A Co Donegal man is lucky to be alive after he was attacked and thrown into a canal in Amsterdam.

Ronan Kennedy from Killybegs who is lucky to be alive.

Ronan Kennedy, from Killybegs, was visiting The Netherlands, when the terrifying experience happened last night.

Ronan, 27, was left for dead after being mugged and dumped in the freezing waters of the Dutch capital

The woodwork teacher, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia, was only saved when a passer-by dragged him out of the water and resuscitated him.

He was later cared for by the emergency services who arrived on the scene within minutes.

Ronan said himself that he is lucky to be alive.

“I couldn’t get out myself and it was so cold that I didn’t last long. To the Dutch person who dragged me out of the canal and resuscitated me, I owe you my life.”

He was treated overnight in hospital but has since been released without any serious injuries.

Ronan is leaving Amsterdam tomorrow and is expected to arrive back in Australia on Friday.

DONEGAL’S gaelic games teams have launched their new O’Neills jerseys.

Donegal Creameries continue as sponsors of the men’s teams – whilst the Clanree continue sponsorship of Ladies Football.

The new tops were launched at the Clanree Hotel.

They are available from the following official stockists:

Ø Heatons Letterkenny
Ø McCormick Sports Letterkenny
Ø McElhinney’s Ballybofey
Ø O’Neills Sports Ballyshannon
Ø Templecrone Co-op Dungloe
Ø Doherty’s Carndonagh
Ø All Sports Donegal Town

BREAKING NEWS: Gardai have seized a large quantity of cannabis plants and made four arrests as part of an ongoing investigation targeting cannabis cultivation in Co. Donegal.

Cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €360,000 (pending analysis) were discovered, along with other items made and adapted for the growth and cultivation of cannabis, during a search at a premises on Navenny St., Ballybofey, this evening.

“The search was conducted by members of the Letterkenny Drugs Unit,” said a Garda spokesman.

“A male, aged in his 30s, and three females (two in their 20s and one 60s) were arrested. They are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 at Letterkenny Garda Station.”

COMMUNITY ALERT: Thieves have been behind a spate of robberies in the Downings, Carrigart and Glen areas of County Donegal.

Residents affected by the thieves want to warn others that a gang is operating in the area.

“It’s too late for me, but perhaps it might prevent someone else being robbed,” said one resident.

Copper piping and cylinders as well as oil has been taken from a number of premises.

A 1978 Mark 2 Ford Escort was stolen from a shed in Carrigart.

It is an Australian import which was origanally white but painted a dull land rover green, has a petrol filler cap on the back panel (very distinctive)

A reward has been offered for any information leading to whereabouts of the car.

If you have seen the car please contact the owner on 0879137301

Hollywood stuntman and Christian minister John Alden is coming to Donegal.

Alden has worked on more than 150 feature films and television shows performing as a stuntman, stunt-actor or stunt coordinator.

For years he was the stunt double for Harrison Ford, working on films such as “Clear and Present Danger,” “Air Force One” and “Six Days Seven Nights.”

Alden is a guest of the LYIT Christian Union at An Dalann on the campus on Thursday at 7pm.

GARDAÍ are investigating a Chinese mafia link to a massive drugs bust in Ballybofey.

Officers seized an estimated €360,000 worth of cannabis during a raid in Navenny Street in the town on Tuesday evening.

All four people arrested at the scene are Chinese nationals; one a woman in her 60s, two women in their 20s and a man in his 30s.

The Letterkenny Drugs Squad was involved in the operation.

None of those arrested could speak English and interpreters had to be hired to process the prisoners at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Those arrested are the latest Chinese suspects to be detained by gardai in Donegal in recent months.

Officers believe Chinese mafia – or triad – gangs are behind a the increasing number of grow houses being found across the county.

Often those found tending the plants are themselves victims of human trafficking and slavery.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau has been informed of the latest arrests.

You can read how Donegal Daily broke the story of the arrests on Tuesday evening here:

http://www.donegaldaily.com/2014/01/21/breaking-news-3-women-held-as-donegal-gardai-in-massive-drugs-bust/

Scenery like this awaits you this Sunday

IT has to be amongst the most spectacular settings for a primary school in the whole country.

