Finn Harps play-off hero Harry Ascroft has left the Donegal side and signed for a club in Australia.

Ascroft scored an extra time goal last Friday night to give Harps the 2-0 win over Drogheda United in the promotion-relegation play-off second leg that secured Ollie Horgan’s team’s Premier Division status.

The 24-year-old joined Harps earlier this year from Malta club, Balzan, who Jacob Borg also played for prior to signing for Harps.

After an injury-hit start to his Harps career, Ascroft had a big part in the 2019 season.

Ascroft scored the winner when Harps defeated Derry City 1-0 in late July. A week later, Ascroft netted in a 1-0 win over Bohemians.

Last week, the Australian-born Ascroft proved the hero of the hour last week as Harps stayed in the top flight.

However, he has now signed for Dandenong Thunder FC, who compete in the National Premier Leagues Victoria.

Ascroft has been capped by Australia at Under-20 level.

The Full Capacity Protocol has remained in place at Letterkenny University Hospital due to overcrowding. 

At least 138 people sought care at the Emergency Department yesterday, with the hospital saying it has ‘admitted a significant number of ill patients’ today (Weds).

Forty-seven people were recorded awaiting admission on trolleys on Tuesday morning.

Staff are currently making efforts to identify patients who are appropriate for discharge in order to deal with the overcrowding.

A Saolta spokesperson said: “Hospital management apologises for the inconvenience and distress that these delays cause patients and their families. The hospital prioritises those in most need of care and this may lead to delays for less urgent patients.

“The Emergency Department is extremely busy again today and the hospital has admitted a significant number of ill patients.

“Many of these patients are currently in the Emergency Department, awaiting a bed.

“The Full Capacity Protocol remains in place and all efforts continue to be made to identify patients who are appropriate for discharge.

“We would like to remind the public that we encourage them to attend the Emergency Department only in the case of real emergencies and they should contact their GP or GP Out-of-Hours service in the first instance.”

A BALLYSHANNON woman has been named on the Ireland Women’s Sevens squad for the Elche 7s tournament this weekend.

Stan McDowell’s Ireland women face France, Belgium, Emerging France, Spain and Poland this weekend.

Maeve Liston from Ballyshannon is named on the Irish panel.

Last month, Ireland opened their World Series campaign with an eighth place finish in Glendale.

Liston is one of the new faces for this weekend’s tournament. 

As the countdown to the first combined HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event of the 2019/20 season continues, the Ireland Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams will fine-tune their preparations in Spain.

Listen plays for Blackrock and Ulster. 

DONEGAL duo Larissa Muldoon and Laura Feely are in the Irish women’s squad for Sunday’s International against Wales at the UCD Bowl.

Muldoon makes her return to the Irish squad after an absence.

Feely (pictured above) has broken through into the panel in recent times and is also included among the 24 players selected by coach Adam Griggs.

Muldoon now lines out for Railway Union and Leinster having been part of the Irish squad that won the 2014 Women’s Six Nations. The experienced Muldoon has won 48 caps for her country. 

The scrumhalf played for Ireland at the 2014 and 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cups.

Galweigians and Connacht prop Feely played for Ireland in last year’s Six Nations and has 12 caps to her name.

The Irish squad are fresh off the back of two training weekends in Scotland and France where they had games against their Scottish and French counterparts.

Larissa Muldoon

Speaking ahead of the game, Griggs said: “The camps in Scotland and France were invaluable, it gave us a chance to get quality time together as a squad and feed more information in to the players about how we want to go about playing and performing this season.

“We were able to travel with a larger playing panel for each camp which gave all the players named in our initial squad the opportunity to put their hand up for selection, which has driven our standards and made sure there’s been high quality competition for places in this Test match squad named.

“Ultimately we have picked a strong squad with a good mix of youth and experience who we feel can go out and deliver against Wales.”

It’s destination Donegal for Derek Cullen after completing an amazing 2,800km walk around Ireland.

The Dublin native, who turned his life around in a battle with loss, alcohol and depression, has decided to take a well-earned rest in a cottage on Malin Head for the next two months.

