Author name: oisinkelly

  The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is to arrange another meeting next week with hopes of solving the on-going debate over the Tory ferry service. It follows a previous meeting held last week on Tory Island attended by Minister Joe McHugh and departmental officials. In a statement today, the Department said that […]

A Donegal Councillor wants the new County Development Plan to encourage the development of small one and two person businesses in rural areas. Clle Martin Harley, the Cathairleach of the Stranorlar Municipal District, says there have been instances when small busines ventures such as hairdressers and beauticians have been refused in rural areas and urged

It’s emerged that despite the urgent need for fire proofing measures at the new bloc at Letterkenny University Hospital, work has yet to be carried out. The overcrowding crisis and on-going pressures at its Emergency Department have been cited as the cause for the delay. The problem was first brought to the fore last June.

New figures have revealed that the number of Gardai in the Traffic Corps in Donegal has dropped by over fifty per cent since 2010. The data, which was provided through parliamentary question by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to Fianna Fail’s Robert Troy shows that there were 20 members in the division in 2017 compared with

The HSE has confirmed that a decision on the Cleary Centre Project will be made at the next meeting of the HSE’s Capital and Property Steering Group. The centre was deemed no longer fit-for-purpose in 2014 and services were relocated to the Victor Building Complex in Donegal Town, to provide short-term accomodation for staff and

  A Donegal councillor wants the authority to establish a forum to discuss issues affecting border communities and draw up strategies to attract more EU funding. Cllr Patrick Mc Gowan says there are areas of Donegal where the border is a daily reality for people, and that’s not appreciated by the government and by national

The National Oversight and Audit Commission has published its report on Performance Indicators in Local Authorities 2016 and has found that regional roads in Donegal are among the best in the country. The report also states that the local authority is addressing significant deficits and that the implications of Brexit is a significant concern for

A vessel has been safely towed into Mulroy Bay after it began taking on water, 1 mile North of Melmore Head. At 3:10pm this afternoon, Loughswilly Lifeboat and the Mulroy Coastguard were tasked to the scene by the Marine Rescue Centre at Malin Head. The vessel was safely towed by the Mulroy Coastguard back to

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Thursday 25th January:

The ban on pubs opening on Good Friday has been abolished. The Dáil approved the measure this afternoon. It’s expected to be signed into law by the President before Good Friday this year. That means alcohol can be sold this Good Friday for the first time in more than 90 years. The Chief executive of

Donegal County Council has launched an app highlighting the county’s coastline, and giving people a chance to share stories and read about the experiences of others. The app was launched in Letterkenny this morning. The Hericoast Donegal Coastal Experience App was launched today by Joe Mahon, who is best known for the long-running television series,

The Seanad has been told it’s vital that a meeting take place between councillors in Inishowen and two key cabinet ministers to discuss funding for the restoration and reopening of Swan Park. Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the leader of the Seanad to contact Ministers Eoghan Murphy and Michael Ring, as well as

There were 30 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report. 17 people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 13 were on wards. It’s down slightly on yesterdays figure of 33. Cork University Hospital was the most overcrowded with 48

The health watchdog has found issues of major non-compliance at three separate residential units in Donegal. The centres in question are James Connolly Memorial Residential Unit in Carndonagh, St Martin’s House Residential & Respite in Falacarragh and Inbhear Na Mara in Bundoran. Issues such as staffing, accessibility to facilities and staffing files have been highlighted.

The Taoiseach says that the border agreement reached between Ireland and the UK in December must be translated into a legal document. Leo Varadkar is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, along with the British Prime Minister and other world leaders. In a series of meetings today, the Taoiseach will reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to

The Aranmore Lifeboat was launched last night shortly after 7 o’clock after the Coastguard received reports of what appeared to be flares spotted between The Stags and Owey Island. A spokesperson for the lifeboat says they conducted a wide search of the area for two hours, but nothing was found. The lifeboat was then stood

Dr. James McDaid has stepped down as Chairperson of the Donegal Hospice. The former Donegal TD has served five years in the post and stated that no member of an executive committee should serve longer than that period. He says he also wishes to focus on the Good and New cancer Charity in Letterkenny which

Pubs could open their doors on Good Friday for the first time in 90 years this Easter. The final stages of a bill that would end the ban are due to be debated in the Dáil later. Donal O’Keeffe, Chief Executive of the Licensed Vintners Association, says the current ban is having a negative impact

A man arrested in Dungloe yesterday has been charged with series of thefts amounting to over €100,000. 52-year-old Billy Mooney was arrested at St Peter’s Terrace, Dungloe and taken to Glenties Garda station where he was also charged with dishonest accountancy. The 52 year old is accused of stealing sums of cash varying between €2,000

