Best wishes flowed in today as well-known Donegal Garda John Walsh retired from the force.

John has been based at Letterkenny Garda station but served in other stations in Donegal over the years.

Colleagues gathered at the Letterkenny station to wish John all the best for his retirement.

A spokesperson for Letterkenny Garda station said “We wish Garda John Walsh many years of good health and happiness with his family as he retires from An Garda Síochána.

“John will be especially missed by us all at Letterkenny Garda Station. We wish him all the best in the future.”

ALL THE goals arrived in the second half, with veteran Kevin McHugh scoring twice, as Kildrum Tigers swept past Milford United at Station Road Park.

Kildrum Tigers 4 Milford United 0

After a scoreless first half, it was all action in the second period. 

Only two minutes into the half, after a neat move down the left, McHugh smashed in William Lynch’s cross to give the Tigers the advantage. 

Milford had their best chance of the game when Ryan Campbell beat the offside trap and his almost perfect lob over Rory Carr came back off the post. 

Kildrum made them pay just minutes later when Odhran Mc Macken made it two from close range. 

 McHugh added another, and Chris Cronin also scored as Kildrum saw off Milford for the three points.

DONEGAL manager Declan Bonner has slammed the GAA’s fixture scheduling with his side facing the prospect of being without a dozen players for a potential McKenna Cup semi-final.

by Chris McNulty at Sean MacCumhaill Park

After a 1-12 to 0-14 win over Monaghan in Ballybofey, Bonner launched a sideswipe at the scenario that could leave his side at the bare bones should they advance.

A positive result against Derry on Wednesday night will be enough to secure Donegal’s passage but, with a round of third level games pencilled in for next weekend, the Tir Chonaill numbers would be severely stretched. Bonner even went as far as to suggest that he would be struggling to put a squad out.

“If we win on Wednesday night, we’re looking at 12 or 13 players who are playing Sigerson next Sunday and won’t be available,” Bonner said. 

“There’s a possibility we might not even have a team to play. It’s pure madness in terms of how the fixtures are coming. 

“Something has to be done, it has to change. You’re looking at a lot of those lads playing three games in seven days. It’s very difficult this time of year. 

They talk about player welfare and burnout, these are lads are in the first week of January playing competitive matches. The McKenna Cup or third level, something has to change because it’s just not feasible.”

Bonner’s plight is not helped by a bout of flu that has hit the likes of Hugh McFadden, Niall O’Donnell, Odhran McFadden-Ferry and Eamonn Doherty.

The Donegal boss suggested that the college competitions should be played to a close pre-Christmas. 

He said: “We have a very young squad and a lot of them are third level. If they’re playing inter-county, they’re going to be playing at third level. 

“Something needs to give. We know if we get over Wednesday night, we won’t have those guys because they’re playing Sigerson next weekend and that’s it. We’ll manage what we have.

“To me, Sigerson is played out at the end of the year, November and December time. Finish that out and let inter-county start in January, because it’s very difficult to serve a couple of masters. You’re into the first week of January and there’s already a lot of fixtures.”

With the January 25 League opener against Mayo coming sharp on the horizon, Bonner will resist the temptation to drag the likes of Michael Murphy and Neil McGee into McKenna Cup action.

He said: “You can’t force those guys back in, they’re on a planned schedule to return and you can’t just force them back in, you’re at risk of picking up injuries. 

“We’ve handled Michael and these guys well the last few years and that’s the way it’s going to be again.”

THERE WAS a curtailed programme of games in the Inishowen League today, including away Premier Division wins for Buncrana Hearts and Greencastle FC.

Jackie Crossan Premier Division

Illies Celtic 1 Buncrana Hearts 2

The first attempt on goal came when the home side’s Liam Doherty’s deep cross was headed wide of target by Paddy Doherty.

However, it was Buncrana who opened the scoring mid way through the half when Kevin O’Loughlin’s cross field delivery was headed home by Mikey Friel at the front post. 

That lead was doubled minutes later. An unfortunate slip by a home defender allowed Gerard Boyle to run through, round Noone and dispatch to an empty net. 

Approaching half time Illies tried to get a foothold back in the game with Paul Doherty being out of luck on two occasions – firstly when he had a snap shot just over and then he drove a second effort wide.

With the benefit of the wind the home side had the upper hand throughout the second half.

Their best opportunity to half the deficit came mid way through but when Paddy Doherty laid the ball back into his path Kevin McGonagle pulled his shot wide of O’ Doherty’s goal. 

They had to wait to the death to score – Paul Doherty’s long range free travelling all the way to the net. 

And they could have equalised deep into injury time but Doherty’s shot went just over.

Cockhill Celtic Youths 0 Greencastle FC 1

Greencastle FC went back to Chapel Lane earlier today with three points thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over a very spirited Cockhill Celtic Youth side who will feel unlucky not to get something from the game. 

Cockhill, playing ‘home’ at Stranaclea, Illies, had the first chance on four minutes but Adam McLaughlin shot over the corner of the net, from 18 yards, after good work by Oisin O’Flaherty.

Greencastle’s J Dickson then saw his effort saved by Liam McGonagle on 14 minutes, from inside the 6 yard box, after Cockhill failed to clear a corner. 

