Three new names have topped the list of Donegal’s most popular baby names in 2019.

Jamie was the most popular boys’ name in 2019, while Emily and Ella shared the top spot for the most common girls’ names chosen by parents last year.

Donegal parents are moving away from trends, it seems, as Conor and Grace were Donegal’s top names in 2018.

Graphic: CSO Ireland

Graphic: CSO Ireland

Nationally, the CSO revealed that Jack and Emily were once again the most popular names of 2019.

Jack has held the top spot since 2007 with the exception of 2016 when James was the most popular name.

This is the ninth consecutive year that Emily has been the most popular name chosen for girls across Ireland.

Graphic: CSO Ireland

Eli, Joey, Odhrán (with a síneadh fada) and Ruairí were new entrants to the top 100 for boys in 2019. There were two new entrants to the top 100 for girls: Doireann and Méabh (with a síneadh fada).  Alexandra, Heidi and Hollie were the girls’ names growing most in popularity.

The top surnames of babies registered in 2019 was also revealed today, with Murphy, Kelly and Ryan in the top spots.

RONAN McKinley and Patrick Ferry have been included on a 30-man Republic of Ireland squad for a friendly next week.

The Irish Under-18s, now under the management of former Irish star Andy Reid, will take on an FAI-ETB select on Wednesday at the National Training Centre.

McKinley and Ferry are both on the books of Derry City and are joined by club mate Evan McLaughlin on Reid’s home-based selection.

Newtowncunningham native McKinley is just back from a bad knee injury and had been a regular feature on Irish squads before then.

Gweedore man Ferry has been hitting goals regularly for the Candystripes in the Ulster Senior League.

A NEW era for football in the north west kicks off tomorrow with the first games in the North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup down for decision.

Three of the four first round games in the new competition – a collaboration between the Ulster Senior League and the Northern Ireland Intermediate League – are pencilled in for tomorrow.

Twelve teams – six from the NI Intermediate League and six from the Ulster Senior League – will take part in the new cross-border competition, which will now run in a straight knockout format.

The meeting of Newtowne FC and Fanad United has been postponed due to the former’s involvement in the NI Intermediate Cup.

The job of dawning the new era falls to Newbuildings United and Derry City Reserves, who meet at 1.30pm.

At 2pm, USL champions Cockhill Celtic take on Maiden City at the Charlie O’Donnell Sports Grounds at at 6pm at Letterkenny Community Centre Finn Harps Reserves face Dungiven.

“All of our clubs are excited about the new competition,” said Ulster Senior League secretary Niall Callaghan.

“Something like this is just what our League needed and the clubs from the NI League feel the same.  It’s a new competition and it will bring a lot of excitement.”

FINN Harps have another new striker to their ranks.

An updated squad list circulated by the Football Association of Ireland today includes Benny Igiehon, a former Sligo Rovers striker.

While the 26-year-old Englishman is listed as having the number 29 shirt in the new squad list, it remains unclear as to when the much-traveled forward will link up with the club.

Igiehon played for Sligo during the second half of the 2017 season, scoring two goals.

He has also lined out for Scarborough Athletic, Boston United, Alfreton Town and Larne FC.

A Donegal man convicted of repeatedly raping a teenage schoolgirl has been jailed for seven years.

Justice Tara Burns said that the man, now aged 25, treated the woman “almost like a dog” when he raped her in a field.

She said he took advantage of her half interest in him and her drunkenness to subject her to vile and despicable attacks.

The victim, now aged in her 20s, told the Central Criminal Court that the attacks changed her from being a happy, trusting girl who enjoyed life to a fearful traumatised adult who struggles with panic attacks.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, denied four counts of rape at two locations in the county on a night in July 2016. After a trial last month a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on all counts.

The court heard that the man had met the victim a short time earlier and they had kissed. On the night of the rapes, the victim and her friend planned a camping trip and invited a number of friends but nobody was available to join them.

The man and his friend were contacted and the four met, procured two bottles of vodka and began drinking in a field. They split into pairs and the man and the teenager kissed.

