Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal North East TD Joe Mc Hugh says as soon as a new Health Minister is appointed on Wednesday, he’ll be calling on him or her to ensure that questions are addressed relating to sub contractors who are owed money in respect of work done at the extension to Letterkenny General Hospital. Since Mc Namara […]

Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating an alleged sexual assault in the early hours of yesterday morning. Gardai are not releasing any details, but it’s understood the investigation relates to an alleged incident in a nightclub in the town. Gardai say the probe is at a very early stage. Meanwhile, Police in County Armagh are investigating

Today sees the launch of Enterprising Donegal Business Week, which runs until Friday. A series of events and workshops will take place in venues across the county on the theme “Back to Basics – key building blocks for growing your business”. Michael Tunney is CEO of the County Enterprise Board, which is coordinating the week’s

A senior garda has described a motorcyclist filmed riding at speeds of up to 290 kilometres per hour through Barnesmore Gap as a lunatic. Traffic gardai, stunned by hte motorcyclist travelling 28 kilometres in nine minutes, are stepping up weekend speed watches in Donegal. Gardai say their plans coincide but are not directly linked to

A woman accused of breaching planning regulations with a sign over her house accusing government ministers of job-fixing and corruption has claimedthere were four arson attacks on her family home. Patricia McCafferty claimed the sign high on a cherry-picker was a legitimate political protest – not an advertisement – and she and her brother Paul

Police have confirmed that a 31-year-old man has been arrested in Derry in connection with an attack on police officers Several shots were fired as a police patrol investigated an abandoned car in the Glen Road on Wednesday night No one was injured. The PSNI said there was no doubt that the attack, claimed by

The SDLP is accusing the North’s two main unionist parties of using the issue of cancer services at Altnagelvin Hospital as a political football. Pol Callaghan asked in the Assembly for a guarantee that  the new Radiotherapy Centre at Altnagelvin will go ahead – he was told that could not be guaranteed. Recently Finance Minister

There are calls for revenue raised through dog licenses in Donegal to be re-invested in animal welfare in the county. Councillor Dessie Larkin was this week told that over 7,000 dogs are licensed in Donegal, he says the income from that should be used to resource the county’s dog pound. Councillor Larkin says with further

Any General Election candidate, who has yet to remove election posters, is now in breach of the Litter Pollutions Act. Election candidates and their parties could face a €150 on the spot fine for each election poster which remains. Numerous election campaign posters remain across Donegal – poster ties for holding the electionosters must also

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