Author name: oisinkelly

The Junior Education Minister has told the Dail that the government will not be introducing an appeals mechanism against changes to the school transport scheme, which it’s claimed will see pupils from the Urris area forced to relocate from Carndonagh to Buncrana. The change, which sees a new system of calculating distances, was brought in […]

Police and Army Bomb Disposal Experts are currently examining a suspicious object at Drumahoe Road in Derry. Drumahoe Road has been closed at its junctions with the Fincairn Road and Church Road and diversions are in place. There are no further details at present.

Donegal County Council has been hosting a delegation from Al-bireh Municipality in Palestine this week. The three delegates have been briefed on economic, social and cultural position of Donegal, and tofay has been visiting Sliabh Liag and other tourism sites in South and West Donegal. The Palestinian Ambassador to Ireland joined the delegation for a

Three arrests were made in Derry yesterday in relation to alleged drugs offences. A man is to be reported to the PPS after cannabis and diazepam tablets were seized in a search in the Shantallow area on Tuesday morning. And in another search in the Shantallow area on Tuesday afternoon, a man was arrested on

The retail giant Primark is holding a jobs fair in Omagh, with 108 positions on offer at its new store on Market Street. West Tyrone MLA Joe Bryne says it’s to be welcomed that over 100 people from Omagh and the surrounding areas will be given the opportunity to find employment today. Mr Byrne says

A National Conference on Alcohol taking place today to discuss how communities can tackle alcohol abuse. It’s part of Action on Alcohol Week, which is organised by the Donegal based Alcohol Forum. The role that marketing plays in influencing young people’s attitudes and behaviours to alcohol is also being discussed. The Chief Executive of the

A Donegal Cllr has said it’s time that the government acted on the youth unemployment crisis in the county. New figures released show that there are almost 3,000 people under the age of 25 in Co Donegal unemployed. And the statistics released by the Department of Social Protection also show 1197 of these people have

A number of people in Donegal have been the victim of a fraudulent online Tax Refund scheme. People have received e-mails linking them to a bogus website which looks like a legitimate Revenue website. The scam artists then instruct people to submit their personal details in order to claim back the tax. Michael Coll of

Hundreds of jobs are on the line at the Irish division of betting giant Ladbrokes after it suffered losses of €5m last year. The company has sought court protection to try to turn around its loss-making venture and secured the appointment of an interim examiner after several years of declining profits. Ladbrokes said lay-offs are

A former British soldier who lined his children up ‘like mini soldiers’ before punishing them sometimes with a poker has been jailed for ten and a half years at Derry Crown Court. The 60-year-old man from County Derry who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, had admitted three counts of cruelty

Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are to visit Ireland next month. It’s been confirmed that the royal couple will visit Ireland, and Northern Ireland, for four days beginning on May the 19th. It’s the couple’s first visit to Ireland together – and Charles’ first visit since 2002. It has been reported they will

The EPA says it expects water quality on Lady’s Bay in Buncrana to improve. Figures published this morning show that of 19 bathing areas assessed, 16 were of excellent quality, two, Rathmullan and Portnablagh were deemed ‘good’ and one, Lady’s Bay in Buncrana was deemed ‘sufficient’. Tony Dolan is a member of the EPA’s Bathing

Police in Derry will be stepping up their patrols in the Galliagh area this weekend after incidents last weekend involving young people, two of whom were arrested. There were reports of young people throwing petrol around and setting it alight, on some occasions throwing it at each other. Yesterday, Chief Inspector Tony Callaghan and other

A special meeting of the Donegal Education and Training Board will take place on Monday next to discuss the future of Colaiste Chineal Eoghain in Buncrana, which is set to be closed on a phased basis because of insufficient numbers applying for enrolment. The special meeting was sought by Cllr Rena Donaghey, a member of

A man who police describe as a ‘trusted and important’ member of an organised crime gang responsible for trying to import more than £2 million worth of drugs into the North has been refused bail. The Derry man who cannot be named as an anonymity order has been imposed by the court faces a total

There’s been widespread condemnation of an arson attack on the home of a 70 year old woman in the Top of the Hill area of Derry last night. Shortly before 5.55, flammable liquid was poured through the letterbox of a house in Camelia Court and set alight. The woman was able to extinguish the fire,

The latest Environmental Protection Agency report into bathing water quality has found the quality of Irish bathing waters to be among the best in Europe, with 75% of the areas tested deemed to be of excellent quality. 19 bathing areas in Donegal were assessed by the EPA, more than any other county. 16 were deemed

  The price of an average three bedroom semi detached house in Co Donegal has risen by 3.45% to €75,000 in the first three months of 2015, with an overall rise of 5.63% in the past six months. That’s according to a national survey carried out by Real Estate Alliance. It now takes seven weeks

A Donegal councillor is calling for a review of how council houses are allocated after being told that of the replies received so far from people offered houses in the Letterkenny Municipal District this year, more than half have turned them down. Cllr John O’Donnell says cases where there are genuine reasons for turning down

Donegal Councillor Jack Murray has returned from Brussels after taking part in a delegation to the European Parliament to raise concerns with the EU Commission about about ongoing international trade negotiations. If the TTIP – Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership – talks reach a successful conclusion, Cllr Murray says it could have serious consequences for

A meeting is underway between the three Donegal North East TDs and the Chief Executive of the Donegal Education and Training Board as a campaign to save Colaiste Chineal Eoghain in Buncrana continues. Last week, Sean Purcell confirmed the ETB had decided to close the school on a phased basis because enrolement applications were well

A new study says anxiety is the most common concern raised by young people seeking help with mental health issues. According to research by Jigsaw – low mood, stress and family problems were the other main concerns raised over the past six years. There are 10 Jigsaw centres across the country, including one in Letterkenny.

  People are being urged to think about their drinking as part of “Action on Alcohol Week” which starts today. The Alcohol Forum says that 88 deaths a month in Ireland are directly related to alcohol. Seminars focusing on the marketing of alcohol and women’s drinking habits, are taking place as part of the initiative.

A Donegal County Cllr has hit out at Irish Water after a woman who has been dead for three years received a bill for water charges. The woman from Derrybeg received the bill on Friday. The revalation comes a week after a Co Wexford woman, who has been dead six years, also received a bill

Fire crews have been called to deal with a gorse fire at Meenaleck, Crolly this evening (before 4pm). The fire is in an area on the Crolly side not far from Leo’s Tavern. There are a number of houses in the area but it is not thought any are in danger. Locals have also been