At one point she fell back and the man got on top of her. She tried to get up and he pushed her back. The victim said no but he didn’t listen and raped her.

He then turned her over and anally raped her and then repeated these actions again and again, whispering “good girl” to her. The victim was left with bruising all over her body.

In a victim impact statement the woman told her attacker: “You saw that I was getting drunk, starting to slur my speech. You saw I was more vulnerable. You were able to take control of me”.

After the attack the woman was falling around drunk and the man brought her back to her house and raped her twice again. She doesn’t remember going back to this house.

In her statement she said: “You brought me back to violate me all over again. I couldn’t move. I was so drunk and in so much shock that physically I was there but mentally I was gone.”

She said she experienced shame and fear during a medical examination during which “I cried out in pain”.

She said that she has been traumatised every single day by the attacks.

Just before Ms Justice Burns was due to pass sentence, his counsel handed in a note from the man in which he said apologised to the woman. Aidan Doyle SC, defending, said his client now accepts the jury verdict on the basis that he was reckless as to whether the woman was consenting.

Ms Justice Burns said that it was not open to her to interpret the jury verdict as one of recklessness, noting that the woman had told him no and to stop. After the first series of attacks she had walked back to her friend and became upset and told the man to go away when he approached them.

“Despite this and her drunken state he subjected her to another vile attack, treating her almost like a dog to gratify his sexual desire on a drunk girl,” the judge said.

The judge said she would give him some benefit for the acknowledgement of his guilt and expressions of remorse, despite these coming so late. She reduced an indicated headline sentence of nine years to seven years.

She noted also the mitigating factors of previous good character and the fact that he is a father figure to three young children. The judge also noted the serious effect of the attacks on the victim, and “how broken” she appeared in court.

Doyle said the man continues to have the support of his family and his partner, with whom he has a young child. He noted there was no use of violence and the man has no previous convictions.

After a trial last month, a jury of 10 men and two women found him guilty to two counts of anal rape and two counts of vaginal rape. The case was finalised today after an initial sentence hearing on Monday.

Ms Justice Burns said that it was unfortunate that the defendant acceptance of the jury verdict and his guilt came so late in the day.

“Up to today he had not expressed any remorse and not accepted the verdict. Since then he has thought of his actions,” she said.

She said it was significant in the context where the victim described the man passing her in her local post office and saying “look, there’s that whore”.

ALEXANDER Kogler has been handed his Finn Harps debut in Cork tonight.

Kogler, a recent recruit, makes his Harps bow on what is already a big night for the Donegal side.

By Chris McNulty at Turners Cross

The Austrian attacker has been named in the starting XI by manager Ollie Horgan for the Premier Division tie against Cork City at Turners Cross.

Having initially been listed as having to serve a one-game suspension, carried over from his time at Grazer AK in Austria, that situation was corrected by the FAI yesterday.

The highly-rated Kogler, who has played primarily as a winger, has been included in one of two changes made by Horgan.

Kogler and Ruairi Harkin are in at the expense of Leo Donnellan and Tony McNamee, who make way from the side that drew 1-1 in Derry seven nights ago.

Harps have four points from their opening two games and have a chance to open a seven-point gap on Cork, who have lost three from three.

FINN Harps fell to a controversial first defeat of the season at Turners Cross tonight.

Cork City 0 Finn Harps 1

By Chris McNulty at Turners Cross. Pictures by Joe Boland, North West Newspix

Alec Byrne’s header on 56 minutes gave Neale Fenn a much-needed first win of the campaign on an eventful night in front of 2,367 by Leeside.

Byrne won it for Cork, but that only tells part of the story as Harps will curse the moment, late in the first half, when Alexander Kogler was denied a debut goal.

Eleven minutes after the restart, Byrne nosed in to head Dylan McGlade’s in-swinging corner past Mark Anthony McGinley from inside the six-yard box.

Cork had considerably upped the tempo after the break and Harps, still reeling from the incident that saw Kogler’s attempt ruled out, will have been disappointed to concede in such a manner from a set piece.

