Author name: oisinkelly

  Hotels and guesthouses are reporting a 70 per cent drop in projected revenues for September, compared to this time last year. Occupancy rates for this month and next are expected to stand at just 24 per cent, according to the Irish Hotels Federation. In Dublin the figures are predicted to be half that. Paul […]

  There’s been a big uptake in those accessing mental health services in Donegal over the last few months. In June and July, there was 48% increase in referrals to services in the county with people coming forward with anxiety and other mental issues. The Covid-19 lockdown combined with a backlog in waiting lists is

Vintners representatives in Donegal have met with both Minister Charlie McConalogue and Deputy Joe McHugh today, as new draft guidelines are published for the reopening of pubs. No date has yet been confirmed, but Donegal Cllr Martin Harley, who is treasurer of the VFI in Donegal, says the guidelines are very much the same as

There’s been widespread criticism of a vandalism attack in the new section of Derry’s City Cemetery. The latest incident happened in the section of the cemetery overlooking Lonemoor Road. Local Cllr Patricia Logue says it’s not the first occasion in recent times that graves in that section have been targeted. She says this has deeply

An infectious disease expert’s warning further deaths from Covid-19 are ‘inevitable’ as case numbers continue to rise. A further 138 cases were recorded yesterday, at least one of them in Donegal. Saturday saw five more cases in the county There were no further deaths linked to the virus in the latest data, a trend that

Arranmore RNLI is appealing to businesses in the community to become RNLI local ambassadors by sharing key water safety advice to help keep people safe. On average, 175 people lose their life around the coast of Ireland and the UK each year. The RNLI say these deaths are accidental but along with the community they

Optometrists are calling for a roll out of the Sligo Post Cataract Scheme across the country. It’s because it only takes a year for cataract surgery in the North West, but people have to wait up to 5 years in the South West. They’re concerned that eye-care waiting lists have surged to 52 thousand during

Leaving Cert students have received record grades this year. Almost 60,000 will receive their results online this morning, almost 3,000 in Donegal. The new calculated grading system, introduced due to Covid-19, shows an increase of 4.4 percent on average across all subjects. The Education Minister says the decision to provide them with calculated grades was

The British Prime Minister is reportedly drawing up new legislation that will override the Brexit withdrawal agreement on Northern Ireland. The move could risk the collapse of talks with the EU over a free trade deal. Labour say it would be an act of ‘immense bad faith’. SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood says such a move

A Foyle MLA has called on Environment Minister Edwin Poots to hold a public inquiry into the Mobuoy dump on the outskirts of Derry. The Foyle MLA was speaking after a meeting with NIEA officials where they outlined their plans for dealing with the toxic site. The site is beside the River Faughan, which supplies

The HSE’s new Covid-19 Community Testing Facility for Donegal is open from today at the Upper Car Park in St Conal’s Hospital in Letterkenny, with four drive-in testing bays and facilities for people on foot, It replaces the centre which operated at O’Donnell Park on the outskirts of the town. Testing in Donegal has been

The new Community Testing Centre for Co. Donegal will become operational on Saturday 5th September. The centre, which replaces the temporary facility in O’Donnell Park, is located in the Upper Car Park on the St Conal’s Hospital Campus in Letterkenny. The HSE says the new centre will ensure that testing is delivered to the people