Author name: oisinkelly

Captain Dara Fitzpatrick – who lost her life after Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 116 crashed – will be laid to rest today. The mother of one was leading her team as they supported a recovery mission off the coast of Mayo when the helicopter went down in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Search efforts for

The Taoiseach returns home today amid more uncertainty over his future as leader of Fine Gael. Before travelling to the US Enda Kenny told his Parliamentary Party that he would deal with the leadership issue after the St Patrick’s Day trip. But speaking in New York overnight Mr Kenny said he can’t leave until a

Funding has been announced to provide additional facilities at three Donegal schools. Minister Joe McHugh has welcomed the news which will benefit schools in Buncrana, Arranmore and Gaoth Dobhair. No details of the amount of funding are available yet however, the School Building Unit is due to issue details of the grant aid to the

The body of Danielle McLaughlin is expected to begin its journey home to Ireland today. The young Buncrana woman was murdered while traveling in Goa in India this week. Post Mortem results confirmed that the 28 year old was murdered on a beach near the tourist resort of Goa. A 24 year old local man

A Donegal County Councilor is calling on Transport Infrastructure Ireland to immediately release funding to improve the National Primary Road through the Twin Towns Ballybofey and Stranorlar. Cllr Gary Doherty says he has been inundated with complaints from motorists about the state of the road with people having to dodge numerous pot holes particularly on

It’s hoped the remains of Danielle McLaughlin who was killed in India will be returned to Ireland within days. Danielle, originally from Buncrana, was murdered near the tourist resort of Goa earlier this week. A 24 year old local man has been charged in connection with her death. Over 40-thousand euro has been raised to

A special event to raise funds for Ballaghderg Special Needs Pre-school in Letterkenny will take place tomorrow night in Boston. Anyone with a Donegal connection living in Boston is being urged to attend. Southill Childrens Fund which already raised $10,000 last year for Ballaghderg Pre-school is hosting this event to raise additional funds for the

An Indian community group who were due to take part in this year’s St Patrick’s Day parade in Derry pulled out as a mark of respect following the murder of Buncrana woman Danielle McLaughlin in India. The group were due to bring aspects of the ‘Holi’ festival to the parade which is the same festival

  There’s  been a two vehicle crash just outside Strabane. Emergency services were called to the scene at the Prospect Corner on the Bellspark road shortly after 2pm this afternoon. It’s understood that nobody was seriously injured in the collision. West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan says this is the third crash at that particular spot

A Donegal man has settled a High Court action for €2.9m over injuries he received after a milk van ran over his head when he was just two. Ian O’Donnell, now 18, suffered severe skull fractures in the incident outside his Letterkenny home just weeks before his third birthday. Mr O’Donnell from Glenwood Park in

Work has begun on a 2.59 million euro leisure centre at the Waterfront Hotel in Dungloe. The centre should be open within a year, and will boost the number of people employed at the hotel to over 80. Joseph Mc Colgan, General Manager of the Waterfront says the hotel has been a success since it

  Letterkenny University Hospital was the second most overcrowded in the country today according to the INMO with 23 people waiting for a bed. The latest trolley watch report shows that there were 14 waiting on trolleys while a further nine were on wards. It’s up just one on yesterday’s figure of 22. Galway and Limerick

A postmortem examination has today been carried out on the body of a Buncrana woman killed in India Danielle McLaughlin was found dead on a beach in Goa on Tuesday. The Guardian’s South Asian correspondent says police have identified the man believed to be responsible, but he has yet to be formally charged. Michael Safi

Around 18 houses on Gola Island are without power after the underwater ESB line connecting the island to the national grid was damaged. The ESB says it will be next week before the line can be repaired, in the meantime, those on the island are depending on generators. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says

A public meeting has been organised for this day week to discuss the future of the Family Enrichment Centre in Stranorlar. News emerged yesterday that the facility which is operated by the Sisters of Mercy is to close at years end. The meeting is taking place on Thursday 23rd March in Jacksons Hotel at 7.30pm.

Donegal Tourism is reporting a positive response from businesses and community groups across Donegal who are set to go green for St. Patricks Day. Businesses, organisations and community groups right across the county have plans in place to light up their businesses and local landmarks to celebrate the national patron. Iga Lawne is Community Tourism

  A Midlands North West MEP is calling for an all-Ireland debate on a future United Ireland. Matt Carthy was speaking in the European Parliament where Brexit and Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a second Scottish independence referendum have received much attention this week. He says the future withdrawal of the UK from the EU makes

The family of  Buncrana woman Danielle McLaughlin, who was found dead in the Canacona area of Goa in India, has asked the media for privacy at this time. The 28 year-old was found dead early on Tuesday morning local time and Indian police have confirmed they have launched a murder investigation. The Department of Foreign

  There were 22 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest trolley watch report from the INMO.  The figures reveal that two people were on trolleys while a further 20 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded in the country today – 49

Indian media is reporting that the woman found murdered in the Canacona area of Goa was a 25 year old woman from Inishowen. She was found dead early on Tuesday morning local time and Indian police have confirmed they have launched a murder investigation. A number of people have been questioned about her death The

Irish Water has announced a €1.1 million investment to improve water supplies in Fintown. Irish Water has conmfirmed it intends to connect the Fintown water supply to the Glenties supply, replacing almost 5km of water mains in the Glenties, Fintown and Meenahalla areas and constructing two booster pumping stations. The Fintown supply is on the

It’s emerged today that the Family Enrichment Centre in Stranorlar is to close at the end of this year. The centre, which is operated by the Sisters of Mercy, runs a number of support services, including mental health initiatives, which have been described as crucial. New of the impending closure broke in today’s Finn Valley

A Donegal Deputy has called on the Government to urgently set a date for the publication for the MICA expert panel report. Thousands of houses in Donegal are said to be affected by the defective blocks which have left families living in fear of their homes crumbling around them. The panel’s initial deadline had been

The Department of Education is to review DEIS schools funding criteria. According to Minister Joe McHugh, the Department is rolling out new criteria for the funding programme to replace the system which had been in place since 2008. In a statement Minister McHugh says the Government has been working hard over the past few years

The High Court has quashed a Ministerial decision against the variations of the County Development Plan for Donegal which had been approved by Councillors in June 2014. The variations were intended to impose restrictions on the development of windfarms in the county. The Ministerial Order was issued last year and was the second of its

There are unconfirmed reports that an Irish woman found dead in India was from Donegal. Local media reports the body of a woman in her late 20s was found a beach in the Canacona area of Goa. It’s believed a number of people are being questioned about  the woman’s death, which is being treated as murder.