Category: Old Donegal

Updated Digital Covid Certificates will start being issued from tonight.

From February 1st, the certs will only be valid for travel within the EU for 9 months since a person’s last vaccine dose.

Irish-issued certificates currently do not reflect an individual’s booster status, meaning many certs would be out of date when the new rule comes into effect.

Minister of State for eGovernment Ossian Smyth says the certs will arrive automatically starting this evening:

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Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney will meet his British counterpart in London later.

It’s the first time the two will meet in person since Liz Truss took over Brexit responsibilities.

Simon Coveney and Liz Truss have already held a long virtual meeting on Anglo Irish relations but today’s will be the first in person and the first since Ms Truss took over the Brexit brief.

That followed the resignation of David Frost last month, who cited concerns over the direction of Boris Johnson’s government.

Today’s meeting’s expected to focus heavily on the Northern Ireland protocol and the EU/UK negotiations.

Minister Coveney and the Foreign Secretary have worked opposite each other before during their times in the Agriculture briefs, so have a working relationship.

Today’s talks come ahead of a meeting between Ms Truss and EU Vice President Maros Sefcovic next week.

There’s been a 27% increase in the number of people receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Donegal, along with a rise in the number of people claiming enhanced illness benefit.

This week 1,936 people claimed the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in Donegal, up from 1,523 on December 21st.

However, the figure is still over 10 times less than the 22,725 who were claiming the payment at the height of the lockdown in May 2020.

8,926 people are in receipt of Enhanced Illness Benefit in Donegal this week, up from 8,018 on December 21st.

Nationally, almost 67,000 people are in receipt of PUP this week, a rise of over 9,000, with more than 254,000 people claiming the enhanced illness payment, up almost 23,000 on last month.

A major funding boost has been announced for the regeneration of Buncrana shore front.

Almost €1.17m has been sanctioned by Government as part of €21.5 million for 27 landmark regeneration projects nationwide.

The ‘Repowering Buncrana’ project will strengthen the shore front, enhance walking and cycling facilities, provide quality shore front amenities and integrate art and biodiversity into the urban landscape.

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says the funding is significant in recognising the potential of Buncrana:

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Meanwhile, €196,000 has been announced for a Northwest Bioeconomy Hub in Killult.

The funding will assist in developing plans for the hub that will provide state of the art facilities and create sustainable employment opportunities in the bioeconomy sectors.

There’s been a jump in the number of patients being treated for Covid-19 at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The hospital is currently dealing with 66 infectious cases, the joint second highest figure in the country.

That’s up 10 on yesterday’s figure.

According to latest figures from the HSE, 5 patients with the virus are in ICU.

The Donegal Sports Partnership is getting involved in a number of initiatives designed to promote walking in the new year.

Next weekend, on Sunday January 16th, walks will take place in Malin Head, Drumfries, Ray and Falcarragh under the auspices of the 2022 Operation Transformation program which began last night.

Meanwhile, the partnership is also backing the ‘Ireland Lights Up’ initiative, under which GAA clubs with floodlights are encouraged to turn them on and enable their local communities to come together to walk and safely during the long dark evenings of winter.

Karen Guthrie is the Community Sports Development Officer in Donegal:

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A court case arising out of what has been dubbed “Golfgate” is due to begin today.

Independent TD Noel Grealish, former Fianna Fáil Senator Donie Cassidy and two hoteliers are accused of breaching a lockdown regulation.

In August 2020, the Oireachtas Golf Society held a two-day golfing event in Connemara.

Noel Grealish, an Independent TD for Galway West was captain of the society, while former Fianna Fáil Senator, Donie Cassidy, was president.

They’re accused of breaching Covid-19 regulations that were in place during what was a Level 3 lockdown, which limited indoor gatherings to 50 people.

The allegations relate to a dinner at the Clifden Station House Hotel on August 19th 2020, which marked the end of the golfing event.

The hotel’s owner, John Sweeney, and the General Manager, his son James, are also accused of breaching the regulation.

The first day of what’s due to be a five-day hearing will get underway before Galway District Court later this morning.

Schools are reopening across the country today following the Christmas break.

It comes amid concern about the impact high Covid infection rates will have on staffing levels and student attendance.

Teacher unions are warning thousands of staff will be absent today, and it’s expected some classes may have to stay at home.

Children with special needs, younger primary pupils and third, fifth and sixth year post-primary classes are being prioritised for in-person teaching.

At least one school in Donegal has adopted a staggered reopening due to staff absenteeism.

President of ASTI, Eamon Dennehy, says some schools could be forced to close in the coming weeks due to Omicron:

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Met Eireann’s warning of hazardous conditions today due to snow and ice.

A Yellow alert comes into effect from 4pm for the entire country and is to remain in place until 11am tomorrow.

Forecaster, Andrew Doran Sherlock, says the north and west of the country will be worst affected:

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Jose Carrillo signs for Finn Harps. Photo Clare McCahill.

Wednesday was a busy day around Finn Park as Harps confirmed two new signings.

Following hot on the heels of Conor Tourish’s arrival, the club also announced the signing of Spanish defender José Carrillo.

Carrillo, who joins from Slovakian club FK Senica, came through the ranks at Granada and Mallorca in Spain before moving to Slovakia in 2017.

He told FinnHarps.ie: “I am very happy to be here. Everyone I’ve met has been very welcoming and friendly. I am excited to meet the fans and play in front of them. I saw some videos online and you can see how much they care about the club.

I think we have a very strong team and will hopefully have a good season. I’d also like to thank my agent Adrian Lucan for all of his efforts in getting me this opportunity.”

Ollie Horgan told club media: “José is a good player with experience at a good level. We’ve lost a few of last year’s squad so it’s important to be able to bring in that bit of quality. There’s still a big job on but we’ll leave no stone unturned in building a team for the upcoming season.”