Author name: oisinkelly

Irish children will have a chance to glimpse Santa in the skies over Ireland this evening – before he starts delivering their presents. The information’s been released by the Irish Air Corps, which helps out the man in red every year, through air traffic control, weather charts, and technical support. Everyone will have to be

The Office of the President has confirmed it’s received a letter from Sinn Fein, the Technical Group and a number of Independents asking Michael D. Higgins not to sign the Water Services Bill into law. Citing the “degree of widespread public opposition” – it says the matter is of such national importance that a referendum

A County Councillor is laying the blame for a social housing crisis in Donegal at the feet of the county’s elected TDs. There are almost 3,000 people on social housing waiting lists in Donegal however the council plans to build just ten units of housing in 2015. Cllr Ian McGarvey is predicting that unless urgent

Four elderly siblings who were robbed in their Co Tyrone home last month have had extra security fitted at their farmhouse after a charity fundraiser. Ethna, Kathleen, James and Sam Spruole were robbed in their home on Tullymoan Road, Clady by four masked men. A fundraiser which was held a fortnight ago rose just over

Politicians in Northern Ireland have reached an agreement on issues following lengthy talks at Stormont in Belfast. In a statement released in the past half an hour, the Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan, says the agreement -in 75 sections- covers a broad range of political, social and economic issues. Minister Flanagan says the deal

The Chamber of Commerce in Derry has called for education cuts to be reversed and more investment in roads linking the city with Dublin and Belfast. In its submission to the Department of Finance in relation to the draft Budget, the Chamber says rather than cutting education spending, there should be increased funding for Northern

Gardai in Donegal have issued Crime Prevention Advice for Christmas urging people to be extra vigilant for any suspicious activity in their community. Gardai are asking people to take note of any vehicles acting suspiciously and to pass on details of the vehicle’s make, colour and registration plates to gardai. People are also asked to

Donegal has the state’s fifth highest incidence of motorists being caught drink driving, according to figures collated by the Irish Independent. The figures show that 5,649 people were detected drink driving in Donegal over a ten year period from June 2004 to June of this year. That’s an average of 59.7 motorists per 1,000 licence

An independent review has been ordered into the death of Letterkenny soldier who was murdered while serving with the UN in Lebanon. Hugh Doherty, was shot dead during a raid on his post on April 27th 1981. Private Doherty, who had just turned 20, was shot three times in the back. Kevin Joyce, from the

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic accident on the Strand Road in Derry. The two car collision happened just outside Cafe Roc just after 10pm this evening. It is not known if anyone was seriously injured in the crash at this stage. The PSNI are advising to avoid the area and find

A new group will examine possibilities for development in the post office network. The Post Office Network Business Development Group, which will be offically launched in the New Year, will look at possibilities for new Government and commerial business. There have been numerous reviews examining the future of rural post offices. Speaking to Highland Radio

  A protest organised by Can’t Pat Won’t Pay against water charges took place in Dungloe yesterday. According to organisers, more than 300 people took to the streets wearing santa hats in a bid to send the Government a clear message on argubly the busiest day in the run up to Christmas. Speaking to Highland

A dangerous marine flare has been made safe on Tory Island. A member of the public discovered the suspect item on the western coast of the island on Saturday morning. The Army Bomb Disposal Team arrived at 11am by helicopter and carried out a controlled explosion. The scene was declared safe shortly after midday. King

  A 50-year-old woman has been attacked in the Creggan area of Derry. The incident happened as she was walking in a laneway between Creggan Heights and Ballymagowan at around 20.40 yesterday evening. SDLP Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has condemed the attack and is asking anyone with information to contact the PSNI:

A former bank manager who admitted the fraud of £100,000 by abuse of position has received a suspended sentence at Derry Crown Court. Column Lewis Canning (55) of Moneyrannel Road in Limavady was also ordered to pay more than £50,000 in compensation within six months. Róisín Treacy reports:

Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs, Joe McHugh has named Letterkenny, Dungloe and Donegal Town under the Gaeltacht Act 2012. The move means that the three towns will act as Gaeltacht service areas for the county, providing visitors with information about irish speaking areas in Donegal. Minister McHugh says the plan will encourage the use

An Independent Councillor says anyone wishing to vote Independent in the next General Election should first examine what the candidates stand for before casting their vote. John Campbell, the Chairperson of Donegal County Council, was speaking after a number of Independent Senators sided with the government this week when voting on the Water Services Bill.

The Chairperson of Donegal County Council has been granted leave to appeal a direction from the Minister for the Environment overturning a decision by the Council to impose new conditions on windfarms In June the council agreed to a set back distance ten times the tip height of turbines from residential properties and other population

18.6 million euro has been allocated for national road improvement and maintenance works in Donegal next year. Welcoming the allocation, Deputy Dinny Mc GInley said Donegal’s national road network is a key asset as the economy moves towards recovery and growth. He says this allocation will ensure that the standard of our national road network

Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay say they want a Christmas atmosphere at their demonstration in Dungloe tomorrow, the last before the end of the year. Local Independent Councillor Michael Colm Mac Giolla Easbuig is one of the organisers of the march, which leaves Ostan na Rossan at 1 o’clock. He says the fact that the Water

The debate on the Water Services Bill will continue at the Seanad today. Last night the Bill passed the second stage in the Upper House. The Dáil could be recalled next week to deal with amendments to the text, which might be forced though by opposition senators. But Parliamentary Correspondent with the Irish Times Michael

A 51-year old man who sexually assaulted a teenage girl at Dublin Airport after wrestling her to the ground in public has been ordered to undergo a full psychiatric assessment. The Lithuanian national with an address in Letterkenny told gardaí he was having flashbacks to when he worked in the Russian Special Forces in Siberia

Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue has hit out at Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan following the announcement last evening of the School Building Programme for 2015. One Donegal project, the new Educate Together National School in Letterkenny will start next year, while extension works will continue at schools in Ballyshannon and Raphoe. However, Deputy