Author name: oisinkelly

It is been claimed that three Northwest TD’s who lost the Fianna Fail whip will have their political resolve tested next week when Fine Gael raise the issue of cuts in the HSE west region. Donegal Deputy Dr James McDaid and Sligo Deputies Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon all lost the party whip having taken […]

Tributes have been paid to Frank Curran, one of the most well-known figures in the newspaper industry in Derry, who has died Aged 87 Mr Curran was the former chief reporter, sports editor, and editor of the Derry Journal. Former SDLP Party leader John Hume was amongst those who paid tribute to Mr Curran today.

The number of those signing on the live register in Donegal from August to September fell by 1,467. According to the figures today from the CSO, which show a county by county breakdown, there were 21,333 people signing in the county last month. The 6.5% drop in the number of those signing on has been

The North’s Health Minister has cast doubt over a previous announcement that a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin would be up and running by 2015. Michael McGimpsey announced proposals for the unit two years ago however he now says that the delivery of the scheme was dependent on the outcome of budget negotiations with Finance

It is expected that the government will this evening announce a planned extension and further development of the Newmills Corn and Flax Mills. Minister of State for Finance, O.P.W and Culture Martin Manseragh is in the county later to accept an award for the facility which has been named Best Presented Heritage Site. The mills

There was a major boost for the Fintown community following confirmation that funding has been approved for the long awaited new community hall in the area. The new hall will replace the current 1950’s structure that has fallen into disrepair. A grant of €331,700 or 70% of the cost of the project, whichever is the

Senator Cecilia Keaveney has called for the review of how the 2nd home property tax is collected stating that for many the first reminder people get about the tax is 3 months after it is due. She says that people were unaware that the new year deadline was back in July and are now being

A 22-year-old Derry man said he was ‘glad he got caught’ after he admitted possessing cannabis with intent to supply. Emmet Devenney of Rinmore Drive in Derry admitted the charge which occurred on October 30 last year when he appeared at Derry Crown Court. The court heard that police searched a flat Deveney was renting

Letterkenny Labour candidate Jimmy Harte has called on Fianna Fail Deputy Dr Jim McDaid to stop talking “out of both sides of his mouth”. Dr McDaid, who  has called for a general election in October, voted  against a Fianna Gael  motions seeking to move the writs  for three by-elections, including Donegal South-West. Cllr Jimmy Harte

Senator Pearse Doherty says a date of Spring next year is still too late for the Donegal South-West by-election to be held. The Government says voters in Donegal South-West, Dublin South and Waterford will go to the polls early next year. This after Fine Gael failed in it’s efforts yesterday evening to have the by-election

Some lucky person from Finn Valley is in for a bumper Christmas this year! A punter at Alexanders in Ballybofey scooped €350,000 in last nights Lotto Plus draw. Joe Alexander, the shop owner, said that no one had yet come forward to claim their winnings:

The 22-year-old man who survived a horror smash that claimed eight lives has been interviewed by gardai for the first time. Gardai investigating the horrific collision in Co Donegal last July are now awaiting the results of forensic tests from the scene. Seven of eight young men in one car died instantly in the collision

Most of the mink set loose from a mink farm four days ago have now been recaptured. The deliberate attack on the farm, near Ardara has been blamed by the owners of the mink on “animal liberation terrorists”. Yesterday, wildlife conservation rangers who are monitoring the recovery operation, confirmed that many of the 6,000 that

The Public is being urged to attend an open discussion in Letterkenny this evening focusing on the issues facing Donegal. The Rural Ireland Road Show is being held in the Mount Errigal hotel and will feature a panel of guests debating issues facing the county such as ghost estates, tourism, broadband, and supports for businesses.

The Governments voting strength in the Dail will be tested this evening with Fine Gael planning to move the writs for the three outstanding by-elections. The last time an attempt was made to move the writs the Ceann Comhairle was forced to use his casting vote in favour of the Government. Fine Gael’s candidate for

Bill Clinton has described his involvement in the Northern Ireland peace process as one of the greatest honours of his life. The former US President has met with the North’s political and business leaders in Derry today as part of a visit aimed at promoting US investment in the region. He’ll travel on to Dublin

A Dublin woman charged in connection with one of the largest heroin seizures in Northern Ireland has walked free from court after the prosecution offered no evidence in her case. Sarah Greene, (25) of Eaton Green, Rathcoole, had denied being concerned in the supply of the class A drug on July 11, last year. She

Management at Letterkenny General Hospital are to cut the working hours of 100 fixed term workers by an average of 7 hours a week until the end of the year. Trade Unions have been engaging with the HSE and management at Letterkenny General for months on how best to protect jobs and services. Members of

Community Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Pat Carey is considering a proposal that the government cooperate with Northern Ireland and Scotland to fund the replacement of ferries linking offshore islands. The report of the Small Ferries Project has been published after a two year study of eight routes, including two in Donegal. Three Irish islands,

The Northern Secretary is being urged to ensure that the British Security Services are not interfering in the investigation into the death of Derry-man Kieran Doherty. Mr Doherty’s family and Foyle MP Mark Durkan met with Owen Patterson this week amid claims of MI5 harassment and surveillance of Mr Doherty prior to his murder by

Donegal North East Deputy Joe McHugh says he’ll be using an Oireachtas Communications Committee meeting this morning to question the differences between electricity costs North and South. Deputy McHugh says a new Public Service Obligation levy on all ESB bills will bring the average bill in the republic 15% higher than across the border. He

Donegal Councillor Frank McBrearty has branded yesterdays HSE West Regional Health Forum a waste of taxpayers money. He says the members of the forum were to be briefed on what measures were being taken, but there were no specific details given, and Donegal members left the meeting no wiser about the extent of cuts at

