Author name: oisinkelly

The Mayor of Letterkenny is urging people to check on elderly neighbours this week, particularly those who live alone. Speaking before adjourning the Town Council’s December meeting, Cllr Tadhg Culbert said after the recent cold snap and with another just days away, some people may be running low on food or fuel. Cllr Culbert says […]

A 16-year-old boy has been attacked and robbed in the street by two men, one who was armed with a plank of wood, in Derry. He and his girlfriend were walking along Chapel Road in the Waterside area around 1.30am in the early hours of Sunday morning when the men approached them. They attacked the

The West and North West will play a vital role in Ireland’s economic recovery and future job creation, according to a new report which has just been published. The study by the Western Development Commission says the renewable energy, software and communications sectors are particularly strong in the West and North West, and if expanded,

A Derry MLA is calling for the appointment of a regulator to control the price of home heating oil in Northern Ireland. Pól Callaghan, the SDLP’s consumer affairs spokesperson in the Assembly says while families elsewhere in Northern Ireland can choose gas as an option, that’s not available to households in Derry. He says a

The Board of Údarás na Gaeltachta says it’s capacity to create jobs will be greatly diminished next year as a result of budget cuts. Following a weekend meeting, the board says its budget is being cut from €15 million this year to €6 million in 2011. According to the government, a further €6.2m is to

Junior Fisheries Minister Sean Connick is in Brussels today for two days of talks on fishing quotas for 2011, with the Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation saying they are concerned at the unwillingness of the new commissioner to consult with the industry. Meanwhile, weekend discussions on mackerel stocks saw the EU and Norway reach agreement on a

The search has resumed for a Letterkenny woman who’s been missing since the early hours of Friday morning. Gardai are not confirming the woman’s identity, but she has been named locally as 43 year-old single woman Una Boyle from the Ballyraine area. Searches took place around the town at the weekend, with the River Swilly

A Letterkenny councillor is urging officials to investigate how the Town Council can take steps to ensure that footpaths are cleared during cold snaps in the future. Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle says it’s clear that the severe weather over the past two weeks will be a regular feature during future winters, and now is the

The search continues today for a Letterkenny  a missing Letterkenny woman. 43-year-old Una Boyle, from the Ballyraine area of the town  has been missing since the early hours of Friday morning. Gardai have  carried out searches of areas around the town including the Port Bridge and Ballyraine. Ms Boyle is described as being 5’ 4’

Donegal North East Deputy, Niall Blaney, Letterkenny Hospital officials and Tanaiste Mary Coughlan met this week to discuss the loss of rheumatology services in Donegal. According to Deputy Blaney, Health Minister Mary Harney agreed to consider putting  in place an outreach service for communties in Donegal. He said it would be situated in Manorhamilton. But

A Donegal woman revealed how she warned her elderly father to be careful just minutes before a 50ft fir tree came crashing down on him. 74-year-old Paddy Havlin was watching his son-in-law and grandson cut trees at his home in Co Donegal on the evening of September 3rd last. Paddy Havlin’s son-in-law Eamon McLaughlin was

The Government’s Supreme Court appeal against the High Court finding of its “inordinate delay” in moving the writ for the Donegal South West byelection will not be heard until the new year. Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty, who succeeded in his High Court challenge to the byelection delay and subsequently won the byelection, has brought

A number of students protesting against increases to university fees have forced their way into the Guildhall in Derry. According to the city’s mayor, the peaceful protest was only disrupted by “a very tiny minority within the crowd who were intent on causing trouble and did cause some damage”. Colum Eastwood also said Northern Bank

Donegal County Council says all priority roads in the county are open and clear, but continued caution is advised on back roads and untreated footpaths, where packed ice is being covered by a layer of water from melting snow, and that’s causing very slippery conditions. Meanwhile, as forecasters say there’s more cold weather to come,

Donegal Councillor Dessie Larkin is refusing to comment on speculation that he may contest the next general election as an independent. Cllr Larkin is not among the four Fianna Fail nominees who will go forward to convention in Donegal North East early in the new year, and that has fuelled local talk of a possible

Anti-VRT campaigner Ryan Stewart has annouced his intention to stand as an Independent General Election candidate in Donegal North-East. Mr Stewart has led a high-profile campaign  against the motor tax and his facebook page has currently over 12,000 supporters. The quota needed to get into the Dail in the 2007 General Election was 9,637. Mr

Letterkenny General Hospitals unfinished multi-million euro A&E and Medical Unit could be open as planned early next year. Donegal North-East Deputy Niall Blaney says the 22 million euro extension could be complete by April. Work on the new three-storey unit has been stalled since last month when the High Court appointed a receiver to McNamara

Letterkenny General Hospitals €3.5 million deficit will be wiped out and they will be able to start from a clean slate in 2011, according to Donegal North-East Deputy, Niall Blaney. A meeting was held on Wednesday night between Health Minister Mary Harney, Deputy Blaney and Letterkenny General manager Sean Murphy to discuss the hospitals future.

