Author name: oisinkelly

  Three people have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court facing money laundering and drug charges following a major cross border police investigation into ‘an organised crime gang’ that saw raids across the North and in Donegal. Husband and wife Patrick O’Connor (47) and Misha O’Connor (35) of Stoneypath in Derry faced a total of 26

Leo Varadkar’s been accused of scrapping a pledge to maintain an open border with the North after Brexit. The claim comes as the Taoiseach arrives for his first summit of EU leaders where Britain’s departure will be the main talking point. Mr Varadkar claimed during the Fine Gael leadership contest that he would strive to

The numbers awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital have almost doubled today, with 21 patients awaiting in-patient beds, 12 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s an overall increase of 10 from yesterday’s figure Nationally. there were 304 patients awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning according to the INMO, with two hospitals,

The Environmental Protection Agency has launched a new website and app for people seeking information about the safety and cleanliness of beaches. The new service provides information about the quality of the water and any restrictions at 190 seasides and lakes around the country. Beaches.ie also shows when the tide is in, and provides information

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team has rescued a number of walkers who becamse stuck on steep terrain on Muckish Mountain last evening. After receiving the call, the rescue team dispatched rescue dogs who located the walkers. They were then safely lowered from the crag. DMRT says low cloud and bad ground made for a challenging

Homeowners in Donegal who have been affected by Mica are being urged to attend a specially organised event next week. The “Defective Blocks Report Information Evening” has been arranged by the Mica Action Group with a view to tease out the latest expert panel report and discuss any queries or concerns people may have. The

Fianna Fáil is calling on the new Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, Michael Ring, to address under-spending in his department. The total amount spent at the end of May this year on rural and regional projects was two point six million euro – while the party claims there’s been no expenditure to date on

A Donegal Senator has again called on the government to put arrangements in place to allow firefighters act as first responders for the National Ambulance Service. While fire-fighters are already trained by the NAS in lifesaving skills, they do not have the power to assist in emergencies first-hand. Senator Padraig MacLochlainn says firefighters believe there

The newly elected Taoiseach has confirmed that he has not yet read the recently published expert panel report into the Mica block issue. Leo Varadkar was speaking in the Dail last evening when asked by Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue if and when a redress scheme is to be initiated. The report, published last week, details

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team are currently assisting walkers stuck on steep terrain on Muckish Mountain. The alarm was raised before 6pm this evening. It’s understood that a search dog has located the walkers with the area now being assessed in order to rescue the walkers.

  A speed awareness campaign has been launched in Liscooley to remind motorists of the village’s 50kph speed limit. The event was co-ordinated by the DRSWG, An Gardai Siochana and with the support of local residents and children from Donaghmore NS. The aim of the event was to highlight to all road users just how

  The Killybegs Coastguards were called out to Fintra beach last night to rescue two kayakers. The alarm was raised after two girls had been out for over an hour but failed to return to shore. They were located and escorted back to shore by the Killybegs Coastguard. Neither of them were wearing a life

There’s been a slight rise in the numbers awaiting admission at LUH this morning, with 11 patients awaiting in-patient beds, four of them on Emergency Department trolleys. Thats up on yesterday’s figure of eight. Nationally. there were 303 patients awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning according to the INMO, with three hospitals,

The North West is still being deprived of infrastructure investment. That’s according to Ibec, who say the Government’s failure to adopt a more ambitious capital plan will worsen the imbalance between the regions and greater Dublin economy. The group, which represents Irish business, is calling on the Government to increase investment in regional infrastructure saying

  A Donegal TD is claiming that that no government department is taking responsibility for Local Improvement Schemes, and as a result, there has been no LIS funding since Fine Gael became the main government party in 2011. Pat the Cope Gallagher says Michael Ring, the new Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, is refusing

New figures have revealed significant shortcomings with staffing numbers in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services which cater to Donegal. The data shows regional services are operating with just over half of the necessary staff. The figures were obtained through Parliamentary Question by Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty. He says this is further proof that young

  The Palestinian flag is to be raised at the Glenties Municipal District office in Dungloe later today. It will be raised by the Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland, with the event getting underway at 1pm. The raising of the flag is being described as a mark of solidarity with the Palestinian people who are living

It’s been confirmed that major resurfacing works on a key Donegal road are due to take place. Concern had been raised by numerous motorists that the current state of the road leading into Ballybofey and its main street is in serious disrepair. However, it’s understood that Donegal County Council are planning to address the issue

  The fire service have brought a significant fire under control in Letterkenny.  The blaze, which broke out earlier this afternoon, is understood to have been confined to an area beside Letterkenny Shopping Centre. Firefighters were called to the scene and extinguished the fire a short time ago however its not yet known what caused

    Donegal County Council is reminding people that there’s still time to apply for funding from the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership funding. The funding is for those who may have a project or initiative that could help to increase awareness of environmental issues locally, or that could help a community to become more

  A Donegal Deputy says the Government is still not doing enough to support jobs in the border region. The comments come following the release of CSO data on employment from Census 2016, which Deputy Charlie McConalogue says highlights 6 “unemployment blackspots” across Donegal. The figures have revealed that unemployment levels in areas like Letterkenny,

Islanders in Donegal are being assured that they are not being excluded from significant funding under the minor works programme. So far, over €820,000 has been allocated in respect of applications from the county councils in Cork, Galway, Mayo and Sligo. Gaeltacht and Islands Minister Joe McHugh says an application from Donegal County Council is

Today sees the official opening of the new Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex, with the final patients being transferred from the old Tyrone County Hospital today. It’s the final step in a process which began almost 15 years ago when it was announced that acute services were being transferred from Tyrone County Hospital to

A prominent member of the Irish community in Boston who has been living illegally in the US for over 16 years has been arrested and is awaiting deportation. The Irish Times is reporting today that the arrest and impending deportation of 38 year old John Cunningham, a former Chairperson of the Boston Northeast GAA, has

Donegal Action for Cancer Care is welcoming confirmation that a second Breast Surgeon will begin work at Letterkenny University Hospital on July 24th. The Saolta Hospital Group is also setting up a working group comprising representatives of LUH, Saolta Group and the Western Health & Social Care Trust to progress plans to develop a long

There are calls for a coordinated programme to build public toilets on Donegal’s islands and on piers and harbours on the West Donegal coast. It follows confirmation from Donegal County Council that it will provide portaloos on Gola Island for the summer season this year, after a similar initiative last year was deemed worthwhile. The

With the All Ireland Rowing Championships being held in Ballyshannon for the second year in a row, Donegal County Council has joined forces with the Donegal Bay Rowing Club to produce wristbands for visitors to the event that will allow them to access exclusive special offers from local businesses. The event takes place at the

Theresa May says she’ll do her best to avoid a hard border through Ireland – but it will require the UK to have a trade deal with the EU. The British Prime Minister’s comments came as she met Leo Varadkar at Downing Street for talks on Brexit and its impact on Ireland. The EU’s negotiating

The Saolta Hospital Group says it has completed the process of appointing a second Breast Surgeon for Letterkenny University Hospital, with the person appointed set to begin working on July 24th. Saolta has also confirmed it is currently establishing a working group comprising representatives of LUH, Saolta Group and the Western Health & Social Care