The government is being urged to publish the long awaited C-FRAMS report into flood risk areas, and release funding for necessary mitigation works at the same time. Cllr Gary Doherty told a meeting of Stranorlar Municipal District this week that if the Finn Valley suffers one more serious flooding incident along the lines of what

A Donegal Deputy says the latest ESRI report shows the need for an economic vision to counter the decline in Donegal and rural Ireland. The report projects the population growth is to be greatest major Irish cities, particularly, Dublin while the number of older people is forecast to be highest in border regions. Deputy Pearse

Donegal County Council are working with divers in an effort to secure the main water line from the mainland to Gola Island. The pipe rose to the surface last weekend and with the assistance of local fishermen it was resunk. Local Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig has welcomed the efforts being made by the

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Wednesday 24th January:

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are currently dealing with an ongoing incident on the main Strabane to Derry, Victoria Road at Magheramason. The emergecny service received a call just before 2 o’clock this afternoon that a car had caught fire. The incident is ongoing.

Searches are continuing in Strabane for missing woman Lesley McHugh who has been missing now for over two weeks. The Community Rescue Service Strabane have been carrying out searches on a daily basis since Ms McHugh was reported missing on 7th January. Foyle Search and Rescue, SARDA Ireland North, PSNI Dog Section, Police Air Support

The PSNI believe four men tried to murder an elderly woman found critically injured in her garden in County Tyrone. They ransacked the 83-year-old’s home in the Sydney Street area of Aughnacloy last night. She was taken to hospital just after 9pm. Detectives are also investigating whether its linked to three other reported burglaries in

  Gardai in Letterkenny have stopped a driver this morning who has already been disqualified from driving. The motorist was caught on the N13 earlier today and was arrested at the scene. Court proceedings are to follow:

A Donegal councillor says it’s disappointing that there are no plans to build houses on land owned by the authority in Lifford. A Stranorlar Municipal District meeting was told today that there are 333 people on the district’s social housing waiting list, and 55 vacant units at various stages of readiness. 23 are at offer

Minister Kevin Boxer Moran has moved to reassure residents in Burnfoot that flood defence measures will be built around their homes. The work has been put into question after the OPW stated that it would be reassessing the economic viability of flood defences in the area while the project remains without the necessary funding. However,

Irish Water and Donegal County Council have confirmed a major pipe replacement project will get underway in Letterkenny next week. The High Road/Windyhall Water Mains Replacement Project will involve the replacement of 750 metres of ageing water mains. The works get underway on Monday next, and will involve the decommissioning and replacement of approximately 750

Residents in Ballyarnett Village in Derry are urged to be on high alert after a number of break-ins in the area. The majority of break ins have occurred within the last 24 hours and it’s believed that most homes were specifically targeted. A community safety meeting is taking place later today to advise residents of

The Standard in Public Office Commission has spent almost €500,000 in investigating allegations of false expenses claims by two former members of Údarás na Gaeltachta. According to the Irish Times, the investigation relates to allegations of duplication of expenses by Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, who was an elected board member of Údarás na Gaeltachta as

There were 33 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. 20 people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 13 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded this morning with 51 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 601 people

There are genuine fears that a child will be killed if sufficient traffic calming measures are not put in place outside St. Aengus’ National School at Bridgend. It follows concern raised by both the faculty and parents over the high speed some motorists are travelling while children are being dropped off at the school in the

A former clerical officer at the Department of Social Protection in Letterkenny received more than €20,000 in return for confidential information on social welfare recipients. 50 year old Rory Lenihan of Ballaghderg, Letterkenny pleaded guilty to 12 sample charges of stealing information from social welfare recipients and selling them to two private investigators. Letterkenny Circuit

Storm Georgina has passed over Ireland but two yellow weather warnings remain. There’s a nationwide wind alert with gusts of up to 110 kilometres per hour. While the North West and West are being warned to watch out for heavy rain – up to 35 millimetres could fall in places. Met Eireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly

The Tánaiste says he and the Northern Ireland Secretary will do “everything they can” to support a return to a power-sharing executive at Stormont. Simon Coveney will hold talks in Belfast today with Karen Bradley and the main parties. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Coveney accepted that there are “difficult negotiations ahead”. But he

Unite say proposed redundancies are likely to impact workers at Derry’s Sainsbury’s store. Team leaders, store supervisors and deputy manager positions are to go in a national restructuring of stores across Northern Ireland and Britain, set to come into force on June 11th. Unite say they are to engage with management to seek to ensure