Author name: oisinkelly

12 Donegal beaches have been awarded blue flags recognising their excellent water quality. The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence which is operated in Ireland by An Taisce with support from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government Teh 12 beaches were Bundoran, Murvagh, Rossnowlagh, Fintra, Narin-Portnoo, Carrickfinn, Marble Hill, […]

An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against plans for a major residential development in Letterkenny. Blake Burke Limited had been given conditional approval by the council for the development of in excess of 300 houses in the Oldtown area. However that decision was appealed by a local residents group. The council awarded

A 49-year-old has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court today charged in connection with a Real IRA march on Easter Monday. Marvin Canning 51, Galliagh Park, Derry was charged with arranging or organising a meeting in support of a proscribed organisation and aiding and abetting uniformed men who were supporting a proscribed organisation namely the IRA.

Donegal TD’s were today appointed to a number of Oireactas committees. Deputy Charlie McConalogue has been appointed to two, Health and Children and well as Investigations, Oversight and Petitions. Thomas Pringle will sit on the Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, he will also be on the Committee on Members’ Interests of Dáil Éireann

Buncrana Town Council is warning that those who don’t pay their rates will be pursued and if necessary, brought to court. However, those in genuine difficulty are being urged to discuss their case with the authority. The warning came as members considered the unaudited financial report for last year. The report shows a high level

It’s been confirmed by Gardai that there is no evidence that yachts were turned away from Greencastle last month. It was reported that yachts, from France, Sweden and Buncrana, were turned away from the harbour by people claiming to protect the rights of fishermen. The apparent incident had sparked outrage among a cross section of

A strategy must be developed to combat the rising problem of sheep theft. The industry is worth almost 40 million euro alone to the region of Donegal and accounted for 16% of the national flock last year. Donegal North-East Deputy, Joe McHugh has called on the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Justice to

Rally driving can encourage younger people to drive safer and respect speed. Speaking at yesterdays ‘Donegal- Your Road to Safety’ seminar in Letterkenny, local rally car driver Toni Kelly says through the sport, she has become educated, and she has seen first hand what can go wrong as a result of speeding. The Donegal Rally

A new EU directive to charge truckers for air and noise pollution is being criticised by a Fianna Fail MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher, who voted against the initiative in the European Parliament, says it will leave Ireland uncompetitive. Each member state can decide whether or not to introduce the charges. Pat the Cope Gallagher

Almost a 250,000 euro has been approved under the Rural Development Programme to support Crossroads and Killygordon Enterprises (CAKE). The grant is 74% of the total cost of a new extension which is to built at the Crossroad and Killygordon Enterprises Community Centre. It’s hoped the funding will create a number of jobs as well

As expected, independent Cllr Nicholas Crossan has been elected unopposed as Mayor of Buncrana, with Sinn Fein Cllr Mary Kelly elected as Deputy Mayor. The elections took place at this afternoon’s AGM of council in line with a pact agreed  when the council was elected in 2009. Cllr Crossan replaces Cllr Michael Grant, who took

Garda are investigating an armed robbery at the Post Office in Bridgend this afternoon. Three men entered the premises shortly after 12.15 this afternoon, threatened staff and left with an undisclosed sum of money. There were no customers in the premises at the time and noone was injured Gardai believe the three men escaped in

Gardai are at the scene of a robbery at the post office at Bridgend. It is understood that three men entered the premises shortly after 12 o’clock this afternoon. They escaped with an undisclosed some of money. Gardai believe the three men escaped in a silver coloured vehicle in the direction of the border. It

A new report published today by the Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána, shows that a total of 307 road users were killed in road collisions in the county of Donegal over the period 1996-2009. ‘Donegal – Your Road to Safety’ was launched today at a special seminar held at Letterkenny IT. The report

The Government has declined, at this time, to offer an apology for the state’s handling of the Ballymanus mine disaster. 19 lives were lost in the incident which occurred in west Donegal on 10th of May 1943. A mine washed ashore at Ballymanus and a crowd of young people gathered to watch the event, it

