Former Celtic and Finn Harps goalkeeper James Gallagher has decided to set-up his own sports injuries clinic.

Gallagher is a qualified Neuromuscular Physical Therapist and is also qualified in Sports Massage Therapy.

If any player knows the devastating effects of injuries on a professional career it’s Gallagher who was forced to retire from the game to injury in 2009.

Gallagher wants to use his own experiences and expertise to help players suffering from chronic injuries to extend their careers.

The demands being placed on modern day players is excessive and the reality is that many fall victim to severe injury due to knee and back problems.

Gallagher left Meenlaragh for Glasgow Celtic FC when he was 16 years of age.

He was the outstanding talent in the country at the time and was the subject of interest from a number of cross-channel clubs.

However when the famous Glasgow Celtic came calling he knew that was the club for him.

He spent four seasons in Glasgow as an U18 and reserve team goalkeeper.

He famously saved a number of penalties in a shoot-out victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers in a crucial Youth Cup match during his spell at the club.

His progress was blighted due to chronic knee problems and after seven knee operations he was forced to return home to Donegal.

After a short break from football he then spent three years at Saint Patricks Athletic in Dublin before returning home to spend four years playing for Finn Harps.

He was eventually forced to retire from the game in 2009 due to his knee conditions.

Since hanging up his gloves Gallagher has managed Finn Harps and was a coach at Derry City last season.

He is currently the senior coach at Finn Harps for the forthcoming 2014 season.

Gallagher insists he could have been forced to retire much earlier in his career but puts the longevity of his career down to regular Neuromuscular Therapy treatments over the years.

He now works as a Neuromuscular Physical and Sports Massage Therapist in Churchill Letterkenny helping people with injury complaints and helping athletes reach their maximum performance potential.

Gallagher told Donegal Daily “As a coach there is nothing more frustrating than seeing players reach their peak fitness level and then fall victim to injury.

“With regular Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) treatments you can help prevent injury, aid recovery and help improve performance.

“As a NMT therapist I treat the types of everyday pain and muscular discomfort that people experience at some stage of their lives such as chronic lower back pain, sciatica, frozen shoulder, whiplash, trapped nerves, restricted range of movement, sports injuries and many more.

“A lot of people suffer needlessly with general aches and pains that can sometimes be easily rectified by deep tissue massage,trigger point release and various NMT techniques.

“I found from my time with Derry City as a massage therapist that a lot of the players used massage treatments as a way to improve performance, aid recovery and prevent injuries.

“I currently work alongside my wife Eimear who also works as a Physical Therapist and has done so for the last 12 years.

“I suffer from advanced rheumatoid arthritis in both knees.

“Because of deep tissue massage and various NMT treatments from Eimear I have been able to maintain a good level of fitness and mobility despite my knee conditions.”

If you would like to arrange an appointment with James then please call 086 155 6988 now.

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THREE women and a man have been charged tonight in connection with the seizure of €360,000 worth of cannabis in Donegal on Tuesday evening.

The women – one in her 60s and two in their 20s – and a man in his 30s will appear at Letterkenny District Court on Thursday morning.

All four are Chinese nationals.

They are charged in connection with possession and cultivation of cannabis with intent to supply.

The four were formally charged with the offences – in the presence of interpreters – at Letterkenny Garda Station tonight.

The arrests followed a lengthy investigation by the Letterkenny Drugs Unit and surveillance of premises at Navenny Street, Ballybofey.

Gardaí spent today examining the premises and removing a large number of cannabis plants.

They have been sent for analysis, with a pre-analysis street value of €360,000.

GARDAI have launched an investigation after the death of a woman at a hotel.

The pensioner was found dead in the pool area at Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey on Wednesday.

Staff and onlookers went to her aid but she was later pronounced dead at the scene despite their valiant efforts.

A post mortem is being carried out to establish the cause of death.

Gardaí are carrying out an investigation as part of normal procedures for the county coroner but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

The lady who died was Galway-born Oonagh Quinn, from Melmount in Strabane.

The 79-year-old was well-known and well respected in the Border town community where she had worked for many years as a teacher at Our Lady of Mercy secondary school.

“She was a lovely woman who was loved by all who knew her,” said a family friend.

