Author name: oisinkelly

There were tailbacks of an hour on the A5 at Newtownstewart this morning as a result of flooding. The road was closed for a time and traffic was diverted via Gortin. Yesterday, the Seanad was told the A5 is first item on the agenda of a North South Ministerial roads meeting in Armagh tomorrow. However, […]

It’s emerged that plans for a cycle and footbridge between Ballybofey and Stranorlar are at an advanced stage, with a planning application set to come before Donegal County Council. This week’s Municipal District Meeting was told that consultants have completed the design for the proposed cycle and footbridge, which will be attached to the outside

Derry and Strabane will not be the European Youth Capital in 2019, following confirmation last night that the Novi Sad in Serbia has been awarded the title. However, the Derry City & Strabane District Councillor who was mayor when the bid was launched says much good work was done from which the city and the

The Western Health and Social Care Trust confirmed that radiotherapy service at Altnagelvin Hospital is on target to commence at months end. It’s been claimed that the new service will greatly enhance existing cancer care already delivered at Altnagelvin while also provide radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients living in Donegal and elsewhere. Assistant Director for

A Donegal Deputy says despite an overall increase in core social welfare payments, problems persist for seasonal workers in Donegal. Deputy Thomas Pringle says people who earn as little as €12.70 from seasonal work such as farming or fishing lose their benefits, and that needs to be to addressed. Doubling that threshold, he says, wouod

Buncrana library has been named as one of twenty three branches across the country that will be offering the new Open Library service from next year. It means that the library will stay open and operate without staff during the evenings and weekends. Some librarians aren’t happy arguing that the move is the beginning of

The main Letterkenny to Derry road at Burt has reopened following a crash between a tractor and a car happened shortly before 5.30 last evening. The driver of the car is understood to have been seriously injured in the collision. The road had been closed for some time for a technical examination, but has now reopened.

Police in Derry say a 52 year old man, arrested in the city yesterday as part of an investigation into human trafficking and associated offences, has been released on police bail pending further enquiries. Three properties in the city were also searched as part of an ongoing investigation.

  One person has been seriously injured in a two-vehicle collision on the main Letterkenny to Derry road. Gardai say the crash between a tractor and a car happened shortly before 5.30 this evening. The driver of the car is understood to be seriously injured while the condition of the person driving the tractor is

  Emergency services are currently at the scene of a serious two-vehicle collision on the main Letterkenny to Derry road. Gardai say the crash between a tractor and a car happened shortly before 5.30 this evening. The road near Burt is closed at this time and a technical examination is due to take place later

  Letterkenny University Hospital seeks the co-operation of the public to prevent spread of vomiting and diarrhoea in the hospital. Letterkenny University Hospital is asking people to comply with visitor restrictions on Medical 3 and in the Coronary Care Unit due to number of confirmed cases of the Vomiting Bug (Norovirus). In order to assist

Detectives from Serious Crime Branch have arrested a 52 year old man in Derry as part of an investigation into Human Trafficking and associated offences. The suspect was arrested in the city this morning and has been taken to Coleraine for questioning. Three properties in the city have also been searched as part of the

  The Transport Minister says the delay in the A5 is a serious cause of concern. Minister Shane Ross was responding to questions from Senator Padraig MacLochlainn about air and road links to Donegal in the Seanad earlier. Senator MacLochlainn is urging the Government to invest more in the A5 upgrade as it would provide

  A new bill would create a special speed limit of 20 kilometers an hour that local councils can use in built up areas. Transport Minister Shane Ross is bringing the Road Traffic Bill to committee stage at the end of the month. The new limit is part of the response to the ‘Jake’s Legacy’ campaign

A Donegal County Councillor is urging Udaras na Gaeltachta to consider an alternative to a proposed wind turbine on their grounds in Derrybeg. There has been considerable local opposition to the plans because, locals claim, the turbine will be too close to their homes. A public meeting is taking place this evening at 7pm in

Donegal County Council is being asked to support Ireland’s campaign to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023, particularly since Celtic Park in Derry has been shortlisted as a potential host stadium. A motion is being tabled at the council’s meeting this month by Cllr Jack Murray. He says if this bid is successful, Donegal

The overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital has worsened considerably today, with 45 people awaiting beds at the hospital this morning, 26 of them on trolleys in the Emergency Department. That’s the joint highest figure in the country today along with Cork University Hospital. The figures have been published by the INMO. Local Cllr Patrick