The Department of Education has confirmed that a site identified for the construction of a new school in Gortahork is no longer being considered, leaving the project – from a planning perspective at square one. The new school, seen as essential for the area, was to consist of a new single storey 5 classroom school,

Almost 5,000 Donegal students will sit the state examinations which get underway today. Leaving and Junior Cert exams begin this morning at schools across the country. They will finish on Friday fortnight next. The first leaving cert paper is English – followed this afternoon  by Home Economics, Scientific and Social. Later this week Students will

Road safety in Donegal will be the focus of a special seminar today. The Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority will among those to give a breakdown of county-wide statistics for the past ten years. Their presentation is expected to include information on Garda strategies and campaigns, and how authorities are enforcing road rules. There’ll

The winding down by the Government of the National Treatment Purchase Fund has created concern and confusion among patients in Donegal. That is according to Donegal North-East Deputy Charlie McConalogue who said that the Health Minister has created a new agency which will do exactly what the National Treatment Purchase Fund did. A new agency

Government engineers in the North have said the proposed A5 dual carriageway is better value, will be safer and will affect fewer landowners than alternative proposals, according to the minister responsible for roads. But Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy told the Assembly he would reserve judgment on the major Western Transport Corridor until completion of

The “We the Citizens” initiative is holding an event in Letterkenny this evening. The event at the Radisson Hotel is one of seven taking place around the country ahead of a national  citizens’ assembly in June. The agenda at that assembly will be informed by the issues emerging from the seven events, and after the

The IFA ‘s Donegal Chairperson says Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney is a man with whom the IFA can do business. PJ Mc Monagle was speaking after a meeting with the minister at the weekend. He accepts that Mr Coveney is doing his best to secure some financial help for farmers who have suffered as a

Businessman Francois De Dietrich has indicated he may return to Ireland to answer questions about his investment schemes at the end of this month, but would not say whether he will do so in the republic or in the north. Mr De Dietrich was tracked down to his French hideaway by a team from the

There were 21,700 people signing on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of May. That was down 27 on April,. but up 309 from May 2010, an increase of 1.4%. The highest increases were in Letterkenny and Killybegs, while falls were recorded in Buncrana and Dungloe. There were 6,106 signing on in Letterkenny

A Letterkenny Councillor is expressing grave concern that the proposed Bonagee Link Road has not been included in a priority list of National Secondary Roads which has been published by the National mRoads Authority. Cllr Dessie Larkin says there’s cross party support for the link, and widespread agreement that the road is a vital cog

Due to what has been described as unprecedented numbers attending Letterkenny Generally Hospital over the weekend, a number of outpatient clinics will be either cancelled or disrupted today. This morning, Dr McKenna’s dermatology clinic is cancelled as is Mr Considine’s E.N.T clinic; disruptions to other clinics are to be expected. Those attending clinic this afternoon

Letterkenny General Hospital says after a very busy weekend, it expects that some Out Patients Clinics may have to be cancelled tomorrow (Tues). Anyone with appointments is being asked to ring the hospital before leaving home. Also, people are again being urged to avoid the A&E Department unless absolutely necessary.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney says he is trying to secure some financial help for farmers who have suffered as a result of the recent gorse fires in Donegal, but the EU is not likely to provide direct funds. Mr Coveney was speaking after meetings with both the IFA and ICSA during a recent two day

A school principal in Derry says she is worried that the new Peace Bridge over the Foyle could make some of her pupils ineligible for free school transport. The Western Education and Library Board is expected to make a statement tomorrow on the implications for schools of the new pedestrian and cycle bridge, which is

Gardai in Donegal are urging people to look out for older people in their communities. It follows a number of reports from various parts of the county that a man appears to be posing as a priest as a cover to get into the homes of older people and persons residing alone in isolated locations.

