Author name: oisinkelly

  It has been confirmed that procurement for the National Broadband plan has not been postponed and negotiations are continuing. Earlier this week there the Department of Communications said procurement was to be delayed for a further 2 years sparking concern in rural areas of Donegal. It has now emerged that a ‘technical delay’ will […]

  Serious concerns have been raised once again over the future of Ante-natal and Gynaecology clinics at Dungloe Community Hospital which have not operated at the hospital since November 2014. A review of the of Ante-Natal services was to be initiated last year however the HSE has refused a Freedom of Information Request for documents

  Police in Derry are concerned for the welfare of 16 year old Caitlin Maguire who has been missing since Monday evening. Caitlin is 5’4″ tall, of slim build with red hair and green eyes. Caitlin is known to wear casual clothing such as leggings, tracksuits and trainers. Officers are appealing for Caitlin or anyone

Donegal has the highest percentage of road traffic collisions caused by excessive speed. Figures from the Road Safety Authority show speed was a factor in 8% of collisions in Donegal ahead of Cork, Wexford, Cavan and Galway. Donegal also had the largest number of speed related collisions involving two or more vehicles 91% of culpable

The European Parliament has heard claims that a sitting politician in Ireland interfered in the investigation of a murder case. The claim was made under parliamentary privilege by Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan last night. The claim relates to the investigation in the disappearance of six-year-old Mary Boyle in 1977, which is Ireland’s longest-standing case

A Donegal born member of Monaghan County Council has been elected to the Seanad on the Labour panel. Robbie Gallagher, a native of Termon, is an estate agent and former garda who has been based in Monaghan since 1988. He became a Town Councillor in Monaghan in 1999, and a County Councillor in 2004. He

Planning permission has been granted to the new National Children’s Hospital at St. James’ in Dublin. The 650 million euro facility is due to open in 2020, after suffering years of planning setbacks. Donegal County Council unanimously supported a motion from Councillor Gerry McMonagle which called for the new hospital to be located on the

Despite political commitments dating back almost a decade the HSE says the provision of a Hydropool in West Donegal is not a priority under the capital plan requirements. Deputy Thomas Pringle says the news is very disappointing for the local community which has been fundraising to contribute to the cost of a pool in Dungloe

There was disappointment for former Donegal Deputy Niall Blaney last night when he failed to secure election to the Seanad. He was a candidate on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, but was eliminated on the 27th count last night. There was also disappointment for Derry entrepreneur Peter Casey, who has considered contesting the General Election

A storage and office development has been approved by Donegal County Council in Killybegs for a site between St Catherine’s Well and the new pier despite hundreds of signatures raised in the community objecting to the development. The local History & Heritage Committee has had an on-going campaign to prevent any further development in the

Concern has been raised over the future of Greenfield care home in Strabane with calls to utilise the building to its full potential. At the moment, there are over 30 staff currently employed however there are only 12 residents in the facility and this has put a question mark over the long term plans for

  Former Donegal TD Padraig MacLochlainn has been  officially elected to the Seanad on the Industrial and Commercial Panel, following a formal announcement in the past few minutes. He was deemed elected on the first count, topping the poll with 114 votes. Meanwhile Fianna Fails Niall Blaney received 34 votes in the first count which leaves him still

TDs will get to outline their position on water charges in the Dáil this afternoon. Four hours of statements on the issue have been agreed as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil continue negotiations to facilitate a minority Government. Sinn Féin and some other opposition TDs opposed the statements, saying there should be a motion and

  It’s emerged the National Broadband Plan could be delayed for another two years, sparking concern in rural areas of Donegal. The Department of Communications this week confirmed that procurement is to be delayed until 2017 causing concern that it could now be 2022 before the plan is fully realised. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle says

It has been confirmed that it takes 19 weeks on average for processing times for applications for the Carer’s Allowance. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty obtained the information following numerous reports of people in Donegal facing lengthy delays and subsequently going months without being paid despite carrying out their caring duties. Deputy Doherty is to raise

Gairmscoil Mhic Diarmada on Arranmore Island has been reclassified as a ‘Post-Primary Aonad’ meaning it has a ‘Gaelic stream’ where some children are taught their classes through the medium of Irish. The school was reclassified following concerns from parents that under the scheme some students in Dungloe were not entitled to the scheme despite the

Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has been returned to the Seanad as a member of the agricultural panel. He was deemed elected on the 17th count last evening, exceeding the quota. Former Donegal County Council Chairman John Campbell contested the Labour Panel, but was eliminated last evening on the fifth count. There was also Donegal interest in

  Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has been returned to the Seanad. On the 17th count  Senator O’Domhnaill surpassing the 93,667 quota with 104,889 votes  deeming him elected this evening. Senator O’Domhnaill said in a social media post this evening  he is ‘truly honoured to have been re-elected to Seanad Eireann’

    Two Donegal men and a Lurgan man appeared at Lisburn Magistrates Court today after being charged in connection with a major drug seizure in Lurgan on Friday night last. All three have been remanded in custody. Seamus Boyce (36) from Glenwood Park in Letterkenny, and Desmond Enfield (32), from Ramelton were charged in connection

  The twin sister of Ireland’s longest-missing person is calling for a Commission of Investigation into her murder. Mary Boyle disappeared in Donegal in 1977, and is presumed dead, but nobody has ever been charged in connection with her case. Her sister Anne Doherty believes she was raped and murdered. She’s critical of the Garda

The Mental Health Service in Donegal is pledging to listen more after a three and a half year study into the suicides or untimely deaths of 34 people under the care of the service. The research, which took place between October 2011 and May 2015 forms the basis of a report which is being launched

The Fennelly Commission has ruled out widening its probe to include allegations that gardaí conducted electronic surveillance on Frank McBrearty Jnr and his legal team. Lawyers for Mr McBrearty, who received a €1.5m settlement from the State after being wrongly considered a murder suspect, made the allegations in a letter to the commission. The Irish

The sister of Mary Boyle, who was last seen near her grandparents’ home at Cashelard, Ballyshannon in 1977 will today meet with Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin and a number of other politicians. Late last year, Anne Doherty went to gardai and named a man she believes was responsible for her sisters’ murder. She also

The shooting dead of a man at an inner city pub in Dublin yesterday has been linked to the Kinahan-Hutch gang feud. The victim, has been named locally as 35-year-old Michael Barr, a native of Tyrone, who was killed after two men opened fire in the Summerhill pub at around 9:30 last night. The Irish

Donegal County Council is seeking to secure land for social housing, and is reaching out to inviting landowners with sites to sell to make contact. The council is focussing its attention on securing land in Ballybofey, Buncrana, Clonmany, Donegal Town, Falcarragh / Gortahork, Glenties, Ramelton and Stranorlar. Advertisements are appearing in the press and online

A disqualified driver allegedly told police he does not care if he is a danger behind the wheel of a car, a court has heard. Derry Magistrates Court was told William Keenan also said he does not care if he kills someone as a result of his driving. Keenan, of Blue Cedars, Ballybofey, Co.Donegal, is