Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal County Council says the joint North West Trade Mission to Boston next month will see very different industry backgrounds from Donegal and Derry hoping to further expand their businesses. Two such dissimilar companies which the council says actually have a lot in common are NeuroCONCISE from Derry and Sharon McDaid, Silver Birch Gallery & […]

  Bill Clinton has been given an honorary doctorate at Dublin City University. He’s been honoured for his help in bringing about peace in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the event in Dublin this afternoon, the former US President explained why he got involved:

The University of Ulster at Magee has confirmed that it’s working to find a solution over drainage issues which have affected homes in Dunvale Park. It follows flooding there in recent months with homes bordering the playing fields at the University site on the Duncreggan Road particularly affected. The work will involve the installation of

  More power outages are emerging in Donegal in the aftermath of Storm Ophelia.  57 customers in the Moville area will be without power until 5pm this evening while in Convoy, there are 26 properties without power – restoration time there is also estimated at 5pm. Meanwhile crews are being brought in from France and

A young Letterkenny girl has spoken out after being viciously beaten in the town at the weekend. 18 year old Shanan Reid McDaid was walking up by the Market Square area at around 3am on Sunday morning when a man approached her and proceeded to punch her repeatedly in the face causing her extensive injuries.

  The HSE has confirmed that Seaview Respite house in Mountcharles Donegal is only operating on a three night basis due to staff shortages. It follows reports last week families who use the centre were struggling due to a lack of resources. The centre provides respite for children and adults with an Intellectual Disability and

  The North West was relatively unscathed during the storm but Donegal County Council is warning motorists to exercise caution today due to the possibility of undiscovered fallen trees and debris. Council teams are continuing their assessment of the county’s roads this morning but are advising that some rural roads have not yet been examined.

  Serious concern has been raised over a high level of anti-social behaviour in Buncrana. It’s understood that the situation is confined to the Ferris Lane area of the town where a gang of 20-30 youths have been congregating, shouting abuse at residents and letting off fireworks. The issue has been reported to Gardai. Cathaoirleach

Approximately 300,000 people are without power this morning in the wake of Ophelia – almost 150 of them in Donegal. 73 customers remain without power in Rosgeir – power is expected to be returned there at 1pm this afternoon. In Moville, 57 customers are without power this morning with a restoration time there of 5pm

  With the remnants of Storm Ophelia continuing this morning, Donegal County Council are advising ongoing vigilance due to the possibility of flooding in coastal areas, especially in the south and southwest of the County. High tides were predicted earlier this morning with higher than normal seas swells expected. Donegal County Council is advising the

Ireland’s tourism sector could be worth up to 1.1 billion Euro to the economy this year. The figures come from Connect17 – a major tourism event taking place at the RDS in Dublin today. Hundreds of international guests will come to Ireland to discover venues, hotels and other companies for their business. Founder of the event

  It’s emerged that 40 fishing boats are being prevented from fishing for prawn, even though there is uncaught quota in the waters. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says the authorities have closed the strategic Porcupine Bank fishing zone to prawn fishermen, with the potential loss of €6 million. Depity Doherty say he’s been approached by

  A Derry man who was caught sleeping in a doctor’s common room at Altnagelvin Hospital has been jailed for 24 weeks after he threatened the member of staff who came across him. 45 year old Liam Bradley, of no fixed abode admitted one charge of common assault that occurred on August 12. The court

The worst of storm Ophelia has passed, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Three people have been killed in separate incidents in Waterford, Tipperary and Louth. 330 thousand households remain without power, and the clean up operation is due to begin in earnest tomorrow. Around 200 properties lost power in Donegal while a number

  Track Ophelia – updates below Tune in to Highland Radio news tomorrow morning from 7am for the latest on any damage caused by Storm Ophelia – there will also be reaction on the 9 ’til Noon show with Greg from 9am. 21.00 It would appear the worst of the storm is over. The strongest

Parts of Donegal are already experiencing strong winds as Ophelia makes her way to the county. Councillor Niamh Kennedy, says Killybegs has seen gusts carrying debris and instances of high tides earlier this afternoon. She is advising people to adhere to the warnings that have been issued by the local authorities:

Police and the family of missing Omagh woman, Charlotte Murray are today renewing their appeal for information of her disappearance. Charlotte was reported missing in May 2013 but had not been in contact with family or friends since October/November 2012. The 34 year old who is originally from Omagh had been living in Moy at

Storm Ophelia is forecast to hit Donegal this evening at approximately 6 o’clock. One person has died in Waterford as a result of the storm and almost 170,000 homes are without power. Met Eireann forecasters expect Donegal will experience spells of heavy rain before high winds set in. Speaking a short time ago on Around

