Author name: oisinkelly

A status yellow wind warning has been issued for Donegal. It is forecast that south to southeast winds will reach an average speed of 50 to 65 km/h particularly along exposed coastal areas. Met Eireann says wind speeds will be accompanied by gusts reaching Gale force 8. The warning is due to remain in place […]

Donegal woman, Lauren McDonagh has been crowned Miss Ireland. Miss Donegal Lauren McDonagh emerged victorious in the beauty, poise and personality stakes against her fellow 28 Irish beauties to be crowned Miss Ireland 2017 in a star- studded ceremony in Dublin’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. The 18 year from Letterkenny is currently studying Health and Social

The Charleton Tribunal has heard how a statement of complaint against Garda whistleblower Keith Harrison was withdrawn by his partner in 2014. Marisa Simms made the statement on January 11, 2014, withdrawing an earlier complaint which detailed allegations of “obsessive” and “irrational” behaviour by her partner. Inspector Goretti Sheridan told the tribunal yesterday that she

Islanders are being encouraged to take part in an upcoming public consultation in a bid to ensure voting facilities are provided on more islands in Donegal. Residents on a number of islands in the county including Gola, Arranmore and Tory currently avail of voting booths during elections. However, Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig is

As confusion surrounding Donegals allocation under the Local Improvement Scheme continues, Minister Joe McHugh has moved to reaffirm that the figure of €884,000 announced by Government this week is correct. But Senator Padraig MacLochlainn says the council had made applications for 20 million euro and the funding announcement covers less than 5% of the requests.

Plans are in motion to provide a breakwater at the existing pier at Magheraroarty. It’s understood that €2.5 million is to be sanctioned by Government for the project and would see the problem of silt build up at the pier resolved. Local Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill has made numerous representations on the issue in the past.

  A report into the facilities at Arranmore Fire Station has found that it ‘does not fulfil minimum functional requirements’. RTE has reported that the report commissioned by the Donegal Firefighters Associtaion highlighted a number of means by which the station did not meet minimum standards and was potentially putting fire fighters and the wider

The British Prime Minister says she owes it to everyone on the island of Ireland to insure Brexit does not affect a hard won peace. Theresa May is giving a landmark and conciliatory speech on progressing Brexit negotiations and says the UK wants to thrive side by side with the EU. She is proposing to

  Serious concern has been raised over a HSE decision to pull the dedicated helpline for those affected by the recent flooding in Inishowen. It was confirmed earlier that the helpline has now ceased to operate however if the need arises the HSE Psychology Service can be contacted. But Local Cllr Albert Doherty believes that

  An Arranmore Island Spokesperson has moved to clarify details surrounding the level of anti-social behaviour there last weekend. There have been reports of a junior football team from Donegal engaging in reckless behaviour including damaging the local hostel and letting a handbrake off a car. It also also alleged that a goat was ridden

An investigation has been launched following reports of shots fired at a property in Derry. Police received a report shortly after 11 o’clock last night that a number of masked men attempted to smash the front door of a property in the Dove Gardens area of the city. The suspects failed to gain entry however,

  A significant employment boost has been announced for Downings. Government Chief Whip and Donegal Minister Joe McHugh has confirmed that 18 new jobs are to be created over the next three years by BeoBio Teo, a seaweed processing company. Údarás na Gaeltacta has announced a support package of over €200,000 to support an overall

The HSE helpline set up to help people affected by the recent flooding in Inishowen has now ceased to operate. The HSE has advised that if the need arises the HSE Psychology Service can be contacted. The HSE has also provided an information leaflet ‘Coping with Flooding’ which has been distributed widely in the community.

  Companies from Donegal and Derry are travelling to Boston later this year to promote investment in the North West. They will be showcasing the regions creative, life science, agri/food and advance manufacturing and engineering industries as part of a joint collaboration between Councils in Donegal and Derry/Strabane. The visit is part of the ongoing

Letterkenny University Hospital is the second most overcrowded hospital in the country today. 26 people are awaiting admission to the hospital – 13 people on trolleys in its Emergency Department with an additional 13 patients waiting on wards. 26 people are also waiting at South Tipperary General Hospital. According to the latest INMO Trolley watch

The HSE is warning parents in Donegal that a “misinformation campaign” regarding the HPV vaccine has seen a huge drop in uptake among teenage girls. The vaccine has been on offer to girls in the first year of secondary school since 2010 – and in 2015 a record 87% of students took up the offer.

