Author name: oisinkelly

TD’s expenses are back in focus after it emerged that despite promises that the amount claimed would fall and the system would be reviewed, nearly 8 million euro was paid out to TDs in 2009, more than the previous year. According to figures collated and published by the Sunday Independent, the highest earning Donegal TD […]

There are signs of a thaw beginning today, although Met Eireann is indicating it will be several days before the big freeze is over. All primary and secondary schools remain closed until Thursday, with several other institutions remaining closed today. After announcing at the weekend that it is no longer salting and gritting the road

The demand for water from the supply networks today 9th January remains above normal. The supply situation has stabilised around the county generally. The extremely low temperatures are causing an increased incidence of water outage due to frozen service pipes. Water Services Staff remain actively engaged in efforts to maintain supply. The Lough Mourne supply

Letterkenny Institute of Technology has announced that the Semester 1 exams which were to have taken place on Monday next January 11th will now take place on Saturday January 16th. The situation will be reviewed on a day to day basis from Monday, but as of now, all other exams are planned to go ahead

Donegal County Council is to stop gritting the Letterkenny to Fintown Road over Meenaroy. While Donegal is escaping the brunt of the snowfalls which are affecting the South and East this afternoon, the county will continue to experience severe frost and sub-zero conditions, and some sparodic snowfall has been reported in the North of the

OTHER CLOSURES Raphoe Community Playgroup will be closed until Monday the 18th of January Little acorns playgroup Raphoe closed until Thursday 14th Trinity tots mother & toddler group in trinity hall L’kenny is cancelled until Thursday 14th January The Glen Outdoor School, Glenswilly will re-open today Oaktree Juvenile Badminton Club in Killygordan will be closed

Gardai have issued a warning to all motorists to only take to the roads if necessary today. Snow has been falling across the East since early this morning and driving conditions are treacherous. Met Eireann is forecasting up to 5 centimetres of snow in the south and east today, followed by 10 centimetres tomorrow. The

A 24-year-old Donegal man has been charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Garda Gary McLoughlin last month. Martin McDermott of Castlegrove, Raphoe was charged with the offence at Letterkenny District court today. Garda Gary McLoughlin was critically injured at Lisfannon, Burt, Co Donegal, on 13 December when his patrol car was struck by

The Education Minister has ordered all primary and post-primary schools to remain closed until next Thursday. Batt O’ Keefe has taken the decision in light of the weather that’s been forecast for this weekend. The situation will be reviewed again on Tuesday. Minister Batt O’ Keefe says he took the decision out of concern for

New figures released today show that people in Donegal earn less money than those living anywhere else in Ireland. The average income in Donegal is €3,000 less than people elsewhere in the country and €5,000 less than people in Dublin. The statistics from the CSO also show that people in the county also have a

The future of the multi-million euro Greencastle Harbour Project is in doubt, according to Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh. It’s emerged that only 104,000 euro has been allocated for the ongoing work in 2010, substantially less than the 800,000 euro which local people believ is necessary as a bare minimum to keep the

It’s been confirmed that there was a minor earthquake in Donegal last night, measuring 1.6 on the Richter Scale. Last night, Highland Radio received a number of calls from Fanad and Inishowen claiming that people had heard what appeared to be a loud thunderclap followed by a tremor at around half past seven. According to

A District Judge in Derry said he was ‘somewhat surprised’ that police did not even make a cursory examination of leading Derry dissident republican Gary Donnelly after he alleged his arm had been broken in an incident involving PSNI officers. Judge Barney McElholm made his comments as he convicted Donnelly of three charges, assault, disorderly

The armys has confirmed that soldiers based at Finner are now on stand-by to assist Donegal County Council or the HSE in dealing with the the current severe weather conditions. Following a directive from the Defence Minister Willie O’Dea yesterday, Finner is one of 17 Barracks across the country which is now able to offer

The Defence Minister says the army may be deployed to help as the freezing weather looks set to continue. An emergency committee, involving a number of Government departments and other agencies, is meeting this afternoon to discuss the issue. Defence Minster Willie O’Dea says whatever is needed will be provided. Meanwhile, Donegal Councillor Frank Mc

Donegal County Council says that the demand for water from the supply network today remains above normal. Some areas, including Lifford and reservoirs at Tievebrack, Ballinacor and Gleneely (Castlefin) will have their outflows turned off tonight, and the council says supply may take some hours to reach all areas when turned on again. In East

