Author name: oisinkelly

77 jobs to be created in Derry with construction of two hotels

77 jobs are being created in Derry with the transformation of two historic buildings into hotels. Work has already begun at the former Northern Counties Club at Bishop Street at and a former bank building in Shipquay Street. The schemes are expected to give the local hospitality industry a significant jobs boost. The building in

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Sheils to challenge council decision to sell property at half its market value

A Donegal County Councillor is calling into the question the local authority’s decision to sell off property at half it’s market value. The council executive recommended the derelict property in south Donegal be sold for 16 thousand Euro, despite it being individually valued at 30 thousand Euro. Councillor Dessie Sheils has taken issue with this

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Deputy Pringle claims council taking advantage of Gateway programme

A Donegal Deputy has claimed that Donegal County Council has breached the Gateway Scheme Deputy Thomas Pringle says he has been made aware that a number of people were employed under the scheme to carry out roadworks in the Stranorlar area. The Gateway programme is similar to jobbridge where people get an extra €50 on

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Cllr John O’Donnell confirms he will contest the General Election

Independent Donegal Co Cllr John O’Donnell has confirmed that he intends to run in the next General Election. The 33-year-old Kilmacrennan man said he believes there is a massive opening for a ‘strong, independent voice in the county’. Cllr O’Donnel also confirmed that he has met with Shane Ross before Christmas, but he has not

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Xtra Vision to close in Strabane and Derry with loss of 10 jobs

Xtra-vision is closing two stores in Derry and Strabane with the loss of 10 jobs. The company’s store in Strabane will close this week while their store at Lisnagelvin shopping centre in Derry will follow suit on the 2 February. Xtra-vision closed a number of stores last year after going into receivership. Strabane Cllr Patsy

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Sinn Fein say Irish Water meeting at Donegal Co Council is PR stunt

Sinn Fein have confirmed that they will not meet with Irish Water representatives in Lifford today. The party had requested that Irish Water meet them as a grouping in the County House today, but Irish Water said they’d only meet with Cllrs individually. Cllr Mick Quinn has claimed that the offer of ten minute meetings

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RTE Broadcaster reflects on Donegal links in advance of Sports Star Awards

RTE Broadcaster Sean O’Rourke will be the special guest at the Donegal Co. Council sponsored Donegal Sports Star of the Year Awards for 2014 which take place in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Lettekenny, on Friday, January 30th. O’Rourke, who has a holiday home in Downings, spoke with Myles Gallagher on Sunday Sport.  

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Martin McGuinness says united Ireland is “inevitable”

The Norths Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said that a united Ireland is “inevitable”. The Sinn Féin MLA was speaking at his party’s AGM in Omagh, Co Tyrone on Saturday. He also praised Peter Robinson’s leadership over the Stormont House Agreement. Mr McGuinness said: “Sinn Féin has emerged from the recent negotiations in a

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Donegal mountaineers record spectacular climb up Muckish during recent cold snap

The last thing on many peoples minds in Co Donegal during the recent cold spell may have been climbing one of the counties highest mountains. But that’s exactly what climbers Jason Black, Patrick McDermott, Kevin Kiely and Iain Miller did last week. Jason Black climbed the worlds highest moutain Mt Everest two years ago, and

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Scottish nurse, with Co Donegal connections, makes complete recovery from ebola virus

A nurse who contracted Ebola while working in Sierra Leone has made a complete recovery and been discharged from hospital. Pauline Cafferkey, who has family in Dungloe, is now free of the virus after more than three weeks in hospital, where she was critically ill for a time. She said she is “happy to be

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Strabane Cllr claims DARD HQ relocation to Ballykelly isn’t a done deal yet

The Derry/Strabane Super Council have requested the release of freedom of information regarding the relocation of the Department of Agriculture Headquaters. In July last year the Northern Ireland Executive gave its approval for the Department of Agriculture headquarters to move to Ballykelly. The confirmation of the relocation if the 700 jobs came despite the fact

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New survey finds 55% of Donegal businesses intend on employing more staff in 2015

A new survey has found that 55% of Donegal businesses intend on employing more staff in 2015. The report from accountant online dot.ie also found that 80% of businesses in the county saw an increase in trade last Christmas with almost 30% seeing an increase of over 20% on 2013. The strenght of the sterling was seen as

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Rise in house prices in Co Donegal for first time since property crash

House prices in Co Donegal have risen for the first time since the property crash. The report on 64 local property markets across the country and published in today’s Irish Independent shows growth in the market in nearly every part of the country. House prices rose by 3% in Co Donegal. Residential Property Editor at

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Meeke stopped on Monte

Kris Meeke’s Monte Carlo Rally has ended on the second day around the principality. The Co Tyrone drivers Citroen DS3 broke the suspension on stage eight this afternoon. Kris and his co driver Paul Nangle try to get the car going again but they couldn’t finish the stage. It hasn’t been a good day for

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Family of murdered Shaun Duffy want cold case gardai to take over investigation

The family of Shaun Duffy, murdered in west Donegal 10 years ago, are calling on the investigation to be handed over to cold case gardai in Dublin. In January 2005,36-year-old Mr Duffy was found dead at his home at Meenacross near Dungloe. An inquest was told he died during a vviolent struggle where he suffered

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Ulster return for Henderson

After his call-up to the extended Six Nations squad, there’s a further boost for Ulster’s Iain Henderson today – he’ll make his first start of the season for Ulster against Leicester tomorrow. His inclusion at blindside is one of eight changes from the side that lost in Toulon last weekend. Internationals Tommy Bowe, Craig Gilroy,

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EU concerns over Water Conservation Grant could have serious consequences – Doherty

A cabinet minister is playing down fears that Irish Water could fail a vital EU test. A draft report from the European Commission says the new regime of water charges means Irish Water’s borrowing could be included in the national debt. If that’s the case, the government may be forced into an embarrassing mini-budget later

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Audio update – Less than 15% of the Donegal workforce were in agency assisted jobs in 2013

The Western Development Commission has published figures today showing that in 2013, under 15% of all employees in Donegal were in jobs assisted by IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland or Udaras na Gaeltachta. Nationally there were ten counties with lower shares. The report on Assisted Employment shows some growth between 2010 and 2013, but the number

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WDC appointment process to be changed after Dail challenge from Mac Lochlainn

The Department of the Environment says appointments to the Western Development Commission will, in future, be handled by the Public Appointments Service. It follows criticism in the Dail this week from Donegal North East Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn, who said that several members of the current board were members of Fine Gael and Labour, some

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Lacey set for Donegal return

Karl Lacey could return to action next weekend when Donegal open their national Football league campaign against Derry. Lacey hasn’t featured for Donegal in January but according to this morning’s Donegal News, that’s likely to change next weekend when Donegal host Derry at Sean McCool Park on Saturday week David Walsh, Colm McFadden and NeilMcgee

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