Author name: oisinkelly

Irish Water and Donegal County Council have marked the start of construction on the €4 million investment by the national utility in a new water treatment plant at Owenteskna to benefit almost 4,000 consumers in the South West Donegal area. When completed the new plant will benefit consumers in South West Donegal covering the area […]

  The sister of Arlene Arkinson has launched civil action against police for the way she was allegedly treated by officers investigating her sister’s disappearance more than 20 years ago. Police dug up Kathleen Arkinson’s garden and searched her home after receiving a false tip off. Out of 23 witnesses to give evidence it’s understood

  The head of the Donegal Traffic Corps is urging all road users to be aware that Gardai will be out in full force this Bank Holiday weekend. To date this year, 50 people have been killed on Irish roads, which is four less when compared to the same period last year. Last year two

Detectives from PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch investigating a shooting incident in the Central Drive area of Derry on Monday, 27 March have this week carried out four searches in the city and arrested four people. Officers arrested two men, aged 35 and 42, on Tuesday (April 25), a 30 year old man on Wednesday (April

A number of historic figures with links to Derry and Strabane are to be honoured with blue plaques. The Ulster History Circle has reached agreement with Derry City and Strabane District Council to back a five year plan for the erection of Blue Plaques in the area. At the launch in the Tower Museum this

The were 36 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, making it the joint second busiest hospital in the country. Of those, 28 patients were on Emergency Department trolleys, while the remainder were in overflow areas on the wards. Earlier this week, the Full Capacity Protocol was implemented at the hospital, while yesterday,

353 people died in work-related accidents in Ireland between 2010 and 2016, 24 of them in Donegal. Today marks International Workers Memorial day, which remembers those who have died and highlights the importance of health and safety at work. The Health and Safety Authority says most accidents are preventable and is encouraging businesses to hold

European leaders could sign off on plans to allow Northern Ireland immediately rejoin the EU in a United Ireland at their summit this weekend. Ireland’s pushing for the guarantee to be allowed in the EU’s formal Brexit plans which will be agreed tomorrow. The Financial Times this morning says it’s been included in a draft

The HSE is seeking planning permission for a Primary Care Centre in Newtowncunningham. It’s to be situated on the Castle site on town’s Main Street which will see the demolition of a building which was formerly a Mother and Baby Home. Subject to planning permission, plans for the new development include new car parking facilities

A Donegal sex offender who punched his former girlfriend as their six month old baby lay beside her on a bed has been jailed for one year. 31 year old Martin O’Hara, who has a previous conviction for rape, “lashed out” at the woman a second time after he left the house with their baby

It’s been claimed that there are a number of unregistered lobbyists operating in the Letterkenny area who are acting outside of the normal public consultation planning process. Donegal County Council is presently at an advanced stage of finalising a Working Draft County Donegal Development Plan for the forthcoming years 2018-2024 However Cllr Dessie Sheils believes

A Donegal Deputy is calling for reassurances from the Minister for Social Protection on the future of Community Employment Schemes which he says are vitally imporant to Donegal. Deputy Thomas Pringle Responding to Minister Varadkar’s recent announcement that he will expand certain aspects of the Community Employment Scheme. As it stands Deputy Pringle says the

Donegal County Council has unveiled three new pilot initiatives that will support new and existing Tidy Town groups throughout Donegal. These initiatives include the new Clean & Green Awards, a Tidy Towns Start-Up Fund and a Tidy Towns Improvement Project Fund. The Clean and Green awards will be set up on a pilot basis with

  Letterkenny University Hospital is asking people to comply with visitor restrictions on Medical 2 ward due to a number of suspected cases of the vomiting bug (Norovirus). In order to assist staff in curtailing the spread of this virus, it is imperative that only essential visiting takes place during this period. Children should not

A Donegal Minister is calling on the Government to recognise the role played in the 1916 year of Commemorations by the Fire Service. Members of other services were given Commemoration Medals in various ceremonies last year however the women and men of the nation’s fire services were not recognised. Minister of State Joe McHugh has

  Flights between Ireland and Britain could shut down overnight if the UK doesn’t have a deal at the end of the Brexit talks. That’s according to former Taoiseach John Bruton, who says it’s urgent that Britain and Europe agree a deal before Brexit is due to take effect in 2019. He’s been in Leinster

  A new group has been set up in Donegal for women who are involved in agriculture. The North West Women in Farming was founded following the establishment of other similiar groups across the country. The group aims to bring together a like-minded community of women who are interested in farming and give them a

Donegal TD Charlie McConalogue says more resources need to be invested in the Donegal Garda division to curb rising rural crime rates. He says latest figures show that only 13 new Gardaí allocated to the division since recruitment resumed in Templemore, that’s far less than other divisions across the country. Deputy Mc Conalogue says the

Tidy Town’s groups across Donegal are being advised that the Council is now accepting applications for funding. This year, fifteen thousand euro has been made available for each Municpal District, to help and support town’s entering the Tidy Town’s Competition. Councillor Jack Murray says the funding has been made available quite late in the year,

There were 17 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report. 8 people were waiting on trolleys while a fruther 9 were waiting on wards. The number is significantly down on yesterday’s figure of 28 where the Full Capacity Protocol was implemented at the hospital. Nationally there

  Highland Radio continues to hold the highest market share of any local radio station in the country, with 56.5% of the overall radio market in North Donegal. The latest Ipsos / MRBI JNLR survey analysed listenership patterns for the 12 months up to the end of March, and shows Highland Radio with a weekly

Local businesses across the North West are being offered the opportunity to become part of a cross-border trade delegation trip to Boston scheduled for November. Expressions of interest are now being sought for the 2017 Trade and Investment Mission to Boston for any local companies with aspirations to break into the US market. The trip

  A South Donegal TD says the Government needs to wake up to the crisis in rural Ireland, and begin formulate a comprehensive strategy to create more balanced regional development. Marc Mac Sharry was speaking after confirmation that Paddy McGuinness has written to Minister Michael Ring asking him not to re-appoint him as Chairperson of

A Midlands North West MEP says a consultation on the future of the European Union could see the principle of Freedom of Movement diluted, at the same time that Brexit is happening because the same principle was regarded as sacrosanct. Luke Ming Flanagan says there are five options included in a White Paper, ranging from

A solicitor representing the family of a chainsaw operator killed by a tree says they are now looking at their legal options. Damien Tansey confirmed the family intends to pursue a civil action against 17 defendant companies and organisations. Mr Tansey was speaking after an inquest jury returned a verdict of misadventure on the death

A missing teenager from County Tyrone has been found in Dublin. 17 year-old Aoife O’Hare, who is from Cookstown, was reported missing at Store Street Garda Station earlier this week. Gardai confirmed his morning that Aoife has been located, and is safe and well.

A Donegal Deputy has accused the Government of a lack of support for rural communities, following the allocation of funding for festivals within Donegal. It was announced that almost €50,000 in funding would be made availabe for 20 festivals within the county. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has expressed his particular dissatisfaction at the allocation

Derry City and Strabane District Council has circulated its proposals to help fund the completion of a new play park in the Brandywell area of Derry, as well as completing the Daisyfield project. Progress has also been welcomed for the Council’s proposed Community Centre development programme, with approval for continued engagement with the Department for