The game’s big moment, undoubtedly, came in the first minute of added time at the end of the first when Kogler looked to have put Harps in front.

Austrian Kogler – who was only given clearance to play yesterday by the FAI – was included from the start and he was off celebrating a debut goal when he was, rather farcically it must be said, stopped in his tracks.

After initially awarding the goal, referee Neil Doyle, following a consultation with his assistant Darren Carey, chalked it off.

Kogler slid in to finish after Liam Bossin couldn’t hold Ruairi Harkin’s tester from 25 yards. Kogler collided with Bossin and, after a delay of almost ten minutes, the Cork ‘keeper was replaced by Mark McNulty.

All the while, Harps were livid with Horgan particularly irate as he let fly to fourth official Ray Matthews, while Harps goalkeeper Mark Anthony McGinley made his way the full length of the pitch to voice his displeasure.

Kogler, added from Grazer AZ in the Austrian Second Division in recent weeks, was thrown straight into the starting line-up, while Harkin was given a first start of 2020.

Tony McNamee, who impressed in last week’s draw at Derry, dropped to the bench with Leo Donnellan.

Harkin twice tried his luck in the early exchanges, dipping narrowly off-target with a decent attempt from distance before drilling a free kick wide of Bossin’s right-hand post.

In driving rain, Harps started with good promise and Dave Webster saw a shot blocked for a corner after a Barry McNamee pass through the needle’s eye was cut out at the vital moment.

On-loan defender Kosovar Sadiki rose to meet McNamee’s corner, but his header flew over the Shed End’s crossbar.

Cork arrived into this with their confidence brittle, having shipped ten goals across a three-game losing streak.

Boss Neale Fenn insisted that his side had to ‘take the game’ to Harps and they delivered a real warning on 13 minutes when Dáire O’Connor’s cut-back after a marauding run down the right invited an attempt by Dylan McGlade, but his first-timer didn’t trouble McGinley.

On the half-hour, McNamee – playing against the club he represented in 2018 – slipped O’Sullivan through, but he was denied by the feet of Cork ‘keeper Bossin.

McGinley did well to save, and hold a low free from McGlade after O’Connor was fouled by Sadiki.

Ninety seconds into the second half, Deshane Dalling, available again after a suspension, flashed wide.

Dalling was thwarted by McGinley’s legs before Byrne headed the hosts in front.

The goal – Cork’s first of the season – took the wind from Harps’ sails, but it took a goal-saving block by Ronan Hurley to deny Kogler, who got on the end of a centre by Ryan Connolly.

Dalling broke down the other end but the mud bath in the goalmouth came to the visitors’ rescue.

Seven minutes form the end, Dave Webster riffled wide as Harps, who gave a debut to lively striker Cameron Saul for the last 17 minutes, looked to salvage something.

It will be a long road home and a difficult defeat for Harps to process as their wait for a win in Cork – going back to September 1996 – continues.

Cork City: Liam Bossin (Mark McNulty 45+10); Kyron Stabana (Charlie Fleming half-time), Joseph Olowu, Joe Redmond, Ronan Hurley; Henry Ochieng; Dáire O’Connor, Gearóid Morrissey, Alec Byrne, Deshane Dalling; Dylan McGlade (Cian Murphy 88).

Finn Harps: Mark Anthony McGinley; Shane McEleney, Kosovar Sadiki, Sam Todd; Ruairi Harkin (Adrian Delap 90+1), Dave Webster, Ryan Connolly, Barry McNamee, Mark Russell; Alex Kogler (Raffaele Cretaro 73); Karl O’Sullivan (Cameron Saul 73).

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Ollie Horgan railed against officials’ decision to deny Finn Harps a goal as his side was beaten by Cork City.

By Chris McNulty at Turners Cross

Debutant Alex Kogler looked to have given Harps the lead in added time at the end of the first half.

Kogler reacted to prod home when Liam Bossin, Cork’s goalkeeper, couldn’t hold Ruairi Harkin’s effort from distance.

