Author name: oisinkelly

Speculation continues to mount today about who will run for Fianna Fail in Donegal North-East in the upcoming General Election. It was reported earlier this week that moves had been made within the party to put Councillor Charlie McConalogue at the forefront of the running. But Senator Cecillia Keaveney has denied this and she says […]

A man has been ordered to take the roof off his two storey luxury house and turn it into a wall plate dormer  – to prevent it from being demolished. Joe Lynch had been given until this week to comply with a court order to bulldoze his €250,000 home after he built it a number

Counting is underway this morning in the Donegal South West by-election. Sinn Féin Senator Pearse Doherty looks set to take the seat vacated 18 months by Pat the Cope Gallagher. The total electorate of 62,229 for the by-election was divided among 136 polling stations. A number of offshore islands voted last Monday as a precaution

Motorists are being advised to take extreme care on the roads this weekend as temperatures are set to fall as low as minus 5 at night with snow and icy conditions expected from this evening. The wintry weather is forecast to hit this evening with snow showers expected in the north west. Snow showers are

Voting is continuing in the Donegal South-West by-election, and the turnout is described as steady. Polling stations opened at 7am and remain open until 10pm. Over 62,000 people are entitled to vote to fill the Dáil seat vacated by Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher when he was elected to the European Parliament in 2009. At the

Voting is underway to elect a new TD for the Donegal South West Constituency today. The seat was vacated 18 months ago with the election of Pat the Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament. 62-thousand-229 people in the Donegal South West Constituency have the right to vote. Some 136 polling stations are located around the

A judge and a solicitor clashed today(Wed) over a bail application by a man jailed for four months for road offences. Defence solicitor Cathal Quinn said that a potential bailsperson was delayed on the way to Glenties District Court when Judge Seamus Hughes recalled that the previous day an unacceptable surety for the jailed man,

Letterkenny Town Council is writing to the Department of Communications asking that any liberalisation of postal services be carried out very carefully, and in a way that does not damage communities. The issue was raised in an emergency motion by Cllr Tom Crossan, who said that a recent meeting called by the Communications Workers Union

Millionaire entrepeneur Sir Gerry Robinson is on the right track after securing a license to sell alcohol at a train station on his massive country estate. The former head of Granada Television now lives in Raphoe, Co Donegal with his wife Lady Heather Robinson. But yesterday he was granted a rather unusual request after making

An  apartment block which was to have been sold at auction in Ballybofey this evening was withdrawn after no bids emerged. The Donegal apartments, at Navenny Place, Trusk Road comprise a 47 apartment package whuich must be bought as a going concern, with a guide price of €550,000. Bids for single apartments would not be

Subcontractors have been protesting in Ballybofey today over the sale of an appartment block. The Donegal apartments, at Navenny Place, Trusk Road are going to auction with a guide price €11,700 each, but single apartments will not be sold, the complete block must be bought as one concern. The apartments are not finished, and will

The body of missing fisherman Robert Mc Laughlin has been found. Mr Mc Laughlin, who was 41,  had been missing since November 1st, when the lobster boat Jennifer, on which he was fishing with his uncle sank off Glengad. The body of his uncle, 65 year old Edward Doherty, was found shortly after the tragedy.

Three men accused of IRA membership after they were arrested in Donegal earlier this year have been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court. During their trial, the court was told the court that the prosecution case was not solely reliant on the belief evidence of a garda Chief Superintendent, but consisted of different “strands”

The IMPACT trade unions is seeking an urgent meeting with the HSE to discuss what impact the recent early retirement and redundancy schemes will have on services in County Donegal. 3,700 applications have been received by the HSE from staff who have until the 30th November to finally decide when the ‘cooling off’ period ends.

The government has been unable to say when contractors who worked not only on the new department at Letterkenny General Hospital, but also the new Buncrana Garda Station will be paid. Michael McNamara Limited, which went in to liquidation earlier this month was responsible for both projects. It has emerged that a number of Donegal

Slashing the minimum wage, cutting social welfare payments, tax hikes, new charges and public sector job losses will be announced by Government today. The long awaited four year deficit reduction plan will be unveiled this afternoon. It’s been billed as the plan to save teh country from financial collapse and it’ll be made public later

A meeting is being sought with the Minister for Defence by a group who wish to take over the Rockhill Army Barracks in Letterkenny and turn it in to a flagship tourism project. The premises has been lying vacant since the start of 2009 when soldiers were moved to Finner Camp – The Rockhill House

The Mayor of Letterkenny is predicting that improvement works which are coming to an end on the town’s Main Street will help revitalise the area and bring shoppers back to the historic town centre. Just over a million euro has been spent on the project, which will be completed by the beginning of next week.

