Author name: oisinkelly

The Department of Education will receive final representations today from interest groups concerned about the future of small primary schools. It has begun a review of all schools with fewer than 50 pupils to examine whether they represent value for money. Today is the deadline for submissions. The McCarthy report recommended amalgamating all of these […]

Two men remains in hospital following a Stabbing incident in Strabane last night. A total of four men were stabbed in the Abercorn Square area of Strabane after a large number of people were involved in a disturbance outside a bar in the area at about 9.30pm last night. The two men in hospital are

There is anger in Derry over claims that nationalist songs were played over the PA system at Foyleside Shopping Centre on St Patrick’s Day. It is has been claimed the  Soldier’s Song and the Fields of Athenry were played over the speaker system at the centre during the course of the day. SDLP Derry City

Just under a third of Americans who visit Ireland this year plan to come to Donegal, according to new research published by Amárach Research. The Irish Diaspora Omnibus, a monthly survey of Irish American attitudes shows that while one in five plan to visit Ireland this year almost two thirds hope to make the trip

The decision not to gift the former Shackleton Barracks site in Ballykelly to the local community is a “thundering disgrace” according to East Derry MLA John Dallat. Mr Dallat He says the area is being discriminated against, in contrast to the use of other former military sites such as Lisanelly in Omagh and Ebrington and

Thousands of people have been attending St Patrick’s Day Parades across Donegal, with the largest taking place in Letterkenny. The overall prize at the Letterkenny Parade was won by Lurgybrack Open Farm, the best float award went to Encore Performing Arts Academy, and the Letterkenny 400 Historical Prize sponsiored by the Town Council went to

The North’s Historical Enquiries Team is being urged to investigate the murder of a woman by the IRA in Derry almost 30 years ago. 29 year old Joanne Mathers, a mother of one, was shot dead as she collected census forms in April 1981. Her husband has called for a new investigation, and now, East

Highland radio news has learned that no Fine Gael candidates from Donegal were among the final 15 Fine Gael nominees for the Seanad today. The selection process was in Dublin earlier today. Cllr Martin Harley, Cllr John Ryan and Danny Byrne, who has campaigned on behalf of his family for compensation under the Lost at

Foyle MLA Pol Callaghan says the passing of the Autism Bill last night is an example of what Stormont can achieve. He says the law in the North is now tighter than the law in England, and it will ensure that resources are distributed in a fairer way. Mr Callaghan says after the acrimony of

Derry GAA star Eoin Bradley has admitted assaulting a referee after a quarter final championship match last August. The 27 year old Glenullin player from Woodland Park in Kilrea admitted one charge of common assault at Limavady Magistrate’s Court today . The court was told that on August 8th last year, police received a report

A house in Omagh where a convicted sex offender burnt his partner and five children to death has been demolished today. Arthur McElhill killed his family in a house fire in 2007, because his partner, Lorraine McGovern threatened to leave. The inquest into his death concluded that this, coupled with his fear of prison for

Presidential Hopeful Senator David Norris says he wants to visit Donegal to meet people, particularly those who disagree with him and would not support his candidacy. Earlier this week, Senator Norris embarked on the quest to secure the support of either four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members. Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, he

The latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show a peak in those awaiting treatment on trolleys at Letterkenny General Hospital. According to figures compilled this morning 8 people are on trolleys at the hospital. Today there are 446 people on trolleys across the country’s hospitals.

More details have emerged of a new plan to attract people home for St Patrick’s Day. The Donegal Homecoming Initiative is the brain child of Mayor Cora Harvey and will target a number of key actions throughout 2011. The aim is to then develop a keynote event of international standing during the St Patrick’s Festival

An inquest has heard how  young man died after the car in which he was a passenger flipped over and did three somersaults after being involved in a high-speed chase with Gardai. 22-year-old Paul McMonagle, was the front seat passenger in a car being driven by his father Paul Snr through the village of Muff

Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has been included in the Fianna Fail leaders list of ten approved Seanad election candidates. Micheál Martin has issued a list of 10 candidates, and is asking Fianna Fail councillors to give them priority to in the forthcoming Seanad elections. Fianna Fail says the selection of the ten marked the starting

Donegal North East Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn has accused Labour and Fine Gael of promising change but instead delivering more of the same. The Sinn Fein Deputy was speaking in the Dail last evening on the motion for the Programme for Government. Deputy MacLouchlainn said both Labour and Fine Gael campaigned ahead of the election to

The police have released the name of a 53-year-old man who died after being hit by a van in Claudy on Monday. Daniel O’Neill, from the Claudy area, was walking on Old Glenshane Road shortly before 8pm when he was hit by a van. The man who was driving the van was not injured.

A 26-year-old Derry man who cannot be named for legal reasons has pleaded guilty to child cruelty against his son, who was then aged two months. Derry Crown Court heard that the man swung the baby back and forth by the left leg over a five minute period on October 26 2009 at his home.

Gardai are investigating the discovery of a woman’s body on Rossnowlagh beach this morning. The woman, in her late 40s, was found at the bottom of a 30-metre cliff by a man walking along the beach before 8 a.m. The woman is believed to be a native of Co. Fermanagh.

