Author name: oisinkelly

This Monday and Tuesday Highland Radio hosts its General Election 2016 debates. With just days before the only poll that matters, you will be able to hear what each candidate think on the big issues facing Donegal and what they could do for you if elected. The debates are broadcast each evening from 6pm and

The Arts Council says the promotion and funding of the arts at county level is set to change on foot of a new strategy it has reached with the County and City Management Association. Arts Council Director Orlaith Mc Bride says the funding of the arts will become more streamlined and consistent as a result

Donegal’s roads are going to receive €7M under a severe weather allocation fund. Junior Minister Joe Mc Hugh says the winter’s storms have resulted in massive damage to local and secondary roads, as well as bridges, across County Donegal. The repair works will improve accessibility for local residents, farmers and businesses and will make life

Donegal Councillor and Independent election candidate Niamh Kennedy has hit out An Taisce for what she termed a lack of co-ordination in its approach to planning in County Donegal. A spokesperson for An Taisce appeared before a meeting of the County Council’s Local Community Development Committee in Lifford this week at Cllr Kennedy’s request, on

An Orange hall near Newtownstewart has been attacked for the second time in two days. Windows were smashed at Strawletterdallon Orange Hall at around 7 o’clock last night, while at some point on Tuesday night, windows and door panels were smashed in what police are treating as a sectarian hate crime. The same hall was

The Chair of the Save our Services committee Fr John Joe Duffy has described the HSE statement on the future of community hospitals in Donegal as “complete political shennanigans”. Fr John Joe Duffy has reiterated the groups call for guarantees that all long term beds will be secured and funded into the future. He says

The HSE has issued a statement regarding Investment in Donegal Community Hospitals which partially addresses concerns over the future of St. Josephs in Stranorlar, Lifford and Ramelton. The statement says the facilities will remain open, but no commitment has been given regarding long-term beds within the facilities. The have agreed with HIQA that the 20 bed

    A woman who was allegedly raped as a teenager during a night out has told a jury that the subsequent medical examination was nearly worse than the rape itself. The first day of the trial of a Donegal man accused of raping the then 18 years also heard that he allegedly inflicted injuries

The HSE has issued a statement regarding Investment in Donegal Community Hospitals and have addressed the concerns over the future of St. Josephs in Stranorlar, Lifford and Ramelton stating they will remain open. The have agreed with HIQA that the 20 bed community hospital in Lifford which includes 3 long stay beds will continue to

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has issued a promise in writing that if elected into Government he will keep the facilities in St. Josephs in Stranorlar, Lifford Community Hospital and Ramelton Community hospital as they are. There has been on-going concern over the long-stay residential care within the community hospital facilities in question being moved to

    An Inishowen environmentalist has hit out at Irish Water for what he termed a lack of information about excessive chemicals and contaminants in some water supplies. Enda Craig of the Campaign for a Clean Community was speaking this week after it emerged that one of the exceedents in the Greencastle supply is a

    The Alcohol forum has said it had multiple bank accounts to allow it account for its spending to various funders. It was reported today that an audit carried out in 2013 highlighted the number of accounts, and suggested that processes be streamlined. The forum, a national initiative based in Letterkenny, is funded by

A proposal to place variable speed limit signs outside Magherabeg National School is currently being considered. The signs would show reduced speed limits at appropriate times as children are coming to and going from school. The possibility of a new car park at the school is also on the agenda. Cllr Paul Canning says this

The HSE has said it wants to kepp a Health Centre in Dunfanaghy. In an e-mail to local Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill, the HSE says it previously advertised to develop a Primary Care Centre in Dunfanaghy on the basis of a public / private partnership, but no proposals were received at the time. The e-mail says

Northern Ireland’s First Minister insists she wasn’t attending a 1916 Easter Rising commemoration in Dublin last night. Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, took part in a Church of Ireland talk about the rebellion against British rule. Organisers had billed it as a commemoration – but later issued a statement calling it an event. Ms Foster says

A new opinion poll by the Tirconaill Tribune taken two weeks before polling day shows major problems for Fine Gael whose popularity, in the county has hit an all time low of 13.3%. Tribune editor John Mc Ateer says an emergency invitation has gone out to Enda Kenny to visit the constituency and back up

  Donegal Tesco workers have voiced their concerns to Independent Election Candidate Thomas Pringle’s campaign team and are seeking his support in their fight against employment changes. Tesco intends to change the employment conditions of all staff employed since before 1996,1,000 workers nationally will be effected and will mean cuts of more than €2 an

Letterkenny University Hospital’s rent bill for private accommodation has increased by 300% over a five year period. Figures released by the HSE to Sinn Fein have revealed that in 2015, the hospital’s rent bill was over €118,000 compared with just over €29,000 in 2010. The figures also show that almost half a million euro was

  The major burst on the main pipe from the Eddie Fullerton Pollan Dam at Fahan has been repaired but the supply to some homes will not be fully restored until later this evening.  The burst has left thousands of homes without water throughout today but it’s believed the main burst has been repaired and

    A total 413 people are waiting on hospital trolleys or chairs around the country today, with Letterkenny University Hospital seeing major jump – 15 people are awaiting admission. The INMO’s figures show 8 people waiting admission on trolleys in the Emergency Department at Letterkenny Hospital today, while a further 7 were waiting on

General election candidates in Donegal have been invited to a Question and Answer session in Letterkenny’s Radisson Hotel this afternoon to discuss disabilities and what needs to be done to promote equality. The meeting, which starts at 2pm is being facilitated by the Donegal Centre for Independent Living, which has seen its funding cut by

Fine Gael candidate Paddy Harte says more needs to be done to support emigrants and tap in to their skills. He says Donegal has a proud heritage of our people working outside the county yet helping out the economy at home, and it’s time to encourage those who have left to return home and use

There’s a been another major burst on the main pipe from the Eddie Fullerton Pollan Dam, this time at Fahan, leaving thousands of homes without water this morning. The burst happened last night and crews began work on it early this morning. Supplies have been affected in Fahan, Burnfoot, Inch, Bridgend, Burt, Carrigans, Killea, Newtowncunningham,

A small number of people have been treated for viral meningitis at Letterkenny University Hospital. The patients were treated last week but details are only emerging now. Following initial reports that a certain number of people were being treated for meningitis at Letterkenny University Hospital – it has been confirmed that the patients were suffering

A Donegal General Election Candidate has pledged to revitalise towns across the county as part of a nationwide initiative to bring the recovery to outside the capital. Fianna Fail General Election Candidate Charlie McConalogue has stated that towns such as Buncrana, Letterkenny, Stranorlar, and Donegal have been neglected by the current Government through lack of

Fianna Fail has come in for serious criticism over their pledge to reverse the decision to end long term residential care at the community hospitals in Stranorlar, Lifford and Ramelton. In recent days, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and General Election Candidate Pat the Cope Gallgher both stated that if the party was elected into

Derry City and Strabane Councillor Maurice Devenney has resigned from the Democratic Unionist Party after almost 20 years, claiming there has been a campaign of vilification against him since early last year. In statement, Cllr Devenney says he “totally refutes” his former DUP colleagues’ claim that he had promoted or canvassed votes in favour of