Author name: oisinkelly

  Sinn Féin says the government shouldn’t bother with any tax cuts in next year’s Budget – because there’s too little money. It’s after the Summer Economic Statement revealed that the so-called ‘fiscal space’ for new measures is only half a billion euro. That doesn’t factor in the cost of water charges refunds, or the

  A diver is said to be recovering in hospital following a diving incident off Tory Island. The Lough Swilly Lifeboat was launched along with coastguard helicopter Rescue 118  earlier today after concerns were raised over the speed at which he surfaced from the water. He was airlifted to Letterkenny University Hospital and it’s understood

A new species of fish has been named after Donegal singer Enya. The discovery has been named “Leporinus Enyae”, which means ‘beautiful little fish’. Scientists from Oregon State University in the states discovered the fish in the Orinoco River. In a statement to their website, researchers said they were big fans of Enya, and acknowledged her

  A diver has been airlifted to Letterkenny University Hospital following a diving incident off Tory Island. It’s understood the diver was involved in a deep dive, and concern was expressed at the speed with which he surfaced. The Lough Swilly Lifeboat was launched along with coastguard helicopter Rescue 118. He was picked up by

The Government has announced a funding boost of €450,750 for Donegal’s islands. The islands concerned are Árainn Mhór, Toraigh and Oileán an Bhráighe. The money will be provided to Donegal County Council to carry out improvement works on various islands in the county this year – with 25 per cent matching funding from the council,

The IFA has suspended their occupation of the Department of Agriculture offices in Kildare Street, Dublin to enter into negotiations with Minister Michael Creed on the proposed crop loss scheme arising from the 2016 harvest. The Minister has confirmed that there are no preconditions to these negotiations. The Minister will meet with the IFA today.

Donegal County Council says a pollution incident has been confirmed in St Johnston. Following reports from a member of the public, cattle slurry was detected in the St. Johnston Burn, as it passed through the village. Council staff and Fisheries Officers from the Lough’s Agency traced the source of the polluting matter to a farm

The Dail has been told that Letterkenny University Hospital has been given clearance to replace cardiac rehabilitation equipment. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher says confirmation of €50,000 for the equipment came just hours before his topical issue was to be answered in the Dail, leading him to claim that good PR is more important to

It’s hoped that access to the Pollet Great Arch in Fanad will be restored in the coming weeks. An access turnstile to the path leading to the arch was blocked in June leading to a petition, signed by hundreds of people, looking for it to be restored. The council is now negotiating with land owners

The Housing Minister has confirmed that he will meet again with Donegal homeowners affected by mica. Minister Damien English was speaking in the Seanad last evening following representations made by Donegal Senator Padraig MacLochlainn. Senator MacLochlainn made further calls for a redress scheme be put in place to assist those affected by the defectvie block

A councillor has asked if lives must be lost before the council takes action on a dangerous junction at Glenmaquinn national school. The work, estimated to cost as little as 120 thousand euro, involves improving vision lines and providing a crash barrier. James Pat McDaid says it’s unbelievable that a cost is potentially being put

Today is the 12th of July, with Coleraine and Clogher among the areas hosting demonstrations today. Meanwhile, feeder parades will take place this morning and evening in towns and villages all over Northern Ireland, and also in a number of towns in Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan. Last night, 11th night celebrations in the North have

Ireland’s Northern and Western Region has been named as as European Entrepreneurial Region 2018. The counties involved are Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Monaghan and Cavan. The EU’s Committee of the Regions says the region has collectively developed policies which are transforming the area ‘from adversity to advantage’, and in the process making it

  The council is being urged to put pressure on the owners of land close to Letterkenny shopping centre, to clear the site. It was the scene of a gorse fire last month with only the quick action of the fire service stopping it spreading to the adjoining car park. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says either

  Police have confirmed that officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a young child in the Tyrconnell Street area of Derry this morning. Shortly before 10.30am six year old Donnacadh Maguire was found significantly injured in the road. He was taken to hospital where he subsequently passed away. Inspector O’Brien said: “While

  Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher will be calling on the Health Minister later to implement measures to fund the repair and restoration of cardiac rehabilitation services at Letterkenny University Hospital. The service had been provided to patients in Donegal for the past number of years however due to equipment breakdowns the service is

Concern has been raised after a significant number of election posters in Tyrone are due to be burned on the Eleventh Night which takes place later. It’s understood that the posters were stolen and have been spotted on towering bonfires at various locations across the West Tyrone Constituency. Preparations for The Eleventh Night are well

There were 21 people awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, six of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s up seven on yesterday’s figure of 14. Nationally, the INMO says there were 365 people awaiting in-patient beds this morning, with Cork University Hospital returning the highest figure of 34.

