Author name: oisinkelly

Broadcaster Gay Byrne has revealed how he refused to buy a holiday home in Donegal numerous times before “finally giving in”. Byrne and his wife Kathleen were at Glenveagh Castle yesterday for the launch of a new Donegal tourism App and brochure. The couple have had a holiday home near Dungloe in the west of

Donegal Co Council has launched a new tourism brochure and app today. The brochure and app extensively details things to do and see in the county. There are lists of beaches, golf courses, surfing locations, cycling, walking and hiking routes plus much more. The app will also update news and events in Co Donegal on

Fianna Fail is proposing the establishment of a cross border, multi-agency taskforce to tackle fuel smuggling. It would involve all statutory organisations responsible for detecting and policing the illicit fuel trade north and south of the border. The environmental consequences of fuel laundering have been widely reported in areas along the border. Former Minister Brendan

There was a 26% drop in average land prices in Donegal last year. An Irish Farmers Journal survey shows the average price of agricultural land in the county in 2014 was just over €6,800 an acre, against the 2013 average of almost €9,260. That compares to a national average rise of 5% to almost 10,000

The extent of the overcrowding problem at Letterkenny General Hospital has been thrown into focus this morning with the publication of an analysis of the February figures by the Irish Nurses and Midwifery Organisation. The figure almost doubled last month, with 527 people in total awaiting admission either on trollies in the Emergency Department or

Almost 90 percent of students studying medicine in Irish universities say they’re considering emigrating when they graduate. A study led by NUIG has found that career opportunities and working conditions are among the main factors for emigrating. Meanwhile, this morning’s Donegal Democrat is reporting that a number of GPs in Donegal are warning that the

  The new Chair of the IFA in Donegal says putting money into farmers’ pockets is a major priority. Michael Chance was speaking at this week’s AGM of the association’s Donegal branch, saying that it’s a particular honour to be elected in the IFA’s 60th anniversary year. He replaces PJ Mc Monagle, who has just

Parts of Queen’s Quay and Lower Clarendon Street in Derry remain closed to traffic this morning following a fire yesterday which gutted the Mandarin Palace and Karma restaurant. Queen’s Quay is closed from Harbour Square roundabout to Queen’s Quay roundabout, with motorists advised to avoid the area if possible. Diversions are in place. The fire

A Co Donegal priest has said he has not apoligised over comments he made about gay marriage over the weekend. Annagry based priest Fr John Britto spoke out against gay marriage during a sermon at mass on Saturday night. He told the congregation that Eamon McGee was wrong to back the Yes campaign in May’s

Emergency services are currently attending the scene of a fire along the quay in Derry City Centre. Queens Quay is closed from the roundabout to Harbour Square, and motorists are asked to avoid the area. The fire broke out at around lunchtime at the Mandarin Palace at Queen’s Quay off Clarendon Street in the riverfront area of the

It’s been claimed that it took gardai over two hours to respond after a sum of money was stolen from a woman in her nineties in Porthall. The man, described as being six feet tall and wearing a blue suit, entered the woman’s home yesterday, and when she asked if he was a doctor, he

The head of a women’s aid group in Derry claims ‘kangaroo courts’ are still used to deal with domestic and sexual violence in some communities of Northern Ireland. Marie Browne was speaking after a 40 year old Louth man spoke out last night about his alleged rape by an IRA member in the 1990s, and

There were almost 5,000 people waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment at Letterkenny General Hospital in the last year. The statistics released by the HSE show there has been a 411% increase in waiting list figures over the past year. In February there were 4,947 people waiting more than a year for

Almost €13 million in LEADER funding has been announced for Donegal. Minister of State, Joe McHugh said he welcomed the funding package for the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme announced by the government. Once approval for the programme has been given by the European Commission, local action groups throughout Donegal will be invited

A convicted sex offender with over 90 pornographic child images escaped jail because a judge was impressed with his progress under the Probation Service. 44-year-old Neil McBride, was yesterday placed under continuing supervision for 12 months of the Probation Service and was placed on the sex offenders register for five years. He was also ordered

A member of the Yes Equality Donegal Campaign has said that they are disappointed that people have been upset by comments made by a priest on gay marriage. It’s being reported that a number of people walked out of a sermon in Annagry over the weekend. Father John Britto spoke in favour of a ‘No’ vote during the weekend

  Patrick Quinlivan Following confirmation that two Donegal athletes have been selected to represent Special Olympics Ireland at the world games in Los Angeles next July, a fundraising campaign has been launched to fund Team Ireland. Gymnast Patrick Quinlivan and golfer Oliver Doherty will be part of the 88 person squad travelling to LA in

The ICSA says the roundtable beef talks are not achieving their goals. The talks were initiated last year after protests outside a number of beef factories. The association says there’s been too much slippage on the commitments given already, and no guarantees are being received about quality assurance and price. Malcolm Thompson is the ICSA’s

The PSNI are appealing for information about a murder which happened in Benburb Co. Tyrone almost 41 years ago. 27 year old John Pat Cunningham was shot by members of a British Army Patrol on Saturday, June the 15th 1974. The case has been re-opened and a murder investigation has been started, following an assessment

Both the British and Irish Governments have expressed concern over the latest crisis in the Northern Ireland Assembly, after Sinn Féin suddenly withdrew its support for welfare reform. Moving to block the bill, Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness accused the DUP of reneging on commitments. DUP leader Peter Robinson said that was “dishonourable and ham-fisted”, saying

A Donegal County Cllr has spoken of the frightening experience endured by passengers as a Glasgow flight was forced to abort its landing in Derry yesterday. Cllr Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easpaig was on yesterday afternoons Glasgow to Derry flight. He said that the plane had been about to touch down but was forced to

A murder trial has been told there is “moderate support” to contend that the alleged gunman filmed on CCTV is the same man on trial for the killing. Kieran McLaughlin, from Elaghmore Park in Derry, denies murdering Barry McCrory, who was shot dead in the city in October 2013. A forensic imagery analyst gave evidence

A former school principal has appeared before a court charged with theft from a government department and the school’s board of management. The charges arise out of a two-year garda investigation into the thefts of funds allocated to a rural primary school in Co Cavan. The Irish Independent reports that 35 year old Finbarr Boyle