Author name: oisinkelly

New figures show that the number of Donegal farmers seeking state support has increased by 16%. According to Fine Gael, 1254 farmers applied for income support in 2009, the figure for 1st Quarter of 2010 already stands at 1334, the third highest rate in the country. Figures from the IDA show that the average farm […]

Plans for a new school in Gortahork have moves a step closer with news that the Education Department has given approval for the purchase of a new site, subject to planning permission being awarded. The current school was built in the 1920’s and is said to be completely unsuitable with concerns over its location on

The Donegal activist who was one of those held after an Israeli raid on an aid flotilla bound for Gaza has said the true extent of the blood shed has yet to emerge. Fiachra O’Luane was speaking from Turkey before boarding a plane to return to Ireland – he says that he and his fellow

Three units of the fire service are trying to bring under control (Thursday pm) what has been described as a serious gorse fire near Annagry. The fire started in the Drumnacart area before 3pm and is spreading towards Annagry via the townland on Bunaman. The fire is quite near to a number of houses, including

Donegal Enterprise Board says a number of small retail businesses have been founded in Donegal specifically to trade on eBay. The Enterprise Board says its Advanced eBay Training Course, which has been running since 2008, and Donegal now has one of the highest concentration of eBay sellers in the country. The Enterprise Board’s Assistant CEO

There are fears in Strabane that a pipe bomb attack in the early hours of this morning was linked to other recent attacks carried out by the group Republican Action Against Drugs. Shortly after midnight, a number of masked men broke the window of a Volkswagen Bora car in the Ballycolman area, and threw in

The head of LYIT has said that further funding cuts impossed by government may well have an impact on the level of services they can offer next autumn. The Higher Education Authority is warned university bosses to prepare for tighter staffing restrictions next year, in addition to the 6% cuts required on their pay budgets

The Ombudsman’s report which was heavily critical of a government’s treatment of a Donegal family has been sharply criticised. Emily O’Reilly’s report stated that the ‘lost at sea’ scheme was flawed and that the Byrne family from Bruckless should have been included, she recommended the family be paid compensation. However former secretary general at the

The SDLP has accused the PSNI of refusing to respond to an incident in the Slievemore Park area of Derry last night during which armed men twice entered a home. The three masked men entered the house and threatened to shoot a man before leaving, they returned 15 minutes later, but the man and a

It’s estimated that a failed section 140 brought forward at this weeks meeting of Donegal County Council cost the tax payer as much as €5,000. The controversial ‘Material Contravention’ allows for councillors to evoke a reserve function allowing a development go ahead, even if it has been refused planning permission by the local authority. However

A number of Irish citizens caught up in the conflict over the Gaza-bound aid flotilla are expected home this evening The group, including Donegal man Fiachra O’Luain, arrived in Turkey last night after being deported along with 488 other activists from the ships which were violently intercepted and detained in international waters by Israeli commandos

Donegal Councillor Frank McBrearty is calling on the local authority to allow councillors use money allocated for attending seminars to fund local sporting organisations instead. Councillors are entitled to 4,700 euro per year to cover the cost of attending the various seminars that are held around country, but Councillor McBrearty wants to be able to

Strabane District Council has its first female chairperson in 32 years. Last night, Sinn Fein Councillor Michaela Boyle was elected Chairperson, DUP Councillor Thomas Kerrigan is the new Vice Chair. Councillor Boyle said that it was a “personal privilege and an honour” to be elected, saying she is commited to inclusion, and to reaching out

As a result of damage to a fibre cable just outside Derry, over 4,000 customers in the Letterkenny have experiencing a disruption to their broadband service. The damage was caused by a third party carrying out road works in the area. Eircom says that crews have been working onsite working to restore service and assuming

Minister John Gormley is promising that draft guidelines governing access onto National Primary and Secondary Roads will be published shortly. The issue was raised in Leinster House last night by Seanator Brian O’Domhnaill, who said that many young people were unable to build on family land, because the NRA is routinely objecting to any plans