Irish Water is urging residents and businesses supplied from Lough Colm and Lough Fad to continue to minimise water usage for the foreseeable future. A spokesperson is not ruling out restrictions to the supplies into the future as a result of unseasonably dry weather conditions. Lough Colm serves Milford, Kerrykeel, Rathmullan, and Ramelton, while Lough

A Donegal Hotelier says any increase in the 9 percent VAT for the hospitality sector would be disastrous for Donegal. The Department of Finance thinks the rate needs to be raised to 13.5 per cent again but Paul Diver of the Sandhouse Hotel in Rosnowlagh says such a move would cost business and jobs. He

The Council is asking members of the public to report any sightings of Giant Hogweed along public roads. Yesterday it was reported that the plant, known to cause massive blisters, ulcers and long lasting scars if it comes into contact with the skin, had been spotted in the east of the county. The plant has

Both victims of the weekend drowning tragedy off Glencolmcille have now been formally identified. They were 56 year old Rimantis Barauskas, and 34 year old Raimundas Jesdauskas, both of them Lithuanian nationals who have lived in Ireland for some years. A post mortem examination was conducted yesterday afternoon in Lettterkennny University Hospital. Gardai said there

Donegal County Council is being asked to investigate what works are needed to make the Market Square in Letterkenny safer and free from vandalism. It follows significant damage caused to a statue there in recent weeks, with other reports suggesting an increase of anti-social behaviour. Local Cllr. Gerry McMonagle is calling on the Council to

A lack of phone coverage in coastal areas could lead to more tragedies, according to residents in Donegal. It comes after two fishermen lost their lives off the coast yesterday. They had no emergency radio in their boat, and there is very little phone coverage in the area. Chairman of the Parish Council in Glencolmcille

Irish Water and Donegal County Council have announced that the boil water notice issued for the Fintown Public Water Supply has been lifted with immediate effect. The notice had been in place since June 2nd following advice from the HSE. This notice applies to customers served by the Fintown Public Water Supply and the Meenmore

  Serious concern has been raised after Giant Hogweed has been spotted in Donegal. The plant has been known to cause massive blisters, ulcers and long lasting scars if it comes into contact with the skin. The plant has been sighted in Newtowncunningham and Ramelton and it’s understood that the issue has been reported to

  A father and daughter have been brought to hospital following a house fire at Woodthorpe in Newtowncunningham. The fire was reported shortly before 1 o’clock this morning, and was attended by four units from Derry and Letterkenny. It’s understood the father had passed the girl out to neighbours, before he himself was rescued by

  There were 14 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. 7 were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 7 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded today with 41 people waiting there. Nationally, there were 326 people waiting for a bed

It’s been confirmed that government agencies are providing €1M to support the Irish Open in Donegal next year. The funding – €500,000 each from Sport Ireland and Failte Ireland – is part of a three year deal sanctioned by Government. Government Chief Whip Joe McHugh said today that Failte Ireland will also be spending additional

Four farmers, one of them from Donegal, have spent a fifth night occupying the Department of Agriculture offices on Kildare Street in Dublin. They’ve been staging a protest at the Department’s offices since last Wednesday, over attempts to ‘cap’ the crisis fund for grain farmers who lost crops to bad weather during last year’s harvest.

      Two men whose bodies were recovered yesterday may have experienced difficulty while fishing at sea in the same area about a month ago. Locals believe the two who lost their lives off Glencolmcille, Co. Donegal, were rescued around the same spot four weeks ago. The weekend tragedy happened after a 56-year-old married

It’s hoped that 14 trees damaged in what’s been described as a mindless vandalism attack in Carndonagh will be replaced in the coming days. The damage to the trees, which line the entrance to the town, happened on Saturday evening. Local Councillor Albert Doherty has condemned the incident, he says this wanton vandalism is not