A man has appeared in court in Antrim charged with the murder of Marion Millican. The 51-year-old was shot dead in a launderette in Portstewart, County Derry on Friday. A detetective tiold the court he believed he could connect  48 year old Freddie Mc Clenaghan from Broad Street in Magherafelt to the charge. Ms Millican’s

IFA President John Bryan is due to attend the association’s Donegal AGM tonight, with current county chairman William Monagle stepping down after four years in the chair. There are a total of seven positions on the county executive to be filled tonight, two of which will be contested. However, there is only one nomination in

Fianna Fail has formally selected Paul Canning to replace newly elected Deputy Charlie McConalogue on Donegal County Council. The Manorcunningham man, who narrowly missed out on election to the council in the last local elections,  was chosen at a party meeting last night. Mr Canning will be formally co-opted on to Donegal County Council at

The pilgrimage centre at Lough Derg has attracted a record number of applications for summer work. 140 people are looking for a job at the island site of St Patrick’s Purgatory in Donegal – but there are just 50 positions available. Lough Derg is known for its austere conditions – pilgrims have one daily meal

Donegal Councillor Terence Slowey has appeared before the Standards in Public Office Commission in relation to expense claims made by him in 2008. The Fine Gael councillor admitted at the hearing in Dublin  that he had filed a double claim during the period but claimed he had done so in error, and said he had

Sinn Féin is urging Health Minister Dr James Reilly to make the provision of radiotherapy at Altnagelvin one of his first priorities in office. Assembly member Martina Anderson and Deputy Pádraig MacLochlainn have written to the Minister asking him to guarantee the funding for the cross border radiotherapy unit. Meanwhile, the Director of the National

A man who castrated his neighbour’s dog after it tried to mate with his pedigree border collie has paid a total of €730 in compensation. Eddie Flood from Termon used a lambing ring to cut the testicles off the dog after it pestered his own three dogs. The 43 year old claimed cross-terrier Rusty was

A 48 year old man will appear in court in the north later charged with the murder of a woman in a laundrette in Derry last week. 51 year old Marion Millican was gunned down while working in the laundrette in Portstewart last Friday. The man is due before Antrim Magistrates Court this morning.

The Director of the National Cancer Control Programme has praised the cancer services being provided at Letterkenny General Hospital, and says she is committed to the satellite oncology service being provided in Letterkenny in conjunction with Galway University Hospital. Dr Susan O’Reilly was in Letterkenny today for the presentation of certificates to Public Health Nurses

Donegal Councillor Terence Slowey has appeared before the Standards in Public Office Commission in relation to expense claims made by him in 2008. The Fine Gael councillor admitted at the hearing in Dublin today that he had filed a double claim during the period but claimed he had done so in error, and said he

The woman killed after being hit by a car in the Bogside area of Derry on Saturday morning as been named as Patricia Duffy, from Lisfannon Park. The collision happened close to the junction of Westland Street and Rossville Street, at about 10.30am. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey is a friend of the Duffy family, he

Both Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail meet this evening to select who will be co-opted for each party on to Donegal County Council. Jack Murray, a former Sinn Fein Press officer and political adviser from Burnfoot is Sinn Fein’s only candidate and will be formally selected to replace Deputy Padraig MacLoughlainn. Three men have confirmed

A man remains in a stable condition in Altnagelvin Hospital having been shot in Strabane last night. It is thought the man in his early 20’s was taken by a group from Strabane Town shortly after 8pm, he was later shot in the legs in the Springhill area. The attack is being linked to the

Newly elected Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has confirmed that his party will meet this evening to select his replacement on Donegal County Council. Deputy Mac Lochlainn’s position as County Councillor for the Inishowen Electoral Area became vacant upon his election to the Dáil. Jack Murray is the sole candidate to go before the

The trial of a 39-year-old man charged with the murder of an Arranmore man, is expected to start at the Criminal Court in Dublin today. Stephen Boyle, with an address at 44 Austen House, Cambridge Road, Kilburn Park, London, is charged with the murder of Paul Francis Boyle on October 3rd, 2009 at Leagebarrow, Arranmore.

A Church of Ireland rector has been removed from ministry in Tyrone following an internal church inquiry into a compliant that he had entered into an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. The Rev Ivan Williamson had been rector at the parochial group of Errigle Keerogue, Ballygawley and Killeshill in Co Tyrone. The Church of

There is some hope in the fight to save the corncrake from national extinction with the first increase in corncrake numbers since 2005 recorded last year. According to a new Department of the Environment report, the numbers of corncrakes last year increased by five to 133. According to today’s Irish Times, the State spent €414,000

Newly elected Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has confirmed that his party will meet on Monday evening to select his replacement on Donegal County Council. Deputy Mac Lochlainn’s position as County Councillor for the Inishowen Electoral Area became vacant upon his election to the Dáil. Jack Murray is the sole candidate to go before

A woman has died following a road crash in the Derry. The single vehicle collision happened in the Westland Stree  at half past ten this morning. Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

A number of people in Donegal have been questioned in relations to the seizure of millions of cigerattes. The seizure was made by custom’s official in a surveillance operation code named Operation Marble. More details have emerged of the seizure by the Revenue’s Customs Service of seven million contraband cigarettes. The Cigaretted have an estimated

The county woke up to a blanket of snow this morning. Parts of Donegal experineced heavy sleet and snow overnight. All roads are passable despite the snowfalls which are not nearly as heavy as we saw before Christmas.

Seven million contraband cigarettes have been seized by Revenue’s Customs Service as part of Operation Marble. They were found in a 40 foot container which had arrived at Dublin Port from China via Rotterdam and were described as Ceramic Tiles. The truck was later stopped in Co Louth and follow up searches were carried out