Stephen Grant shot from wide on the right after good work by Nigel McMonagle. 

Greencastle took the lead on 36 minutes when a corner was only half cleared to James Henry. 

He floated a great cross into the box for Dickson to flick a header into the top right hand corner of the net, from 7 yards, with McGonagle having no chance in the home net. 

Cockhill responded well and on 39 minutes Adam McLaughlin hit the post direct from a corner on the left with Doherty scrambling on the visitors net, the ball eventually cleared by Gavin Harkin. 

Cockhill came out with a determined attitude in the second period and had Greencastle pinned in for long periods with the visitors happy to sit and use the pace of McMonagle to get them higher up the pitch. 

For all the possession the home side had they didn’t trouble Doherty too much and will be disappointed not to make more on the half chances they created. 

The best chance fell to Michael Noone on 72 minutes when he headed wide from the penalty spot after a great delivery from a dead ball from Adam McLaughlin. 

In the final 20 minutes Greencastle almost got in on the break with the pace of McMonagle but some good defending and excellent keeping allowed Cockhill to still be in with a shout in the final ten minutes.

Inishowen Engineering Division Two

Clonmany Res 5 Carrowmena 0

Clonmany Reserves took an early lead in the 5th minute after they won a corner from their first attack.

Michael Devlin took it and rolled it to Adam McLaughlin at the corner of the 18 yard line. Adam ghosted into the box un-challenged and chipped the ball to the back post, where it found the net, deceiving Carrowmena keeper Mark Doherty who was stranded at the near post. 

Clonmany made it 2-0 in the 7th minute when Paul Devlin sent through a pass for left winger Dean Harkin to burst on to and he rounded Mark Doherty and rolled the ball into the unguarded net. Clonmany added a third in the 20th minute. 

Paul Devlin started the move at half way and although he was fouled as he released the ball the referee played advantage and the ball came to Michael Devlin on the right of the box and he shot to the bottom corner giving Mark Doherty no chance. 

Michael Devlin doubled his tally in the 41st minute when Jonathan McDaid rolled the ball in to him in space 12 yards out from goal and he controlled the ball and swivelled in one movement to volley high to the roof of the net despite Mark Doherty’s best efforts at his near post. 

Clonmany wrapped up the scoring in the 51st minute when Michael Devlin nipped in to rob a Carrowmena defender as they played out from the back and he rounded Mark Doherty and rolled the ball to the net to complete his hat-trick and make the score 5-0. 

Carrowmena forced a good save from Clonmany’s Tiernan Doherty in the 59th minute when Robert Kane found space on the left side of the Clonmany box and got a good shot away but Tiernan dived to his left to parry the shot away and it was hacked to safely. 

The last action of note resulted in Carrowmena’s Robert Kane getting a red card for dissent and the match was blown up shortly afterwards.

Dunree Res 1 Clonmany Celtic 6

THE visitors continued their excellent league form at St. Egeney’s Park and deservedly came away with all three points. 

They dominated the first half and had established an unassailable lead by the interval. Mark McLaughlin put his side ahead in the opening minutes when he gained control of an over the top ball and side footed home from close range.

Soon after it was 2–0 when Karol Harkin found space in the box to shoot to the net.

McLaughlin then notched his second when his 20 yard free found the bottom corner of Philip Doherty’s net and he had achieved his hat trick within the opening half hour when he picked up the ball, advanced and rounded Doherty before driving to the net. 

Dessie Doherty then got in on the act, finding space to turn home when well placed. 

On the stroke of half time Harkin headed home at the back post to record his side’s sixth goal. 

Clonmany didn’t show as much urgency after the break and the home side came more into the game.

They got on the scoresheet when Thomas Doherty broke through and curled a 20 yard effort beyond Kieran Friel. 

Both Ryan Toland and Ryan O’Donnell created openings and managed to test Friel but they could not find any further goals.

THE DONEGAL Junior League swung back into action today with a busy schedule, including a draw in Letterkenny as Kilmacrennan brought an end to Cappry’s 100 per cent record in a 1-1 draw in the big top-flight clash.

Brian McCormick Sports Premier Division

Drumkeen United 2 Cranford United 1

A late second-half winner from Aaron Doherty claimed all three points for Drumkeen after yet another tight encounter with Cranford on Sunday afternoon. 

The visitors got off to a dream start when Kevin Doherty fired them ahead in the opening minutes of the game. 

Despite the early setback Drumkeen responded well and Jamie Gallagher should have equalised but his effort hit the post. 

Drumkeen dominated most of the first-half but could not find an equaliser. Despite all their dominance they nearly fell further behind late in the half when Kevin Doherty nearly had his and Cranford’s second but this time he fired wide of the post. 

Drumkeen did get back on level terms just before half time when Gary Patton headed home from a Benny Bonner free kick. 

The home team started the second half well and forced a series of corners during which Aidan Martin headed narrowly wide. J

ust after that Benny Bonner also saw a great free kick strike the crossbar. As the second half wore on Cranford began to get a foothold in the game and they were getting chances, the best of which was one that hit the inside of the Drumkeen post and bounced out. 

