Seamus Heaney’s famed pen was bought in Donegal


A FOUNTAIN PEN purchased in Donegal may have been one of the foundation stones of the internationally acclaimed career of Poetry Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, it emerged this week. On a visit to the Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy, County Derry recently, Buncrana man Terry Tedstone happened to mention to the guide that he was […]


Stand-off at the Aura expected


A STAND-off at the Aura is expected tomorrow afternoon after Cllr Frank McBrearty has indicated his intention to attend the reconvened Council meeting, despite a call from Cathaoirleach Jack Murray for him to stay away. During a day of chaos and disruption, Cllr McBrearty was handed a one-month suspension at last Monday’s Donegal County Council […]


Joining the 101 Club hale and hearty


WELL known Dunfanaghy woman Mary McAuliffe from Kill turned 101 last Monday and this year she was joined by members of her family to celebrate the occasion. Mary has become an integral part of the local community since moving to Dunfanaghy and opening her tweed and fashion shop above her late husband Jack’s pharmacy over […]


Dead puffins wash up on Gola


BIRDWATCH Ireland is asking people to report any sightings of dead puffins after a number were discovered on Gola Island. It is not clear what is causing the deaths and Birdwatch Ireland says it would be keen to inspect at least one of the carcasses. Residents on Gola say they have encountered a number of […]


Donegal woman managing property portfolio worth €1.5bn


THE driving force behind the State’s largest residential landlord is Donegal woman Margaret Sweeney. A chartered accountant, Ms Sweeney manages a property portfolio valued at more than €1.5bn at Ires Reit, a company that houses more than 8,000 tenants. While many homebuyers are shut out of the market, Ms Sweeney’s company spent €285m on 815 […]


Over 550 waiting on passports in Donegal


MORE than 550 people in Donegal are among those caught up in the large backlog of passport applications, according to new figures released by the Department of Foreign Affairs. There are currently 557 online applications from Donegal with the Passport Service, which has been experiencing a very high demand since May 2021 and is expected […]


Investment of over €9m for Killybegs harbour centre


KILLYBEGS fishery harbour centre will receive over €9 million in funding in 2022 as part of a major investment announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD this morning. Minister McConalogue announced the allocation of €35m for capital projects in 2022 in Ireland’s six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros […]


Attitudes of Protestant community to be researched


THE attitudes of the Protestant community in the Laggan area of east Donegal on their acceptance within the Republic of Ireland since partition is the basis of a new research opportunity. An individual or organisation is being sought to research “Attitudes of Protestant Community in Laggan area of East Donegal (and their family members in […]


Relief as west Donegal oyster farm licence withdrawn


THERE is a huge sense of relief in west Donegal following the withdrawal of aquaculture licences for oyster farming. The licences for Braade Strand between Ranafast and Carrickfinn, previously granted by the Minister for the Marine, have now been rescinded following an appeals process. There was huge opposition to the expansion of oyster farming in […]


West Donegal company is creating 30 new jobs


THERE is an air of optimism around Páirc Ghno Gaoth Dobhair with job creation figures continuing to rise. As highlighted in Údarás na Gaeltachta’s Annual Report for 2021, 286 new jobs were created in the Donegal Gaeltacht over the past 12 months, signifying the largest number of jobs created in a single year in the […]