A Donegal county councillor is calling on Donegal County Council to snub plans by the Minister for Justice and Equality to commemorate the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Cllr Mícheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is demanding the council convene an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.

He has written to the council demanding that they follow in the footsteps of Clare County Council.

He said “I wish to request an emergency meeting of Donegal County Council in order to discuss the upcoming commemoration of the RIC being organised by the Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan. The event is due to take place on 17th January 2020 and hence the urgency.”

Cllr Micheal Mac Giolla Easbuig

Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said this is a matter of both local and national importance and one that has caused many of my constituents to contact me and complain that this happening against their wishes.

He added “Several members of the Oireachtas have already raised objections but of immediate relevance to Donegal Council is the fact that the mayor of Clare, Cathal Crowe and his deputy, have publicly stated their criticism of this event and made it clear they will not attend.

“I believe, therefore, that it is incumbent on DCC to follow the lead set by our colleagues in County Clare and adopt a council position on this vitally important issue.”

The Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital is extremely busy today after admitting a significant number of ill patients, many of whom remain in the ED awaiting a bed.

The Full Capacity Protocol has been implemented and all efforts continue to be made to identify patients who are appropriate for discharge.

Other actions underway in the hospital to alleviate the waiting times for patients requiring hospital admission include additional reviews and deferral of elective non-urgent procedures.

A spokesperson from the Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital said they are committed to treating everyone at their ED but they treat patients strictly in order of medical priority.

“We apologise for the distress or inconvenience caused to patients and their families who are experiencing long wait times,” they said.

Today was the worst day for hospital overcrowding since records began, with 760 patients waiting on trolleys nationwide.

CAPPRY ROVERS coach Sean McGowan believes yesterday’s stalemate with Kilmacrennan Celtic was a case of a point gained.

Cappry had a perfect start to the Premier Division season, winning each of their opening seven games.

However, John Sandilands’ late leveller denied them making it eight from eight as his wonder goal in the dying minutes to cancel out Aaron Kelly’s early penalty.

“For us, it’s a point gained, but the players are disappointed to have been one up going into the latter stages,” McGowan told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.

“Kilmacrennan are a good side. They’ll contest the League.  I thought the payers battled very well and the draw was probably a fair result.

“Kilmacrennan are a very good side and, let nobody fool you, they’ll be up near the top of the League. They’re very dangerous. They’re a talented bunch of players.”

Cappry have 22 points from a possible 24, but McGowan is mindful that there are plenty of teams still in the shake-up and also sides who have yet to play catch-up on games.

He said: “Anyone who has played in the Premier Division knows that everyone can beat anyone.

“You’ll come a cropper when you think a team is down at the bottom and you’ll win. Every team has given us a massive battle and every team has a sprinkling of very good players.”

Listen to the full interview below …

New figures have revealed that 47 patients aged over 75 had to wait over 24 hours for care in Letterkenny University Hospital Emergency Departments in 2019.

Between January and November last year, just over 27% of elderly patients were admitted within 24 hours at LUH, according to patient data.

The HSE said that the number of older persons presenting to Emergency Departments is growing higher than the overall increase in the general population. Older patients are also much more likely to be admitted to hospital and will stay twice as long.

The data was revealed to Sinn Féin spokesperson on health Louise O’Reilly. Her party colleague Pearse Doherty has blamed the delays on Fine Gael’s “lack of planning for the health service throughout 2019”.

Deputy Doherty said the figures are a representation of older people’s health being put at risk.

He said: “Older patients are often among the most vulnerable people in our hospitals due to their age and the additional medical needs that can sometimes accompany aging. Their being treated urgently prevents escalation of injury and ensures safety and swift treatment.

“I have spoken to many staff members in Letterkenny University Hospital and they are at breaking point. The doctors, nurses, and all the staff do an amazing job and they are doing more with less resources; they are treating more patients than ever before even though there is a recruitment and retention crisis across all areas of the health service.”

Nationally,  15,344 patients over the age of 75 had to wait over 24 hours for treatment in Emergency Departments around the State between January and November 2019.

Doherty continued: “Fine Gael say the overcrowding issue can’t be fixed overnight, but they have had eight years to make the necessary changes and yet they have just made things worse.