At a goal apiece this game was still very much in the balance and could have gone either way but then Aaron Doherty poked home a Benny Bonner corner to give the home team the lead and what would prove to be the winning goal. T

here were still a few minutes left at that stage but Drumkeen did enough to hold on and secure the victory. As expected this was a very well contested game played in a good sporting manner on a cold day in Drumkeen.

Keadue Rovers 2 Castlefin Celtic 1

Keadue Rovers maintained their excellent home form with this vital victory over Castlefin at Central Park on Sunday to move up close to mid-table after what was a full blooded, entertaining encounter.

In decent conditions, Keadue had a good opening few minutes, though the visitors were starting to get on top after five minutes. 

Both teams were beginning to cancel each other out by the fifteenth minute and it was a tense, nervy encounter by that point. 

On 17 minutes, following a slip in the home defence, Castlefin were through but shot wide, while a minute later, Shaun Yank Boyle had an effort over the bar from inside the box. 

On 23 minutes, another chance for the visitors from a defensive mix-up was well saved by Danny Rodgers. 

Then, on 25 minutes, Raymond Foy was just wide after a good move. Keadue did settle into the game after that and after good work from Shaun Yank Boyle, Aidan Mc Hugh was just wide from the edge of the box. 

Ten minutes later, following a long ball, Aidan Mc Hugh’s header was flicked wide excellently by Castlefin keeper Christopher O’Donnell. 

Following this good spell, Keadue took the lead on 40 minutes. A good cross from Hugh Moy was brilliantly dispatched by a Shaun Yank Boyle header to the corner of the net. 

A few minutes later it should’ve been two when Boyle was wide with another good header. The visitors were unlucky not to be level a minute from half time following a goalmouth scramble. 

At the start of the second half Castlefin were pining Keadue back but the home side were content to hit on the break with Aidan Mc Hugh’s effort going over. 

The game around the hour mark was becoming scrappy but after the hour Castlefin upped things with a header wide on sixty-two minutes from a corner. 

They began to move things around well and had several headed chances coming up to 75 minutes and following a free kick which was well parried by Danny Rodgers, a penalty was awarded to Castlefin following an infringement.

Emmet White stepped up to take the penalty but Danny Rodgers pulled off a good save. 

Two minutes later the visitors were level following a pacey move with a cross from the right well converted by Emmet White. 

Following a number of substitutions on both sides, openings were still being made and when it looked like finishing a draw, an excellent run from Adam Neely broke through the home defence, took it past the keeper and it rolled into the corner for a great winning goal. 

Castlefin pushed everything forward in the last few minutes but Keadue held on for a vital and just about deserved victory.

Best for Castlefin were Emmet White, Marty Owens and Raymond Foy while best for Keadue were Shaun Yank Boyle, Hugh Moy, Adam Neely and Aidan McHugh.

Referee: Andrew Mullin.

Kilmacrennan Celtic 1 Cappry Rovers 1

Click here to read Charlie Collins’ match report from the game

Kildrum Tigers 4 Milford United 0

Click here to read a report from this game

Donegal Town 1 Bonagee United 1

(No Report Submitted)

Temple Domestic Appliances Division One

Ballybofey United 0 Rathmullan Celtic 2

Rathmullan Celtic have pulled level on points with Ballybofey United after this away win on Sunday at Dreenan. 

Ballybofey will not be happy with the result, gained by two second half goals. 

This first half produced no goals and nothing of any note as far as chances were concerned. The most influential occurrence was undoubtable the reduction to ten men of the Ballybofey team.

This gave Rathmullan a distinct advantage and Eoin Sheridan put them into the lead on 62 minutes.

Ballybofey did have two half-chances to get level but it was all over on 82 minutes when Kevin Doran ran through and Chris Patton, the Ballybofey goalkeeper, saw his clearance cannon off the inrushing forward and there was no way he could recover. Doran wheeled away in celebration as the ball ran into the empty net. 

Referee: Gerard Devine 

St. Catherines 6 Lifford Celtic 1

The home team started the brightest surprising the visitors with some quick direct passing.

This bright start paid off after only seven minutes when a long through ball was latched on to by Paul O’ Hare and he beat the Lifford keeper low to his left.

The teams were evenly matched for the next 35minutes but a two-goal blitz within two minutes from Conor Doherty and Barry Cannon made it 3-0 at the break.

Kevin Lynch scored on 55 minutes for the visitors but this never really sparked a fight-back and a young St. Catherines side we’re hungry for more goals.

Some excellent football produced three more goals for the Saints before the final whistle.  

Two individual strikes from sub Ryan Cunningham and an easy tap-in for Cannon leaving the final score 6-1 at Emerald Park. Evan Broderick was excellent in the middle of the field for St. Catherines and orchestrated a vital win.

Convoy Arsenal 4 Letterbarrow Celtic 0

Convoy Arsenal welcomed Letterbarrow Celtic to Orchard Park and the home side dominated possession from the start. 

Darren McElwaine opened the scoring in the tenth minute and Macca headed home Anthony Bogle’s cross for his second of the match on the half hour mark. 

Convoy pushed on in the second half with Anthony Bogle getting the third from the penalty spot. Macca in search of the hat-trick had a shot rebound off the post and another effort saved. 

