Author name: oisinkelly

The importance of having independent voices in the Seanad will be highlighted later. A group of Independent politicians are coming together to discuss the chances of getting independent candidates elected to the Seanad. It follows the success of such candidates in the recent General Election. Organiser is Northwest MEP Marian Harkin:

The number of people using City of Derry Airport increased by more than nine per in February. Passenger numbers rose to 26,465. The manager of City of Derry Airport, Damien Tierney, said it was a very steady start to the year.

An objection has been lodged against plans for the redevelopment of part of former Fruit of the Loom site. Conditional permission had  been awarded by Donegal County Council for the commercial development of the site  to include a  petrol station, 447 car parking spaces and all associated site and development works. The redevelopment of part

The average price of agricultural land was almost €10,000 an acre in 2010 according to a survey by The Famers Journal. This compares to the national average of €8,700, making land prices in Donegal almost €2,000 more than the national average. Meanwhile, just 650 acres were offered for sale in the county last year –

Derry City Council is to partially fence off playing fields in the city to prevent fighting and anti-social behaviour. The Council agreed to lodge a planning application for the barrier at a meeting yesterday. The move comes as steps are being taken to bring down so called ‘peace walls’ in other interface areas throughout Northern

The organisers of The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival have annouced the line-up for this year. The 10th Rory Gallagher Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon will this year take place between the 2nd and 5th of June. The Festival recently recieved the National Festival award for ‘best medium sized festival’. Some 20 international acts from Norway,

The Mayor of Donegal has confirmed that she will not be travelling to the United States for St Patricks Day. Traditionally the Mayor of Donegal has travelled to America with a small delegation to take part in celebrations. Mayor Cllr Cora Harvey said she had made her position very clear since she took up the

An inquest has heard how a teenage mother and her daughter died in a two vehicle collision when a tyre burst in Letterkenny in Co Donegal in 2008. Excessive use of the handbrake, including handbrake turns or dohnuts, by driver Christopher Hanlon, contributed to an accident which killed his 16-year-old girlfriend Kerry Anne Meehan and

The appeal hearing has begun of three people found guilty of murdering Jim McFadden in Derry in May 2007. Lawyers for James Meehan, who was convicted along with his wife Brenda and her son Sean Devenney, told the Court of Appeal that a judge’s interventions confused jurors. Brian McCartney QC told the court he was

The Internation Fund for Ireland has annouced that it is to allocate over €2 million to peace building and reconciliation projects here in Donegal. The annoucement was made following the funds most recent board meeting in Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan. The fund is dedicated to developing and funding initiatives to promote integration, to build a lasting

Police are investigating reports that a Polish native accused of causing the death of a Strabane lorry driver has died in his homeland. 56-year-old George Rataj of Milesiam Court, Swords in Co Dublin was charged in connection with the death of 43-year-old Declan Harvey who was killed in a two lorry collision close to Sion

3 men with addresses in Strabane and Lifford have appeared in court this morning charged with burglary and criminal damage. In court where 24 year-old Kevin Darragh of 16 Townsend Street, Strabane. Martin Connally of 5 Bridge View Apartments, Lifford and 23 year-old Sean Gillespie with at 17 Eden Terrace, Strabane. They were arrested in

Highland Radio News has learnt that up to 50 full and part time positions have been lost as a result of a fire at an amusement arcade in Bridge end. Fire-fighters from both sides of the border battled the blaze which broke out at Blackthorn amusements, Bridgend at around 6.30 am yesterday morning. Much of

Fine Gael and Labour are preparing for a third day of negotiations aimed at putting together a new coalition government. Both sides are hoping to have some kind of framework in place by the weekend. New comments from the German Chancellor will be hanging over today’s talks – Angela Merkel has said it’s not possible

Police officers in the North have come under attack in Derry. Several shots were fired at officers as they attended the scene of a stolen car in the Glen Road area of the city last night. The PSNI says it was a clear attempt to kill a police officer and that it was very fortunate

The Mayor of Donegal has called on a Councillor to either name members he accused of having drink taken in the council chamber or to withdraw the accusation. Councillor Frank McBrearty accused a number of members of the Council of returning to the chamber, following a break for lunch, under the influence of Alcohol. These

A man already banned from motoring for 99 years for death-driving stole two cars, and stripped them and fitted their engines and interiors inside different car-shells, Donegal District Court heard on Wednesday. Derek Robinson, who has a string of convictions since dangerous driving causing death in 2006, admitted stealing two Toyota twin-cam cars worth a