“For over a decade now Sinn Féin have been saying the solution is more capacity and more staff for Letterkenny University Hospital – however, the government are damaging capital projects across the State due to the children’s hospital overspend, they have implemented a recruitment ban in the health service, they have consistently failed to properly implement a health service Winter Plan, and they appear to have no interest in implementing Sláintecare.”

Free customized workshops and resources are being delivered in Donegal in partnership with the Donegal Local Development Company CLG (DLDC) to support outdoor recreational groups, educators and communities.

If you are one of the many thousands of people who enjoy the outdoors in Donegal then why don’t you make it one of your New Year’s resolutions to learn more about the simple steps you can take to help protect our beautiful landscapes and outdoor spaces for future generations to enjoy?

It’s a resolution that can really make a difference.

Are you a member of a walking group? Cycling club? Just have a group of friends who like to mountain bike or kayak? Or do you organise events in your local community such as 5k runs, sports events or outdoor festivals?

If so, Leave No Trace Ireland has upcoming courses that can help you reduce your impact on the environment while still running a successful event.

Dates from January through to March have now been released for the final series of courses, so don’t let the opportunity slip – get in touch now to book your places.

Courses will cover various sectors including walking and hiking, watersports, cycling sports, charity and challenge events and community use of the outdoors.

Training places are available to individuals and groups who fall within the Donegal Local Development Company catchment area, will take place in venues across Donegal and will be delivered by fully accredited Leave No Trace trainers.

This programme, worth over €100,000 is the first of its kind in Ireland and is intended to provide leaders in the outdoor sector with the skills and ethics to protect, preserve and enhance responsible outdoor recreation in Donegal’s upland, coastal and inland environments.

Make a resolution that will have lasting benefits for your outdoors, those who use it and the generations to come.

If you would like more information on this new training programme or would like to register your interest in attending any of the upcoming courses, please contact Jayne Woodrow by email at jayne@outdoorrecreationni.com or by telephone on 0044 28 9030 3930

TYRONE NATIVE Terry McCann will manage Bundoran in 2020.

McCann is a native of Killyclogher and has taken over from Niall Dunne, who has stepped down at Gaelic Park.

In 2019, Bundoran reached the quarter-finals of the Donegal SFC and pushed defending champions Gaoth Dobhair all the way in extra time. 

McCann takes the reigns for the 2020 campaign. His sons Tiernan and Conall are members of the Tyrone senior football squad. 

Emergency services were rushed to a fire at a well-known Bundoran pub this Monday afternoon.

The blaze broke out at the Emerald Bar at around 2pm.

Fire services from Bundoran and Ballyshannon battled the fire inside the premises, which was not open at the time.

The blaze was brought under control after a short time and no injuries have been reported from the incident.

However, it is believed that substantial damage was caused inside the bar.

Fire services operated a stop-go system on Main Street Bundoran during the incident.

FORMER world champion Rob Heffernan will be the special guest at the 2019 Donegal Sports Star Awards later this month.

By Chris McNulty. Pictures by Geraldine Diver

Heffernan was this evening confirmed as the special guest by Donegal Sports Star Awards Chairperson Grace Boyle at the launch in the Mount Errigal Hotel.

Main Picture: Rob Heffernan pictured with Patsy McGonagle at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow. 

The 2019 Donegal Sports Star Awards – the 44th staging of the event – will take place on Friday, January 31, at the Mount Errigal Hotel. Tickets will be available at the hotel reception from tomorrow morning and anyone interested is urged to get their tickets early as demand is likely to outweigh supply.

Cork native Heffernan won gold in the men’s 50k race walk at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

Heffernan also a bronze medalist from the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

From his base in Cork, Heffernan now acts as coach to Finn Valley AC 50k race walker Brendan Boyce, who finished sixth at the 2019 World Championships and who has high aspirations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“He competed on the national stage for two decades,” Ms Boyle said.

“He won the gold medal in the World Championships in 2013. He enjoyed an incredible career and competed in five Olympic Games.”

The official launch of the 2019 Donegal Sports Star Awards was performed by Myles Gallagher, the former presenter of Sunday Sport on Highland Radio – a role he filled for some 28 years. Myles was a strong supporter of the Donegal Sports Star Awards. 

Ms Boyle said: “2019 was a very memorable year and we salute all of those who were nominated. It is not about people who take part, it is about people participating and volunteering behind the scenes.

“The schools have been a huge part of the Donegal Sports Star Awards. That is very important because it is there that you get the children who will participate in sport.”