Derry man has been jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of pizza delivery man Emmett Shields who was shot dead in June 2008. Gary Meenan, 20, from Bishop Street, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter after a murder trial had started. Meenan’s 20-year-old girlfriend, Nadine Kelly, of 22, Celandine Court was given a one year jail term

It looks like it’s time to bring out the winter woollies again this week – with a major cold snap forecast for the next few days. Met Eireann says the worst of the weather will be over the weekend – but it will hit first on Thursday. The cold snap means snow and sleet will

An 87-year-old man who raped and sexually abused five of his granddaughters over a 19-year period will be sentenced next week at the Central Criminal Court. The man “groomed” each girl in an almost identical fashion. He started off by talking to them about sex when they were around seven, before moving on to molest

Indpendent candidate Anne Sweeney has effectively withdrawn from the Donegal South West By-election calling on the public to stay at home in protest on Thursday. Ms Sweeney made the announcement today citing the developments of the last few days for her decision. While Ms Sweeney’s name will still appear on the ballot paper she is

Donegal South West by-election candidate Ann Sweeney has called for the by-election to be scrapped. She said that with the increasing political uncertainty, it would be unfair to ask the people of Donegal South-West to go to the polls twice in a matter of weeks. A General Election looks imminent with the Greens effectively pulling

A fence is to be erected around Gartan Field in Letterkenny in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour in the area. The Town Council has agreed to provide access to local residents through two locked gates, while the right of way in the area will be respected with another set of gates which will be

A plan to create hundreds of jobs in Ballybofey is awaiting approval from the planning office. The developer, the Orana Group, said it plans to develop a supermarket, retail park and Leisure Centre in a 100 million euro investment. The developer said it would create 840 jobs. Senator Pearse Doherty says he has guarantees that

A judge refused to award compensation to a Donegal Town head shop that was robbed of nearly €5,000 of legal highs. But Judge Kevin Kilrane adjourned the case of two men who stole the highs that mimic the effect of hash, cocaine and ecstasy so their behaviour could be monitored over the next six months.

Letterkenny Town Council is to move to agree a site for allotments in the coming weeks, with the site near the Glencar Reservoir now the main focus of attention. This week’s reconvened meeting of the council was told that discussions about a piece of land near West Hill offered by Bishop Philip Boyce have ended

With serious questions hanging over whether or not Brian Cowen will lead Fianna Fail into the next election, Donegal North East TD Niall Blaney has offered a spirited defence of the Taoiseach, saying he and the Fianna Fail party have been unfairly treated by the media. Deputy Blaney says he believes history will show that

Two Donegal businessmen are recruiting this week for a new event services company, which they say will be uniquely positioned to meet the changing demands of insurance and licencing laws. Rapid Response is currently recruiting a panel of security and medical experts, with a view towards weorking with event organisers across the country to help

A 999 coordination centre will be officially opened in Ballyshannon this afternoon, almost fuve years after it was first announced. Tánaiste Mary Coughlan will, this afternoon, launch the Emergency Call Answering Service. The centre, which is being operated under contract by BT Ireland will employ 33 people, and is one of three centres which will

The Green Party says it wants a General Election in the second half of next January. The leader of the Junior coalition party says the Irish people feel betrayed and misled, and it’s time they were given the chance to decide who will run the country. However, he says, before gong to the country, the

Police in Derry have come under attack during a security alert in the city. 30 families were evacuated from their homes overnight after a pipebomb was found at Cromore Gardens. Missiles, including bricks and fireworks, were thrown at PSNI officers working at the scene. A 17-year-old youth was arrested and charged in connection with the

Islanders go to the polls in the Donegal South West by-election today, with polling stations on Arranmore, Tory, Gola, Inishfree and Inishboffin opening at 10.30 this morning. Voting will close on Arranmore at 7.30 this evening, and on the other islands at 3 o’clock this afternoon.

