Author name: oisinkelly

The Taoiseach says he’s surprised and disappointed that a deal on Brexit couldn’t be agreed today. Leo Varadkar says a deal looked done this morning that would have allowed negotiations to move to the next stage. The Irish government were satisfied the text agreed meant we wouldn’t see a hard border on the island of […]

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Monday 4th December

A 41 year old man has been charged with the murder of Donegal woman, Lu Na McKinney. The 35 year old from Convoy died while on a boating holiday with her family in Fermanagh earlier this year. The man was arrested in Derry last week after Police carried out a review into the circumstances surrounding

Foyle Search & Rescue have today released statistics which reveal the service dealt with a total of 36 incidents in September. Foyle Search and Rescue Duty Teams and the Emergency Response Team rescued two people from the river and removed 15 people from the railings or rivers edge while 19 people who were in distress

The demand for cancer counselling services has increased by 68% over the past 4 years and over 490% since 2010. According to the Irish Cancer Society demand for the cancer counselling services in Donegal has grown almost 4%, with 58 people availing of the service. Dorothy Thomas, Community Support Network Coordinator at the Irish Cancer

The DUP says Northern Ireland must leave the EU on the same terms as the rest of the UK. It comes as a deal is close to finalisation that could see a hard border avoided by ensuring no change of key laws between the EU and post-Brexit Britain. But the DUP’s Arlene Foster says there

A fixed charged penalty notice has been issued to a motorist in Letterkenny after failing to have tax or NCT. The vehicle was subsequently seized by the Letterkenny Traffic Unit.

  Tourism Ireland campaigns for Star Wars and Game of Thrones last year reached 224 million people around the world. That’s worth around € 40 million euro in advertising. Over ten million people visited Ireland from overseas in 2017, spending 5.78 billion euro. Niall Gibbons is CEO of Tourism Ireland:

People in Donegal are being urged to attend a meeting this week about a senior alert scheme. The latest security initiative provides older people with a free personal monitor alarm which is installed in their home and connected to a national helpline. Those who are keen to sign up to the scheme are asked to

There were 22 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. 9 people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 13 were waiting wards. Cork University Hospital was the most overcrowded in the country with 41 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 437 people waiting at

A Donegal hotelier is warning that the increase in business rates by 5% will do irreparable damage. On Friday last, the majority of Councillors voted in favour of the increase while also increasing the small business grant in Donegal by way of alleviating the rates bill. However, the hike in commercial rates means that McGettigans

  There’s a special cabinet meeting this morning to update ministers on Brexit talks. It’s thought there’s been no breakthrough on the issue of the border with Northern Ireland. Diplomats in London and Dublin were talking all through the weekend trying to reach some agreement on the border issue. Without it Theresa May will head

  Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty and Sinn Féin Senator Pádraig MacLochlainn have been officially named as the party’s candidates to contest the next general election for the constituency of Donegal. The pair were officially endorsed at the party’s Selection Convention which took place last night at Letterkenny’s Mount Errigal Hotel. The event

Letterkenny University Hospital returned one of the highest numbers of patients on trolleys in Ireland last month. There were a total of 502 people waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department over the course of November.   However the latest figures nationally, for the month of November, confirm a 7% reduction when compared to November

Public Consultation events have been taking place on Draft Local Area Plans for seven towns in Donegal with more events to take place over the coming weeks. The events, organised by Donegal County Council are aimed at allowing the general public to have an input on the future of their towns. Donegal County Council has

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the Good Friday Agreement is at risk because of Brexit. He says Britain’s decision to leave the EU could be “problematic to the peace process”. Earlier, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said Ireland has no desire to block the Brexit process, but that more progress to prevent a hard border

Three males arrested in the Eglinton and Dungiven areas on Thursday night have been released pending a report to the PPS in relation to the possession of a firearm.  Detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch were investigating violent dissident republican activity at the time of the arrests. A firearm was recovered during a search

