Author name: oisinkelly

St Patrick’s National School in Drumkeen is closed today after it was broken into and seriously damaged overnight. An undisclosed quantity of computing equipment and other items were stolen, and what’s been described as considerable and vandalism was caused inside the building. Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, School Principal Colm Breathnach says it was […]

There are calls for An Post and the Royal Mail to look at ways of improving the time it takes for letters posted in one jurisdiction to another, to arrive. For example, a letter posted from Strabane to Lifford must first travel to Belfast, Dublin and Portloaise before it arrives at its evenutal destination normally

A fire at a farm in Co Derry has left a families business in ruins. The blaze forced families to leave their homes after a 50ft fire took hold at farm buildings in Garvagh. At least four families were evacuated at 5am on Saturday morning while seven fire engines tackled the blaze at out-buildings on

A bus driver and his passengers have been left badly shaken by an apparent hijack bid in Derry on Saturday. The driver was about to stop on Westway in Creggan when he saw two hooded men with scarves over their faces running towards the bus. He kept driving. SDLP Pat Ramsey has condemned the attack,

Donegal cases accounted for over 1.4 million euro recouped by the taxman in settlements with defaulters. In total, across the county, just short of 29 million euro was collected in taxes, interest and panalties. In the 3 month period to 31st December 2009, there were 88 published settlements, ten of which were in Donegal. They

The Earagail Arts Festival has collected the award for the”Outstanding Contribution to the Local Economy” at the Enterprising Donegal Business Awards 2010. The 22 year-old festival is estimated to have an annual worth to the Donegal economy of 3 million euro. In accepting the award last night the festival its organisers said it recognises the

A Sinn Féin Press Officer in Derry has received a death threat. Dale Moore was visited by the PSNI last night and told that they had intelligence information indicating that the Real IRA intended to shoot him. He says he has no intention of letting a rag-tag group of pseudo-republicans deflect him from  from his

The ceremonial turning of the first sod for the new childcare facility at Dungloe has taken place today. The project has been backed with 1 million euro of government funding and should be complete this year. The Facility will consist of the normal facilities for playgroups, including disabled access, and also a number of rooms

A 27-year-old Derryman was today sentenced to three months in prison suspended for 18 months for playing the Wolfe Tones loudly on his car stereo while driving past supporters of a Twelfth parade in Derry last July. Sean Johnson of Hollymount Park in Derry admitted behaviour likely to cause a breach of the peace and

Some of Europe’s foremost energy conservation experts have been in Derry for the past two days to discuss how to cut energy use in major cities. Derry is one of six EU cities involved in  The Minus 3% programme, an EU programme aimed at researching ways to cut energy consumption by 30% within ten years.

Letterkenny Town Council is calling for repair work to be carried out on the footpath from Ballymacool Terrace towards the Aura Leisure Centre as a matter of urgency. The road is under county council control, and has been substantially upgraded. However, the footpath is currently in a very poor state. Cllr Tom Crossan says the

Buncrana Town Council are looking at options to either extend current offices or develop a new headquarters on a greenfield site in conjunction with a private developer. Two options are to be presented at the next meeting. It’s hoped the development will be complete in 15 months. Mayor, Lee Tedstone, says new offices are much

A virtual tour of the streets of Derry, Strabane and Omagh is now only a click of a mouse away. Internet map readers can now access a street view after internet giant Google rolled out its street view maps this morning. Google Maps allows users to view and navigate 360 degree street-level imagery and online

Plans were today announced which could see 400 new homes, as well as new play areas and community facilities, in the Galliagh and Carnhill areas of Derry city. The regeneration plans are being aimed at these areas as they are seen as somewhere with a need for social housing. But, Sinn Fein Councillor for the

91 jobs at Donegal Meats in Carrigans are to be saved. The boning hall was due to close at the end of April, with the company transferring its operations to one of its plants in Derry or Tyrone. SIPTU made a proposal to the company which they accepted, which saved the 91 jobs. Donegal representative

A deputation from the Letterkenny Taxi Owners Association has urged the local town council to intercede with the Taxi regulator on their behalf in a bid to ease a stand off which they say threatens to escalate into a major national dispute. The taxi owners claim that new regulations and rules being introduced by the

Buncrana Town Council is to embark on an initiative to position the town as a premier tourist destination. The council  says the project will nurture and develop the tourism industry in the Buncrana area and the wider Inishowen area, by developing the visitbuncrana.com website, as well as devising a new tourism brochure, initially focussing on

Strict rules governming developments beside national primary and secondary routes could soon be relaxed. New guidelines are being discussed which could provide opportunties for new developments to be undertaken. North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher says the discussions on planning policy and roads could end an anamoly whereby development proposals, even on lighly trafficked

A debate is intensifying over whether or not Letterkenny should declare next year its 400th birthday. Records show that while there had been a settlement in the area for over a thousand years, the character of Letterkenny as a market town came from the granting of lands in the area during the Ulster plantation around

It’s reported in the Tirconaill Tribunal that the Aras Uí Dhomhnaill Nursing Home on the outskirts of Milford has been placed in receivership on the order of ACC bank. The building is owned by a group of investors, and is leased from them by Mulroy Healthcare Ltd, which operates the nursing home. The receiver has

There have been more job losses at Medisize in Letterkenny, it’s understood that redundacy notices have been given to 3 people. Just last month, talks of major job losses were played down by trade union SIPTU. Assisstant General Secretary of the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union, Dan Miller, says he met with the company last

A teenage visitor to Derry was left with a deformed ear after he was attacked, the High Court has heard. Two women and a man have been charged with grievous bodily harm. The court heard a man and a woman were seen jumping on the 16-year-old’s head. One of the three charged, 22-year-old Rose Mongan,