The award winners from 40 years ago, the 1979 recipients, were presented with certificates this evening, honouring their achievements.

Finn Valley AC’s Patsy McGonagle, the former Irish Olympic Team manager, was among the recipients in 1979, when he claimed the appreciation award. McGonagle is now a member of the Donegal Sports Star Awards committee and had Heffernan official launch his memoir, ‘Relentless – A Race Through Time’, in June.

The Donegal Sports Star Awards are again being sponsored by Donegal County Council.

Ms Boyle said: “The County Council are the exclusive sponsors and without them we wouldn’t have the successful event that we do. They have been associated since the 1970s and it is important to acknowledge and recognise the help that they give to us.”

Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Nicholas Crossan, said: “I would like to compliment the committee on the work over 40 years and their plans for the future. It is a great honour for the County to be associated with these awards, across such an array of sports. 

“These awards are the highlight of our sporting year and it is only right that we take the time to recognise the achievements of the sports stars and the people who have helped them along the way; the unsung heroes who work tirelessly in clubs and organisations who are the foundations of the sporting community.”

Just two nominees – Portsmouth F.C. footballer Ronan Curtis and the Donegal Finesse Gymnastics Club – know that they will be picking up awards at the end of the month.

The winners in all the rest of the categories will only be announced on the night following the completion of the selection process. 

Click here for a full list of the 2019 Donegal Sports Star Awards nominees 

A new mum who stole more than €190 worth of baby milk and a chicken has appeared in court.

Maria Rostas appeared at Letterkenny District Court charged with three counts of shoplifting.

Ms Rostas, aged 22, pleaded guilty to all three charges, two of which occurred at Dunnes Stores in Letterkenny and the third at Boots Chemist also in Letterkenny.

The court was told that Ms Rostas, of The Green, Conoy, was caught on CCTV taking all the items.

Mr Patsy Gallagher, solicitor for the accused, said his client was with two other people during the incidents and that she was the youngest.

He said she has no previous convictions and was taking the milk out of necessity to feed her then five-month-old baby.

Judge Paul Kelly said the disturbing aspect to the cases was that there was an element of pre-planning in the incidents.

The court was told that the accused was prepared to reimburse the stores for their loss.

Judge Kelly adjourned the case to February 3rd to allow for payment to be made.

Team Harvey’s celebrated a major achievement today after donating a cheque of €9,000 to BUMBLEance after a mighty year of fundraising.

Every year the staff at Harvey’s Point in Donegal Town select a charity to support for the year and for 2019 their chosen charity was BUMBLEance Children’s National Ambulance Service.

The team raised money through various initiatives including a Spin-A-Thon and flipping pancakes at the Taste of Donegal Food Festival. One of their staff members even took part in a 12 hour radio marathon!

Today the staff were delighted to present the cheque to Noel McGeever, one of the paramedic drivers with a Bumbleance. Noel met with the team and talked about the service that is provided by Bumbleance to sick children across Donegal and Ireland.

Bumbleance is operated by the Saoirse Foundation and is a non-profit charity dedicated to making positive life impacts for sick children, their ambulances are designed to distract the young patients during their journey, the ambulances are packed with cool stuff such as Social Media Streaming, WiFi, Playstation, DVDs, Games, Books, Colouring, Sensory Lighting, Netflix, iPad Air, Beats Headphones, Apple TV and Apple Music.

Donegal is the only county in Ireland with 2 ambulances, both based in Ballybofey that service the county and beyond.

Their trips and services include Pre and Post-surgical appointments, Inter hospital transfers, Respite and Hospice Trips, Scheduled Trips, Chemo Cab, Transplants and critical care and Angel trips and is completely free of charge.

THE next six players to be selected for the 2020 Finn Harps Under 15 League of Ireland squad have been announced. 

These players were all part of the 2019 U13 Squad which won the League of Ireland Shield and have been promoted to the U15s for the incoming season.

They are: Aaron McLaughlin, Sean Patton, James McAteer, Shane Ellison, Adam McDaid, Killian Hagan.

McBride believes the experience gained by the returning group will benefit the entire squad.

He said: “It’s great to have lads on board that have experienced training and playing at National League level. 

“The 13s gained so much from working under Kevin (McHugh) last year and the good habits gained will help them and push others on at training.

