Author name: oisinkelly

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

315 people across the country are awaiting a bed at hospitals today Figures from the INMO reveal that 236 people are on trolleys with a further 79 in overflow areas. At Letterkenny University Hospital, 11 people are waiting on beds, 3 on trolleys in the Emergency Department.

Calls have been made for an Irish Passport office to be established in Northern Ireland after it was revealed that 65,000 Irish passports were issued to people North of the border this year. West Tyrone Sinn Fein Councillor, Glenn Campbell has supported calls, asking that the issue be prioritised in 2017. The influx of people

It has been announced that Donegal man, John Boyle will run for president of the Irish National Teacher’s Organisation. Mr Boyle, the current vice-president of the INTO will launch his campaign this evening at his old school in Mullaghduff in support of the Community Hospital in Dungloe. During his time as vice-president he demanded that

Police in Strabane are appealing for information on two seperate incidents. One involving an assault resulting in serious injuries and the other when an unknown male was discovered in a property in the Newtownstewart area in the early hours of this morning. Police in Strabane are appealing for information regarding a male who was seriously

The Killybegs Coastguard has confirmed that a body was recovered on land on the outskirts of Killybegs. Searches were carried out by the coastguard and Donegal Mountian resuce near Lough Aderry, between Killybegs and Ardara, after a male was reported missing yesterday. The search was stood down in the early hours of this morning. No

People in Donegal are being encouraged to recycle their electrical waste and other goods over the festive period and into the New Year. There are a variety of recycling centres across the county with Donegal County Council detailing a full list of opening hours on their website. Concern has been raised that with new electrical

The winter vomiting bug is continuing to be a serious issue in Derry with Altnagelvin’s Trauma and Orthopaedics Care Ward remaining closed this week due to the outbreak. It’s understood that a number of other wards which were affected are now partially open. The Trust has confirmed that the norovirus continues to impact on admissions

Letterkenny’s Cathedral Quarter project is calling on local businesses and sponsors across Donegal to invest in the project. Over the past three years and since the project was first established, the Church lane area in the town has seen a huge revival with many once derelict buildings now the home of thriving businesses. The committee

  New figures have revealed that record numbers are visiting Sliabh Liag , with more than 187,000 people visiting the cliffs in south-west Donegal in 2016. Inclusion in the Wild Atlantic Way and a consequent increase in publicity has been cited as one of key contributors to the large numbers. Recent investment has also seen

  Over 230 people are on trolleys at hospitals across the country. According to the INMO – South Tipperary General Hospital is the most overcrowded with 26 people in need of a bed. Four people were waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hostpial this morning – all four on trolleys in the Emergency Department.

  The fire service in Dungloe has been praised after bringing a gorse fire under control last night near Kincasslagh . The alarm was raised by a local resident at approximately 9pm last night with the crew bringing the fire under control a short time later. No damage was caused to any homes. It’s believed

  Almost half of speeding motorists dodged a court appearance in the past two years because their summonses weren’t served. The Irish Independent reports that out of almost 67 thousand speeding cases listed between January 2015 and last October, around 31 thousand were struck out for non-delivery of a summons. In Donegal, there were 1,530

  Ireland issued 740 thousand passports this year – with record demand being attributed to Brexit. The Euro 2016 tournament in France also drove higher than usual demand – piling pressure on the passport office at the usual peak time of summer. Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan admitted that Brexit may have played a significant

  Fine Gael has been accused of failing farmers with a €36m reduction in the GLAS allocation for the coming new year. Donegal Deputy, Charlie McConalogue says he is appalled by the reduction after promises of a €250m allocation. The Fianna Fail Agriculture Spokesperson believes the underspend is on course to be close to €400m.

  The Government has been urged to act immediately on the National Boradband and Mobile Phone Signal Commission. The report contains 40 recommendations in order to solve the ongoing difficulties and problems with the lack of broadband and mobile phone signals right throughout the country. There has been on-going concern in Donegal over vast black-spots

Fahan village has reopened today following a road traffic collision last evening. The incident occurred on at approximately 10pm. The crash happened in the same locality in which 25 year-old Amy Loughery lost her life in a fatal road traffic collision on Thursday last. The two vehicle collision happened just before 11pm. In another incident,

Gardai are reminding people that Mini-motors and quads can only be used on public roads by a licenced driver. Gardai are also warning of the dangers associated with mini vehicles, and say they are powerful machines, which have in the past killed and seriously injured children using them. Garda Derek Cloughly from the National Roads

Gardaí in Falcarragh are investigating a single vehicle road traffic collision in which a man in his late 50’s has died. The man was the sole occupant of the car. The incident occurred on a minor road at Curransport, Gortahork, sometime after 1.30am and 11.30am on St Stephen’s Day. The man was pronounced dead at the

People are being urged not to take the risk by drinking and driving this Christmas. Gardaí say there are plenty of alternative modes of transport people can use, particularly in the cities. Tom Murphy, Operational Superintendent for traffic in Dublin, has this advice for those going for a few drinks over the holidays.

Pope Francis has called for an end to the fighting in Syria. In his traditional Christmas address to crowds at the Vatican – he said “far too much blood has been spilled” in the conflict. The Pontiff also denounced the continuing suffering of children around the world:

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for this evening and Christmas Day on the west coast. Winds will gust at up to 110 kilometres per hour in coastal areas of Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo and Galway. A second warning is in place for other parts of all Atlantic coastal counties from Kerry

The PSNI in the North have issued an appeal for information on the whereabouts of a missing teenager. 16 year-old Chloe Sharkey was last seen in Omagh at approximately 11pm last night. The Police have stressed that she is not in any trouble but are keen to ensure she is safe. Anyone which any information

A Mid-Ulster MLA has criticised Minister Paul Givan over his decision to cut An Ghaeltacht scholarships for 100 children. SDLP Irish Language Spokesperson, Patsy McGlone said that follwoing the Renewable Heating Initiative scheme controversy, the cut in scholarships will leave a sour taste for the Irish speaking community. Each year hundreds of children travel to

Almost 1120 homes and businesses are without power in Stranorlar today. ESB are currently working to repair the fault and restore power as soon as possible. They have estimated a restoration time of 1pm this afternoon.

A Status Yellow wind warning remains in place for Donegal today. The warning is in place until midday today, as the tail end of Storm Barbara passes. The wild weather has also affected some ferry sailings on the Irish Sea. The weather warning affects Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo – where winds will reach

A woman who lost her life following a fatal road traffic collision on Thursday night has been named as 25 year-old Amy Loughery. The two vehicle collision happened just before 11pm on Thursday night at Fahan. A 20 year-old man, the driver of the other car, sustained non-life threatening injuries.