Author name: oisinkelly

In a surprise development, the North’s Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has been e3lected as leader of the SDLP, replacing Foyle MP Mark Durkan, who stepped down last evening. Mr Durkan says he plans to concentrate his energies on representing the Foyle constituency at Westminister. Ms Ritchie defeated South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell in […]

Foyle MP Mark Durkan steps down as the leader of the SDLP today, after a decade at the helm. The 49 year old delivers his final address at the party conference in Newcastle, Co Down this afternoon. The outcome of a leadership battle between Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie and South Belfast MP Alasdair McDonnell

Fine Gael Donegal South West Deputy Dinny McGinley has renewed his call for action on youth employment following the release of new Live Register figures showing well over 21,000 people signing on in Donegal. He says the figures, which show an increase of 725 during the month of January, are staggering, particularly as more than

The war of words between Donegal Deputy Niall Blaney and MEP JIm Higgins over the Lost at Sea scheme rumbles on today. On Thursday Deputy Blaney suggested that Jim Higgins had mislead the Byrne family, from Donegal in believing they were entitled to compensation under the lost at sea scheme. An Ombudsman’s report found they

Latest Live Register figures for Donegal show the number signing on in the county is still well above 20,000. There were 21,473 on the register at the end of last month, 725 more than December and 4,717 more than January 2009. The highest year on year increase were recorded in Letterkenny, with 1,375 signing on

Gardai have reopened their investigation into a fire at a church near Doe Castle two years ago. A number of fires were set in Cashel Church of Ireland on the night of the 16th and 17th of January, 2008. Local Sergeant Christy Galligan says they are particularly anxious to trace the movements of two men

A man jailed for arranging sham marriages in Derry has launched a legal bid to avoid deportation to Nigeria. 32 year-old Alexander Success is seeking a judicial review of the decision to return him to his home country. Mr Success, from Waterfoot Park in Derry, pleaded guilty in 2007 to organising bogus marriages at registry

There’s been a seizure of illegally imported kerosene in Donegal. Officers from Revenue’s Customs Service in Letterkenny, backed by officers from Sligo, this week detained an oil tanker carrying kerosene which had illegally imported from Northern Ireland. In a follow up search of three premises, officers detained further quantities of illegally imported oil. A total

The family whose complaint sparked an investigation into the ‘lost at sea scheme’ has launched a scathing attack on Deputy Niall Blaney after he claimed they had been misled. In the Dail yesterday Deputy Blaney also question the independence of the Ombudsman whose report said the scheme was flawed and that the Byrne’s should recived

A man in his 40’s who was arrested following an incident between Stranorlar and Convoy on Tuesday night will appear at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin this morning. Gardai stopped a car aftetr four men were seen acting suspiciously. One man was arrested at the scene, three others fled across fields, and a search

Dr James McDaid  says the banning of headshops is not the way forward. He said he believes the country is on the verge of making a huge mistake if such shops are banned. Deputy McDaid, who is also a GP, says it isn’t the way to tackle drug problems. He says doing so will not

Coroner Dr Denis McCauley has warned that he must see progress in the Garda inquiry into the murder of Republican double agent Denis Donaldson within six months. He agreed to further adjourn the inquest but wouldn’t go as far as the gardai sought – a minimum of nine months. He explained that when a Supt

Donegal Deputy Niall Blaney has called into question the independence of the Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly and her report into the lost at sea scheme. The Byrne Family, from Donegal, lost a father and son when their boat sank in 1981 – three other crewmen also perished. The Ombudsman found they were wrongly excluded from the

Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has criticised the government for what he’s terming a lack of business investment in Inishowen. The Buncrana based councillor says IDA officials locally have indicated that they have been asked to focus on attracting investment to Letterkenny. Out of 1700 site visits by the IDA last year, only three were to

The IFA in Donegal is welcoming confirmation of a compensation scheme for farmers who suffered damage to potatoes and vegetable crops during the severe frost in December and January. The government says the scheme is designed to provide a limited and targeted financial contribution to certain potato and vegetable growers who suffered losses of at

