The public is being advised to take extra care today due to unseasonably strong stormy winds.

The worst of the gusts will impact coastal and hilly areas, while people are being warned to take caution if making any journeys.

With a Status Yellow wind warning in place for Donegal and Sligo until 9pm tonight, there is a risk of wind-blown debris on the roads and a risk that unsecured outdoor items may lift.

Met Eireann is forecasting that winds will reach mean speeds of 50 to 65 km/h with gusts of 90 to 110 km/h.

There is also a Status Orange marine warning in place for South to southwest gales or strong gales today on all Irish coastal waters. Gales will occasionally touching storm force 10 locally between Slyne Head and Bloody Foreland.

Twelve patients with Covid-19 are being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital, according to the latest HSE report.

There are a further 18 people with suspected cases of Covid-19 awaiting test results at the hospital.

There are no patients being treated for Covid-19 illness in Critical Care at LUH.

The records are valid up to 8pm last night (Thursday 21st May).

HSE Report: 2000hrs, 21st May 2020

HSE Report: 2000hrs, 21st May 2020

The HSE also reports that there were 12 vacant general care beds and six critical care beds available in Letterkenny last night.

Letterkenny University Hospital now has the third highest number of suspected cases onsite, with 52 patients awaiting results in Limerick Unversity Hospital and 25 suspected cases in St. James’s Hospital Dublin.

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Donegal increased by two in the latest HSE update up to 19th May. There have now been 479 cases of the virus confirmed in the county since the outbreak began.

Údarás na Gaeltachta has launched a plan for tourism businesses to target the domestic staycation market in summer 2020.

Tourism trends are changing due to social distancing, and visitor experience in the near future may be more based on activities such as guided walks or cycles; visiting local historical sites, learning something new such as baking seaweed infused brown bread, playing the bodhrán or improving your Gaeilge.

In response, the Gaeltacht authority is running a series of online workshops across to assist the tourism sector to prepare for providing visitor experiences by Phase 4 of the reopening Ireland roadmap.

Online workshops for the Donegal region will take place from 10am – 12pm, Tuesday June 10th.

The tourism industry in the Gaeltacht has suffered significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the sector could be impacted well into 2021 and beyond until international visitor confidence in foreign travel has returned.

But the new approach from Údarás na Gaeltachta aims to take full advantage of the short window of opportunity that may arise this summer to attract domestic visitors to the Gaeltacht and to prepare for ‘the new tourism norm’ in 2021.

The series of online workshops being arranged will support Gaeltacht tourism providers in developing compelling visitor experiences for the domestic tourism market in 2020 with the aim of having these experiences available in the next 6 weeks in order to facilitate people when and if travel restrictions are lifted in Phase 4 of the reopening Ireland roadmap. These focussed learning sessions will also include follow on one-to-one mentoring from tourism experts and are aimed at hosts who have something interesting to share and who enjoy being with people and who will be able to adhere to the public health guidelines.

The online workshops will entail three 2-hour sessions, with workshops dedicated to particular Gaeltacht region.

After the session participants will have to complete an assignment fleshing out the details of their proposed project which will be followed up with a one-to-one online mentoring session to put the finishing touches to the experience and to upload it online.

The sessions will be bilingual and places are limited to 15 people per session with priority given to projects located in the Gaeltacht that can come onstream this season. To participate in the online sessions email saoire@udaras.ie for more details and to receive the appropriate application form. Applications must be submitted by Friday May 29th 2020.

Featured Photo: Paul Lindsay, Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland

A Donegal motorist was among the first speeding detections noted by Gardaí this morning on National Slow Down Day.

National Slow Down Day takes place today from 7am and will continue until 7am on Saturday.

The national speed enforcement operation will see gardaí conducting high visibility speed enforcement in 1322 speed enforcement zones nationwide.

One speed check in Porthall Lifford detected a car travelling 85km/h in a 50km/h Zone this morning.

Gardaí will be issuing regular data from speed checks throughout the day.

The aim of “Slow Down day” is to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding, to increase compliance with speed limits and act as a deterrent to driving at excessive or inappropriate speed. The overall objective is to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.