Cuan an Ri in Carrigart

A planning application for the retention of a basement at the beachfront development at the Cuan na Ri holiday complex at Carrigart is to be strenuously opposed by the local residents.

The Tirconail Tribune reports that Michael and Patrick Preston of T&G Developments have made the application in the past week to seek the council’s approval to allow the basement to remain on site along with its completion.

The Council’s Planning Dept. has sought to have the basement and store area at the Cuan na Ri development demolished to comply with the original schedules.

On November 25th the Council issued a number of enforcement notices to the Prestons on foot of the development not being complaint with the original grant of planning.

A major level of objection is now underway and the issue has been a matter of much controversy ever since the local community found their right of access to the beach blocked off by locked gates last September.

The news comes as Marian Harkin MEP prepares to visit Aghadachor on Saturday week to hear the concerns of the community and to explore EU perspectives from an environmental perspective.

Meanwhile, a Divisional Ecologist, at the National Parks & Wildlife Service in the Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht, has told the Aghadachor Action Group that encroachment and infilling of the Special Area of Conservation did occur during the construction of the beach activity centre.

The spokesman said they had brought the matter to the attention of Donegal County Council and the developer, and this issue was subsequently rectified.

“Issues still remain on the beach at Aghadachor. We are of the opinion that some works have resulted in damage to the Special Area of Conservation and have been considered as unauthorised development by Donegal County Council.

“It is our position that any environmental damage is fully rectified. We are working with Donegal County Council, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the developer to achieve this,’ added the Divisional Ecologist.

In a new development last November the Council issued an enforcement order against the developers on a number of grounds.

The Council said that a basement area added to the main building without planning permission and must be demolished.

The enforcement notice required: “the said developments to cease.” and the measures listed to be addressed within four weeks from the date of issue on November 25th.

The enforcement order was sent to Michael A and Patrick G Preston. The Council had identified six areas of ‘unauthorised construction and installation’ and subsequently moved to have the development made compliant with the planning permission, which was originally granted.

This additional element of the basement has been added extending for 393 square metres (4230 sq. feet) and the Council says it now incorporates effectively a 3 storey appearance, whereas a 2 storey structure was permitted in the grant of planning.

The enforcement order was based on grounds that the terms of planning permission granted in 2012 not having been fulfilled.

T&G Developments was told the Beach activity centre had not been constructed in accordance with the plans, and particulars submitted under the planning application.

Insofar as the impact of the demolition might impact on the area, the Council has already requested that all rubble and associated materials are removed in consultation with Donegal County Council.

The other main component in the enforcement order is the construction of a mechanical pipe on the shoreline to address issues of erosion.

And they have asked that the construction of the Geo-Tube, an anti erosion mechanism within the foreshore area be removed since it does not have planning permission.

This particular mechanism has caused much controversy locally with community leaders claiming that nobody has a right to claim territory below the high water mark.

The Tube extends for a length of 280 metres and the Council is also seeking its removal and all its element parts.

A public meeting is to be held to help regenerate one of Letterkenny’s best known areas.

Letterkenny’s Church Lane

Save the Church Lane campaign is to to hold a public meeting in Gallagher’s Hotel in Letterkenny on Thursday, 30th January at 8pm.

The aim of the campaign is to regenerate the historical Church Lane street and to create a real hidden treasure for tourists in the heart of Letterkenny.

Unfortunately in the past few years many old buildings in the Church Lane have fallen into disrepair and pose a danger to the public.

This issue has been highlighted in the local media. All is not lost and there is great potential to create a real tourist gem and real jobs.

The idea is to create a craft village that will home to businesses which sell locally produced goods and services. This was first envisaged by Town Council member Jim Lynch over twenty years ago.

The people of Dunfanaghy, Donegal Town and Ballybofey have shared a similar vision and have created their own wonderful resources. Their visions and ideals were a seed that lay on barren ground for years, barely surviving. But one day people cleared away all the dead vegetation, gave the seed nutrients, water and sunlight and slowly watched as it grew into a big strong tree .

This is the concept we wish to evolve and with the support of all stakeholders, the ideals of Councillor Lynch will come to fruition and the Town of Letterkenny , People of Letterkenny and the centre of Letterkenny will have a space and an resource to be proud of on a local, national and international basis.

