Author name: oisinkelly

Letterkenny Town Council will co-opt a new member tonight to replace Senator Jimmy Harte, with local businessman and undertaker Pascal Blake set to join the authority as a Labour member. Mr Blake is also a Peace Commissioner, and last month was appointed a Commissioner for Oaths.

Letterkenny Town Council will co-opt a new member tonight to replace Senator Jimmy Harte, with local businessman and undertaker Pascal Blake set to join the authority as a Labour member. Mr Blake is also a Peace Commissioner, and last month was appointed a Commissioner for Oaths.

Police in Derry are appealing for information after a 17-year-old youth was abducted in the city yesterday afternoon. The teenager was travelling in a taxi in the Brandywell area when three men in a Volkswagen Passat blocked the path of the vehicle. They then took him in their car in the direction of the Lecky

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty has annouced details of a water charges Dail motion which he will raise on Wednesday. The motion which opposes the proposed introduction of water charges calls on the government to scrap it’s plans to introduce the charges. Deputy Dohertys says that water charges will only add a huge burden

The Republic’s depopulated islands were not abandoned by their communities, rather they were abandoned by the people and bodies charged with looking after them, a Minister has said. Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley assured islanders at the Federation of Irish Islands AGM,  over the weekend, that the Government would continue to support

Buncrana Councillor Lee Tedstone is calling for a number of measures to make the town more business friendly, saying that employers and developers will respond if incentives are offered. He moved a number of motions in the council, one calling for a review of development charges, the other seeking reduced rates for start up businesses.

The British Irish Inter Parliamentary Group meets in Cork today, with Donegal North East TD Joe Mc Hugh at the helm for the first time. Deputy Mc Hugh is Co-Chair of the body, along with Tory peer Lord Cope. It’s not the first time a Donegal TD has been in the chair, during the lifetime

The largest sea trout in the ocean off Ireland has been landed in Co. Donegal. John Cunningham, of Killybegs, hauled an 11 lbs 1 oz whopper, more than five times the average sea trout in Ireland, from the shore off the Erne estuary in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. A record Irish sea trout, 16 lbs 6

It’s emerged today that two roaming German Shepherd dogs were shot dead yesterday as they attacked a flock of sheep on the outskirts of Annagry village. The daylight attack on the main Annagry to Crolly road left three sheep dead. A passing motorist witnessed the attack and immediately alerted locals who contacted the famer and

Gardai say they do not now suspect that a young man found with head injuries in Rathmullan on Friday afternoon was assaulted. The 19 year old was transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he is recovering after treatment. He was found in what’s been described as a “semi conscious” state near Batt’s Lane on Friday afternoon,

£11 million has been released for ongoing preparatory work on the proposed new A5 Dual Carraigeway linking Derry and Aughnacloy. The funding was confirmed by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and First and Deputy First Ministers Peter Robinson and Martin Mc Guinness at a British Irish Council of Ministers meeting yesterday. Speaking afterwards, Mr Mc Guinness said

It’s reported that a man in his late teens has been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin with severe head injuries after he was found in Rathmullan shortly before 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Gardai have not issued any statement, but we understand the man was found by a passer by on the beach close to

A 46-year-old man who is already on remand on a murder charge faced another charge yesterday at Derry Magistrate’s Court. Paul Greatbanks of Bayview Terrace was charged with assaulting a man causing him grievous bodily harm on December 28 last. Greatbanks, who had been remanded into police custody yesterday for questioning appeared with his wrists

The jury at the inquest into the death of a 66-year-old Donegal man, who died five days after being involved in a car crash, said that they believe that further investigation should take place into his death. Charles McBride of Falbane, Churchill, was driving towards Gweedore on 13 September 2009 when his car collided head-on

A 46-year-old Derry man has been jailed for causing two bomb hoaxes in the city. William O’Connor of Slaughtmanus Road admitted causing the hoaxes on May 10. The court was told that O’Connor phoned two claims that there were bombs in the bus depot in Foyle Street and one in Spencer Road Medical Centre. Considerable

Presidential hopeful Mary Davis has been outlining to Highland Radio News why she should be the next President of Ireland. The Mayo native is to trying to get the backing of four local authorities to enter the race as an Independent. She is currently touring the country seeking nominations. Mary Davis said she hoped to

The Head of the Donegal Road Safety Group PARC has expressed concern that gardai will not have the resources to deal with drivers who she believes will mimic those taking part in the Donegal International Rally. Susan Grey has also called on the Rally organisers to ensure that rally cars stick to the route over

Former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan has passed away. The 52 year old lost his battle with illness early this morning. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009, and served as Finance Minister up until February of this year. Former Party colleague, Dr James McDaid, earlier paid tribute to Mr Lenihan:

A meeting will be held at Carrigart National School this evening to discuss concerns following a letter being issued by Bus Eireann stating some students will no longer be eligible for free school transport. Bus Eireann is either changing or more strongly enforcing entitlement rules which means parents of some students of Scoil Eoin Baiste

It was is being seen on a u-turn on a previous commitment, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has appointed a number former rebel TD’s, including Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh, to paid positions. Deputy McHugh was amongst a number of TD’s who formed part of a heave against Enda Kenny – he is amongst those that

Buncrana Town Council is to seek expressions of interest from landowners who may be able to provide alternative office accommodation. Town Engineer Donal Walker told this week’s meeting of the council that at the very least, vital roof repairs at the existing building will necessitate moving out for three to four months. A number of

The Taoiseach will lead his first meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council later. Economic recovery North and South is expected to top the agenda. Day 94 of the new coalition and the Taoiseach’s hosting the Northern Executive for the first time. The gathering of the North South Ministerial Council will be the first time the

Buncrana Town Council is to consider ways of commemorating the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives Tip O’Neill, whose centenary occurs next year. Tip O’Neill was instrumental in the formulation of the Anglo Irish Agreement, and help found the International Fund for Ireland. His maternal grandmother was Eunice Fullerton, who came from a

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