An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for a major housing development in Ballyshannon. Campbell and Slevin Limited had been granted permission for the development of 150 units of housing on the outskirts of the town bt Donegal County Council, but that decision was appealed to the planning board. The company had sort permission for

New figures from the injuries board show there was a fall in amount paid out in compensation claims in Donegal last year, but there was an increase in the number of claims. A total of 4.7 million euro was paid out through the injuries board last year, down from 5.17 million in 2009. This off

Maintanence work to the Derry to Belfast and Derry to Coleraine railway lines have been postponed. The Minister for Regional Development in the North, Conor Murphy, said the work has been delayed until after Derrys City of Culture year, to delay disruption in the city. But East Derry MLA, John Dallat says the decision to

Donegal County Council is being asked to lobby government for a change in legislation on how business premises are valued and the subsequent business rate the owners must pay. The Valuation office in Dublin determines a rate for each premises in Donegal based on its size – the figure is then multiplied by the local

The group campaigning for the return of cancer services to Sligo General Hospital has called on party’s who promised to do so prior to the election, to furfil that promise. The group says Labour has committed to make Sligo General the 8th centre of excellence while Sinn Fein and Fine Gael have committed to making

A feasibility study looking in to how the issue of flooding in Raphoe can be addressed is due to start in May. The issue has been raised by Councillor Gerry Crawford who this week sought an update from the council as to how addressing the flood problem was progressing. Raphoe has been hit by severe

There has been a number of sightings of one of Ireland’s most stunning birds in Donegal over the past few weeks. The buzzard, which can live up to 25 years old, have a wingspan of up to 4.5 feet long. Birdwatch Ireland has revealed that hundreds of the birds are now flying over Donegal, and

Donegal County Council has given a commitment to interact more with the public through its websites and smart mobile phone applications. The issue was raised by Councillor Dessie Larkin who won support for his calls for a special mobile phone app for Donegal. Plans are already in place for the re-development of a number of

There are calls for more money to be made available for road works maintenance on Arann Mor Island. The issue was raised during this weeks meeting of Donegal County Council and follows a number of concerns expressed by local residents. Last year just 10 thousand euro was made available for road improvements on the island,

16 compulsory  22  voluntary redundancy have been announced at a call centre in Derry. Home Loan Management is Located in the centre of the city, in The Ulster Science & Technology Business Park and was established in 2004 and employs 371 workers. The company says its clients are some of the biggest mortgage lenders in

A county Councillor says that a national and local media campaign to remind people of their second home tax liability does not go far enough. Since its introduction over 6 million euro has been collected by Donegal County Council through the second home tax – it is expected that 3.2 million euro will be collected

Details of Donegal County Council’s Development Funds for 2011 have been revealed. A total of just over one million euro has been allocated in 6 catagories. The fund, as the council describes, is in recognition of the council’s role in economic, social and cultural development in Donegal. The majority of the funding, 440 thousand euro,

Fire crews from Derry are dealing with a blaze at an amusement arcade in County Donegal. The fire was discovered in the arcade at Bridgend at about 630am this morning. Gardai said it had been contained to the building. They have also advised motorists of traffic delays in and around the Bridgend area.

A famous Donegal soft drink, made from a secret recipe, is about to be lauched nationwide. Apart people who are from or who have visited North Donegal, few have heard of Football Special, a frothy, fruity, cola-style drink, made by the McDaid family in Ramelton. Now, owner, Edward McDaid is to add a marketing and

The County manager has launched a strong defense of himself and his staff following claims  that some of his answers to council members were pathetic. He made his comments as a debate on the county’s roads, particularly in the Finn Valley area became heated. Labour Councillor Frank McBrearty proposed a motion calling on the council

Newly elected Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle is now in the process of talking to like minded independents with a view to forming a technical grouping which would have speaking rights. There had been some suggestions that Sinn Fein might enter into a deal with independents to create a technical group with more members than Fianna

Donegal County Council has unveiled a new electronic water monitoring system. 3 million euro has been spent on the system which allows engineers monitor water flow and better identify water leakages remotely. It was essential that such a program be put in place to allow the local authority apply for funding to develop and improve

Donegal county council’s monthly meeting was adjourned for 10 minutes today following heated exchanges. Councillor Cora Harvey adjourned the meeting claiming she was being bullied by Labour Councilor Frank McBrearty. Voices were raised on the issue of water quality, councillor McBrearty took issue with a response from the county manager that water quality in the