Author name: oisinkelly

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

Fianna Fail’s selection convention for Donegal North East takes place this evening with two nominees in the ring – Deputy Niall Blaney and Cllr Charlie Mc Conalogue. We understand national headquarters has decided to pursue a two candidate strategy in the constituency, with both now set to be ratified. The convention was initially to have

The final anniversary march marking the Bloody Sunday killings is to take place in Derry this afternoon. 13 people died after British soldiers opened fire on a civil rights march 39 years ago today. A fourteenth man died later. Organisers say the annual commemoration won’t be held again as it’s no longer necessary after the

Senator Cecilia Keaveney has confirmed this evening that she will not be seeking a nomination to contest the General Election for Fianna Fail in Donegal North East. In a statement the Senator says the decision was taken over Christmas but re-enforced after she was asked to continue the very significant investigation she is involved in

It’s emerged that at least one of four people whose cancer diagnoses were delayed at Derry’s Altnagelvin Hospital has since died. Details of the person’s death emerged after the Western Health Trust revealed that four people had to wait up to 10 months for their cancer to be diagnosed. The delays in diagnosing the cancers

The Managing Director of the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny says there is no question whatsoever about the future of the facility. In its 2009 accounts which have been lodged in the Companies Office, the value of the company’s assetshas been written down from €16.9m to €12.8m, with a note inserted saying that uncertainty over 

The decision to end the annual Bloody Sunday march in Derry has been criticised by a relative of the of the victims. Tomorrow’s march, the 39th, will be the last. Thirteen people died when British paratroopers opened fire on a civil rights march in Derry in January 1972. A fourteenth died later. A statement signed

The Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny racked up losses of €3.7m in 2009, according to accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office. The 140-room, three-star hotel saw turnover fall just under a quarter between 2008 and 2009, but a squeeze on margins saw operating profits plunge almost 80% from €215,000 to €48,000. However, the losses

Donegal South-West Deputy, Pearse Doherty has called on a five way economic debate with the finance spokespersons. The Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson has challenged the Finance spokespersons from the other parties to a live election debate on the economy. Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty says he is confident he can present Sinn Fein’s policies

Hope is growing that at least 40 jobs can be maintained at Gallagher’s Bakery in Ardara, following further discussions between management at the company and the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta. In a statement issued last evening after a board meeting in Galway, Udaras confirmed that talks will continue in the coming weeks to ensure

The North’s Minister for Regional Development has indicated his intention to issue a Ministerial Direction to pay a grant towards essential safety works at City of Derry Airport . No figure is being confirmed, but Mr Murphy is trying to secure £8.6 million. Derry City Councillor Gerry Mac Lochlainn says without support from the Executive,

A Donegal based businessman behind an investment scheme, in which dozens of people on both sides of the border fear they have lost millions of pounds, has been jailed for 18 months at the High Court in Belfast. An order was issued for the immediate arrest of Francois de Dietrich, who has vanished. He was

An inquest into the murder of Republican double agent Denis Donaldson was further adjourned in Letterkenny  beyond an anticipated hearing date. Coroner Denis McCauley had expected to fix a date for a full hearing but he said he was still unable to reach a decision on what kind of inquest to hold because of the

An inquest has heard how an elderly woman died after her head became trapped in a cot side in her hospital bed. Sile Coyle, 85, of Ardsmore, Gortahork, died on her first night at Falcarragh Community Nursing Unit in August 2008. Mrs Coyle, who family said was in good health, had gone into the hospital

Fianna Fail is to hold its Donegal North East Selection Convention on Sunday night in Letterkenny. Meanwhile, at an unofficial selection convention 300 Inishowen delegates unanimously selected Cllr Charlie Mc Conalogue as a candidate for the peninsula, after Sen Cecilia Keavney let it be known she did not want her name to go forward at

A meeting is underway between management at Gallagher’s Bakery in Ardara and representatives of Uduras Na Gaeltachta to discuss yesterday’s announcement of at least 124 job losses. With the parent company apparently intent on moving its frozen section to Dublin, focus is now on protecting up to 40 jobs in the Gallagher’s Fresh section of

The Principle of St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny says three student alleged to have been involved in a fight which left one hospitalised, are not welcome back. The three students were suspended following the incident in a car park of the town’s main street on Monday lunchtime – one student was taken to hospital with

A review into the performance of the Western Health Trust has found that thousands of X rays went missing in Altnagelvin Hospital Derry last year. As a result, thousands of patients have been recalled. A number of departments at the hospital are affected including those who deal with chest complaints. The SDLP’s Pol Callaghan is

A Strabane man has said his two young sons could have been killed when they found a pipe bomb in his car on Monday morning. Details have only now emerged of the incident, which happened at Springhill Park. A neighbour removed the device. The man says he is not involved in crime or anti-social behaviour,