2019 saw 141 deaths recorded on our roads – eight of those were in Donegal.

Donegal Sinn Féin TD, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has again called on the Minister for the Marine, Michael Creed to work with his government colleagues to deliver the financial supports needed to bail out coastal fishing communities in this unprecedented crisis.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn was speaking following the issuing of press releases by all of the fish producer organisations, appealing to the Minister to “meet them half way” and deliver the financial supports needed.

Mac Lochlainn said: “These press releases are a damning indictment of the total inaction of the Minister and this government. As they state, not one additional cent has been provided to the fishing community in this unprecedented crisis with markets collapsing and indeed, the Minister has effectively turned his back on the entire fishing sector.

“The Minister knows very well that the temporary tie up scheme that he has announced will fail as it is too little, too late. The fishing representative organisations had called for a tie up scheme to be operational for the two months of April and May as well as a further period of support in June.

“Instead the Minister has announced a scheme that has been labelled “useless” and “not fit for purpose” by the fishing industry. This very limited scheme will be operational from June 1st and that will not incentivise a tie up of fishing vessels.”

Mac Lochlainn added that the stakes are now higher than ever for the struggling sector.

He said: “The Minister must change course and finally do what is right by this vital sector that is worth over 1.2 billion euro to the Irish economy and that employs over 16,000 people.

“I again appeal to Minister Creed and the government to step up and meet the fishing industry “half way” as they have today appealed for and to bail out our coastal fishing communities in this unprecedented crisis.”

GARDAÍ in Letterkenny seized a car that had just been sold.

The owner of the car had traveled over 25km to collect the car and was on the return journey when stopped by Gardaí.

The driver of the vehicle was suspected of having no driving licence, no insurance, no valid NCT and no tax.

Gardaí say that court proceedings will follow.

A spokesperson said: “Our patrols and checkpoints are ongoing. Never ever take unnecessary risks on the roads.”

THE Association for Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) says that issues regarding indemnity for the Leaving Certificate grading process ‘can and must be resolved’.

The ASTI has advised its members not to engage with the new grading system until a suitable indemnity is introduced.

The ASTI’s General Secretary, Kieran Christie, told RTÉ that the organisation currently had no confidence in the indemnity put before them.

“Up until this morning, teachers have been working on it where there is a doubt about the legal indemnity available,” Mr Christie said.

“I can tell you we will move might and mane to break this impasse and remove the barriers so teachers can get on with this work.”

The ASTI will meet again with officials from the Department of Education today as they seek a resolution.

Mr Christie outlined the concerns: “The legal expenses that will have to be paid if a teacher finds themselves subject to civil proceedings.

“The indemnity appears to only cover solicitor costs, but as you know there are usually a host of other expenses that need to be dealt with such as expert witnesses, sonographers and so on and we can’t have teachers on the hook for those.

“The indemnity document we were presented with, lacks specificity on that. And our legal advisors inform us that teachers could be caught for up to one third of the costs of the case.”

The ASTI have their own legal team working on the matter and Mr Christie added: “We believe they can be resolved and must be resolved.”

A host of Ireland’s finest have joined the staff of Gairmscoil Chú Uladh to send a special video message to the class of 2020, as part of the school’s virtual graduation evening.

Watch the video on Facebook here: Gairmscoil Chú Uladh 

The theme of resilience and strength ran throughout the messages. Ireland and Celtic legend Packie Bonner led the tributes. Packie was joined by international recording stars Daniel O’Donnell and Imelda May.

Viewers of the virtual celebration were surprised to see a different side of Imelda’s artistic flair, as she wrote “Ádh Mór Oraibh” in stones in her garden.

The creative message continued with a video from award winning Irish fashion designer Jennifer Rothwell.

TG4 broadcasters Eimear Ní Chaonala and Caitlín Nic Aoidh sent messages of beir bua agus beannacht to the students sa chontae is áille ar an domhain.

Donegal GAA captain and three-time All Star Michael Murphy finished the messages, highlighting the important lessons in resilience that can be taken from this current time.