This vision which has successfully been recreated in Cities and Towns throughout the world (for example Galway’s famous “Latin Quarter”) has the ability to create both long term viable job creation opportunities and a centre to display the outstanding local crafts, culinery skills and creativity that exists both locally and throughout the County of Donegal.

It is envisaged that the “Cathedral Quarter” will attract huge amounts of tourists and local’s to visit , sample and experience the unique atmosphere that this intimate area can generate.

The Church Lane is steeped in the town’s history. On the top right hand of the Lane, we have Conwal Parish Church and graveyard which was originally built in 1636. In 1776, it has almost entirely demolished when the nave was extended and a chancel was added but the original tower was retained making the Church the oldest building in Letterkenny. Many notable people are buried within its boundaries including Rev. John Kinnear, former MP and Tenants Rights campaigner and Sir George and Lady Marbury, the founders of the market town in the seventeenth century.

At the top of the Lane is the symbol of Letterkenny – St Eunans Cathedral. When the Cathedral was built in the 1890′s, local farmers volunteered on Sundays to cart stone blocks arriving at the Thorn from Mountcharles. When the horses got to the Church Lane, 1/3 of the load was taken off and the horses slowly took the large blocks up the narrow muddy lane. This process was repeated until all the blocks made it to the top.

And in the middle of the Lane is the jewel in the Crown, the Gospel Hall belonging to the Plymouth Brethern. The founding Plymouth Brethern in Letterkenny erected the Gospel Hall in June 1895. John Storey, a former Town clerk, had been a Baptist pastor in the town and joined the congregation of the Brethern, meeting in the yard of John Davis, whose merchant business was on the Main Street. When they erected the hall in the yard, they cleared away a building to gain access to the Church Lane, hence the fact that the entrance to the hall today is further back than other building on the street.

The Facebook campaign was attracted widespread public support receiving almost two thousand ‘likes’ in its first two weeks generating enormous goodwill.

The concept is that the whole of the community would be involved in the regeneration of the area and the project belongs not to one individual but to the people of Letterkenny.

Public participation is a huge part of the Facebook page as former residents of the Lane and people of Letterkenny have shared their stories creating a wonderful sense of nostalgia and pride. It is hoped that the people of Letterkenny will continue to participate in the campaign once the real work begins. We wish to co-operate with property owners so they can fully utilise those magnificent old buildings in such a serene setting.

The project is a massive undertaking that will require the ‘buy -in’ cooperation and assistance of all local stakeholders. The support and backing of Letterkenny Town Council, Donegal County Council, Local County Councillers, local People, House owners Business owners and local and international entrepreneurs as well as the press will be vital in the success of this vision.

There can be no doubt that the benefits of this vision first mooted by Jim Lynch are far reaching and will require a great deal of cooperation, planning, goodwill and understanding but the long term success of this venture is a legacy worth fighting for.

The organizers of the Save The Church Lane Campaign have taken the first steps by calling a Public meeting on Thursday the 30th of January at 8pm in Gallaghers Hotel ,Letterkenny where it is hoped a large crowd will attend. It is envisaged that all local representatives will also be in attendance. A new positive chapter in the history of Letterkenny and indeed Donegal is about to start.

Daniel O’Donnell has revealed his wife is having plenty of rest and relaxation before she undergoes serious surgery in the coming weeks.

Daniel and Majella

The singer and his brave wife Majella spent Christmas at home but have spent the last few weeks on sun-kissed Tenerife.

But Majella will return to Ireland where she has opted to have a double mastectomy in her bid to overcome breast cancer.

Daniel revealed “At the minute Majella and I are in Tenerife and we’ve been here since New Year’s Eve. My holiday is almost coming to an end as next Tuesday we start our UK shows.

“We really haven’t been doing much since we got to Tenerife other than relaxing and we have really enjoyed this time together.

“I’m glad to say Majella is feeling well at the moment. She will return home on the 4th of February as she is scheduled to have her mastectomy in the coming weeks.

“Even though I’m going to be away during this time we are very lucky she has so many people around to support her,” said Daniel.

Majella captured the hearts of the Irish public when she had her hair shaved live on the Late Late Show.