And this Sunday Glendowan National School is inviting you to take part in its annual 5k walk and run….around beautiful Gartan.

All funds raised will go directly to the school.

Children can take part for free; and it’s €8 for adults, with refreshments served afterwards.

Registration is in McClaffertys from 10am – and the walk/run kicks off at 11am.

FEARS are growing over another charity backlash – after the woman who runs the Rehab Radio Bingo and Lottery refused to say how much she’s earning.

Hundreds of people in Donegal play the bingo each week, with the money split between the radio stations and Rehab, a mainly commercial organisation.

But Justice Minister Alan Shatter expressed alarm at how much of the cash was going to Rehab’s work.

He told the Dail that Rehab Bingo sales of €3.19m during 2010 yielded profits of just €548,000.

Rehab lottery scratch card sales of almost €4m in 2010 yielded profits of only €9,452,

When the Minister said he met Rehab he noted the profits ratio “seemed disproportionate” and he expressed concern at the approach being taken to public fundraising.

The Minister was responding to Donegal TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn who is attempting to pass a private members bill into law which would finally regulate charities here.

“Since the foundation of the State, charities have been unregulated. The effect of this is that it is now doing untold damage both to the charities themselves but more importantly to the vulnerable people who depend on them,” said Deputy Mac Lochlainn.

Mr Shatter also said Rehab had initiated costly legal actions against the State over the running of the National Lottery.

This, he said. was likely “to exert a significant burden on either public resources or charity resources or both.”

Angela Kerins, the CEO of Rehab – which is a mainly commercial organisation which works for social inclusion – has refused to say how much she now earns.

Two years ago it was reported she earned €234,000 per year – with a further €23,000 from sitting on boards of state agencies.

Pressure is now growing on Rehab, and other charities, to state how they spent their money and how much their top bosses receive.

Rehab bosses may now be called in front of Dail committees to explain how the bingo and lottery money is split.

There are fears of new boycotts – similar to those which started in the wake of Central Remedial Clinic scandal.

Patients were once again forced away from Letterkenny General Hospital overnight.

Ambulances looking to be admitted to the hospital were diverted to Altnagelvin in Derry and Sligo.

A source said the hospital was extremely busy as was the A&E department.

A decision was then made to divert all incoming ambulance patients to the other two centres.

However, the situation was not as bad as last week when doctors were forced to treat patients on trolleys in corridors.

Mulroy College

“Excitement and delight”, were the words of Mulroy College Principal Fiona Temple when she reported that Mulroy College Senior girls are in their second All Ireland soccer final in three years.

The team was victorious against Ramsgrange Community School from Wexford in the All Ireland semi final in The AUL complex in Dublin yesterday.

The final score was 2 v 1. Ramsgrange scored in the first minute before Mulroy had even settled into the game. This enticed the Mulroy College girls to lift their heads and show off their skills.

The midfield was far the superior with captain Aoife Mc Devitt showing determination and leadership in the centre of mid field supported by Mariosa Friel, Michelle Doherty and Lucy Marie O Flynn. Lucy Marie came close to scoring after 35 mins but unfortunately the ball fell to her wrong foot.

It was evident that Mulroy were destined to score with near misses from Michelle Doherty and Caoimhe Walsh. The strength of the defence with Orla Mc Gonigle , Rosheen Mc Ginley, Lianne Boyce and Zoe Greene ensured that Karla Mc Bride had a quite time in nets.

A great corner taken by Amanda Callaghan landed to the feet of Michelle Doherty, her long range attempt on goal just before half time went wide but left Mulroy closing the first half with positivity.

As Ramsgrange started to show tiredness in the second half, Mulroy substitutions were introduced that showed further determination. Roisin Mc Elwaine replaced Amanda Callaghan and Eimear Gibbons replaced Rosheen Mc Ginley in defence.

On the 55th min Lianne Boyce, from the 30 yard line struck a long range power shot that rattled the net and nearly went through it. This lifted the spirits and the excellent passes continued down the wing between Mariosa Friel, Aoife Mc Devitt and Zoe Greene. Greene was moved up front and was superb partnered with Caoimhe Walsh. Both girls winded their way through the Ramsgrange defence.