The Ombudsman says that despite her best efforts, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries continues to dispute her findings and recommendations relating to the lost at sea scheme. Emily O’Reilly made her comments as the Dail prepares to hear statements on the scheme today. In a statement the Ombudsman has said that the Oireachtas has

As a number of local communities in Donegal protest at the removal of Bus Eireann services, the Citizens Information Board says Ireland’s ”fragmented” transport system is contibuting to social exclusion for people with disabilities and those living in rural areas. A new report, being published later today, is recommending the Government target resources more efficiently

A major garda search operation is continuing between Stranorlar and Convoy after three men fled from a garda checkpoint last night. At around seven o’clock, gardai stopped a car in which they say four men were seen acting suspiciously. One man was arrested at the scene and brought to Letterkenny Garda Station. Three men fled

While the number of redundancy’s in Donegal fell last month compared to January 2009 the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association says the figure is still too high. 122 people were made redundant in the county in January, a reduction of 73 or 60% on the figure for the same period in 2009. On a

The General Officer Commanding the 4th Western Brigade says barracks closures in Donegal were achieved at minimal cost to the tax payer, and the army’s responsibilities were carried out well within budget. Brigadier General Gerry Hegarty is in the North West for a two day tour during which he is meeting with members of the

There are calls for the government to establish a temporary passport office in the North–West. The ongoing industrial action means that the passport office in Dublin is not fast tracking passport applications submitted by Oireachtas members on behalf of their constituents. Raising the issue Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh says those in desperate need of a

Car sales n Donegal are on the increase. The number of cars sold in Donegal last month was 394, that is an increase of 50 or 14’5%  on January 2009. This is one of the largest increases in the country and treble the national average. Sales of light commercial vans doubled – 76 sold last

One of the country’s most senior army officers begins a two day visit to the North West today. Brigadier General Gerry Hegarty, General Officer Commanding the 4th Western Brigade, will visit members of the 58 Infantry battalion Reserve Defence Forces, and 54 Communications and Information Service RDF units in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. During the

It’s been claimed that many of Donegal’s small and medium contractors are being blocked from bidding on major projects in the county because of the strict tender qualifications which are in place. Senator Pearse Doherty says the experience of companies who sought to tender for work on the new Finn Valley Leisure Centre is an

An Inishowen Councillor has said that once again the peninsula is to be neglected given the way that money for roads improvement is allocated at present. 12 million euro was allocated by the NRA yesterday for Donegal’s national and secondary roads, however because Inishowen has a very small section of these types of routes, it

The Women’s Health and Wellbeing Programme based in Co. Donegal has been shortlisted for the AONTAS STAR awards, which highlight outstanding examples of adult education each year. The Programme was developed by Donegal Women’s Network together with the HSE West. The project is one of three initiatives shortlisted in the Ulster Regional category. Speaking on

A 22-year-old man has been charged with causing the death of 24 year-old Martin Gallagher by dangerous driving in Derry at Halloween. Jonathan McGonigle, from Moyola Drive was released on bail with the case adjourned until the 27th of April. Mr McGonigle also faces charges of failing to stop or report the accident, of driving

Its emerged that more young people leave counties Derry and Tyrone than anywhere else in Northern Ireland to attend universities in Britain. The figures were provided to Foyle MLA Martina Anderson by Employment and Learning Minister Reg Empey as part of an answer to an Assembly question on the future expansion of Magee. The MInister

Its emerged that more young people leave counties Derry and Tyrone to attend universities in Britain than anywhere else in Northern Ireland. The figures were provided to Foyle MLA Martina Anderson by Employment and Learning Minister Reg Empey as part of an answer to an Assembly question on the future expansion of Magee. Ms Anderson

The HSE’s Public Health Department in the North West is advising parents to make sure that their children are vaccinated against measles following a number of cases of the disease in various parts of the country. Public Health Specialist Dr Anthony Breslin says while most children have been fully vaccinated with the MMR by the