The Austrian had celebrated the goal and, with Bossin still down injured, Harps were already in position for the restart when referee Neil Doyle, having initially awarded the goal, dissallowed it on the advice of his assistant.

“The goal was given, we went to tip-off and, three minutes later, the decision was changed,” Horgan said after the 1-0 defeat at Turners Cross.

“Do we have VAR here? I don’t think so.

“The linesman said he saw something, according to the referee, but he didn’t flag. He walked back to the half-way line to tip off.

“It’s not sour grapes. Cork deserved to beat us in the second half and well done to them. I think the time has come where you have to take a bit of criticism if you’re paid to be a linesman out there. There is little touch of more than just getting a decision wrong.”

Harps were beaten by Alec Byrne’s header, netted 11 minutes into the second half, but the game’s big talking point was the incident that had Harps believing they were in front.

Kogler, given his first start just over 24 hours after being cleared to play, collided with the ‘keeper as he finished, but Horgan, although Bossin had to be withdrawn, insisted there was no foul play.

The Harps boss said: “We looked at it again on the video half-time. It wasn’t a foul. The ‘keeper went at it head-first and our lad went at it with his foot. He nicked it past him.

“It’s the fact the goal was given, we all went back to centre and then, because of the injury, they decided to change their mind.

“I felt that the referee should have been stronger. He had a better view of it.

“We are hugely disappointed with the manner of the linesman when we asked him to explain what happened. It was a huge turning point and there is no point in pretending the elephant isn’t in the room.”

THERE was agony for Carleigh Irving in the Irish Senior Cadet finals tonight.

The Illies Golden Gloves pocket rocket was beaten by Kanturk’s Katie O’Keefe in the 48kgs final at the National Stadium.

Irving, a European Schoolgirl bronze medalist last year came out on the wrong side of a 3-2 split decision at the National Stadium.

Iring was the sole Donegal representative to qualify for the finals meaning the county’s punchers are without a title from these Championships.

THE long journey to Leeside and the warnings about the onset of Storm Jorge didn’t deter a loyal band of Finn Harps fans from making their way to Turners Cross.

Harps lost 1-0 as Cork City scored a first win of the season thanks to Alec Byrne’s 56th minute header.

It was a night of drama in teeming rain at the Cross.

Harps were left fuming as Alexander Kogler, on his debut, had a goal disallowed late in the first half, while Ollie Horgan’s men will be disappointed at the manner of conceding to Byrne.

Pictures by Joe Boland, North West Newspix …

CORK City moved off the bottom of the Premier Division table last night with a 1-0 win over Finn Harps – here’s the pick of the action from Turners Cross.

Alec Byrne headed the only goal of the game on 56 minutes as he directed home from Dylan McGlade’s corner kick.

Just before half-time, Harps were incensed when debutant Alexander Kogler had a goal disallowed for an apparent foul on ‘keeper Liam Bossin after the goal was initially awarded.

See the full highlights via RTÉ Sport, below …

MARK Anthony McGinley revealed Finn Harps’ anger with the change of decision that saw Alexander Kogler’s ‘goal’ disallowed last night.

Ref’ Neil Doyle, after such a delay that Harps were re-set in their own half for the kick-off, disallowed the strike by the Austrian following a consultation with his assistant. 

Kogler, on his Harps debut, collided with goalkeeper Liam Bossin to convert after the Cork net minder spilled a Ruairi Harkin shot. Bossin had to be withdrawn after the impact and Kogler’s goal was chalked off, much to the chagrin of the visitors.

“We’re very disappointed,” McGinley (pictured by Joe Boland, North West Newspix) told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub after the 1-0 defeat.

“The ‘keeper was down that long. If the ‘keeper had got straight up, they’d have gone to the centre circle to tip-off. The ref’ gave it and the ref’ said he didn’t see a foul.

“Cork players put a bit of pressure on the linesman. Would he have made the decision without that pressure? We don’t know.”

McGinley put Alec Byrne’s headed goal down to a ‘lack of communication’ in dealing with the 56th minute corner.