“We’re delighted with the squad that we’ve assembled. Trevor, Mikey and I have been impressed with the effort and commitment shown by the boys throughout the assessments and we believe that we have a squad that is eager to learn and develop in 2020.”

Gardaí have ruled out any foul play following a fire at The Emerald Bar in Bundoran on Monday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after a blaze broke out in the local bar on Main Street at around 1.30pm yesterday afternoon.

The fire was soon brought under control by fire services from Bundoran and Ballyshannon.

Gardaí have today confirmed that the fire appears to have started due to an electrical fault and no offences were disclosed.

The bar was vacant at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported from the incident. However, the inside of the premises is believed to be damaged by smoke.

Operation Transformation and St. Michael’s GAA Club

The hugely popular ‘Ireland Lights Up’ walking initiative returns in January 2020, in partnership with the GAA, Operation Transformation, and Get Ireland Walking.

GAA clubs across the 32 counties will once more ensure ‘Ireland Lights Up’ by turning on their floodlights and hosting community walking groups during the eight-week broadcast period of the hit RTÉ show (which returns to our screens each Wednesday from January 8th to February 26th).

SO… Do you want to get moving and active this New Year, but you have nowhere to go?

Do you find it hard to find a safe and well-lit area to go for a walk during the dark winter months? Well, again for a 2nd year in a row, St. Michael’s is hosting the Operation Transformation, get Ireland Walking Campaign in the Creeslough Gaa Pitch, starting Thursday the 9th January until February 27th at 7pm. So here is your opportunity to get together and socialise in a healthy way.

All are welcome to come to this event which starts this Thursday at 7pm!!

NB if you are interested in attending please ensure you are wearing suitable clothing, such as appropriate footwear, warm clothes and high vis vests. If you have any underlying health conditions please visit your doctor prior to attending the walk. There will be leaders on hand to assist on the night if needed.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Michael Langan on his Man of the Match, display against Monaghan in Ballybofey on Sunday last in the McKenna Cup.

Win a House

Official Donegal GAA tickets for the house draw are available to purchase in Arnolds Hotel, Dunfanaghy and Brian Dolan’s Office, Creeslough, priced at €100 each . With a terrific range of prizes, including
1st Prize of a four bedroom house in Dublin worth €400k,
2nd A brand new Mazda 2 car,
3rd A 7 night Holiday,
4th €1000 in cash
5th prize of a one nights B&B, with a round of golf for 2 in Carton House, Co. Kildare.

A fantastic opportunity to win a property in Dublin for just €100, while also helping the Donegal GAA teams with their new facilities.

Tickets can also be purchased online at winyourhouseindublin.com
or Phone the ticket Hotline 086 6047089.

Club Draw

Tickets for the annual GAA Club Draw will be on sale locally shortly and St. Michael’s Club members will be round the areas shortly selling tickets door to door.

Club Website

Our new club website is www.clgnaomhmicheal.com. This is a great addition to the club and we hope over time that it becomes the one place where we all go to get all the information about the club, including the club history, all news stories, weekly club notes, fixtures and results, online lotto, club membership, photo gallery and our sponsors.

We also hope the site will be of particular benefit to our away members and fans where they can stay up to date with everything that is happening, so please visit the site on a regular basis, to keep up to date with all that is happening within our club.

Pitch Gates

All Managers and everyone else who uses the Club Naomh Micheál Pitch at The Bridge in are asked to please close the Gate as they leave.

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has today issued a call to Donegal’s Government’s representatives to state their views on next week’s planned commemoration on the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Dublin Metropolitan Police (DMP).

The Sinn Féin deputy has said that the commemoration “should be cancelled outright”, while plans for a boycott are underway.

The event commemorating the place of the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police in Irish History was announced by Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan.

Minister Flanagan said the event is an “acknowledgement of the historical importance of both the DMP and the RIC, and is in no sense a commemoration of the “Black & Tans” or the “Auxiliaries”.”

However, the sensitivities of the commemoration and the historical actions of the force have led to backlash and boycotts.

Pearse Doherty TD said the event is “an affront to those who resisted British rule in Ireland during the Tan War, and that citizens who suffered at the hands of those that enforced British rule in Ireland are who we should be commemorating, not the RIC or the Black and Tans.”

“I am calling on the Government’s representatives, Fianna Fáil Deputies McConologue and Gallagher, and Minister McHugh, to come forward and clarify their position on this. The State’s revisionism will leave them on the wrong side of history,” Doherty said.

