Author name: oisinkelly

A new survey of house prices indicates that property prices may have bottomed out. The results of The Sunday Times Property Guide 2011 show that the annual rate of deflation has slowed dramatically to 12 percent. The survey shows that falls across the country ranged from just 5 percent in parts of Cork to 21percent […]

Labour’s Finance Spokesperson Joan Burton is in Donegal today. At present, she is canvassing in Donegal South West with Cllr Frank Mc Brearty. Earlier today, she officially opened Donegal North East candidate Jimmy Harte’s constituency office before embarking on a series of engagements. Speaking in Letterkenny, Ms Burton rejected Fianna Fail claims that the terms

There was a stand-off between a group of travellers and local residents in Ballyshannon today. It’s believed that the travellers pulled in at the side of a road in the town last night. When they were challenged by locals, the travellers held a sit down protest and remained by the road side overnight. Hugh Friel,

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP says the fresh bread facility in Gallaghers bakery can be saved. There had been rumours circulating today that Pat the Baker were about to take over the fresh bread facility, resulting in it being removed from Ardara. If that was the case, then it would mean more job losses. But

The man accused of the manslaughter of Garda Robbie McCallion has been found not guilty. Jamie McGrenaghan breathed a heavy sigh of relief as the jury at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal returned with a unanimous verdict. The verdict was met with sobs and tears by the late Garda McCallion’s heartbroken family including his

The president of Letterkenny Institute of Technology says he makes no apology for the acquisition of a prime 10 acre site on Port Road opposite the main entrance to the college. A number of questions have bneen raised about the site because it was part owned by former councillor Terry Mc Eniff, a member of

A Buncrana councillor says confirmation of a new national school in the town will be a major boost. Scoil Iosagan is one of the largest national schools in Donegal, with almost 700 pupils. The school has pioneered the integration of special needs pupils since 1997. Cllr Rena Donaghey recently co-ordinated a meeting between the Tanaiste

The man driving the car which struck a Garda, leading to his death, has claimed that he was only trying to get away. Jamie McGrenaghan, who is charged with the manslaughter of Garda Robbie McCallion, said he spotted a gap when Gardai tried to block his escape route and “went for it.” 19-year-old McGrenaghan, struck

Gardai are questioning a man in his 20s in connection with a robbery at a businessman’s home in Buncrana yesterday. The man, who lives in Buncrana but runs a car dealership in Derry, had just left for work when three masked men burst into his home at about 9am. His wife and four children –

The number on the Live Register in Donegal last month increased, in contrast to the national picture which saw a slight fall. There were 21,835 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of January, 123 up on December, and 362 up on the figure for January 2010. There is relatively little difference

Six men working on a barge off Rathmullen pier today had a lucky escape today after they got into difficulty because of stormy conditions. Three of the men left the barge on a small tender boat which capsized, but they managed to make there way ashore. But the Lough Swilly lifeboat had to be called

A family of five, including three children were robbed at gunpoint by a gang in Buncrana this morning. Three men, all thought to be armed, entered a private residence in the Kinnego area of Buncrana. They stole a sum of cash and the home owners car. No shots were fired. Gardai responding to an emergency

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an armed robbery in Buncrana which occurred at around 9am this (Wednesday) morning. Three men, all thought to be armed, entered a private residence in the Kinnego area of Buncrana. They stole a sum of cash and the home owner’s car. No shots were fired and none of those

The number on the Live Register in Donegal last month increased, in contrast to the national figure,  which saw a slight fall. There were 21,835 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of January, 123 up on the previous month, and 362 up on the figure for January 2010. Month on month,

Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty has been forced to clarify his professional education after claims in a national newspaper that he mislead the public of his qualifications. The Donegal South West Election candidate describes himself as a civil engineer by profession on his party’s website – however he only completed two out of three years of

Around 1,000 Letterkenny people have signed a Labour Party petition supporting the establishment of sub-post offices in the Gortlee and Glencar areas of the town. The petition is being organised by Donegal North East Candidate Cllr Jimmy Harte, who says it is completely unacceptable that people are being forced to queue for long periods outside

Lettekenny and Sligo General Hospitals have been included in the first stage of the roll of a screening programme for colorectal cancer. The service, as part of the national cancer screening programme, will be available to men and women aged 60-69 in 2012. Colorectal cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second

A Garda has revealed how her colleague told her to jump out of the way of a stolen car just seconds before he was mown down. Garda Robbie McCallion died from his injuries on April 7, 2009, almost two weeks after he was struck by a stolen car at Tara Court, Letterkenny. The diver of

In a shock move, it’s been confirmed  that Fianna Fail is to go with a one candidate strategy in Donegal North East, with Cllr Charlie Mc Conalogue the party’s sole candidate in the constituency. It had been widely thought that Letterkenny based Cllr Dessie Larkin would get the nomination, but it was decided last night

Ardara has recieved another blow, after it was annouced the Greenhouse shop is to close with the loss of ten jobs. The local family business has been open in the village for the past 60 years. Chair of Ardara Traders, Stephen McCahill, told Greg Hughes today that it’s difficult to be positive in the current

