minister Phil Hogan that there will be no charge for inspection of septic tanks. The Independent MEP had organised meetings in all eleven counties of the constituency to oppose the imposition of charges for septic tank owners. However, she says the minister must clarify a

Just 60 of the 280 junior doctors recruited from India and Pakistan to ease the manpower crisis in hospitals have secured the green light to work. The rest are awaiting clearance to take up their posts because of delays in registration. It’s not clear what proportion of the doctors recruited for Letterkenny General Hospital have

A Letterkenny charity shop has been advised to ‘think again’ after refusing to refund a woman who paid €400 for a broken piano. Denise O’Boyle paid €400 for the 85-year-old piano at the Good And New charity shop in the town and a further €200 for it to be delivered to her home and tuned.

A major restructuring programme has been confirmed by River Media Newspapers, which the company says will save 81 jobs. Six titles are owned by the company, four in the republic and two in the North. As part of the package, a receiver to the group’s four papers in the Republic and an administrator to its

Neither Donegal Creameries nor Connaught Gold are commenting this evening on renewed speculation that a deal has been done to sell Donegal’s milk division to Connaught Gold. At a press conference last week, Donegal Creameries would only say that discussions are taking place in a national context on how best to sustain and develop the

Derry City Council is to have a new Chief Executive. Sharon O’Connor has been appointed Chief Executive and Town Clerk to succeed Valerie Watts, who took up a new position in Scotland earlier in the year. Ms. O ‘Connor is currently the Director of Development with Down District Council and is expected to take up

Both parties in the Quigley’s Point community centre dispute are being urged to consider mediation in an effort to find a solution. There are claims management of the building terminated a lease with the Children’s Point Childcare group unfairly. That is a claim rejected by the centre’s management. The issue has divided Quigley’s Point down

The Mayor of Donegal says the success of towns and villages in this years Tidy Town’s competition must be complimented by a crack down on illegal dumping in more rural areas. Mayor Noel McBride has praised all involved in Donegal’s success in the Tidy Towns competition, the results of which where announces yesterday. Letterkenny, Buncrana

Donegal County Council will vote on ratifying the presidential candidacy of Independent Sean Gallagher on the 26th of this month, two days before nominations close. Yesterday, Mr Gallagher received formal County Council nominations from Leitrim and Meath, while Mary Davis has been nominated by Sligo and Galway County Councils. Mr Gallagher has family roots in

A dispute continues in Quigley’s Point between a play group and management of the local community centre which is said that have split the community down the middle. On Firday a large group of people staged a protest over claims management of the building terminated a lease with the Children’s Point Childcare group unfairly. That

Donegal Sinn Fein Deputy Pearse Doherty has joined calls for his party to put forwards a candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. Kerry TD Martin Ferris is already in the record stating his party should run a candidate with Deputy Pearse Doherty now echoing those calls. It would be the first time the Sinn Fein

A 47 year old Derry man has been remanded in custody for possessing what a judge described as a ‘Gothic horror weapon’, namely a claw hammer with nails welded onto it. Philip Murray,of 10, Shearwater Way in Derry appeared at the local Magistrate’s Court charged with possessing the hammer and a two foot long Samurai

A preliminary enquiry for a man charged with the murder of pizza delivery man Emmet Shields in June 2008 in Derry was adjourned at today’s sitting of Derry Magistrate’s Court. 20 year old Thaddeus McAllister, originally from Cable Street in Derry, but now with an address in London had been due to face committal proceedings

Letterkenny is Donegal’s tidiest town, with 306 points, up two from last year, and four away from the national winners Killarney. Glenties takes second place in Donegal with 302 points, up one on last year, while Malin also gains an extra point to finish this year on 300 points. There’s a bronze medal for Buncrana,

Donegal County Council has sent samples taken from the new sewerage scheme to see if they are by-products of fuel laundering. Construction of the sewerage scheme is underway, however the main contractor has brought to the council’s attention the discovery of a small amount of what could be the waste from fuel laundering. Officials say

A Fianna Fail Donegal County Councillor, who has been threatening to quit the party, says he has no faith in its leader Michael Martin. In a scathing attack on Deputy Martin, Donegal Councillor Brenden Byrne, said that if Fianna Fail continues under its current leadership it will not survive. Following a call at the weekend

New figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people on trolleys at Letterkenny General Hospital. The figures cover the period from August 2006 up until August of this year. There was a dramatic decrease in the figures between August 2006 and August 2007,

A Donegal County Councillor who says he is considering quiting Fianna Fail over its handling of the Presidential Election, is due to confirm his decision today. On Friday, Councillor Brenden Byrne told Highland Radio News that he is disillusioned with Michael Martin’s decision not to run a Fianna Fail candidate in the presidential election. He

Donegal County Council has been allocated a further  €84,000 in funding for Winter Maintenance It brings the total allocation up to € 752,000 which is the third largest  Winter Maintenance Grant to a local authority in the country. The news has been welcomed by Labour Senator Jimmy Harte, he believes that the council has handled

A group of volunteers who will travel to Donegal this month to search for missing Lifford man David Couloun, says they have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local businesses. It emerged at the weekend that over 30 members of  the ‘Searching for the Missing’ group will travel to the county to conduct a major

The new Finn Valley College opens this morning, after a delay in certification meant classes had to start in the old building last Wednesday. The VEC took formal posession of the new building on Friday evening. Work to construct a footpath is continuing, with interim measures in place which Donegal County Council is warning could

A two-month-long Garda investigation into the disappearance of up to €15,000 of customers’ savings at a village Post Office has concluded and a file is now being prepared. Senior Garda sources indicated last evening that the file will shortly be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Laghey Post Office closed suddenly two months ago

There are calls for a seminar or conference on job creation to be held in Buncrana. Earlier this year, the previous Mayor of Donegal, Cora Harvey hosted a similar event called “Making the Future Happen: Addressing the Unemployment Challenge in Donegal. The conference was  focused on motivating and inspiring businesses and the agencies responsible for

A number of passengers sustained minor injuries when the coach on which they were travelling was attacked in Derry early yesterday morning. The attack at 2am happened on the Madamsbank Road. A double glazed window was broken, and a number of passengers were injured. It’s understood they were returning from a wedding.

A man has been arrested in Tyrone in connection with dissident republican activity. The 40 year old was arrested in Coalisland, Co. Tyrone. Detectives are questioning him in at the Serious Crimes Suite in Antrim. Meanwhile, police in Belfast have charged a 31 year old man with firearms and drugs offences. He’s due in court

The ‘Searching for the Missing’ group is to travel to Donegal later this month to conduct a major new search for Lifford man David Coulhoun. The 21 year old has been missing since May. He was detained by police in Strabane for a minor incident, escaped and fled towards Lifford. His family believe he entered

The latest figures from the INMO show that over one hundred beds have been closed in hospitals and nursing homes in Donegal  by the HSE due to staffing issues and cutbacks. The figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show the amount of bed closures in Donegal since it started compiling the figues in

A 54 year old man who admitted hiding guns and ammunition for dissident republicans has been jailed for seven years at Belfast Crown Court. Thomas Christopher Nash from Iveagh Park, Prehen, admitted having a .22 calibre hunting rifle, ammunition and a silencer with intent on the 9th of August last year. He also admitted possessing

The HSE has announced that it is to provide additional counselling services for adults in west Donegal with a history of childhood abuse. The Executive says the move is In response to the concerns and distress expressed following the Michael Ferry case. Ferry, a caretaker who kept his job at a school despite a conviction

A Strabane man, described by police as “a main player” in terror group Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD), has been remanded in custody. 47-year-old Jim McGettigan of Urney Road, Strabane appeared in court today charged with providing property for the purposes of terrorism. He was arrested in Strabane last Thursday. The charge is based around

Donegal County Councillor Brendan Byrne has confirmed that he is considering quitting the Fianna Fail Party. The former Mayor said he will make his decision on Monday. Cllr Byrne told Highland Radio News this morning that he is dissillusioned with the Michael Martins decision not to run a Fianna Fail candidate in the presidential election.

A young man had his throat cut in a an attack in Letterkenny at the weekend it’s emerged. The man in his 20s had to receive 40 stitches as a result of the attack in the Glencar area on Friday night. Gardai have confirmed they had been called to investigate a stabbing just before 11