John Doran got the forth for Convoy in the last five minutes with a fine curling shot from outside the area.

Donegal Physiotherapy & Performance Centre Division Two

Curragh Athletic 5 Lagan Harps 2

The Curragh welcomed Lagan to the sports complex in Killygordan. 

The home team started well, passing the ball around nicely and got their reward on seven minutes when captain Mickey O’ Brien headed home from a great corner from Mikey Grant. 

Then Lagan started to play well and got their first goal on 25 minutes. It stayed 1-1 until half-time. 

The second-half saw Curragh make a few changes and on 60 minutes they got their second, again from a Grant corner that fell nicely for James Sweeney who scored a goal of the season contender.

That was the kick the home side needed and on 70 minutes Tim Callaghan broke through and made it three and two minutes later Callaghan scored again. 

It was all Curragh from then, even the old boy Gary Doherty netting a fifth for the home side. Lagan pulls another goal back late in the game.

Whitestrand United 4 Glenree United 0

(No Report Submitted)

Swilly Rovers 3 Gweedore United 1

The match started with a good tempo set by both teams without any meaningful chances being created.

The game was dominated by defences with most of the play being bogged down in midfield. Swilly did have a few gilt-edged chances but were unable to convert.

It took a bit of quality to break the deadlock and it was the hosts who took the lead after 60 minutes when Marty McDaid finished neatly after good build up work from Ryan McDaid out on the wing.

Swilly continued to dominate and as the game headed towards the 70th minute Paddy Sheridan scored a wonder goal from 25 yards.

A goal of the season contender. Gweedore United then started to get a foothold in the game. A few dangerous balls arrived into the Swilly box and only for the defensive qualities of Columba O’ Donnell and Damien Friel the hosts may have found themselves conceding.

Swilly to be fair started to assert themselves again soon after this. 

Against the run of play Gweedore scored a fine goal on the counter-attack making it 2-1.

With the points up for grab in last fifteen minutes Swilly upped the tempo and intensity of their play and this created a chance for the skilful Leon Boyce on his senior debut for his hometown club.

The dynamic and dominating James McCahill threaded a great ball through to young Boyce providing an opportunity that he confidently dispatched.

There were no further goal incidents as the game petered out.

Raphoe Town 1 Deele Harps 0

One goal was enough to separate the sides in this hard-fought local derby played at Deele College on Sunday afternoon, but Deele will know had it not been for goalkeeper David Arthur, things might well have been very different. 

The young netminder made a string of superb saves in the second half as Raphoe looked to press their dominance, but it took them quite a while to assert that and the visitors were certainly dangerous for the first half an hour. 

Indeed, Raphoe goalkeeper Roy Duffy was first called into action, doing well to turn away a long-range effort as Deele looked to catch Raphoe on the hop in the early stages. 

The visitors forced a series of corners and free-kicks early on, but never really looked like scoring and it was Raphoe who looked the more likely through the dangerous Corey McBride-Gillen and Conor Friel who were causing all sorts of problems for the Deele defence. 

It was midfielder Keelan Bogle who came closest to breaking the deadlock though when he made a surging run forward, only to see his shot come off the underside of the bar in the 44th minute.

The home side came out with all guns blazing at the start of the second-half and would have been ahead had it not been for the brilliance of the young Deele goalkeeper. 

David Arthur denied Paddy Kelly with two superb stops just after the break, turning one over the bar from point blank range. 

Raphoe eventually broke the deadlock when man of the match Corey Mc Bride Gillen raced down the wing and crossed for Dylan Brolly to tap home from close range, but try as they might they couldn’t put the game out of reach.

Oliver Quinn saw an effort cleared off the line and then Arthur made a superb save to deny Zak Brolly, but in the end one goal was enough to get Raphoe back to winning ways and take all three points.

DONEGAL JOCKEY Oisin Orr enjoyed a 14/1 success in Australia today.

Orr took the 14/1 shot Duneagle to victory at Wyong for trainer Chris Waller.

Orr had only a neck to spare on the 12/1 Lady Legend, with Travis Wolfgram on board in the seven-furlong race.

Orr tied with Andrew Slattery for the 2019 champion apprentice title after each rode 43 winners.

The Rathmullan man secured a share of the title with a win on Maria Christina at Naas in November., 

THE GAA’S new playing rules certainly weren’t the flavour of the month in Ballybofey on Sunday.

The new rules were on view for the first time in Donegal’s 1-12 to 0-14 win over Monaghan in the Dr McKenna Cup.

The ‘forward mark’ was one of the eagerly-awaited changes, but there was limited success at MacCumhaill Park. Kieran Hughes got a point from a mark in the second half. 

In the first Christopher McGuinness caught a ball, but didn’t signal a mark. All players in the vicinity stopped momentarily before realising that play continued and McGuinness took a point.

“I felt there was no real issue or need for change,” Declan Bonner, the Donegal manager who has been a strong opponent of the new rules, said. 

“I think that the game is moving in the right direction and has been for the last 12 or 18 months. Of course you have to defend when you don’t have the ball, but when you’re attacking there are a lot of bodies going forward.

“There was one in the first half where our defenders stopped. He didn’t call the mark so we were entitled to tackle him. It is confusing and it’s difficult enough for referees without throwing extra things at them.”