Mourners were told today that a four-year-old boy crushed beneath a thick steel door always had a happy glint in his eye. About 1,200 grieved with Daniel Cleary’s parents Keith and Patricia at the funeral Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Donegal Town. A moving solo of Danny Boy, was sung as the remains were carried

The Burtonport area are said to be in shock after a young man from the area tragically died in Australia. Sean McBride, was working on scaffolding at a wharf in the town of Dampier in Western Australia which is believed to have collapsed yesterday afternoon. The scaffolding the 28-year-old was working on was above the

The Government are planning to introduce a bill which will change the way in which Gaeltacht areas are identified. Under this new legislation, Gaeltacht areas will be identified in future by how much the Irish language is used instead of by geographical location. At least two-thirds of a district’s population must now be shown by

Udaras na Gaeltachta is to retain its enterprise functions, but budgets are being cut, and the direct election of the board will end. Speaking ahead of the Publication of the Gaeltacht Bill, Junior Minister Dinny Mc Ginley said that contrary to speculation, the Udaras will retain its enterprise function. However, he said the new bill

Inishowen Councillor Rena Donaghey says final agreement has now been reached with the operators of the Lough Swilly Ferry, and the service linking Buncrana and Rathmullan should be up and running in a fortnight’s time. There was some debate at a council meeting earlier in the week about the availability of money from a Strategic

While in Greencastle, Minister Coveney was lobbied about the unfinished breakwater, but says there is no way money can be found to complete the job at the moment, but it will be prioritised in the future. However, he promised funding of almost €500,000 to cap the work which has been done and ensure it doesn’t

Up to 160 new jobs are to be created in the seafood processing sector, 36 of them, in Killybegs. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney announced the initiative in Killybegs this morning. He also announced he is establishing an action group chaired by KFO CEO Sean O’Donaghue with a view towards identifying how expanding the

The future of Udaras na Gaeltachta will become clearer today after Junior Minister Dinny Mc Ginley addresses a meeting of board members in Falcarragh this morning. There’s widespread speculation that he will announce that the job creation remit will be transferred from the Udaras to Enterprise Ireland. Udaras will then be rebranded, with responsibility for

Motorists are being told to expect delays over the Bank Holiday weekend in the Falcarragh / Dunlewey and Gweedore areas. There are a number of sporting events and Gardai have said restrictions will be in place. The Gaelforce North race will take place tomorrow, and motorists travelling along the R251 (The Termon to Dunlewey Road)

Donegal County Council has confirmed that there was an explosion at a booster pump house in Carrigart on Tuesday. A pressure vessel ruptured, causing damage to the pump house and resulted in the loss of water supply to up to 70 houses in the Gortnabrade area. The Council have said they are taking measures to

Investigations are underway into the death of a boy who was killed when a steel door fell on him. 4 year old Daniel Cleary was in a yard at his home in Drumbar near Donegal town last evening when the incident happened. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body’s been removed to

The Road Safety Authority has welcomed the introduction of mandatory drink driving testing at the scene of crashes involving injuries. From today, drivers can be breathalysed at the scene of the crash – or in hospital. Donegal Base road safety group PARC let the campaign for the introduction of the legislation. Chief Executive of the

A 27-year-old Derry man has appeared in court charged with possessing firearms and drugs with intent to supply. Stephen Radcliffe of Dunluce Court was charged with possessing a sawn off shotgun and a .32 pistol with intent on February 28 last. He also faced a charge of possessing Class B drugs with intent to supply

A 23-year-old man has been charged with obstructing police after a bomb alert in Derry this morning Twenty homes were evacuated around the Ringfort Road when a suspect object was thrown at a house at about quarter past five. It was later declared a hoax and residents were allowed to return to their homes. Another

Speculation is mounting that Údarás na Gaeltachta will lose its job creation role. It’s believed that Junior Minister Dinny Mc Ginley will make the announcement at a meeting with board in Gweedore tomorrow morning. He’s expected to announce that the job creation function will be taken over by Enterprise Ireland, and the board’s name will