A Donegal Councillor has predicted that next week’s Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting in Europe will see a repeat of the annual spectacle of the Irish Minister and fisheries organisations coming back from Brussels and claiming they have secured concessions and averted threatened cuts. However, Cllr Thomas Pringle says the reality is that quotas will

The HSE is investigating an incident where two children were found looking for food in a bin in Kilkenny city centre. The five year olds were spotted by a local social worker who contacted the HSE directly. The President of the local St Vincent dePaul says she’s been left ‘wordless’ by the revelation. Meanwhile, the

North-West MEP Marian Harkin has slammed the Irish government’s decision to cut state supports for Carers in the 2011 Budget. She says that this move will prove a step backwards from ensuring future prosperity. The Independent MEP said the reduction in the national Carers Allowance and cuts to Carers’ tax breaks might save money in

Donegal County Council says it’s vital that people keep an eye on water supplies in the coming days, and report any leaks or problems immediately. As the thaw sets in, the risk of frozen pipes bursting rises sharply, and Acting Director of Services Joe Peoples says further disruption to supplies is possible, but the council

The are fears for the future of the new A5 dual carriageway linking Derry and Aughnacloy after Labour’s Transport Spokesman said it would not be a priority for the next government. Contracts have been signed, and preliminary work is already underway. However, while the budget this week reaffirmed funding for the cross border project, Labour’s

National Schools Castletown N.S St Johnston closed Thursday Cloughfin National School Gael Scoil Cois Feabhail Moville closed Thursday Glasson National School Creeslough Hollybush Primary & Nursery School closed Thursday Lifford National School Murlog N.S. Lifford closed Thursday Raphoe Central N.S. closed on Thurs 9th Dec Scoil Colmcille Greencastle closed today Scoil Colmcille N.S Greencastle closed

Hundreds of families in Donegal will be affected by the cuts to the student maintainance grant announced this week as part of budget 2011. At the moment, qualifying students attending a college over 24 kilometres from their address receive the full grant. However, the chasnges push the distance out to over 45 kilometres. Donegal County

Donegal Senator Cecilia Keaveney is demanding urgent discussions to resolve the suspenion of the Donegal Youth Council. She wants the County Manager and the Department of the Environment to discuss the next move after the expiry of the youth council co-ordinator’s contract yesterday. The council says the governments recruitment ban is preventing it from acting.

National Schools St Eunans N.S. Raphoe closed till Mon Murlog N.S. Lifford closed Thursday Gael Scoil Cois Feabhail Moville closed Thursday St Mary’s P.S. Cloughcor, Strabane closed until Monday Scoil Eoghain NS Moville closed Thursday St Safan’s N.S Castlefin closed Thursday Castletown N.S St Johnston closed Thursday Teevog N.S Cloughan closed Thursday Hollybush Primary &

A body has been found in a flat on the Quay Road in Dungloe. The discovery was made in the past couple of hours. Gardai said they were awaiting a post mortem report but the death is not thought to be suspicious or weather related.

The Environment Minster has been asked to intervene after it emerged that the Donegal Youth Council has been suspended. The decion was made after the youth council co-ordinator’s contract expired and will not be renewed. Donegal County Council cannot appoint a replacement because of the governments recruitment ban. Now Environment Minister John Gormley is being

Donegal County Council has been told that the operation to clear a pod of over 30 dead whales which were washed up on Rutland Island in November will cost over €10,000. The money will have to come from the council’s own resources. Acting Director of Service Joe Peoples told members the clear up operation would

Donegal County Council says a number of areas linked to the Lough Mourne supply will have their services curtailed again tonight. There is also pressure on the Rosses Regional Water Supply, with restrictions expected in the Bunbeg/Derrybeg from Dore Crossroads and Burtonport village as far the old fire station Dungloe. The council is urging people

One of the harshest budgets in living memory was outlined yesterday by the Finance Minister. Brian Lenihan has unveiled tax increases, cuts in social welfare and bringing more workers into the tax net. Six billion euro is to be taken in by way of 1.5 billion in new taxes and 4.5 billion in spending cuts.