The 37-year-old had been on the move for 78 days of hiking and camping around Ireland. His journey became an online sensation, with thousands taking motivation from his daily updates and inspirational messages from the wildest parts of the county.

Derek Cullen. Photos by Brian Reilly Troy @brt.photo

After completing the walk on October 31st, Derek set his sights on Donegal again to enjoy the remote landscape of Malin.

How he found a place to stay was almost fate.

Derek tells Donegal Daily: “Malin Head is one of my favourite places in Ireland. On the way around Ireland, I think people could see Donegal was my favourite. Malin really stood out, I think it’s because it feels like the edge of the world.”

“I had my eye on this cottage years ago. It’s in one of the most remote places. I even contacted the lady who owned it and asked how much the house cost. But then a couple of months ago I was chancing my arm again and told the lady what I was doing and she rented it to me. I couldn’t believe my luck.”

Derek Cullen at his home-from-home in Malin Head

Derek is planning to enjoy the solitude, the turf fires, and exploring the wild and rugged landscape of Malin until Christmas, when he’ll head home to see family. He’ll be sharing his usual open and insightful videos with followers during the stay and plans to launch his own outdoor clothing brand – Out Dare.

Derek also plans to use the time-out to put pen to paper.

“I haven’t started but I plan to write a book about my journey, from my low point when this started five years ago and how the outdoors changed things,” he said.

In 2014, Derek was living a self-destructive life of drinking following the death of his parents. The turning point came when he decided to live for his parents instead of trying to live without them.

Derek followed his passion for the outdoors and it took on incredible cycles and hikes around the Africa, Newfoundland and from Mexico to Canada. Being outdoors eased his anxiety, but he eventually had to return to Ireland to face his demons.

The all-Ireland trek brought Derek on a journey of discovery – visiting amazing regions and finding himself again.

“My trip around Ireland turned out to be the most exciting trip I had ever taken,” he said.

“The biggest thing I learned was really simple – to appreciate where I come from and what we have on our doorstep.

“I had never really gotten out there in Ireland and this opened up a whole new world to me.”

Derek Cullen. Photos by Brian Reilly Troy @brt.photo

Derek also traced his roots to Donegal and took the opportunity to meet with relatives this year. His grandmother Sarah Gallagher is from Creeslough and she was the sister of the famous singer, Bridie Gallagher.

Derek was amazed by the welcome he received: “I went to Creeslough and the Gallagher clan were all there at their house. I got to meet my mother’s cousin and they brought me to where my grandmother was born. She worked in Ards Friary too.

“I felt very connected up there. The welcome was incredible, even to this day they are still contacting me.”

Those close ties to the county are just one reason why Derek is so excited to make the move to Malin on Friday.

“Everyone in Donegal has made me feel at home,” he said.

You can follow Derek’s experiences in Malin and beyond here on Facebook.com/derekcullenoutdoors/

DONEGAL LEGEND Frank McGlynn called time on his inter-county career this week – and he joined us to reflect on his memorable journey.

The Glenfin man confirmed yesterday that his time in the green and gold had come to an end. He made 172 appearances – 68 of them in the Championship – for Donegal.

McGlynn was an All-Star in 2012 when he was also a Footballer of the Year nominee as Donegal won the All-Ireland.

A five-time Ulster SFC winner, he scored a goal in the 2012 Ulster final against Down. In 2012, McGlynn scored a total of 1-4 in Championship football, including a point in the All-Ireland final win over Mayo. 

Charlie Collins caught up with McGlynn. Listen to the full interview below …

LETTERKENNY INSTITUTE of Technology booked a place in the League semi-finals and will have home advantage after a super away win over GMIT.

Letterkenny Institute of Technology 2-16 GMIT 0-5

LyIT won the top-of-the-tanle clash by 17 points to power into the semis.

Naomh Conaill woman Daniel McDevitt netted to put the visitors 1-3 ahead after four minutes.

