Category: Old Donegal

Around €70m in roads funding is set to be spent in Donegal this year.

A number of recent allocations already announced by the Department of Transport, the TII and the NTA make up the combined total.

Donegal County Council has today released details of where the money is going.

The Department of Transport funding will allow the Fintra Bridge and Road Realignment project to complete the CPO process and prepare for the construction phase.

Included also is funding to advance the route options stage of the Letterkenny Southern Network Project.

TII funding will allow for continued progress on the Ten-T Priority Improvement Project.

A number of TII allocations have also been received for new projects which include the route from Gortahork to Falcarragh, N15 McGroarys Brae and N15 Corcam Bends.

The TII has allocated €2.5m to commence 5 new strategic greenway projects and to progress the Inishowen Greenway from Buncrana to Bridgend & Newtowncunnigham through the planning process.

The €5.6m in NTA Active Travel funding will allow 80 separate projects to progress, 37 of which are at construction phase.

One of the larger NTA projects, located at Cathedral Quarter in Letterkenny has also attracted co-funding from the Department of Transport for road improvement works.

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The number of new car registrations in Donegal is down over 5%.

According to figures from Society of the Irish Motor Industry, new car registrations were down 12.2% nationally last month.

908 new cars were registered in Donegal during the month of February down from 962 when compared to the same period the previous year.

SIMI Director General Brian Cooke says despite strong demand for new and used cars, supply continues to be a major issue, with any potential recovery unlikely to happen until the second half of this year at the earliest.

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Today is Stop Food Waste Day 2022.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. is reminding consumers today, to think critically about the amount of food we waste.

The focus of this year’s Stop Food Waste Day ‘Make Use-By Dates Work for You’ is to make people aware that:

§ food passing its use-by date is the main reason Irish consumers are wasting food

§ people can use or freeze food right up to its use-by date to avoid food waste.

Globally, food wastage’s carbon footprint is estimated at 3.3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent of Green House Gas emissions released into the atmosphere per year. Ireland generates over 1 million tonnes of food waste each year and a third of that happens in our homes.

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The Donegal Intercultural Platform isw coordinating a number of events to support Ukraine, and is also gathering first aid and other essential materials to be shipped over there by a Dublin based company.

On today’s Nine til Noon Show, Paul Kernan of the Intercultural Platform urged any Ukranian people in Donegal to make contact with them.

He said the materials being sought show the seriousness of the situation across Ukraine……..

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A number of events are being held across Donegal this week in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

Vigils will be held in Letterkenny over the coming days while a Ukraine solidarity mural is set to be unveiled tomorrow evening on the Port Road, Letterkenny.

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Donegal County Council has received official notification of the amended Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme Regulations.

The regulations were signed last week by Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Three changes are being introduced to the Redress Scheme under the amended regulations which Donegal County Council says they are committed to implementing as soon as possible.

The changes are in relation to recoupment of engineers fees, essential immediate repair works and stage payments.

Over the next few days, the local authority will be liaising with the Department in relation to the detail as well as arranging briefings and training for staff and updating the required processes to enable a streamlined implementation of the changes.

The Council is asking homeowners to bear with them over the next few days.

Homeowners will be contacted directly in relation to their application. This is expected to commence before the end of this week.

In respect of homeowners who are awaiting recoupment of engineers fees, those waiting the longest will be looked at first.

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123 vehicles have been caught speeding in the first two hours of National Slow Down Day – out of nearly 25 thousand checked.

Among them, a motorist was caught driving 130 kilometres per hour on the M50 in Dublin – which has a limit of 100 kilometres per hour.

A driver on the Skehard Road in Cork was caught doing 89 in a 50 zone, with another clocked doing 113 kilometres per hour in a 100 zone on the N18 near Ballinacurra in Limerick.

Gardai are appealing to drivers to comply with speed limits, with the operation continuing until 7am tomorrow morning.

Garda Niall Maguire says today isn’t about slowing down, its about saving lives:

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/niallslowdown1pm.mp3

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Gardai in Donegal are encouraging people to review their home security in light of an increase in burglaries.

Over the weekend there were four break-ins in Inishowen and one in Lifford, which gardai believe may have been linked.

On today’s Community Garda Slot, Garda Niall Maguire said this reflects an increase in burglaries, particularly in border areas, and people should follow the ‘Lock Up/Light Up’ motto at all times.

He also urged people to report any suspicious activity in their area to gardai…………….

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Burglary details –

Gardaí in Letterkenny are investigating a burglary that occurred at a house on the Coneyburrow road in Lifford on Friday the 25th of February between 4.40pm and 7.30pm. The back door to the property was forced open and the house was ransacked. A sum of cash was stolen during the course of the burglary and also a number of items of jewellery namely, a gold locket containing a photo, a gold signet ring with a stone, a pearl ring, a gold bracelet with an engraving of “Peter”, a wedding ring, an eternity ring and two gold charm bracelets one of which had 2 charms attached (a red vase charm, and a horseshoe charm). We are appealing to anybody who may have observed any suspicious activity in the area between the times mentioned to contact Gardaí in Letterkenny on 074-9167100 or to contact the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111. If anybody travelled on the Coneyburrow road, Lifford between those times and had a dashcam, please make the footage available to Gardaí in Letterkenny. Should anyone come across similar items of jewellery for sale, we ask them to contact Gardaí immediately.

