Author name: oisinkelly

Brexit, wage inflation and increasing business costs are the main obstacles for small businesses in Ireland according to the Small Firms Association, with the weakness of sterling an added presure on businesses in the border counties. However, SFA Chair Sue O’Neill says as the year draws to a close, nearly two thirds of small firms […]

Irish Rural Link is calling for an increase in rural policing, The national network says there’s continued concern about an ongoing spate of attacks on elderly and vulnerable people. Chief Executive Seamus Boland says action needs to be taken to tackle crime gangs involved in burglaries and attacks in rural areas……….

Detectives in Derry are appealing for witnesses following a robbery at a commercial premises on Foyle Road in the city on Wednesday. Police in Derry say at around 5 o’clock on Wednesday evening, a man entered the shop and threatened staff with a crutch. He attempted to take money from the cash register without success

No major problems are being reported on main roads this morning after overnight snow in parts of the North West, but gardai are urging continued caution, particularly on side roads and areas which have not been treated. Donegal County Council says a full gritting programme is in place today, but motorists should never assume a

A yellow snow and ice warning remains in place this evening for Donegal. Meanwhile, a new ‘yellow alert’ has been issued – for snow and ice for 18 counties across the country. Snow accumulations of less than 2 centimetres are expected there this evening and tonight. Met Eireann forecast that temperatures will drop to -1

68% of 25 to 44 year olds are in favour of a United Ireland. A poll in the Irish Daily Mail, carried out by ‘Pollsters Ireland Thinks’ this month, reveals six in ten people in Ireland support uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic. The question posed to over a thousand people highlighted that the move

It has been revealed that the Good and New Charity Shop in Letterkenny did not keep till receipts for goods sold in the shop. According to the Sunday Times, accountants for the charity shop say lack of daily income reports meant it had to qualify its opinion on whether the accounts gave a “true and

Thousands of health care workers could be set to strike on February 12th over pay conditions. SIPTU’s warning workers employed by Section 39 organisations will go ahead with all-out strike action unless the Government adequately deals with their demand for pay increases. This includes SIPTU members at the Cheshire Ireland centre in Letterkenny. The union’s

A family-run bar in Co Tyrone was the subject of an attempted break-in on Christmas Day, two days after the premises was first robbed. Hempton’s Bar in Newtownstewart was broken into on Saturday last sometime between 2:35 am and 4:40 am. The thieves made off with a substantial amount of money, cigarettes and alcohol. On

There were 10 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. According to the latest trolley and ward watch figures 4 of those were in the Emergency Department with a further 6 waiting on wards. There was a total of 347 people waiting on a bed at hospitals across the country today with University

Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault in Omagh on Friday night last, 22 December. It was reported that at around 9pm a 26 year old male was assaulted in the area of High Street. He was treated in hospital for injuries to his face and head as a result of the incident. Constable

Three motorists are to appear in court after being caught drink driving on Christmas Day. Police in the North arrested two drivers in the Omagh area on Monday on suspicion of drink driving. While a third motorist who could not be located by police in Omagh was arrested in Derry. Police say all three drivers

The man who was killed in a fatal crash in Dunfanaghy has been named locally as 26 year-old Sean Heraghty. Mr Heraghty, originally from Scotland, was struck by a car in the early hours of yesterday morning in Dunfanaghy. It is believed that he was visiting Donegal over the festive period. The 26 year-old was

A Yellow Alert remains in place for Donegal this morning as motorists are advised to exercise caution on the roads. Met Éireann say up to 3cm of snow is expected to fall between today and 6am tomorrow, especially on high ground. The AA’s Barry Aldworth says road users should check local weather reports and be

Tourism Ireland has launched phase three of its latest Star Wars campaign ‘trilogy’, targeting fans of the science fiction franchise around the world. It involves specially-commissioned ‘behind-the-scenes’ footage of the crew filming in Ireland. Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland says Star Wars has brought the Wild Atlantic Way to the attention of millions of

Gangs targeting vulnerable old people are using women and children to access their victims. The Irish Independent is reporting women and young teenagers are centrally involved in burglary rings in rural Ireland. The paper says senior sources confirmed two identified gangs have joined forces and were responsible for a spate of 26 burglaries in the