A conference on poverty in Letterkenny has been told that the worst off cannot take further cuts, and alternatives must be found ahead of December’s budget. The seminar was the first of its kind for the North West, and formed part of a series of seminars to mark the 2010 European Year of Poverty and

The Health Service Executive has announced severe cutbacks in the Western region in order to reign in its budgetary deficit for this year. It’s accelerating its programme of cuts in a bid to trim 12 million euro a month off its deficit until the end of the year. It plans to cut 7,000 temporary staff

Hundreds of mink have escaped from a farm in the Ardara area. The mink where being farmed in the Meenavalley area. It’s understood someone cut the wire and opened the gates and let the animals out. Locals and farmers are asked to be on the lookout for the mink. Owner of the mink farm, Connie

Donegal County Council is to call on the Minister for Communications to introduce a second phase of the National Broadband scheme as a matter of urgency. It was suggested yesterday that a survey to identify what areas in the county have no coverage would be the first step . Many areas in Donegal still have

Former US president Bill Clinton is to visit the Northwest tomorrow for an engagement in Derry. He will then visit Dublin later in the evening. Former US President Bill Clinton will be accompanied by Declan Kelly, the US economic envoy to Northern Ireland, who is spearheading plans for next month’s US/NI economic conference in Washington,

Staff at Letterkenny Hospital where stretched to their limits last night as twelve patients over-spilled to the out patients department. As result a number of clinics will be closed today. Dr Bannon and Dr Keatings medical clinics will be closed and the ENT clinic with Dr Constantine will also be closed. Patients are being urged

Gardai in Letterkenny have confirmed they are investigating an incident close to Ashlawn on Saturday evening at 7pm A woman in her 70s was walking on Ballyraine Road, when she was approached by a teenager. The woman was not physically assaulted, but was shaken by the experience. Gardai say the youth was aged between 14

Donegal County Council has been told more front-line staff should be recruited for the roads and sanitary sections of its operations. The council was told today staff were stretched to their limits during what was one of the worst winters in decades to hit the county. Councillors agreed that over last winter staff went beyond

Gardai still haven’t commented on speculation that there may have been a third attempted assault on a woman in the Ashlawn area of Letterkenny. Local Councillor and Joint Policing Committee Vice Chairperson Gerry Mc Monagle says he’s been told a middle aged woman was approached by a man in suspicious circumstances while walking her dog

The Bank of Ireland is set to lose almost £36 million following the collapse of a Derry based property developer. McDaid Developments Ireland,which had developments in the North, Donegal and elsewhere in the Republic, went bankrupt in June. Its portfolio of sites included completed houses, partially constructed schemes and undeveloped land. The Administrators report showed

A student in the North has died from suspected meningitis. The teenager had just finished his first week at the University of Ulster in Jordanstown when he became ill. He was from Ballycastle in County Antrim and those who’ve been in close contact with him are receiving anti-biotics. The young mans family had close connections

Sinn Féin West Tyrone MP MLA Pat Doherty says that the self-styled vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs should ‘go away and stay away.’ He made his comments at the an annual commemoration which was held in Strabane yesterday in memory of republican dead from the local area. A large section of Pat Dohertys speech

A man who was told he had a mountain to climb after pleading guilty to breaching the peace with his drunken behaviour did just that on Saturday. Joseph McElwee from Rathmullan was advised by a judge to undertake a pilgrimage to the top of Croagh Patrick ias a mark of respect for his fellow Irish

Donegal County Council has given an update on a number of key road projects which have either begun or are about to start. At least seven major projects will be on site over the coming two months with the local authority saying that for safety reasons, motorists can expect delays as a result. The Council

The Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan has confirmed that she has approved funding for refurbishment works at Scoil Náisiúnta Chaiseal na gCorr in Gortahork. The funding, which has been granted under the Contingency Works Programme, is to provide refurbishment works for an office and porch at the school.

Thieves have stolen a significant amount of overhead cable from telegraph poles in Carndonagh. Around 30 homes in the  area were left without a landline after the incident earlier this week. Gardai said the cable was cut at both ends with bolt cutters before it was removed. Eircom are currently working on the probelm.

There are fears that 30 teaching posts are to go at the North West Regional College, with management saying that in light of looming public service funding cuts, redundancies should be expected. The exact number of jobs under threat at the college is not yet known, but speaking to Greg Hughes on today’s Shaun Doherty

The Donegal Live brand is to be extended, with a major event being planned for May of next year in Glasgow. Failte Ireland North West this week led a delegation to Glasgow for a sweries of meetings and engagements to pave the way. Spokesperson Martina Bromley says the preliminary visit was a major success……

A Donegal councillor says the list of homeowners compiled to facilitate the Non Principal Private Residence charge should be made available to local authorities. Cllr Jimmy Harte says te information would be useful to councils who need to contact the owners of rented out properties, particularily when anti social behaviour is taking place in these

The family of a Strabane woman whose body sustained multiple fractures after her death at Altnagelvin hospital three years ago say they’ve received new information which merits a fresh inquiry. 78 year Maureen McGinley’s body was found to have 34 broken bones when it was received by the undertaker. The cause of the fractures has

The family of Shaun Duffy have said they hoped the investigation into his killing will make progress soon. Yesterday A senior Garda has said an investigation into the death of an undertaker will continue – five and half years after he was killed. In a statement issued through their solicitor last evening, Shaun Duffy’s mother

FIshermen could be putting themselves in danger because of the economic situation. That’s according to North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher, who is calling on the European Commission to pay greater heed to the needs of fishermen living on Islands and in remote parts of the country. He’s suggesting the EU create regional blocks