Author name: oisinkelly

A former Fine Gael Senator who is now standing as an independent candidate in next months European Election has launched her campaign in Donegal today. Dr. Fidelma Healy-Eames says the region has been left behind by the government, and many people in Donegal really feel this. She says the constituency has been down-graded by the

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives made a flying visit to Donegal this morning ahead of a series of engagements in Derry today. Nancy Pelosi crossed the border into Bridgend, where she again stressed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the Good Friday Agreement. She reiterated a point she has made on

    The Taoiseach has cast doubt over whether those affected by Mica in Donegal will be compensated in full. Leo Varadkar was receiving responses and matters of concerns from Senators in the Seanad this afternoon. Donegal Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn said a promise of a scheme was made late last year and people need

  Donegal County Council has voted to censure Cllr John O’ Donnell. It follows today’s special meeting to discuss last month’s SIPO report which found he had contravened ethics and local government legislation. A letter from the council’s solicitors (see below) confirmed there is no provision for the council to suspend or remove Cllr O’Donnell.

  The number of motorists in Donegal caught by Gardai holding their mobile phones while driving is up by a staggering 225% in the first two months of this year. The data was compared to figures from January and February of 2018. Drivers detected holding their mobile phone receive three penalty points and a fixed

  Cllr Frank McBrearty believes he will be an even stronger voice within Fine Gael. The Raphoe politician was speaking following confirmation that he has been formally added to the party ticket for the upcoming local elections on May 24th. There are now three Fine Gael candidates running in the Stranorlar Electoral area. Cllr McBrearty

  A Donegal County Councillor says a new community hospital in Letterkenny is not about taking patients from other hospitals but rather than to serve the people of the town. Cllr. Ciaran Brogan was speaking following news that a planning application has been lodged for a new 25 million euro facility. It would include 110

  The Government is being accused of dragging its heels over tackling rising insurance costs for small businesses. In some cases, it’s understood that policyholders who have claims against them have seen their insurance premiums rise by as much as 1000%, forcing them to close. The issue was raised in the Dail by Donegal Deputy

    Two major projects in the Stranorlar Municipal District are said to be progressing. Part 8 planning for the Town park in Drumboe is now complete and will be before Councillors next week for adoption. Meanwhile the local authority has indicated that a suitable site has been assessed for the new all-weather pitch near

  A number of local projects have received funding under the Peace 4 initiative. Among the highlights include €50,000 for i C.A.R.E in Buncrana to help with a Sensory Garden while Killea Play Park is to receive €115,000 to help build a park in the middle of the village. Chairperson of the Peace 4 committee

  The HSE says it wants to see a 5% rise in MMR uptake in Donegal this year. In a statement marking the fact that next week is European Vaccination Week, the HSE said measles hadn’t been seen in the area for a number of years, because 95% of children were vaccinated against them. However,

  Local Link has confirmed a limited bus service is to be established between Muff and Buncrana, with a view towards extending it to a five day a week service. The issue was discussed at a public meeting late last year, with interest coming from the community, particularly in terms of schools, and people attending

Nothing must happen to cause the return of a hard border with Northern Ireland, according to the Speaker of the US House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi addressed a joint sitting of the Dáil and Seanad this afternoon. She said the Good Friday Agreement is a beacon of peace to the rest of the world. Speaker

Midlands North West MEP Matt Carthy says the EU is not moving fast enough to provide emergency support to those businesses and sectors that are being damaged by Brexit. He’s calling on the EU to start organising emergency support now as jobs are being lost and businesses such as those in the agri-food sector are

  Councillor Frank McBrearty has been formally added to the Fine Gael ticket for the upcoming local elections. It has put an end to weeks of speculation that he had been seeking to be added to the party ticket. It means that three Fine Gael candidates are now running in the Stranorlar Electoral area. One

  Independent MEP Marian Harkin says she will miss the cut and thrust of EU politics as she bows out of the European Parliament this week. The Midlands North-West MEP has decided not to contest the EU elections in May having served three terms as an MEP:

  Inland Fisheries Ireland has announced a new funding call for 2019 with three funding schemes now open. The funding has been made available for fisheries conservation projects and development projects nationwide. Applications are invited from angling clubs, local development associations, tidy towns and others in Donegal who may be looking to carry out projects.

  There’s been a broad welcome to news that Donegal County Council has established a Regeneration and development project team. The team will aim to tackle dereliction and vacancy across the county with the objective of attracting investment for regeneration. Funding streams, such as the Buy & Renew Scheme will be utilised for redevelopment with

  Rosses Community College in Dungloe has been given the go ahead for a 650 square metre Special Education Needs base. No figure has been put on the project, but we understand it is set to cost in excess of a million euro to plan and construct. Detailed design documents will now be drawn up

  It’s been confirmed that Carndonagh Court sittings will be relocated to Buncrana for the next four months, and possibly longer, with local Councillor Albert Doherty saying there is now a very real fear that the relocation could become a permanent one. Cllr Doherty has been calling for Carndonagh court sittings to be relocated to

The Tánaiste says that the UK does not have the right to determine Ireland’s future. His comments come as the Speaker of the US House of Representatives sent out a direct warning to the UK. Speaking in Dublin this afternoon, Nancy Pelosi said that if Brexit negotiations harm the Good Friday Agreement, there will be

The 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been officially launched today with communities across Donegal urged to apply for funding. The scheme supports the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people through projects that will have a viable, long-term benefit. As in previous years, the scheme will be

  A man has sustained serious head injuries after being attacked with a hammer in the Pearse Road area of Letterkenny at the weekend. The incident happened in the early hours of Sunday morning last between Westside and Riverside apartments. The victim is believed to have been attacked by two other men. Garda Claire Rafferty

  Gardai in Letterkenny have launched an investigation after a large number of homes were damaged in the past week. A number of housing estates in different locations in the town were targeted with windows smashed by either rocks or stones. It’s believed that a small group of youths were behind the attacks which all

  A Donegal Deputy has hit out at the Taoiseach over opening a new post office in his own constituency while rural post offices in Donegal have closed.  Leo Varadkar attended the official ceremony at Castleknock, inside a Lidl premises, yesterday. Meanwhile Donegal has been deemed as one of the worst affected areas in terms

    The Government is being urged to implement long awaited changes to the Fair Deal Scheme – the State initiative set up to provide financial support to those in need of nursing home care. Under the changes, it’s proposed to cap participant contributions on farm assets at three years where a family member commits