She managed to raise more than €600,000 for the Irish Cancer Society with her brave efforts ahead of her chemotherapy.

Daniel has also revealed that his mother Julia has been ill in hospital in Dungloe but is recovering.

“My mother is doing well and thank God everything is good with us,” he added.

Ronan Kennedy from Killybegs who is lucky to be alive.

POLICE in Amsterdam say an ‘angel’ who jumped into a canal to save a Donegal man walked on afterwards – and they don’t know who he is.

Ronan Kennedy, from Killybegs, was visiting The Netherlands, when the terrifying incident happened in the early hours of Tuesday.

Ronan, 27, was left for dead after being mugged and dumped in the freezing waters of an Amsterdam canal.

The woodwork teacher, who now lives in Melbourne, Australia, was only saved when the 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 told us.

A spokesman for Amsterdam police told Donegal Daily: “Mr Kennedy reported a street robbery that took place on Monday evening, just after midnight (so in fact in the early hours of Tuesday) on the Leidsekade in Amsterdam’s central district.

“Mr Kennedy was treated at the scene and then taken to hospital. We are aware that someone did go into the water to help Mr Kennedy but as of yet this person is unknown to us as he left the scene after the ambulance arrived.

“This person probably saved Mr Kennedy’s life.”

Ronan says he’d love to trace the man – just so he can say ‘thanks’ personally.

Shaun ‘Wizzy’ Mcowan has re-signed for his tenth season at Finn Harps and is confident that this season can be a fruitful one for the club. 

McGowan has seen plenty of changes in his decade of service at Finn Park, but he is optimistic that the new management team of Ollie Horgan and James Gallagher can bring the good times back to Navenney Street.

McGowan believes it’s a realistic aim to be challenging for one of the play-off spots and believes the group of players currently assembled are more than capable of sustaining a prolonged challenge this season.

McGowan is a fans favourite among the loyal supporters in Ballybofey.

Renowned for his tigerish tackling and desire to win, McGowan is always fully committed to the cause and those traits have endeared him to the Harps faithful over the years.

McGowan acknowledges that last season was a bitter disappointment for all involved with the club, but hopes and believes this year will be a much better one.

“Last season was a massive disappointment, we started the season well, but we let standards slip and ultimately we failed to mount a challenge for the play-offs which was a massive disappointment.

“For example last year we had Optimal Fitness on board then we lost a couple of matches and we stopped availing of the services they provide and that hurt us.

“This year there on-board with us for the full year and that’s a massive coup for the club.

“I do feel with the management staff we have in place and the squad of players that we have we’re more than capable of being in the mix-up for the play-offs.

McGowan found himself in and out of the team last year under Peter Hutton and was also part of the infamous ‘Arranmore Four’ that were banned for playing in a seven a side competition on the island.

McGowan believes that breach of discipline could have been handled better and also believed the club signed far too many players last season, and as a result the rotation policy adopted ultimately affected performances and consistency.

“I don’t really want to go back into that now, it’s been talked about enough but there was inaccuracies reported on that story at the time.

“It had been said we received a warning prior to the competition not to play in it, but we didn’t, we got a text on the Saturday afternoon.

“We were wrong and we let the club down and we accepted our punishment and got on with it.

“What disappointed us was the way it was perceived in the local media that we had just ignored these warnings, we didn’t there hadn’t been any warnings.

“It always kept getting dragged up as a reason we were struggling and that was wrong and unfair.

“One of the problems last year was the number of players signed, it was crazy, it wasn’t feasible and it affected the training hugely, you were restricted in terms of what you could do with the numbers and standards slipped because of it.

“Having that many players signed also affected the consistency of the team as players were constantly given chances in the team and we rarely got the same eleven out regularly.

“We have close knit squad this year with players who genuinely want to do well for the club and will be as professional as they can be for the season ahead.

When quizzed about the decision not to give the manager’s job to his father Sean Snr McGowan didn’t want to be drawn on the matter but did say that also could have been handled better.

“I don’t want to really talk about that, but I do think it could have been handled better, he has been involved with the club for over 40 years and I think he at least deserved a call to be told his application was unsuccessful.

“That goes for the other candidates involved too, I think they should have been informed with a call.

McGowan is looking forward to putting last season behind him and can’t wait for the season to kick off proper on Match the 7th at home to Waterford.

