Author name: oisinkelly

Safety on the Circular Road needs to be urgently addressed according to Letterkenny councillor Jimmy Kavanagh. He says following a serious accident on Saturday evening, in which a pedestrian was knocked down, it is time to urgently address the issue of safety on what is one of Letterkenny’s busiest roads. Cllr Kavanagh says Saturday night’s […]

Gleneely national school Killygordan closed for children till after Christmas Glenswilly national school will be closed today The Rosses community school Dungloe will be closed today, but will remain open for 2 & 5th years to complete exams Only local teachers need attend Shessinaghoneil National School B’bofey will closed today & remain closed till after

Driving conditions are described as ‘extremely hazardous’ on most secondary and sheltered roads this afternoon. Gardai in Donegal are still advising motorists not to make any unnecessary journeys today. The AA says road temperatures on many national routes remain below zero and icy conditions are reported.

A man is due in court in Derry tomorrow on terrorism charges. The 20 year old is accused of possession of items for use in terrorism as well as criminal damage, making threats to kill and possession of a weapon and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. Two men, aged 43 and 18, face aggravated burglary, threats

A man is in hospital having been knocked down in Letterkenny. The man is 60’s was struck by a car in the Glencar Road at 5.25pm on Saturday evening. Severe traffic disruption was caused as a result. Gardai have confirmed that the injured man was removed to Letterkenny General but the extent of his injuries

Gardai are asking motorists to exercise extreme caution with icy conditions reported across the county. As of 8pm on Saturday icy stretches were being reported on the roads most notably in the Drumkeen area. Temperatures are expected to drop to -3 degrees with the risk of some sleet and snow. It is understood Donegal County

A District Judge has described his sentencing powers for assaults as ‘hopelessly outdated as he jailed a man for three months for two assaults on paramedics and one on a police officer. Damien Murphy (26) of Knockalla Park in Derry was charged with two assaults, one assault on police and disorderly behaviour that occurred on

A Donegal County Councillor says that too much of the local authority’s business is conducted behind closed. Councillor Patrick McGowen says that all too often when an issue is raised in the chamber, rather than discuss it their and then, it is put off to a workshop. These are often held behind closed doors and

The ICSA is urging Donegal farmers to withhold their cattle for slaughter, in protest at the price being paid for their animals by processors. Outgoing President Malcolm Thompson says the price being paid to farmers now is below break even point, and well below what is being paid in the UK and Europe. He says

Donegal County Council has confirmed that a contractor has been appointed to carry out improvement works in Milford, with the works set to be finished by mid-summer. A new road will be built parallel to the Main Street, allowing for the development of a one way system. The commitment was given today during a meeting

Two Derry men who murdered a Donegal teenager in the city two years ago have been told they will serve a minimum of 11 years in prison. In October, 21 year old Sean Cruickshank, from Lislane Drive, and 22 year old Edward McEleney from Circular Road, were convicted of the murder of 19 year old

Met Eireann has issued a sever weather warning with the northwest being told expect significant wintry showers and freezing conditions. It’s to remains cold throughout the weekend and into early next week with falls and sleet and snow being forecast. This coupled with subzero night time temperatures driver should exercise caution on the roads. Click

Donegal Deputy Dinny McGinley says he is going to ensure that the findings of a special inquiry in to the ‘lost at sea scheme’ is debated in the Dail. The inquiry, by the ombudsman, was launched following a complaint made by Danny Byrne from Bruckless – his father Francis and brother Jimmy died when the

A Donegal councillor says the lack of progress on the proposed new N14 Lifford to Manorcunningham road means that the new A5 North of the border could be completed long before it. Cllr Dessie Larkin says it’s ironic that just a few years ago, the question was could the preparation work for the new A5

Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Minister Éamon Ó Cuív has ordered a full review of all state-funding community groups in the gaeltacht areas. Minister O’Cuiv says the review will provide for necessary realignment and restructuring while gaeltacht communities may see this as a precursor to more cuts. Mnister O’Cuiv says all Gaeltacht areas will be

The Tánaiste says the Government’s being “cautious” about new figures showing the country’s emerging from recession. While the economy has declined in the past year, the Central Statistics Office says there was slight growth in Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter. But when foreign multinationals are excluded Gross National Product shrank by 1.4% between