House prices in Donegal fell by almost 20% last year. The figures released this morning are contained in property website ‘daft.ie”s review of 2009 and shows that house prices in the county have fallen by 27% from their peak in 2007. Ronan Lyons, Economist with ‘daft.ie’ predicts that prices have not yet reached their lows

Extremely icy conditions are being experienced across the country this morning, with surface temperatures of minus 10 recorded on the N2 in Monaghan. Snow showers in the north west overnight have been intesifying and drivers are being warned against all unnecessary travel. The vast majority of schiools in Donegal will remain closed until Monday –

Staff at Fujitsu’s Derry and Belfast plants are striking for three days from today. The strike is over job cuts, a pay freeze and pension changes. Last year the IT services unit of Fujitsu said it would cut up to 1,200 jobs in the UK, blaming the economic downturn. The company employs 700 people in

Videos have emerged on the interent of youths apparently using quads on Knockalla lake, fozen due to the recent weather. The videos were posted in the same week that Gardai warned of the dangers of driving on frozen lakes – that warning was issued following a number of reports of quads being used on Lough

An investigation’s been launched in the north after an 8 year old boy was found alone and freezing on a Derry street. The youngster was discovered by a taxi driver outside a shop in the Ballymagroarty area at half past six this morning, when the temperature was minus 1 degrees. The man wrapped the child

A woman who runs The Happy Matchmaker dating agency is appealing a judge’s order that she give a dissatisfied client files for court proceedings against her. Happy Matchmaker boss Mary Mitchell of Ballintra, Co. Donegal, has been accused of failing to check out men introduced to Annemarie McBrearty.. Ms McBrearty is suing Ms Mitchell for

The freezing weather conditions of the last fortnight have had a devastating impact on potato producers, with initial estimates showing losses of over €15m on potato crops still in the ground. Donegal IFA County Chairman and potato grower William Monagle said 6,000 acres of potatoes across the country remain unharvested due to the disastrous wet

Letterkenny General Hospital has seen its budget for 2010 increased by the HSE. The Health Service Executive employs a system called “casemix” that penalises inefficient hospitals and redirects the money to more efficient ones. The HSE has confirmed that overall nearly €14 million is being taken from 18 inefficient hospitals and redistributed among 21 efficient

There are indications that a formal link between Aer Lingus and Aer Arann would facilitate passengers from Donegal who want to make connecting flights in Dublin. Two airlines are in talks about a ‘commercial alliance’ to operate joint flights, with the proposal expected to be discussed at an Aer Lingus board meeting on Friday. The

UDA confirms weapons have been decommissioned Leaders of the Ulster Defence Association have confirmed it’s decommissioned all weapons under its control. The North’s largest loyalist paramilitary group put the remainder of its arsenal out of use in recent weeks. The organisation, responsible for some of the bloodiest atrocities during the conflict, had already put a

While many areas in the north of the county have serious disruption to their water supply the council says that some progress is being made. Demand for water remains above normal due substantially to taps being left running and also consistent incidents of leakage and bursts. Some areas particularly Lifford and Alt continue to have

Fine Gael is calling on the government to sign an order allowing Donegal County Council remove sand from beaches to grit and salt frozen roads. The council’s salt stocks are low and as a result it didn’t salt any roads last night, concentrating instead on gritting the roads. The authority carried out a limited salting

Met Éireann has renewed its severe weather warning, with up to 5cm of snow expected in the north west today. The northwest has been worst affected by the adverse weather conditions today, in many places the snow is turning to ice, causing further hazardous conditions for motorists. Donegal County Council has said that due to

Gardai say they have received worrying reports that a large number of youths are driving quads on frozen lakes across the county. Superintendent Vincent O’Brien says they have received report of quads being driven on Trusk Lake and Mourne Lough and has called on those involved and or their parents to make it stop. The

The option of Donegal Mayor Cllr Brendan Byrne facing a vote of no confidence is still much a probability following a meeting of disgruntled councillors yesterday. It follows the controversial adoption of the council’s budget last month. Anger flared when Mayor Brendan Byrne and his Fianna Fail colleagues adopted the budget while the rest of

The Director of Donegal County Council’s Roads Service says the council is taking in fresh supplies of salt from three different sources, and with lorryloads of fresh supplies due in every day this week, there is no risk of supplies running out. John Mc Laughlin says at no point have any main roads been left