A snow and ice warning has been issued for Donegal for tomorrow. Snow of up to 3cm is expected 7am until 6am on Friday morning. Liz Gavin, Meteorologist with Met Eireann outlines what’s expected:

An investigation is underway after a man was struck by a car and killed in Dunfanaghy. The crash happened in the early hours of this morning.   A man in his late twenties has died after he was hit by a car at Sandhill at about 4.15 am today. He was pronounced dead at the

  The Director of the latest Star Wars film has hailed Ireland as a ‘gorgeous place’. Tourism Ireland has just released a behind-the-scenes film to promote the Wild Atlantic Way. Director Ryan Johnson and lead actress Daisy Ridley loved filming there;

  A Parish Priest says it’s shocking a man was forced to stagger into his church for help after he was shot in Derry. The paramilitary style attack happened on the Ballymagroarty Estate at around 2 yesterday afternoon. The man was left with injuries to his leg which aren’t thought to be life threatening. Here’s

Gardaí are investigating a fatal road traffic collision in Co. Donegal this morning. A man in his late 20s, a pedestrian was fatally injured when he was struck by a car at Sandhill, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal at about 4.15 am. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The female driver of the car was

  There’s been an overnight crash on the main Dunfanaghy – Portnablagh road. As a result, the road remains closed this morning with diversions in place. There are no further details at this stage.

  Police in Omagh are appealing for witnesses after criminal damage was caused to a house in the Hawthorn Road area sometime between Saturday, 23rd December and Tuesday, 26th December. Constable Holmes said; “The damage was caused to a PVC window in the ground floor of the property. “We are appealing for anyone who might

  The government will put 1.5 billion euro into a rainy day fund next year. The scheme will start in 2018 with a further billion euro being added over the following two years. Some critics have said it’s money that should be spent on services or infrastructure instead. But Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says it’ll be

Detectives in Derry are appealing for witnesses to an altercation between two men that took place in the Aileach road area of the city, shortly before 2.30pm on Tuesday afternoon.  Detective Sergeant Brian Reid said: “We would like to hear from anyone who was in the area close to the Ringfort Road roundabout on the

There are growing fears among locals in Newtownstewart that the town is being preyed upon by a criminal element. Concerns have been voiced following a break-in at Hempton’s Bar on the Main Street in the early hours of yesterday morning. The incident saw the premises ransacked and a substantial amount of money, cigarettes and alcohol

Donegal is to receive the biggest allocation in roads funding in the country for 2018, with €40 million being given to Donegal County Council. The funding will be put to use in a number of major N56 works including from Dungloe to Glenties, Mountcharles to Inver, Coolboy to Kilmacrennan (Blue Banks), Boyoughter to Kilkenny, Drumbeigh

An East Derry MLA says as the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement approaches, paramilitaries still exist when they should be a distant memory. The SDLP’s John Dallat was speaking after what he termed full and frank discussions with police where the continuing existence of the loyalist and republican paramilitaries was

The Mayor of Derry and Strabane says last month’s trade mission to US in conjunction with Donegal County Council was one of the highlights of 2017, and he looks forward to more such cooperation in 2018. Mayor Maolíosa McHugh says there are reasons to be optimistic looking ahead to next year, but the year gone

The British government has confirmed in writing that “uninhibited movement” will continue on the Irish border after Brexit. According to newly-published documents from the UK Foreign Office, the rights of Irish and British citizens under the Common Travel Area will be protected after the UK leaves the EU. This means no Irish or British nationals

The Irish Red Cross says it will have distributed all the money raised in the Donegal Flood Appeal by the first week of January. €150,000 is being distributed to 58 householders and 12 businesses. In total, €210,000 has been received via direct donations, by musicians via proceeds from concerts, by local community and sporting organisations,

Donegal County Council has produced a special map to share information on events and recycling services that are available over this festive season. The map includes important points of information including details of events taking place, recycling centres and their opening times, locations of bring banks and designated points for the collection of Christmas Trees

  Gaeltacht Minister Joe McHugh has met staff today at a Gaoth Dobhair company which closed without warning yesterday resulting in 32 people losing their jobs. After talks between Minister McHugh and Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty last night, staff from her Department also met former SLM staff in Gaoth Dobhair today to advise them