Author name: oisinkelly

Tourism in Donegal and other rural areas is likely to take longer to recover from the coronavirus pandemic than in urban places. A report by EY Ireland says a larger amount of jobs are directly dependent on tourism in rural locations, such as 13 per cent in Donegal and 18 per cent in Kerry. Simon […]

    The Taoiseach will announce later whether any Covid-19 restrictions can be lifted from next Tuesday. The National Public Health Emergency Team meets this morning, and will issue advice to the government, which will then be discussed by Cabinet. The death toll from the virus has risen to 1,232, after a further 43 people

The Taoiseach has stated that cooperation between An Garda Siochana and the PSNI and not a change in the law is needed when it comes to concerns over a loophole in Covid-19 laws. A gap in the legislation means day-trippers from Northern Ireland do not have to abide by movement restrictions here. But speaking in

  The biggest agricultural show in Donegal is the latest casualty in cancellations. The Clonmany Agricultural Show, which is usually held at the beginning of August, attracts thousands of visitors from Ireland and the UK every year. The event had been entering its 53rd year but due to the social gathering restrictions has been cancelled

  Another 43 people with Covid-19 in the Republic have lost their lives. 1,232 have now died from the disease in this country since the outbreak began. 359 new cases have been identified in the past 24 hours, with the total now standing at 20,612. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan has details on the

  Around half of Irish people feel they will be more careful when spending money over the coming months due to the covid-19 crisis. A new Bank of Ireland survey shows around a quarter of people are worried about burning through their savings. Others are concerned about their salary being cut and struggling to afford

  The Taoiseach has confirmed a roadmap for the easing of Coronavirus restrictions will be announced tomorrow. He’s also set out the criteria the government will look at which includes the progress of the disease, the status of testing and contact tracing, and the impact on vulnerable groups. Any easing of restrictions to be announced

  Northern Ireland is likely to relax its restrictions on a phased basis from next week. A similar lockdown is in place in the six counties as in the Republic, with the rules set by the Stormont Assembly. The executive will meet on Monday to discuss reducing them on a gradual basis. But the North’s

  People who are in financial difficulty because of Covid-19 are set to get another three-month mortgage holiday. A break for borrowers was introduced in March and it’s due to expire at the end of June. But banks are set to extend the scheme, as the lockdown continues to leave thousands of people out of

Almost 40% of teachers in Donegal are currently experiencing slow or bad internet coverage. According to Studyclix.ie’s survey, teachers in the county also said that two in five pupils don’t have access to a device or internet for schoolwork. 78 per cent of teachers nationwide believe a lack of student engagement is a barrier to

  There are calls for full Donegal County Council monthly and municipal district meetings to be held online. However question marks remain over the legality of using social media platforms for such meetings with such proposals yet to be clarified on legal grounds. Cllr Michael McBride has written to both the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County

One of the groups behind a food bank service in Inishowen says the past number of days has highlighted the absolute need for the service. Spraoi agus Spórt in Carndonagh is uring people to donate to the newly established Inishowen Food Bank, saying it provides a vital lifeline for vulnerable individuals and families who are

Donegal County Council says a new European programme to link strategic walking trails with the towns and villages around them has the potential to make a major difference in South Inishowen. The “Trail Gazers” programme is being led by the council in Donegal, and also includes partners from Sligo, Wales, France, Spain, and Portugal. The

    There are calls for immediate action on the provision of enhanced broadband services in Northern Ireland. West Tyrone MP Orflaigh Begley says work is needed to ensure that workers and students can effectively work from home. Ms Begley says the Coronavirus pandemic has put a spotlight on regional disparities, particularly in terms of

Leo Varadkar will announce details of a phased exit plan in the next few days but is warning figures show we’re not ready yet for the easing of restrictions. It’s believed the over 70s could be allowed out to exercise in the early phases of reopening and pubs will only open in the later stages.

All third year students are to be awarded a certificate for the completion of the Junior Cycle by the Department of Education. Schools will be given autonomy to assess students, and they’ll receive a written school report on their achievements in each subject. Education Minister Joe McHugh says the decision gives students and their families

A research project is being launched to examine the historical context of the County Donegal home which Donegal County Council’s Culture Division is seeking people to carry out research on “The Laurels” in Glenties, which provided the inspiration for much of Brian Friel’s work. Friel was born in Omagh, and grew up in Derry, but

The Irish Hotels Federation claims the tourism industry is in danger of being ‘obliterated’ by the coronavirus crisis. It’s calling on the government to set out a clear plan for the full reopening of hotels. The Irish Times is reporting today that cafes, restaurants and retailers could reopen on a limited basis by mid-summer, with

Nearly 5,500 children have been waiting at least six months to see a psychologist in the community. According to the HSE’s latest figures, almost 3,200 kids have been waiting over a year. There’s a big variation in waiting lists across the country – with Donegal, North Dublin and Galway among the worst affected areas. Mark

The SDLP wants health authorities in the North to consider advising the public to cover their faces when they’re out and about. The party says the Scottish government’s “decisive intervention” on the use of masks will help prevent transmission where people slip up with social distancing. In the Republic, chief medical officer Tony Holohan said

The country’s top health officials are considering allowing cafes, restaurants and retailers to reopen by mid-summer. According to The Irish Times, people may also be allowed to holiday within Ireland by late summer. It’s part of a plan to gradually reopen the country between May and September. The government is expected to reveal details of

Wind energy became Ireland’s number one source of electricity for a full quarter for the first time during the first three months of 2020. Figures released this week by the SEAI showed wind energy provided 43.8% up to the end of March, followed by natural gas, which provided 41.8%. Justin Moran of the Irish Wind

A further 59 deaths from Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic today, bringing the death toll to 1159. 299 new cases have also been confirmed, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 19,877. Just one new case has been confirmed in Donegal, bring the total in the county to 453, representing 2.3% of the

The Garda Commissioner says it’s not possible to close a loophole in the COVID-19 laws. A gap in the legislation means day-trippers from Northern Ireland do not have to abide by movement restrictions. The regulations are underpinned by the Health Act, which only applies to residents of the State. Commissioner Drew Harris says there’s close