Author name: oisinkelly

Ardara man, Stephen McCahill has been named as the 2016 Donegal Person of the Year. Last night at a ceremony in Dublin, the Donegal Association recognised Stephen for his community work in promoting Ardara and Donegal.

A major public debate on Irish Unity is taking place today in the Mansion House in Dublin. It’s being hosted by Sinn Féin and brings together a host of different groups and commentators – to stimulate debate on how a future United Ireland might look. Midlands North West MEP Matt Carthy says the prospect of Northern

Police in the North have issued appeals to anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the Strabane or Drumahoe area this week. PSNI in Foyle are investigating a report of suspicious activity in the Lettershandoney Avenue area of Drumahoe. Chief Inspector Mark McClarence asks anyone in the area who noticed anything out of place, or any

Minister Michael Creed has again been criticised for his handling of GLAS payments. Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the delay in processing GLAS payments for 2016 is holding over 10,000 farmers to ransom. He says not only is this leaving farmers in a difficult situation but it is also a breach of the Farmers’ Charter

House prices in Donegal last year rose by 12 per cent. The average price is now 140 thousand euro for a home. In Sligo meanwhile the average price is 185 thousand, up 9 per cent on 2015. Mark Keenan, Residential Property editor with the Irish Independent, explains the figures in Donegal:

There has been strong criticism of those behind vandalism in Buncrana’s Swan Park. Extensive damage was caused with graffitti sprayed in a number of areas in the park. The park is popular in Inishowen and recently received significant investment to improve the park for tourists and locals alike. Local Councillor Jack Murray said ‘It is

  The number of people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital has dropped significantly today with 16 people waiting for a bed this morning. According to the INMO 5 were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 11 were on wards or in overflow areas. The number is down 9 from yesterday’s figure

It’s been revealed that the Lough Swilly Ferry experienced record numbers last year with almost 20,000 foot passengers using the service in 2016. Figures released by Donegal County Council also show that the busiest day for the ferry was the August Bank Holiday Monday with a total of 68 cars and 595 foot passengers availing

  Sinn Féin will reveal Martin McGuinness’ replacement next week. The former Deputy First Minister says he won’t contest the next election in the North due to ill-health. Tribute have been paid across the political spectrum to Mr McGuinness for his contribution to the peace process and his efforts in attempting to make the Northern

  The Office of Public Works has agreed to meet with Donegal County Councillors next month to discuss the development of Grianan of Aileach in Burt. Concerns were raised late last year over who had responsibility in providing funding for tourist facilities in the area. The OPW stated then that it was not funded to

  The Donegal based group “Our Children’s Voice” has welcomed news that a full-time Clinical Nurse Manager for Children with Life-limiting Conditions is to be appointed to Letterkenny University Hospital. The HSE say applications are now being invited for the permanent position – the closing date is January 30th with a view to begin interviews

  Tributes are being paid to Martin McGuinness, who’s stepping down from active politics in the North. Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he is sorry to learn that the former Deputy First Minister has decided not to contest the forthcoming election due to poor health. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has extended his best wishes, and

A Donegal Deputy is calling the National tillage Forum to convene as soon as possible following the passing of a Dáil motion to establish a crisis aid fund for tillage farmers. The Fianna Fáil motion received widespread backing from TDs in the House yesterday. The party’s Agriculture Spokesperson Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the ball is

  It’s been claimed that political instability at Stormont could significantly impact progress on the A5 project. Last year Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Hazzard anticipated a start date of 2017 and a completion date of 2023 with a cost of £850m. However, SDLP Infrastructure Spokesperson and West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan now believes that the

  A man has appeared in court in connection with a significant drug seizure in Letterkenny on Wednesday. It’s thought that the estimated street value of the cocaine and cannabis find is collectively just over €7,000. Vincent Whoriskey, 35, of 65 Burnside Apartments, Lower Main Street, Letterkenny was charged with alleged possession of cannabis and

