Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal Deputy has claimed that farmers will be disappointed with news that the Government has refused to lower the CAP payment ceiling during its term in office. It’s understood that in the Programme for Government a commitment was made that a proposal to lower the maximum payments, from €150,000 to €100,000 would be considered.

A 48 year old man has been charged with attempted murder, common assault, two counts of criminal damage, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place and threats to kill. He is expected to appear before Derry Magistrates Court later today. The charges are in connection with an incident in the Glendara

Northern Ireland’s first minister is refusing to step down, saying calls for her to do so are ‘misogynistic’. DUP leader Arlene Foster is under pressure over the botched Renewable Heat Initiative scheme, which went hundreds of millions of pounds over budget. Her partners in the power-sharing administration – Sinn Fein – have led the calls

Donegal County Council is inviting the public to participate in a short survey to find out more about the level of energy awareness throughout the county. It also hoped that the survey once completed will help advise on the best way to provide people with more information on saving energy costs. The survey is part

The Health Minister is to meet the HSE today to discuss the new record level of people awaiting beds at hospitals around the country. The daily count hit 612 yesterday, 33 of them at Letterkenny University Hospital and Simon Harris will meet management in the health service for a further update later. Meanwhile, it’s been

  The fire service in Letterkenny has been praised following their speedy response to a chip pan fire in the Carnamuggagh area of the town. Emergency services were called to a house earlier this afternoon and the fire was brought under control a short time later. The extent of damage to the property is not

Concern has been raised following the discovery of extensive fly tipping in Fanad. It’s understood that several bin bags were left in Ballywhoriskey in the last few days and by the time the discovery was made, the litter contained in the bags was strewn across the rocks. Efforts have been made since to clean up

  There were 33 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning – 20 of them on trolleys in the emergency department according to figures released by the INMO. A record 612 people are on trolleys at hospitals across the country – which the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says is ‘truly

It’s emerged that Letterkenny has slipped to ‘moderately littered’ in the IBAL anti-litter league, with the town now ranked 35th out of 40 towns nationally. Previously, Letterkenny had been ranked as ‘clean’, but Irish Business Against Litter says it’s survey for the latter part of 2016 saw some slippage, particularly on the Strabane and Sligo

There are renewed calls for the location of CCTV cameras at the Bernard Mc Glinchey Town Park in Letterkenny after human excrement was discovered on a children’s slide yesterday morning. The area has been fully power hosed and steam cleaned today, with the facilities now open. Councillor Gerry McMonagle says the incident was a dispicable

A significant number of companies are considering relocating to Ireland, from Britain, after Brexit. The IDA says its offices around the world are taking calls from firms looking for access to Europe when the UK leaves the EU. The latest stats revealed today show that overseas businesses here now employ almost 200-thousand people. Job losses

A 48 year old man has been arrested following an incident in the Glendara area of Derry this morning. Part of the Foyle Road was closed to traffic for a time between its junctions with Lone Moor Road and Bishop Street as police dealt with the incident. The man was detained on suspicion of several

The prospect of Stormont Assembly elections this year has been raised, as the ‘Cash-for-Ash’ controversy continues. Sinn Fein yesterday turned up the heat on First Minister Arlene Foster of the DUP, saying going to the people is a real prospect if she doesn’t stand aside. It’s thought Northern Irish taxpayers could have to foot the

Failte Ireland says Donegal is set to benefit substantially from a new half million euro Wild Atlantic Way advertising campaign which has just been launched in Britain. The advertising campaign aims to entice British tourists to Ireland and highlight the ease of access to the island from across the water. The four-week campaign will see

The percentage rise in Donegal house prices in 2016 was slightly above the national average, according to figures released this morning by daft.ie. Nationally, house prices rose by an average of 8%, rising to 10%, when Dublin is excluded. In Donegal, prices in the final three months of 2016 were 11% higher than a year

Gardai in Letterkenny are appealing for witnesses following a burglary at the old hideout in the town last evening. One male is currently being detained in connection with the burglary and subsequent fire. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 91 67100 or the

