Author name: oisinkelly

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has ended the 31st Dail, telling deputies he was proceeding immediately to Aras an Uachtarain to ask President Michael D Higgins to dissolve the Dail, and summon the incoming Dail to meet on Thursday March 10th. He then immediately left the chamber without hearing any statements, and the Dail was immediately adjourned. […]

January was wet, mild and windy, according to Met Eireann. Met Eireann says all stations reported above average rainfall in January, with the percentages ranging from an extra 2% in Tipperary to an extra 92% at Cork Airport. In Malin Head, the increase was 42%. Temperatures were also higher than average in January, with Malin

A public meeting to discuss the need to maintain the Health Centre in Dunfanaghy will take place tonight, after local GP Dr Paul Stewart confirmed this week that the HSE will be visiting the premises to assess what can be done to improve the centre and its facilities. He has already warned that once HIQA

An Post have confirmed they will be reconfiguring postal services in West Donegal. The move will mean the consolidation of mail operations at offices in Derrybeg, Dunfanaghy and Gortahork and moved to a new delivery service unit. It’s believed the new unit will be based at the former bank premises in Falcarragh. Deputy Pearse Doherty

Fianna Fail has launched its “Manifesto for Rural Ireland” with plans to rejuvenate economic and social life in rural Ireland. If elected into Government, Fianna Fail policies include the promise to create 30,000 jobs in rural Ireland, Restore the pupil teacher ratio in small schools & improve school transport services and maintain rural GP cover

4,000 lecturers at the country’s Institutes of Technology will go on strike today in a row over cutbacks and staff levels. Protesters say since 2008 the number of students has increased by nearly 22-thousand, while the number of lecturing positions has decreased at the same time by 550. They also claim they’re struggling to cope

  A meeting is taking place to highlight the demands of the Irish Language community in the run up to the General Election. The Donegal branch of Foram Gnimh are holding their meeting in Jacksons Hotel in Ballybofey tonight at 7.30pm and committee member Sean O Murchadha will be chairing the meeting on how these

The Taoiseach is now expected to dissolve the Dáil tomorrow and call the general election. The Taoiseach met Tánaiste Joan Burton this morning – and while ultimately the decision is entirely his, it’s understood they’ve agreed the election will take place on Friday February 26th. Effectively all that’s left now is for Mr Kenny to

Donegal County Council is to apply for funding for a study at Magheroarty Pier, with a view towards planning the construction of a breakwater. The pier there serves local fishermen, as well as the ferry to Tory Island, but the build-up of sand at the pier becomes so bad that it may need to be

Storm Henry may be over but ESB Networks have confirmed they’re still working to restore power to a number of homes and businesses across the country. In Dongegal, there are 114 premises without power in North Inishowen, centred around Carndonagh, while 24 homes are affected in Derrybeg. At present, 1.30 is the projected restoration target

A policewoman has been charged with a number of offences in connection with the murder of a County Derry man last month. 28 year old James McDonagh from Castledawson died in hospital in January from head injuries after being assaulted outside a nightclub in Toomebridge. The Belfast Telegraph says the 33 year old officer faces

The Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal have been voted “Most Impressive Site to Visit” by customers of CIE Tours International in 2015. The iconic landmark beat off competition such as the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle and the Blarney Woollen Mills. Glenveagh National Park was also the recipient of a prestigious award in the company’s

A Donegal Election Candidate is urging people in the Finn Valley to attend Thursdays meeting about the future of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar. Last week, The Health Minister said he couldn’t give ‘any cast iron guarantees’ on the future of St Joseph’s Hospital in Stranorlar, Lifford Hospital or the Ramelton Community Nursing Unit. He

Sinn Fein is pledging that if it gets into government, people in the North West will no longer be treated as ‘second class citizens’. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has launched the party’s ‘New Deal for the West’ document, which outlines a number of policies which he says will put rural Ireland to the fore. Included

  Approval has been given for 12 new units in Dungloe for people with intellectual disabilities. Currently people with special needs in the area are in rented accommodation and despite nursing care being adequate, the buildings have been deemed unsuitable for some time. After nearly 9 years of campaigning, 93 thousand euro has been allocated

The Manager of the Donegal Volunteer Centre has said a government allocation of almost 120 thousand euro will greatly help support volunteers in the community The allocation is part of national funding of €3.15 million for volunteering organisations. John Curran of the Donegal Volunteer Centre says there have been cuts in funding in recent years

A nursing home in Maynooth is trying to trace the family of a County Derry native who died there at the weekend. 87 year old John Mc Mullan was transferred from St James’ Hospital in Dublin to Moyglare Nursing Home five years ago. He had been living in Dublin, having previously worked as a sailor.

  A man is in a serious condition in hospital following an early morning alleged assault in Derry. The incident happened in the Waterside area of Derry in the early hours of this morning and two men have subsequently been arrested in relation to the assault. The incident which occurred at Margaret Street, just off

The search for amissing Strabane man has entered its 5th day. Sean ‘ Smurf’ Diver went missing last Wednesday evening but despite an extensive local search, no trace of him has been found. Sean was last seen on Townsend Street in Strabane that same day. A man fitting Sean’s description was seen at the Old

The number of homes without power in Donegal has jumped to over 2000 since 10.10 this morning, with the area around Donegal Town the worst affected at present. According to ESB Networks, there are 1,414 homes without power on the outskirts of Donegal Town, with another  561 without power in the vicinity of Mountcharles. It’s

123 homes are now without power in West Donegal as Storm Henry makes landfall. The figure was 1,029 shortly after 8.30 this morning, but 900 homes have had their power restored. An orange wind warning remains in effect in Donegal and eight other counties on the Western Seaboard. Strong winds of up to 110 kilometres per

The campaign for investment in the health centre in Dunfanaghy is stepping up with an election in the offing. A public meeting takes place on Wednesday to highlight the need for investment in the centre particularly as Dr Paul Stewart says it has no chance of meeting the standards laid down by HIQA. Dr Stewart

€50,000 is to be spent on eight heritage projects in Donegal under a €2 million national funding package announced at the weekend by Arts and Heritage Minister Heather Humphreys. She says this follows on from the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which proved to be very successful in 2014. It is expected this new scheme

Met Eireann is playing down the latest storm to be included in the new naming system. Storm Henry is making landfall over the next 24 hours and is bringing winds of up to 110 kilometers per hour with it. An orange warning’s in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick

Donegal Pet Rescue has announced it is winding down. In a message posted on its Facebook page, the oprganisation says it cannot find a new Foster Coordinator, and as a result, the organisation cannot accept any more dogs or cats. In the meantime, the group says it will spend the next number of months rehoming

The government has allocated €118,000 to the Donegal Volunteer Project. The funding is part of a €3.1 million national allocation announced today by Ministers Alan Kelly and Ann Phelan to help maintain a cohesive structure within which volunteerism is promoted and coordinated.