Author name: oisinkelly

The US Ambassador says the publication online of parish records from the 18th and 19th centuries will increase the number of Americans visiting Ireland. Over 370 thousand images of Catholic registers from the 1740s to the 1880s are now available online at nli-dot.ie Its the biggest ever digitisation project by the National Library of Ireland,

A coroner has refused to give the police more time to disclose files to the inquest for the murdered Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson. Brian Sherrard said he was not prepared to extend an end of August deadline for detectives to security vet murder investigation papers on the case. 15-year-old Arlene, from Castlederg, vanished after a

The Seanad has been told that there are 450,000 sheep in Donegal, over 12% of the national stock., and a drop in lamb prices in the county is having a serious impact on farmers in the county. Senator Brian O’Domhnaill says government intervention is needed. The price is below 5 euro per kilo at present,

Sinn Fein has launched a campaign in Co Donegal aimed at building wide public support for a fair recovery. The campaign is entitled ‘A Fair Recovery is Possible’, and it will see the party engage with people on the doorsteps across the county. The party will also be handing out thousands of leaflets across Donegal in

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission is coming under pressure to establish a protocol whereby a person under investigation is told they have no case to answer if that is the case. Fianna Fail’s Justice Spokesperson raised the issue in the Dail last evening, following the tragic death of Sgt Michael Galvin. Sgt Galvin shot himself

Members of Donegal Action for Cancer Care are to meet with representatives from the Department of Health again next month. In February it was confirmed that a general surgeon would be appointed at Letterkenny General Hospital within four months. A commitment was also been given that two locum GP’s would be appointed to support the

A Donegal Deputy has begun a campaign to remove the obligation on local sports organisations and community based festivals to pay for policing services. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn says Sinn Fein will introduce legislation to amend Section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act. Last month, it emerged that a festival in Co Donegal, which did

Two men have been assaulted in Derry. The incident happened in Termon Street in the Waterside yesterday evening. One man received cuts to his hand, the other man to his neck. A 30-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were arrested in relation to the assault. Both have been released on bail pending further enquiries.

A fatal head-on collision between two cars on the N15 at Barnesmore was described at an inquest today. 83-year-old George McCallig died instantly in the head on collision in August last year. Coroner Dr Diarmuid Hegarty heard how 83-year-old George McCallig died instantly when his car veered across the road and collided with one driven

A West Tyrone MLA was amongst a number of Sinn Fein members who received bomb threats yesterday. The threats were communicated to Sinn Fein by officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland. In a statement posted on the Sinn Féin website, it was claimed that party leader Gerry Adams, Belfast MP Alex Maskey and

A €5 million Research and Development grant has been announced for Randox in Dungloe, to be paid over the next five years. The payment was approved at a cabinet meeting attended by Junior Minister Joe Mc Hugh. He says it weill enable Randox to develop its Dungloe facility as a world class R&D centre of

A 100 year old thatched cottage at Bloody Foreland has been damaged by fire, but substantial damage has been avoided because of the reaction of local people. The cottage has become a focal point of the local area, particularly in terms of the local festival which gets underway later this month. Speaking to Greg Hughes

The Irish Natura & Hill Farmers Association says a recent fall in the price of lamb is creating significant difficulties for hill farmers in Donegal. The group says this means that farmers are losing money on every animal they sell, but they are obliged to graze their land in order to avail of EU funding.

  The north’s finance committee will today consider calling NAMA officials before its inquiry into allegations surrounding a 7 million pound money transfer, that’s been linked to the sale of some of the agency’s Northern Ireland portfolio. The committee is also expected to call Independent TD Mick Wallace to give evidence. Deputy Wallace has alleged

House prices are up 9% in Donegal according to the latest daft.ie survey. The company’s latest property report shows that house prices are growing significantly outside of Dublin. Prices are up 23 per cent in Meath and 18 per cent in Kildare compared to one year ago. Counties Clare and Roscommon are both up 12

  Parts of Derry City were badly affected by floods last night. The Lonemoor Road and Rossville Street had to be closed and there were also problems in the Bogside, Creggan, Foyle Road and Strand Road. Derry City and Strabane Council were urging people to avoid certain streets because of localised flooding caused by heavy

Gardaí are renewing their appeal for the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of 72 year old man who may be in Co Donegal. James Joyce is missing from Enniscorthy in Co Wexford. 72-year-old James Joyce was last seen in the Enniscorthy area on 5 June. He is 5’7” in height, of stocky build and

The ESB’s working to restore power to almost 500 of its customers on Arranmore Island this afternoon. Thunder and lightning hit many parts of the county overnight. Power has been out on the island since 11am this morning, and the ESB are hoping to have power restored shortly. There are currently up to 400 students on Arranmore learning

There are calls for urgent action to determine the future of the traveller’s community centre at Ballyarnett. It comes after a fire caused serious damage to the disused building on Saturday afternoon. The cause is being investigated, but it’s understood it is believed to  have been a case of vandalism. Local Councillor Tony Hasson says

A protest outside the treatment plant which is under construction in Dungloe has ended after residents secured agreement from the contractor to repair the road. Some residents claimed road outside the plant has been extensively broken up by heavy vehicles coming in and out of the site during the construction process, and as a result,

The EU has introduced a new system to prevent people from buying drugs from unlicenced websites. A new logo will appear on verified websites within the EU, it follows the death of a young Irish man in June, who had bought banned slimming pills on the internet. North West MEP Mairead McGuinness says people need

A 21 year old Derry man is due at the local magistrates court today on 9 charges including theft, threats to property and vehicle interference. The offences are alleged to have taken place in the city between June 29th and July 3rd.

Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the Government to amend the terms of reference of the Fennelly Commission. The current terms prevent the examination of allegations concerning the bugging of conversations in some Garda stations by Gardaí. He is responding to revelations which were published in yesterday’s Sunday Business Post. Deputy

  Residents in Dungloe are currently holding a protest outside the treatment plant which is under construction. The road outside the plant has been extensively broken up by heavy vehicles coming in and out of the site. As a result, residents in the surrounding area have had significant damage caused to their cars. They have

Gardai are currently at the scene of a road traffic crash in Letterkenny. The one-vehicle crash happened just outside Thornberry. No injuries have been reported. As a result, there are long traffic delays coming in to Letterkenny from the Mountain Top. Motorists are advised to avoid the area for the time being.