While bitterly disappointed with the loss – Harps’ first of the season – the Ards man is encouraged.

He said: “Over the 90 minutes, I think that we were by far the better side. We missed a lot of chances and we gave away a poor goal.

“If we keep on the way we’re going, we’re on an upward trajectory. There is no moral victories in football. We got no points on the table here and we just have to try and bounce back.”

Listen to the full interview below …

Donegal County Council has issued a warning to the public about the dangers of falling trees and fallen cables during Storm Jorge.

The council says it is in a heightened state of readiness in preparation for incoming Storm Jorge.

The local authority has activated their Severe Weather Assessment Team and all Council resources are at a heightened state of readiness in preparation for this period of unsettled weather.

Met Éireann has issued a status orange wind warning for County Donegal starting from noon today (SAT) until to 3am on Sunday 1st March as a result of Storm Jorge making landfall.

In addition there is also a status yellow rain warning in place for County Donegal during this period also.

The weather forecast suggests strong damaging gusts right through Saturday and into early Sunday morning.

A council spokesperson warned “Given the extent of rainfall over the past three weeks the ground is at saturation point and with the combination of weakened ground and high winds there is a high likelihood of trees falling during this period.

“Electricity and telecom cables will also be vulnerable during this period also.

“As this period of unsettled weather is approaching its third week people are being asked to keep an eye out for elderly neighbours or other vulnerable people who may be affected by either localised flooding or by blocked access routes due to fallen trees / power lines.

“There is also a risk of power outages over the weekend due to fallen power lines and people are advised to put practical measures in place such as having their mobile phones charged and to have a torch or lamp readily available.

“Motorists are being reminded to take extra care while driving and to keep an eye out for fallen trees and power lines and to be aware that there is a high possibility of encountering flooded roads as well over the weekend.”

The Irish Coast Guard is also advising the public along coastal areas to ‘Stay back, stay high and stay dry’.

Given the limitations on Council resources to respond to all possible locations, the Council is asking the properties owners / occupiers in areas susceptible to surface water flooding, to take proactive measures themselves including erecting flood barriers / sandbags to protect their properties.

Donegal County Council can be contacted during normal business hours on 074 91 53900 and in the event of an out of hours emergency the Council can be contacted on 074 91 72288. For emergencies requiring the assistance of the Fire Service call 999 or 112.

You can keep up to date on conditions by signing up for free alerts to your phone by registering at www.mapalerter.com/donegal or by following Donegal County Council on Facebook or on Twitter @DonegalCouncil

The sign of peace will be suspended in most Catholic Masses here including Donegal to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The latest set of measures to prevent infection comes as the World Health Organisation raised the global threat assessment to “very high”.

The HSE yesterday issued advice for religious gatherings that holy communion should be given to congregation in their hands only and not on the tongue.

Holy water fonts should not be used and instead of the sign of peace Mass-goers have been told to smile or nod at each other.

The advice comes in the run-up to first communion season across Donegal.

Dozens of pupils from two Donegal schools in Milford and Bunacrana continue to remain off school after they returned from skiing trips to Italy.

The World Health Organisation warned its assessment of the risk of spread of coronavirus has been raised to “very high” at global level.

Director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the continued increase in the number of coronavirus cases and in the number of affected countries over the last days was “clearly of concern” but there was still a chance it could be contained.

The World Health Organisation said on Friday it had increased its assessment of the risk of spread and the risk of impact of Covid-19 to “very high” at the global level.

The HSE said it is on high alert for a likely first case of coronavirus here amid growing fears more people could return after contracting the deadly virus in Italy.

The first patient to be diagnosed with coronavirus in Northern Ireland was being monitored in her home last night after public health doctors had to track down a group of passengers who could have been exposed to infection after sharing an Aer Lingus flight and train with the mother and her daughter.

The woman had been on a skiing trip in northern Italy and flew back into Dublin.

UPDATE: 12.45pm ONCE again, Donegal’s sporting fixtures have been badly hit by bad weather this weekend.

