Author name: oisinkelly

The late Garda Robbie Mc Callion has been honoured by Donegal County Council at a special civic ceremony in Lifford this evening. Garda Mc Callion died after he was struck by a car while on duty at Tara Court outside Letterkenny in April last year. The posthumous honour was presented by Mayor Brendan Byrne on

Fire crews are continuing – some 7 hours later – to try and bring a serious gorse fire under control in the Bunbeg area. The fire was initially extinguished last night but reignited this morning. Fire crews have been on the scene since 8am but are experiencing difficulties trying to control it. Very dense smoke

It was a happy weekend for Donegal as the weekend Lotto jackpot of €2,683,784 was won by a €4 Quick Pick ticket purchased in Mac’s Books and Newsagents, 50 Upper Main Street, Buncrana, Co. Donegal. Ireland’s latest Lotto winners will be presented with their cheque in National Lottery offices by Dermot Griffin, Chief Executive, National

The rules which sees planning permission for houses on national secondary roads, such as the n56 in Donegal, automatically refused, may be about to change. It has been confirmed that the Department of Transport and the NRA have finalised a review of the planning policy guidlines and relaxing of planning permission on national roads is

Donegal County Council is set to write to Junior Minister Dara Colleary, to clarify whether or not negotiations can take place locally on the implementation of changed work practices. Minister Colleary has special responsibility for the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement. During a sometimes heated meeting this morning, County Manager Michael Mc Loone outlined

Donegal manager John Joe Doherty has tendered his resignation as Senior County manager. His decision follows Saturdays dissapointing defeat to Armagh in Crossmaglen. Donegals 9 point defeat in the All-Ireland qualifier has brought an end to Championship football for the county during the summer.

There are reports that the convicted sex offender William John Paden, who is wanted by UK police, was sighted in West Donegal at the weekend. Although Gardaí are refusing to comment, it is understood there was what has been described as a “positive sighting” of Paden at Main Street, Dungloe just after 6.30pm on Saturday

A 14 year old Norwegian youth remains in a critical condition after he was struck by a car in Letterkenny on Saturday afternoon. It’s understood the boy and was in Donegal as part of an exchange programme. He was transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, where his condition remains critical. The accident

Donegal County Council says households served by the Crolly Water Supply have been affected over the weekend by what’s beed described as a major burst in the area yesterday. The area served by the Dore reservoir is particularly badly affected, with interruptions set to continue. Meanwhile, cutoffs are anticipated again tonight in the areas which

A 14 year old boy is being treated in hospital after he was struck by a car in Letterkenny this afternoon. It’s understood the boy is Norwegian, and was in Donegal as an exchange student. Gardai have confirmed tonight that the injured youth is en route to a Dublin hospital for treatment. The accident happened

Donegal County Council says water supply interruptions are anticipated again tonight, with people being urged to conserve supplies, and toreport any leakages to 074 91 72399. Last night, a number of areas serviced by the Lough Mourne Water Supply were disconnected for a time, namely Lifford, Cavanhill and Tievebrack. Greencastle supply was also switched off

A man has suffered head and facial injuries in an assault in the Creggan area of Derry. The man, who is in his 40s, was found near the junction of Fanad Drive and Central Drive at about 6 o’clock this morning with injuries that are not believed tio be life threatening. Police have appealed to

An Inishowen father of five children has been given a three year prison sentence for sexually assaulting a girl when she was aged between 11 and 13. At Letterkenny Circuit Court, 59 year old Daniel McConalogue, a builder from Carrowmore, Gleneely in Inishowen admitted 14 charges of sexually assaulting the girl who lived nearby, on

The “Set the Truth Free” campaign in Derry has published an open letter today thanking all those who helped in the campaign which culminated in the publiocation last week of the Saville Inquiry report. The statement says on 30th January 1972, a dark cloud descended upon Derry, and it stayed until last Tuesday June 15th

Appeals by four dissident republicans held liable for the 1998 Omagh bomb are to be heard in January. Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Colm Murphy were successfully sued by 12 victims’ relatives, who were awarded £1.6m compensation last June. The judge also found the dissident republican organisation, the Real IRA, liable for the