The scores continued to flow throughout the half giving LyIT a commanding 1-10 to 0-1 lead at half time. 

The first half laid the foundations and, while the hosts hit a purple patch early in the second half, Swinford native Grainne O’Neill rattled the net a second time for LyIT. O’Neill polished off a move that stemmed from Aoife McColgan’s kick-out and the Port Road students were firmly on their way.

Letterkenny of Technology: Aoife Mc Colgan (Malin); Aisleen Nee (St. Eunans), Hannah Shiels (Gaeil Fhánada) Gaels, Shauna McFadden (St. Eunans), Sarah Doherty (Naomh Muire), Nicole Gordon (Moville), Katie Long (Glenfin); Kathy Ward (Glenfin, 0-1), Clodagh Brennan (St. Eunans); Aishleen McGuinness (0-2,  Moville), Emma McMahon (0-5, Cuigaels Clare), Julie Trearty (0-2, Downings); Danielle McDevitt (1-1, Naomh Conaill), Lauren Cregan  (Carndonagh), Grainne O’Neill (1-5, Swinford Killasser). Subs: Nadine Friel (Glenswilly), Michelle Renaghan (Manor Kilbride Wicklow), Clara Bradley (Sean MacCumhaills), Aoife McKelvey (Convoy), Rosa Kelly (Ardara), Marie Kelly (St. Faithleachs, Roscommon), Cora Varley (Clonbur, Galway), Grainne Tibby (O’Neills Shamrocks, Monaghan), Taylor Doherty (Milford).

Management Team: Dominic McGlinchey (Robert Emmets), Jordan O’Dowd (St. Eunans), Johnny McLaughlin (Robert Emmets).

A DEPORTATION order has been made against a Romanian national jailed for six years for his part in a €60,000 jewellery theft.

Costel Rosloveanu (29) was part of a three-man gang that carried out a midnight raid at McCullagh’s Jewellers at Letterkenny Shopping Centre on October 2, 2017.

The gang, which included Rosloveanu, entered the premises through a hole they had cut in he roof. 

Ms Fiona Crawford BL, prosecuting, said that goods to the value of €57,432.45 were stolen and €26,244.04 worth of damage was caused to the building.

Rosloveanu (29) with an address at Ballaghmore, Borris in Ossory, County Laois was charged with a count of burglary contrary to section 12 of the criminal justice, fraud and theft act and a count of criminal damage contrary to section 2.1 of the criminal damage act 1991. 

At Letterkenny Circuit Court, Rosloveanu, speaking via an interpreter, pleaded guilty to the offences. 

€6,000 worth of damage was caused to display cases in the shop. Gardaí recovered an axe and a sledge hammer upon examining the scene. Glass was scattered over the flood and the alarm box was smashed.  

Gardaí believe the axe was also used to damage the roof.

Goods to the value of €56,909.45 were recovered and deemed re-sellable. 

Officers searched wasteland near the shopping centre and located a number of items, including a jacket in which he found a wallet and a Romanian ID card bearing Rosloveanu’s name.

A rucksack containing a number of tools, a mobile phone and a torch was found while a black bin liner full of jewellery was recovered. Gardaí also found a grey bin containing customer details and items of jewellery.

Detective Garda Stephen McGonagle told the court that CCTV footage showed three men climbing onto the roof just after midnight on October 2, 2017.

At 00:57, two men left and came back carrying a ladder. One of the ladders – believed to have been taken from a service area near the Shopping Centre – was later found lowered into a roof space above another shop in the centre. 

Rosloveanu has several previous and relevant convictions, including for offences in Italy, Romania and France.

Rosloveanu was previously served with a deportation order arising out of a matter for which he is serving a three-year sentence at Cloverhill prison.

Patrick McGrath, SC, Barrister for Rosloveanu, said his client came from a poor area of Romania, close to the Moldovan border,

“He has been married since 2014 and he has a five-year-old son,” Mr McGrath said. 

“He only spoken to his son via video link and he is anxious to return home as soon as possible. He has every intention to take the earliest opportunity to leave and stay out of the country.”

