Author name: oisinkelly

  Donegal County Council is being accused of neglecting the islands off the county’s coast. The charge comes from Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig as he welcomed news that a water supply is expected to be returned to Gola Island by next week. It emerged earlier this month that the water supply from the […]

A body has been recovered from the Quay in Donegal Town after a major search and rescue operation late last night. Gardai received initial reports of a woman entering the water shortly after 11.30 and the Killybegs Coastguard, Bundoran lifeboat and the Sligo rescue helicopter were tasked to the scene. A body of a woman

€2.2 Million Euro in Storm Damage Funding has been allocated to the Stranorlar Municpal District. The funding will be used to upgrade the roads network in the area which was severely damaged in floods over the last number of months. Local Councillor Gary Doherty says the money is very welcome but will not fix all

  Can’t Pay Won’t Pay Donegal are dismissing claims that water rates cannot be abolished. In recent days, Irish Water has been warned that it may not be legally able to scrap charges. Under European law there is no option to return to supply the service for free, according to legal advice received by the

    Bogus phone calls to Malin Head Coastguard have increased with eleven ‘nuisance calls’ received in the last week. The calls may only last a few seconds and are not deemed as dangerous as hoax calls but they are still a cause of concern for the coastguard as they could prevent them from attending

  The latest HIQA overview report on hygiene in hospitals for 2015 found Letterkenny University Hospital was one of just 7 of the 32 inspected which required a follow up inspection due to shortcomings. The authority announced in October that it carried out an unannounced inspection in June and discovered poor hygiene standards on the Medical 2 and

The road between the Kilross junction and Drumkeen has now re-opened following a collision involving a car and a van shortly before 7 o’clock this morning.  One man has been taken to Letterkenny University Hospital however his condition is not thought to be serious. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic crash between the Kilross junction and Drumkeen. The collision involving a car and a van happened shortly before 7 o’clock this morning. The extent of injuries to the occupants of either vehicle is not yet known but motorists are advised to exercise extreme care

  There was a fall in the number of burglaries recorded in the Donegal in the last three months of last year compared to the same period in 2014. The number of assaults also fell but there was an increase in sexual offences, drug offences, cases of drink driving and cases of theft. In the

  The Letterkenny based mother of a young man who died after taking a so called legal high in Britain has hit out at news that legislation controlling Psychoactive Substances has been shelved indefinitely. Karen Vandersypen’s son Jimmy died suddenly after taking a synthetic cannabis product purchased in a ‘Headshop’ in Kent in October of 2013.

The Killybegs Community Council says it strongly objects to plans by the Department of Agriculture to dump potentially toxic material from the harbour out to sea. While the Council is welcoming the dredging work which will extend the quay creating additional birthing and a bigger operational area, it insists the material dredged must be properly

Donegal man John Boyle is the new vice-president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. Mr Boyle originally from Mullaghduff has spent most of his teaching career in Dublin and is currently the the principal teacher in St. Colmcille’s JNS Knocklyon in Dublin. Rosena Jordan from Cavan is the new president of the association. John Boyle

A total of 12 houses have been allocated for social housing in the Convoy area by the Steer Housing Association. The houses were part of an unfinished estate but have since been made available to Donegal County Council for applicants on their waiting list with tenants now living in them. Further properties have been identified

  A 40 year old man is due to appear at Strabane Magistrates Court today on charges in relation to the seizure of £64,000 worth of cannabis in Belgium. The herbal cannabis was seized in Belgium as part of a joint operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the UK’s National Crime Agency.

  Concern has been raised following a spate of anti-social behaviour in Strabane. A group of young people believed to be in their early teens have been reportedly threatening elderly residents and throwing missiles at cars on an ongoing basis. Incidents of vandalism have also happened in the area with railings damaged, posing a safety

  Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating violent dissident Republican activity have arrested two men in Derry. The suspects, aged 55 and 57, were arrested this morning and have been taken to Belfast for questioning.    

  Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will meet with Independent TDs today as coalition talks continue. The country has been without a Government for 33 days and politicians look no closer to forming an alliance. Discussions between Enda Kenny’s party broke up at around 9 o’clock last night – with Greens threatening to withdraw

  The HSE National Director for Acute Hospitals has suggested that admission rates to Letterkenny University Hospital are higher than other hospitals due to a difficulty to attract and retain senior clinicians. 40 percent of patients who visit the Emergency Department in Letterkenny are admitted to the hospital, 14% higher than the national rate. Liam

  The Save Our Services committee has stated that despite the decision by Minister Kathleen Lynch to downgrade services at St. Josephs Hospital in Stranorlar, Lifford Community Hospital and Ramelton Community Hospital, the HSE has failed to give further information on the issue. The Committee, together with 4 of the 5 Donegal TDS are now

  An animal welfare meeting for Donegal is taking place next week to discuss the best way to move forward in a bid to get a rescue centre up and running again in the county. The meeting will be held in the Station House Hotel Tuesday next at 8pm and any interested parties and the

A ‘productive’ meeting has taken place over the on-going issue of an inadequate ambulance service in the Inishowen area. The HSE and The National Ambulance Service were represented at the meeting while Councillor Martin McDermott and Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue expressed public concern in relation to long waiting times for an ambulance and that only

  It’s emerged that some drivers in Donegal are preventing the seat belt alarm from going off in their car when they fail to belt up by installing extra seat belt clips. It’s not clear where motorists are sourcing the additional belt clips but it has sparked serious concern in the county among various bodies. Road Safety Officer

  Gardaí are appealing to witnesses to a fatal crash in Sligo. A 69 year old man was the sole occupant of a car that went off the road at Castlegal, Cliffoney at about three o’clock yesterday afternoon. His remains have been removed to Sligo University Hospital where a Post Mortem examination will take place.

  Talks aimed at forming the next government are due to resume today, following a weekend of State events to remember the Easter Rising. It’s expected the issues of water charges and the Universal Social Charge are among the most challenging when it comes to the notion of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael teaming up

  Calls have been made in West Donegal for a reduction in the License fee for fishing rights with claims that it is excessive and unsustainable. Commercial Draught Net Salmon Fishermen are currently paying a €400 fee and it has been claimed that this combined with quota cuts over the past number of years is

  There are major delays on the N15 Donegal/ Ballybofey Road through Barnesmore Gap and McGroary’s Brae as temporary traffic lights are in place for works. Gardaí are requesting that road users obey the lights to minimise traffic disruption.

  The price of the average three-bed semi detached house in Donegal has increased by 3.03% to €85,000 in the first three months of 2016, a nationwide property survey has found. The REA Average House Price Survey focuses on the sale price of a three-bed semi, giving an up-to-date picture of the property market in

  Frank McGrotty a brother of Sean McGrotty who died in the tragedy at Buncrana pier last Sunday has said the tremendous outpouring of support from across the country has ‘been of great comfort to the family at this most tragic time. He was speaking at a vigil organised in Derry’s Guildhall Square to mark