It was looking like extra time when Eimear Gibbons’ height made the difference to put Mulroy ahead with 2 mins remaining.

The Mulroy College team held out for a well deserved win and entry into the All Ireland final on the 5th Feb.

After the game team manager Pauline Ann Gavigan commented, ” I am delighted for them, the girls work so hard at training and this is reflected in the result today. They never stopped even when we went one down in the first minute. I’ll be hoping for a repeat of this in the final – no pressure girls’.”

Pauline Ann also thanked her coaching staff – Aisling Mc Ateer, Maria Ryan and Paul Mc Govern as well as the kit boys Dermot Friel and Owen Deeley.

Fiona Temple concluded by congratulating the team and management and commented that” the school has been very successful in soccer, gaelic, rugby and athletics this year so far, and I encourage all young people to get involved.”

Team: Carla Mc Bride, Orla Mc Gonigle, Rosheen Mc Ginley, Lianne Boyce, Zoe Green, Mariosa Friel, Lucy Marie O Flynn, Michelle Doherty, Aoife Mc Devitt, Amanda Callaghan, Caoimhe Walsh, subs – Roisin Mc Elwaine ( for Callaghan), Eimear Gibbons (for Mc Ginely), Grainne Friel, Louise Lynch, Orla Sweeney, Claragh Giles, Cora Mc Closkey, Aoife Sweeney

Harvey’s Point has hit the ratings jackpot for the second year in a row.

The stunning Harvey’s Point Hotel.

The Donegal Town hotel has been ranked Best Hotel in Ireland by the hotel rating website TripAdvisor.

The hotel on the shores of Lough Eske has also been ranked 6th in Europe and 22nd in the entire world.

The four star hotel is the only Irish hotel in the Traveller’s Choice World Top 25 Hotels and it is also the only Irish hotel in the ‘European Top 25’ covering all categories, in which it is rated 6th.- five places higher than in 2013.

Reacting to the news, hotelier Deirdre McGlone said: ‘This award from from our guests who have reviewed the hotel on Trip Advisor is a great honour. We are thrilled to be rated as the Number One Hotel in Ireland and we are very grateful to our guests who posted reviews on TripAdvisor.

“We are also delighted to be rated No 6 Hotel in all of Europe, which means that we were chosen from among the very best hotels across more than 25 countries. Our success in this and other awards, is a credit to the professionalism, friendliness and dedication of our team at Harvey’s Point Hotel, each of whom plays a vital role in delivering a superb service to our guests’

The TripAdvisor ‘Traveller’s Choice’award is the latest accolade to be won by Harvey’s Point Hotel. Over the past year the hotel won the ‘Great Irish Carvery’ competition and ‘Best Overall Wedding Venue’.

‘Winning the Traveller’s Choice award is very special, because it is the result of our guests voluntarily posting reviews on TripAdvisor and giving their honest opinion of the Harvey’s Point experience’, Deirdre said.

Owned by the Gysling family, Harvey’s Point Hotel offers exceptional standards of accommodation, food and service. The guestrooms are among the most spacious in any Irish hotel and now include eight luxury Lakeshore Suites overlooking Lough Eske and the Bluestack Mountains.

The eco-friendly hotel has created a ‘Green Guide to Donegal’ in booklet and app. formats and provides a charging station for electric cars.

Plans for 2014 include the annual Burns Night Supper in January, a Painting Retreat in April and the famous Harvey’s Point Summer Cabaret which opens in June.

City Of Derry Airport have welcomed reports that encourages passengers to pre-book parking in advance.

Following the release of a comprehensive report into airport parking by the Consumer Council, City of Derry Airport (CoDA) strongly welcomes the recommendations of the report that encourages passengers travelling from Northern Ireland to pre-book parking in advance. 

The Report, ‘It pays to pre-book for airport car parking’, produced by the independent Consumer Council reinforces CoDA’s message to customers to pre-book online in advance of travel to obtain the most competitive rate.

Parking at CoDA can be pre-booked online at booking.cityofderryairport.com or by telephone (02871 810 784 ext 201).

Speaking about the findings of the report, Consumer Council Head of Policy (Transport) Scott Kennerley said; “The cost of airport car parking is rarely the first thing people think about when booking flights.