Judge John Aylmer said the incident represented a ‘carefully planned and premeditated burglary’.

Judge Aylmer said he placed the burglary charge in the upper end of the mid-range and the criminal damage charge was also on the mid-range.

He sentenced Rosloveanu to six years imprisonment on the burglary charge and to two years and eight months imprisonment on the criminal damage charge.  The sentences are to run concurrently and Judge Aylmer backdated the sentences to March 13, 2018, when Rosloveanu began a three-year sentence which he is currently serving.

Judge Aylmer made a deportation order for Rosloveanu to return to Romania on his release from prison and be excluded form re-entering the country for ten years thereafter. 

A GOAL by Connor O’Reilly sent Ipswich Town on their way to an emphatic FA Youth Cup win tonight.

O’Reilly netted the Tractor Boys’ first goal in a 6-1 win over Kings Lynn Town in a game that was played at Portman Road.

O’Reilly, who has just turned 18, fired home on 13 minutes to break the deadlock. O’Reilly surged into the box before slamming to the net under Kings Lynn Town ‘keeper Bradley Ironside.

O’Reilly played 63 minutes of the game before he was replaced by Dylan Ruffles.

Zak Brown scored twice with Tyreece Simpson, Colin Oppong and Allan Viral also on the mark. Brown was denied a hat-trick when his penalty was saved by Ironside.

O’Reilly joined Ipswich in July 2018 from Finn Harps. He had played for the Finn Harps Under-17s having preciously been with Bonagee United and Illistrin FC at schoolboys level.

O’Reilly has been capped the Republic of Ireland Under-16s.

Junior and Leaving Certificate Art students in Donegal showcased their creations in a captivating exhibition Súile Na Nóg last month.

Members of The Donegal Art Teachers Association at Súile Na Nóg 2019

Sorcha Keeve voted best ordinary level project by the Donegal Art Teachers Association

Winning Ordinary Project Aaron Curley, Carndonagh Community School

Anna Leadly, Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny with her artwork

Anna Leadly and Orlaith Bennis with their art teacher Miss Lynnette Rodgers

Laura Bonar with her mother Nora Bonar

Students from Raphoe Royal and Prior with their art teacher Laura Ferguson

Loreto Secondary School students enjoying the exhibition

Claire Russell With her artwork

Grace Mc Shane with her teacher Michelle Mc Gee

Lauren McLaughlin Carndonagh Community School

Teachers from St. Columbas Stranorlar_ Brian O_ Donnell and Donna Mac Grory

Kate Smyth ONeill Carndonagh CS

Mrs Ladley with Thresea May Sweeney

Mrs Ladley with Megan Toland

Saoirse Gallagher, St. Columbas Stranorlar, College with her artwork

Laura Sweeney with her grandmother

Emily Mullen, Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny with her 3D artwork

Mia Henry, St Columbas Stranlorar with her artwork

Emma Thomas Abbey Vocational School with her artwork

Students from Coláiste Ailigh

Donegal County Council has announced that gritters will be out on selected routes early tomorrow morning.

Temperatures are expected to drop to 1C tonight and there is a risk of frost, mist and fog in the north west.

Gritters were out on a number of routes from 9pm tonight and are preparing to treat the following routes from 6am on Thursday morning:

• 01: National Primary North
• 02: National Primary Central
• 03: National Primary South
• 04: Inishowen South
• 05: Inishowen East
• 06: Inishowen West
• 07: Milford South
• 09: Cill Ulta East
• 12: Binswilly
• 13: Stranorlar North
• 14: Stranorlar East
• 15: Stranorlar West
• 16: Donegal West
• 17: Donegal North
• 18: Donegal South
• LT: Letterkenny Town
• BT: Buncrana Town Council

Check Donegal County Council’s interactive map for gritting routes
Assume that no road is ice free.

Last week rallying ace Russell Brookes passed away after a long illness, he was just 74.

In the year 1974, he made one of his very few trips to the Donegal International Rally. He was seeded on the entry list that year at No 36 in his Ford Escort Mk1 RS 2000.