A new survey has shown that Donegal is proving one of the most popular destinations for people choosing a ‘staycation’ holiday this year. 74% of those who are choosing to holiday at home are doing so in just six counties including Donegal, however not a single reposindent said they were going to be holidaying in

The continued demise of the construction industry in Donegal has been highlighted today by figures from the CSO which show a drastic year on year drop in planning permissions being granted. However the rate of permission granted for the first quarter of 2010 show that far more permission were granted in Donegal compared to other

Councillor Thomas Pringle has described the decision to officially open the Killybegs Environmental Improvements Scheme before is completed as a disgrace and a cynical move. Councillor Pringle is convinced the decision was taken to ensure the opening was performed under a Fianna Fail Mayor in Councilllor Brenden Byrne. Councillor Byrne’s controversial stint as mayor ends

Senator Cecilia Keaveney says Donegal business owners using the so called Mosquito device are abusing the human rights of the young. The device emits a high pitched sound which can only be heard by young people and has been used in a number of town’s in Donegal to deter young people from congregating. A report

Water should be returning to most homes shortly affected by the latest outage enforced by Donegal County Council to head conserve low stocks. Once again the lough Mourne Water Supply was switched off affecting a number of areas including Lifford, Raphoe and the Twin Towns. Greencastle supply was also switched off affecting all of Greencastle

The Minister for Health and Children is to appoint new specialist consultants to Letterkenny General Hospital In the coming months it is hoped that an endocrinologist/ diabetologist consultant will be in place while a hematologist appointment is proving complicated but should be in place in the near future. The hospital has been trying to appoint

Derry District Judge Mr. Barney McElholm has  threatened to order that every prisoner due to appear in court be brought there in person rather than use the video link system. He was speaking after technical difficulties prevented Derry Magistrate’s Court linking up with Maghaberry Prison for weekly remand hearings. The video link system is us

Motorsport Ireland has said more safety procedures must be put in place at the Knocalla Stage of the Donegal Rally. Also it was reported in todays Irish Independent that Motorsport Ireland are not planning any specific enquiry into the weekends tragic accident, but President Joe Cocoran has firmly denied this. 26-year-old Thomas Maguire from Longwood,

A contractor has threatened to pull out of a housing estate in Derry if attacks on his workers continue. The company, which is laying gas pipes, said one of its drivers was attacked yesterday at a site on the Ringfort Road in Hazelbank. In a separate incident a van driver was assaulted at Marianus Park

Up to 85 positions at Foyle Meats are at risk of redundancy, its parent company Foyle Food Group has said. Based in Campsie Foyle Meats has a processing capacity of 1,500 cattle and 12,000 lambs per week. At its peak, the Foyle Group was Northern Ireland’s biggest exporters of lambs. It processed up to 400,000

Two young men today admitted charges linked to the death of Garda Robbie McCallion in Co. Donegal last year. Jamie McGrenaghan, 19, who was driving a car registered in 1998, admitted driving it dangerously and causing the death of 29-year-old Gda McCallion at Tara Court Letterkenny, on March 26 last year. 21 year-old Cathal Dunleavy

Donegal County Council has again warned that water supplies will be subject to overnight restrictions while shortages persist. Last night, there were disruptions to a number of areas served by the Lough Mourne scheme, particularly the Twin Towns, Gleneely, Tievebrack, Ballinacorr, Raphoe, Lifford and Liscooley. The whole of the area served by the Greencastle Water

New, lower drink driving limits have been voted through the Dail – and will become law within a matter of weeks. This is despite strong opposition from publicans and the Vintners’ Association – who say the lower limit will be the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for the pub industry. However, Donegal based road safety

County Manager Michael Mc Loone has promised councillors in Buncrana that the temporary traveller halting site at Lisfannon outside the town will not be made permanent, and he will sign a binding order to that effect. Council officials are involved in negotiations with a view towards developing a permanent alternative, and while Mr Mc Loone