He spent two years away from the club, but one of his main reasons to return to the fold was so his daughter Katie Marie could see him play for Finn Harps.

“That’s what we’re all looking forward to now, we’re working hard and everybody in the squad has kept themselves ticking over in the off season which is good to see.

“We’ll continue to work hard in pre-season and for the season ahead.

“It’s going to be competitive for places but that’s what you want, and I’ve got a good feeling that in the club’s 60th anniversary year that this season will be a very good one.

The owners of Jacksons Hotel Ballybofey are heartbroken following the tragic death of pensioner Oonagh Quinn.  

Oonagh Quinn was a lifetime member of Jacksons Hotel Leisure Centre and was a valued friend to both Margaret and Barry Jackson and to all the staff of the leisure centre.

Oonagh Quinn collapsed by the side of the pool after a swim.

Former Finn Harps player Eloka Asokuh of Jacksons Hotel Leisure Centre and other leisure centre members immediately rushed to her aid.

CPR was administrated immediately and an ambulance was called.

Paramedics worked on Oonagh who later pronounced her dead.

All management and staff at Jacksons Hotel are very saddened by Oonaghs sudden passing and would like to send their deepest condolences to all her family and friends.

Three women have been remanded in custody after Gardai uncovered a cannabis growhouse above a Chinese restaurant in Ballybofey.

The three women, two from Malaysia and one from China, include a mother and daughter.

A fourth person, a male in his 30s, who was also arrested is still being questioned at Letterkenny Garda station.

However, Gardai have admitted they are still searching for processing premises which they believe the drugs were being shipped to once they were grown and cut.

The court appearances come following a Garda raid on the Lee Ho takeaway in Ballybofey on Tuesday evening.

Mature and young plants with an estimated street value of €360,000 were found in locked rooms along with growing apparatus.

The three women were named as Sam Pohs Ooi, 62, her daughter Chong Li Jiuan, 28, from Malaysia and Mei Ling Chen from China.

Ms Chen told detectives she had been in Ireland for 20 years and the €6,000 found in the restaurant was her savings from that time.

All three were charged with possession, having cannabis for sale and supply and cultivation.

Garda Inspector Goretti Sheridan told the court that she was objecting to bail as all three women represented a serious flight risk.

She revealed that two of the women had flown from Kuala Lumpur to Heathrow Airport and then to Belfast before being taken to Co Donegal adding there was no reason they couldn’t make a return journey.

However solicitors Patsy Gallagher and Frank Dorrian said the women had no form of income and both Ms Jiuan and Ms Ooi were willing to hand over their Malaysian passports.

After hearing submissions, Judge Paul Kelly said he was remanding them in custody because of the seriousness of the alleged offence and that they pose a flight risk.

Garda Detective Niall Boyle said the plants were only being grown and cut in the premises on Navenny Street in Ballybofey but had still not found the premises where the plants were being dried and processed.

He said he had monitored the Chinese Takeaway for four hours on one occasion and it did not have one customer.

The women will appear again by video-link next Monday.

Finn Harps captain Kevin McHugh is organising a sponsored 5K run/walk in aid of former Derry City team mate and Greencastle native Mark Farren. 

This sponsored run takes places in Killea on the 8th of February and will help raise money, but more importantly will give football supporters an opportunity to show their appreciation and support for Mark on his road to recovery.

Mark Farren is a proud Donegal man and has been one of the most outstanding soccer players to ever come out of the county.

It is hoped that a big crowd will come out in support of a man who has shown remarkable bravery and courage throughout his battle with this illness.

There is also a sponsor card for people to download if they wish to do a bit extra.

Farren is currently undergoing treatment for cancer however, this isn’t the first time he’s had to battle this devastating illness.

He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2010 and was forced to retire from the game.

However Farren made an astonishing recovery and returned to Derry City in 2011.

On his return Farren overtook Liam Coyle to become Derry City’s all time leading goal scorer.

Farren left Derry City and signed for Glenavon in 2013, however the return of cancer this December prompted the Greencastle man to once again have to retire from the game as he undergoes treatment.

Registration will take place at the Killea FC Club House at 09:00 and Run/Walk starts @ 10:30.