“The Consumer Council’s advice to passengers is to consider the total cost of their journey as pre-booking car parking a week in advance can help save money.

Findings of the survey outlined below, highlight CoDA has the most competitively priced parking amongst Irelands Airports.

CoDA pre-book rates start at £2.00 per day, after the first day with a total saving of £36 when pre-booking a 7 days stay in CoDA’s main car park, conveniently located in front of the terminal building.

booking a 14 day stay in the main car park at CoDA.

Airport

Gate price seven days – long stay car park

Pre-book price seven days – long stay car park

Belfast International Airport

£56

£25.99

George Best Belfast City Airport

£60

£45

City of Derry Airport

£54

£18

Dublin Airport

£43.53

£24.05

Ref : Consumer Council Press release of 14 January 2014

Airport 

Gate price 14 days – long stay car park

Pre book price 14 days – long stay car park

Belfast International Airport

£105.50

£51.99

George Best Belfast City Airport

£95

£52

City of Derry Airport

£100

£32

Dublin Airport

£87.07

£41.38

Ref : Consumer Council Press release of 14 January 2014

Airport Director, Damien Tierney commented: “City of Derry Airport welcomes this piece of work by the Consumer Council.

“The Airport works continuously to ensure we offer competitive products to meet our customer needs.

“Our pre-booked parking products are the best option for most travellers and since many people now use the internet to book flights and holidays we have made it very simple to book our parking on-line.

“Of course we know that some people are still not comfortable using the internet so we have retained a telephone option for pre-booking as well.

“We are delighted that this report confirms that City of Derry Airport continues to offer the best value for money on-site airport parking in the country.

Allianz Indoor Hurling/Camogie

Qualifiers to be played week commencing 3rd February Co finals are provisionally fixed for Wed. 12th February @ ‘Game On’, Letterkenny.

Allianz Indoor Football

Qualfiers to be played week commencing 24th February Co Finals are provisionally fixed for Wed. 10th March @ ‘Game On’, Letterkenny

NB-The indoor competitons are for pupils who are U12 on 1st July 2014 ie if they are 12 years of age before the 1st July they cannot play.

Team sheets with names, dates of birth of pupils and principal’s signature must be handed in on the day of competitions.

Alianz Quiz

The quiz has provisionally fixed for Thurs. 6th March in the Mt. Errigal Hotel @ 7pm.

Committee Meeting

The next meeting will take place in Heaney’s, Ballybofey on Mon. 3rd February @ 5pm.

Calendar of Events:

Oct.- March: Allianz Football qualifiers

January: Allianz Indoor Hurling & Camogie competitons

February: Allianz Indoor Football competitions

March: Ulster Allianz Indoor finals & Quiz

April: Allianz Rounders; hurling & camogie competitions

May: County finals in Allianz football & hurling & camogie & rounders

June: Athletics

Allianz Football Fixtures 2013/14:

The fixtures for the new school year have been drafted and can be viewd on the cumanndonegal.com website under the dropdown menu for ‘fixtures’.

Teachers please note that the committee are trying to maximise as much playing time as possible for the pupils so they should ensure that the correct number of blitzes are played in their section.

Please note that some rules may differ in each division so teachers should pay particular attention to this.

Schools should try and organise a blitz for every term so the children are playing throughout the school year.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The board would like to clarify to all clubs, schools and parents that competitions are being run at Allianz Cumann na mBunscol level thoughout the whole school year.

Therefore, the responsibility lies with schools to determine how much playing time their schoolchildren get throughout the school year!

Concern has been expressed after a catheter bag was found full of urine in the centre of Buncrana.

The catheter bag found on the street in Buncrana this morning.

It has not yet been established how the medical device ended up being dumped in St Mary’s carpark.

Cllr Ciaran McLaughlin has contacted the local town council who are in the process of having the device removed.

“I hope that whoever had the catheter bag is not in distress.

“The reason I contacted the council was to have it removed was in case any children came across it,” he said.

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education Charlie McConalogue has slammed the Government for refusing to open up the school book rental initiative to all schools in Co Donegal.

Charlie McConalogue TD

The Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn confirmed to Deputy McConalogue in the Dáil that he will continue to exclude 76% of schools from the new school book rental initiative.

