Author name: oisinkelly

  Midlands Northwest MEP Marian Harkin says the British Prime Minister’s hardline stance on Brexit is ‘shocking’ for Ireland. The Independent MEP was reacting to Theresa May’s comments on Brexit last weekend when she addressed delegates at her party’s conference. The new UK PM said that Britain wasn’t leaving the EU today only to give […]

  The Donegal Representative for the Irish Hotel’s Federation has described Sinn Fein’s proposals to scrap the 9% VAT rate on hotel beds and ridiculous and irresponsible. It was one of the measures announced yesterday by Deputy Pearse Doherty in Sinn Fein’s alternative budget. The party wants to get rid of the 9 percent VAT

A delighted man claimed a Lotto jackpot prize of €2,266,323 today at National Lottery offices in Dublin. He is the second winning ticketholder to come forward to claim Saturday’s €4.5 million jackpot.  Yesterday, a family syndicate of two from Kerry claimed their share. Today’s winner, who wishes to remain private, was visiting Donegal to attend

People are finding it difficult to access alternative accommodation after a fire at an apartment block in Letterkenny last week. A number of families and individuals have been forced out of their homes after the blaze in a carpark beneath an apartment block on Rosemount Lane. The local authority was accused of doing nothing to help those effected.

Sinn Féin’s proposing a billion euro in new taxes in its alternative budget. Three quarters of a billion euro would be raised by a new 7 percent tax rate on earnings over 100,000 euro and higher employers PRSI on such salaries. The party also says it would scrap the 9 percent VAT rate on hotel

    Calls have been made on the Government to consider investing in Donegal Childcare in the upcoming Budget. The latest report from Donegal County Childcare has revealed that the number of children lacking special educational needs support in the county has almost doubled over the past three years. It also shows an increase in

  A “Day of Action” is to be held to highlight the need for a new footpath outside a school in west Donegal. It has been claimed that numerous call were made in the past on the Council to replace a footpath outside Loch na Luír School however no progress has been made to date.

The HSE has acknowledged the findings of HIQA reports published today concerning intellectual disability centers in Donegal.   The reports on Drogheda & Drumboe units were on inspections carried out in April of this year and identify areas of concern including Safeguarding and Management. These areas are similar to those identified in reports published in

Almost 800 homes an businesses are without power this morning in Newtowncunningham. The ESB say are working on restoring power to the area, with a restoration time of 12.30 this afternoon. They are apologising for the loss of supply.

  The Health watchdog has issued another worrying report about a designated centre for people with disabilities in Donegal. This was the second inspection of the  Drumboe unit, a community house in Stranorlar. The findings of this inspection identified significant risks to the safety and welfare of residents in the centre. Inspectors identified serious allegations

  A local group campaigning for action in the Mary Boyle case is claiming that the majority of Donegal TDs and Councillors have shown their support by signing an online petition. Donegal Families for Justice is an online pressure group established in the wake of the coroner’s decision not to hold an inquest in relation to the

  Flybe is considering launching a new route from City of Derry airport to London Heathrow should plans for a third runway in London get the green light. The budget airline has revealed that it is considering 12 critical new routes including Derry. The news comes just weeks after Ryanair announced it was pulling its

    The Taoiseach is to bring a memo to cabinet this morning on Brexit. It’s after a clear timeline for Britain’s exit from the EU was announced. We now have an idea of when the clock will officially start ticking on the UKs exit – British Prime Minister Theresa May saying she wants to

  The Plight of Donegal’s Tillage farmers has been raised in Europe this week but there will be no help from the EU at least in the short term. MEP Mairead McGuinness raised the issue after a recent visit to Donegal to see first hand the current difficulties in the tillage sector particularly following recent

There is criticism of Donegal County Council for not providing emergency accommodation for up to 15 Polish families left homeless following a fire in Letterkenny last week. The families have been in hotel accommodation since the blaze at an underground carpark beneath an apartment block on Rosemount Lane but that arrangement ended this morning. Magda

  It’s been confirmed that Century Cinemas will open their new complex next month with the creation of 35 new jobs. Work began at the end of the summer on the new Backstage Bar & Grill and Century Play area in the former garage premise beside the cinema. It’s understood the Century Ice Rink which

  Police in Derry and Strabane have caught 14 people speeding during a road safety operation. A further seven drivers were issued with advice and warnings for various offences, including vehicle excise and defects. The road safety operation took place on Thursday across the Derry and Strabane district. District Commander Superintendent Mark McEwan said: “We

  The Minister for Foreign Affairs has admitted a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic can’t be ruled out as part of the BREXIT process. Charlie Flanagan says he’s discussed the issue with UK ministers and believes they have an ‘understanding’ that they don’t want a return to the border of the past.

  A protest is underway outside a meat factory in Lifford this morning following reports from farmers that they haven’t been paid for their supply.  It has been claimed that Edenmore Meats owe some local farmers substantial amounts of money with others not receiving payments in almost two years. Farmers say they have made numerous

  Malin Head Coastguard coordinated a rescue operation yesterday afternoon after a diver got into difficulty off the coast of Fanad. It’s understood the diver developed compression sickness whilst diving in the waters where the wreck of the HMS Audacious is situated. The alarm was raised by another member of the team and he was

Two men are due to appear before Letterkenny Court this morning charged in connection with a fire in an underground car park in Letterkenny in the early hours of Thursday morning. Owen McFadden (40) from Falcarragh appeared before a special court sitting of Sligo Court on Saturday morning. He has been charged on ten different

  A Fine Gael MEP says he doesn’t think it will be possible for the UK to negotiate their exit from the EU over a two year period. Yesterday, the British Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she will trigger Article 50 by the end of March next year. The Prime Minister says she hopes

    There has been growing opposition to a planned Oyster Farm at Cruit Island. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says he will challenge the Minister for the Marine’s decision to not require an Environmental Impact Statement as part of the plans submitted for consideration. Planning permission has been requested for an Oyster Farm at Cruit

  House prices are rising rapidly outside the capital according to the latest property reports. According to the latest report from Daft.ie, in Donegal, prices between July and September 2016 were 10% higher than a year previously, compared to a rise of 10% seen a year ago. The average house price is now €140,000, 23%

  A Donegal Deputy is calling on Local Improvement Schemes to be reintroduced as part of the 2017 budget. Throughout the county of Donegal many people depend on these roads to gain access to their homes as well as main primary roads. Previously these roads were grant aided by the Department and local residents made

Concerns have been raised that local residents at Cruit Island have not been consulted over the proposed plan to erect an Oyster Farm. Yesterday locals along with Cllr Micheál Colm Mac Giolla Easbuig, TD Thomas Pringle and Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher held talks at the bridge which connects Cruit Island with the mainland. Independent Cllr

Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is seeking answers on reports of contamination to the water supply of St Conal’s Hospital Campus, Letterkenny Both Irish Water and HSE management have been contacted are staff at the campus received emails warning them not to drink from the water supply. Staff were also advised that boiling the water will