Jigsaw Donegal reports increased contact for services


By Paul McElwee THE Donegal branch of youth mental health charity Jigsaw has seen an increase in contact, according to its service manager. Damien Coyle, said there has been a 4.5 per cent rise in contact for its services. Advertisement The news comes as the charities’ annual report for 2023 records a seven per cent surge in […]


Gardaí seize cash and drugs in Letterkenny


As part of Operation Tara, Gardaí attached to the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit have seized €2,440 of suspected cannabis, €1,315 cash, an air pistol, and drugs paraphernalia, and arrested one man during the course of a search at a residence in the Letterkenny area. The search took place on Tuesday, July 30. A Garda spokesperson […]


Donegal’s ‘Lady of the Dance’ steps to the Rose of Tralee


by Paul McElwee WITH less than two weeks to go to the annual Rose of Tralee Festival, which sees roses from all over the world descend on Kerry hoping to be crowned winner, Donegal rose Niamh Shevlin has spoken of her excitement. No stranger to the stage, Niamh debuted as Lead Dancer in Michael Flatley’s Lord […]


Dunfanaghy farmer settles ‘outrageous’ Ryanair passenger


by Kate Heaney A BRAVE Dunfanaghy man felt compelled to “act as security” when a drunk man on a Ryanair flight from Manchester to Lanzarote awoke and went “bananas”. Stuart Wilson (52) stepped in after the 6 ft 3 passenger woke up during the flight. Advertisement The man, who was sitting in the aisle seat with his girlfriend […]


Donegal teenager jailed for 40-minute garda chase


by Eimear Dodd and Jessica Magee A TEENAGE driver who led gardaí on a 40-minute chase over 80km has been jailed for three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Aaron Donnelly (18) was sent forward from the District Court on signed pleas of two counts of endangerment at Tolka Valley Road and at North Frederick […]


Pat on route from Malin to Mizen by tractor for Gaza


HAVING set off last Thursday Thursday from Malin Head, Pat Murphy, a teacher and father of four from Galway is currently on route by tractor to Mizen Head, a 2,800km trek along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way in a bid to raise money for the people of Gaza. Pat’s vintage tractor can only reach a top speed […]


Brennans Pharmacy opens new store in Forte Retail Park


A BRIGHT sunny day on Friday, July 19 saw the grand opening of the new Brennans Pharmacy Letterkenny in the Forte Retail Park. Brennans is conveniently located just across from Costa in the new Dunnes Stores car park with over 650 free parking spaces. The Brennans Pharmacy team were joined in store by John Breslin and crew from […]


Donegal mother highlights the dangers of Snapchat


by Dionne Meehan A DONEGAL mother has highlighted the dangers of Snapchat this week after her child was allegedly groomed on the app. Snapchat is a popular messaging app that lets users exchange pictures and videos, called snaps, that are meant to disappear after they’re viewed. Advertisement Sounds relatively harmless? Not in the case for one […]


Change suggested for Oliver Plunkett Road parking bay


by Kate Heaney IMPROVEMENTS proposed for the Oliver Plunkett Road disabled parking space at July’s Letterkenny/Milford MD meeting has led to a letter from a member of the public, to the Donegal News, suggesting further improvements. Two weeks ago Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh proposed that the disabled parking bay at Oliver Plunkett Road be rendered useless because there […]


Convicted Castlefin rapist jailed for stalking


A CONVICTED Castlefin rapist has been jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to stalking a Tyrone mother. Desmond Leitch (36), of Skelpy, Castlefin, was sentenced at Strabane Magistrates Court for committing the offence on dates between May 21 and May 23. In her sentencing remarks, District Judge Alana McSorley observed that it had been a ‘calculated and sinister’ offence […]