Author name: oisinkelly

A group of International journalists and food writers from Europe and the US have spent the past number of days in Donegal as part of the “Taste the Atlantic: A Seafood Journey” programme. Failte Ireland says the group, representing online and print media with a combined audience of over 5 million, included some of the

Businessman Sean Quinn has described attacks on his former companies as ‘offensive and unacceptable’. In a statement issued last night, Mr Quinn said he was repeating his family’s position, which is the total condemnation of any act of intimidation. It comes after a series of incidents centred on the Slieve Rushen Windfarm in Fermanagh, previously

A property marking system part developed in Donegal is one of the prevention measures being highlighted by gardai this week as part of Operation Thor, aimed at reducing cross border crime. This week, home owners in Donegal are being warned to be extra vigilant when it comes to protecting and storing gardening machinery. Gardai say

The inquest into the death of Tyrone schoolgirl Arlene Arkinson has been told a decision to search her sisters house two years after she disappeared was prompted by hearsay. The schoolgirl’s body has never been found after she disappeared in 1994. Arlene, from Castlederg, was 15 years old when she disappeared after a night out

  The Census provides us with invaluable information on a wide range of topics and is widely used by a range of both national and local government agencies and bodies, as well as community and voluntary bodies and businesses. Census data feeds into the planning stage of most aspects of Irish life, be it new

The Crolly 1916 commemoration committee are holding an event commemorating the women and men of 1916 at Crolly bridge this Sunday. The event gets underway at 1pm, and during the proceedings,  a stone monument remembering those who gave their lives for Irish independence will  be unveiled. One of the organisers, Independent Cllr Micheal Choilm Mac

  Fianna Fail TD’s have again insisted that Irish Water must be abolished and water charges suspended. Their parliamentary party was briefed this afternoon about a potential deal for government which would allow Fine Gael and independents form a minority administration Negotiating teams from both parties have resumed discussions in Trinity college One the way

Donegal Young Carers Awareness week is being hailed as a success, with Donegal Youth Service and Donegal Youth Council saying they are receiving strong interest about the Young Carers group in the county. The group is aimed at aged 12 to 24, and offers supports and training, as well as a social network. Youth Council

The principal of Ayr Hill National School in Ramelton says staff and pupils have been left distressed after a number of vandalism attacks at the school. In the most recent incident, which happened last weekend, what’s believed to be human excrement was left in a classroom. On a previous occasion, kerbstones were ripped up from

Hundreds of people attended a Month’s Mind mass in Derry last night to remember the victims of the Buncrana pier tragedy. Louise James was chief mourner at the service at the Holy Family Church. Her partner Sean McGrotty, sons Evan and Mark, mother Ruth Daniels and sister Jodie Lee Daniels all died when their car

Midlands North West MEP Marian Harkin has accused the HSE of using the current political impasse to implement cuts to homecare packages and home help hours. It’s believed the cuts would affect almost 7,500 carers in Donegal who currently provide care to the value of over €93 million each year. Marian Harkin is calling on

Concern has been raised over the closure of Bell Gray nursing home in Newtownstewart. Apex Housing have said the closure would be over a phased period of two years but there has been speculation that this could happen in a number of months. The closure will affect around 40 staff members working in the care

  Donegal Airport has been allocated €232,200 in funding which will go towards a number of safety and security capital projects at the airport. This funding is being made available as part of a €1.2 million allocation to regional airports around the country, announced by Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe today. Welcoming

The Donegal based road safety organisation PARC says the incoming Transport Minister must act decisively to end the practice of allowing some people make donations to court poor boxes in lieu of penalty points. PARC’s chairperson Susan Grey was responding to an Irish Times article this week in which it was revealed that 2000 drivers

Donegal Airport has one of the most scenic approaches in the world, according to privatefly.com. The jet booking service runs a poll each year to name the world’s Top 10 Scenic Airports, and Donegal Airport has come in at number 7 out of 117 nominees. The poll was topped by Malta International Airport, with Donegal

Donegal TD Pat the Cope Gallagher says a more ambitious tourism policy should be adopted by the incoming government. Addressing the Irish Country and Manor House Hotels AGM in Donegal Town this week, Deputy Gallagher said given the global growth in tourism, he believes the target of attracting 10 million visitors by 2025, as set

The North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness says following the death of Derry born Sister Clare Theresa Crockett in the Ecuadorean earthquake at the weekend, efforts are now intensifying to bring her body home. He says as well as dealing with their grief, the Crockett family are also dealing with the struggle to get her

Concern has been raised over illegal dumping in the Orchard Court area of Letterkenny, with claims that it is posing a health risk to those who live nearby. A substantial amount of rubbish has been accumalating for some time, with reports of rats seen in and around the area at night time. It has been

Donegal County Council has begun consulting the public on its new Cultural Services Strategic Plan. The five year plan for 2016 – 2020 will outlines a policy for the arts in Donegal, and explore how best to provide services in public libraries, arts and cultural centres and the County Museum. The 5 Year Strategic Plan

There’s been strong growth in new car sales so far this year, according to the motor industry. Nearly 83 thousand new cars were sold in the first three months of this year – that’s up 28 percent on first quarter of 2015. In Donegal, 2091 new cars were sold, a rise of 38%, the second

  The Census provides us with invaluable information on a wide range of topics and is widely used by a range of both national and local government agencies and bodies, as well as community and voluntary bodies and businesses. Census data feeds into the planning stage of most aspects of Irish life, be it new

The man who was shot and critically injured in Derry last night was named in the local Crown Court as Harry Boyle. Mr. Boyle (25) of Lawrence Hill in Derry had been due to appear on drug related charges. Mr. Mark Reel defence counsel for Boyle told the court: “Those who would replace our system

The Insolvency Service of Ireland has published a report today showing there were 81 debt solutions agreed in Donegal over the past two years, representing 6.9 solutions for every 10,000 adults. Of those, 18 were bankruptcies, a rate of 1.5 bankruptcies per 10,000 people, the second lowest level in the state after Leitrim, which had

Almost 1 in 5 GPs across the country have not signed up to the Free GP care for under 6 schemes, according to new figures in today’s Irish Independent. The number of doctors who have opted into the scheme fluctuates dramatically depending on the part of the country. In Donegal, 87 GPs have signed up,

A man is critically ill at Altnagelvin Hospital after being shot in both legs in the Creggan area of Derry. The attack happened in Magowan Park at around 9 o’clock last night. Foyle MLA Maeve McLaughlin has condemned the shooting, saying the perpetrators of this attack have nothing to offer but fear and intimidation. She

An independent think-tank is calling for the next government to invest more in public services and social housing, to avoid a ‘broken society’. New research by Social Justice Ireland, shows that rural areas of the country have higher poverty rates than towns and cities. The Border, Midlands and Western region has seen one of the

People in Donegal and Derry are being invited to comment on what routes should be chosen for the proposed North West Greenway network. A new document has been published (link below) outlining a number of potential greenway routes, intended to open up new ways of connecting the region. Derry City and Strabane District Council has

A Donegal councillor says there is a lack of clarity about pricing structures at recycling centres in the county. Bryson Recycling currently operates centres in Donegal, located at Letterkenny, Milford, Stranorlar, Carndonagh, Laghey and Dungloe. However, it’s been claimed that when locals in the county go to the centres with items, they are not fully