Author name: oisinkelly

A new operator has been found for the Lough Foyle Ferry linking Greencastle and Magilligan, with hopes that the service can be on the water by the beginning of next month. The name of the company hasn’t been formally announced, but Greysteel councillor Dermot Nicholl, a member of the Causeway Coast and Glens District Council

  Today’s Donegal Island’s Committee meeting has heard calls for the establishment of a strategic plan for the county’s islands. The plan would bring together issues that need addressing on the islands while also highlighting what could be done to develop them further. Councillor Marie Terese Gallagher says for the plan to be effective, central

The CSO says 71% of the census forms distributed in Donegal have been collected so far, compared to a national collection average of 75%. Kathleen Goulding, an assistant principal in the Census Office is urging people to be proactive if there are issues with the forms, and to make contact with either their enumerator or

It’s emerged that a three year old boy from Buncrana has died while visiting his grandparents’ in Latvia. Rolands Letinas, who attended Cockhill Community Preschool, died in the tragedy last week. His parents, who have another 11 year old son have been living in Buncrana for a number of years. The Inishowen Independent is reporting

Derry and Strabane Council says there will be a slight delay to the planned opening of the new-look Pennyburn Recycling Centre, as final checks take place at the state of the art new facility. The opening date has been pushed back to Monday May 23rd to allow for the necessary works to be completed. The

  It’s been claimed that a government plan to dismantle the HSE will have a devastating impact on Letterkenny University Hospital . It’s understood leaked sections of the Programme for Government suggest the HSE could be replaced with a new health commission over time. It’s expected the new programme for government will be published later

Allsop have announced details of their latest auction with 5 properties in Donegal going under the hammer. Bidding for the auction will open from 8am on Wednesday 25th May. In what some would see as a clear sign that any recovery in the property market has not reached Donegal, there are 6 x two bedroom

The average cost of renting a home in Ireland now stands at over a thousand euro a month, according to Daft.ie The property website has released its latest quarterly report – which has found the average rent is now 1,006 euro – it’s the first time it’s gone over a thouand since May 2008. In

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with attempting to murder a police officer in June last year. Sean McVeigh of Victoria Street in Lurgan was charged with attempted murder and possessing Semtex with intent to endanger life on June 18 last year. McVeigh did not acknowledge the court and refused to stand.

  Police and the family of missing person, 24 year old Sean Hegarty, are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare. Sean was last seen in the Altcar Park/Bloomfield Park area of Derry at about 10p.m. last night after being dropped off in a taxi. He was wearing a white t-shirt and blue tracksuit bottoms and

AXA insurance has announced that over eighty new roles will be created in its Derry Customer Contact Centre of Excellence on Springtown Business Park. It follows February’s news that AXA Insurance had told its staff in Dublin city centre that their jobs were moving to Derry. AXA says the new roles will service its customers

SIPO, The Standards in Public Office Commission is sitting this (Monday) morning to investigate the alleged duplication of expenses claims by Fianna Fail Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill. The allegations relate to when Senator O’Domhnaill was a member of Donegal County Council. The Commission was due to begin a public session concerning the expenses matter in

The National Ambulance Service needs 750 extra staff to enable it to meet official emergency response times. A report by the HSE claims an additional 250 ambulances are also needed. But it says the Irish system is “too rural” to be compared to performance in countries like England. David Hall, the CEO of Lifeline Ambulance

It has been claimed that the rate of bankruptcy cases in Donegal has increased dramatically since the change to the Irish bankruptcy regime in January. Official figures from the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) show that there have been just 18 bankruptcies in the county in the last two years. However, Ryan Stewart, from Stewart

A Donegal Deputy says the new Agriculture and Fisheries Minister must follow through on the issue of penalty points for fishermen. Outgoing Minister Simon Coveney announced he was referring a controversial Statutory Instrument to the Attorney General. The system as it currently stands allows penalty points be imposed on a fishing licence, even if the

Negotiations on the shape of Northern Ireland’s new power-sharing government are expected to start later. Politicians will hammer out priorities for the next five years and establish which parties will take on ministerial portfolios. Parties will also have to decide whether or not to form an official opposition. In Foyle, Deputy First Minster Martin Mc

  After two days of counting all of Northern Ireland’s fifth Assembly MLAs have been declared. Arlene Foster’s party defied predictions of losing seats to retain 38 MLAs. Elsewhere Sinn Fein won 28 seats, down one, Ulster Unionists no movement on 16 seats, the SDLP 12 – down two – and Alliance eight. Hundreds of

  Gardaí say a middle-aged woman from Enniskillen, reported missing last week, has been found safe and well. The alarm was raised when Geraldine Colgan disappeared with a 40-year-old man on the 2nd of May. Officers believed she was camping along the boarder to the six counties and they issued an appeal for information. Detectives

    Both the Killybegs Coastguard and Sligo 118 helicopter were called out to the Pilgrims Pass in Slieve League yesterday afternoon following reports of a man being injured. It’s understood the alarm was raised when the man who was driving a trial bike came off the bike and sustained a leg injury. The man

Police in Northern Ireland are growing increasingly concerned for the welfare of 52-year-old Geraldine Colgan, who was reported missing from the Enniskillen area on May 2nd. She is described as 5ft tall, slim build with short black and grey spiky hair. She is believed to be in the company of 40 year old Christopher Southam