Author name: oisinkelly

Fine Gael Donegal South West Deputy, Dinny McGinley, has been appointed as Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. He replaces his party colleague Sean Barrett, who has been named as the new Fine Gael Foreign Affairs spokesperson. Speaking after his appointment, Deputy McGinley said between 80% and 90% of […]

A Donegal Councillor is warning that if road projects are scaled back to the extent being suggested this week, then hopes of economic growth will be dashed. Cllr Terence Slowey says growth projections betweenc now and 2013 are based on up to 70,000 people working on road projects across the country. However, he says if

The second ballot at Largo Foods Bia Gweedore plant in West Donegal has been extended. Because of the shift system at the plant, and the fact that some workers work limited hours, the ballot has been extended into tomorrow to allow as many staff members as possible cast their vote on the wage cut being

The Transport Minister says he’s ‘mystified’ at reports that the National Roads Authority has run out of money for its capital programme. It’s been reported that the NRA doesn’t have the funds to build 40 roads including bypasses and dual carriageways. Yesterday’s reports suggested that at least five road projects would be suspended in Donegal,

HSE Managers in Donegal and Sligo are being asked to put forward cost cutting proposals after it emerged that HSE West is facing a budgetary overrun this year in the region of 90 million euro. The trade union Impact is in discussion with the HSE on how savings can be achieved, but is warning against

Donegal Senator Cecilia Keavney says she wants to see the proposal to bring natural gas from Coolkeeragh into Donegal revisited following confirmation that the ESB is buying Northern Ireland Electricity. Senator Keaveney says the ESB purchase of NIE will help provide economies of scale, and also promote an all island energy supply. She says it’s

Workers at Largo Foods held a vote yesterday to see if the majority of workers at the Gweedore plant will accept the 3.5% pay-cut which has been tabled by management. The results of the ballot will be released later today. Last week week staff rejected a management call for a pay cut with some claiming

A case in which a 26-year-old man is to be tried for dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people has been adjourned at Donegal Circuit Court.to a date to be arranged. Niall McGrath of Grahamstown, Ballintra, Co. Donegal has pleaded not guilty to three charges of dangerous driving causing death and one charge of endangerment

A second man  walked free from a court, although with a suspended sentence, after he admitted full sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. Chef Ronan Lowther, 25, who is now working as a plasterer’s labourer, received an 18 months prison sentence suspended for five years and he was also placed on the sex offender’s register for

The final communique issued following yesterday’s North South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin includes confirmation that the proposal to develop a cross border radiation unit in Derry remains a priority. Taoiseach Brian Cowen last night used the proposal as an example of what cross border cooperation can achieve. The health lobby group Co-operating for Cancer

Letterkenny District Court has heard that a pensioner facing over 100 charges of alleged sexual abuse, rape and indecent assault lives beside a school, and should not be released on bail until an alternative address can be found. Gardai raised concerns, and the case was adjourned to Glenties District Court on July 28th with the

The final communique issued following yesterday’s North South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin includes confirmation that the proposal to develop a cross border radiation unit in Derry remains a priority. The health lobby group Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest has welcomed the inclusion of the Altnagelvin Hospital proposal in the communique, saying the project cannot

Plans to progress some of the Country’s major roads projects look set to be axed. According to reports this morning, forty major road and rail projects are being suspended. The scrapped roads include most outstanding road projects in Donegal, with the exception of the A5 tie in element of the Letterkenny to Lifford Road. The

A newly-wed man told gardai that a few months before he met his bride he cavorted with a 12-year-old girl and her friend who was three years older in a school playshed. Colin Reynolds, a 27 year old father of two, was given a suspended 18-months sentence and ordered to be placed on the sex

The newly built St Cecelia’s School building in Derry has been damaged in what’s being treated as a vandalism attack. The new school at Bligh’s lane is set to open in September. Local Cllr Helen Quigley says the opening will go ahead as planned, but money to repair this damage is going to have to

