Letterkenny’s elderly struggle with isolation


By Rebecca Crockett MANY elderly members of the community in Letterkenny are remaining isolated and still feeling the effects of Covid-19, it has been claimed. Letterkenny Day Centre committee members say many of the older generation who could be using their services are still trying to rebuild their lives post-pandemic. Advertisement Some members of the […]


Letterkenny University Hospital faces overwhelming demand in emergency department


Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) is currently experiencing a significant surge in activity, particularly in its Emergency Department (ED), leading to extended wait times for patients. Over the past week, the ED has seen 1,015 people, placing immense pressure on the hospital’s resources. Adding to the strain is a notable increase in COVID-19 cases, both in […]


Retiring Garda Sergeant highlights the scourge of rising online crime


by Louise Doyle THE HSE cyber attack during the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in thousands of people having their personal data stolen and immediate costs of €100m, was the beginning of sophisticated online crime that has continued to surge locally. That’s the view of Divisional Crime Prevention Officer for An Garda Siochána, Sergeant Paul Wallace who was speaking this week […]


Parenting column: Remembering lockdown four years on


By Louise Flanagan It’s been four years since the country locked down for our first rodeo with Covid – March 12, 2020. To mark the occasion, I’m going to do a lockdown lookback focusing on good family memories. Leo’s speech was like something from the sci-fi film, Independence Day. It came after other European heads […]


Shawn Cuddy honoured by Donegal County Council


Country music star Shawn Cuddy has been presented with a prestigious ‘Civil Honour’ certificate at a reception in the chamber of Donegal County Council. Organised by members of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, the reception on Tuesday was held in recognition of Shawn’s tremendous act of kindness, through his entertaining performances, to those residing in Donegal […]


Bill of €26m for LUH agency staff 


by Louise Doyle THE spending of more than €26 million over a three-year period on agency staff for Letterkenny University Hospital while a HSE recruitment embargo is in place has been branded as “unbelievable”. Member of Regional Health Forum, West Cllr Gerry McMonagle told the Donegal News that it “beggars belief” that such an amount of money […]


Rise in suicide rate linked to Covid-19


by Jerome Hughes THERE has been a significant increase in the number of suicides in County Donegal due to mental health issues associated with Covid-19, according to the County Coroner. Dr Denis McCauley told the Donegal News: “Unfortunately, there was an increase in the number of suicides in 2023, many more than there would have […]


Covid outbreak at hospital as emergency department is extremely busy


LETTERKENNY University Hospital is dealing with an outbreak of Covid-19 while the emergency department is extremely busy with high numbers of people attending in recent days. On Thursday 146 people attended the Emergency Department and there are currently 80 patients in the ED with eight patients waiting to be admitted. In a statement this afternoon […]


Covid Care: Advocacy group helping Donegal families


by Louise Doyle AN advocacy group assisting those negatively impacted by care during the Covid-19 pandemic has said it is providing legal and grief support to families in Donegal. Care Champions told the Donegal News it is supporting families in the county who were negatively impacted by care during Covid. Advertisement Supports include for families experiencing grief, […]


 Children’s COVID-19 vaccinations to continue in Donegal in September 


COVID-19 vaccination of children aged six months to four years and five to eleven years will continue in Donegal in September. Primary and first booster clinics for those 12 years will commence again in the autumn, but clinics for children are continuing. COVID-19 vaccines are recommended by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) for children […]