Author name: oisinkelly

A UCD Professor says the high incidence rate in Donegal might also be due to people’s interactions with the North. Supports including walk in test centres are being looked at for the county, following the Health Minister’s meeting with the Chief Medical Officer on Saturday night. It was organised because Donegal has the highest incidence […]

The rain we’ve had in the last week has not been enough to eliminate the risk of more serious wildfires. That’s the message from the state forestry agency Coillte — as a condition yellow warning remains in place. Yesterday a farmer’s forestry plantation was destroyed by a gorse fire in Fintra in south Donegal. It’s

A local TD says there was “considerable anger” in Donegal over comments by the Chief Medical Officer about the Covid situation there. On Friday, Dr Tony Holohan said even the “dogs in the street” could see examples of people in the county not following the rules. He was at a meeting with the Health Minister

A Donegal GP says the vast majority of people in the county are working hard to follow the public health guidelines. It has the highest rate of Covid in the country – which was discussed by the Health Minister, the Chief Medical Officer and local politicians last night. Among the suggestions raised to help tackle

The price of alcohol could be twice as expensive here than it is in the North if minimum pricing is introduced. That’s according to a lobby group, who say MUP will drive people across the border for cheaper prices, if brought in before Northern Ireland. The government is keen to introduce minimum unit pricing for

Donegal GAA has released an official statement asking Gaels throughout the county to adhere to all current Covid-19 restrictions. The club will lead the challenge by encouraging all its members to refocus the regulations, the awareness, and the well advertised prevention methods. Chairman of Donegal GAA says the county has continued to maintain a figure

A positive health messaging drive is to begin between community groups and local representatives in response to the rising number of Covid-19 cases in Donegal. Following an urgent meeting with Donegal representatives, the Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer as well as other public representatives, focus has now shifted to extra supports for Donegal in an

There are calls for extra walk-in Covid test centres to be set up in Donegal in the coming week. Local politicians met the Health Minister and Chief Medical Officer last night amid concern over the level of infection here. Donegal currently has the highest incidence rate of coronavirus in the country. Last night’s meeting heard

A Donegal TD has called for an urgent meeting with Minister Stephen Donnelly, NPHET and Donegal Oireachtas members this weekend. If follows comments from the Chief Medical Officer who warned that Covid-19 is circulating at dangerous levels in Donegal, where the 14 day incidence rate of the virus is more than double the national average.

4,600 people are getting a Covid-19 vaccine in the country’s biggest ever vaccination centre today. The 70 to 74-year-olds are getting their second dose in Dublin City University. The centre’s being run by 50 GPs and practice nurses. Dr Ray Walley, a member of the GP advisory group to the HSE, says the vaccination of

67 per cent of people in the Republic are in favour of a united Ireland. But most of the North wants to stay in the UK – with only 35 per cent backing Irish unity. The Irish Independent/Kantar poll also found only one in five voters in both regions would pay higher taxes to fund

What Donegal has to offer has been influential in attracting an increasing number of international students to the county. That’s according to Letterkenny Institute of Technology’s President, who was speaking during the virtual launch of the new Donegal place brand yesterday. The launch heard that the official designation of LYIT as a technological university could

An exciting new place brand for Donegal has been officially launched. Today’s official unveiling of the new Donegal place featured a celebration of Donegal life, success, education, culture and music. The new place brand driver ‘Ireland’s DNA’ showcases the county’s offering and facilitates its role as a key driver of regional growth in Ireland over

The Chief Executive of Donegal County Council says the current model of local government funding puts counties like Donegal at a disadvantage, because equalisation funding is linked to Local Property Tax. John McLaughlin was speaking after researchers at the Whitaker Institute in NUI Galway found that Donegal County Council has been underfunded, and would be

The Cross Border Workers Coalition says it’s vital that anamolies in the tax system are resolved as work practices slowly begin to normalise. There is currently a provision in Irish law whereby cross border workers, who live in the Republic of Ireland but work in Northern Ireland are forced to pay a double tax if

Donegal TD Joe McHugh is confident this will be the last lockdown, and says society owes it to young people to ensure that is the case. He says since sports training for young people resumed in the past fortnight, there’s a noticeable improvement in their mood………….

A pilot programme is set to examine the return of large sporting events, gigs and festivals over the summer. The government is preparing to host trial events to see how they can be safely managed before everyone is vaccinated. The new plan for easing restrictions also suggests nightclubs could return towards the end of the

1.5 million Covid-19 vaccines have now been administered across the country. That landmark was reached last night, and nearly 30 per cent of over-16s have received at least one jab. The government says 50 to 59-year-olds will be able to register for a vaccine within the next week. Stranorlar based Dr Denis McCauley chairs the