A major funding package has been announced for a cross border project on the Donegal – Fermanagh border. The Special EU Programmes Body has allocated €8.3 million to the Termon Project in Pettigo and Tullyhommon. The project marks the completion of over three years work by the planning departments in Lifford and Enniskillen. Cllr Barry

Donegal has been allocated just over 12 million euro in funding under the National Roads Programme 2010. This represents an increase of over two million euro on last year. The money, which will be spent on the county’s national roads network will see 10.2 million euro on improvement works and almost 1.8 million euro on

Up to 70 thousand members of Siptu are today joining other public sector unions in staging industrial action against pay cuts. The latest development will see workers in health, education, local authority and state agency sectors take part in  a ban on co-operation with change and a work to rule. The spokesperson for Siptu in

The prices of hundreds of common medicines including anti-biotics and hyper-tension pills will be 40 per cent cheaper from today. The move is the result of a deal between the government and the drugs industry aimed at reducing costs for the State. The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association says patients it will mean patients can save

A man in his late twenties died following a fire in his mobile home at Knockfola near Derrybeg, Co Donegal yesterday morning (Sunday). The fire was discovered by passers by around 6.45 a.m. and the emergency services were alerted. When they arrived the mobile home was totally engulfed in flames. The man’s body remained at

It was weekend of tragedy In Donegal with two fatal road crashes claiming the lives of three men On Saturday morning a father and son from Castle Street in Ramelton died when their vehicle collided with another close to the Slab Road Junction. 59 year-old John Gallagher and his 24 year-old son Sean had been

Three people have died on the county’s roads. A man in his 60’s  died when he was struck by a car in Carrigart shortly after 8’clock last (Friday) night. Gardai in Milford are appealing for witnesses. Meanwhile shortly before 10 o’clock this (Saturday) morning two vehicles collided at the Slab Road junction at Burt. Gardai

A new survey shows that house prices continued to fall dramatically last year The Sunday Times Property price guide says last year was the worst in living memory In Donegal the average price of a new home 155,000, the Average price of a second-hand home is 140,000  – that is down: 19%.

It’s emerged that the Value of Court Judgments against companies in the Republic of Ireland for the recovery of unpaid debt increased by 54% last year. In Donegal, the increase was even more stark, with the value of judgements in the last three months of the year almost trebling. In the fourth quarter of last

A man has died following in a car crash in East Donegal The man in his 60’s, and from the local area, died in the collision shortly after 8’clock last night. Gardai in Milford are appealing for witnesses. Meanwhile shortly before 10 o’clock this morning two vehicles collided at the Slab Road junction at Burt.

As police renew their appeal for infiormation about the shooting of a Derry businessman in his shop this week, a rally has taken place condemning the shooting. 53 year-old Raymond Coyle is in a stable condition after being shot three times in the legs in his shop “Red Star” on Waterloo Street at about 5.30pm

A Bus Eireann service which was used by school pupils in St Johnston to get to school in Raphoe and other areas will not be available from next Monday. The Derry to Stranorlar route is being changed, to travel via Newtowncunningham and Letterkenny instead. Bus Eireann say any school pupils will be accomodated on alternative

There was a marked increase in the number of reported Burglaries, thefts and drug possession cases in the Donegal Garda division. However most other crime offences showed a decrease when compared to 2008. The figures from the CSO show that last year there was 40% increase in cases of Drugs possession with intent to supply,

Donegal Farmers are being urged to attend a public protest meeting in Abbeyleaks in Co Cork this weekend during which the controversial new beef price grade will be discussed. The event hosted by the ICMSA we here how some farmers are seeing losses of up to 80 euro per head under the new pricing system.

Hundreds of Tourism service providers from Donegal  will meet in Sligo on Monday for what Failte Ireland Northwest is describing as one of most important events ever hosted in the region. The tourism roadshow comes off the back of a difficult January for the tourism industry in Donegal with some slight optimism of an upturn

Talks between Sinn Fein and the DUP have resumed this morning as the devolution deadline fast approaches The parties have until this afternoon to strike a deal on the transfer of policing and justice powers. The Taoiseach and Gordon Brown will publish their own proposals for a way forward unless a compromise is reached Senator