Author name: oisinkelly

All drivers involved in serious crashes will face automatic breath-testing from January. The new law was due to come into force in July – but was delayed until next September to coincide with new, lower drink driving limits. However Transport Minister Noel Dempsey decided to push through the special legislation next month. Mary Clinton from […]

The grieving parents of a 25-year-old charity worker killed by a drunken hit-and-run driver in Derry last year have appealed for an increase in the sentences available to judges for such offences. Martin and Elizabeth Gallagher made the appeal outside the Crown Court in Derry minutes after a 23-year-old man was jailed for three years

Letterkenny and Buncrana Town Councils both hold their budget meetings this evening, with members in Letterkenny seeking at least a 3% reduction in the commercial rate. It’s expected the status quo will be proposed in Buncrana, but members may seek a slight reduction. After Donegal County Council passed its budget with a 3.5% rates decrease

Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Ken Good has called on people to perform “random acts of kindness” in a time of great economic hardship. The bishop said a spirit of generosity was becoming increasingly evident during the current period of financial woes. In his Christmas address, Bishop Good said that he was convinced the best

NATIONAL SCHOOLS Ayrhill N.S. Ramelton reopening Monday 10th January Convoy Joint N.S reopening Monday 10th January Cranford N.S. reopening Monday 10th January Derryconnor N.S. Gortahork closed until January. Donoughmore N.S Liscooley will remain closed until January Drumkeen N.S closed until Tuesday 11th January Drumoghill N.S reopening Monday 10th January Edeninfagh N.S Glenties closed until New

The following schools have confirmed their intentions for tomorrow to Highland Radio. Any school principal not on the list is asked to note that the lines are now closed, and they should ring after 7 o’clock tomorrow (Weds) morning. Texts and messages left overnight will not be included in the list tomorrow morning. National Schools

Donegal County Council is expressing concern about icicles snapping off roofs and eaves, with a Senior Engineer Vincent Lynn saying there have been reports of people narrowly avouiding serious injury. Meanwhile, once a thaw sets in over the weekend, concern is being espressed about snow coming off roofs. Mr Lynn says while the thaw will

The Donegal Mountain Resue Team has reported a busy period due to the cold snap with a number of rescue and humanitarian call outs. The team earlier assisted an older lady who is isolated in her Glenties home while there has been a number of similar call outs. Catriona Strain is a spokesperson for the

Donegal County Council has adopted its budget for next year, with members accepting a 3.5% cut in the commercial rate. Towards the end of the meeting, a late push was made to have the cut widened to 5%, but in the end, that wasn’t achieved. However, a new fund has been agreed to promote community

Fianna Fáil looks set to lose 36 seats in next year’s general election – according to a prediction survey by the country’s independent radio stations. The survey by Highland Radio and other stations around the country predicts Fine Gael will be the largest party, but that Fianna Fáil may keep Labour in third place. This

Met Eireann has just updated its severe weather alert for the day ahead. Officials say it will continue extremely cold in all areas with severe frost, ice and fog patches. Scattered snow showers in north and west Ulster with up to 3 cm possible Met Eireann says it now looks like the predicted thaw will

National Schools Closed Tuesday 21st December 2010 Annagry National School Ayr Hill National School, Ramelton Ballyraine National School, Letterkenny Castletown National School St Johnston Convoy Joint National School closed Tues, The School Carol Service is also cancelled for Tues night Cranford National School Derryconnor National School Gortahork Donaghmore National School, Liscooley Dooish National School, B’bofey

Donegal County Council is close to passing its budget for 2011 with €153 million to be spent on running the county this year. County Manager Seamus Neely and Head of Finance Gary Martin presented detailed estimates of income and expenditure to members at today’s budget meeting at County House in Lifford. The commercial rate will

National Schools Closed Tuesday 21st December 2010 Annagry National School Ayr Hill National School, Ramelton Ballyraine National School, Letterkenny Castletown National School St Johnston Convoy Joint National School closed Tues, The School Carol Service is also cancelled for Tues night Cranford National School Donaghmore National School, Liscooley Drumkeen National School Drumoghill National School Fintown National

The roads around Donegal remian treacherous today as the big freeze continues. Temperatures of minus 15 were recorded in Killygordon, while minus 16 was recorded in Sligo last night. The freezing conditions Sligo were a new record low temperature for December. And the arctic conditions are set to continue in the Northwest until at least

Councillors have begun their budget meeting at County House in Lifford. If the provisions of the proposed budget are accepted today, Donegal County Council will spend just over €153 million in 2011. Of that, a total of 66 million will go on payroll costs. The money will be made up of 48.5 million in State

County Manager Seamus Neely will today present his first budget to Donegal County Council, with a 3.5% reduction in commercial rates and a freeze on water charges being proposed. He faces the challenge of absorbing a fall in local income, as well as a 6.6% decrease in government funding, while at the same time maintaining

The sister of Hollywood actor Matthew Broderick has objected to a new home being built near the Broderick family holiday cottage in Donegal, it has been reported. Martha Broderick is unhappy at plans submitted by local resident Connor Meehan to erect a one-storey house on a nearby hill which will overlook their home in Kilcar.