Foyle MP Mark Durkan has condemned a petrol bomb attack on the Fountain Youth Club in Derry as ‘an utter disgrace’. The SDLP leader said it was an appalling attack, carried out by arsonists without any consideration for the people who use the Fountain Youth Club for a number of very important community functions. Mr

The 24 year old man arrested following the fatal collision last month in which Garda Gary Mc Laughlin was killed has appeared in court again in Letterkenny. Martin Mc Dermott, with an address at 19 Castlegrove, Raphoe was charged with a number of offences in Carrick On Shannon before Christmas, and faced further charges last

A 50 year old woman has died at Altnagelvin Hospital after she was struck by a car in Derry City. The woman, named locally as Catherine Harkin, was struck by a red Mitsubishi Colt on the Creggan Road at about quartrer past five last evening. Police in the city are appealing to witnesses to contact

Pressure is mounting on the Government to set a date for the by-election in Donegal South West. The area’s Dail representation has been reduced from three to two since Pat the Cope Gallagher was elected to the European Parliment last year. Now the government is being urged to set a date for the by-election sooner

Roads across Donegal are in a very dangerous condition this morning, with a number of bus services affected, particularly in South and West of the county. As always, untreated secondary and county roads are hazardous, as are many main roads after fresh snowfalls overnight and early this morning impeded efforts to clear main roads. Some

The HSE says Emergency Departments around the country were busier than usual over the Christmas period, particuarly with people sustaining strains and fractures as a result of slips and falls on icy roads and footpaths. Christmas and new Year figures for Letterkenny General Hospital will be published next month. Meanwhile, management at the hospital have

In its latest update Donegal County Council says that water supplies across Donegal remains under strain with demand for water above normal due to leakage and people leaving taps running. Again last night reservoirs were shut off to conserve supplies, in some cases homes served by those reservoirs will not have water until later in

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group will meet shortly to discuss a new plan after it’s first three year plan reached its end at the end of last month. During the three years, the number of road deaths gradually fell from 22 in 2007, to 18 in 2008, and 15 in 2009. The group’s Chairperson

It’s been confirmed that a man has been interviewed by gardai investigating the hit and run death of a 22 year old man in the early hours of yesterday at Tiernaleague, Carndonagh. The deceased man, named locally as Joseph Mc Laughlin, was hit by a car close to his home at approximately twenty to five

Both Letterkenny and Buncrana failed to achieve litter free status in the 2009 litter survey of 60 towns and cities by Irish Business Against Litter, with Letterkenny, which was previously designated Litter Free is now described as Seriously Littered, and classified 56th out of 60 cities and towns. Buncrana is described as moderately littered, sitting

Water supplies throughout the County are said to be still under strain. Demand for water is above normal, due in part to taps being left running and also to increased leakage and bursts. Water Services Staff remain actively engaged in efforts to maintain and restore water supply. A burst watermain in Fahan has caused interruption

Gardai at Buncrana are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision at Tiernaleague, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal at approximately 4.40am this morning. A male pedestrian aged in his early 20s was fatally injured when he was struck by a vehicle which failed to remain at the scene. A Post Mortem examination will be carried

Gardai are appealing for information on an assault which took place in the Downing’s area in the early hours of yesterday (Friday) morning. Having left a night club in Downings the two men were set upon by a group at around 2.30am as they entered a caravan park and were beaten, one of the victims

A young woman garda was knocked down and injured by a suspected drunk driver in Letterkenny on Friday. The female garda injured in yesterday’s  incident was responding in a patrol car to a report of a suspected drunk driver on the Ballymacool estate in Letterkenny at 3 p.m. She stepped out on to the road

Police in Derry say they are investigating two overnight incidents of indecent exposure. At 1am on Saturday morning a teenager exposed himself to two women at Marlborough Terrace, near Bull Park, in the Cityside. Shortly afterwards, police got a report of a second incident, this time at Fountain Hill in the Gobnascale estate in the

Motorists are being warned of dangerous driving conditions again today given another night of freezing temperatures. Compacted snow, black ice and slush are making driving extremely dangerous and gardaí say people should not drive unless they have to. Secondary roads, and housing estates across the county remain very dangerous while extra care should also be

The County Council says that water supplies throughout Donegal are still under strain but have in general experienced. Networks continue to experiene significant difficulties due to increased leakage caused by bursts as a result of the severe inclement weather. Water Services Staff remain actively engaged in efforts to maintain and restore water supply. Areas still