Author name: oisinkelly

Final preparations are underway in Derry ahead of the funeral of Martin McGuinness tomorrow. The former IRA leader turned peacemaker will be laid to rest following funeral mass at St Columba’s church. Martin McGuinness’s final journey will begin at his family home on Derry’s Bogside soon after 1pm tomorrow. It’ll be followed by mass at

  Northern Ireland’s politicians have been remembering former deputy first minister Martin McGuiness with a special session of the assembly. The 66 year old died in hospital after a short illness. The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Terence Slowey today paid tribute to Mr Mc Guinness, and Books of Condolences have opened at the

There were 29 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. The latest trolley watch report has revealed that there were 9 people on trolleys while a further 20 were waiting on wards. It’s up five on yesterday’s figure of 24. Limerick University Hospital was the most overcrowded

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has formally launched a bid to have a number of economic, social and cultural rights recognised in the constitution. He has moved a private members bill in the Dail addressing the right to housing, healthcare, education and workers’ rights among others, and seeking to enshrine these rights in the Constitution via a

People in Donegal still have the lowest disposable income in the country, according to the latest figures from the CSO. An analysis for the disposable income figures for 2014 show on average, people in Donegal had €15,061 in disposable income. The state average was just above €19,000, while Dublin had the highest average disposable income of

  Police in Strabane say the security alert in the town today follows an attempt to kill police officers in Strabane last night. Superintendent Gordon McCalmont says they believe a device exploded while police were on patrol in the area of Townsend Street shortly after 8.30pm. He says the investigation is at an early stage, and

Hundreds of people gathered in Derry yesterday evening to accompany the body of Martin McGuinness on his final journey home to the Bogside. The North’s former deputy first minister and ex-IRA leader died on Monday night after a short illness. His funeral mass will take place tomorrow at St Columba’s Church, Longtower at 2pm. The

Hundreds attended a vigil in Buncrana last night to remember Danielle Mc Laughlin, the local woman who was killed last week in Goa, India. In a statement read to last night’s vigil on behalf of Danielle’s family last night, her friend Christy Duffy said their hope is that there will be a full, open and

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle is spearheading a bid to have a number of social rights recognised in the constitution. He will move a private members bill in the Dail addressing the right to housing, healthcare, education and workers’ rights among others, and seeking to enshrine these rights in the Constitution via a referendum. It’s the

A Killybegs man, who shouted “scumbag” while trying to confront Taoiseach Enda Kenny at a MacGill Summer School in Glenties a few yeas ago, had his case put back to 2pm today for the judge to look at a video of the incident, at Donegal Circuit Court. 46-year-old Gerry Bray, Church Road, Killybegs is accused

A security alert is ongoing in the Townsend Street area of Strabane. The PSNI say there is no access to the town via Liskey Road as a result of the incident, and say disruption is likely for residents. No further details are available.

A Donegal County Councillor has claimed that unfinished housing developments are still a prevalent issue in the county and further afield. The comments come following the publication of the latest progress report on tackling the issue, which has suggested that there is an 85% drop since 2010 from nearly 3000 to 420. Minister for Housing

A woman with “HIV” and “psychiatric” issues, who assaulted a Garda causing her harm at a County Donegal Courthouse, has pleaded guilty to the charge at Donegal Circuit Court. 37-year-old Mary Kamunya of The Maples Lismonaghan, Letterkenny also pleaded guilty to assaulting Dublin-based Garda Sheenagh Mary Carroll at Donegal Circuit Court at Bridge Street Donegal

There has been a broad welcome to a motion passed by Sligo County Council backing a rail link from Sligo to Donegal and linking into Northern Ireland. The idea is part of a document assessing the future of the railway service, as part of a process including a number of senior politicians including OPW Minister

Visiting restrictions remain in place at Letterkenny University Hospital due to an outbreak of the Winter vomiting Bug. The HSE confirmed yesterday that three wards were effected by the bug namely Medical 5, Medical 3 and Surgical 2. The HSE says that while the Norovirus seems to be resolving in the three wards already affected,

A Councillor says the gridlock in Letterkenny today strengthens calls on the local authority to review traffic management, particularly in the Mountain Top area. Delays were lengthened today due to the poor weather with congestion across Letterkenny with people approaching the town from the Kilmacrennan side experiencing very long delays. Councillor John O’Donnell has previously

  There were 24 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital according to the INMO. The latest trolley watch report has revealed that were 7 people on trolleys while a further 17 were waiting on wards. Cork University Hospital was the most overcrowded in the country this morning with 43 people waiting for

Tributes continue to be paid to Martin Mc Guinness, the former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, who died overnight in Derry. The Taoiseach says he’s deeply saddened at today’s news – he says Martin McGuinness’s passing represents a significant loss, not only to politics in Northern Ireland but to the wider political landscape on this

There has been a broad welcome to a motion passed by Sligo County Council backing a rail link from Sligo to Donegal and linking on into the north. It was also agreed that talks and meetings between the various representatives from each of the local authorities concerned so as to consider ways to advance the

The coastguard helicopter Rescue 116 may have hit rocks around Blackrock Island off the Mayo coast. In a statement overnight the Air Accident Investigation Unit says it’s recovered tail wreckage around the island’s lighthouse. It’s a week to the day since the flight came down with four crew on board – Captain Dara Fitzpatrick has

Martin McGuinness has died at the age of 66. He had stepped down as Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister in January and had been unwell for several months. He was a former member of the IRA’s army council and worked as Sinn Fein’s chief negotiator during the peace process. Paying tribute this morning, Sinn Fein

Met Eireann is forecasting cold conditions overnight and into tomorrow with some snow accumulating even at lower levels. A status yellow snow and ice warning is in place 8 o’clock this evening until noon tomorrow. Motorists are advised that some dangerous driving conditions can be expected as road temperatures are likely to be close to

Visiting at Letterkenny University Hospital has been suspended for at least 24 hours due to an outbreak of the Winter Vomitting Bug. While the bug is currently affecting only Medical 5, Medical 3 and Surgical 2 wards, visiting restrictions are in place across the whole hospital. Management say in exceptional circumstances the next of kin

A remembrance ceremony is being held in Buncrana tomorrow (Tuesday) night in honour of Danielle McLaughlin who was killed in India last week. The 28 year-old was found murdered on a beach in the Goa district last Monday. Tomorrow night at 7pm, friends and family are coming together at the Stone Jug in Buncrana to

There were 17 people awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, four of them on Emergency Department trolleys and 13 in overflow areas and on wards. Nationally, the INMO says there were 350 people awaiting admission around the country this morning.

One year on from the Buncrana Pier tragedy, a local priest says the victims’ families have been overwhelmed with support. Ahead of an anniversary mass at Holy family Church in Ballymagroarty tonight, Fr Joe Gormley says he’s kept in close contact with Louise James, who lost her partner, sons, mother and her sister in the

It’s been confirmed that Article 50 – the official process of Britain leaving the EU – will be triggered on Wednesday the 29th of March. The British Prime Minister’s official spokesperson says they want talks to “begin promptly” but also they expect “the 27 members to agree their position”. There’s supposed to be a two

East Derry MLA John Dallat is urging the Causeway Coast and Glens Council to back the Foyle Ferry Service, after a committee recommended not providing a subvention for the service. Mr Dallat, who has returned to Stomront having previously retired, says the ferry has the potential to fill many empty beds in hotels, guesthouses and