He continued: “The Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police were not merely police forces – as the Government seems to think – they had a specific role in upholding what was oftentimes martial law and suppressing the will of the Irish people for self-determination and national independence.

“This State commemoration should be cancelled outright.

“In no other State would those who facilitated the suppression of national freedom be commemorated by the State and I am calling on the government to cancel this proposed State commemoration.”

Doherty said that those who resisted British rule in Ireland and citizens that suffered at the hands of officers should be commemorated instead.

“If this protest goes ahead it will undoubtedly be met with dignified protest and Sinn Féin is organising for that eventuality,” Doherty stated.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue has welcomed confirmation that the HSE’s National Screening Service, is hoping to find a potential site in Buncrana for a BreastCheck mobile unit.

The Inishowen TD raised the matter with the Minister for Health.

The Buncrana site that had previously held a mobile unit closed in 2013.

This meant that since then, all eligible women in Inishowen, had to travel to Letterkenny and Donegal Town for breast cancer screening.

Deputy McConalogue said “Following my representations, I am now advised that the HSE’s National Screening Service will initiate discussions with owners of potential sites for locating a mobile unit in Buncrana,” Deputy McConalogue said.

He continued, “I am aware that Breast cancer screening was carried out in Letterkenny between March and August 2017 when all eligible women in the area were invited by BreastCheck to have a mammogram free of charge.

“A mobile unit will return to carry out breast screening in Letterkenny from January 2020, but I will be keeping the pressure on now to ensure the promise of pursuing a search for potential sites in Buncrana is followed up as a matter of absolute priority,” Deputy McConalogue concluded.

Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has stated that he plans to refuse to attend the government’s planned Commemoration of the Royal Irish Constabulary ( RIC ) next week, should he be invited.

The Fianna Fáil TD and Leas-Cheann Comhairle of Dail Eireann said the event is an example of the government being ‘out of touch’ with Irish people and Irish history.

The event commemorating the Royal Irish Constabulary and Dublin Metropolitan Police has been scheduled for 17th January at Dublin Castle.

Pat the Cope Gallagher has joined the list of representatives, including the entire Sinn Féin party, who are calling for the event to be cancelled.

He said: “The Government have made such a divisive issue of their handling of these events, that they should immediately cancel the commemoration which is to take place later next week.

“They have reopened a period of unbelievable cruelty, hurt and violence from our country’s history, while failing as Government to understand that at that time our forefathers stood alone against an Empire and the worse tyranny that they could inflict on any people – the scars of that period are visible in every community visited upon by the Special Reservist Force of the RIC.

“The period of history surrounding the RIC Special Reservist Force ( aka Black and Tans )  in Ireland is the most darkest in the many chapters of our shared history with our nearest neighbour the United Kingdom, the Government in wishing to commemorate the RIC have failed to consider the totality of the History of the RIC and its auxiliary force during the 1919 to 1922.  

“The Government once again have demonstrated to the Irish people how completely out of touch they are with their thinking of the Irish people both in the present and in terms of our history,” concluded Pat the Cope.  

DOUBLE EUROPEAN bronze medalist Leah Gallen will begin her bid for Irish Under-18 glory on Saturday-week.

The draw for the National Under-18 Men’s and Women’s Championships took place in Dublin today.

Raphoe ABC welterweight Gallen, who won European bronze in September in Bulgaria, will face Dominika Guilli from Bracken on Saturday-week, January 18, at the National Stadium.

Shelby Myers from Crumlin is already booked into the January 31 final.

Illies Golden Gloves’ Cahir Gormley is in lightweight action this Saturday as he faces Laurentiu Micusa.

Also on Saturday, Raphoe ABC welter Liam McMonagle takes on hotly-fancied Dubliner Josh Cummins in his opening bout.

Raphoe ABC pocket rocket Cody Lafferty, a former Irish champion, is into a final at 48kgs, where she will meet either Aoife Williamson or Breda Quilligan.

Letterkenny ABC’s fourth-time Irish champion Paddy McShane will take on Cian O’Toole in his light-flyweight encounter on Saturday-week.

Boxing begins this Friday at 6pm with a second session pencilled in for decision on Saturday (5pm start) and 36 bouts will be decided this weekend.

The IABA are running the tournament to assist with their selection process for the European Men’s and Women’s Youth Championships in Budva, Montenegro in April.

