Author name: oisinkelly

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

Rural businesses across the Derry City and Strabane District Council areas are being invited to apply for funding under the Rural Business Investment Scheme’s LEADER fund. The programme aims to support rural enterprises in areas such as job creation and enhancing export potential. To date, over £1.2 million has been awarded to 23 businesses, creating

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic collision on Lifford Bridge. The Lifford to Strabane Bridge is currently closed with diversions in place through Clady. Gardai say the incident is not believed to be serious and it is hoped the road will reopen this evening.

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Tuesday 23rd January:

The Social Protection Minister has announced pension changes that should see 30,000 retired people benefit from a rise in their pensions. It’s aimed at closing a loophole brought in back in 2012 which saw 40,000 pensioners losing out on around 1,500 euro a year, largely mothers who had been out of the workforce to raise

The Tanaiste Simon Coveney is welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire from dissident republican group, Oglaigh Na hEireann today. The group said it would take effect immediately and included a recognised code word. It’s made up largely of former IRA members, but has been responsible for a number of high profile bombings and shootings. The

Officials have granted full planning permission for an electricity line between Northern Ireland and the Republic at a cost of over €200 million. The North South Interconnector Project will see overhead cables connect the power grids between County Tyrone and County Meath. It’s designed to bring down energy costs and ensure demand is met. Natasha

Police in Strabane are currently investigating a burglary at Devines Bar, Longland Road , Donemana in which a substantial amount of money was taken. It is believed the burglary took place in the early hours of this morning, sometime after midnight. Police are appealing to any witnesses or anyone who has any information to come

A Fianna Fail meeting today will be a chance for pro-life members of the party to express their opinions. Around six to 10 TDs and senators will convene this evening at Leinster House to strategise how best to put their views forward. The Fianna Fáil leader, Michael Martin told the Dáil last week he supports

There were 39 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report. 16 people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 23 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded in Ireland today with 60 people waiting there. Nationally,

A committee is to be formed in Buncrana to coordinate a campaign for the restoration of Swan Park. Over 100 people attended a meeting in the town last night to call for funding to restore the park following last year’s devastating floods which caused over €2 million worth of damage to the facility. A petition

Work has begun on improving safety measures at a dangerous junction in Tyrone. The junction at Bellspark road just outside Sion Mills has been the scene of numerous collisions over the years leading to calls for improvement works to be carried out. The work includes improving site lines on the Bellspark Road at its crossroad

New measures are being introduced in a bid to curb a ‘notorious’ anti-social behaviour issue in Strabane. Lockable gates are to be installed between Castle Street and John Wesley Street – an area which is being used regularly by gangs of youths for under-age drinking. In some previous instances, surrounding businesses were vandalised as a