Author name: oisinkelly

Experts are looking for help in tracing a meteorite that was seen in the skies over Ireland last week. Astronomy Ireland says it’s almost certain that fragments of the fireball fell somewhere in the North West, probably in Sligo, but possibly in Donegal. They’re asking anyone who saw the meteor on the night of Monday […]

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the deaths of three people in a booby-trap bomb in a flat in the Creggan Estate. Sean Dalton,  Sheila Lewis and Gerard Curran lost their lives. In 2005, Sean Dalton’s family asked the Ombudsman to investigate allegations that the RUC had known that the flat had been booby trapped,

An initiative to help companies in Donegal use the internet to promote and sell their services is being launched today in Letterkenny. The Donegal Digital Skillnet provides companies with training in how to use Facebook and Twitter to generate sales, as well as ensuring that their company’s details feature prominently in Google searches. The scheme

The PSNI will today begin a new round of searches for the body of Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson, who’s been missing for 17 years. The 15 year old  was last seen during a night out in Bundoran in August 1994, in the company of Robert Howard, a known sex offender and child murderer. In 2005,

Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes and Siptu President Jack O’Connor were among the guests at a function this morning to mark the 30th anniversary of the Kirchhoff Automotive Plant in Letterkenny. The gathering was told that at a time when manufacturing in the North West has traditionally struggled, this factory continues to prosper, making component

An SDLP MLA has said he questions if a pharmaceutical company ever had any intention of investing in Derry. Global Pharmaceutical Centre of Excellence (GPCE) had been in talks to bring 300 jobs but has now opted for a site in Tralee, County Kerry instead. The company’s chief executive said lower corporation tax in the

A Strabane man remains in a serious condition in hospital after he was beaten and left unconscious by a gang of teenagers. The 38-year-old man remains in Altnagelvin hospital – where his condition is described as serious but stable – after he was found lying in the street with head injuries by a passer-by. The

Over 50 people, along with a number of local politicians attended a meeting in Raphoe last night over the state of the roads in the area. The meeting was called because of the deterioration of a section of the Castlefin Road outside Raphoe. Residents say there are now over 100 potholes on the three mile

A Councillor says he is suprised and dissaponted to learn that the government has refused funding for a shuttle bus service to improve the safety of children attending the new college in the twin towns. The Department of Education refused funding for the provision of 3 feeder buses to transport students from the official drop-off

A report into child sex abuse in the Raphoe Diocese has been delayed, and will not now be released until October. It was hoped the report would be published at some point this month. The church-run National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church has spent months on a review of all allegations made

Uncertainty still remains around staff at the Omagh meats plant, although staff have been told they should have work for the rest of this week. Trade Unionists had warned over 200 workers could be laid off from today because of ongoing industrial action. According to the union, the management has told workers they can no

Calls have been made for the launch of an independent inquiry into an alleged “conflict of interest” involving a member of An Bord Pleanala in an ongoing row over the Carnagarve Sewerage scheme in Moville. Donegal North-East Deputy Padraig McLaughlin says an independent review should take place regarding the role of An Bord Pleanala Director,

The Government is being urged to avoid the use of “megaphone diplomacy” when it comes to the issue of the confessional. In the wake of the Cloyne report on the handling of clerical child abuse allegations, the Justice Minister Alan Shatter is calling for legislation to make it mandatory to report crimes – regardless of

A Letterkenny businessman is calling for action to rejuvenate the Church Lane area of the town. Kevin Keeney, who has run Bakersville for 20 years says the area is becoming more run down every year, and is now at risk of becoming a slum. He’s urging the Town Council to take action now……….. Cllr JIm 

A public meeting will take place in Raphoe tonight to discuss the ongoing deterioration of a section of the Raphoe Castlefinn Road. Residents say there are now over 100 potholes on the stretch of road between Magherahan and Shanagh, and despite regular promises from the council, work to complete improvements to the road has not

Letterkenny has lost its status as a litter-free town. The latest survey from the Irish Business Against Litter has rated the town as moderatley littered. Letterkenny came in joint 38th out of the 53 town surveyed. The two most littered area in the town were at Larkins Lane and the waste ground beside Centuary Cinema.

One of the three men charged in relation  to the eleven suspected arson attacks in the Buncrana area in recent weeks was brought before a special sitting of Carrick-on-Shannon Court on Friday. He was remanded in custody in Castlerea Prison. The other two men charged were released on bail to appear before Buncrana District Court

Donegal motorists are being warned to be on full alert for the deer on our roads. The Irish Deer Alliance says that deer breeding is at its peak in the months of September and October. There are an estimated 2,000 deer in Donegal with a further 300 within the boundaries within Glenveagh National Park. Chairman

A support group for victims of clerical child sex abuse has accused the bishop of Raphoe of guilt tripping Catholics. Speaking last weekend  Dr Philip Boyce said the church was being attacked from the outside by the arrows of a secular and Godless culture. Speaking to  worshippers at the Novena at the Marian shrine in

Gardaí in Donegal investigating suspected arson attacks – are continuing to question two men in Buncrana Garda Station. The men, aged 20 and 21 are being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act. Since early July, there have been eleven incidents of fires in the Buncrana area. The attacks have been random –

One in four people in Donegal have travelled with a drunk driver in the past two years according to a new survey. A quarter of people from the county who took part in an AA Insurance Poll carried out this month said they knowingly took a lift with a driver they understood to be over

A further two men have been arrested and a third charged as part of the Garda investigation in to a spate of fires in the South Inishowen area. The two arrests – both male, ages 20 & 21 years, took place this afternoon in the Buncrana area Of the original 5 men arrested 2 have

Tthe N56 between Crolly and Loughanure has re-opened. It was closed for a time after a lorry overturned. It took two large cranes two hourso get the lorry back on the road. The driver of the lorry was not injured.