Northern Ireland has endured its coldest night on record. A new low temperature was recorded in Castlederg in County Tyrone – touching minus 18 degrees Celsius. Colin Brown from the Roads Service says they’re into their 4th day of continuously treating the main routes:

Hundreds of thousands of euro are being lost to the economy in what should have been the busiest shopping weekend of the year. The return of heavy snow and freezing conditions — made worse by a salt shortage — has led to a downturn in high street trade, and mass cancellations of Christmas parties. Business

Bishop Edward Daly has called on people to shop local, saying it was the “christian thing to do” at Christmas. The Bishop was speaking about the recession yesterday at Highland Radios mass from the Foyle Hospice yesterday. Businesses in Donegal have suffered in recent years, as people go in search of a bargain across the

The NRA says Donegal is one of the six counties which will be prioritised when fresh salt supplies arrive in the country this week. Speaking after a meeting of the goverment’s emergency taskforce, Sean O’Neill from the National Roads Authority said national supplies of salt were down to 10,000 tonnes, with 2,000 tonnes a day

The clarify an earlier report City of Derry Airport is open and operational. However further flight disruption is possible due to poor weather at the destination airports in the UK. Passengers due to travel today should contact their airlines by telephone or online before travelling to the airport in order to check the current status

More snow is forecast today, although there’s not likely to be as much as in recent days. It’s expected to fall mainly in Connacht, west Munster and north Leinster, but there could be showers elsewhere too. Roads are still treacherous across the country. The weather forcast for Donegal on Sunday Very cold today but mostly

Roads across Donegal are in a very dangerous condition today, as snow continues to fall in the county. The Back of Errigal and Carndonagh / Drumfries Roads are closed, with problems also reported on the Lifford Castlefinn Road as well. Gardai and council officials are urging people to travel only if absolutely necessary. Also pedestrians

Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh has failed in a bid to have an emergency meeting of the Dail Transport Committee called for next week. Deputy Mc Hugh says he called for the meeting to see if a mechanism can be agreed to have salt supplies diverted from elsewhere to Donegal. Deputy Mc Hugh

HSE West has issued a statement saying that due to adverse weather today and over the coming days, it may not be possible for the HSE to deliver a full range of care services, including services in people’s own homes. The HSE says Services will be prioritised and those considered essential will be delivered first,

Derry Magistrates Court has been told how, on two occasions this week, a 45-year-old Derry man walked into a police station with a knife. William O’Kane of no fixed abode was charged with possessing a knife on Wednesday, and possessing a knife and making threats to kill on Thursday. On December 15th,  O’Kane walked into

Roads across Donegal are in a very dangerous condition tonight, as snow continues to fall in the county. The Back of Errigal and Carndonagh / Drumfries Roads are closed, with problems also reported on the Lifford Castlefinn Road as well. Gardai and council officials are urging people to travel only if absolutely necessary.

The following is a statement received this evening from Donegal County Council – Lough Mourne Water Supply Update – 17th December 2010. Water supplies throughout the Lough Mourne network are under severe strain due to the current weather conditions and Donegal County Council wish to inform the public that the following reservoirs in the Stranorlar Electoral

Donegal County Council has said it has done all that can within its power to boost the county’s salt stocks. From noon today, the council implemented a restricted treatment service on the county’s roads. As reported last evening, the priority list has been split into red and green routes. Only the red routes, most of

SECONDARY SCHOOLS Colaiste Ailigh, Lkenny Carndonagh Community School & musical also cancelled Deele College, Raphoe Errigal College L’kenny Gairm Scoil Chu Uladh, Ballinamore Fintown Loreto Community School Milford Loreto Convent L’kenny Mulroy College Milford PCC Falcarragh Pobhail Scoil Gweedore Derrybeag Rosses Community School Dungloe Royal & Prior Raphoe & exams due today now on Tues

