Author name: oisinkelly

Derry City and Strabane District Council has agreed to make a formal bid to become European Youth Capital 2019. A meeting of the council’s Strategy Committee last evening gave the go-ahead to develop a concept paper for the first phase of the application process. The council will now seek Government and Ministerial endorsements for the

Met Eireann has confirmed that the weather in May was rotten. Malin Head had its wettest May in 120 years, with Atlantic coastal areas and some Midlands stations reporting double or more their average rainfall. The whole country reported below average temperatures – with many reporting the coolest conditions in almost 20 years. In its

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty is calling on the Health Minister to clarify the future of the Cleary Centre in Donegal Town. Deputy Doherty made his comments about the HSE managed facility which provides services and training for adults with disabilities following recent uncertainty surrounding the long term future of the unit. Last November,

Plans have been announced for a new Health and Wellbeing campus at Altnagelvin Hospital. It will be a joint project between MacMillan and the Western Trust and will provide an information and support centre, particularly for patients with cancer and other long term illnesses. As well as supporting patients, the centre will also offer help

Two young men have been killed in a crash on the A5 Victoria Road between Newbuildings and Magheramason. Two others are in hospital. The one vehicle crash happened at around 3.30 this morning between Duncastle Road and Woodend Road. Diversions are in place, and motorists are advised to avoid the area. The PSNI are appealing

A Donegal Deputy says an increase in resource teaching hours announced by the education Minister will make little impact on the overall resource teacher shortage. Fianna Fail’s Education Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue says Jan O’Sullivan’s announcement of 237 teaching posts for the next term will be offset by an increase in student numbers. Deputy McConalogue says

Almost 119,000 students across the country begin their state examinations this morning. Tests will take place in over 100 subjects, involving four million examination papers and just under 5,000 superintendents supervising the proceedings over the coming days. In Donegal, 2106 students will sit the Leaving Cert, 145 will sit the Leaving Cert Applied and 2263

The family of Sergeant Michael Galvin, who died last week by suicide, says they’ve no confidence in the Garda Ombudsman. The father of three did not know he had been cleared of any wrongdoing by GSOC. The ombudsman was investigating the death of Sheena Stewart, who was struck by a taxi in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal

The AGSI has been heavily critical of the Garda Ombudsman’s level of communication with members of the Gardai. Garda Sergeant Michael Galvin took his own life at Ballyshannon Garda Station in Donegal last Thursday- he was not aware he had been cleared of any wrong-doing in the investigation into a fatal road traffic incident in

A contract has been signed to complete Phase II of the Belfast-Derry railway line. The announcement was made at Stormont this morning by Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy. The works include a passing loop on the line between Derry and Coleraine, which should pave the way for an hourly service between Derry and Belfast. Welcoming

The HSE Smoking Cessation Service in Donegal is running an information day at Letterkenny Shopping Centre tomorrow to mark the fact that Sunday last was World No Tobacco Day. It follows the implementation of the Smoke Free Campus policy at 11 community hospitals and nursing units across Donegal yesterday. Smoking Cessation Officer Fiona Boyle says

In what’s been described as a unique cross border initiative, Crimestoppers has launched an appeal for information in relation to a murder outside Buncrana over three years ago. 24 year old Andrew Allen was shot dead at his home in Links View Park, Lisfannon, on February 9th, 2012. Mr Allen was killed after gunmen fired shots

Serious concerns have been raised regarding unfinished estates in Donegal. At last weeks council meeting, a report entailing a revised arrangement for taking charge of housing developments was introduced to councillors. While adopting the report, some councillors expressed dissatisfaction saying it was too little too late. Seven estates in Stranorlar alone are affected, 22 in

  Gardai are continuing their investigations following an incident between two males in Clonmany in the early hours of this morning. One male sustained a fall and head injury. The man was unconscious at the scene and was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital for treatment. He was in intensive care but his injuries are now

  The body of a man has been recovered from the water near Killybegs Harbour. There were initial reports of a missing fisherman in the area. Killybegs Coast Guard were tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard earlier this afternoon to carry out a search. After some time,  Killybegs Coast Guard recovered a body from the

  Three arrests were made  for drugs possession in Derry over the weekend. The three  men, aged 28, 21 and one juvenile have been  reported to the Public Prosecution Service. The searches were carried out in  properties in Gobnascale, Spencer Road and Foyle Springs area of the city and suspected drugs were found. It is thought

  Police were alerted by the fire service to a shed on fire in Leafair Gardens of Derry at around 7am this morning. At this time, the fire is being treated as deliberate and enquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident are ongoing. Speaking to Highland Radio News, local councillor Brian Tierney says

The closing ceremony of this years Donegal Relay for Life has just ended. The event, which took place in the L.Y.I.T. saw thousands of people taking part over the duration of the weekend, amidst the bad weather. Around three thousand people turned out for this evening’s closing ceremony, led by singer Daniel O’Donnell. Chairman of

Concerns have been raised following figures published under the Common Agricultural Scheme regarding payment to farmers. Figures released show that farmers in Donegal received over 85 million euro in payments last year. Over the past few days, the Department of Agriculture began publishing figures for every county. Farmers paid above €1,250 have their names published.