The virtual graduation concluded with a photo montage of key moments in the school life of the departing sixth year students. Watching the years they spent together in photos brought the ceremony to an emotional close.

Together while staying apart – ni neart go chur le cheile.

Watch the video on Facebook here: Gairmscoil Chú Uladh 

A RETURN to training with Everton this week reminded Seamus Coleman of his time in the League of Ireland.

Everton’s players trained in groups of four, as per the UK’s Covid-19 guidelines, from Wednesday.

Coleman trained alongside other defenders Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and Leighton Baines for their session at Finch Farm.

Players arrived in their kit and immediately returned home after training.

“I rang my mum on the way home from training and mentioned that – our own kit coming home with us,” Coleman said.

“It’s a long time since that’s been done. We used to do it at Sligo Rovers when I still lived with my mum and dad, they remember it well. We did it at Blackpool (where Coleman played on loan in the 2009/10 season) as well.”

Premier League chiefs are hopeful of a return to action on June 12 with work progressing be2hind the scenes.

Coleman said: “The ideal scenario is we get back playing Premier League football and to do that, as players, we need to make sure we are doing everything right.

“The club made sure of that by telling us the rules and regulations. There are measurements to tell us how far to stay apart and a one-way system around the building, so you are not crossing paths with people.

“It feels as safe as it possibly can and, hopefully, we can move to phase two as quickly and safely as possible.”

The Republic of Ireland captain added: “Getting back, you feel there is some normality coming back to the world . . . that things are progressing.

“You are excited to get back to work. It’s probably the longest I’ve been away from Finch Farm. Driving through [the gates] was a great feeling but it’s definitely a little bit different.

“When you got there, you could see the work that has been put in to make it as safe as possible. We are in small groups and it is serious, we have to do things properly.”

AMBER Barrett is gearing up for a resumption of games in the Women’s Bundesliga next weekend.

The German FA has confirmed that games will be played from May 29 after a two-month shutdown due to Covid-19.

Milford woman Barrett is in her first season with FC Köln and was back in collective training this week.

“It’s  been absolutely fantastic to be back,” Barrett told RTÉ’s Game On programme last night.

“We started full team training yesterday, having been in groups for the last two weeks and I think even going from two groups training, no contact, keeping social distancing…going into full contact yesterday was just a dream come true and it was just long awaited.”

Barrett’s Republic of Ireland team-mates Claire O’Riordan and Diane Caldwell are also playing in the Bundesliga with MSV Duisburg and SC Sand respectively.

Players and staff have been tested regularly as they ready themselves for the big kick-off.

Barrett said; “Every team has been in the same boat in terms of how much exposure to training they’ve got so we’ll do thing as best we can.

“We’ll prepare as best we can and we’ve eight games in less than five weeks so, of course, it will take its toll on the body but we’ll have to manage that as best we can.”

An archaeological dig has begun in the Spanish city of Valladolid to find the remains of Irish Chieftain Red Hugh O’ Donnell, who ruled over Tyrconnell in the 17th Century.

The Donegal-born Lord who led a nine-year rebellion against the English was one of the outstanding and best loved figures in Irish history. His 400-year-old remains are believed to lie beneath the streets of the northwest city of Valladolid.

The skeleton of O’Donnell, if found, may be easily identified as he had no big toes. Historians say he lost his toes through frostbite suffered in the Wicklow mountains after escaping imprisonment in Dublin Castle in December 1591.

Following the defeat of the Irish and Spanish forces by Lord Mountjoy at the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, Red Hugh sailed to Spain to plead with King Philip III for further assistance.

While waiting for an audience with the King in Simancas near Valladolid, he fell ill and died in September 1602 at the age of 29. Other legends say he was poisoned by an Irish traitor.

O’Donnell was succeeded by his brother Rory O’Donnell who was the 1st Earl of Tyrconnell.

Excavation in Valladolid. Photos: Cultura Turismo VLL/Twitter

Red Hugh is believed to have had an honourable burial in the chapter the monastery of St. Francis in Valladolid. However this convent was demolished in the nineteenth century and the exact location of the tomb is unknown.

