Author name: oisinkelly

Tomorrow Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn will call for a response on the issue of the ownership of Lough Foyle, situated between Derry and Donegal. Brexit has reignited the row over the ownership of Lough Foyle with Northern Ireland Secretary of State, James Brokenshire reasserting London’s claim that the ‘whole of Lough Foyle is within the

The Government may introduce a water tax to pay for services and remove charges from the majority of households. An expert commission report into water is to be published tomorrow – it’s understood it says charges should only be imposed on households who waste water. Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar says all parties will have

Gardai are urging owners of large pieces of machinery to have them marked, as incidents of theft are increasing. The issue came to the fore after the theft of a digger and trailer from a site in St Johnston at the weekend. The equipment was the property of Gortlee Sales and Hire. Its owner is

The Bishop of Raphoe says he believes Pope Francis will address the issue of clerical child abuse when he visits Ireland in 2018. Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show this morning, Bishop Philip Boyce said he does not know how it will be done, but stressed he believes the issue will not be hushed up.

Donegal County Council has unanimously expressed no confidence in the HSE. The unprecedented declaration came on foot of a motion from Cllr Michael Mc Bride, who says every member of council hears regular complaints and concerns about the difficulty of accessing health services. The overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital was also highlighted, with 16

A Donegal County Councillor is calling on cross-border support for the release of Tony Taylor, a Derry prisoner. In March last year Taylor was returned to prison after his early release licence was revoked by the then Secretary of State, Theresa Villiers. Mr Taylor was serving a three year sentence for possession of a rifle

Donegal County Council is being urged to increase its support for Mary from Dungloe, as the festival approaches its 50th anniversary next year. Cllr. Enda Bonner called for the financial support from the council to the festival to be restored to the €10,000 figure that existed some years ago. Meanwhile, Cllr. Maire Threrese Gallagher told

300,000 euro in funding has been announced for Donegal under the Rural Economic Development Zones scheme. Minister Joe McHugh welcomed the news which will see three Donegal areas benefitting directly from the funding. In Ballyshannon, 48,000 euro will be used for the upgrade of facilities in the town to enchance the area for tourism, while

The Environmental Protection Agency has issued an appeal to householders living in high level radon areas to get their homes checked. Over 4,700 homes across Ireland were tested for radon and 733 of these had raised radon levels, almost 80 had extremely high radon levels. The highest home tested in Ireland was found to have

Donegal County Council has given its approval to Ireland’s bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. One of the stadiums identified as part of the bid Derry’s Celtic Park. Derry and Strabane District Council has already given its support for the bid. Councillor, Jack Murray tabled a motion calling on the local authority to

Midlands North-West MEP Matt Carthy believes that Brexit could possibly open up unique opportunities to look towards a united Ireland. A new discussion document was released by Sinn Fein today, aimed at sparking discussions. It argues for the Good Friday Agreement’s referendum mechanism to be triggered and says a poll could be held concurrently north

Transport Infrastructure Ireland has approved plans put forward by Donegal County Council to proceed to the design and preparation stage of the N15 Blackburn Bridge phase 11 road project. Works are due to be completed next year with estimated to costs at €1/2 million. Proposed improvements include; traffic calming measures, and the addition of school

A Donegal Councillor says waste operators should be asked to outline their prices as part of the licensing process. Cllr Patrick Mc Gowan was speaking ahead of today’s council meeting during which he’ll move a motion calling for discussion about the pay by weight system which is due to be introduced. The system was to

A Derry councillor is expressed concern at a new spate of attacks on cars travelling along Madams Bank Road after some months of inactivity. Cllr Tony Hasson says motorists were targetted on Friday night last, with stones and large sods of grass thrown at a number of cars. Cllr Hassan says it’s only a matter

There were 17 patients awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, 7 of them on trolleys in the Emergency Department. Nationally, 430 people were waiting on beds across the country this morning. Letterkenny University Hospital has been regularly returning double digit overcrowding figures in recent weeks, and the Full Capacity Protocol is being implemented

  The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Copmmission is to investigate a collision involving a marked Garda patrol car on the main Letterkennt to Derry Road last night. Gardai have confirmed that at 10.05 last night at Carrownamaddy, Burt the car was involved in a collision with an indepenent third party vehicle. Four people were brought to

A Donegal Town native has been appointed Head of Bank of Ireland’s operations in County Donegal. Barry Gallagher has 17 years bankng experience, and has worked as a Senior Business Manager in Sligo, as well as spending a period as Commercial Branch Manager in Bank of Ireland, Letterkenny.

  As the North West Cancer Centre in Derry begins the process of treating its first radiotherapy patients, the campaign group Co-operating for Cancer Care North West is welcoming the opening of the centre. The groups says it’s clear that neither Donegal nor the Western Health & Social Care trust had enough patients to justify

A 23 year old man has been arrested following the death of a teenage boy who was struck by a car in a hit and run incident in Coleraine on Saturday night. 13 year old Reece Meenan, who was from the town, died in hospital following the incident on Newbridge Road at about 6.30 on

The Public Health Agency has revealed that high levels of air pollution are being monitored in Derry, with people advised to take extra care if they have a respiratory illness. While most people will not be affected by short term peaks in air pollution, people with existing heart or lung conditions may experience increased symptoms.

Investigations are continuing into two fatal crashes in Down and Derry overnight. The PSNI says a teenage boy died in an apparent hit and run in Coleraine. A 23 year old man has been arrested in connection with the fatality and is being questioned on suspicion of dangerous driving causing death. While a motorcyclist has