Author name: oisinkelly

Arlene Foster’s recent comments about Sinn Féin’s northern leader Michelle O’Neill have been described as ‘bitchy’ by a Social Democrat TD. DUP leader Foster was asked in a newspaper interview to describe Michelle O’Neill in one word – her answer was ‘blonde’. Sinn Féin have since claimed the remark was sexist, which the DUP says […]

The sister of missing man Sam Comber, also known as Sam Harold, has made an appeal for help in finding him. Mr Comber was last seen in Derry on Sunday May 14. The 39 year-old bought items from a supermarket in the Quayside area at approximately 2:25pm before cycling towards the Peace Bridge. The bike

The number of sick people awaiting admission to a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital has risen to 33 making it again the most overcrowded hospital in the country. 20 of those are on trolleys with 13 in wards. University Hospital Galway is next with 30 people on trolleys and overflow areas of wards. At hospitals

There has been a welcome to the news that full services, including respite services, will be restored at Carndonagh Community Hospital in the coming weeks. The recent loss of respite services at the hospital had been the result of staff shortages due to retirement and illness leave but the HSE has confirmed the recruitment of

A Donegal County Councillor is warning that the imminent bill from the recent spate of gorse fires could be much higher than years previous. It follows figures released earlier this week which estimate that the bill was just over €2 million to put out gorse fires in Donegal from 2010-2015. Cllr. Jack Murray says the

  Minister Paschal Donohoe has declared his support for Leo Varadkar in the Fine Gael leadership race. He said Mr Varadkar is ‘the most capable politician of his generation’. It’s also expected that Chief Whip Regina Doherty will announce her support for the Social Protection Minister later. A number of TDs are also expected to

There are fears that the on-going political instability at Stormont will have a devastating impact on Strabane and Derry. It’s due to the fact that budgets have yet to be agreed upon, with various monies effectively on hold until the situation at Stormont is resolved. Cllr. Patsy Kelly is to raise the issue at next

A Donegal Deputy believes progress has been made on seeking funding for three major school building projects in Donegal. Deputations from Scoil Adhamhnain in Luinnaigh, Derrybeg, St Marys National School, Stranorlar and Gaelscoil Na gCeithre Maistrí, Donegal Town met with Education Minister Richard Bruton yesterday to discuss the need for various improvements works in each school. The

  It’s been claimed that inaction by Eir is leading to delays in getting a bus shelter for the Killybegs bus stop. While The National Transport Authority has committed funding under the 2016 bus shelter programme to install one in the town, Eir have yet to remove two phone boxes which are currently in the

A Donegal County Councillor is calling on the Environment Minister to roll out a grant scheme for every household that has a septic tank and may wish to upgrade their system. It follows concern raised that many people who are looking to upgrade their septic tank are finding it difficult to obtain the grant for

Donegal Junior Minister Joe McHugh is backing Leo Varadkar in the race for the leadership of Fine Gael. His decision was made public this lunchtime and had been expected. Leo Varadkar visited Donegal earlier this month and stated the county would be a priority for him if he were to become Taoiseach. Minister Joe McHugh

Housing Minister Simon Coveney has officially launched his bid to become the next leader of Fine Gael. Standing outside the party’s HQ in the last few minutes he said he wanted to heal the divisions that have opened in Ireland over the last decade. He’s also unveiled his election posters and is filing his nomination

There were 27 people awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, seven of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s two down on yesterday’s figure, and 10 down on Tuesday, when the hospital was the mopst overcrowded in the country, forcing the implementation of the Full Capacity Protocol. Nationally, the INMO says there were 406

Police in India says they have ruled out all other suspects in the murder of Donegal backpacker Danielle McLaughlin. It was reported yesterday that chief suspect Vikat Bhagat had accused three friends, in a 29-page letter to his sister, of murdering Danielle. Herald Goa names the three suspects who were “picked up as suspects” but

Deputations from three Donegal schools seeking major building projects are travelling to the Dail today for meetings with Education Minister Richard Bruton and department officials. The three schools are Scoil Adhamhnain in Luinnaigh, Derrybeg, St Marys National School, Stranorlar and Gaelscoil Na gCeithre Maistrí, Donegal Town. The visit has been organised by Leas Ceann Comhairle

  Three quarters of Ireland’s bathing waters are of “Excellent” quality for a third year in a row. In Donegal, 21 beaches are included in the survey, 15 of them are rated ‘excellent’. The Donegal beaches rated ‘excellent’ are Ballyheirnan, Bundoran, Carrickfinn, Culdaff, Downings, Drumnatinny, Fintra, Killahoey, Marble Hill, Murvagh, Naran, Port Arthur, Portsalon, Rossknowlagh

Those behind the latest theft of life saving equipment from the riverside in Strabane have been accused of reckless behaviour which could cost lives. During a recent training exercise, the local Mourne Search and Rescue team noticed a life ring had been removed from its location behind Supervalue in the town. It was either taken

A Donegal County Councillor is calling for the opening times of An Grianan of Ailleach to be extended during the summer months. It follows a call from Councillor Jack Murray yesterday to have the landmark twinned with Tullach Og Fort in County Tyrone. However Cllr Paul Canning believes that the current closing time of 8.30pm

Enda Kenny will stand down as Fine Gael leader at midnight. The Taoiseach has triggered the leadership contest to replace him at his parliamentary party in the last few minutes. Mr Kenny’s taken to twitter to announce the decision saying he will continue to carry out his duties as Taoiseach in full. A new Fine

There were 29 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report. There were 9 people on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 20 were waiting on wards. The figure is down 10 on yesterday number of 39 which saw Letterkenny University Hospital ranked

LEADER groups are in Dublin today for a meeting with Minister Heather Humphries at which the delay in allocating and spending money under the programme is being discussed. The government recently changed the structure of LEADER to involve Local Enterprise Offices in the administration of the funding, with oversight from Pobail. However, that’s led to

10 houses in Carrigans today sold at an Allsop Auction for 460 thousand euro. Two of the properties are finished while the rest require internal finishes. The price equates to 46 thousand euro per property with the winning bid being in the middle of the reserve. Elsewhere a four bedroom semi detached home in Glencar,

The man accused of raping and murdering Donegal woman Danielle McLaughlin has claimed three friends killed her in front of him despite his trying to save her. Vikat Bhagat, who is currently in custody awaiting trial, has written a 29-page letter to his sister detailing the events which he claims led up to Danielle’s death

A man in his 70s, who was involved in a car crash on the Ballyshannon to Donegal Road, has died from his injuries. The crash involving a lorry and a car occurred at the Ballintra / Rossnowlagh junction on Monday afternoon. The dead man, who was in the car, is understood to be a visitor

Donegal Road Safety Officer has urged people not to use their mobile phones whilst driving pointing out that distracted driving could be a factor in 20-30% of all collisions in Ireland. Almost 28,000 people were detected holding a mobile phone while driving in 2016 and on average every day, 76 people are detected using their