This week, diggers have launched a search for the remains of Red Hugh and of Cristopher Columbus at the ‘Chapel of Wonders’ where both are thought to be buried.

ANOTHER three people in Northern Ireland have died from Covid-19.

The Department of Health’s latest figures show that one person died from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours with a further two previously unreported cases now included.

The death toll in Northern Ireland is now 504.

There have been a further 23 positive tests returned.

In the last 24 hours in the region, 1,405 tests were carried out.

Earlier today,  the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency published its weekly figures showing 664 people where Covid-19 was mentioned on their death certificate up to May 20. They may not all have been tested for the virus.

SHAY Given believes Derby County can work their way into the promotion positions and expects games to resume in the Sky Bet Championship.

Given is the goalkeeping coach at Derby, who are five points off the play-off spots and nine away from an automatic promotion place.

“We still don’t have an actual date when the season is going to start,” Given said in an interview with Off The Ball.

“We’ll have to go through a pre-season again. We don’t have a date to work towards for the players or for the team.

“Safety has to be taken into consideration. Every football fan wants the season to finish.”

Derby have recovered following a slow start to the season, but Given pointed to the losses of Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori last summer. Mount and Wilson had netted 29 goals between them in the 2018/19 season.

Given said: “Take those three out of the team and any team will struggle in the Championship.

“We didn’t start so well. We had a slow start. Wayne Rooney made a big difference with his experience and his quality. We were on a good run and in good form. If you can do that leading into the play-offs, anything is possible. We’ve still got aspirations to be there or thereabouts come the end of the season.”

The addition of former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney to the ranks has given the Rams a real lift.

“f you see him train now, he’s probably the first out there and the last in as well,” Given said of Rooney.

“I know people say that about a lot of players but genuinely he just wants to keep improving and become better.

“What that does is it filters down through the team and the squad. The young players are thinking ‘if Wayne Rooney is out there practicing his finishing or practicing free kicks or practicing his delivery on set-pieces, then I’m not going in early. I’m going to go out after him.’

“He’s had an amazing career and that’s why, it’s not by luck. You need the talent, of course you do, but it’s not by being last out onto the pitch and first to leave, you have to work hard at it.

“He’s done that throughout his career and for me as a coach now it’s quite refreshing to see him out there wanting to borrow a keeper to do some extra finishing or do some set plays or get a keeper for free-kicks over the wall.”

Donegal ETB’s Peace IV funded Restorative Practices (RP) project has recently concluded after involving over 1,600 young people and adults across the county in developing skills to support them in resolving conflict in their lives.   

In 2018 Donegal ETB successfully secured €500,000 of EU PEACE IV funding for three projects that began in December 2018, supported by the European Union’s Peace IV Programme and managed for the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) by Donegal County Council.

One of these projects focused on the development of Restorative Practices in post-primary schools, Youthreach centres and youth work organisations. The project was due to run until May this year but the COVID-19 containment measures meant the project finished earlier at the beginning of March.

Teaching staff from across Co Donegal who completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Restorative Practices with Ulster University through Donegal ETB’s Peace IV funded Restorative Practices project.

Restorative practices involves viewing wrongdoing through a ‘relational’ lens – understanding that harm has been done to people and relationships and further understanding that when such harm is done, it creates obligations and liabilities. A restorative practices approach focuses on repairing the harm and making things right.

The ETB’s Peace IV funded restorative practices project sought to improve positive relationships between and for young people, staff and volunteers, train participants in accredited and non-accredited approaches in using restorative practices and to develop an understanding of alternative ways of dealing with conflict.

There is a progressive history of promoting restorative practices in schools in Co Donegal for some years, going back to a 2004 initiative. From 2011-2014, the ETB involved 3,250 young people and adults in a Peace III funded restorative practices project which developed their skills set in this area.

This Peace IV funded project was a further development of that work across the county. Nineteen ETB and non-ETB post-primary schools, Youthreach (early school leaver) centres and youth work organisations from across the county got involved in the project including the Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town; Crana College, Buncrana; Deele College, Raphoe; Errigal College, Letterkenny; Finn Valley College, Stranorlar; Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Béal an Átha Móir; Loreto Community School, Milford; Moville Community College; Mulroy College, Milford; Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe; Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana; St Catherine’s Vocational School, Killybegs; St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny; Ballyshannon Buncrana/Glengad, Gortahork, Letterkenny and Lifford Youthreach centres and Foróige.