Shaun Patton fell foul of the new rule that states kick-outs much travel 13 metres when a pass to Paul Brennan was pulled up as illegal.

“I’m not a fan of the new rules myself,” the Donegal goalkeeper said. 

“From my own perspective, the kick-out from the 20 slows things down a bit. I don’t think there was anything wrong with where it was at. The inside mark will be a difficult one as for a defender, you can’t give a forward a yard and then they have the opportunity to kick a free score. I’m not agreeing with it.

“There was one in the second half where there was a fantastic kick from the far right. In a normal game, he’d be shown back out by the defence and wouldn’t get the score.”

Donegal midfielder Michael Langan was sin-binned – another new introduction – late in the game when he was shown a black card. 

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney is broadly in favour of the ‘mark’ rule.

“It’s not tried and tested yet,” McEnaney said. 

“You would feel teams can take an advantage of it but it has to be trained, it has to be coached, has to be worked on. We got two marks in that second half, Kieran Hughes scored a point from one. 

“I think it could help the game but it could slow it up too. It’s very hard to call the mark. I would have thought it would be a plus for the game to test other defences, but it’ll test our defence as well. It’s certainly worth a trial.”

SHAUN PATTON insists that Donegal need to show plenty of improvement from their season-opening win over Monaghan on Sunday.

The Letterkenny man was the hero of the hour with an injury-time pansy save from Shane Carey to keep Donegal’s noses in front as they won 1-12 to 0-14.

Donegal now face Derry on Wednesday with a positive result at Celtic Park set to secure a semi-final berth,

“There’s a lot we need to look at now leading into Wednesday,” Patton told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub. 

“It’s a good way to start off the year with a win. It’s not a nice place to come here for other teams, MacCumhaill Park. We’ll try and make it a fortress but we got off the hook against Monaghan.”

Donegal were two ahead when Ryan Wylie was fouled and Monaghan were given a golden chance to turn the tide. Patton, however, saved from Carey and also kept out the rebound.

The St Eunan’s stopper said: “It’s luck of the draw with penalties and you just go the way you go and luckily enough it came off today and I saved it. I wouldn’t be worrying about that. I’m just glad with the clean sheet and any day you get a clean sheet as a goalkeeper is a positive.”

Listen to the full interview below …

This year’s Captains’ Drive-in was a first in the history of Dunfanaghy Golf Club.

Captain Bill McCallion and Lady Captain Paula McCallion are the first husband and wife to be Captains in the same year. Bill hopes that they will still be husband and wife at the end of the year!

Picture: Dunfanaghy’s Captain, Bill McCallion, President Denis Martin, Lady Captain Paula McCallion and Lady President Alayne Treacher toast the New Golfing Year on the first tee before their Drive-In.

The weather was kind and a big crowd made their way to the first tee to witness the Captains’ drives which were both long and straight. 

The traditional Captains’ Drive-In scramble followed with very competitive and low scoring. The day was rounded off in the clubhouse with a tasty stew and a prize presentation. 

Captains’ Drive-In, 4 ball Scramble – Saturday 4th January 2020
1st – 56.9
Ian Ireland (12)
Daphne Tease (17)
Catherine Bligh (18)
Padraig Hegarty (24)

2nd – 57.2
Paul Kelly (6)
David Tease (14)
Siobhan Bogues (13)
​Amanda Witherow (45)

​Gents Open Stableford – Wednesday 1st January 2020
1st   Conor Hanna (6)                       41 pts
2nd Fergal Callan (12)                      39 pts BOT
Gross: James T Sweeney (6)            31 pts
3rd Steven Sweeney (20) S’Park     39 pts BOT
​                                                CSS: 37 pts

Open 4 Ball Scramble Stroke – Tuesday 31st December 2019
1st –  55.6
Amy Chambers (3)
John Chambers (8)
Cheryl Chambers (18)
Janice Doherty (25)

2nd – 55.8
David Alcorn (11)
Nigel Doherty (13)
John McLaughlin (13)
Robyn McConnell (15)

3rd – 58.1
Olivia Moore (14)
Tom Merchant (15)
Ben Kilmar (18)
Gillian Robinson (22)
CSS: N/A

Gents Club Stableford – Sunday 29th December 2019

1st   Sean Duffy Jnr (2)                    38 pts BOT
2nd John Chambers (8)                   38 pts
Gross; Daniel McColgan (4)            31 pts
3rd John McCosker (17)                  37 pts BOT
Front Nine: Colin Higgs (9)             19 pts BOT
Back Nine:  Caolan McBride           21 pts BOT
CSS: 36 pts

At the end of a long year of competitive action, three Letterkenny Athletic Club runners managed to fit a race into the dying hours of 2019. 

On Tuesday, Monica McGranaghan won the F40 category in The Lough 5, a 5 mile road  race around the scenic area of Loughmacrory, near Omagh. 

Her time was an excellent 32.46, which completed a highly successful year for Monica.  

Club Chairman, Aidan McKenna, had a fine run and crossed the line in 33.43. 

Completing the trilogy of LAC runners, John Hughes clocked 37.07. The race winner was Matthew Neill, of Acorns AC, in 25.00. 

