Author name: oisinkelly

  The Shaun Doherty Show has been chosen as the recipient of a Special Recognition at this year’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) Leading Lights in Road Safety Awards. The award recognises the huge contribution the show has made in highlighting the issue of road safety in Donegal. Communications Manager with the Road Safety Authority Brian

There are calls for the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy following the agreement of 2017 quotas by the EU Council of Fisheries Minsters. The meeting ended in the early hours of this morning. The Killybegs Fishermens Organisation says the overall outcome of the Fisheries Council that finished at 2am this morning was positive, with

The Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness says she will now seek a re-election as a vice president of the European Parliament. Last night the Midlands North-West MEP lost the vote to become the EPP candidate for next year’s European Parliament presidential elections. Former EU Commissioner from Italy Antonio Tajani will run for the position. Ms

A local Councillor has spoken out following Irish Water’s announcement last week that the company is to take responsibility for the administration of Donegal business water accounts. The change will see responsibility for account administration for almost 8,000 existing business customers in Co Donegal move to Irish Water from the Local Authority. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnail

A Donegal Deputy has moved the Civil Law Missing Persons Bill 2016 in the Dáil. The Bill allows for the appointment of an interim manager of the property of a missing person. It’s undersood that between 7,000 and 8,000 people are reported missing every year in Ireland, almost 20 every day. Speaking in the Dail

Improvements to Diabetes services in Donegal are on the Health Minister radar. That’s according to The Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland who met with the Minister this week during his visit to Letterkenny Hospital. Currently, there are 666 adults with Type 1 diabetes and 4,353 adults with Type 2 diabetes attending Letterkenny Hospital. Paul Gillespie

Two men have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged in connection with a drugs find that the PSNI have said is valued at between £200,000 to £300,000. The men cannot be identified after District Judge Barney McElholm granted an application for anonymity on the grounds that there is a generalised threat against people charged with

The review of the school transport scheme has been heavily criticised with a view that it doesn’t go far enough to address issues in Donegal. Concern has been raised by many parents in the county over their children’s inability to access the schools they wish because other schools are deemed to be closer. Donegal Senator Padraig

A 25 year old man has been arrested in connection with the death of a man in County Derry. A house at Silverthorn Avenue in Coleraine has been sealed off following the incident yesterday afternoon. Forensic teams are trying to piece together the circumstances surrounding the death. The deceased was a local man – aged

The Killybegs Fishermens Organisation says the overall outcome of the Fisheries Council that finished at 2am this morning was positive, with significant increases in three pelagic stocks. The mackerel quota is up 14%, blue whiting up 85% and Atlanto Scandia herring up 104%. There were also increases in a number of important whitefish species but

  Star Wars and Game of Thrones were huge boosts to tourism in Ireland this year. The franchises both film in Ireland and their on-screen success has led to more people visiting the country. Tourism Ireland says 10.5 million people have visited Ireland this year, an 11 per cent increase on last year. Its CEO

  Diaspora Minister Joe McHugh says the Government is acutely conscious of the importance of the issue of immigration reform in the United States and its impact on Irish people living illegally in the US. The Donegal Deputy was speaking in the Seanad to update this house in relation to the plan for advancing the

Over 540 patients are on trolleys at hospitals across the country, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. 28 people were without a bed a Letterkenny University Hospital this morning – up from 22 yesterday. University hospitals in Cork and Galway are the worst affected – with 48 people waiting for admission to beds.

The Donegal based group “Our Children’s Voice”, which represents the families of children with terminal and life limiting illnesses says it had a very productive meeting with Minister Simon Harris during his time at Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday. The group raised three key issues, the need for outreach clinics in Donegal to reduce the need

Gardai say they will continue to crack down on prostitution in Letterkenny and are asking the public to pass on any information they may have about brothels. Detective Inspector Pat O’Donnell was speaking following the latest raid on a brothel in Letterkenny on Monday as part of a targeted operation on the sex trade here.