The Head of Cancer Services at St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin has said he is sceptical as to whether or not joint cancer services between Letterkenny and Altnagelvin hospitals will work. John Crown has said the best option would have been a co-operation between Sligo and Letterkenny General hospital’s in providing a centre of excellence

Inishowen ranks as the littering black spot in Donegal according to figures released by Donegal County Council, or it could be argued the most successful in tackling litter. Raising the issue Councillor Terence Slowey was told that 191 litter fines were issued in total last year with a electoral area breakdown provided for the first

Plans for the €17 million Eastern Relief Road in Letterkenny have been saved for the time being at least after Town Councillors adopted revised changes to the Letterkenny and Environs Development Plan. The changes were due to be adopted last week but were delayed when councillors learned that three homes were, potentially, in the path

Donegal Senator Cecillia Keaveney raised the issue of the need of improved security for border Post Offices in the Seanad yesterday. It’s been annouced that National Irish Bank customers will soon be able to lodge and withdraw money from more than 1,200 Post Offices throughout the country. Senator Keaveney, says that this now makes border

Thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Ballyshannon over the next few days for The Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival. The event starts tonight when a bronze sculpture of Rory Gallagher will be unveiled by the Mayor of Donegal and the Mayor of Cork Family and friends of the rock legend are expected in

A dissident republican found liable for the Omagh bombing has said that it “should never have happened”. In todays Irish News, Colm Murphy described the killing of 29 people, including a woman who was pregnant with twins, as “awful” and “tragic”. Michael Gallagher, whose son died in the bomb, said his words were “hollow”. Mr

Bundoran Town Council has adopted a power sharing agreement amongst partys similar to that which is currently in place in Buncrana. The decision was taken ahead of the council’s AGM today. Under the agreement all party’s and independents will have a chance to be mayor. Sinn Fein Councillor Mick McMahon says the council should run

Donegal County Council’s audit committee is recommending that no decision be taken to extend the consultancy contract with One Sigma Ltd. until an independent evaluation of the Whole System of Work project has been completed and presented to council. Between 2004 and 2009, One Sigma was paid almost 1.6 million euro for services which came

An Irish ship that was originally part of an aid flotilla attacked by Israel yesterday is set to approach Gaza today. The Israeli navy has said this morning that it’s ready to stop the MV Rachel Corrie, and expects an easy takeover of the ship. The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin yesterday called for

County Councillors have agreed to seek a meeting with the the Transport ministers on both sides of the border in an attempt to secure funding for Donegal linkages to the new A5 motorway from Derry to Aughnacloy. In response to motions from Councillors Cora Harvey and Mick Quinn on the issue the council has also

Donegal County Council has been urged to review the process for awarding housing adaption grants, after claims that people who are most needing are being refused. The issue was raised by Councillor Gerry Crawford, who along with other members, recounted stories of people with serious illnesses or disabilities, but were unable to secure a grant.

A Bloody Sunday relative has said those responsible for shooting 14 people dead in Derry should face prosecutions if the Saville Inquiry report finds that the victims were killed unlawfully. The long-awaited report into how 14 people were killed by British troops in Derry in 1972 will be published on 15 June. It took 12

A search that was lauched by the Malin Head Coastguard earlier today after they recieved a call from a boat that has got into trouble off Arranmore Island has turned out to be a hoax. A call was recieved this morning claiming that a vessel had gotten into trouble just off Arranmore Island. The helicopter

A public meeting is taking place in Carrigans this evening in support of local postmistress Bernie Moore, who is having her contract terminated by An Post. The termination of the contrsct is being linked to an armed raid at the premises in February of last year. Over 700 residents have already signed a petition, after

The Community Workers Co-operative in Letterkenny says it’s deeply concerned that projects funded under the Community Development Programme are set to have their management structures radically changed. According to a spokesperson, representitives of projects are being asked to attend a seminar next week to advise them how to wind down their companies and transfer assets

Concern is mounting for the safety of a group of Irish activists travelling on a convoy of six ships carrying aid to Gaza, which was attacked by Israeli commandos. Its reported that around 16 people have died after the group stormed the vessels during the night to prevent the activists breaching a long-standing blockade of

