Author name: oisinkelly

Playwright Brian Friel will be laid to rest tomorrow. The Tyrone born author died in his Inishowen home yesterday morning at the age of 86. Known the world over for his work Friel is survived by his wife Anne and their five children. Last night, he was honoured with the traditional posthumous standing ovation at

Health Minister Leo Varadkar says he believes there should be more cross border cooperation in the West Ulster area. Addressing medical and administration staff at Letterkenny General Hospital during his two day visit to Donegal, Minister Varadkar said it makes very little sense for Donegal patients to travel to Dublin and Galway for services when

The funeral will take place tomorrow of a Donegal man who died after suffering an adverse reaction after he was stung by a wasp. Fergus McGill of Milltown, Convoy was stung in the town at around midday yesterday, and shortly afterwards, went in to a local bar where he complained of feeling unwell before he

A Donegal Deputy has accused the Government of failing to meet a commitment on dermatology services at Letterkenny General Hospital. It has been claimed that despite assurances that dermatology services would resume at the hospital at the beginning of September, this hasn’t happened and patients are still waiting for these clinics to be restored. Deputy

The twin sister of Mary Boyle who went missing in 1977 has given a statement to gardai in which she claims to know the identity of her alleged killer. Ann Doherty visited Pearse Street Garda Station last evening along with the country singer Margo O’Donnell who also made a statement to gardai alleging the identy

  Cllr. Seamus Ó Domhnaill has confirmed that he will not contest the Fianna Fail Convention and will be backing Councillor James Pat McDaid. The convention is to be held in the Clanree Hotel this Sunday. In a statement, he said he decided not to run on a various grounds, one reason being the change

    Brian Friel, one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights, has died at the age of 86. He passed away this morning. Brian Friel was born in Omagh, in 1929 but moved to Donegal in 1967 after becoming a teacher. He was educated in St Columb’s College, Derry as was poet Seamus Heaney and politician John

    The Health Minister Leo Varadkar is visiting Arranmore Island this morning.  Minister Varadkar will meet with a number of HSE officials and health groups there. He will also visit the local school and lighthouse there. There has been criticism surrounding the Ministers schedule, in particular, that he won’t be visiting Dungloe District Hospital. There

    Cllr. Seamus Ó Domhnaill has confirmed that he will not have his name on the ballot paper at the Fianna Faíl convention due to be held in the Clanree Hotel this Sunday.   In a statement, Cllr Ó Domhnaill  “ at this time I wish to concentrate on serving the local community of the

  Gardai in Letterkenny are continuing their investigations into a report that a girl was approached in the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park. The incident is said to have taken place at approximately 8.30 on Wednesday morning. The teenage girl was walking through the park when it’s believed she was approached from behind. She managed to

    Health Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Letterkenny General Hospital is 10% over budget once again, but acknowledged that the demand and workload at the hospital has also increased. Minister Varadkar made his comments in an address to staff at the hospital, after he opened new catering and laboratory facilities last evening. Speaking

    New figures show that 77% of drivers in Donegal who are summonsed to court over penalty points offences are escaping conviction. The figures were compiled by the Courts Service for the Department of Justice. From January 2013 to March of this year, over three thousand drivers in Donegal who were summonsed to court

Gardai in Letterkenny have confirmed they are investigating a report that a girl was approached in the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park.  The incident is said to have taken place at approximately 8.30 yesterday morning. The teenage girl was walking through the park when it’s believed she was approached from behind. The girl managed to get away

    Met Eireann have issued a fog warning for Donegal. The orange weather alert is in place until tomorrow morning. As a result the RSA is warning road users of the dangers of driving in heavy fog. Motorists are being advised to switch on their dipped headlights, reduce their speed and keep a safe

  Health Minister Leo Varadkar has denied that the centralisation of cancer referrals to Galway University Hospital represents a scaling down of cancer services at Letterkenny General Hospital. Minister Varadkar was speaking ahead of a meeting with Donegal Action for Cancer Care and Cooperating for Cancer Care North West, which is currently underway. He told

    Police continue to appeal for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision on the Tobermore Road in Magherafelt last Thursday evening, 24 September. A man, aged in his 20’s, died in the collision. He was the driver of a car that was involved in a single vehicle collision shortly before 6:45pm. Police continue

  The Health Minister, Leo Varadkar has arrived at Letterkenny General Hospital. Minister Varadkar will take a tour of the hospital and meet with various groups during his visit. Included will be a meeting with Donegal Action for Cancer Care and Cooperating for Cancer Care North West. There were a number of protestors outside the

Gardai have arrested a man in connection with the theft of livestock worth more than 100 thousand euro in Co Donegal. It’s off the back of an appeal by gardai for information following the theft of livestock between 9pm on the 24th June 2015 and 1.15pm on the 25th June 2015 from lands at Cornaher,

  The GP serving Dunfanaghy says if the local health centre is not upgraded soon, it may face closure because it fails to meet basic standards. Dr Paul Stewart was speaking ahead of HIQA inspections of the premises, which he says are likely to be negative. There is a fear in the area that a

A Letterkenny Councillor says the failure of the government to include the Bonagee Link in the Capital Investment Programme for transport announced this week proves there is no political will to progress the plan. Donegal County Council recently bought Martin’s Filling Station on the Dry Arch Roundabout as part of its preparations for the scheme,

The North’s Deputy First Minister says substantial progress on the A5 will be a ‘red line’ issue for Sinn Fein when it comes to agreeing a future programme for government at Stormont. Martin Mc Guinness told a public meeting in Derry last night that while legal issues have severely delayed the A5, there is a

Derry City and Strabane District Council has launched one final push in its quest to have the city named the 2015 Foodie Town of Ireland. Online public voting until finishes tomorrow evening , with the title being determined on the basis of both the public vote and the verdict of a judging panel which visited

Senior NAMA executives will face questions from the Public Accounts Committee today about the controversial sale of the agency’s Northern loan book. The 1-point-6 billion euro sale has been the focus of intense scrutiny on both sides of the border in recent weeks – and members of the Northern Assembly’s Finance Committee are also expected

Calls have been made once again to give fire fighters in Donegal permission to act as first responders in the event of an emergency. Donegal Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has raised the issue with Health Minister, Leo Varadkar and the Ambulance Service following discussions with fire fighters across the county. Deputy Mac Lochlainn says the

A Donegal County Councillor is criticising the school transport scheme, claiming it’s preventing children from attending preferred schools. Councillor John O’Donnell says it’s unfair that parents are being forced to choose the school closest to where they live if they are to avail of the eligible transport ticket which would otherwise cost 350 euro. Councillor

  Concerns have been raised about the effect the combination of low tides and gathering sands is having at Bunbeg Harbour. The harbour is regarded as one of the busiest in the North West and there are now claims that day-to-day activity by fishermen is curtailed due to a huge build-up of sand. There have

  A man who was arrested in connection with alleged human trafficking in Letterkenny has been released from custody. The man, who is in his forties was detained yesterday during one of a number of searches in the town. He was released this afternoon and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. It follows

The business and employers group IBEC has broadly welcomed a Government commitment to address critical infrastructure investment needs in the North West as part of the Capital Programme announced yesterday. The plan will be reviewed in 2017, with IBEC saying it’s important that part of that review see how effective the plan is being in