 

Buncrana Gardaí are investigating a burglary that happened at a business premises at Druminor, Buncrana between Friday February the 25th at 5pm and Monday February 28th at 6am. It is believed that entry was gained via a rear door. A number of items were stolen from the premises namely an angle grinder, two boring steel rods, a Milwaukee battery and a Milwaukee radio. We appeal to residents in the area to contact Gardaí if they observed any suspicious activity in the area over the weekend. We also appeal to the public to contact Gardaí should they come across any of the stolen items for sale. Gardaí in Buncrana may be reached on 074-9320540.

 

Gardaí in Buncrana are investigating a burglary that happened at Moness Cottages, Burt on Saturday the 26th of February between 5.45pm and 6.40pm. The resident of the property returned home from Mass to discover that the front door of the house had been forced open. A search of the property had obviously taken place but nothing was stolen from there. We appeal to the public to contact Gardaí in Buncrana on 074-9320540 if they noticed any suspicious activity in the area between those times. We appeal to motorists who travelled through Burt village on the Main road (The N13) between those times and who had a dash cam, to make the footage available to Gardaí as the property in question is situated along the Main road in Burt.

 

Buncrana Gardaí are appealing for the assistance of the public in relation to a burglary that occurred at a house in Elaghbeg, Burnfoot on Saturday the 26th of February between the times of 6.50pm and 7.10pm. The rear window of a house was forced open and entry was gained. A pair of GUCCI sunglasses were stolen from the property. We appeal to other residents in the area who may have observed suspicious activity to contact Gardaí in Buncrana on 074-9320540 or to contact the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.

 

Letterkenny Gardaí are investigating a burglary that happened at a house on Main Street, Newtowncunningham between Saturday the 26th of February at 8pm and Sunday the 27th of February at 10am. An attempt had been made to force the lock on the front door but that attempt was unsuccessful. The back door was then forced in and entry was gained. The house was ransacked. A small sum of cash was stolen and some very distinctive jewellery namely 3 rings and 2 chains a mix of silver and gold and they all contain Larimar stone (A blue gemstone found only in the Dominican Republic . If anybody observed any suspicious activity in that area between the times mentioned or if they have any information in relation to the whereabouts of the stolen jewellery, we ask them to call Gardaí in Letterkenny on 074-9167100.

 

Gardaí in Buncrana are investigating a burglary that occurred at Carrownamaddy, Speenogue, Burt between Saturday the 26th of February at 6am and Sunday the 27th of February at 4.20pm. A window at the side of the house was forced open and entry gained. Damage was caused to some of the interior doors in the property during the course of the burglary. A small amount of cash was stolen from the property. Our appeal is to anybody who may have observed any sort of suspicious activity in the Carrownamaddy/Burt area during the time period mentioned, to contact Gardaí with that information. Buncrana Gardaí may be contacted on 074-9320540.

 

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A Ukrainian woman living in Letterkenny says shock has now turned to reality.

Oxana says she thought it was impossible in 21st century that the events witnessed in Ukraine over the past 6 days would ever occur.

She told Greg Hughes today that given the actions of Vladimir Putin no one knows what the world will be like tomorrow:

https://highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/oxana1pm.mp3

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Declan Boyle (Ford Fiesta WRC) is a three time national rally champion, he sets out on the eight round Triton series on Sunday’s Mayo Rally in Claremorris in search of a record break fourth title. Photo: Martin Walsh.

A new season of the Triton Showers National Rally Championship begins with the Claremorris based Mayo Rally on Sunday next that has attracted a star studded entry led by reigning champion Monaghan’s Josh Moffett (Hyundai i20 R5). The eight stage event is underpinned by McHugh’s Service Station, Ballindine.

Moffett won the Triton championship in 2019, but the 2020 series and last year’s campaign both fell victim to the Covid-19 situation.

The desire for competitors to get back into action, that on Sunday will include two stage locations, each repeated four times, albeit with a shorter deviation on the penultimate and final stages, is reflected with a capacity entry with some twenty crews on a reserve list.

The top ten is dominated by R5 cars but three time champion Donegal’s Declan Boyle will campaign a Fiesta WRC as he sets out on achieving a record breaking fourth title.

“I know the R5 is the way forward and I think the VW Polo GTi seems to be the best, for now though I will stick with the Fiesta WRC, but I will definitely be out in an R5 soon.” Boyle, who won the last of his three titles in 2018, is committing to the full Triton (eight round) championship. “Yes, I am going to do the full series again, the format really suits me and it’s not that time consuming.”

Boyle identified Moffett along with Dubliner Robert Barrable, who will drive a Melvyn Evans Motorsport VW Polo GTi R5, as the main threats.

