Author name: oisinkelly

Any lingering concerns over the future of the Donegal VEC have been eased with news that the Donegal VEC is to remains intact. There were fears that as part of a national  reorganization of VEC’s Donegal could have been amalgamated with other counties. While the last government stated this would not be the case, with

A leading Oncology Consultant has said that while the proposed Radiotherapy Unit in Derry is better than what is currently in place, the Northwest needs a full cancer treatment service Centre. Professor John Crown, who is also a Senator, is calling for one of the four cancer centres in Dublin to be transferred to cover

A convicted child killer and rapist has launched a legal challenge to the holding of an inquest into the death of Arlene Arkinson. Robert Howard was acquitted of murdering the teenager from Castlederg. The BBC reports that Howard is seeking a judicial review of the senior coroner’s decision to examine events surrounding Arlene’s disappearance. Arlene

Details of a second shocking child cruelty case in as many days have emerged with a Derry man sentenced to four years in prison for child cruelty against his son. 27 year- old Robert Anderson swung the 18-week old baby back and forth by the leg over a five-minute period in December 2009. The injuries

Donegal County Council is to carry out a study of the different sewage treatment facilities in Culdaff in a bid to determine what’s needed to bring them together and reduce the risk of pollution. Cllr Bernard Mc Guinness moved the issue, saying haphazard development over the years means that instead of a unified sewerage scheme

Donegal County Council is examining its options to see if a Women’s Officer can be appointed within the confines of the current recruitment embargo. Cllr Rena Donaghey said that on the council, there are three women out of 29 members, and no women in the higher echelons of the council’s executive. She says there are

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton will announce five thousand internships today as part of the Government’s new National Internship Scheme. Under the scheme – which was announced as a key element of the Government’s Jobs Initiative – companies will be encouraged to take on an intern for a period

Six machine guns and a large quantity of ammunition from World War 2 have been discovered in Co. Donegal. The find was made today during the excavation of a crashed RAF Spitfire aircraft on the Inisowen peninsula – which was buried 30 feet in a bog. The weapons and a thousand rounds of ammunition were

The campaign group Donegal Action for Cancer Care says if action isn’t taken, Letterkenny General Hospital will eventually be downgraded to community hospital status. The group has met with a cross party group of Oireachtas members urging them to be more vocal in their support for Letterkenny General Hospital in the Dail and Seanad. DACC

The father of missing Lifford man David Colhoun has again appealed for anyone who may have information about the last movements of his son to come forward. 22 year-old David hasn’t been since he escaped police custody in Strabane in the early hours of Sunday the 22nd of May – His family believe he may

A BBC production team has begun an operation to excavate a Spitfire fighter plane which crashed into an Inishowen bog almost 70 years ago. A large crowd has gathered at Moneydarragh for the excavation, which is being carried out as part of a BBC programme “Dig WW2”. The programme  is due to be broadcast later

Donegal County Council is meeting with the National Roads Authority this week to discuss salt stocks for the coming winter. Responding to Cllr Martin Farren who raised the issue in the chamber this week, Roads Service Director John Mc Laughlin confirmed that the NRA has brought in extra salt stocks this year, and discussions on

Two sisters from Derry are in foster care and awaiting adoption proceedings after their parents were jailed yesterday for child cruelty by neglect. Derry Crown Court was told that in August 2009, police entered the home on a seperate matter and found the girls, both aged under three, naked, covered in faeces, and locked in

Councillor Noel McBride was this evening elected the new Mayor of Donegal. In a vote he defeated Fianna Fail’s Liam Blaney  by 18 votes to 10. Councillor McBride was first voted on to Donegal County Council in 2004 and replaces Sinn Fein’s Cora Harvey. Councillor Barry O’Neill was elected Deputy Mayor and replaces Marie Therese

Donegal County Council has backed a motion calling for the abandonment of plans to impose domestic water charges. The issue was raised by Cllr Jack Murray, who moved a lengthy motion condemning the lack of investment in water infrastructure, and stating that the central taxation system is the only equitable way to get people to

Donegal County Council has indicated that it is likely to nominate businessman Sean Gallagher to contest the presidential election, but that is not a legal decsion and is subject to change. The decision followed a lengthy procedural discussion, after Mayor Cora Harvey told members that three potential candidates had written to the council seeking a

Donegal County Councillors meet this evening to discuss whether or not they will back Sean Gallagher’s  presidential run The business man and “Dragon” requires the support of four county councils if he is to run for the Aras. A decision was taken today that presidential hopefuls will no longer be able to address the council,

A District Judge in Derry has said that if the prosecution is not ready to proceed with a preliminary enquiry in September against a man charged with murder then he will release him. Thaddeus McAllister (19) with an address in London but originally from Cable Street in Derry is charged with the murder of piazza

Farmer Patsy Brogan will be denying an accusation that he operated a “shebeen” in a shed called the Bog Hotel attached to his home, Donegal District Court was told today. Defence solicitor Paudge Dorrian said the 73-year-old man will be “contesting” a charge that he sold beer and spirits at the premises outside Inver, Co.