A St Johnston man says Donegal County Council is trying to put himself and his family on to the street. Donegal County Council went to court to put a final stay on the home of Joe Lynch, because his house has been built a number of nmetres from where the original planning permission stated. The

The receiver appointed to Michael McNamara & Company, has put its main assets up for sale. Declan Taite, of Farrell Grant Sparks, has invited offers for the business and for its assets. Work on the new emergency department at Letterkenny General Hospital has ground to a halt as a result of the company going in

Fine Gael Donegal South-West by-election candidate, Cllr Barry O’Neill has said that comments made yesterday afternoon by Brian O’Domhnaill in relation to cancer services expose how out of touch the Fianna Fail candidate is. Senator O’Domhnaill said during a debate on Highland Radio that his party is committed to providing a cancer centre of excellence

Fine Gael will hold a Dail vote on protecting Ireland’s 12.5 percent Corporation Tax rate next week. Party leader Enda Kenny says there are genuine fears the Fianna Fail/Green coalition will sacrifice the low rate as part of bailout negotiations. Speaking to Highland Radio news, Deputy Kenny says that cannot be allowed happen: Deputy Kenny

The Minister for Social Protection says people should ‘pray’ that the finances of the country improve. Eamon O’Cuiv says the next three weeks, due to the government’s budget and  four year year recovery plan , are crucial for Ireland’s future. Speaking on the ‘Shaun Doherty Show’ Minister O’Cuiv said that not everything is in the

It’s emerged that thousands of polling cards which has been printed for next Thursday’s Donegal South West by-election have had to be scrapped, because the polling times listed on them were wrong. Polling on November 25th is between 7am and 10pm, but the cards which have been printed said 7.30 to 10.30. A spokesperson for

The North West of Ireland has been named European Golf Destination of the Year. The award was announced last night in Valencia, Spain by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators. The award was presented to North and West Coast Links Golf,  which represents 12 of Ireland’s premium clubs, including Ballyliffin, Rossapenna, Portalon, Narin Portnoo

A tourism initiative will be launched in Ballyshannon this weekend by the Minister Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey. The intitative is aimed at developing rural tourism in Donegal and the North West. Visitor facilities across the region will be improved, including Benbulben, Glencar waterfall and Sliabh League. Manager of Failte Ireland North West,

A man in his thirties, was brought to Letterkenny General Hospital last night following a stabbing incident in Annagry. The victim was working in a Chinese takeaway in the centre of the village when a man entered the kitchen and stabbed him in the arm and upper body at around quarter to twelve last night.

Sinn Fein by-election candidate Pearse Doherty-who says he does not concentrate too much on opinion polls. A RED C survey for ‘Paddy Power’ released yesterday showed Senator Doherty would have twice the first preferences of his nearest rival. He said he is aware of the result but says he believes telephone polls are very unreliable.

The operation to clear 33 dead pilot whales from the beach on Rutland Island has been completed. The whales were taken from the island by ferry this morning, and have now been brought to a facility in County Cavan for incineration. A week ago, the council planned to bury the whales on the island, but

Nearly three quarters of second level school leavers in Donegal went on to third level education this year. The figures published today show that 1,872 of the 2008 second level students who sat the Leaving Cert examinations in Donegal this year went on to third level studies. That’s a total of 72% Of those, 508

A two-day think-in is to take place in Ballyshannon this weekend aimed at addressing the difficulties facing the town. Organisers hope the conference will help identifying the issues that have seen the town lose hundreds of jobs in recent years. The ideas will then be presented to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt

Donegal County Council is set to prosecute a woman who has refused to shut a chip-van that has served Ardara for 31 years. Rosaleen McCollum yesterday received notice that Donegal County Council has instructed a solicitor to prosecute her for breach of two laws. Ms McCollum bought the van almost three years ago in Ardara

Students from Letterkenny IT will join colleagues from the West and Morth West today for a demonstration in Galway today, in protest against possible increases in the Registration Fee and cuts to grants. Over 40 thousand students joined a protest in Dublin on November 3rd and another regional protest is planned for Cork on 1st

A new initiative to promote business leadership in the region is being launched at Letterkenny IT today. Leadership North West W is an organisation formed by graduates of the LYIT’s Innovation and Leadership programme, with major business players from Donegal, Sligo, Cavan, Derry and Mayo already involved. The organisation is intended to be a network

A new opinion poll shows Sinn Féin on course to win the Donegal South West By-Election. The RED C survey for ‘Paddy Power’ shows Senator Pearse Doherty on 40 per cent of first preference votes. Fianna Fáil’s Brian  O’Domhnaill polls less than half that on 19 per cent. Fine Gael’s Barry O’Neill polls third on