Author name: oisinkelly

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

  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 Manchester based digital marketing company, SLM Connect has now confirmed that it is to expand its operations and establish a new base in the Gaoth Dobhair Business Park. The expansion plan is supported by Údarás na Gaeltachta and will lead to the creation of 125 jobs. The new company, SLM Éire Teo,

Several graves have been damaged in overnight vandalism at the City Cemetery in Derry, described by workers there as the worst such incidents in recent years. This morning, Foyle MLA Maeve Mc Laughlin and Derry and Strabane Mayor Elisha Mc Callion visited to cemetery to see the damage that’s been done. The damage which included

    The Psychiatric Nurses’ Association is calling for more investment for psychiatric services in Donegal after it emerged that five nurses attached to the Psychiatric Unit in Letterkenny are on sick leave at the moment. Rory Kavanagh Donegal branch secretary for the Psychiatric Nurses Association. Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show, he said a

A Donegal member of the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta says he believes there is a new wave of optimism in the gaeltacht, and that will be reflected in more development announcements. John Curran was speaking to Highland Radio News after it emerged that over 100 jobs will shortly be confirmed for West Donegal following

A nun from Derry has been killed in an earthquake in Ecuador. Sister Clare Theresa Crockett was based at Holy Family School in Playa Prieta with the Home of the Mother order. More than 200 people were killed in the powerful earthquake which hit the south American country on Saturday. Before the earthquake hit, the

Tesco workers have warned they’ll place pickets outside stores as soon as the company changes their pay and conditions Around 1,000 long-term employees voted in favour of industrial action over the row on Friday. At least 12 staff at the company’s Letterkenny store could be affected. Management has opened a voluntary redundancy scheme and deferred

  Over 100 jobs will shortly be confirmed for West Donegal following an Udaras na Gaeltachta meeting in the county on Friday. In Burtonport, two local men, John and Michael Boyle, have purchased a factory in the area, which they will shortly be equipping for crab processing under the name Wild Atlantic Seafoods. Also, Udaras

The new North West Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry will take in an estimated 400 new patients a year from Donegal, representing 27% of its total workrate. A cancer conference at the weekend organised by Donegal Relay for Life was told that discussions with medical staff and administrators in Letterkenny, Galway and Dublin

The incoming Justice Minister is being urged to reinstate the Glenties Garda District, wehich was scrapped as part of a national rationalisation of garda resources in November 2013. Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher is supporting the call at last week’s Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors conference for a full review of the rationalisation,

A Donegal man suffering with an intensely painful condition has been told he must wait 25 months for his first consultation appointment. Damien Sweeney, from Convoy, told a Sunday Newspaper that he’s been struggling with chronic sciatica for four months, but will have to wait over two years for an appointment at the orthopedics department

Following a post mortem examination, police in County Derry are no longer treating as suspicious the death of a 36 year old woman at a house on Glenshane Road in Claudy yesterday. Polixce have now confirmed a 62 year old man arrested following the death has been released unconditionally. Police had initially described the woman’s