Donegal Junior Champions Downings. Photo: Geraldine Diver
On this weeks show there are GAA Previews of Downings in the Ulster semi final and the Donegal U21 Final between St Eunan’s and MacCumhaills while Brendan Herbie McDaid looks ahead to and tells us about his role at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin.
Listen Here:
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Watch U21 Preview with MacCumhaills Gary Wilson:
A total of six cases of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 have been detected in Ireland.
The Department of Health has also confirmed 4,022 new coronavirus cases this evening.
As of 8am today, 530 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 115 are in ICU.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health said: “There are now six confirmed cases of the Omicron variant in Ireland. A number of other probable cases are under investigation. Although this is a new variant, our early understanding gives us confidence that a booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine will offer good protection against Omicron and Delta infection.
Lifford/Stranorlar now has the highest rate of Covid -19 in Donegal.
There have been both slight increases and decreases in the rate across the county.
The figures cover the 14 days up to last Monday.
North Inishowen recorded 217 cases and a rate of 1279 in the latest data, reflecting a fall.
A rise in the rate was recorded in South Inishowen with 230 cases and a rate of 1028.
Lifford /Stranorlar recorded 338 cases and a rate of 1306 reflecting a rise.
Milford had 104 cases and a rate of 755 – a slight decrease from the previous figure.
Letterkenny recorded 369 cases and a rate of 1239, reflecting a slight rise.
Donegal had 249 cases and a rate of 940, again a slight increase.
While Glenties had 224 cases and a rate of 937, reflecting a further fall.
Listen back to the main evening news, sport, farming news & obituaries for Thursday December 9th:
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Over one thousand customers are currently without power in the Raphoe area.
A total of 1094 customers are affected.
The estimated restoration time is 8pm this evening.
Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha CTR, an Údarás na Gaeltachta client in the Donegal Gaeltacht, will form part of a €3.1m research project to diversify plant-protein production across the island of Ireland.
The Protein-I project, which will be part-based in Falcarragh, aims to co-design pathways to support sustainable value chains that also benefit rural communities.
Funding for this new initiative, will take a food-systems approach to enhancing the sustainability of protein production across the country, was announced by the Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue this week.
Protein-I will bring together six research organisations – UCD, Teagasc, NUI Galway, UCC, Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast.
Through Protein-I Professor Fiona Doohan, Prof Lorraine Brennan and their colleagues at UCD will lead the project and collaborate with LAN CTR in the Gaeltacht area of Falcarragh using the results of the project to benefit farmers, local businesses and communities in the northwest region of Ireland.
The project will focus on plant production through to human health, while paying particular attention to the development of Ireland’s rural bio-economy.
The first walk-in vaccination clinics for booster doses for people aged 50 to 59 will take place this weekend in the Letterkenny Vaccination Centre
The centre has relocated to the Letterkenny Business Park, Ballyraine.
The clinics will take place on Saturday and Sunday from 9am – 5pm.
On Saturday it will be available for those who had their second dose on or before 14 July and on Sunday for people who had their second dose on or before 15 July.
Frank Harburn, Saolta General Manager for the rollout of the vaccination programme in the West and North West said, “The booster programme is moving along quickly.
In addition to the walk-in clinics, people who are eligible for a booster dose may get their vaccine from participating pharmacies. The details of participating pharmacies are also available on hse.ie.”
Anyone who has had COVID-19 since their previous vaccination should wait to get their booster dose at least 6 months after the positive test result.
People coming to a walk-in clinic for their booster vaccine should bring their PPS number and a photo ID. If the photo ID doesn’t include date of birth, please bring proof of DOB (e.g. birth cert).
Further information on getting a booster vaccine including who is eligible and dates of the walk-in clinics are available from hse.ie.
1,819 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Northern Ireland in the latest 24-hour period.
Another four people have also died from the virus.
338 Covid patients are in hospital, with 38 in intensive care.
From today, everyone over 40 in the North is able to get a Covid booster vaccine.
The Government has announced the extension of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme until the end of January and a restoration of November’s higher rates.
Minister Paschal Donohoe said they couldn’t design a targeted scheme for the hospitality sector in time for Christmas.
Ministers and officials had been working since Friday to put together a targeted support scheme for the hospitality and live events sector.
But Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said their efforts wouldn’t have been ready to pay people before Christmas, so they’ve gone a different route
While it will mean no direct payment for those businesses struggling but not closed, Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath believes it will provide support.
The wage subsidy scheme is also returning to November’s rates, which were cut only 8 days ago.
The CRSS scheme for businesses closed by restrictions, like nightclubs, has been extended until the end of January.
While the commercial rates waiver has been extended until the end of March 2022.
A motorist has been caught drug driving in Letterkenny.
On Tuesday night, Letterkenny Roads Policing Unit arrested the driver at a Mandatory Intoxicant Testing checkpoint in the town.
The driver failed a roadside oral fluid preliminary drug test, testing positive for cannabis and cocaine.
Gardai say that weather conditions were extremely poor at the time.
In a statement Gardai said:
“Many lives are lost on the roads because of poor decisions when it comes to road safety and many families are left utterly devastated. Please do not ever drive while under the influence of alcohol/drugs as in doing so you would be risking your own life and the lives of all others you would meet.”