The year 2020 was merely a few hours old when another group of LAC runners took part in the Raphoe 5K. 

It was held on January 1st and LAC women featured at the sharp end of the race. Natasha Adams was the 2nd woman in 18.33. Eimear Wiseman  ran her 2nd sub 19 minute 5K in the space of days. She was 3rd in 18.47, which was another PB for the in-form runner. 

The first woman across the line was ex LAC runner, Maria McCambridge, now of Dundrum South Dublin, in a time of 18.25. 

Former LAC stalwart, Gary Crossan, finished in 17.42. Michael Harkin’s time was 19.15 and Michael Galvin’s was 19.21. Marie Boyle’s good form continued and she ran an excellent time of 20.25.

Gary Kearns crossed the line in 21.02. Paul Lee clocked 21.28, fellow M50 athlete Stephen Shiels 21.37 and John Wilson 21.50. Margaret Shiels got 2020 off to a winning start and was the leading F50 runner in 22.57. Theresa Wiseman also had a strong run in the F50 category and finished in 24.35. 

The race was highly successful and attracted almost 300 runners. 

Raphoe Running Club deserve praise for their initiative and hard work which  launched Donegal athletics into 2020. The race winner was Finn Valley AC’s Patrick Brennan in a very fast time of 15.30. 

The first Letterkenny Parkrun of 2020 was well supported, with 125 runners taking part on Saturday morning. 

The leading LAC finisher was young Eoghan Farren. This was Eoghan’s first parkrun and it was an impressive debut. His time of 21.33 gave him 6th place overall and first place in the JM11-14 category. Paul Lee was the first M50 runner home, in a time of 22.01. Anthony Farren finished in 24.11. Richard Raymond made an excellent comeback from a recent back problem and was the leading M65 runner in 24.22. 

The first female finisher was Noreen McGettigan in 24.23. Noel  Lynch’s time was 25.06. John Doherty crossed the line in 26.16. The 2nd M65 finisher was James McBride in a time of 27.06. Peter McLean’s time, in his 94th parkrun, was 30.25. 

The first runner home was Cian Friel in 19.23. 

LAC runner, Gerard McGranaghan, is organising a 10K which will take place on Sunday January 19th in Kilmacrenan. 

The ‘Kilmac 10K & Family 3K Walk’ will start at 10.40am. The entry fee for the 10K is €10 and donations are welcome from the 3K Walkers. 

There will be chip timing and registration and parking will be at  the new Kilmacrenan Development Park. All proceeds will go to support the Kilmacrenan Community Development Group. 

An ideally located modern and serviced office has just come up for let in Letterkenny.

Situated just off this main arterial road, modern first floor premises of approx 1050 sq ft, 100 sq metres (formerly Saffron Hair and Beauty) on the 1st floor. The premises are lift serviced. There are over 90 parking spaces on site.

Leasehold – new leases to be created. The landlord will be agreeable to long term leases if required.

The premises are located near the main roundabout at the top of Port Road, above Tobin’s shop/forecourt. The building was constructed in 2004. All the main facilities of the town are within easy walking distance.

The rest of the building is fully occupied, tenants include Siemens Wind Power, DLDC, Impact & Tommy Gallagher Injury Management Clinic

Open reception/ meeting area – 6.3 metres x 7.5 metres
Office 1 – 4.5 metres x 4.5 metres
Office 2 – 4.5 metres x 4.5 metres
Kitchenette – 2.7 metres x 1.6 metres

The unit includes carpets, blinds & storage heating.

Rent €9000 + VAT p.a. or €173 plus VAT per week.

Contact eddie@tobins.ie or telephone 074 9124097

The cost of buying a home in Donegal was down by 3.2% in the last year, as the county registered the fourth-lowest house prices in Ireland.

The average house price in Donegal was €138,869 in the last three months of 2019, according to the latest report from Daft.ie.

Prices fell by 1.4% from the same period in July-September.

Donegal was the fourth least expensive county in Ireland for property in 2019, ranking ahead of Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon.

The average asking price of a three-bed semi-detached house in Donegal was down by 0.7% to €89,000 in Q4 2019.

Meanwhile, the average cost of 4-bed bungalows in Donegal rose by 5.1% to €186,000.

Ninety-nine new homes were sold in Donegal in 2019, representing a 5% decrease on sales in 2018.

Looking back on the decade, Ronan Lyons, author of the Daft Report, said that national prices in late 2019 were 1.2% lower than in late 2018.

Lyons wrote: “It was a decade that started with rapidly falling prices and closes with gently falling ones. In the first quarter of 2010, sale prices nationally were 17.4% lower than a year previously – just one of 16 consecutive quarters where prices fell by more than 10% in year-on-year terms and the tenth of 24 consecutive quarters where prices were falling.

“For the following 24 quarters, from 2013 to 2019, the average listed sale price nationally was higher than it had been a year previously. In other words, the sale price boom lasted as long as the preceding bust: six years.”

While the sales market looks in balance, Lyons warned that “it is the rental market – home to almost one third of all households in the country – that is home to Ireland’s housing issues at the country faces into the 2020s.”

It’s the end of the Christmas season, and with many people returning to work and school today, it’s also time to take down the Christmas tree.