Just one place ahead of a curly-headed Fermanagh man, Bertie Fisher also in an Mk1 RS 2000.

The story of Russell Brookes and his Donegal connection has more to do with his cars and how the ended up in Donegal than the great rally driver himself.

Right through from before he was famous looking for that first works drive with Ford.

The first of these cars was a Ford Escort MK1 Mexico which the late John Boyle paid £1150 for and competed in the 1973 Donegal in along with Johnny Mc Cafferty from Termon on the notes and sponsored by local Ford Dealership Mc Clean and McLaughlin.

The late John Boyle at the Bonnet of his Escort Mk 2 LZP 85 which was originally created from an ex Russell Brookes Mk1 Escort Mexico. Photo Brian Mcdaid.

That year the escort suffered transmission problems and the young Donegal crew were forced to retire.

Boyle then built a new Mk2, Ford Escort from a road-going Ford Escort 1.1 Popular and to that 1978 shell he transferred everything from Brookes old Mexico to produce that famous red LZP 85 Escort that John held onto all of his life.

In the very early 80s, the late Bertie Fisher landed on a wet Galway International Rally in an ex Monte Carlo wide track Mk 2 Ford Escort which started its life in the Ford Works Team workshop built for Russell Brookes.

It also appeared on the Circuit of Ireland in the hands of Billy Coleman in blue, sponsored by Ford of Ireland.

Donegal’s Vincent Bonnar then purchased the ex Brookes’ RS 1800 from Fisher which was to give Bonnar his first-ever outright win on the Donegal International Rally in 1983, Making himself and Seamus Mc Gettigan the first all Donegal crew to win the event, Thanks to the Ex Brookes Escort.

Breakfast with Brookes

I always was a massive fan of Brookes for years. A group of us went to see him and all the other big names of the day at the full 5 days Circuit of Ireland, staying in Chimney Corner which was the starting point, on the Thursday night before the start.

On a Friday morning, I slept in and was last down for breakfast.

The place was packed, my crowd were jammed around a table with no room for me to sit with them.

A waiter set up a makeshift table for me in the middle of the floor, much to the amusement of my so-called friends who were roaring over and taking a hand at me sitting on my own.

Suddenly they all went quiet, as out of my view Russell Brooks walked into the restaurant decked out in his full “Andrews Heat for Hire” race suit and was faced with the same seating problem I had, he landed at my makeshift table and ask if the seat opposite me was free.

Russell Brookes in his RS 1800 which went on to win the Donegal Rally in the hand of Donegal Vincent Bonnar and Seamus Mc Gettigan.

I nearly covered him with coffee trying to get the words out, “Aye, No bother Russell, work away there,” I replied as if I was on first name terms with him all my life.

My friend’s mouths dropped as they watched Brooks and me sitting yapping and enjoying a yarn over breakfast.

Over that rally weekend, I name-dropped Brookes at every opportunity to the crew of spectators that were watching the rally with me.

“Me and Russell were saying.” or “Brooks was telling me…” that sort of thing.

Brookes and Colin McCrea

In 1991 another ex Brookes Ford landed in Donegal this time in the hands of Donegal’s James Cullen, who also competed in Brookes’ old RS1800 GVX 489T for a few seasons.

Now It was an ex-works four-wheel-drive, Cosworth Sierra.

A car that also was driven by the late Colin McCrea. As well as Russell Brookes. On the run-up to the Isle of man rally that year James had the car in Donegal to familiarise himself with it and when testing down at the back of Muckish.

The Ex Russell Brookes Ford Sierra four wheel drive sitting in Tony Kelly’s old garage opposite Dunnes Stores which James Cullen and the Late Ellen Morgan competed in. Photo, Oran Grimes (Four Lanterns)

On a September’s evening, the ex Russell Brookes Sierra was put through its paces and I was on duty to get a few photos of Cullens new car and his sponsors at the end of the test session.

