Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal County Councils Director of Water has admitted that the authority’s Emergency Phone line for people affected by the water crisis needs to be looked at. Since the thaw began at the weekend, thousands of pipes are believed to have burst across the county, many of which have not been detected. Donegal County Council is […]

One of Donegal’s landmark hotels is to close with the loss of 20 jobs. Gleneany House Hotel in Letterkenny, which was a 25 bedroom family-run hotel, has been open for the past 20 years. Increased competition and a down-turn in the economy has been blamed for the hotel’s closure. President of the Letterkenny Chamber of

Deputy Niall Blaney has emerged as the highest claimant of Dail expenses over the past three years since December 1st 2007. In stark contrast Deputy Joe McHugh is placed at number 75 on the list. Deputy Niall Blaney claimed €212,112 over the past three years, while Deputy Joe McHugh claimed €151,900 over the same period.

Papers released under the 30 year rule show John Hume suggested that the Irish government “put Margaret Thatcher straight” on the crisis in the North. In 1980, the SDLP leader gave a scathing analysis of the then British Prime Minister saying her approach to the North was simplistic. He suggested Taoiseach Charlie Haughey put her

The HSE is refusing to comment on reports that two people have been admitted to Letterkenny General Hospital with swine flu. Both are understod to know each other. A spokesperson for the HSE has confirmed a general increase in the number of cases nationally, saying the increase was expected and is not a cause for

Police in Derry are trying to identify the driver of a stolen car that made off after colliding with a police vehicle. At around 10pm on Christmas Day, a white Mercedes car drove through traffic lights at Northland Road and crossed to the ‘wrong’ side of the road before colliding with the police car. The

This is the latest bulletin from Donegal County Council, including details of restrictions to water supplies tonight. GLENTIES ELECTORAL AREA Water supplies will be restricted in the following areas from 6:00pm until 8:00am The Rosses Gweedore Leittermacaward Area Ardara Area Gortahork Falcarragh Creeslough Dunfanaghey DONEGAL ELECTORAL AREA Water supplies will be restricted in the following

The Small Firms Association says recent decreases in local authority rates are nowhere enough. SFA Chairperson Ian Martin says the two greatest challenges facing small firms heading into 2011 are  access to finance and the cost of running a business, with commercial rates making up a large proportion of that cost. All local authorities in

The Mayor of Donegal has conceded that the authority’s Emergency Phone line for people affected by the water crisis is not functioning as it should. Since the thaw began at the weekend, thousands of pipes are believed to have burst across the county, many of which have not been detected. Donegal County Council is continuing

It’s emerged that the pregnant woman who died following the three car crash outside Carrickmacross on Monday was a native of Fanad. 39 year old Roisin Connolly of Drumcondra, Dublin, was born Roisin Langan from Ballure in Fanad, where her mother and other family members still live. She went to school in Doaghbeg  National School.

The latest bulletin from Donegal County Council Planned Restrictions to public water supplies (Tuesday 28th December 2010) Demand for water has increased throughout the County seriously affecting reserves. As a result water supply will be restricted in the following areas tonight, note some from as early as tea-time: GLENTIES ELECTORAL AREA Water supplies will be

As the thaw sets in across the county, Donegal County Council is urging motorists and pedestrians not to become complacent on roads and footpaths. However, the council’s main concern at present is water, with fears of burst pipes right across the system. The council’s emergency number is 074 91 72399. Meanwhile, disruptions will be experienced

Donegal County Council says there should be no further was restrictions imposed until at least St Stephen’s day. Since the cold snap many consumers across Donegal have seen their water cut off over night. Once again last night a  number of areas served by the Lough Mourne supply were affected by water restrictions including  Convoy,

A councillor and former MLA has appeared in court charged with drink driving. 62-year-old Derek Hussey from Castlederg, appeared in court in Strabane yesterday. The court heard he was stopped in Orchard Road in Strabane last month. The case was adjourned until 6 January. Mr Hussey has been an Ulster Unionist member of Strabane District

A postman from Donegal says the freezing conditions will be here for weeks Michael Gallagher forecasts the weather by spotting signs in nature. He reckons a horse grazing near the farmhouse means bad weather and the arrival of a robin tells him snow is on the way. Michael’s wife Margaret says he’s been telling his

Road temperatures in parts of Donegal today have fallen so low that salt has become ineffective. In Stranorlar, Ballybofey and Letterkenny, road temperatures of –13 degrees where recorded earlier today. Salt is not effective when temperatures drop below -10 degrees. Senior Engineer with Donegal County Council, Vincent Lynn, says he’s never seen temperatures drop so

Bundoran Town Council in Co Donegal has reduced its commercial rates by a massive 8 per cent in response to the growing challenges that businesses face in the popular seaside resort. Vice Chairman of the Council, Fianna Fáil’s Cllr Philip McGlynn, who proposed the motion yesterday said that the council had to deal with the

The council has confirmed that all council car parking charges in the town are being waived from now until the end of the year in a bid to stimulate the local economy after serious losses  due to the bad weather. The announcement was made following meetings with the Letterkenny Chamber. CEO Toni Forrester is welcoming

Letterkenny Town Council has unanimously adopted its budget for 2011, with projected expenditure of just over €7.5 million. Of the council’s income, €4.5 million, or 55%, will come from commercial rates, which will be cut by 3.5% next year. Members praised Manager Seamus Neely for achieving the cut while maintaining services, particularly in the area

Buncrana Town Council has passed its budget for 2011, with projected expenditure of just under €3.4 million. The commercial rate will be reduced by 2%, after manager John Mc Laughlin initially proposed that the rate be frozen. As well as the rate reduction, members agreed a number of adjustments in the budget to increase the

Letterkenny Cllr Jimmy Harte says one of the legacies of the Fianna Fail-led Government will be its disgraceful neglect of child welfare, and its failure to tackle the child poverty issue. A report published this week by the Department of Health says over 1,100 children are in need of social housing in Donegal, and the

A terrorism charge against a leading dissident republican in Derry was dropped at the local Magistrate’s Court yesterday. 40-year-old Gary Donnelly, Rathkeele Way, Creggan was charged last August with possessing a mobile “phone for use in the commission or instigation of an act of terrorism”. He was alleged to have committed the offence in September

Scoil Colmcille, Kerrykeel Castletown NS, St Johnston

Distribution of a new load of salt for treating roads is set to begin tomorrow. A 4 thousand tonne shipment is arriving into Cork this evening, with a fleet of vehicles on standby to distribute it nationwide. Some supplies have already arrived in Dublin and Belfast, with extra salting taking place from tomorrow, with the

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