Author name: oisinkelly

    . Winds of up to 110 kilometres per hour are possible in the west and north-west this morning as a status yellow warning is in operation. It is in place for Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo until 8am this morning. Met Eireann is warning there is a risk of coastal flooding in these

A bill’s being launched to amend Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. It’s to repeal a specific provision which allows terminations up to birth in cases of serious non-fatal disabilities. Campaigners say the law is discriminatory and allows abortions without time limits for conditions like Down’s syndrome.

  Ireland is to have thousands of tonnes of fish deducted from its quota after an investigation into the State’s implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The Irish Times reports the findings of the European Commission found the country’s system for controlling its waters “unsatisfactory”. The review came after an audit in Donegal found serious

  Legislation to allow for mandatory hotel quarantine for some people arriving into the country will go before the cabinet this morning. Under the plans anyone arriving from a list of 20 countries deemed high risk will have to isolate at a state facility. While plans for this had been announced a number of weeks

There are 821 new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic and no additional deaths. 29 cases have been confirmed in Donegal. It’s the first time in nearly two months that no new deaths have been reported. There are 916 patients in hospital with the virus and 157 in intensive care. The 14 day incidence rate

Two Donegal organisations have been announced as finalists in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards. Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter will contest in the Heritage category of the Good Causes Awards while the Raphoe Community Sports Development, are finalists in the Sport category of the Awards. The Awards honour the inspiring work and achievements of thousands of

Donegal County Museum, the Regional Cultural Centre and the Museum and Heritage Service of Derry City and Strabane District Council have commissioned and produced a series of six short video pieces which highlight the experiences of women during the Revolutionary Period (1919-1923). These videos provide snapshots of the period, exploring the stories of women during

The number of Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients has dropped for the first time since level 5 measures were introduced in late December. Just under 478,000 people will receive the PUP tomorrow, which marks a drop of over 3,600 on last week’s figures. 16,355 people in Donegal will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment tomorrow while 351

A security alert in the Ballyarnett area of Derry has ended. The alert followed a report made to police yesterday that a device had been left in the Racecourse Road area. The Racecourse Road was closed on Monday for several hours whilst a search was conducted, but nothing untoward has been found. Superintendent Catherine Magee

The number of Covid-19 related deaths in the North has reached 2,000. It’s after a further 4 deaths were confirmed. 234 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in the past 24 hours in the North. There are 477 patients with the disease being treated in hospitals in Northern Ireland. 59 people are in ICU.

  The Letterkenny Institute of Technology is to become a centre for the Covid-19 vaccination programme. The Health Minister has confirmed locations for 37 such centres across the country for the programme. The LYIT is only listed site for the rollout in Donegal. There’s at least one in every county with a view towards supporting

A tractor driver has been caught driving under the influence of both cannabis and cocaine. Gardaí from Ballyshannon Garda Station stopped the driver of an agricultural tractor on Saturday night at a checkpoint. The driver was found to be in possession of a small amount of suspected cannabis herb and also tested positive for the

  A man has been charged in connection with a weekend hijacking incident in Derry. A van delivering newspapers was hijacked and burnt out in Derry on Saturday morning. The driver was making a delivery to a shop at Bracken Park in the Galliagh area of the city around 6.10 am when the attack happened.

  The government’s updated Living with Covid plan will involve a staggered return of construction and schools but maintain a ban on indoor household visits and hospitality. The Irish Times reports the draft plan doesn’t include dates for the reopening of society. However it says May or June are being considered as possibilities if there’s

  Parishioners in Donegal are being offered takeaway ashes this Ash Wednesday. Parish priest of Clonmany Fr. Brian Brady has teamed up with a local Centra to deliver takeaway ashes. According to the Irish Independent, the blessed ashes will be placed in sealed containers and left in local churches so they can be picked up

  Talks between government and teacher unions on plans for this year’s Leaving Cert will continue today. Confidential discussions were held over the weekend in a bid to reach agreement ahead of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. One of the proposals being discussed is offering students a choice of calculated grades, or a written exam or both.

788 more people have contracted Covid-19, 9 of those in Donegal. 17 more patients have died, the youngest victim was just 50 years old. There are 899 people in hospital with the virus after 34 more people were admitted today — with 160 receiving intensive care. There are currently 23 confirmed cases in Letterkenny University

Police are urging people in the Ballyarnett area of Derry who come across or notice any suspicious objects in the Racecourse Road/Paddock Lane area not to touch them following a report to police that a device had been left in the area. Officers are currently making a number of enquiries into the report and would

Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Health and Community Committee have approved plans to relax conditions around the process of applying for pavement café licensing, to assist the hard hit hospitality industry. Members supported the recommendation by officers to extend the period during which an application may be made for a pavement café

The ASTI has decided to re-enter talks with the Department of Education to discuss how this year’s Leaving Cert will work. The union pulled out of discussions earlier this week over proposals to prioritise a system of calculated grades. The ASTI now says it’s been told that oral and practical exams as well as coursework

A status Orange Wind warning has been issued for Donegal, Galway and Mayo. South to southwest winds are expected to reach speeds of 65 to 80km/h with severe gusts of 110km/h in the west. The alert is in place for tomorrow mid-day until 4 o clock tomorrow afternoon.

Over 2,000 more people are awaiting an inpatient or outpatient appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital compared to 2020. A record number of people across the country are waiting for their first hospital outpatient consultation. As of January 28th, 3,044 patients were waiting on an inpatient/ day case appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital, that’s up 49%

Northern Ireland is to hit its targets of offering a Covid-19 vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups this weekend. The UK government’s in its final push to have reached everyone over the age of 70, or who is classed as clinically vulnerable, by Monday. England and Wales hit the goal yesterday.