James asked if I would like a go for a run with him in the rally car which I gladly excepted and we set off down the road all strapped in for a fast run over Muckish.

There are two things that I remember from the day.

One was that James swapped seats with me and let me drive this state of the art rally car back over the mountain pass, and the other memory that still sticks with me was that of the late Frank Grimes, who was one of James Cullen’s principal sponsors from the Four Lanterns, out on the hillside that day, who captured a old black and white photo of me and James ready to head off in the ex Brookes Ford into the hills of Donegal.

James Cullen and our motoring correspondent Brian McDaid in 1991 in an ex Russell Brookes Works Ford Four-wheel-drive Sierra on Muckish. Photo by the late Frank Grimes

Chances are there are far more ex-Russell Brookes machinery that made it way to Donegal over the years be it Fords, Talbot Sunbeams , DTV Vauxhall Chevettes Dealer Opel Teams Manta’s to name, but a few as Russell Brookes could sit in any car and get results, which were all painted in his signature Andrews Heat for Hire Colours. They were instantly recognisable.

The first spectators from Donegal who were big Russell Brookes fans were the Orr brothers from the mountain top in Letterkenny, they even had a few cars painted in the Brookes colour scheme back in the day but we were unlucky not to find a photo of one of them this week.

We do have a photo one oner of them old sun-visors from the seventies “Rally with Russell Brookes” thanks to Noel Orr for the photos of his old two-door Ford Escort, which had a Mexico engine fitted under the bonnet, an engine not unlike that fitted of the first Ex Brooks car that came to Donegal that the Late John Boyle from Manor purchased all them years ago.

Happy Motoring Folks

Farmers are extremely frustrated over the inability of the Minister for Agriculture to get all stakeholders around the table for the inaugural meeting of the Beef Market Taskforce.

That’s according to Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.

Deputy McConalogue said: “Nearly two months on from the Irish Beef Sector deal agreed by seven national farm organisations and Meat Industry Ireland on September 15th, Minister Creed has failed to get the much-referenced Beef Taskforce up and running.

“This is extremely disappointing. The Minister’s recent remarks that convening the taskforce was ‘in the hands of the chairman’ was very disingenuous. He cannot delegate out responsibility for the unresolved issue.

“With steer prices still on the floor at €3.45, beef farmers feel abandoned with many reforms in the beef agreement awaiting progression and approval from the taskforce. This includes the beef market index which will strengthen transparency around beef, cattle and offal prices.

“Some factories have imposed weight limits recently. This is contrary to the four-month notice period that was to be observed under the September 15th deal. All processors must adhere to this.

“Beef farmers feel abandoned with many reforms agreed in September still in limbo with the taskforce yet to meet. The Minister must stand up for farmers and get the taskforce operating and take full responsibility for this action. The buck stops with him and him alone,” concluded Deputy McConalogue.

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Nicholas Crossan has welcomed the announcement today by Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring TD of funding of just over €6.6m for rural regeneration and development projects in Killybegs and Burtonport. 

“I am delighted to see Killybegs and Burtonport included in this tranche of funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.  This funding represents a substantial investment for Donegal and will deliver significant benefits not just for Killybegs and Burtonport but for the entire county and the north west region”.

Funding of over €6.6m has been awarded to Donegal County Council for the two projects with just over €3.6m being awarded to Killybegs 2040 and €3m to Harbour to Island Regeneration project between Ailt an Chorráin (Burtonport) and Oileán Árainn Mhór.

Killybegs 2040 is a transformative town centre regeneration project comprising multiple elements including the redevelopment of an existing building in the harbour area to house a Tourism Information Centre and Digital Hub along with associated civic space, that will enhance the physical, social and economic capacity of Killybegs.

It is part of an ambitious, longer term and multi-annual regeneration strategy that will transform the urban fabric of the town making it a more attractive place for residents, visitors and businesses, encouraging job creation, increasing revenue and activating the private sector.

The Harbour to Island Regeneration project between Ailt an Chorráin (Burtonport) and Oileán Árainn Mhór will deliver improved infrastructure at the harbour in Ailt an Chorráin and provide shorefront amenity infrastructure on Árainn Mhór.