Health Minister Mary Harney has met briefly with Senator Cecilia Keavney to discuss the lack of arrangements for infant post mortem examinations in Donegal. The possibility of a cross border agreement for the sharing of services was one of the issues discussed. The lack of a designated Pediatric Pathologist above the Galway to Dublin line

A Donegal County Councillor has launched a scathing attack on the County Manager claiming his commitment to the county centres purely on Letterkenny. Stranorlar Councillor Patrick McGowen, who has long claimed his area is the poor cousin of Letterkenny, has gone further this time questioning if the county manager has any interest in the rest

New figures show Strabane has the highest percentage rate of unemployment in Northern Ireland. 6.9% of the working age population of the town are claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance. In the Derry City Council area, 6.8% of people are out of work. The figures were published as the Mayor of Derry leads a cross party delegation to

Donegal County Council is to lobby the government to have the country’s islands vote on the same day as the main land in any forthcoming elections. Currently islanders vote a few days in advance of the rest of the country and it is has been claimed that as a result many who work away are

Garda Gary Mc Loughlin who was killed in the line of duty in Co. Donegal has been laid to rest. Hundreds of people turned out in Fenagh in Co. Leitrim to pay tribute to the 24 year old who died from injuries he sustained in a crash on Sunday morning. The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy

A Scotsman has been sentenced to 12 months jail for trying to hold up a Bundoran bank with a hairbrush during a St Patrick’s weekend binge. Donegal Circuit Court was told that 48-year-old Anthony McNulty was visiting Bundoran with in-laws. After watching Celtic beat Rangers on a pub tv he awoke with a hangover and

Fine Gael has been accused of playing populist politics by calling on Donegal County Council to cuts commercial rates by 8.5% next year. Ahead of the council’s budget next week the party claims the cut, which would cost the council 1.75 million euro in income, would be a much needed boost to businesses and would

There are calls for Donegal County Council to drastically reduce the cost it charges for providing a water metre with claims that small farmers are being driven out of the industry because of high costs. Currently there is a standing charge of 290 euro per metre, this regardless of whether the consumer is a small

The man due to be questioned about the crash which claimed the life of one garda and badly injured another had been banned from driving for 15 years and should have been in prison. Martin McDermott of Raphoe had 79 previous convictions and is expected to be questioned by gardai on his release from hospital

A judge has expressed frustration over the trial of five men accused of a string of sex offences against a girl when she was 12 and 13. Judge John O’Hagan was told at Donegal Circuit Court that the trial earlier this year of a sixth man took two weeks. Judge O’Hagan noted that four Circuit

EU fishery talks have ended in Brussels with fishing groups expressing qualified satisfaction over the result. The issue dominating the meeting from an Donegal perspective was the fallout for mackerel fisheries following the break down of the EU Norway talks last week. The European Commission was initially recommending a 50% cut in the mackerel quota

Letterkenny Town Council is urging officials to get tough on unauthorised developments. A number of council members have raised concerns about an unauthorised development which has been operating in the town in recent weeks. Members said at a time when businesses who pay their rates and water charges are facing unprecedented difficulties, it is utterly

Fine Gael’s Agriculture and Fisheries Spokesperson says Former Marine Minister Frank Fahey should appear before a full Oireachtas enquiry on foot of the Ombudsman’s special report on the Lost at Sea scheme. The report, which recommends that almost quarter of a million euro in compensation be paid to the Byrne family from Donegal who were

A protest took place today outside the council offices in Carndonagh against the erection of a telecommunications mast in the Drumfries area. It’s the latest in a series of protests across the county as Tetra Ireland continues the roll out of  the National Digital Radio Service. Tetra secured the government contract to provide the network

The number of planning permission applications being granted for houses in Donegal has plummeted by almost half in one year. Figures from the Central Statistics Office show a national drop of 53.5 % in the third quarter of the year, compared to the same time last year. In the third quarter of 2009 there were

Donegal’s Crime Prevention Officer has urged people to keep an eye on their neighbours in the run up to Christmas to help avoid crime. There have been a number of reports of people, particularly the elderly, being targeted by callers to their homes pretending to offer a product or a service in an effort to

Its been reported this morning that the 24 year old man involved in the collision, in which Garda Gary McLoughlin was killed, had been banned from driving. The remains of Garda Gary Mc Loughlin have been returned to his native Co. Leitrim. The 24 year old officer died from injuries he sustained in a crash

It’s emerged that planning permission has been granted to Tesco Ireland for a second access road out of Letterkenny Shopping Centre, to connect onto the Port Road. Councillors had previously opposed the application, but were told by County Manager that the application was judged on it’s merits, with the views of councillors taken on board.

