Author name: oisinkelly

The British secretary of state for Northern Ireland has set a new deadline of Easter for the formation of a new government. James Brokenshire says direct rule from London may have to be considered if there’s no power-sharing executive after that date. He’s told the House of Commons that the failure to set up a

Bus Éireann workers are into day five of an all-out, indefinite strike. SIPTU is to ballot its members in Irish Rail and Dublin Bus, following a threat yesterday by Bus Éireann that compulsory redundancies may be unavoidable. Driver Stewart Thomson from the the Bus Eireann picket line in Stranorlar says while he hopes the situation

There’s been an increase in the number of people awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital, with 16 patients without beds this morning, eight of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That compares to three patients awaiting admission yesterday. Nationally, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation say 402 patients were in need of a bed this morning-

Donegal County Council says it is actively perusing business that refuse to pay rates. Last year the local authority brought in almost €31 million in commercial rates which accounts for 23% of  it’s income. In 2016, over €6m in rates due were written off. Director of Finance Gary Martin says the vast majority of business pay

Junior Minister Joe McHugh has challenged Ulster Bank to publish profit figures for two branches it wants to close in Donegal. Minister McHugh was speaking after attending meetings in Raphoe and Ardara, where the local Ulster Bank branches are due to close in June and September respectively. Minister McHugh says up to five staff will

  There’s been another paramilitary style shooting in Derry. A 23-year-old man was been shot in the leg inside a bookmakers premises on Central Drive in the Creggan after he was attacked by two masked men shortly after 8.30 last night. The man’s injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Condemning the incident, local Sinn

A Donegal councillor wants the local authority to use those who’ve received community service to carry out duties such as litter collection. Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh says this has already happened in Letterkenny, with positive results for the community. The council has agreed to calls to initiate a link up with the probation service with a

The Northern Ireland secretary will update politicians later on efforts to restore a power-sharing executive. He’s decided to give the parties more time for talks to try to reach a deal. The DUP and Sinn Fein have blamed each other for creating a deadlock. James Brokenshire says all sides need to find an agreement………

A protest is due to take place tomorrow afternoon at Stormont to coincide with Theresa May’s triggering of Article 50. The protest is being organised by Border Communities Against Brexit, who say the 56% remain vote in Northern Ireland has been completely ignored. Protestors will assemble at 2pm and march towards parliament buildings. Sinn Féin

The Northern Ireland secretary says there is a short window of opportunity to try and resolve outstanding issues in an effort to reach a deal on a new power-sharing agreement. The 4pm deadline, to try and form an executive, has now passed without agreement. James Brokenshire says he doesn’t believe there is any appetite for

Foyle Search and Rescue have confirmed that a body has been recovered from the River Foyle. It is not yet known if the body is that of 23 year-old Jack Glenn who was last seen entering the River Foyle in February. Searches are also being carried out for 18 year-old Dean Millar who was last

The remains of Buncrana woman, Danielle McLaughlin are due to arrive home this evening at 6pm. The 28 year-old who was murdered in India will be waked at Marian Park, Buncrana. Funeral mass will take place on Thursday morning at 11am at Cockhill Chapel.

Councillor Mick Quinn has today announced he’s stepping down from Donegal County Council. The Sinn Fein councillor for the Letterkenny district said he’s reluctantly taking the decision for health reasons. Councillor Quinn, who has multiple sclerosis, has served 7 and a half years on the council It’s expected his replacement will be coopted onto the

Two major audio visual presentations to mark 60 years of the European Union took place today in Letterkenny’s Mount Errigal Hotel. The 60th anniversary of the EU was marked by a major ceremony in Rome last Saturday. German Political scientist and academic, Ingo Espenschied told today’s gathering that he believes after Brexit, the remaining EU

Donegal County Council is being urged to carry out a survey of all towns in the county with traffic speeding problems, to determine whether pedestrian crossings should be put in place. Councillor Paul Canning says there is a particular problem of lorries on tight deadlines speeding through towns in East Donegal. He says the local

All wards at Letterkenny University Hospital are open for normal visiting. Visitors are asked to be vigilant with hand hygiene when attending the hospital and to follow the standard visiting guidelines. Children should not visit if at all possible. As the Norovirus is prevalent in the community, anyone experiencing vomiting and/or diarrhoea should not visit

A man’s been rescued from the waters off Aranmore after his boat sank this morning. Emergency services were alerted at 10.15 after the man seen in the water close to Oilean Crone island. A nearby fishing boat couldn’t take him from the water ; the Rescue 118 helicopter was diverted from the ongoing recovery operation

Technical experts are hoping to raise the wreckage of the Rescue 116 helicopter off the sea floor today. Air bags will be used to float it a few feet to allow camera equipment and divers access the site. They’re still looking for the remains of two missing crewmen. The body of Captain Mark Duffy was

The price of an average house in Donegal rose by 2.9% in the first quarter of this year, with the average three-bed semi in the county now costing €87,500. Nationally, the average three bedroom semi now costs €209,944, the Q1 REA Average House Price Survey has found – a rise of 3.5% on the figure

The Silver Birch Gallery and Studio which is run Carndonagh-based artist Sharon McDaid was named Business of the Year at the Donegal Local Enterprise Awards at the weekend. The studio also won the Best Established Business category. Emmet Rushe of Rushe Fitness in Letterkenny won the innovation award, while Thomas McLaughlin from Manorcunningham won the

Talks to restore a power-sharing executive at Stormont broke down last night. Today is the deadline for nominating a first and deputy first minister at Stormont ; if that doesn’t happen, then Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire is obliged to intervene. Last evening, Sinn Fein left the talks, saying the process had run its course,

Figures have revealed that Donegal is amongst the worst affected counties when it comes to Community Employment Scheme cuts Figures released by Minister Leo Varadkar to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty reveal that over the last five years the number of projects has dropped by 18% in the county. In 2012 there was a total of

Letterkenny is one of fifteen towns across the country in which high speed broadband is being offered to some small companies to help grow their business. The government campaign is giving free connection for two years to help small firms grow their business here and abroad. Anne O’Leary is chief executive of Vodafone Ireland………….

Public meetings take place today in Raphoe and Ardara to discuss plans by Ulster Bank to close its branches in both towns. The Raphoe meeting takes place at Friels Hotel this evening at 5 o’clock, while the Ardara meeting takes place at the Parish Centre at 8.30.

Hills are ablaze in Redcastle this Sunday evening. The fires, pictured by Enda Craig, are on the Ballyargus Hills. We understand that there are no homes in the immediate areas but that one of the fires is located close Lough Fad which is the primary water source for East Inishowen. The fire service is on

The Government has been criticised over its refusal to invest in Donegal’s ferry services. The Rathmullan to Buncrana and Greencastle to Magilligan services has previously been funded by Donegal County Council. Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn called on Minister Shane Ross to recognise the value the services are to tourism within the county. However, the Minister

The PSNI have arrested a second male in connection with a security alert in Strabane earlier this week. Police have claimed that an attempt was made to endanger the lives of police officers when a device exploded as police patrolled the area of Townsend Street on Tuesday last. At approximately 8:30pm while police were on

  Investigations have been launched following the death of a prisoner at Magilligan Prison. The Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed the death in custody of a 44 year-old prisoner yesterday afternoon. Investigations have now been launched by the PSNI, Coroner and Prisoner Ombudsman. Ronnie Armour, Head of the Northern Ireland Prison Service extended his sympathies,