Author name: oisinkelly

There are urgent calls for more clarity for cross-border workers on the current emergency lockdown measures in the North. It’s estimated that more than 30,000 workers cross the border every day for work, many of them employed in hospitals and health services. The lockdown in the north has left many concerned about how it will […]

Five people have now lost their lives as a result of coronavirus in Northern Ireland. Two patients in their 80s with underlying health conditions passed away in Co Antrim yesterday. The total number of cases north of the border is now 172. The North’s Health Minister, Robin Swann, is urging people to stay at home……..

    People are being urged to stay at home where possible and only attend work if it is considered essential. The government’s announced another series of measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus in Ireland. All non essential retail outlets are to close to the public from midnight tonight. It’s in a bid

  Schools won’t be reopening on March 30th, according to the Minister for Education. Further restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of Covid-19 will be announced this afternoon. Minister Joe McHugh says that the main focus of his department now is having the state exams sit as normal on June 3rd. Minister McHugh says an

  Gardai in Donegal are warning business owners who may temporarily closed to be on high alert for opportunistic criminals. Gardai are asking everyone to Ensure premises are well secured and that the alarms are used and monitored by monitoring centres. Owners are also being urged to check their premises regularly and report any unusual

  A third patient died from Covid-19 in Northern Ireland yesterday, with almost 150 confirmed cases in the province. The North now has stricter rules in place than the Republic, after Boris Johnson ordered a lockdown yesterday. First Minister Arlene Foster is calling on everyone to act responsibly. >*

  The Managing Director of O’Neills Sportswear in Strabane has described a new move in manufacturing scrubs for local and primary care trusts as a silver lining for unprecedented times. The company is set to manufacture in the region of 50,000 scrubs as part the national effort to help frontline NHS staff tackle the spread

  Hundreds of properties in Bridgend are without water yet again today after an overnight pipe burst. The water outage is affecting residents in the Bonemaine area primarily. Irish Water crews are to carry out repair works today but say that it’ll be at least 4pm until water is restored to all homes. Cllr Jack

    The National Public Health Emergency Team’s meeting today to consider issuing further advice on restricting public gatherings. Yesterday the Taoiseach acknowledged more may be needed if people keep ignoring social distancing guidelines. Two further deaths from Covid-19 were announced last night, bringing the total to six, along with 219 new cases. As things

  With pubs, hotels and restaurants shut, recycling banks in Donegal are said to be experiencing a surge in people leaving off their empty glass bottles. However some of the recycling banks are full to capacity which is resulting in bags of rubbish being dumped beside them. Donegal County Council is being urged to monitor

  Sinn Féin has called for a full shut-down of all non-essential services as the government waits on further advice from doctors. Leo Varadkar has suggested a full lockdown of the country is not the best way to combat the spread of the Coronavirus. The leaders of the main political parties are meeting this afternoon

  The Irish Farmers Association says the closure of McDonald’s restaurants in the north west and across the country is a huge blow for the beef industry. One in five hamburgers sold in McDonald’s in Europe is of Irish origin. Management at the fast food chain say closing down is the only way to keep

  A Donegal TD is calling for the temporary closure of beaches and some public amenities during the emergency. Charlie McConalogue says he has been in contact with the relevant Ministers on the issue. Despite social distancing rules in place, Deputy McConalogue says it’s clear from the sights witnessed at the weekend that some people

  A West Tyrone MLA has hit out at those responsible for vandalising the former Strabane Grammar School. The site on Liskey Road is said to be significantly damaged with hundreds of windows broken and an arson attack on an outbuilding. MLA Daniel McCrossan says site had major potential especially given the lack of youth

  A teacher from Derry who endures the continuous sound of church bells tolling for the dead in northern Italy is urging people here to stay indoors. Fionnuala Crabtree is in lockdown near Milan. The area has been hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. She says there’s devastation in the area.

  It’s emerged that Gardai had to be called out to patrol a number of beaches in Inishowen over the weekend because some people weren’t maintaining social distancing rules. It’s reported that beaches saw huge crowds right across the peninsula yesterday due to the good weather. But some beachgoers were said to be congregating despite

  There’s a call for workers in the hospitality sector to be given 75 per cent take home pay to see them through the coronavirus crisis. PwC says around 100,000 people may have already lost their jobs in the sector, with more indirectly affected. Its Insight report shows there’s an emergency in the industry, which

  A Donegal County councillor believes that the government needs to consider a lockdown. Councillor Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says it is important people stay at home during an emergency like this, as health care staff are risking their lives so we can live. He highlighted those travelling is adding to people’s anxieties and

  A Donegal TD is urging people to stay in their local area during the Coronavirus pandemic. It follows a number of concerns raised at the weekend over the large number of people travelling to holiday homes, caravan parks and the beaches from outside areas. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn is appealing to people to listen

A Donegal councillor has raised concerns about groups of young people ignoring social distancing guidelines in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. Councillor Jack Murray has appealed for those who have gathered in large groups to think of the worst case scenario. It’s comes as a number of calls were received from worried locals in

The HSE is working to clear a backlog of more than 40,000 people waiting to be tested for Covid-19. 32 testing centres are open, with more to be added in the coming days including drive-in facilities at GAA grounds. 785 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the Republic so far – including 147 healthcare