Union members of the Gallghers bakery workforce will be denied union representation at the redundacy talks. It was announced last week that 124 jobs would be lost at the Ardara bakery. Workers were addressed by managing director Declan Gallagher who told them that deteriorating conditions in Ireland and the UK meant an end to the

The campaign group Co-operating for Cancer Care North West says there’s a possibility that elections on both sides of the border will delay a final announcement that the proposed North West Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital will go ahead in time for the 2015 deadline. In an upbeat presentation to Donegal County Council this week,

It’s been confirmed that the Dungloe and Glenties Sewerage schemes are to go to tender. The tender process can now commence by Donegal Council inviting expressions of interest. It’s expected that such will be invited in a matter of weeks. Afterwards a shortlist will be established and tenders invited for both schemes. Pat the Cope

€23 million is to be allocated to Donegal County Council under the regional and local road grant allocations. €23 million has been approved by way of grant allocation to Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Town Council will receive €395,000, Buncrana Town Council has been allocated €195,000 and Bundoran Town Council has been sanctioned for funding of

It has been annouced that Cllr John Ryan has been added to the Fine Gael ticket in Donegal North East. Fine Gael National Director of elections, Phil Hogan, made the annoucement yesterday evening. Cllr Ryan will be standing in the constituency with Deputy Joe McHugh. There will be now three local councillors from Inishowen standing

Donegal North East Joe McHugh has written to the HSE seeking clarity on the terms of the contract between the HSE and McNamara Construction. Work ceased at the new A&E unit at Letterkenny General Hospital in November last year when the company went into recievership. Up to 20 contractors who were working at the site

The body of a Donegal woman who died in a fire in Dublin at the weekend is being brought home after a post mortem examination. 29 year old Breda Doherty died in a fire at an apartment on Temple Place on Dublin’s Grenville Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. It’s understood the mother

A Foyle MLA says it’s vital that questions about capacity at the Radiology Department at Altnagelvin Hospital are addressed in the wake of confirmation that four patients with cancer were initially misdiagnosed when x-rays were not properly checked. One of them, an 80-year-old man with lung cancer, subsequently died. It emerged last week that it

The bridge on the Kirkstown Road outside Letterkenny has partially collapsed, with council staff on site to make emergency repairs. The work at the bridge is likely to take around two days, leaving the Kirkstown Road partially closed.  Diversions are in place, people are being urged to take alternative routes.

Donegal County Council is to develop a text messaging system to warn consumers of difficulties during bad weather periods. A council meeting yesterday spent several hours debating a report on the council’s response to the severe weather in November and December. One of the key problems identified in the report is that of communications. The

It’s becoming increasingly likely that Fine Gael will add a second candidate to the ticket in Donegal North East, with South Inishowen Cllr John Ryan saying he wants to contest the general election. Cllr Ryan had been nominated to contest the selection convention earlier this month, but withdrew when party HQ insisted on a one

A Derryman who was shot and stabbed in two different incidents was today given a suspended sentence for having a disposable camera modified into a stun gun. 42-year-old Kieran McCool of Ederowen Park in Derry admitted possessing a prohibited weapon on July 16 last year. The court was told that McCool was stopped in a

Donegal County Council is debating a lengthy report on the severe weather experienced between November and January, with the cost of damage to roads and other factors laid out. Members have been told that damage to roads across the county will cost just over €8 million euro to repair. However, no extra money will be

Donegal County Cllr Liam Blaney, will not be putting his name forward to run in the Donegal North-East constituency in the General Election. In a statement released to Highland Radio News this afternoon, he said he wished to state that he didn’t intend to contest the forthcoming General Election. He says the decision was taken

In a shock move last evening, Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney become the latest Dail deputy to announce he will not run in the General Election. He withdrew ahead of a selection convention in Letterkenny, citing ‘personal reasons’ for his decision. Councillor Charlie McConolougue was selected to run for the party, a decision on if

Senator Cecilia Keaveney says she has not yet decided whether or not she will defend her Seanad seat when elections are called in early summer, but the probability is she will not. Senator Keaveney withdrew from Fianna Fail’s General Election selection convention last night, saying she wants to concentrate on a European Council of Ministers

Following the launch of Donegal County Development Board’s €4 million Tourism Development Plan for Sliabh Liag at the weekend, a Donegal councillor and election candidate is questioning whether the plan will achieve the promised growth in visitor numbers. Over a fortnight ago, details emerged of the cross border plan which will see joint marketting and

Tanaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan says she will contest the General Election, and has no intention of stepping aside. In a statement this evening, Ms Coughlan’s spokesperson said – “The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, has tonight rubbished speculation that she will not be contesting the forthcoming General Election.

In a shock move this evening, Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney has become the latest Dail deputy to announce he will not run in the General Election.  He withdrew ahead of tonight’s selection convention in Letterkenny, citing ‘personal reasons’ for his decision. Mr Blaney was first elected to the Dáil as an Independent Fianna Fail