US companies in Ireland are recruiting and have more than 1,250 job vacancies according to a new survey from the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland. 72% of the firms surveyed say they will be recruiting staff this year, with the outlook for the North West Region said to be particularly positive, with over 300

The Managing Director of Largo Foods says the future of the company’s Gweedore plant is now in doubt. Raymond Coyle says he had planned to manufacture a new rice based line in Gweedore at a cost of 2.2 million euro, with support from Udaras na Gaeltachta, and had asked existing staff to accept a 3.5%

It’s emerged that a Carndonagh man’s passport details may have been used by a member of an alleged Russian spy ring currently in custody in the US. Today’s Donegal News is reporting that the man, who is not making any comment, visited Russia on holiday in 2005, and as part of his preparation for that

The Donegal Town based Moll Industries plant is now in local ownership following a management buy out. The plant, which specialises in molding and assembly for the medical and pharmaceutical sectors was established in 1982, and employs 25 people. The new owners say the plant will be a key component in the growth of manufacturing

A 19 year old man is to due before Derry Magistrates Court today charged with the manslaughter of 39-year-old Gary Butcher near Limavady at the weekend. Mr Butcher died following a disturbance at a bar on the Seacoast Road near Limavady in the early hours of Saturday morning. A 25-year-old man who was also arrested

The Milford to Cranford Road has reopened following a brief closure this morning, but driver caution is being urged. The closure was implemented following a two car collision at half past five this morning – Gardai say there were minor injuries caused in the collision, and the road has now been cleared. However, some oil

There is concern over the future of jobs at Largo Foods Donegal operation in Gweedore. Just last week the Tanaiste welcomed a major funding announcement which was set to create 40 new jobs, But this week staff rejected a management call for a pay cut with some claiming they have been told the plant in

It has been claimed that inconsistent application of the National Standards and Regulations for nursing homes is having a negative impact on patient care in County Donegal. The HIQA inspection regime was highlighted as an area of concern in a report  commissioned by Nursing Homes Ireland. Spokesperson Tadhg Daly says the regime is one sided

The Taoiseach says there are no immediate plans for a by-election in Donegal South-West. The seat has been vacant for the past year following the election of Pat the Cope Gallagher to the European Parliament. Speaking to Highland Radio news during a visit to County Donegal last night, the Taoiseach said Donegal was currently well

It has emerged that three families, including the Farren’s from Donegal, had their time before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport cut short because TD’s had to leave to vote on the Stag Bill. Sean Ferren addressed the committee slamming the Council and the Gardai for their lack of action following the death of his daughter

The Environment Minister John Gormley has announced plans to amend his dog-breeding bill to satisfy the concerns of rural Fianna Fail TDs. A number of back-benchers have been threatening to vote against the legislation claiming that it will impose undue restrictions on the greyhound and hunting sector. John Gormley says seperate legislation will now be

The 22nd Earagail Arts Festival gets underway tomorrow, with two weeks of events spread across a large part of Donegal. This year’s event has the tagline “Made in Donegal”, with an emphasis on Donegal artists. Artistic Director Paul Brown says despite the economic downturn, last years festival was one of the best ever in terms

There were 22,295 people signing on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of June. That’s 904 up on last month, and 2,429 up on this time last year, an 11% increase over the past 12 months. The highest percentage increase was recorded in Letterkenny, with 6,143 on the live register, up 19% on

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty says he believes there will be more cross border cooperation in the North West following the election of an unprecedented number of Sinn Fein members to top positions in local councils. Mr Doherty was speaking following the election of Clr Cora Harvey as Mayor of Donegal this week. her Deputy

It’s emerged that Malin Head Coast Guard station will close for a brief period early next year. In the Seanad last night, Senator Cecilia Keavney asked what the delay in promised improvements following a government promise to retain and update the facility. Upgrading of the station’s equipment was due to start at the beginning of

Over 600,000 euro has been allocated for a new library in Gweedore. Just over a year ago, the local library was lost in flooding which caused substantial damage in the area, and plans were drawn up to replace the former library in a new facility which is currently under construction at the business park in