The funeral has taken place of former Letterkenny Town Councillor Frank Gallagher, a native of Belfast, who died in the Donegal Hospice at the weekend after an illness. Frank Gallagher served just over six months on the authority, having been coopted in January 2009 after his Green Party predecessor Neil Clarke stepped down. Prior to

Labour Senator Jimmy Harte says application forms for the Third Level Grant Schemes will be issued this week, and he’s hit out at Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue for claiming that the late issuing of forms this year will delay payment. Senator Harte says the allegation is a poor Fianna Fail attempt to distract

Fine Gael Councillor Noel McBride will today be elected the Mayor of Donegal when the County Council meets for its AGM in Lifford. Fine Councillor Barry O’Neill will be elected Deputy Mayor. Meanwhile, outgoing Mayor Cllr Cora Harvey says it’s been a very challenging year. Her tenure in the chair was not within problems, with

Taoiseach Enda Kenny visited Altnagelvin Hospital on Saturday morning to be briefed on progress regarding the proposed North West Radiotherapy Unit. Mr Kenny was in Derry for the opening of the new Peace Bridge on Saturday afternoon. Representitives of the campaign group Cooperating for Cancer Care North West were present at the Altnagelvin briefing invitation

As the Donegal Senior Football Team looks ahead to an Ulster Final clash with Derry on July 17th, team manager Jim Mc Guinness is urging the County Board to consider postponing the First Round Second leg of the County Championship which is scheduled to take place this coming weekend. Mr Mc Guinness says there is

A 28-year-old motorcyclist found not guilty last October of dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people has now been convicted of having no insurance on the day of the accident. Three other motor-cyclists riding in convoy with him were also convicted at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court of having no insurance. Niall McGrath from Grahamstown, Ballintra,

Donegal reached their first Ulster SFC final since 2006 with a three-point win over defending champions Tyrone at Clones on Sunday. Second-half goals from Colm McFadden and Dermot Molloy ended Tyrone’s bid to win a third successive Ulster title. The home side held a 0-6 to 0-1 lead at one stage, but were squeezed out

The Taoiseach is expected to be among the dignitaries attending the opening of the new Peace Bridge in Derry today. The iconic structure cost over 13 million pounds and has taken a year and a half to build. It links the nationalist and unionist communities in the city. Mo Durkan is from ILEX – the

A motion will be brought before Monday’s monthly meeting of Donegal County Council looking for it to give its support to Sean Gallagher efforts to secure a presidential candidacy. The business man and “Dragon” Seán Gallagher has Donegal roots with his father born and raised close to Killygordan. A motion to back his bid to

The Special Olympics kick off in Greece today. Team Ireland has 126 athletes involved – representing every county in the country. Donegal will be represented by Footballers Oliver Boyle from Letterkenny, Adrian Clarke, Stephen Nesbitt, Gareth Egan and Luke Egan from Lifford, Mario McShane from Barnesmore and Hugh Sweeney from Letterkenny. Shaun Bradley from Letterkenny

A Donegal Deputy says students due to attend 3rd level in September are facing hardship once again because the government has yet to issue 3rd level grant application forms. There are fears that the students will not have their grants in time to cover their weekly rental costs, deposits and registration fees. This was a

Monreagh National School in Carrigans has closed its doors for the final time, with a new school building set to open in September. There are 25 pupils at the school, with 28 enrolled for the next academic year. School principal Kerry Harris says while the old building is now in a dangerous state and was

A weekend of events is planned in Derry to mark the opening of the new Peace Bridge. The cycle and footbridge cost £14 million, and is 312 metres in length. As part of the opening celebrations, 600 children from schools all over the city will walk across the bridge before the official opening at 2pm

The HSE is being urged to drop a €3 a day charge which is being imposed on disabled adults attending training centres in Donegal. Up to now, the HSE has provided transport to the centres, and accepted free travel passes. However, as part of a wide ranging cost cutting exercise, the HSE says it can

A Donegal SW Deputy is called on Councillors Barry O’Neill and Frank McBrearty to resign from their respective parties in light of confirmation that cancer services will not be returned to Sligo General. Health Minister Dr James Reilly last night confirmed services would not be returned but did say the issues was under review. Prior

The HSE has been called on to do all it can to ensure that Letterkenny General Hospital has its full quota of Junior Doctors. It was reported yesterday that Letterkenny General Hospital’s Emergancy Department will be down seven junior doctors from July 11th. The HSE has already said contingency measures are being put in place

The Minister for Health has ruled out a return of breast cancer surgery to Sligo General Hospital. After a meeting with representatives from the Sligo area earlier  – James Reilly said the matter was still under review. Junior Minister and Sligo-Leitrim TD John Perry admitted last week that it was a mistake to promise that

A senior garda in Donegal says the level of property crime in Donegal is rising, and that’s a sign of the recession. Inspector Pat O’Donnell was speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show as gardai renew their appeal for information about a robbery at the Dry Arch Filling Station in Letterkenny in the early hours of

With just a week to go before the deadline passes, Donegal County Council has said  that many of those who paid the NPPR charge in 2010 have still not paid the charge so far this year. The Council is reminding people that they can still pay their 2011 charge, which remains at €200, up to

A young woman has revealed how she lost grip of a man’s jumper just a split second before he was struck by a speeding rally car. Richard O’Donnell, from Strabane,  was killed instantly as he tried to cross a country road during the Donegal International Rally in 2008. An inquest into the 18 year olds’

A Donegal Deputy has called on the Minister for the Enviroment to ensure that if water meters are being installed in houses, local contractors get the work. Fianna Fail’s Charlie McConalogue says while the installation of water meters   will not be popular, the government must take steps to ensure that any benefits from the work

The government has said there is no money available to build three new fire stations in Donegal which the council says are required. The Council has applied for funding for new stations in Bundoran, Ballyshannon and Glencolumcille with the last government indicating they would be going ahead. The issue was raised in the Seanad last

A young woman has told how she lost grip of a young  man’s jumper just a split second before he was struck by a speeding rally car. Richard O’Donnell, from Strabane,  was killed instantly as he tried to cross a country road during the Donegal International Rally in 2008. An inquest into the 18 year

A Donegal security company has put up a 500 euro award for any information that would lead to the arrest of those responsible for a violent racist attack on a security guard in Letterkenny. On Friday night the security guard, who is originally from Ghana, was patrolling the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park in Letterkenny when