Author name: oisinkelly

Arrangements are being made for a meeting of Inishowen Councillors and development agencies to discuss how to attract more investment into the peninsula. It follows a meeting this week between councillors and Labour Affairs Minister Dara Colleary, who viosited the Public Services Centre in Carndonagh for discussions on what’s needed in the area. The MInister […]

There’s been a widespread welcome for confirmation that two brothers at the centre of an abuse scandal in Donagh, County Fermanagh have been admitted to a psychiatric unit. James and Owen-Roe McDermott admitted themselves on a voluntary basis because a loophole in the law means they cannot be sectioned. They had been allowed to return

A Donegal Senator has described suggestions from Michael McDowell that the republic make the 12th of a July a national holiday as off the wall, but says bank holidays north and south should be harmonised. Senator Pearse Doherty says that such a move would be good for the Island’s economy. He says that in making

Buncrana Town Council has been told that a plan for responding to tragedy needs to be established in the town and across the Inishowen Peninsula. The proposal has been made by the group BCCS, which says a coordinated response from agencies including the HSE and the emergency services. However, the group is saying it would

Buncrana is in line to host a major high profile event next year, but no more details can be revealed at present according to Mayor Padraig Mac Lochlainn. The news emerged as Town Councillors were told every hotel room in the area is now booked out for this year’s Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland

Six men from Donegal are getting on their bikes for a three day charity challenge to cycle the length of the country. They’ll set out from Mizen Head in Co. Cork today and aim to reach Malin Head by Saturday. It’s all in the name of charity.  The group is hoping to raise funds for

Newly qualified teachers at both primary and post-primary levels will have to undergo a new induction and probationary programme. The reform, which will be announced today by Education Minister Mary Coughlan, is to be phased in from September. Aimed at improving teacher quality, it will involve more rigorous assessment and inspection in the nation’s classrooms.

The Gweebarra Conservation Group in West Donegal is calling for changes to planning laws to make it easier for people to view planning applications. The group was commenting after details of an application for a 38 turbine windfarm outside Glenties appeared online this week. Spokesperson Patricia Sharkey says the fairest way to ensure access would

A bus driver has been left badly shaken after a paint-bomb was thrown at him in the Hazelbank area of Derry. A youth threw the bottle into the open door of the bus on Monday night. The bottle did not break, but the driver was left covered in paint. Translink withdrew its service in the

Gardaí are seeking to interview three people in relation to the murder of Andrew Burns who was shot dead outside a church more than two years ago, the Special Criminal Court heard. Martin Kelly, who is charged with the murder of Mr Burns in Donneyloop in February 2008, made a brief appearance at the court

The Community for a Clean Estuary for Moville has hit out at Senator Cecilia Keavney, after she issued a statement calling for progress on the Moville Greencastle Sewrage Scheme. Senator Keavney said the delay in progressing the scheme is hampering development, and could lead to legal action being taken by the EU, as happened in

A Councillor is bring forward a motion before Donegal County Council which he hopes will put an end to unfinished housing estates in the future. Councillor Mick Quinn is proposing a number of measures include the review of the bond system. A bond is paid to the council which can be spent if the contractor

Senator Cecilia Keavney is calling for progress on the Moville Greencastle Sewerage Scheme, saying that delays in improving infrastructure are hampering development in the area. A proposal to develop a treatment plant at Carnagarve as part of the scheme has been vociferously opposed locally, while confusion reigned for years over whether or not an Environmental

The farmer – who shot dead a man for trespassing on his land – says he would consider the same action, if his life was in danger. It follows the publication of the Home Defence Bill, which allows people to use ‘reasonable force’ against intruders to defend themselves, others or their property. There’s been major

Fine Gael has launched the party’s 9 point plan to support employment and economic development in the border region. The plan, which Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh helped formulate, was launched Cavan in light of the recent announcement of job losses at Quinn Insurance. Deputy McHugh says the plan suggest that job creation agencies and others