The group coordinating the campaign to retain three community hospitals in Donegal says it’s cautiously optimistic after meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris last evening. The group says Minister Harris agreed with them that it would not sense to close facilities in Lifford, Ramelton and Stranorlar to facilitate the building of a new hospital in

There are more water woes for many people living in Inishowen today. There have been outages across south Inishowen with the area from Bridgend to Muff particularly effected. It is understood that another burst on the main line from the Eddie Fullerton Dam is to blame. There have already been at least four significant water

A special Oireachtas Committee will today begin the process of considering how water is to be paid for into the future. The committee’s membership includes Independent Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle. It will consider the suggestion from an expert group that most households would NOT have to pay – and that only wasteful homes would face

  Health Minister Simon Harris has committed to three annual meetings with Donegal Action for Cancer Care. Minister Harris was visiting Letterkenny University Hospital yesterday to open the Health Academy there and met with DACC and other action groups in the county. During the meeting concerns were raised at the delay of appointing a key

A Donegal road safety group is backing a warning by Gardai about motorists who drink and or use drugs behind the wheel in the county. Last week it was revealed by Inspector Micheal Harrison that the amount of drink/drug driving arrests in Donegal has risen significantly – particularly in the Letterkenny district. A-CEART founder Mary

A Donegal County Councillor believes action must be taken to address safety concens on the N15 at Killygordon before a serious collision occurs there. The call comes in the aftermath of a road traffic collsion in the village on Friday past, the third in a matter of weeks. Cllr Gary Doherty has written to Donegal

A judge acknowledged a motorist’s “frustration” with slow drivers when he dismissed charges of driving without reasonable consideration for other road users. Judge Kevin Kilrane dismissed two charges of the same offence within 10 minutes on the N15 between Barnesmore Gap and Donegal town against Francis Lawne last February 18. The judge was told of

The family of a missing Donegal man are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare. Mark Fields from Stranorlar was last seen almost a week ago and he has been reported as missing to Letterkenny Gardai. The family of Mark Fields have issued an appeal in a bid to trace his whereabouts. The 56 year old

The Health Minister has defended the government’s record on investment at Letterkenny University Hospital and has predicted the over-crowding crisis will ease. The INMO says that today there were 22 people on trolleys awaiting admission at the hospital this morning but Minister Simon Harris said that his information is that the figure was 10. Minister

  A Donegal Deputy has once again urged the Government to utilise bed space at St. Joseph’s and other community hospitals in the county to alleviate the overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital. The call comes following Health Minister Simon Harris’ visit to LUH this afternoon. Deputy Charlie McConalogue was speaking to Head of News

Around three dozen people have turned out at Letterkenny University Hospital this afternoon to protest at overcrowding and cancelled operations to coincide with a visit by the Health minister Simon Harris. The organisers are calling for better conditions at the hospital for patients and more nursing Staff. This morning 22 people were without a bed

A Fianna Fail TD is expressing concerns over decentralised jobs in Donegal and the northwest being moved back to Dublin. Deputy Marc Mac Sharry has slammed the Government following confirmation that jobs attached to the Department of Social Protection, which is based in Sligo, are to be moved to the Department in Dublin. There are

41 groups in Donegal are sharing just over €10,000 to promote physical activity for people over 50. The “Go for Life” Grant Scheme is overseen by Age & Opportunity and Sport Ireland. The grant recipients include Active Retirement Groups, ICA guilds, Local Sports Partnerships, Sports Clubs, Family Resources Centres and many others who provide older

Concerns have been been raised after a large amount of marine waste was discovered on Buncrana beach yesterday. The local coastguard from Greencastle attended the scene following reports of a strong smell and fish on the beach between the area of Ned’s Point and Buncrana. It was discovered that there was a large amount of

What’s been described as a major garda operation is underway in the Thorn Road area of Letterkenny, seemingly centred on The Kube, the premises which was entered and secured by developer Brendan Gildea three weeks ago. Mr Gildea, accompanied by a number of members of a group called “The Helping Hand Group” entered the building

   Sinn Fein’s eleven public representatives in Donegal have written an open letter to Minister Harris, which they will present to him at the hospital this afternoon. The document, signed by Deputy Pearse Doherty, Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn and the party’s nine county councillors outlines what the party describes as “the historical funding discrimination that

Gardai have confirmed that the body of missing man, Jim Boyle has been found. The 73 year-old was discovered on Sunday shortly before noon during searches near Rathmullan. The man was last seen near his home in Oughterlinn near Rathmullen a month ago. Searches were carried out by Gardai along with the Malin Head Coastguard