Police in Strabane are appealing for witnesses following numerous reports of disturbances and assaults in the Newtownstewart area on New Years Eve. Police are also keen to speak with anyone in regards to an assault which occurred in the Diamond area of Castlederg, in the early hours of Tuesday last in which a male suffered

A local Councillor has described an attack on Letterkenny Town park as despicable, after human excrement was discovered on a children’s slide this morning. Councillor Gerry McMonagle visited the scene and says we need to think about the mindset of whoever carried out this act. The council has been contacted to carry out a full

New figures show 187 people have lost their lives on our roads this year – that’s 25 more than last year. The Road Safety Authority and Gardaí say there were 175 fatal crashes, compared to 155 in 2015. Vulnerable road users – such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and pedal cyclists – accounted for a third of

An investigation has been launched in Buncrana after a man is believed to have been assaulted with a sword in the Earlsfort area of the town. The incident occurred at approximately 2:20am on Tuesday last with the man being taken to Letterkenny University Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries. Gardai have confirmed that

Stricter penalties for those who vandalise defibrillators could be on the cards, following a number of incidents around the country where the life-saving devices were damaged beyond use. In the most recent case earlier this week, a two-thousand euro defibrillator in Arklow town was pulled off a wall and smashed by a group of youths

Bird Flu has reached Ireland. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed the H5N8 strain of avian flu has been identified in a wild duck in County Wexford. There’s very little threat to humans, and poultry farmers are on high alert, with all commercial flocks ordered indoors to prevent the spread of the disease. Nigel Renehan

A Foyle MLA is calling for an end to the releasing of horses from an enclosure on the Springtown Road in Derry. Mark H. Durkan says not only is this causing upset and worry for the owners of the horses, it’s also causing stress and danger to the animals. He fears it’s only a matter

Derry’s Tower Museum is to close for the first two weeks of the new year to allow for extensive renovations in the reception area. Derry City and Strabane District Council is pledging to keep disruption to the city’s tourist trade to a minimum. The Museum, in Union Hall Place, charts the history of Derry through

A gunshot was fired during an incident at a quarry in the Stranorlar area this morning. In a statement, gardai confirmed this afternoon that they received reports of shots fired during an incident at a location near Stranorlar this morning. There was no one injured or reports of damage to property and enquiries are ongoing.

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says the coming year will be an important one for the county, with graduate retention and tourism promotion among his main priorities. Job Creation and strengthening cross border links are also vital, according to Cllr Terence Slowey. Cllr Slowey says the relationship between him and Mayor Hilary Mc Clintock

The Small Firms Association is calling on the government to introduc e immediate measures to support firms in the border region which are being impacted by Brexit. In an end of year statement, Sue O’Neill, Chair of the Small Firms Association said 2016 has been a rollercoaster year for small businesses. It began with optimism

There were 23 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, eight of them on Emergency Department trolleys and 15 in overflow areas on the wards. That was the fourth highest figure recorded in the country today. Nationally, the INMO’sw Trolleywatch survey shows 368 people waiting for a bed in Irish hospitals today. Both

Around 10 billion euro would be needed to fix Ireland’s roads system, according to reports. A local authority performance review suggests 10,000 kilometres of road is essentially falling apart. The Irish Independent reports large sections of road is under severe structural distress and may need to be entirely rebuilt. The report says in Donegal, there is

Mourne River Search and Rescue is raising concerns after a string of incidents in which life-saving rings were removed in Strabane. This has been an ongoing issue in the area with the latest occasion resulting in a ring being found in a resident’s garden. On Tuesday last Mourne River Search and Rescue raised concern following

Gardai are investigating damage caused to a monument in Carrickfinn, Co Donegal Sometime between 2pm on Tuesday afternoon and 10:30am on Wednesday morning damage was caused to the monument at the Boat Strand. Gardai are appealing to the public for their assistance, anyone with any information is asked to contact Gardai in Bunbeg.

Donegal County Council has announced that a Safety Review of piers in the county is to be carried out in the coming year. A Marine Engineering Consultancy Company has been appointed by the council to carry out the review of 100 Piers and Harbours in Donegal. Work is due to commence early next year with