It means the none of the new funding whatsoever will be available to schools in Co Donegal that have any type of book rental scheme, regardless of how under resourced it is.

“The Minister is punishing the Donegal schools that took the initiative to establish a book rental scheme at great expense to parents, teachers and school management,” said Deputy McConalogue.

“I know many local schools that technically have a book rental scheme, but it is only in its infant stages, is significantly under resourced and is not available to all students in all subjects. Many schemes were established on the basis of fundraising, parent contributions and the generous donation of used books. But they still need much more investment.”

He added the Minister has made no attempt to assess the need of individual schools.

“He does not seem to care whether the existing schemes are in any way adequate. How is it fair that some schools will get tens of thousands of euro to establish a book rental scheme while others won’t see a cent, even if their existing scheme is under-resourced?

“When this initiative was announced, Minister Quinn gave the impression that all schools in Donegal and across the country would be eligible for funding to ensure they have an adequate and functional book rental scheme. It’s now become clear that 76% of schools won’t get any funding whatsoever. The Minister is leaving these schools – and their pupils – out to dry.

“What kind of message does it send out to schools and parents who take the initiative to improve the facilities for students off their own bat? Minister Quinn’s actions will discourage such initiative by our schools in the future.”

Voodoo Letterkenny is renowned for being one of the best clubbing spots in Donegal and it’s just about to get even better.

The success they’ve achieved doesn’t stop the innovative management team to strive to improve their business model and that’s why their launching a fantastic new venue for Donegal clubbers.

Voodoo Venue famous for leading the way are launching their new look clubbing venue on February 15th “Valentines weekend”.

Voodoo Venue’s new design will set a whole new trend in clubbing, bringing pride back to Donegal’s late night community.

There will be three completely new rooms, Voodoo Club, Voodoo Garden and the unmissable new room Vintage.

Voodoo Club has installed the world’s leading lighting and boasts Ireland’s best sound system along with a trending brand new look.

Kevin mc Carthy (Audio Visual Lighting Limited) said “Voodoo have really pulled out the stops in this new installation with their sound & lighting now leading the way in Irish clubbing.

“It’s totally unrecognisable with lots of soft furnishings and new decor setting a brand new trend in Ireland.

“Offering a complete new customer experience, lots of fresh new acts coming with two great resident DJ’s ; Kathryn Wilson from Cool FM in Belfast and Voodoo’s legend Ronan Lennon.

The new Voodoo Garden, Donegal’s first outdoor clubbing experience has proven a huge success on Thursday nights for the unique outdoor music and social community, with a variety of specialist drinks and late night fun, all within a shaded sanctuary.

Voodoo Garden now opens all weekend long.

“Vintage”, now Vintage will blow your minds as an extension to the famous Voodoo lounge where you can continue your late night experience in this very unique new room which will be strictly over 21’s.

The Vintage room is like nothing ever seen before in Donegal, with table service, booked themed booths where people can sit and socialise in style, maître d’s, great DJ’s, live music and much more!

Vintage has the advantage of access from the Voodoo Lounge so no need to queue outside.

What’s made Voodoo great down through the years and continuing to lead the way has been the vision to set new trends & leading new ideas, which is so obvious in the development into this new Voodoo Venue along with lots of new fun features.

The aim is to be make everyone feel like a VIP without the price tag.

Extensive work has been going on for the past four months in the brand new Voodoo Venue and it is now four weeks away from completion.

Voodoo Venue has undergone a complete transformation.

Like Voodoo on Facebook for more updates.

https://www.facebook.com/clubinkletterkenny

https://www.facebook.com/Voodooletterkenny

If you love RTE’s ‘Reeling In The Years’, then it’s coming to Donegal – Letterkenny style.

A meeting of people interested in swapping stories and photos from the past is to take place in the Station House Hotel in Letterkenny tonight at 8pm.

Tonight is just an introductory meeting to see if many people from the town and surrounding areas are interested in forming a community group.

And according to organisers you don’t even to be a ‘townie’ to come along!

An Post have today confirmed fears among locals in Gweedore that the potential threat of closure of the post office in Bunbeg now looks imminent.