A multi-million euro expansion plan for Letterkenny Institute of Technology has been announced today. As part of the extension LYIT will receive a new library and general education teaching building which will house a learning resource centre, IT and innovation laboratories, online learning delivery rooms and clasrooms. The announcement is part of a €200 million

It’s emerged that three patients were waiting on trolleys on a back corridor in Letterkenny University Hospital this morning – a move never seen before according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. The INMO are urging all Donegal TDs to back their calls for an independent review of admission and discharge procedures at the

In the North, the Department for Infrastructure has activated its emergency plan and say Roads and Rivers teams are ready to respond to any impacts from today’s forecast severe weather. The Department will continue to monitor impacts on roads, rivers and tides throughout the day and will ensure the public are kept up to date. The

Donegal County Council has established Crisis Management arrangements from its Headquarters in Lifford, to manage and monitor the local response to Storm Ophelia based on the most up to date advice from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management. The Council is asking all members of the public to follow the advice to avoid

  A Red Weather Alert is in force for the entire country with Hurricane Force Winds expected to hit every county. All Schools, Colleges and Childcare facilities will be closed and EVERYONE is advised to stay at home. The Government says NO unnecessary travel or other outdoor activities should be undertaken. And you’re advised to

      The Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital is urging people to only attend the hospital today in the case of a real emergency. It comes as all outpatient appointments at the hospital have been cancelled for today. The Emergency Department remains open 24/7 and the Acute Assessment Unit is operational. Manager Sean Murphy

  Killybegs Coast Guard unit were alerted last evening to an ill fisherman on an angling boat off Muckross Head. A boat crew launched promptly and brought the man back to shore where a waiting ambulance crew treated him.

Government Chief Whip and Minister Joe Mc Hugh says emergency services, utility workers and council staff are on stand-by to respond as necessary to the effects of Hurricane Ophelia. He says the best advice for people is to stay indoors, listen to the radio and ensure they have their mobile devices fully charged. He says

  An Inishowen Cllr says people on the peninsula are concerned over the impact the imminent storm could have. The area was devastated on August 22nd when flood water ripped through homes, businesses and farmland. Cllr Martin McDermott says the area still hasn’t fully recovered from that experience and that could make the effects of

  The Chairperson of the North West Regional Development Group says a variety of challenges facing the region were raised with the Taoiseach at the weekend. Leo Varadkar visited Derry on Saturday where he was briefed by chief executives from Derry /Strabane and Donegal County Council on the merits of the “North West Strategic Growth

The US National Hurricane Center in Miami has said the worst hit areas in Ireland will be counties Donegal, Galway, Mayo, and Sligo as Storm Ophelia has shifted path.  All counties have been issued with a Status Red wind warning – and the public is being urged to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary. The Government’s

The Defence forces are on standby to help areas in need during hurricane conditions today as Ophelia batters the country. The most severe red weather warning from Met Éireann is in place everywhere. Violent wind and rain is expected to spread across the country throughout the day. Defence Minister and Chairman of the Emergency Task

A Donegal Senator has called on Fianna Fail to explain why they refused to support a vote to block stamp duty on farming land in the Dail last week. Much concern has been raised among the farming community in Donegal following the announcment last week that stamp duty paid on property will increase from 2%

  Letterkenny Institute of Technology is to benefit from a major multi-million euro extension. It has been announced that LYIT is to receive funding as part of a €200 million nationwide investment from the Department of Education. The announcement will also provide jobs at the campus during construction stage as well as create additional places for

  Due to the weather warnings issued by Met Eireann directly related to storm Ophelia, all outpatient appointments in  Letterkenny University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital  are cancelled for Monday 16th October. Patients are advised not to travel to the hospitals unless absolutely necessary. The hospital will be in contact with this group of patients

Ireland is on red alert following a severe weather warning from Met Eireann. Storm Ophelia is expected to bring violent and destructive gusts right across the country. Met Eireann Meteorologist Evelyn Cusack explains how Ophelia is expected to track inland from the coast tomorrow morning: All schools and colleges will be closed on Monday The

Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track directly over Ireland during daytime Monday. Violent and destructive gusts are forecast with all areas at risk and in particular the southwest and south in the morning, and easterncounties in the afternoon. Also heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding. There is potential risk

Management at Letterkenny University Hospital says procedures scheduled for Monday will go ahead as planned and that in the event of a cancellation, those effected will be contacted directly. There was some confusion as SITT Transport confirmed that all its buses  to HSE Day Services within County Donegal have been cancelled for Monday 16th October