Author name: oisinkelly

  There are calls for urgent action to fill vacant business units in Donegal. It comes as the county has been deemed as having one of the highest commercial property vacancy rates in the country, according to the latest survey by GeoDirectory. The report revealed that the six counties with the highest vacancy rates were […]

  Donegal has one of the highest commercial property vacancy rates in the country.  A survey by GeoDirectory has found that there 28 thousand commercial properties across the country are empty and the number of vacant units has increased in 18 counties over the last year. Ballybofey has been cited as a particular blackspot in

  With exactly 10 weeks to go until Brexit, businesses and consumers here are being urged to up their preparations. The Government says it’s particularly concerned about companies in the construction, manufacturing, food production and retail sectors, given their high levels of trade with the UK. Minster for European Affairs Helen McEntee says there are

  A Donegal councillor is calling for government action to make the Warmer Homes initiative more accessible for older people. The scheme, which is coordinated by SEAI, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, is intended to help people insulate their homes and in some cases, install new heating systems. However, Cllr Ian Mc Garvey says

Donegal ISPCA is trying to locate the owners of two pet rabbits found on the loose in the vicinity of the Woods Estate near Buncrana. The ISPCA says the rabbits had been sighted by a number of people over a couple of weeks, but they were very nervous making it near impossible to catch them.

The Minister for European Affairs is urging Boris Johnson to “realistically engage” with the EU Commission and leaders this week. The British Prime Minister is traveling to both Berlin and Paris before this weekend’s G7 summit. In a letter, Mr. Johnson reiterated his opposition to the backstop, saying he will not support any withdrawal agreement

The community of Glencolmcille are being reassured that work to address poor phone coverage in the area is imminent. It follows serious concern raised that Community First Responders have missed emergency call outs in Glencolmcille due to a weak signal. While recent fundraising has led to extra defibrillators for the community, it’s thought locally that

  It’s been revealed that the pub population in Donegal is down 20.1% since 2005. New data from the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows that approximately 91 pubs in the county have shut their doors over the last 14 years. Meanwhile, the drinks and hospitality sector enable 7,443 jobs in Donegal and €168 million

  A Donegal TD says any programme to address the issue of concessionary school bus tickets must substantially benefit Donegal. Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue says the Department of Education is believed to have set aside a million euro to address problems where people are seeking access to school transport, but are deemed not to qualify

Fianna Fail’s Brexit Spokesperson says the potential undermining of the Good Friday Agreement as a result of Brexit is “frightening.” It comes after the PSNI warned of a heightened risk of violence, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. Yesterday the EU rejected the British Prime Minister’s latest attempts to scrap the backstop,

The National Ambulance Service has confirmed that there are currently no plans to provide a second ambulance in Killybegs. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says serious pressures exists with only one ambulance covering the area from Inver Bridge to Glencolmcille and Ardara. In some instances, if available an ambulance is dispatched from Letterkenny, Dungloe

  A South Donegal TD says there needs to be a safety review of all buses in the Bus Eireann fleet after a door fell off the Route 64 bus from Derry to Galway on Monday. The service had left Derry at 7.15 in the morning, and an hour into the final leg from Sligo

Researchers in the UK say the cost of adding Vitamin D to flour would be worth the savings in health. The study says fortifying bread would help fight low levels of the vitamin in people, caused by a lack of sunshine. Its comes after Donegal doctor Martin Coyne examined 10 thousand test results from Letterkenny

  It’s emerged that children, some as young as eight years old are driving quads illegally on public roads in Donegal. The issue is said to be particularly prevalent in Inishowen with Gardai confirming that they have attended a number of minor crashes in recent months. Gardai have also been alerted to numerous instances of

Only 40 percent of fines handed out in Irish courts in 2017 and 2018 have been paid, according to figures released under the Freedom of Information Act. However, the figures show a higher rate of compliance in Donegal, with a payment rate of 55%. 2017 saw 1,517 fines issued in Donegal, 909 of which were

  A local farmer is counting the cost after his entire flock of sheep perished in a fire in Lifford. The blaze broke out in a farm shed at Drumbouy at some stage on Sunday morning with the alarm raised at 1pm. Approximately 140 sheep died as a result of the fire. An investigation is

  There are calls for public bodies to step in and save the Herdman’s Mill following another fire at the site. The historic landmark in Sion Mills has suffered considerable damage due to numerous arson attacks over the years. Investigations are continuing into the latest blaze which broke out yesterday evening. West Tyrone MLA Daniel

  A local health campaigner has hit out at new figures which show the waiting time for a gynaecologist appointment at Letterkenny University Hospital is one of the highest in the country. Betty Holmes of Donegal Action for Cancer Care was reacting to confirmation yesterday that 1,783 women across the county are currently waiting for

  A West Donegal Councillor has hit out and the Transport Minister over his refusal to meet with Donegal County Council. Councillor Micheal Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig had requested a meeting with Minister Shane Ross to discuss funding for the resurfacing of the main Ranafast Road. In responding, in a letter to Donegal County Council’s Director

  Boris Johnson has reiterated his opposition to the backstop in the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement – in a letter to Donald Tusk. Writing to the European Council President, the British Prime Minister has proposed “flexible and creative solutions” to the Irish border when the UK leaves the EU. Sky’s political correspondent Tom Rayner says the

  Sinn Féin’s justice spokesman is warning those responsible for the Fermanagh bomb attack that they’ll ‘fail’ in their campaign. Police in the North are blaming dissident republicans for the explosion near Newtownbutler yesterday morning. The device detonated as police were investigating another security alert. No one was injured, but the PSNI says a number

  Donegal Senator Padraig MacLochlainn is urging the Government to urgently address back to school costs. His party, as part of a new ‘Lets End Back to School Stress’ policy document, is proposing a ‘Back to School Bonus’ of €140 per child to be paid to all families over the summer to help tackle the

Rents in Donegal rose by almost 9% in the second quarter of this year. According to the latest Daft.ie Rental Report, across Ulster, rents are now 16% above their previous high in early 2008. Nationally, rents rose by an average of 6.7% in the year to June 2019, marking the lowest rate of rental inflation