The American Ambassador to Ireland has said he’s optimistic legislation will be passed to address the issue of the undocumented Irish living in the United States. Daniel Rooney was speaking during a visit to Donegal during which met with local public representatives and business leaders. Mr Rooney says however that the problem of the Irish

Senator Pearse Doherty has proposed a radical change to how the elecoral system works in Ireland suggesting that the age at which people can vote and be elected to the Dail be reduced. He was speaking at the MacGill summer school on the topic of Ireland’s electoral system and political culture and whether or not

The Foreign Affairs Minister Michéal Martin has defended the Government’s decision not to proceed with the Donegal South West by-election. Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties – Minister Martin said the Government is faced with a choice of either preparing a difficult budget in the Autumn or running a by-election. Sinn Fein is

Fine Gael has defended its decision to accept corporate donations from bankers and builders who owe money to NAMA. It follows newspaper reports of a Fine Gael fundraiser the K-Club attended by construction industry bosses and bank chiefs. The party’s director of elections Phil Hogan says Fine Gael will oppose plans by the Government to

A 26 year old man has been jailed for two years for sexually assaulting a 13 year old schoolgirl in Donegal. Leo Forde of Rathnenney, Laghey in Donegal was convicted by a jury of three counts of sexual assault on the girl in a school shelter in September 2003. Leo Forde said he met his

A 42-year-old Derryman arrested under terrorrism legislation on Friday night appeared in court today (Monday) charged with possessing a weapon that was described as a stun gun. Kieran McCool of Laburnum Terrace in the city was charged with possessing the weapon on July 16 last. The court was told that McCool was stopped in a

One of the country’s leading economists has accused the Government, the church and the GAA of showing a lack of leadership leading up to and during Ireland’s ecenomic collapse. Jim Power was addressing the McGill Summer School in Glenties this afternoon on the theme of ‘Steps to Economic Revovery. Mr Powers said the public has

The Bus Eireann evening service from Dublin to South and West Donegal has been reinstated until the end of August. The service was withdrawn a fortnight ago, with the 5pm bus from Dublin stopping in Donegal Town, leaving Glencolmcille and Dungloe without an evening service. Now. Cllr Brendan Byrne says Bus Eireann has agreed to

A tourism leader in Derry is calling for closer cooperation between service and accomodation providers in Derry and Donegal, particularly in the run up to Derry’s tenure as UK City of Culture in 2013. Martin Crossan is bringing over 30 Derry hotel staff to Donegal tomorrow for a briefing on what’s available, and is hoping

A week after the horrific crash in Inishowen which saw eight men lose their lives, The Mayor of Buncrana says the focus will now be on ensuring that there are counselling services available for the bereaved families and the wider community. The HSE has already been working with the Buncrana Community Combatting Suicide Group to

A grant of almost €2million has been awarded for the development of facilities at Sliabh Liag in South West Donegal. The money will be used to improve road access and parking facilities, as well as marking out walking routes and building better visitors’ facilities Welcoming the announcement, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan said the intention is to

The 30th annual MacGill Summer School was officially opened in Glenties last night by former Taoiseach Dr Garret Fitzgerald, followed by the 10th annual John Hume Lecture, which was delivered by the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. The theme of this year’s school is Reforming the Republic – Issues of Politics, Economics and Accountability.

A taxi driver has been shot in both legs in Strabane. The man had arrived pick up a fare in Glebe Gardens at 11 o’clock last night when he was dragged from his car by a number of men. He was beaten and shot once in the left thigh. When he attemped to escape, he

Police investigating dissident republican activity have made four new arrests in Derry. They men, aged 36, 38, 42 and 44, were arrested just before midnight last night and brought to Antrim police station for questioning. A week ago, five men were arrested on the Louth Armagh border on suspicion of trying to move explosives across

Provisional figures suggest MRSA incidents are falling, with 14 cases at Letterkenny General Hospital during 2009, compared to 20 the previous year. The highest number of cases was recorded at Galway University Hospital, with 35 infections. In total, there were 335 cases around the country last year compared to 439 in 2008.

Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest has welcomed the news that two Access Officers have been appointed to the the National Cancer Screening Service. The officers’ role will be to co-ordinate assistance for women with disabilities to access BreastCheck and CervicalCheck services. CCC-NW say that since the roll-out of BreastCheck and CervicalCheck in Donegal, they have

The eight victims of the Co Donegal road crash have all been laid to rest. The funeral of 23 year old James McEleney – the last of the men who died to be buried – took place in Clonmany this morning. Hundreds of people from across the Inishowen Peninsula again turned out for the mass

Northwest MEP Marion Harking claimed new planning guidelines being introduced by government will effectively lead to the depopulation of rural Ireland. Minister Ciaran Cuffe announced the new legislation saying it aims to ensure that the right types of development are built in the right places at the right time. But Ms Harkin says that its

The Voice of Older People Donegal say they believe the government will not reduce the pension in December’s budget. There has been wide scale speculation that the government will either cut or means test the pension with a view to helping address the country’s current financial hardship. But V.O.P Donegal says that is very unlikely.

Forty-five jobs are set to go at a financial services company in Derry. HML has said it is to reduce its workforce by 80 across the UK, with 45 redundancies earmarked for Derry. The company said it had started a 30-day consultation period with its employees and no redundancies would come before 15 August. HML,

Derry has been chosen as the UK’s first City of Culture. The announcement was broadcast live from Liverpool on the BBC’s The One Show last night. Derry, which was short-listed alongside Birmingham, Sheffield and Norwich, will take the mantle in 2013. Creative Advisor for the city of Culture Team, Noelle McAlinden, says its great news,

Derry will find out in a few hours time if it is to be named the UK’s first City of Culture. The winning city will be announced on tonight’s ‘One Show’ on BBC 1, which is aired between 7 – 730pm. Derry faces competition from Sheffield, Norwich and Birmingham. Meanwhile, Bookmakers William Hill have stopped

The father of one of the victims of the Co Donegal road crash says his family does not blame the driver of the Volkswagen Passat – or anyone else – for the loss of their son and brother. Eamonn Sweeney made the remarks during the funeral of his 19 year old son Ciaran in Clonmany

A sex offender arrested in County Cavan two weeks ago after going missing in Lancashire has been jailed for four months in the Irish Republic. 56 year-old William Paden, origianlly from the North, was sentenced at Cavan District Court for breaching the Republic’s sex offenders legislation. William Paden, was arrested in Ballyhaise on 30 June

The Chief Celebrant at the funeral of one of the victims of Sunday night’s road crash in Inishowen is appealing to young people to remember they are not indestructible. Fr John Walsh made the comments at the requiem mass for 22 year old Eamonn McDaid from Buncrana, who was killed along with seven other in

The US health insurer UnitedHealth Group is to expand its operation in Letterkenny with the creation of 200 new jobs. The announcement, made this morning, is supported by the Irish Government with the aid of IDA. The Minneapolis-based health insurer currently employs 340 people in IT and medical claims processing at its Letterkenny site. Managing

The Letterkenny native who died earlier this week in a motorcycle crash in Switzerland has been named as Bill Parke from London, and formerly of Garryharry. Arrangements are being made to return his remains to Garryharry, and his family are requesting privacy until that has been done.

Gardai have confirmed they are not treating the death of a 19 year old woman in Convoy as suspicious. The woman was found unconscious at her home early yesterday afternoon. She was rushed to Letterkenny General Hospital, where attempts were made to revive her. However, she died in the hospital at 7 o’clock last night.

An announcement is expected this morning of almost 200 new jobs for Letterkenny. United Healthcare, formerly Pacificare, are expected to employ 190 more people between now and the end of next year, bring their total workforce to 530. A formal announcement is understood to be imminent. The IDA has already predicted 10-thousand new jobs this

The three North West MEPs have scored highly in a table ranking the European Parliament’s 736 MEPs. Fine Gael’s Jim Higgins is ranked19th, with 87% attendence and an activity level 376% of  the EU average. Independent Marian Harkin is ranked 84th, with 93% attendence and an activity level 202% of the EU average. Fianna Fail’s