City of Derry Airport has announced it is to enter into a new partnership with a private firm. It is hoped the deal will end the financial burden on Londonderry ratepayers within seven years. The airport currently costs Derry City Council £3.5m a year. The council said in was in the final stages of discussions

Buncrana Town Council has agreed to seek a spur from Project Kelvin to improve broadband connecticvity in the town. The proposal to pursue the connection was raised by outgoing Mayor Cllr Lee Tedstone, who said the council can secure the spur from its own resources. Cllr Tedstone says he, and the new Mayor Cllr Padraig

The Business Watch security model which has been running in Letterkenny for a number of years is to be extended into other areas of Donegal. Plans to operate the model in Gweedore are at an advanced stage, with the Finn Valley also being considered as a venue. Meanwhile, Gardai and Letterkenny Chamber will host a

Buncrana’s newest councillor took her seat in the chamber yesterday. Sinn Fein Cllr Mary Kelly, a cycling proficiency teacher, was coopted to replace Darren Lawlor, who resigned this year for personal reasons. Cllr Kelly became involved in community activism when a campaign began to have water from the Fullerton Pollan Dam brought to Ballymagorry, and

Water has been returned to a number of areas this morning following the council’s overnight restriction in action being taken to address what is being described as a summer drought. Lake and resevoir levels are said to be extremely low – last night supply was switched off at Lough Mourne, Frosses Mountcharles, Ballymagroarty and Greencastle.

County Manager Michael Mc Loone is today beginning the process of talking to Trade Unions at town and county council level to explore how best to redeploy staff. With less than a month to go before he retires, Mr Mc Loone as again stressed that public service reform is his obsession, and his wish is

The new Mayor of Letterkenny says he’s looking to the future with confidence. Fianna Fail Cllr Tadhg Culbert has previously served two terms as Council Chairperson, but this is the first time he’s held the title of Mayor. He was first elected to the council 25 years ago, but lost his seat in 1999. He

An inquest has been held into the death of a kitesurfer in Rossnowlagh last year has been told winds were over 50 kilometres an hour at the time. 26 year old student David North was unable to take to the air before he was whipped along the beach on to rocks on November 24th last.

Crossing the border to do your shopping may not prove as economical from the start of next year. The UK VAT rate is being hiked. The new Chancellor George Osborne made the announcement as part of his first Budget. From next January, it’ll be 20 per cent – from the current 17 and a half.

The police have said two gorse fires that broke out in Derry on Monday evening were started deliberately. One broke out on Cunningham’s Lane, near Currynierin, at about 5 o clock. The second fire was started at fields in Lettershandoney at about half past 6. Fire and Rescue Group Commander, Billy Orr, says the Lettershandoney

40 new jobs are to be created at Largo Food Exports Ltd in Gweedore. The company currently employs some 184 people on the Gweedore Business Park. The Largo Group companies produce snack-foods at their bases in Ashbourne and in Gweedore and have provided steady employment in the Donegal Gaeltacht for many years. The company plans

A school in Donegal has been hailed as a model in the use of sustainable energy. A Biomass Project has been launched at St Aengus’ National School, Bridgend, Co Donegal. Speaking at the launch of the system, the Tánaiste and education minuister Mary Coughlan said St. Aengus’ National School, together with its supplier, Rural Generation

A meeting is to take place in Derry later to discuss the closure of a gaelic football ground for health and safety reasons. The Sean Dolans ground in Creggan was shut by the County Board after a spate of anti-social behaviour. It’s believed crowds of young people were congregating on club grounds at night. The

Energy Action is celebrating 21 years in exsistence today, and as part of their anniversary celebrations they are revisiting Tory Island. 21 years ago Energy Action lauched their first pilot project on the Island. As part of that project homes were insulated on the island. General Manager of Energy Action, Charlie Roarty, says the charity

Gardai in Donegal Town are appealing for information about the death of a 20 year old Derryman after he fell from a hotel window. Conor Duddy from Lecky Road in the Brandywell fell from a third floor window in the Abbey Hotel in Donegal Town in the early hours of Sunday morning. Gardai want any