A faulty electric blanket caused the fire which killed an 18-month-old baby girl in County Derry, the inquest into her death has heard. Sarah Jane Mullan was in a cot in her parents’ bedroom in Dungiven when their 15 year old electric blanket caught fire last June. She suffered extensive burns and died in hospital

The Department of Health’s insisting Mary Harney only became aware of the scale of the x-ray problem at Tallaght hospital in Dublin yesterday. 58,000 x-rays at the hospital were never examined by a consultant radiologist between 2005 and September last year. One person’s already died, while another’s seriously ill as a result of a delayed

A group, aimed at abolishing South Donegal of its drug and alcohol abuse problem was set up in Donegal Town last night. It was agreed at the meeting that local community groups should try and help fight against drug and alcohol abuse. The group hope to bring together all those affected or concerned by drug

Letterkenny Town Council is to liaise with the County Development Board to ensure that the town’s IT infrastructure is highlighted to prospective investors. The issue was raised this week by Deputy Mayor Cllr Jimmy Harte, who proposed that the council promotes Letterkenny as a centre for Information Technology in conjunction with the LYIT, the IDA

A delegation of politicians and trade unionists from Derry is in Germany today in a bid to secure improved redundancy packages for Arntz Belting workers who are set to lose their jobs. Speaking as he left for Germany, local MP Mark Durkan said Arntz, and its parent group Optibelt, owe the workforce that it is

‘Nasty comments that are politically motivated’. The response of the Tánaiste to the latest suggestions that she’s not up to the job of Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. On a TV programme last night an audience member claimed there was a “cringe factor” to her representation of the country abroad. And in the Dáil

The Government won’t run the the three by-elections in Dublin,Donegal and Waterford because they know they will lose them all. Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins says the voters will use the opportunity to show their frustration with the Fianna Fail-Green coalition. The three vacancies follow the departure of George Lee, the election of Pat ‘The

A meeting aimed at finding a collective community response to battling drug and alcohol abuse in Donegal is being held tonight. The Donegal Family Resource Centre has organised the meeting which is being held in The Central Hotel at 8pm. Speakers will include members of the Gardai, the North West Alcohol Forum and the Northwest

Phone calls to the Donegal County Council switchboard were not answered between 9am 1pm today, as part of the escalation of industrial action in protest at cut-backs in the public sector. IMPACT’S Regional Organiser Richy Carrothers says the escalation began in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim today, and will be rolled out across other regions in

The Energy Minister Eamon Ryan has dismissed suggestions that the departure of Martin Cullen from public life will further destabilise the Government. Minister Cullen announced his resignation as a TD and Minister last night on health grounds. His departure means the Government must now fight three by-elections, with the Donegal South West poll already pending

The Letterkenny Taxi Owners’ Association is backing calls for an all out action by taxi drivers. Spokesperson Hugh Mc Fadden says they are backing the Irish Taxi Council in a dispute with the Taxi Regulator which has seen the regulator’s Dublin office occupied by two ITC members. The taxi council claims its members are being

Letterkenny Town Council will this week call on the HSE to immediately employ a Haematology Consultant in Letterkenny General Hospital to replace the one who recently vacated the position. The issue has been placed on the agenda by Cllr Tadhg Culbert, who is himself in remission from leukemia. He says many people in Donegal need

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group has launched its first campaign of 2010, focusing on the dangerous use of mobile phones by drivers. At today’s launch, presided over by Mayor Cllr Brendan Byrne, Donegal Gardai warned they will be increasing their enforcement of existing legislation. Spokesperson Eamon Brown says mobile phone use has now overtaken

The government is earmarking 11-and-a-half million euro for the restoration and upkeep of historical buildings. Minister for the Environment John Gormley is announcing the funding and says over 4 million will go to the Office of Public Works. Newmills outside Letterkenny is the only Donegal project under OPW control to be included. More than 3

Gardai are investigating the death of a 54 year old man near Doochary. The body of the man, named locally as Conal Mc Geehan, was found yesterday at 12 midday It’s understood he had been out on a quad bike which overturned, trapping him underneath. He hadn’t been seen for a number of days previously.

It’s emerged that a quantity of so-called legal highs has been stolen in Letterkenny. Today’s Donegal News is reporting an adult shop was broken into over the weekend. Over €1,000 euro worth of the legal drugs was taken from the adult shop on Letterkenny’s Pearse Road in Friday night / Saturday morning last. Gardai were

A 35-year-old woman has admitted six specimen charges of stealing £64,000 from the residents of a care home on Derry. The woman, Juanita Ferguson of Lower Nassau Street pleaded guilty to the charges relating to the theft which took place in 2005. Judge Des Marinan released the woman on continuing bail but told her that

Senator Cecilia Keaveney has written to Donegal County Council to ask for clarity in relation to the status of the Foyle and Swilly ferries. She says the continual negativity about the Foyle ferry and the lack of an early decision for the Swilly one has had a lasting negative reaction from then to now Senator

A public meeting was held in Carrigart this week to discuss recent job losses in the area and to look at ways the area can move forwards. The meeting was for the Carrigart and Downings area but drew guests from a much wider area Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh says a positive way forward was agreed:

Donegal fire services is to receive eleven new four wheel drive vehicle which the County’s Chief Fire Officer says will improve versatility and the safety of crews. The vehicles will be stationed  across the county at numerous locations. The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is funding eight of the vehicles with the

Campaigners opposed to the construction of a telecommunications mast in Drumfries, Inishowen have secured a last ditch meeting with Tetra Ireland, the company responsible for the mast. Hundreds of locals have signed a petition opposed to the mast over health and safety concerns. There has also been calls for the planning process to be more