Trade unions representing workers at Bus Eireann have warned plans by the company to fix its finances could lead to a major transport dispute. Unions have described the proposed cuts at the company as ‘stomach churning’. The National Bus and Rail Worker’s Union says there will be a backlash and is warning staff at Dublin

  Martin McGuinness has announced he’s not seeking re-election to the Stormont Assembly. The outgoing deputy first minister says he’s departing early on health grounds.   In a statement tonight Martin McGuinness says he decided last year that 2017 would see him step aside and make way for a new leader of Sinn Féin in

The Ceann Comhairle had to use his casting vote in the Dáil to save the Government. A vote on an anti-evictions bill from the Anti Austerity Alliance People Before Profit resulted in a tied vote of 51 a piece after Fianna Fáil abstained. The bill would have removed the sale of a property as a

A U.S. Packaging Company is top create up to 95 new jobs in Derry. Bemis, which is based in Wisconsin, already has a manufacturing plant in Campsie, and has now decided to locate its European Business Services Centre in Derry. Bemis, a global polymer-based packaging company already has an established healthcare packaging manufacturing facility in

The head of the IFA in Donegal says he detects a softening in the Agriculture Ministsr’s stance on calls for a crisis fund to tackle the problems being faced by grain and tillage farmers. Many farmers weren’t able to harvest their crops last autumn after a prolonged period of wet weather, with the IFA saying

A member of the Donegal JPC says the closure of a number of police stations in Northern Ireland is hampering the ability of gardai to deal with cross border crime. Cllr Bernard Mc Guinness was speaking as he moved a motion calling for the establishment of a dedicated phone line that people could use to

Senior Gardai in Donegal are asking elected members in the county to lobby for more Garda resources. That’s according to the Chair of Donegal’s Joint Policing Committe, Cllr Gerry McMonagle who has obtained figures which show a slashing of the number of Gardai in the county. Betwee 2008 and 2016 the number of guards in

Communities in the North West have been asked to participate in a special commemorative event next week to mark the sinking of the White Star line SS Laurentic. More than 350 people died when the Laurentic was destroyed by a mine off the coast of Donegal on January 25th 1917. It happened just an hour

There have been two more substantial drug finds in Letterkenny, with suspected cocaine and cannabis seized. The total estimated street value of the seized items is just over $7,000. The two searches were conducted in the Lower Main Street area of Letterkenny at around 6.30 last evening. In the first search, an estimated €4,000 worth

  In the UK, Theresa May’s promised post-Brexit Britain will be a “great meritocracy” and a “more united nation”. Writing for The Sun, the British prime minister claims leaving the EU will make her country stronger and fairer. She says her government’s modern industrial strategy, which will be published next week, will break down the

There were seven fatal collisions in Donegal last year, resulting in the deaths of 11 people. The recently published provisional review of road fatalities also shows up to the 27 July 2016 there had been one death on Donegal’s roads. However over the following eight weeks, there were nine more tragic deaths with three collisions claiming

The N14 Letterkenny to Lifford Road has reopened after a closure earlier this morning . A truck had overturned between Ballinalecky Crossroads and White Cross, blocking the road. No other vehicles were involved, and there were no injuries. The truck has now been cleared.    

The family of a trawlerman who lost his life in a toxic fume hold has paid a moving tribute to another member of the crew who tried to save him but also lost his life. An inquest in Donegal town heard how James Joyce from Inis Mor in the Aran Islands was trapped by fumes

A Donegal Deputy has questioned a claim in the Dail that the employment of three new staff by the HSE will mean that full time services will be returned to the Seaview Respite House in Mountcharles. The facility provides repsite care for over a hundred families of adults or children with intellectual disability but services

The N14 Letterkenny to Lifford Road is closed between Ballinalecky Crossroads and the White Cross due to an overturned truck. Gardai say it’s hoped the road will be clear by around 8 o’clock. There are no reports of injuries.