Barrable hasn’t competed for a few years but he is naturally quick and should justify Boyle’s assertion, the Dubliner also intends to contest the Triton series even though he will miss the next round in Birr due to other commitments.

Thirty years ago, Warrenpoint’s Peadar Hurson won the national series in an Opel Ascona 400, in preparation for another title bid in 2022, he will drive his completely re-built Ford Fiesta WRC and testament to his talents, is very likely to be amongst the pacesetters. Monaghan’s Stephen Wright in his Ford Fiesta R5, who was fourth in the recent Kirkistown Rally, will occupy the number five berth where is followed by Armagh’s Darren Gass in his state of the art Citroen C3 R5. Gass is another driver that will have eyes on a Mayo victory as he too sets out on a Triton title bid.

Championship regulars Donegal’s Joe McGonigle (Ford Fiesta R5) and Tyrone’s Aidan Wray, in a similar car, are next on the entry, the latter is a former Group N winner of the national series.

Omagh’s Seamus Leonard is also in a Fiesta R5 and former national champion Tim McNulty will pilot a right hand drive Fiesta R5, the Meath man was the first driver to annex both National Rally Championship and the Irish Tarmac Championships in the same year (2011) on board a Subaru S12B WRC. A few weeks ago on the Galway International Rally, he made his return to the sport following a lengthy absence.

Yet another former champion, Monaghan’s Niall Maguire is just outside the top ten as he debuts a Ford Fiesta R5, it’s over a quarter of a century since he rallied a car other than a Subaru. “ I will see how it goes, I still have my Subaru, but I want to try the R5’s and see how I get on.”

Donegal’s Eamonn Kelly is also in R5 debutant mode – he will steer the VW Polo GTi R5 normally driven by his father Donagh, who is a former Triton champion. It certainly will be very interesting to see how both will fare over the eight stage event. Louth’s Brendan Cumiskey is also competing in a VW Polo GTi R5.

The modified category is also extremely competitive with Cavan’s Gary Kiernan, Monaghan’s Gary McPhillips, both in Escorts, Armagh’s Jason Black (Toyota Starlet) along with the Escorts of Limerick duo Ed O’Callaghan and Chris O’Callaghan, all amongst the leading entries that also features former Triton champion Sam Moffett, who will compete in a rear wheel drive Toyota Starlet.

Cork’s Kevin Kelleher makes a rally return in a McKinstry Motorsport hired S14 Subaru WRC, he completes the top twenty where he is followed by the Ford Fiesta R5’s of Limerick’s Keith Lyons and Maynooth’s Paul Barrett in the Triton Showers liveried car.

From a local perspective, Westport’s David Carney (Ford Fiesta R5) and Ballinrobe’s John Warren (Toyota Corolla) spearhead the Mayo challenge. In the 2020 event, they finished a respective ninth and tenth overall, a repeat performance by both would be extremely satisfactory. At the beginning of February, Warren finished sixth overall in the national category of the Galway International Rally.

Other local entries include Crossmolina’s Brian Moore (Honda Civic); Bekan’s Gerry Ronan (Mitsubishi EvoIX); Belcar’s Barry Cuffe (Ford Escort) and Westport’s David Healy (Honda Civic).

In the Junior category, that marks the first tarmac round of the Motorsport Ireland Junior Rally Championship, the top quartet features the Honda Civics of Donegal’s Dylan Eves, Monaghan’s Jack McKenna, Cavan’s Jack Brunton and Cork’s Darragh O’Donovan.

The ceremonial start takes place in Claremorris town centre on Saturday evening at 7.30pm. The stages are located in the Ballindine and Cloonfad regions.

Seeded Top 10:

1. Josh Moffett/Keith Moriarty (Hyundai i20 R5)
2. Declan Boyle/James O’Reilly (Ford Fiesta WRC)
3. Robert Barrable/Paddy Robinson (VW Polo GTi R5)
4. Peadar Hurson/Damien Connolly (Ford Fiesta WRC)
5. Stephen Wright/Ger Conway (Ford Fiesta R5)
6. Darren Gass/Noel O’Sullivan (Citroen C3 R5)
7. Joseph McGonigle/Ciaran Geaney (Ford Fiesta R5)
8. Aidan Wray/Niall Burns (Ford Fiesta R5)
9. Seamus Leonard/John McCafferty (Ford Fiesta R5)
10. Tim McNulty/Paul Kiely (Ford Fiesta R5)

The post Declan Boyle begins quest for 4th National title appeared first on Highland Radio – Latest Donegal News and Sport.

The Canadian Ambassador to Ireland is in Donegal.

Nancy Smyth has met with the Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Jack Murray and representatives of Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce and Letterkenny Institute of Technology during her visit.

She’s praised Ireland for it’s efforts in terms of tourism.

Speaking on the Nine til Noon Show a short time ago, Ms Smyth says she hopes to increase the existing links between Canada and Donegal…….

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