This project will address dereliction, transform the harbour environment and infrastructure to a multi-user space with modern transport infrastructure, public amenities and services and parking. It will deliver land mark high quality shore front recreation, outdoor amenity and local community inspired amphitheatre style event space on Árainn Mhór Island.

This funding was announced as part of an overall funding package of €62m under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund with these two projects being among 26 projects awarded funding nationally.

Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) promotional event took place in the Radisson Hotel on Wednesday night for Leaving Certificate students and those in employment looking to upskill.

A wonderful night was had by all, as Donegal ETB tutors and advisers talked through what Donegal ETB has to offer.

The Fair remains the county’s number one opportunity to discover learning, attracting over one thousand adults and young people each year.

Information was available on apprenticeships, new and exciting Traineeship courses and industry certified courses.

The ETB’s strong links with universities, ITs and Colleges of Further Education mean progression opportunities for learners was also on offer.

Many of Donegal ETB’s programmes are co-funded by the Irish government and the European Social Fund as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

Clive Wasson was on hand to capture the day …

The Irish Medical Organisation says any industrial action by its members will not take place until next year.

It comes after they last night voted unanimously in favour of holding a ballot for industrial action, up to and including strike action, next month.

The union is seeking pay parity for new entrant consultants and says poor working conditions is leading to mass emigration, according to the Irish Examiner. 

Former IMO President and member of its consultant committee, Dr Matthew Sadlier, says members aren’t happy:”We are looking to hold the ballot before Christmas but obviously with any ballot it takes a number of weeks to organise,” he said.

“We will consider the responses, more than likely in the early new year and then at that point in time we will see what form the industrial action would take.

“In the meantime, it the government wants to engage with us on this issue, our door is always open,” he added.

Gardai have launched a series of raids this morning targeting two Irish brothers wanted in connection with the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese migrants.

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) backed up by the heavily-armed Emergency Response Unit (ERU) swooped on addresses in Co Monaghan.

According to the Irish Mirror, said properties allegedly linked to Ronan Hughes, 40, and his 34-year-old brother Christopher were searched.

The fugitive brothers are wanted on suspicion of manslaughter and people trafficking.

They have links to South Armagh and North Monaghan.

Detectives in Essex urged the brothers, now in hiding, to hand themselves in after the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in a lorry on Oct 23.

A BENCH warrant has been issued for a Strabane man after he failed to appear in court to face charges in connection with an alleged assault in Lifford.

Sean Wray (20) of 265 Ballycoleman Estate, Strabane was due before Letterkenny District Court.

Gardaí met with a group of youths, who were said to be highly intoxicated, at Ballyduff Park in Lifford, where an allegation of assault was made.

Gardaí gave evidence of an arrest, charge and caution against Wray, who replied ‘yeah’ when the charges were put to him.

Judge Paul Kelly issued a bench warrant for Wray.

The Government has announced funding of €62 million for 26 projects across the country designed to boost rural towns and villages – including projects in Donegal. 

The round of funding is made under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, which is part of Project 2040.

One of the beneficiaries is the Killybegs town regeneration project.

Details were outlined by Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring.

He described the fund as “a game-changer for rural Ireland”.

Mr Ring has said that the fund will have delivered €148m for 110 projects when the current round is spent.

“I believe that it is vital that we continue to build resilience in rural communities and make our towns and villages vibrant places for families to live,” he said.

The €62m from the Government is supplemented by another €33m from State-funded bodies, rural communities themselves and philanthropic sources.

Working to enhance and further develop the strong educational links between the North West region and the US is a key objective of the joint cross border trade mission that is travelling to Boston and Philadelphia next week.

The trade mission, led by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Councils, will include third level and further education and training providers and development organisations including Ulster University, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, the North West Regional College, Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) and Catalyst Inc.

The trade and investment mission will run from 11 to 15 November. It will build on the strong political, economic and cultural linkages already established in Boston and Philadelphia with the North West City region and will be an opportunity to further reach out to the Irish diaspora.