Road conditions across the north and west are treacherous this morning. Overnight snowfall, which persists this morning has left most routes in a very dangerous conditions with a number of minor incidents reported across the county. In the North the PSNI is advising drivers against making any un-necessary journeys. Many schools across Donegal have confirmed

75 new jobs are to be created by the Zeus company in Letterkenny. The company is investing €10m in an expansion and creating 75 new manufacturing jobs over 3 years. The expansion of its facility at the IDA Business and Technology Park, Letterkenny, Co Donegal is supported by IDA Ireland. Its local spokesperson is Joe

City of Derry Airport is currently open and all remaining flights for today are expected to operate normally. Flight disruption is possible over the next few days as snow and icy conditions return. Passengers due to travel over the next few days should check with their airlines for the latest updates. Passengers should check in

Likely coalition partners in the next government, Labour and Fine Gael, are at odds as to whether or not the republic will help fund the A5 dual carriageway project linking Derry and Aughnacloy via Strabane. Labour election candidate Jimm Harte says the money is not there for the project but Fine Gael’s Joe Mc Hugh

Children’s Minister Barry Andrews is being urged to investigate how best to alleviate the uncertainty surrounding the future of Donegal Youth Council. Yesterday it was confirmmed that the council’s coordinator has been reappointed until next March. Senator Cecilia keavney raised the issue in the Seanad last night, asking the minister to outline how youth councils

The Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says he remains convinced that the new A&E and Medical Unit at the hospital will open as planned in April next year. The unit was very close to completion when Mc Namara Construction, the main contractor on the multi million euro contract went into receivership. Speaking on today’s Shaun

A 25-year-old man accused of unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl has been found not guilty. The offence was alleged to have happened in the defendant’s car when he was 18 on 25th October 2003 in a south County Donegal car park. He admitted at Donegal Circvuit Court this week that he had sex with

Donegal County Council says a greatly reduced salting service will be provided from tomorrow, with the priority road list broken into red routes and green routes. From tomorrow, only the red routes will be salted, with the green routes just being spread with sand and grit. The list was published this evening after a lengthy

The judge has begun his summing up to the jury in the trial of a 25-year-old man accused of illegal sex under anti-rape legislation with a 13-year-old girl. It’s the third day of the trial at Donegal Circuit Court where the man has pleaded not guilty. The offence was alleged to have happened in the

An Bord Pleanala has granted permission for the development of an Equestrian Centre and apartments in Malin. Donegal County Council had already granted permission for the development on the outskirts of the town but that was appealed to An Bord Pleanala on a number of grounds. The planning application for the development on the Lagg

Donegal’s Chief Fire Officer has rejected suggestions that low water pressure hindered the tackling of a major blaze in Raphoe last evening. A number of families had a lucky escape when a house-fire in St Eunan’s Terrace sent smoke passing through their shared attic space – almost choking them. One man was rescued by passers-by

It has been confirmed that a body  found on Lough Swilly Beach yesterday afternoon was that of missing Letterkenny women Una Boyle. The 43 year-old had been missing since last Friday, she was last seen in the Port Bridge area of the town. A major search operation was launched and continued until yesterday afternoon. The

County Councillors meet today having been called to an emergency meeting to discuss the county’s dwindling salt stocks with another big freeze on the way. Council sources say there is only enough salt to treat 1/3 of the county’s roads. It is understood the National Roads Authority has instructed the council cut down their use

A number of families had a lucky escape in Raphoe last night when a house-fire sent smoke passing through their shared attic space – almost choking them. One man was rescued by passers-by after the blaze broke out in his home at St.Eunan’s Terrace around 5pm. But there was uproar among residents when firefighters were

Fears over the future of the Donegal Youth Council have been eased after it was confirmed that the council’s  coordinator for Donegal Youth Council has been reinstated. Youth Council members expressed their concerns for its future last week when the youth council was suspended after the coordinator’s contract expired. However Mayor Cora Harvey has confirmed

The visiting restrictions which have been in place in Surgical Ward 2 of Letterkenny General Hospital since Monday have been lifted. Hospital management is reminding visitors who may be unwell or have had vomiting or diarrhoea recently to not visit any part of the hospital. Similarly, children and those with some other serious illness should

The north west’s two Institute of Technologies have been awarded over €2m in grant aid Sligo IT will receive €1.2million while over €940,000 has also been approved for Letterkenny IT. The funding will facilitate the provision of small-scale building works and high-tech equipment upgrades on both campuses. LYIT President, Paul Hannigan, says the fundning is