Gardai are investigating an overnight arson attack on a car parked at Hegarty’s Garage on the outskirts of Letterkenny. The garage was closed for a time this morning while forensic experts examined the car ; it’s understood one theory being investigated is that the damaged vehicle, which belonged to a customer, was specifically targetted. Garage

Police in Derry and the family of missing man Jackie Donnelly are becoming increasingly concerned about his whereabouts. Jackie, who is 77 years and old and described as vulnerable, left the family home in the Coshowen area just before midday yesterday. Jackie has a broad Scottish accent and would not be familiar with the city.

The new Mayor of Donegal says she wants to convene a conference in the near future to discuss new ways of tackling unemployment in Donegal. Cllr Cora Harvey says Sinn Fein has produced a number of documents outlining how more jobs could be created, but they are not being examined or implemented by government. Cllr

A high-risk sex offender who was on the run from UK authorities has been arrested by gardai beside a children’s swimming area. A major hunt was launched to capture William John Paden because he posed a “significant risk” of reoffending. 56-year-old William John Paden (Pay-den) absconded from his address in Blackpool last month, despite being

Donegal County Council and the gardai have been strongly criticised before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport for their handling of the investigation in to the death of newly-married Sinead McDaid in Donegal 9 years ago. Mrs Mc Daid died when the car she was travelling in crashed on a temporary road surface in Culdaff. Her

A Strabane man appeared before Dublin’s Special Criminal Court charged with murdering a man in Donegal two years ago. 36-year-old Martin Kelly of Barrack Street, Strabane, was charged with the murder of  27-year-old Andrew Burns at Doneyloop, Castlefin on February 12th, 2008. Mr Burns was found with gunshot wounds outside a church, by teenagers attending

Full details of the way Garda Robbie McCallion received injuries while checking a stolen car report and from which he later died were related for the first time at Letterkenny Circuit Court today. They were spelled out during sentencing of Cathal Dunleavy, 21, who was on temporary release at the time from prison. He was

It’s been confirmed that he new Donegal County Manager will be Seamus Neely, the current Director of Environmental Services. Previously, he served as a Director of Services on Cavan County Council, with responsibility at various stages for planning, transportation and corporate services. In the 1990s, he spent a period as Assistent Town Clerk in Letterkenny,

Sinn Fein Cllr Cora Harvey is the new Mayor of Donegal, with party colleague Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn elected as her Deputy. She becomes the first Sinn Fein member to take the chair in Donegal since 1923. She defeated Cllr Ciaran Brogan by 18 votes to 11, with Independent Cllr Seamus O’Domhnail supporting Cllr Brogan,

Donegal County Council is in discussions with the Department of Defence with regards to taking over the disused barracks at Rockhill. This week, the army confirmed it has postponed a planned auction to give the council more time to work out how to take over the property and preserve its heritage and potential for the

Cllr Cora Harvey will today become the first Sinn Fein Mayor of Donegal since 1923, with her party colleague Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn expected to be confirmed as her deputy. This is part of a new agreement between the non-Fianna Fail members, which will see the chair going to Labour, Fine Gael and the Independent

Police in the UK say they are in contact with both the PSNI and gardai about sex offender William John Paden who has breached the terms of his release licence, and may be in Ireland. Paden went missing from Lancashire late last week, with police saying they believe he may have travelled to Northern Ireland.

An IMPACT union spokesperson has described comments made by Mayor Brenden Byrne on public work services as naive and ill-judged. Councilor Byrne said that clarification from the government was being sought, to see if the council could proceed with the ‘Whole System of Work’ in Donegal. The project was created in the county and sets

The Donegal County Manager has written to Environment Minister John Gormley seeking clarification on the nature of a review into certain alleged planning irregularities in Donegal during the period from 1998 to 2001. Information was sought from the council last September on foot of allegations forwarded to the Minister by former Senior Planner Gerry Convie.