The educational representatives participating in the visit will not only be showcasing the area’s highly educated and skilled population but they will be working to further enhance the links already made with education providers in the US to develop apprenticeship and workforce development programmes.

Paul Hannigan, President of the Letterkenny Institute of Technology (LYIT) says LYIT currently has students from Lasell College in Boston attending LYIT and that engagement is ongoing with Becker College with two students from LYIT taking part in the MassDiGI summer innovation programme during the summer to develop a new computer game publication. The college’s School of Engineering also has a contract with Olin College and strong links developed with LYIT and UU with the Worcester State University.

He says linkages with the US are a key part in promoting the North West region.

“The visit is about selling the region in its entirety and promoting all the positive attributes that we have in terms of our location, our education system and our talented pool of skilled young people to potential investors. By working collectively, all of the education providers in the North West are working together to highlight our academic excellence and top class learning environment that will in turn help to promote the region as an attractive investment proposition for global companies.

“LYIT has been involved in a number of these trade missions with Donegal County Council for some time and we are really seeing the benefits of the engagement and the benefits of working with our partners at Ulster University, Donegal ETB and the North West Regional College on a united front.”

Dr Malachy Ó Néill, Provost of Ulster University’s Magee campus said the collaborative approach to promoting the educational offering is key to building strong links that will benefit local people and the economy. “The trade mission in collaboration with North West partners LYIT and NWRC provides a unique opportunity to promote the education provision across the region and the quality of the talent pool, which we know is a key deciding factor for prospective investors. It will further strengthen Ulster University’s teaching and research links in Boston and will encourage future collaboration and mobility opportunities in Philadelphia for our students and staff.”

Donegal ETB

Anne McHugh, Chief Executive of Donegal ETB, noted that like her colleagues, Donegal ETB is also delighted to have the opportunity to participate in November’s trade mission to build links that will support the development of the county and the further development of this border region.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside our Cross-border Further and Higher Education Alliance colleagues to promote the economic development of the region through showcasing our excellent education and training provision.

“As one of the largest education and training providers in the region, and the largest in Co Donegal, we want to highlight what Donegal ETB has to offer in terms of further education and training (FET) provision that can support potential investment. We have strong links with a number of American multi-nationals based in Co Donegal and have considerable experience of working closely with them to develop bespoke training to meet their workforce needs and that of the future workforce in the county and region.”

She said that Donegal ETB is also the leading provider in the Republic of Ireland’s FET sector in a number of skill areas, highlighting the example of the skill area of welding and engineering operations – Donegal ETB has staff who are WorldSkills experts in this area and the ETB was the first in the country’s FET sector to incorporate augmented reality welding into their training provision, highlighting the cutting edge learning conditions available.

Leo Murphy, NWRC Principal and Chief Executive, speaking ahead of the visit explained how last year North West Regional College (NWRC) signed two Memorandums of Understanding in the United States, signalling its commitment to international co-operation with other education partners.

He said: “We are delighted that the manager of NWRC’s Product Design Centre, Philip Devlin, will join this trade mission where he will showcase the services offered by our Business Support Centre and innovation centres, as well as sharing best practice.

“Phillip is also looking forward to learning about new developments in Philadelphia where the Pennovation Centre has been leading the way in innovation. Having the capacity to see and understand how this centre works will only enhance the knowledge that can be applied to NWRC’s Product Design Centre (PDC).

“The signing of the MoUs with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Community College of Philadelphia was a feature in 2018.

“The College is very much looking forward to developing networking opportunities, particularly in the areas of innovation around the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania areas.”

During the visit the education partners will attend a series of meetings and official engagements including the official launch of the Harvard GSD Visit Atlas for a City Region project.

The education members of the delegation will also participate in the Golden Bridges Conference.

The US trade mission takes place from 11-15 November and is funded by The Executive Office and the Irish Government.

For more information on the trade mission visit www.irelandNW.com and follow the hashtag #IrelandNW19.