ALL of this weekend’s SFAI Sketchers Cup games, including St Kevin’s Boys v Illistrin FC and Keadue Rovers v Ringmahon Rangers, have been postponed and are now set to be played next weekend.

In the Donegal Saturday League, Fixtures Secretary Christina O’Donnell has confirmed that the following games are OFF: Kilmacrennan v Copany, Ballybofey United v Dunlewey, Castlefin v Drumbar, Fintown v Oldtown, Drumoghill v Cranford and Glenea v Keadue.

The Cappry-Drumkeen game has been moved to the Letterkenny Community Centre.

So far, the three scheduled games are ON in the North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup: Newbuildings United v Derry City Reserves (1.30pm), Cockhill Celtic v Maiden City (2pm) and Finn Harps Reserves v Dungiven (6pm).

GOALS win games – that’s an easy motto to remember, right? Except it’s not a simple feat to accomplish, but that won’t act as a deterrent to Amber Barrett.

The Republic of Ireland international made it look so natural when she lobbed the opposition goalkeeper in last November’s draw away to Greece.

It was an example of what top strikers do: make scoring goals appear so effortless.

Barrett will be hoping to add to her tally tonight as Vera Pauw’s team welcome Greece to Tallaght Stadium and again when they travel to Montenegro for a crunch showdown on March 11th. But she is not taking anything for granted.

“Having dropped two points away to Greece, we will be doing everything we can to win at home. However we know how difficult it will be and how Greece are very capable of making it difficult for us,” said Barrett.

“The next two games are going to be extremely important for our qualification aspirations. We’ll be hoping to take six points from the two games but one game at a time.”

Milford native Barrett reckons that a key part to the team’s arsenal tonight could be the support of the home crowd. The bumper attendances for the wins over Montenegro and Ukraine last year created a vibrant atmosphere that pushed the players on.

Now that they are returning to Tallaght Stadium tonight, Barrett hopes for more of the same with a large crowd again expected to support the Girls in Green.

“The crowd that attended the Ukraine game were nothing short of fantastic, they were loud and didn’t stop singing and shouting for 90-plus minutes,” recalled Barrett.

“Every game we play at home is an advantage, especially if we’re able to get a big crowd into the game. The bar has been set high so we expect good crowds for our games and we want the crowds to keep growing. A packed Tallaght gives us a huge lift.”

The importance of this game for Ireland should not be underestimated as a place at next year’s UEFA European Championships in England is at stake and three points are required to boost qualification hopes.

Ireland have yet to qualify for a major tournament at senior level, but does FC Koln striker Barrett feel that can change with this current group of players?

“Of course we believe it’s achievable, everyone has put in so much hard work, time and effort over the years to make qualification for a major tournament possible,” stated Barrett.

“We know we have a long way to go in the group and we are certainly not getting ahead of ourselves. But two positive results over the next two games could really push us even closer.”

Emergency services are at the scene of a two-car collision between Raphoe and Convoy.

Diversions are in place.

It is not known at this stage if anyone was hurt in the crash.

Donegal, are you ready to put your baking skills to the test? On April 3rd, the Great Irish Bake for Temple Street will return once again to raise funds for little patients!

Each year the Temple Street Foundation holds the much-loved Great Irish Bake campaign, encouraging people in Co. Donegal and all around the country to host their own bake sale to raise some much needed dough for Temple Street.

These funds will help provide essential equipment that will have a real impact for the little heroes at Temple Street.

It’s a piece of cake to register for the Great Irish Bake.

It’s the perfect opportunity to get together at home, work, school or within your community to be part of one of the biggest baking events of the year and all for a good cause!

You can join others all over Ireland taking part in the Great Irish Bake, raising vital and life-saving funds for sick children in Temple Street.

By joining the Great Irish Bake, you will receive a free party pack to kit out your bake sale in style!

As well as an exclusive Great Irish Bake Recipe book with scrumptious recipes to choose from.