Gweedore, community activist and Sinn Féin local election candidate, John Sheamais O’Fearraigh said the threatened closure was another in a plethora of cuts in critical services faced by the rural parish over the past number of years.

Mr O Fearraigh said, “An Post is considering the future service provision needs at Bunbeg.

This could include the closure of the office” following the retirement of the local postmistress who has served the community very well in her position for over thirty years.

“An Post confirmed that a notice to the effect will be posted in Bunbeg and the other local post office within a number of days.

“The inquiries came after locals contacted the local Sinn Féin office with concerns that no plans have been put in place at a national level to deal with the retirement of the postmistress.

There were fears that it could be used as an opportunity to reduce or remove the service.

“In my view, it is not acceptable that the closure of such a service, which represents a further attack on this rural community.

“With minimal consultation with the local stakeholders who have already witnessed severe cuts to a number of state services in recent years.

“For example, in the past six years, this parish has seen the closure of a number of post offices including those located in Ranafast, Gweedore, Crolly and Minlaragh.

“Meanwhile, banking services such as AIB and National Irish Bank have also been removed from the area, meaning that the local post office has become even more important.

“As a location whereby people can carry out daily financial transactions such as paying household bills, makimg lodgements into a savings accounts and receiving social welfare payments.

“While there will be a facility available for interested parties to make a submission to An Post.

“I am calling on An Post to ensure a full public consultation is carried out the views of local people are taken fully into account prior to making any decision.

“I am encouraging local people, particularly those who live in areas that have already had their post office removed, to make use of this facility and submit their views to An Post before the deadline of 14th February.

Milford Ju Jitsu Club and Budo Jujitsu Rosguill had a very successful finish to 2013 with 3 successful World Ju Jitsu Federation Gradings.

The club grading took place in Downings and over 50 juniors took part along with 20 seniors.

Shihan David Toney who travelled from Ballymena to do the gradings on the day with Sensei Adrian Eakins , were very complimentary about the intensity and standard of both the junior and senior students.

This was quickly followed with the clubs getting their first ever junior black belts with 5 students being graded in The Dojo in Ballymena. The successful students were Oisin Bradley, Miobha Mac Ginty, Padraig McGinty, Liam McBride and Odhran McBride.

The following week it was the turn of the senior’s with 6 members getting their black belts with a very successful grading. Those that achieved Shodan status were Ciaran McTeague, Donna Gallagher , Ferdia Downey, Pol Duffy, John Sweeney and Darran Nash.

The clubs held presentations in Downings GAA centre for the junior members and in Milford Hall for the senior members to mark the occasion. It was very fitting that the club had its most successful year ever on its 10th anniversary.

New members are always welcome so why not make it your new years resolution and come along in 2014. Ju jitsu is open to all ages and genders and is an ideal way to develop your all round fitness whilst learning a great form of self defence. See our Facebook page for further details.

A Judge has ordered that hundreds of items seized from notorious sex offender Michael Ferry be destroyed.

Michael Ferry, right, being taken into court in Donegal Town in December.

Ferry from CarrickBoyle, Gaoth Dobhair is currently serving a 14 year sentence for child abuse.

Among the items to be destroyed are cameras, computers, DVDs, CDs and video tapes.

The items were seized during an investigation into Ferry on grounds of child sex abuse, production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Solicitor for Ferry, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said his client consented to the destruction of the items, apart from item 33 which was a silver revolver with a 5 shot capacity.

He said his client believed the gun to be of historical significance as it was used in the war of independence and civil war.

He said his client suggested the gun could be donated to a local museum.

Solicitor Frank Dorrian representing one of Ferry’s victims said his client was anxious that no files on the case be destroyed.

He was assured this was not the case and that any material downloaded from items seized had been preserved by gardai .

Judge Paul Kelly consented to the destruction of 868 items and asked solicitor Patsy Gallagher to gather more information on the gun.

He then adjourned the case until February 26th.

Ferry was convicted in 2011 of abusing four boys in Gaoth Dobhair between 1990 and 2005 while working as a caretaker in Ard Scoil Mhuire, an Irish college.

He was sentenced to 18 years with 4 suspended . On December 11 last he was sentenced to a seven years behind bars for abusing a teenage boy between 1984-1987 . That sentence will run concurrently with the sentence he is serving .