Category: Old Donegal

Main Evening News, Sport, Nuacht and Obituaries Friday December 17th:

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The Omicron variant now accounts for 35% of new Covid cases in Ireland, according to NPHET.

A total of 3,628 coronavirus infections have been reported this evening.

420 Covid patients are in hospital today – the lowest figure in over two months.

105 people are in intensive care with the virus – down three from yesterday.

Almost €27m in funding has been announced for Donegal’s National Roads for 2022.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland is making the money available to Donegal County Council.

Welcoming the announcement, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue says continuous investment in Donegal’s road network is crucial for county and for our safety, competitiveness and tourism offering.

There are 1,887 new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland.

Three people have died from the virus in the past 24 hours.

There were 28 Covid-related deaths in the North in the week that ended last Friday.

It brings the death toll to 3,950.

Many students across Donegal and further afield have been left facing uncertainty as it’s emerged the latest SUSI Grant payment due today has not been received by students.

Earlier, in a social media post, SUSI confirmed that scheduled payments were to be issued to Higher Education and PLC students today.

However, as a result of the unknown error, many students who may have been depending solely on the grant money have been left without.

Disability campaigner Vicky Matthew who is a student at IT Sligo and herself due to receive the payment says many families will be facing further financial strain today:

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Transport Infrastructure Ireland has confirmed a €50,000 allocation for initial works on a greenway at Barnesmore Gap.

Meanwhile, €800,000 has been allocated to continuing works on the greenway from Castlefinn to Carrigans.

Cllr Patrick McGowan says it’s a very important announcement, and can help the East Donegal area reach its tourism potential………..

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A GoFundMe Page has been set up to support Finn Players Adam McCaffrey and his family as Adam recovers from a serious injury.

On Sunday 12th December 2021,  the Finn Harps under-19 player suffered a serious head injury during a football match and was transferred to Dublin for treatment.

The parents of the Finn Harps U-19s have come together to set up a GoFundMe to help support Adam and his family through this very challenging time. You can access the fundraising page here.

Roisin Woods (U19 parent) said: “The parents and players that know Adam so well, just wanted to do something to show our support to him and his family and that they are very much in our thoughts.”

Stephen McNutt, U19 Head Coach added: “Adam is one of our most outstanding prospects. He has that ability that only a few players have, in where he can change a game in a moment.

In over 45 years involved in football, I have never seen such a horrific injury on a football pitch I am proud of the fantastic response by the club and Academy staff in trying to help Adam and his family this week. The next few months are going to be vital and extremely difficult for Adam, his mother Fiona and the rest
of the family as he strives to recover.

I am delighted that Roisin and other parents from the U19 squad have come together to setup this GoFundMe page that will at least take care of some of the financial worries for Fiona as she cares for Adam during this difficult period.”

All donations are greatly appreciated and will support Adam and his family as he starts his rehabilitation over the coming weeks and months.

There were 38 admitted patients awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, two of them on Emergency Department trolleys. That’s six down on yesterday.

Letterkenny was again the second most overcrowded hospital in the country today after Limerick.

However, with 16 patients awaiting beds in Sligo, 12 of them in the ED, the combined North West figure of 54 is the highest in the country.

In total, the INMO says there were 319 patients awaiting beds around the country this morning.

An enhanced accessible toilet and changing facility is to be developed in Letterkenny, after Donegal County Council secured a €75,000 allocation under the Disability Participation and Awareness Programme, with the bulk of the money going towards a ‘Changing Places’ unit.

The unit will serve people with complex needs.

Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh is Mayor of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District, and a Disability Campaigner.

He says work should start on this project in the new year…………..

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All seven of Donegal’s Local Electoral Areas now have Covid 19 incidence rates which are below the national average of 1,305, with Glenties the ninth lowest rate in the country.

Letterkenny recorded 369 cases in the two weeks to last Monday, a 14-Day Incidence Rate of 1237 cases per 100,000 people.

Lifford Stranorlar had 299 cases, and a rate of 1,154, while North Inishowen saw 181 cases, and a 14 day rate of 1067.

The Donegal LEA had 266 cases and a rate of 1004, while in South Inishowen, 205 cases led to a rate of 917.

Milford saw 118 cases and a rate of 857, while Glenties recorded 179 cases, and a rate of 748, the ninth lowest in the state.