Author name: oisinkelly

A total of 34 Donegal Gaeltacht schools are to share a funding allocation of €288,000. The allocation is part of €784,442 for Muintearas Teo. and Oidhreacht Chorca Dhuibhne to enable them to run the Language Assistants Scheme on behalf of the Department for the 2017/2018 school year. In a statement, Government Chief Whip Minister Joe

A 22-year-old man arrested in the Creggan area of Derry yesterday morning has been released. The arrest was connected with the attempted murder of police in Ballyarnett Village in October 2014. An attempt had been made to draw police into a house rigged with explosives. A file is now being prepared for the Public Prosecution

Britain’s Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire has warned Stormont is on a “glide path” towards further intervention from Westminster if a political deal is not found. He says that if Sinn Fein and the DUP can’t agree on a powersharing arrangement in the next few weeks, more decision-making power could be assumed by the British

Inishowen councillors have been told the road at Lagg beach in Malin Head will be closed for the foreseeable future. Last month’s flooding has made the road leading to the popular amenity impassable however pedestrians can still gain access. The road has been included as part of the application for the flood relief scheme, and

The official opening of Cancer Care West is taking place this weekend. The centre, situated at Station House in Letterkenny opened its doors earlier this year and has been regarded as a vital service to those living with cancer. The opening gets underway at 12.30 tomorrow afternoon. CEO of Cancer Care West Richard Flaherty says

  The school communities in Raphoe have expressed their relief that no students were seriously hurt in this mornings bus crash. 20 students had a lucky escape when the bus they were travelling to school in collided with a van at Carrickmore, between St Johnston and Lifford at approxinately 8.15am. Gardai are continuing their investigation

Detectives from PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch investigating violent dissident republican activity in Derry arrested a 22-year-old man in the Creggan area of the city this morning. The arrest is in connection with the attempted murder of police in Ballyarnett Village in October 2014. The man was taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave police

  Housing and a tax cut for middle income earners are the focus of the Fine Gael pre-Dáil meeting in County Tipperary. The party has gathered ahead of the Budget next month for its first major meeting since its leadership contest. The Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney says while he expects the current government

A Midlands North West MEP says the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator is ‘incredibly engaged’ when it comes to Ireland’s situation in the Brexit negotiations. With the next round of Brexit talks delayed for a week, Mairead McGuinness, a vice president of the European Parliament, met with Michel Barnier during this week’s plenary session. She says

The Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association has expressed grave reservastions about the package, saying that many farmers are excluded, and some losses are not covered. The group also says there are questions about the relief fund’s budget, and how it will be administered. Donegal Chair Henry O’Donnell says more clarity is needed………….

The Irish Farmers Journal says for the second year running, the grain harvest has slid from challenging to problematic, and now stands on the edge of disaster, particularly in the North West. In a special analysis of the weather published in its latest edition, the paper analyses the impact of recent weather patterns While the

Gardai are investigating a crash between a School bus and a van at Carrickmore, between St Johnston and Lifford. 8 children and the drivers of both vehicles were taken to hospital though none of the injuries are thought to be serious. Gardai say the children’s parents have been contacted Inspector Michael Harrison says the incident

One man has died and two others have been taken to hospital after collapsing on a mushroom farm in Co Monaghan. The three, in their 20s, were found unconscious last night in a silo at the plant near Emyvale. Two separate investigations are underway – one by the Gardaí and the other by the HSA.

A North West Centre for Advanced Manufacturing has been launched this week, . The €8.5 million EU funded initiative is a collaboration bringing together eight companies and four academic institutions, including LYIT. The aim is to deliver 15 world leading research projects as part of what’s been termed an Advanced Manufacturing Super Cluster. The initiative

An emergency meeting for flood-hit farmers is getting takes place tonight in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel. The meeting was called following news that applications for the new aid package are now available online. Farmers have only two weeks to get their submissions in with the closing deadline Friday September 29th. Donegal IFA Chairman Michael Chance says

Alcohol addiction remains a huge problem in the North West region. That’s according to the latest report from the HSE North West Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force, which has just been published. The report gives a comprehensive overview of the drug problem in the North West region, the main issues addressed by the Task

  Road works are getting underway in Letterkenny tonight with motorists being warned that it may some disruption. Donegal County Council’s contractor will be carrying out Night Works Resurfacing along Pearse Road and Canal Road on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th September between the hours of 7pm and 7am. Traffic management , including signed diversions,

      It’s been confirmed that flood-hit farmers can now apply to the aid package announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, last week. The deadline for applications is Friday September 29th to facilitate a speedy process of requests. Government Chief Whip and Donegal Minister Joe McHugh has been reassured that the application