If you are facing the sad task of taking down the decorations for another year, it’s a good time to look up where to recycle the tree.

Donegal County Council has 16 drop off points throughout the County for the public to bring their real Christmas Tree for recycling free of charge.

The local authority also has an interactive map for you to find your nearest recycling location: http://donegal.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=957ac7e7b5b448b39e60b7177a11a43a

NATURAL CHRISTMAS TREE RECYCLING LOCATIONS

DOMESTIC TREES ONLY

OPENING TIMES

Council Chip Yards

Open: Monday – Thursday 9.00am – 4.00pm, Friday 9.00am – 3.00pm

Carndonagh Recycling Centre

Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 8.30am – 4.30pm

Dungloe Recycling Centre

Thursday 10.30am – 5pm, Friday 8.30am – 2.30pm, Saturday 8.30am – 2.30pm

Laghey Recycling Centre

Thursday 10.30am – 5pm, Friday & Saturday 8.30am – 2.30pm

Letterkenny Recycling Centre

Tuesday & Wednesday 10.30am – 2pm, Thursday 10.30am – 7pm, Friday 8.30am – 5pm, Saturday 8.30am – 2pm

Milford Recycling Centre

Wednesday 10.30am – 7pm, Friday 8.30am – 5pm, Saturday 8.30am – 2pm

Stranorlar Recycling Centre

Tuesday 8.30am – 5pm, Thursday 10.30am – 7pm, Saturday 8.30am – 2pm.

The public is asked not to leave trees outside council premises after the specified opening times. Trees left at non-designated recycling sites will be considered illegal dumping.

Find more info on locations and opening times here: www.donegalcoco.ie/services/environment/christmas/christmastreerecycling

Eason is buzzing to launch its 10^th annual Spelling Bee as the nationwide search begins to find Ireland’s champion student speller.

Primary schools across the country have until Sunday, January 12, 2020 to register for this year’s competition to be in with a chance of winning the coveted title of Eason Spelling Bee Champion 2020.

The Eason Spelling Bee provides the opportunity for students across Ireland to get off their devices, improve their spelling skills, make new friends and develop their vocabulary.

This year, over 800 schools around Ireland have already registered to take part and schools yet to register must do so by Sunday 12^th January 2020.

Eason are partnering with Today FM for a fifth year and in early summer, presenter Alison Curtis will host the Provincial and All-Ireland Spelling Bees.

Marketing Manager at Eason, Elizabeth Blake said Eason is delighted to announce the 10^th Eason Spelling Bee.

“Each year, the amazing children who participate showcase an impressive level of spelling skill and it’s wonderful to see how much they enjoy it.

“We hope the 10^th year of the Bee will be the biggest and best yet,” she said.

To participate in the Eason Spelling Bee and be in with a chance to win a library of books, registered schools must host their own in-school Bee among 5^th & 6^th class students to find their School Spelling Champion.

From there, the Eason Spelling Bee team will travel around the country to host County Final Bees, culminating in four Provincial Bees.

The champions from these will then go head to head in the 10^th annual All-Ireland Final Bee in June, where the lucky winner will be crowned King or Queen Bee.

Along with the prestigious title of the 10^th Eason Spelling Bee Champion, the winning speller will also take home a collection of books for their school library, worth €7,500 as well as a personal collection of books worth €500.

To register for the Eason Spelling Bee 2020, please visit www.easons.com/spellingbee before the 12^th of January 2020.

Follow #EasonSpellingBee or visit www.easons.com/spellingbee to keep a-buzz with all the action from this year’s Bee.

Acres National School in Burtonport are welcoming a new funding approval for works this New Year.

The west Donegal primary school has been granted funding for upgrade works to improve the standard of the school grounds.

The school, which has 79 pupils, is expected to receive a substantial sum for the much-needed project.

“We are delighted with the news,” Acres NS Principal Sean Mac Fhionnghaile told Donegal Daily.

“We have been looking for funding for the past two years. This will allow us to fix the back of the school play area and resurface the grounds, which are in a poor state.”

Mr Mac Fhionnghaile added: “It’s fantastic to get the funding approved and we are very grateful to the Education Minister Joe McHugh and Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig for their work.”

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig welcomed the funding as a significant step forward for Acres NS and gave recognition to the school community which has supported recent developments.

The organiser of the Downings New Year’s Day walk/run has had a great send off after smashing a 20 year fundraising record.

This year’s event was the last walk/run organised by Eleanor Mooney, who for the last two decades has dedicated her time to raising money for Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

This year’s event received unprecedented support to set a new record of over €30,000.

And the final total has yet to be revealed as donations continue to come in.

2020 New Year’s Walk/Run in Downings

New Year’s Walk/Run in Downings

The success of 2020 was the icing on the cake for Eleanor, as she passes on the baton to other people to continue the event.

Eleanor’s 20 years of contributions to the event and to Crumlin were recognised by those who worked alongside her – including Darren McElwaine and Enda Nicholls from Arena 7 who presented her with a beautiful picture.