Specialised trainers provided training to students, staff and volunteers of the schools, Youthreach centres and Foróige, with additional training carried out by staff with their students and young people. For example, the students attending the Buncrana and Glengad Youthreach centres developed artwork that they incorporated into pop-up banners to display in their centres.

The young people from Foróige who participated in the project used the new skills they had learned to produce a short animated video to explain restorative practices to other young people:

Students at Deele College developed posters and pop-up banners to display around their school long after the project has been completed.

Deputy Principal Danny McFadden explained, “Over the past eighteen months, Deele College has participated in the ETB’s Peace IV Restorative Practices Project, where the staff of the school has trained in the concept of restorative practice as a means of dealing with conflict within the school.

“Restorative Practice is now the cornerstone of classroom management for all teachers in the school and when dealing with conflict, teachers are trained to look for underlying issues that may be the cause of poor behaviour. By addressing the causes of the behaviour instead of simply punishing a student, it has created a culture of transparency and fairness with regards to the school code of behaviour.”

He went onto explain that students who are members of the Student Council and the School Leadership Team were also trained in this practice, while most of our students participated in different initiatives created by the project; “The school has embraced this project and the concepts of restorative practice, which has led to positive relationships between staff and students, resulting in a more harmonious school environment.”

In addition, twenty-eight staff from nine of the participating post-primary schools and two of the Youthreach centres also undertook and completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Restorative Practices with Ulster University. The staff were from Crana College, Buncrana (4); Deele College, Raphoe (3); Errigal College, Letterkenny (3); Finn Valley College, Stranorlar (1); Gairmscoil Chú Uladh, Béal an Átha Móir (1); Loreto Community School, Milford (1); Moville Community College (3); Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, Raphoe (4); Scoil Mhuire Secondary School, Buncrana (5); Ballyshannon (2) and Gortahork (1) Youthreach centres.

Speaking about their involvement in the project, Deputy Principal of the Royal and Prior Comprehensive School, Tara Cowan, thanked Donegal ETB for their encouragement and support during the project, saying, “We were delighted to get involved in this project. While we are familiar with and practice RP in the school, it was great to bring specialised trainers into the school to support our skills development in this area.”

She highlighted, “I was particularly pleased that four of our staff, including myself, got the chance to complete the Postgraduate Certificate with Ulster University. This means now that at whatever point we get back into our school, we have a core team of highly trained staff to support a restorative practices approach to our work with our students.”

One of the teachers who undertook the Postgraduate Certificate remarked that, “I thought this course might be a struggle as it was timetabled for every second Saturday but I could not have been more wrong. I looked forward to our sessions. The course was led by two outstanding lecturers who made us feel so welcome and valuable. Their instruction allowed us to develop and grow professionally. I met the most amazing people and feel that I have developed strong relationships and friendships. I’ve developed my confidence in dealing restoratively within my work practices and have learned more about myself but also my work colleagues who were also on this course.”

Donegal ETB’s Chief Executive Anne McHugh said, “We were delighted to have secured this funding from the Peace IV programme. As an ETB in a border county, it’s important that we play our part in supporting the conflict transformation process here in this region. We did this by enabling the people of Co Donegal to build positive relationships through this project. I was particularly delighted to see a number of non-ETB schools and Foróige get involved in the project. This enabled so many education partners to build more positive relationships which is only a good thing for the young people of this county.”

The project was funded under priority 1 of the Peace IV programme, promoting peace and reconciliation and under action 4.1 of the local authority peace plan which focused on the promotion of positive relations at a local and regional level, characterised by respect and where cultural diversity is celebrated and people can live, learn and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance.

Match-funding was provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Further updates on these projects can be found on Donegal ETB’s website (www.donegaletb.ie).

THERE are reports of fallen trees in some areas of Donegal as strong winds take hold.