Prizes will be awarded and refreshments will be served afterwards in the club house.

Participants are encouraged to wear their club colours if possible for the run.

Special thanks to the Sponsors of the event Finn Harps FC, Kernan’s Eurospar, PFAI, Lifford AC and Killea FC for hosting the event.

As part of their pre-season preparations the Finn Harps Squad will be running the 5K.

If you require more information on this event please contact kmchugh@donegalcoco.ie

The innovative management team at Eclipse Cinemas Lifford/Strabane continue to reward their loyal customer base by implementing yet another sensational package of offers to watch all the latest movies without putting a hole in your pocket. 

Their latest package caters to everybody’s requirements with cracking value throughout the week.

If you’re going to see a movie make sure you go to Eclipse Cinemas Lifford/Strabane to view the movie in a great facility and for a great price.

Loreto students Emma Harvey and Ellen Doherty are doing swimmingly well in their chosen sport.

The Letterkenny girls added to their earlier successes of this season by coming first and second at the prestiguous Ulster Secondary Schools Swimming Gala in Ballymena last weekend.

Both girls competed in the Breastroke and both swimmers are now receiving recognition for the hours of training they have put in in the early mornings at training with Swilly Seals Swimming Club.

Well done, it is not the last we will hear from these two outstanding swimmers.

Thomas Pringle TD has called on the government to roll-out fibre broadband to all households in the state.

Pringle wants fibre broadband for everyone

Speaking on the ESB (Electronic Communications Networks) Bill 2013 yesterday in the Dáil, the Independent TD for Donegal it should be a must.

“This Bill is a progressive step to enable the ESB to provide fibre on its networks and in respect of broadband it is probably one of the most progressive steps that could have been taken. But we need to ensure it will be available in all households across the country.

“The ESB is a company that already has a relationship with every household and business in the country, consequently it is a perfect fit for it to be able to provide fibre-optic broadband by wrapping fibre on their existing networks.

“The ESB already has fibre wrapped on its transmission network nationwide which has linked the metropolitan area networks around the country. While this is useful, the real difference and impact can be made as the company starts to roll-out fibre onto the connections to houses and businesses nationwide.”

He added the existing policy up to now on providing broadband has been to rely on the market and has left many areas behind, including rural areas, but also areas where people are trying to operate businesses and create and maintain jobs.

“In recent years we have relied on mobile telephony to provide broadband and bridge the gap; this has failed and is not capable of providing the service people need.

“The provider for the rural broadband scheme, 3, wants to build 160 masts to provide its broadband service across the country. We know everything this invokes in communities across the country when masts are erected, and this legislation gives us the opportunity to avoid all that.”

In Ireland approximately 2-3% of households have access to a fibre connection.

It has been estimated that the creative industries in the north-west region alone could create approximately 18,000 jobs simply by improving access to the internet in order for them to sell their wares on it.

“We now need to ensure as wide a roll-out as possible of the fibre-optic network and we should look to invest in this as a state to assist the ESB in providing this service because it would pay huge dividends in the long run and, as a stimulus, make a significant difference to people’s lives across the country,” stated Pringle.

Divers Hyundai, Canal Road, are delighted to announce the arrival of the new Hyundai i10 in their showroom.

The all new Hyundai i10 arrives in 1.0 litre petrol version in 3 trim levels.

· i10 classic from€11,995

· i10 deluxe from €13,495

· i10 deluxe automatic from € 15,495

All prices quoted exclude delivery and related charges.

Hyundai Ireland to double i10 sales this year, with a target to reach sales over 500 units and to regain first place in the A segment by the end of 2014.

Unlike its other major competitors in this segment, the new i10 comes with 5 seats, offering customers greater flexibility coupled with an extra 40mm of legroom and 16mm of shoulder space more than its predecessor.  

In addition, the new i10 comes standard with Hyundai’s 5 year unlimited mileage manufacturer backed warranty.