Darren Mc Elwaine and Enda Nicholls presenting Eleanor Mooney with a picture to mark her great work organising the walk/run over the last 20 years

The Downings New Year’s Walk/Run attracted another large crowd to the stunning Atlantic Drive to shake off the cobwebs and start the New Year right. Participants enjoyed clear weather – and enjoyed the soup even more afterwards in The Singing Pub.

The event has raised an amazing €368,000 over the years to help young people at Crumlin Children’s Hospital. But Eleanor doesn’t take the credit, as she constantly says that she could not have raised these funds without the help of so many people across Donegal.

New Year’s Walk/Run in Downings,

New Year’s Walk/Run in Downings

New Year’s Walk/Run in Downings,

New Year’s Walk/Run in Downings

A man went to see a doctor and stole a prescription pad before forging a prescription for dozens of tablets.

Stephen Stokes appeared before Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with theft and forging a prescription on June 20th, 2018.

The court heard the 27-year-old entered Millbrae Surgery in Stranorlar and asked for a prescription for tablets.

However, Dr Rachel Bonner said she could not give him the prescription as he was not a patient of the healthcare centre.

A few minutes later Stokes, with an address at Robinson Hall, Ramelton Road, Letterkenny, then entered the nearby Flatley’s Pharmacy.

Stokes had a prescription for 56 tablets signed for in Dr Bonner’s name.

However, the pharmacist became suspicious, refused to give Stokes the tablets and called Gardai.

The accused man was later arrested and made full admissions to the crime.

His solicitor, Mr Frank Dorrian, said his client had developed a tablet addiction in prison and palmed the prescription book when he visited the doctor’s surgery.

“He was not going to fool anyone. It was borne out of addiction and it was a desperate act,” said Mr Dorrian.

He said his client was now back in Fingals in Dublin and was off all tablets and even secured part0time work in a parcel company before Christmas.

The court was told that Stokes had previous convictions under the Misuse of Drugs Act, robbery and public order.

Judge Paul Kelly said he was adjourning the case until March to allow the Probation Services in Dublin to carry out a report on Mr Stokes.

The number of people without beds in Irish hospitals today has been named as the worst-ever figure since records began. 

With 760 people awaiting admission in hospitals around the country, they would fill the largest hospital in the state – St. James (707 beds) – or take more than twice the equivalent of Letterkenny University Hospital (333 beds).

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recorded 37 patients waiting in the Emergency Department of LUH this Monday morning. Eleven patients were on trolleys, while 26 were waiting in overflow wards.

The INMO is calling for a major incident protocol to be adopted across the country, as was done of the second worst-ever day for overcrowding on 12 March 2018. The “Beast from the East” struck on this day, when 714 patients went without beds.

The protocol would likely see all non-emergency admissions stopped, electives cancelled, and extra bed capacity sourced from the private and public sectors.

The union is also calling for an infection control plan, as overcrowding increases infection risks.

Meanwhile, visiting restrictions remain in place at LUH due to the flu outbreak.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said: “Ireland’s beleaguered health service continues to break records in the worst possible way. Our members are working in impossible conditions to provide the best care they can.

“The excuse that this is all down to the flu simply doesn’t hold. There are always extra patients in winter, but we simply do not get the extra capacity to cope. This is entirely predictable, yet we seemingly fail to deal with it every year.

“The government need to immediately initiate a major incident protocol. We need to cancel elective surgeries, stop non-emergency admissions, and source extra capacity wherever we can.

“We also need to immediately scrap the HSE’s counterproductive recruitment pause, which is leaving these services understaffed and thus overcrowded.

“Behind these numbers are hundreds of individual vulnerable patients – it is a simply shameful situation. This is entirely preventable if proper planning was in place.”

Members of the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce have been thanked for their generosity in supporting and providing meals for those who are alone at Christmas and New Year.  

Every year, Kathy O’Connor organizes a group of volunteers to help serve the Christmas and New Year’s Dinner.

The event was donated several festive items with the community bringing soups, breads, desserts, sweets and cakes to the dinner.

Anne Condon from the Chamber of Commerce said the generosity is much appreciated and this annual initiative is one that she is delighted to be involved in.

“Thanks to the Raddison Blue Hotel, Tina’s Tea Cakes and Coffee Shop, Laura’ s Bake House, O’ Heirs Bake house, Macs Mace, The Fern, and all other businesses who helped out.

“Thank you to the Church of Ireland for the use of their hall.

“Thank you to the volunteer centre and to all the volunteers who showed up before Christmas to help and to those who showed up to make the events a success and to Gary Gillen for the music.

“A great start to the New Year so until next time much appreciation and love,” she said.

GLENSWILLY cyclist Conor Gallagher finished second in yesterday’s Under-16 Ulster Cycle Cross Championships.

A magnificent performance saw Gallagher take the second spot at the Ecclesville Centre in Fintona. The event was hosted by Omagh Wheelers CC.

Errigal Cycling Club member Gallagher will now compete at next weekend’s National Cycle Cross Championships in Sligo.

In 2018 he represented Ireland at the Errigal International Youth Tour and won the Keeloges stage of that event while he was selected to ride for Ireland at the World Youth Tour in Austria last August.

A son of Charlie and Colette Gallagher, he was been consistent with his performances in recent events.

Another Errigal Cycling Club member, Donnachadh Roarty, came fifth in the Under-14 event.