A tree has fallen on the Greencaste Road outside Moville, near the Garda Station. The tree caused damage to a parked car on the opposite side of the road.

The road is closed and motorists are advised to travel via Upper Ballynally instead.

Donegal County Council are on site working to clear the tree.

There were earlier reports of a tree being down on the Glencolmcille-Ardara road.

Motorists are advised to drive with extra care and attention.

A status yellow wind warning is in effect until 9pm tonight.

Met Eireann say that ‘unreasonable’ 100km/h winds will lash the entire county over the next few hours.

THE National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has reported that another 11 patients have died from Covid-19.

Ireland’s death toll has risen to 1,592.

There have been an additional 115 new positive cases of the disease confirmed. There have now been 24,506 cases in Ireland.

Today’s 115 new cases is the first time in a week that the daily figure of new cases has reached three figures.

Health officials have confirmed that there have been two previously recorded deaths de-notified.

ALMOST 700 homes in Donegal are without electricity this evening.

ESB repair crews are working to fix the outages in the Letterkenny and Fanad areas.

There are 617 customers affected by a power outage in Fanad.

The ESB estimates that power will be restored to 190 of those homes by 8.30pm with an estimated repair time for the other 427 of midnight.

There are also 52 homes without power in the Ballyraine area of Letterkenny. The ESB estimate that power will be restored by midnight tonight.

A spokesperson said: “We apologise for the loss of supply. We are currently working to repair a fault and will restore power as quickly as possible.”

Strong winds are lashing the county at present and there have been reports across Donegal of fallen trees. Motorists are being advised to drive with extra care. 

GARDAÍ apprehended another drug-driver in Donegal yesterday.

Gardaí were alerted to a driver who was said to be driving dangerously.

The driver was stopped by Gardaí and tested positive for the presence of cannabis.

He was arrested and charged.

Gardaí in the county have repeatedly noted an alarming increase in drug-driving offences in recent weeks.

A spokesperson said “Do not take unnecessary risks on the roads. Do not risk your life and do not risk the lives of others.”

Pearse Doherty has warned that permanent loss of jobs could be in store if more direct financial support is not provided to small businesses.

Deputy Doherty today repeated his call for a more ambitious recovery package for SMEs during Covid-19; including direct grants, an extension of the commercial rates break and zero-interest loans.

The Sinn Fein TD criticised the Restart Grant which opened today as only businesses with rateable premises can apply. Grants will be worth between €2,000 and €10,000.

“For so many businesses, this falls far short of the support they need to survive this crisis and reopen,” Doherty TD said.

“I wrote to the Minister for Finance and Minister for Business Enterprise & Innovation on May 13th calling on further supports to be rolled out for small businesses through direct grants, an extension of the commercial rates break and zero interest loans.

“As ISME, IBEC and others have noted, this Government is lagging far behind other European countries in its financial support package for SMEs.

“Take up in its loan schemes has been extremely low while the grants provided in today’s Restart Fund are too small. The Government has been slow to act and done too little to support small businesses.

“The consequences of their inaction could be severe, with tens of thousands of jobs permanently lost.”

Doherty added: “Fine Gael has done little to support our SMEs in their 9 years in power. Their refusal to provide adequate financial supports to the SME sector now risks their very survival.”

THE total number of positive Covid-19 cases in Donegal since the outbreak has fallen by one.

Figures released by the the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that there have been 478 cases in Donegal.

Yesterday, the figure stood at 479.

The HPSC has advised that in the process of validating data and reviewing addresses, cases may be reassigned to another county.

These figures were measured at midnight on Wednesday.

According to the latest HSE report today, 12 patients with Covid-19 are currently being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital, while there are a further 18 people with suspected cases of Covid-19 awaiting test results at the hospital.

Ireland’s death toll rose to 1,592 today with a further 11 deaths while an additional new 115 positive cases were confirmed. 

There have now been 24,506 positive cases since the outbreak.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “Today NPHET recommended that the HSE build on the very significant work to date in expanding the testing capacity, to ensure that there is an integrated and coordinated clinical and public health-informed approach to the establishment and implementation of a national testing strategy.”