Rosie Connolly was joined by some of our very own star baker Brook Moran (4) to launch the Great Irish Bake for Temple Street on April 3rd. Register for the Great Irish Bake for Temple Street, proudly supported by Gem, and receive your free party pack by visiting www.templestreet.ie/greatirishbake”. Picture Andres Poveda

Great Irish Bake Ambassador, Rosie Connolly, says she was thrilled to be chosen as the Ambassador for this year’s Great Irish Bake.

“I had my own experience with Temple Street when my son broke his leg and I have seen first hand how incredible the staff are.

“Hosting your own Great Irish Bake is a great opportunity to have some fun with friends, family and colleagues whilst also doing something special for sick children in Temple Street,” she said.

If you register by March 13, you’ll be in with a chance to win an exclusive hamper containing all your baking essentials, kindly sponsored by Gem.

Denise Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of Temple Street Foundation, says she is delighted to welcome Rosie as the Great Irish Bake Ambassador this year.

“Rosie has been a great friend to sick children in CHI at Temple Street, and we are looking forward to working with her on this exciting campaign.

“Each year Temple Street cares for over 147,000 sick children in the hospital.

“Every donation we receive, no matter how big or small, goes towards providing essential equipment and supports for our little heroes and their families at Temple Street.

“Gem has been a kind supporter of the Great Irish Bake throughout 2019, and we are pleased to have them on board once again this year!” she said.

Register now online at www.templestreet.ie/greatirishbake

What are you waiting for? Ready, steady, bake! 

A great-grandfather from Donegal has had a longer than normal wait to celebrate his 18th birthday.

Philip Timoney from Ballintra was born on 29th February 1948. Although he is 72 years old, this is only his 18th birthday.

Philip is one of a special group of leap year babies whose birthday only comes around every four years.

And he’s making sure that the milestone 18th birthday is a big one!

Philip Timoney from Ballintra

The Drumhome farmer and retired auctioneer is throwing a big birthday party at home to blow out his 18 candles. 

Philip will be joined by his wife Margaret, four children, seven grandchildren and his one-year-old great-grandaughter Kayla for the big occasion.

And the Timoneys will have another big event to celebrate when Philip and Margaret mark their 50th wedding anniversary in September.

A past Chairman of the Irish Tug of War Association, Philip keeps himself busy on his farm. He made the headlines two years ago when his donkey gave birth to twins – a rare occurrence. He attends the Ballinasloe Horse Fair every year without fail.

Philip Timoney’s famous twin donkeys

Philip is looking forward to his 18th party tonight, but he says this is only a warm-up for his 21st!

Happy Birthday Philip.

Donegal County Council will be dispatching gritters to a number of main roads in Donegal tonight as Storm Jorge continues and temperatures drop.

Met Eireann is forecasting a stormy and wintry night in the north west, while two weather warnings are in place in Donegal.

As strong winds, heavy rain and snow showers continue tonight, temperatures will dip to lows of 1C to 3C. Forecasters have said it will be coldest inland, where some frost and icy patches may develop in well sheltered places. Snowfall is expected over higher ground.

Gritters will be out on the following routes from 9pm:

• 02: National Primary Central
• 05: Inishowen East
• 06: Inishowen West
• 09: Cill Ulta East
• 12: Binswilly
• 15: Stranorlar West
• 16: Donegal West
• 17: Donegal North
• 18: Donegal South

Meanwhile, a Status Orange wind warning and a Status Yellow rain warning is in place until midnight Saturday, as Storm Jorge brings gusts of 110km/h to 130km/h and flooding risks.

Motorists are being reminded to take extra care while driving and to keep an eye out for fallen trees and power lines and to be aware that there is a high possibility of encountering flooded roads as well over the weekend.

The Irish Coast Guard is also advising the public along coastal areas to ‘Stay back, stay high and stay dry’.

Donegal County Council can be contacted during normal business hours on 074 91 53900 and in the event of an out of hours emergency the Council can be contacted on 074 91 72288.  For emergencies requiring the assistance of the Fire Service call 999 or 112.