A special service is being held in Derry this evening for families whose loved ones have taken their own life. There will be readings, poems and prayers at the Foyle Search and Rescue Headquarters. Fedelis Simpson from the Western Trust says it’s a chance to offer support and hope for those left behind:

Fine Gael say new plans for an extended bus service is more about connecting rural communities than bringing people to the pub. There are growing fears for rural isolation as the Transport Minister’s new drink driving legislation is due to be implemented. The proposals for 15 counties on 38 existing routes will cost around one

Calls have been made for the Government to address the fodder crisis facing farmers across the country as a matter of urgency. Sinn Féin MEP Matt Carthy has demanded action from the Government as farmers struggle to provide enough fodder for their livestock following the effects of extensive rainfall this year. The Midlands North West

Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey Cooper has welcomed the news that planned work on the 3G pitch/netting at Brooke Park is to start in the coming days. Councillor Cooper said that he was pleased to receive written confirmation that contractors were to begin work on site this coming Monday, December 4th. He added: “As per the

Police in the north have been granted an extension to question a man arrested in connection with the death of Luna McKinney in Fermanagh earlier this year. The 41 year old man was detained in relation to the incident which occured in April. Mrs McKinney from County Donegal was on holiday with her family in

Speaking at a workshop in the Silver Tassie Hotel in Letterkenny yesterday morning, experienced sales professional Peter Turley explained how changing the way they think about sales could lead to huge benefits for Donegal businesses. He, along with two other speakers, local businessmen Seamus McMenamin of Mantis Cranes and Adrian Britton of Roadteam Ltd., addressed

Small businesses are facing big challenges, but we can all make a contribution to help. Today is being called “Small Business Saturday” with people being encouraged to turn to local retailers when buying Christmas gifts. The Small Firms Association says that if we all spent an extra € 20 in small businesses this Christmas, it

The European Council President says the Taoiseach will be consulted on the UK’s offer on the border before Brexit talks can progress to the next stage. British Prime Minister Theresa May has been given until Monday to come up with a “final offer” to EU leaders on how to avoid a hard border between the

The majority of Donegal County Councillors have voted in favor of adopting a Sinn Fein proposal allowing Budget 2018 to be passed. Councillors voted 17-15 in favor of the proposals which will see an increase commercial rates by 5% while also increasing the small business grant to such an extent that there will effective rebate.

Garda Keith Harrison says he’s disappointed but not surprised with the conclusions of the Disclosures Tribunal. Justice Peter Charleton rejected claims by Garda Harrison and his partner Marissa Simms that Gardai maliciously called in TUSLA to interfere in their family life. He said their allegations were “entirely without validity”. In a statement, Garda Harrison says

Donegal County Council’s Budget meeting has been adjourned until 6pm this evening amid reports that some progress is being made. It’s understood that while a number of proposals are currently on the table, further talks are to take place with the executive and members. It’s the third time the meeting has been adjourned today. Meanwhile,

Detectives from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch investigating violent dissident republican activity, arrested three men in County Derry last night. Two males, aged 33 and 43, were arrested in the Eglinton area and a 49 year old male was arrested in the Dungiven area. Police have been searching a quarry area on the Dernaflaw Road

No political party can be allowed to have a monopoly over what happens to the border, according to the Tánaiste. It’s after the DUP said they’d pull support for the UK government if the North gets a separate deal to the rest of Britain. This afternoon Leo Varadkar will meet European Council President Donald Tusk

Motorists are advised that the Limavady Road in Derry has been closed following an RTC involving a car and pedestrian.  Diversions are in place between King Street and Caw Roundabout. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes for their journey.

13 people were waiting on a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. 11 people were waiting in the hospitals Emergency Department with a further 2 on wards. According to the INMO 320 people were waiting admission to hospitals across the country today with University Hospital Limerick the most overcrowded.

  Donegal County Councils meeting on Budget 2018 has been adjourned again until 4pm. Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gerry McMonagle has invited all independent Councillors who wish to reach a solution to join in this afternoons discussions. At last weeks meeting, local representatives voted unanimously against increasing commercial rates by 5%. Speaking after the adjournment, Fianna Fáil