A woman who grabbed a school principal by the throat after being called to collect her daughter has appeared in court charged with assault.

Melissa Byrne called to Errigal College in Letterkenny on September 26th, 2018 after her child had become involved in an argument with another student.

When the 37-year-old mum arrived at the school, she was met by principal Mr Charlie Cannon.

After removing books from her locker, the girl then ran past the principal.

An altercation then took place between the irate mum and the school principal which saw Ms Byrne grab the school head by the throat with both hands.

She then pushed Mr Cannon as dozens of other schoolchildren fled.

Ms Byrne appeared at Letterkenny District Court where CCTV of the attack was shown to the court.

Gardai arrived at the scene a short time later and Ms Byrne was arrested.

The court heard that just weeks before the attack on the school principal, the accused also attacked two other parents outside the school.

Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told how on September 6, 2018, Byrne became involved in a fracas with other parents outside the school campus at Kilmacrennan Road.

She grabbed the hair of Ann Marie Coleman with one hand and used her other hand to scratch down her face causing bleeding, cuts and bruising.

She then assaulted a second woman, Catriona Warnock, grabbing her hair, pulling her head down and punching her three times to the face. The injured party received injuries including a cut lip.

Neither woman required medical attention, however.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client was anxious that CCTV footage of the incident was played in court and maintained that she reacted to “what she perceived to be an altercation” between Mr Cannon and her daughter.

“She interceded wrongly and inappropriately but these were exasperating circumstances for her,” said Mr Gallagher. “It is only fair to all parties that the CCTV is played.”

Mr Gallagher said there had been a “general melee” outside the school which was “unsightly and uncalled for.”

He added that Ms Byrne, 18 Whitethorn Grove is not the only one to face charges from this situation.

“We must also be cognizant that these are all parents, grandparents, colleagues and friends in the vicinity of one school. There are still young teenagers involved here and this may have an effect into the future,” he added.

Judge Paul Kelly adjourned matters for the preparation of victim impact statements and for Byrne to engage with the Probation and Welfare Service for the preparation of relevant reports.

He also said he might explore the option of restorative justice in the case.
Byrne is due back before Letterkenny District Court on April 6.

A St. Johnston resident had an unpleasant surprise this morning when he discovered revolting brown water pouring from his taps.

Danny Lynch from Tullyowen said he was disgusted by the orangey-brown liquid that was coming from his drink water tap today.

“If you drank that you would be sick,” Danny said, “I had to go to the shop to buy a few bottles of water. And it’s not clearing no matter how much I run the taps.”

Tap water in Tullyowen, St Johnston, 7th January 2020

Danny said he is still waiting to hear back from Irish Water after making a complaint about the discolouration.

“You wouldn’t even take a shower in that water,” he said.

With no current Irish Water outages or upgrade works in the St Johnston area this week, it is not yet clear what is causing the dark discolouration.

A determined young woman will be braving the elements in Donegal this week as she takes the first steps of her 1,000km journey around the Wild Atlantic Way for charity.

Ciara McCullough (28) is running from Derry to Kinsale over the next two months to raise money for the Children’s Grief Centre in Limerick.

And she is inviting everyone to join her journey in a unique way.

Run with Ciara – Ciara McCullough begins her 1,000km on the Derry Peace Bridge

The ‘Run With Ciara’ fundraiser is Ireland’s first ever virtual inter county run. The new concept allows people to join Ciara wherever they are and log their progress on an app. Hundreds of people around the world are expected to run with Ciara.

Ciara’s epic run began today in Derry and she is making her way to Letterkenny. From Letterkenny, she will run 29km to Ballybofey, then 27km to Donegal Town and 22km to Ballyshannon.

Run with Ciara – January Route

Ciara, who is from Tipperary is hoping that many participants will keep her company on the long runs by being her virtual running pals.

People (of all running levels) can register on RunwithCiara.com or at YourVirtualRace.com to run with Ciara and choose the county they want to run with. The cost is €25 and each participant will receive an e-bib, a certificate of completion and a digital medal.

The idea is that each person will go out running during the same eight weeks as McCullough and as they run in real time their distance will be added to the live leader board within their county.

Ciara is hoping to raise €150,000 for the Children’s Grief Centre’s New Build Fund.

If you want to get involved, visit yourvirtualrace.com/run-with-ciara