Fine Gael’s Agriculture and Fisheries Spokesperson says Former Marine Minister Frank Fahey should appear before a full Oireachtas enquiry on foot of the Ombudsman’s special report on the Lost at Sea scheme. The report, which recommends that almost quarter of a million euro in compensation be paid to the Byrne family from Donegal who were

Fourteen people, nine women and five men, have been returned for trial to Derry Crown Court charged in connection with a protest at the Raytheon arms manufacturing plant in Derry in January. The fourteen with addresses in Donegal, Derry, and Leitrim face an array of charges including criminal damage, assault on police, obstructing police and

Taoiseach Brian Cowen will visit Buncrana Garda Station this evening to pay his respects to the friends and colleagues of a young garda who died last night following a road crash in Inishowen. 24 year old Garda Gary McLoughlin from Co. Leitrim lost his fight for life in hospital overnight, after he was injured in

A special report on the investigation into the ‘Lost At Sea’ scheme prompted by a complaint made by a Donegal family has been passed on to the Dail and Seanad, after the findings were rejected by the Department of the Marine. While the department is free to do so, this is only the second time

A Donegal priest has been refused permission to bring an appeal against his conviction for raping a teenage parishioner in a church sacristy to the Supreme Court. 51 year old Daniel Doherty of Carrigart argued prejudicial evidence was put before the jury at his trial in 2006 at the Central Criminal Court. He was found

The Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy says he’s deeply saddened by the death of a young officer in Co. Donegal. 24 year old Garda Gary McLoughlin lost his fight for life in hospital overnight, after he was injured in a crash while on duty in Buncrana in the early hours of yesterday morning. The crash happened

More than 300 workers at Stream International in Derry are out of work after the company failed to secure any new contracts. Stream , which provides support services for technology companies has struggled to find new business during the economic downturn. In August, the 300 workers at the Derry facility were put on 90-day notice.

Delegates attending a weekend conference on Arranmore Island have signed a decleration calling on the EU and government to lift restriction to allow them to fish. The international conference took place on Saturday and was attended the European Small Islands Network, International fishing organisations and local fishing and political representatives. Local fishermen want laws changed

Key talks between with EU Fisheries Ministers and Irish fishing representatives get under way today on a number of proposed measured which could severely impact fishing industry off the northwest coast. There are proposed cuts in key fish quotas and strict new technical measures which is claimed will effectively mean the closure of the mixed

Politicians on both sides of the border have been urged to support the peace process. The plea from the Taoiseach Brian Cowen, comes as his government meets his Northern counterparts for a series of cross-border talks. Brian Cowen is expected to confirm that, despite the difficult economic climate, the Government will continue funding a number

A 24 year old Garda has died in hospital after he was injured in a crash close if Lisfannon while on duty in the early hours of yesterday morning. Gary McLoughlin, who was stationed in Buncrana, was hurt when a car he and a colleague were pursuing turned around and drove straight at their patrol

Three people, including two Gardai, have been injured in a road crash in Donegal. The two-car collision happened on the Letterkenny to Bridgend Road at Lisfannon at around half past one this morning. The two Gardai were taken to Letterkenny General Hospital where one of them is said to be in a serious condition. The

Four men have been assaulted in separate attacks in Derry. A man was dragged from his van by three men in the Fountain area shortly after 9pm on Friday and his hand broken in the door of the van. In the early hourd of Saturday , a 20-year-old man was attacked outside a shop on

There has been strong condemnation of two punishment shootings in Derry overnight. Shortly after six o’clock last evening two men were taken into an alleyway at Central Drive in Derry’s Creggan area and shot in the legs. When police attempting to help the men they were attacked by groups of youths throwing missiles and fireworks.

Donegal’s Island fishermen have accused the government, EU and fishing representative groups of not doing enough to protect what they see as their right to make a living from fishing. In 2006 the government banned salmon fishing for boats of a certain size, most fishermen took up a buy out scheme to exit the industry