  Language plans for the Gaeltacht Language Planning Area have just been announced. Gaoth Dobhair, Anagaire, Rann na Feirste and Loch an Iúir as well as: Cloich Cheann Fhaola, Gort an Choirce, An Fál Carrach and Machaire Rabhartaigh, Co Donegal and Cois Fharraige in the Galway Gaeltacht have been approved by him under the language

The Chair of the Oireachtas Abortion Committee Senator Catherine Noone has writen to anti abortion protestor Tim Jackson saying she has watched an abortion video and the Taoiseach has no difficulty in doing so. However, Mr Jackson, a former Independent Election Candidate in Donegal who is continuing to refuse food, says that is not enough…………..

A new electrical superstore is due to open in Letterkenny tomorrow with the creation of 10 jobs. Callaghans Electrical already has a well-established store in Burt for last 40 years, but is now expanding, with the opening of a new premise situated at Letterkenny Retail Park. Owner Dermot Callaghan says the new store will be

A report which was sent to GSOC by Donegal gardaí outlining alleged threats a garda whistleblower made to his partner was not an official complaint, the Charleton tribunal has been told. Mark Harty SC, who represents Garda Keith Harrison, told the tribunal yesterday that the correspondence sent to the Ombudsman Commission did not constitute a

Questions are being asked over Donegal’s allocation for Local Improvement Schemes. While almost 900 thousand euro was announced for the county yesterday, it’s understood that the local authority sought 20 million euro under the scheme. It was claimed by Minister Joe McHugh that the funding would cover 88% of the council’s requests however Donegal Senator

X-ray facilities in a number of community hospitals in Donegal are to be upgraded. Work includes the refurbishment of the x-ray departments at Donegal Community Hospital and Carndonagh Community Hospital while a new x-ray room is earmarked for Dungloe Community Hospital. The HSE say work on upgrading equipment will be completed in the coming months

  The former owner of the ferry that will connect Tory Island with the mainland has moved to reassure islanders of it’s safety. People on the island had hoped for a new vessel but it’s emerged that the one to be used for the service is over 40 years old. Manager of the Co-op on

The Donegal Branch of the Diabetes Society of Ireland says they are shocked that Donegal has been refused two Advanced Nurse Practitioner by the HSE. An application was made for two diabetes nurses following, what was described as, a positive meeting with the Health Minister Simon Harris last year. However it has emerged today that

€884,000 has been announced for Local Improvement Schemes in Donegal. The funding will cover 4,841 square kilometres of road improvements in Donegal, and is the third highest allocation in the country. Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Donegal County Council had recveived over 1,200 applications, and 928 had been submitted to the government. Government

A Donegal County Council official says its time for Donegal to assume its rightful place as one of the leading centres of culture and creativity in Ireland. Donegal County Council is opening up a consultation process ahead of the preparation of a five year Culture and Creativity Plan which will form an important part of

  There were 22 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report. Nine people were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further thirteen were waiting on wards. The number is down eight on yesterdays figure of thirty. University Hospital Limierick was the most

Two men from the Republic of Ireland have been sentenced to 10 years at Laganside Crown Court today for planting a bomb ahead of a PSNI Recruitment event at the Waterfoot Hotel in Derry in 2015. 42 year old Darren Poleon and 35 year old Brian Walsh pleaded guilty earlier this year, to possession of

The campaign group Border Communities against Brexit says the meeting with EU Brexit Coordinator Guy Verhofstadt yesterday was a positive one at which the importance of speciasl status for Northern Ireland was centre stage. Tom Murray says Mr Verhofstadt showed a keen understanding of the political situation in the border area, and recognised that the

An Air Accident Investigation Unit report has noted it was not able to carry out an on-site examination a microlight aircraft which crash landed on Tory Island on May 9th last year because the aircraft was moved before the incident was reported. The investigation report has now been published. In its report on the investigation’s

The cabinet is being asked to approve new protocols to respond to floods, with provision being made for the approval of immediate action at local level. Minister Kevin Boxer Moran has brought proposals to the Finance Minister on foot of his visit to Donegal after last month’s floods. He says there were times when it

A garda whistleblower has denied threatening his partner and saying he would burn her during an argument the Charleton tribunal has heard. Garda Keith Harrison told his partner Marisa Simms she would “end up getting burnt”, meaning she would be injured by the actions of her family, the garda’s counsel, Mark Harty SC told the