  Irish people could have to work until they’re 70 to qualify for a state pension. The measure has been tabled by the ESRI as a way of protecting the economy but critics have been quick to react. The qualifying age for a state pension in Ireland is already one of the highest in the

  Serious concern has been raised after what’s been described as a dramatic increase in the number of patients awaiting outpatient procedures at Letterkenny University Hospital. Figures show that as of the end of August, the overall number of patients awaiting treatment at the hospital has risen by more than one thousand compared to patient

Discussions are continuing about the re-distribution of twenty two of the seventy three UK seats in the European Parliament among some of the remaining EU countries, two of which would go to Ireland. Midlands NW MEP Marian Harkin says one issue being discussed is representation for people north of the border. However, she is stressing

  There were 25 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital according to the INMO. 12 were on trolleys its Emergency Department while a further 13 were waiting on wards. The figure is up 3 on yesterdays 22. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded with 57 people waiting there. Nationally, there were

Councillors in South Donegal want the road from Pettigo to Laghey to be upgraded to a National Secondary Road, which would make it eligible for more funding. The issue was raised at a meeting this week by Cllr Michael Naughton. He secured the backing of his colleagues in the Donegal Municipal District, and says the

A West Tyrone MLA is warning farmers affected by the recent floods that if their land is not fit for use as a result of the damage, they must submit a special form  by tomorrow in order to protect their Single Farm payments. Declan Mc Aleer says the Force Majeur form deadline is set by

Revenue has published its latest Tax Defaulter list, with four settlements received from Donegal and one from Derry. The five settlements involved a total of almost €448,250 in outstanding tax, interest and penalties. Brian Brogan, a farmer, landlord and employee from Sockar, Trentagh, Letterkenny paid almost €104,000 in tax, interest and penalties. Dermot Doherty, a partnetr,

  The organ at Christ Church in Derry has been extensively damaged in a break in over the past number of days. The break-in was discovered by a member of the parish team who called to the church last evening. Police were alerted, and scenes of crime officers carried out a detailed forensic search of

Over 61 and a half thousand students get their Junior Cert results today, 2,354 of them in Donegal. They include the first grades from the new English Junior Cycle. Results from the reformed English Junior Cycle, combine exam results with continual assessment marks. This year also sees the first time students will receive a Junior

An interesting twist from the Brexit fallout could result in two extra MEP seats for Ireland. Britain currently has seventy three MEPs. They’ll all lose their seats once the UK leaves the EU. And last night the European parliament debated a report on the future composition of the Parliament post-Brexit. One of its recommendations is

A Glenties area Councillor says significant progress is being made on improvements to the stretch of N56 road from Dungloe to Glenties. Two phases are complete, with tenders in for phase three between Kilkenny and Letterilly. Work on that phase should start by the end of the year. Cllr Terence Slowey says preparations are under for

  A special action plan forum is taking place later tonight in Donegal to highlight the need for investment in Gaeltacht areas. There will also be an opportunity to discuss the current work being done in the Gaeltacht, including issues like language planning and the policy on Gaeltacht education. It’s part of a series of

  Three new suicide prevention resources have been launched in Donegal by the National Office for Suicide Prevention. The initiative is part of World Suicide Prevention Week and includes a poster outlining the key services and phone numbers to contact in a mental health crisis, a GP Patient Pathway for those experiencing a suicidal crisis

  The Commission for Energy Regulation, Ireland’s independent energy regulator has successfully secured a prosecution against Mr. Jerome Travers, 18 Tullan Strand Road in Bundoran for illegally carrying out gas works while not being a registered gas installer. The case was heard in Ballyshannon District Court under presiding Judge Kilrane, who convicted and fined Mr.

Transport NI is being urged to consider placing a zebra crossing on the section of the Racecourse Road between the junction of Carnhill and Danesfort Crescent in Derry. Cllr Tony Hasson issued the call after a woman was knocked down and injured on this stretch of road on Friday afternoon last, and says since he

25 drinking water supplies around the country are at risk of being infected with cryptosporidium, four of them in Donegal. They are Letterkenny, Creeslough, Glenties/Ardara and Owenteskna / Kilcar. In its drinking water qualty report for 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency says more than 99 per cent of drinking water samples complied with safety standards

Formal contracts have been signed and ethical approval has been secured for a €100,000 research project announced earlier this year for Letterkenny University Hospital. The six month study will involve 120 participants who have just finished their treatment. Half of whom will be given specially targetted support and advice to improve their diet and activity

A text alert system to allow the public report instances of illegal parking on disabled bays in Letterkenny is being considered by Donegal County Council The scheme would be introduced on a pilot basis and similar to one already underway in Gorey County Wexford. The motion was passed at the latest sitting of Letterkenny Municipal