The motorist who died  yesterday when his car went over a 60 ft cliff at Mullaghmore in Co. Sligo has been named as 32-year-old building worker Cathal Mc Namee from Strathroy in Omagh. A motorist died at sea yesterday when his car crashed over a 60 ft cliff at Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo. The alarm was

A device has exploded outside Strand Road police station in Derry. The small explosion happened just after midnight on Saturday. Army bomb experts are examining a car in nearby Queen Street which was reported to have been on fire shortly after the explosion was heard. A nearby home for elderly residents had to be evacuated

A memorial to the late Garda Robbie Mc Callion will be unveiled this Saturday afternoon in the Bernard Mc Glinchey Town Park in Letterkenny. Garda Mc Callion died following an incident while he was on duty in Tara Court in February of last year. Garda McCallion Mother, Father and Brother are in Donegal for the

As the planned improvements of the A5 between Strabane and Aughnacloy draw nearer, councillors in Donegal are turning their attentions to having connecting roads on this side of the border improved as well. Coincidentally, two Sinn Fein representatives are moving similar motions at Donegal County Council’s meeting next Monday. Cllr Mick Quinn is calling for

Its emerged that a special social welfare payment to lone parents will be stopped once their child reaches 13. Following a review the Social Protection Minister Eamon O’Cuiv is cutting the One-Parent Family Payment. The benefit is currently paid to the lone parent until children are 18, or 22 if in full-time education. But for

A local chip shop owner was “amazed” when almost 400 people apllied for a dish washing job. Donal Cox, who runs Charleys Cafe on the Pearse Road in Letterkenny, got more than he bargained for when the job was advertised on the FAS website. He said most of the applicants from outside the area were

The Tanaiste and Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan has opened the new 2.7 million euro Scoil Eoghan in Moville. The new school consists of eight classrooms, two special tuition rooms, a library and a general purpose hall. The school has 220 pupils and 14 staff. Local Senator Cecillia Keaveney has welcomed the news.

The SDLP’s Colum Eastwood is to be the new Mayor of Derry. He was selected at a party convention last night. The 27-year-old will take over from Sinn Fein’s Paul Fleming next month. He said it was an important year ahead for the city. Cllr Eastwood will take up his new position on the 7th

It’s expected to be a small, dignified, peaceful demonstration with around 50 people expected. The demonstration is taking place outside the Revenue offices. Around 10,000 people have now joined the abolish VRT group on Facebook. Creator of the Facebook group, Ryan Stewart, says VRT has to be abolished.

Two men have been arrested by police investigating an explosion outside a house in Strabane, Co Tyrone. Police detained two men aged 29 and 30 following the alert in Springhill Park yesterday morning. A pipebomb was thrown at the house in the Springhill Park area of Strabane overnight. Damage was caused to the door but

A special Town Council meeting to agree changes to the Letterkenny and Environs Development Plan has been postponed until Tuesday next. The special meeting, which was adjourned last Monday, was to have reconvened today. The delay arose when councillors refused to agree to changes to the line of the proposed Eastern relief Road in Sallaghagrane

Donegal North East Deputy is accusing the Department of Agriculture of discriminating against Donegal, as rules coming into force next week on the electronic tagging of lambs for export. However, Deputy Mc Hugh says while such tagging makes sense if sheep are being exported internationally to Europe or further afield, the rule also applies to

A leading housing charity is forecasting a sharp rise in the number of people in mortgage arrears  this year. New figures published by the Financial Regulator today revealed a 13% increase in accounts in arrears during the first three months of the year. By the end of March, over 32,000 account holders were not making

The remains of a small bomb have been recovered in Strabane. A security alert in Springhill Park, Strabane, began at half past eleven this morning, following a report of a suspicious object. It’s believed a device was thrown at a house in the area and exploded. The property was unoccupied at the time. A number

Gardai have seized a significant quantity of suspected stolen goods as part of an ongoing investigation into criminality in the Donegal garda division. During an operation in the Isle of Doagh area of Inishowen last evening a number of items were seized. These included a jeep, quad and electrical equipement including tvs, mobile phones and