Rural TDs will launch a Dáil motion aimed at safeguarding the post office network today. The technical group is giving the Government three months to implement a new action plan and to create a new community banking service. They say Post masters provide a vital service and that action is needed now to protect the

The announcement was made in Boston on Tuesday by Gartan CEO Malachi Eastwood, who is in the USA this week as part of the Ireland Northwest Trade Mission. Gartan Technologies specialise in rostering solutions for the Emergency Services sector and they already work with some of the largest Fire Departments in Ireland, the UK, Australia

A key debate with Transport Minister Shane Ross on air and road links to Donegal is taking place in the Seanad later today. The debate is set to focus on two key issues – the funding of the A5 and City of Derry Airport. It has been claimed that the Irish Government has not contributed

The group representing Nursing Homes says its members can offer up to a thousand beds to the HSE to alleviate overcrowding this winter. It comes as figures from nurses showed there were almost 500 awaiting admission to hospital yesterday, 32 of them at Letterkenny University Hospital, where the Full Capacity Protocol was implemented yesterday. Nursing Homes

  Emergency services are currently attending the scene of a 3 vehicle road traffic collision on the Madams Bank Road in Derry. The road is closed between Ballyarnett Roundabout at its junction with Racecourse Road and Glenabbey Road junction. Motorists are being advised to avoid the area and seek an alternative route for their journey. There

Donegal County Council has renewed their appeal to householders in Letterkenny to comply with the ban on smokey coal and only burn smokeless coal in the restricted area. It follows claims made to Highland Radio and local newspapers about an apparent rise in the amount of smoky coal being burned in the town. One caller

  A man has died following a house fire in county Tyrone. The man in his 80’s was discovered at a home in Cookstown at around ten o’clock this morning after emergency services were called to attend the blaze. Police say the fire is not believed to be suspicious but an investigation into its cause

  Letterkenny University Hospital had the third highest overcrowded in the country with 32 people awaiting admission this morning. According to the latest figures from the INMO, 18 of those are on trolleys in the Emergency Department while a further 14 are on wards or in overflow areas. Cork University Hospital had the highest number

Salmon fishermen are stepping up their campaign for a say in how stocks are managed following the latest round of quota cuts. Donegal fisherman Liam Whyte says on the Owenea fishery, the shared quota between anglers and commercial fishermen has been cut by almost 40%, but stocks continue to decline. He says fishermen and anglers

A man arrested in relation to the 2012 murder of Andrew Allen outside Buncrana remains in custody this afternoon. 24 year old Mr Allen, a native of Derry, was shot at his home at Links View Park, Lisfannon in February 2012. The man beling questioned about his killing, who is believed to be from Northern

Donegal County Council has confirmed a Traffic Management Plan for works on the N56 at Kiltoy in Letterkenny was formulated by the contractor SIAC following consultations with the council and gardai. The plan was finalised on Friday November 4th, the week before the road was closed and diversions were put in place. The measures were

It’s reported that a Donegal based Garda Whistleblower has been medically cleared to return to work after two-and-a-half years on sick leave. Garda Keith Harrison has made a number of claims about his treatment by senior gardaí since he arrested another garda in Athlone for suspected drink driving in 2009.  A subsequent attempted prosecution was

One-in-three people say they may have to move to cities in Ireland get better broadband. Two new studies have shown that connections in some rural areas are so bad that emails can’t be opened. The Irish Independent claims the worst area is Legan in Longford, which has an average download speed which can be 36

Donegal County Council is being asked to develop a local area plan aimed at developing Errigal Mountain as a flagship tourism site. The call comes following the recent launch of the “ASCENT” Project which plans to address future environmental sustainability of upland areas which includes Errigal. Cllr John Shéamais Ó Fearraigh is to table the

A Fianna Fail TD has criticised The Housing Minister for not considering the North West region in the latest Government Housing plan. It’s been claimed that the plan focuses solely on the major cities across the country, leaving the North West behind. A new Savills report says rents will rise by 19 per cent in

  Motorists in Donegal are being reminded that not displaying a valid NCT on a car can have serious consequences. The warning comes after Gardai in Buncrana detected a driver of a vehicle with no Insurance or NCT yesterday. The car was seized with court proceedings to follow. Road Safety Officer with Donegal County Council

  A Donegal Deputy has called on An Post to retain Post Office services in Dunlewey and to immediately advertise the branch licence to all interested parties. A meeting was held earlier today in Dunlewey between the relevant bodies to discuss the future of the village’s Post Office following a decision by the company to