A meeting which was to have taken place this afternoon in Moville to discuss how the area can benefit from Derry’s designation as UK City of Culture 2013 has been postponed until the new year, but the organisers say this gives an opportunity to prepare more ideas. The meeting organisers Moville Inishowen Action say Moville

The Back of Errigal Road is to remain closed until at least tomorrow morning after a county council test showed a number of very dangerous icy stretches. Donegal County Council says two routes in Inishowen, the Carndonagh Drumfries Road and the Birdstown Burnfoot Road will also remain closed until at least tomorrow morning. Senior Roads

National Schools Hollybush Primary school Culmore Derry  closed on  Wed  & the open night for thurs 9th is also postponed Airhill National School Ramelton Barrick Street Boys Primary school & nursery unit Stabane closed wed Castletown National School St Johnston closed Wednesday Convoy Joint National School Closed Wednesday Donoughmore National School Liscooley Castlefin Gael Scoil

Another golden eagle has been found poisoned, this time across the border. The young bird, which was reared in Glenveagh National Park after being brought as a chick from Scotland this summer, was found dead outside the village of Killeter in West Tyrone. This is the third golden eagle which have been deliberately poisoned. Lorcan

The next stage in the budget process happens today when the social welfare bill is introduced in the Dáil. The budget passed it’s first major hurdle last night when the Dáil voted to allow for various measures including the increase in petrol and diesel. Meanwhile,  the Taoiseach has again vowed to lead Fianna Fáil into

National Schools Hollybush Primary school Culmore Derry  closed on  Wed the open night for thurs 9th is also postponed Barrick Street Boys Primary school & nursery unit Stabane closed wed St Mary’s Primary school Cloughcor Strabane closed Wednesday Scoil Mhuire Ramelton closed Wednesday Castletown National School St Johnston closed Wednesday St Safan’s National School Castlefin

Up to 10,000 ESB customers are currently without electricity in West Donegal. Thousands of people are without power in Gweedore, Creeselough and Derrybeg. ESB workers are currently on the ground trying to deal with the issue. ESB spokesperson, Brian Montane, says he’s hopeful power can be restored as soon as possible:

Brian Lenihan has delivered one of the toughest budgets this country has seen in living memory. Substantial tax increases, cuts in social welfare and bringing more workers into the tax net are the key features of Budget 2011. If you are on a low or middle income, this budget is going to hurt you the

The County Donegal VEC Living for learning certification presentation to take place tonight in The Radisson Hotel l’kenny has been cancelled For more information call Martina 086 – 6474122 The celi dancing in the old school Kerrykeel tomorrow night is cancelled until next week Children Irish Class in Sion Mills tonight is cancelled The L’kenny

Road conditions remain dangerous this afternoon, with fresh snow falling in parts of Donegal. Donegal County Council kept three roads closed in the county following sleet and snow falls overnight, and Meenaroy has now been closed again. Senior Engineer Michael Mc Garvey says the conditions this afternoon are worse than had been forecast, and the

A Letterkenny Councillor says the re-alignment of the Station Roundabout in Letterkenny is in desperate need of review, as it causing major disruption to motorists since it came into effect recently. Clle Jimmy Harte says he expects the problems will worsen during the Christmas period unless the local authority re-assess the changes. He says he

Unpublished government records show many local authorities are facing “critical areas of vulnerability” due to funding shortages. The records state that county and city councils are experiencing major challenges this year in collecting enough income from rates and charges to pay for vital services like roads, water and housing. Donegal County Council has been described

An inquest has been told how an experienced diver disappeared just five feet from the safety of rocks after a diving expedition went fatally wrong in 2008. 41 year old Ann Howard disappeared off Arranmore Island. Letterkenny Coroner’s Court heard she was an experienced diver of more than 10 years and had been part of

Donegal County Council is warning of black ice right across the county this morning, with three roads closed. They are the Back of Errigal Road between Termon and Dunlewey and two roads in Inishowen –  Carndonagh – Drumfries and Birdstown – Burnfoot. The council says treatment has continued, and it will take delivery of more

SCHOOL CLOSURES Castletown National School St Johnston closed Tuesday Convoy Joint National School closed Tuesday Drumoghill National School closed until Thursday Gael Scoil Buncrana closed Tuesday Gael Scoil Cois Feabhail Moville closed Tuesday Glenmaquinn National School closed Tuesday Hollybush Primary & Nursery school Ardan Road Derry Knockavoe School Melmount Gardens Strabane closed on Tuesday Lifford

Parent are being urged to discouraged the children from throwing snowing snow balls at vehicles and people’s homes. If follows a case in west Donegal in which an elderly woman was trapped in her home by a group of youths who were hurling snowballs at her property. There are also numberous reports across the county

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating the cause a fire at a farm in St Johnston on Saturday afternoon. The blaze broke out in a shed, and was reported at around half past three. 12,000 square feet of shed space was damaged, as were two trailers and other items of machinery. Around 1,500 bales of