A public meeting will take place in Raphoe on Monday night next to discuss the ongoing deterioration of a section of the Raphoe Castlefinn Road. Residents say there are now over 100 potholes on the stretch of road between Magherahan and Shanagh, and despite regular promises from the council, work to complete improvements to the

It now seems certain that when students return to Finn Valley College on Monday, their initial classes will be in the old school, despite the fact that the brand new building is complete. A dispute between the contractor and a sub-contractor has delayed the provision of safety certificates. Donegal VEC is to meet with the

Donegal County Council says it hopes a footpath at Drumboe Lower leading to the new  Finn Valley College will be finished by September 30th. In a statement issued this afternoon, the council acknowledges that it would have been better to have had this work finished before new the school year. However, the council says the

Two men arrested over the attempted murder of a Derry civil servant five years ago have been released on police bail pending further enquiries. The suspects, aged 25 and 21, were arrested in the city on Wednesday. Five men were arrested last month in connection with the attack. Four were released on police bail pending

A Derry Sinn Fein councillor has been suspended from the party following an allegation of assault. Cllr Colin Kelly, who is in his 20s was suspended by the party following an allegation of assault by a member of the public. The party is examining the claim. It’s not known if a complaint has been made

The 17 year old youth who died after falling from a roof in Bundoran early yesterday morning has been named as Joe Olwill from Santry in Dublin. He had been on a surfing holiday with a group of friends. It’s understood he was locked out of his apartment, and was trying to climb in the

One person has been charged and two are still being questioned by gardai investigating 11 suspected arson attacks in South Inishowen since July. A 17 year old youth was charged at Buncrana Garda Station last night. He was released on bail, to appear at Buncrana District Court on the 8th of September. A second man

A meeting of parents of students attending Finn Valley College will take place this evening, amid concerns that a dispute between the contractor and a sub contractor may compromise the school’s opening next week. It had been intended that Donegal VEC would receive the keys tomorrow, and the school would open on Monday. However, parents

A 17 year old youth has died after falling from a roof in Bundoran. Gardai say at 2.30 this morning, they went to the Tirconnell Holiday Apartments on Station Road after being called by the ambulance service. They say the 17 year old, from the Dublin area, was lying on the ground. Attempts were made

Gardai investigating fires in Inishowen have arrested five young men  ranging in age from 17 to 24. One was detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the State Act 1939 and the other four under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. A 17 year old male was released from custody at Buncrana

The Chairperson of Finn Harps Football Club says the club must raise €30,000 through its current fundraising drive just to meet its targets for the current season. Figures presented at an Extraordinary General Meeting last night showed income is well down on 2010. A public meeting following the EGM was told that the situation would

Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte has called on schools to talk to parents who haven’t recieved their Back to School Allowance yet. There’s currently a backlog of 45 thousand applicants for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. Many families who dont recieve the allowance will not be able to afford uniforms and schoolbags. The

The transport minister in the North has again expressed his commitment to the Derry to Coleraine rail link, but said he does not have the funding to upgrade the line. Danny Kennedy met with Derry MLAs, MPs and councillors yesterday to discuss the future of the service…. Last week Mr Kennedy announced work on link

Management at Donegal Airport have confirmed that Aer Aran will continue their flight to Dublin up until November. It was confirmed yesterday that Logan Air has been awarded the new contract for the operation of the Donegal Dublin air service. The new Donegal contract is for a three year period commencing on the 3rd November.

The Bishop of Raphoe has said the catholic church is under pressure from the outside and the inside, but it will survive. Dr Philip Boyce made his comments druing a novena at the basillica in Knock. His comments come as the Abused Catholic Children Association of Ireland confirm it’s weekly protest in Dublin this week

Transport Minister Leo Varadker has confirmed that Logan Air has been awarded the contract for the operation of the Donegal Dublin air service. The other remaining PSO contract linking Dublin and Kerry will be run by Aer Arrain. The new Donegal contract is for a three year period commencing on the 3rd November, 2011 with

There’s been another suspicious fire in Inishowen, this one in the Hilltown area of Buncrana. Shortly before half past three, a car was set alight outside an elderly woman’s home, two sheds containing farm machinery and a load of turf were also burned. Chief Fire Officer Bobby Mc Menamin says it’s worrying that such incidents

A former Irish soldier and his co-accused, due to stand trial accused of being dissident republican gunmen, claim an alleged murder bid on a trainee police officer was a prank. The 28-year-old ex soldier, Gerard James McManus, from Fernhill in Letterkenny and 35-year-old Kevin Barry Nolan, from Main Street in Blacklion, deny attempted murder. The

The City of Culture Company in Derry is calling for a rail platform to be built at City of Derry Airport. The company chairperson, former Mayor Martin Bradley, says it’s “nonsense that visitors to the city should not be able to avail of a direct rail service.” He also called for a meeting with Transport

A prominent Donegal anti-drugs campaigner says the issue of people driving under the influence of drugs is being completely ignored in the road safety debate. PJ Blake says that while news of stricter laws on drinking driving are to be welcomed, he feels nothing is being done to address the issue of drug driving. Mr

Three Outpatient Clinics have been cancelled at Letterkenny General Hospital this morning after what’s been described as unprecedented numbers attending A&E overnight. The 20 bed overflow ward is full, with a number of patients now being accomodated in Outpatient department. As a result, the medical clinics of Dr Steele, Dr Mohommad and Dr Oshodi have

Donegal’s two representatives will be in the spotlight at the Rose of Tralee  this evening. 23 year-old Maria McCole from Letterkenny is the Donegal Rose while Grainne Boyle, who is 24 and from Gartan, is the Dubai Rose. The first round of the contest was held last night in Tralee. Grainne has been explaining how