New standard levels of safety and technology in the new i10 range (Classic and Deluxe) include:

· ABS

· ESP

· Tyre Pressure Monitoring System

· Seatbelt reminder all passengers

· Power Steering on Demand

Additional standard features on the Classic trim from €11,995 include:

· Driver side Anchor pre tensioner

· Body colour Bumpers

· Tinted windows and Windscreen

· 14” Steel wheels with cover

· Central locking

· Height adjustable Steering wheel

· Folding rear seats

· Day/Night rear mirror

· Trip Computer

· 60/40 Split back folding rear seats

The Deluxe i10 version from €13,495 includes all the standard equipment of the comfort model with additional class leading features as standard:

· 14 Inch Alloy Wheels

· Bluetooth

· Air Con

· LED Day Time Running Lights

· Cornering Lights

· Front Fog Lights

· Electrical & Heated Exterior Mirrors

· Front Fog Lights

· Front and Rear Power windows

· Body coloured mirror/door handles

· Door Moulding blackout tape

· Full cloth Seats

· Leather gear Knob chrome coated

· Front and rear assist Grip

· Keyless Entry

· Seat back pockets

· Height Adjustable driver seat

· USB aux connectivity

· Blue Interior pack

A man in his 30s, who was being question in connection with a major drugs seizure in Ballybofey, has been charged this evening.

The man was being questioned at Letterkenny Garda station.

He will appear before Judge Paul Kelly at Letterkenny District Court tomorrow morning.

Three women appeared in court earlier today in connection to the drugs find, estimated at €360,000, above a Chinese restaurant, at Navenny Street on Tuesday evening.

A JUDGE has ordered probation reports on two women whose behaviour outside a Co Donegal nightclub forced Gardaí to escort their victims to a bus so they could escape the melee.

Judge Paul Kelly made the order after hearing about an incident on the Ramelton Road in Letterkenny in the early hours of the Sunday before last, January 12.

Inspector Goretti Sheridan told the local District Court that Gardaí were forced to arrest Anna and Sarah Doherty after the incident.

Anna Doherty, who is 27 and from 3 Manor View Park in Letterkenny, was arrested at the scene and charged with using threatening and abusive behaviour and failing to comply with the direction of Gardaí.

“Miss Doherty was pulling another female by the hair and at one Sgt Siobhan Mollahan had to escort a number of women away from the scene onto a bus for their own safety,” said the inspector.

“Miss Doherty had had to be restrained. she was arrested and gave a false name and address and she continued to be aggressive towards Gardaí when she was in custody at Letterkenny Garda Station.

Anna Doherty, the court heard, had previous convictions for a Section 2 assault; public order offences and drink driving.

Judge Kelly asked her what she was doing on the night of her arrest.

“I don’t remember very much,” she said.

“I’m not surprised,” replied Judge Kelly, “You have a tendency to do these things when you take far too much drink. You obviously have a drink problem.”

He adjourned the case until March 20 asking for a probation and community service report.

“Thanks judge,” replied Ms Doherty.

Inspector Sheridan said that the next case, of Sarah Doherty Glenmacquinn, Letterkenny, was linked to the same incident.

The 26-year-old was charged with using threatening and abusive behaviour in a public place.

Inspector Sheridan said she too had been seen fighting on the street outside Pulse nightclub and was seen pulling someone’s hair.

Judge Kelly asked Sarah Doherty why she was involved in the row.

“I don’t go out very often,” she replied.

The judge asked for similar reports for her and adjourned her case to the same date.

Karl Lacey has revealed that the ‘fight’ had gone out of Donegal at half-time of last year’s All-Ireland exit to Mayo at Croke Park. 

Lacey started that match on the bench but was introduced after only 24 minutes as Donegal were being dismantled at ease by a rampant Mayo.

Donegal trailed Mayo by 12 points at half-time and Lacey has recalled McGuinness trying to rally the troops for the second half by insisting that they we’re still in the game.

Lacey told the Irish Independent, “I remember Jim saying to us we’re still in this, we can still win this.

“He still had the belief in us that we could go out and put in a big performance, but you can see it in the boy’s eyes in the dressing room, how the hell are we going to turn this round.

“That was the disappointing thing, the fight had nearly gone out of us at that stage, Jim was trying to push us on a bit, in my three years under Jim, I never saw that happen before.

Lacey dismissed claims that Donegal didn’t have the hunger last season and claimed when they returned from their team holiday the celebrating stopped, but admitted they were playing catch-up with other counties because they had no pre-season.

“You’re looking around you and you know you just don’t have it in the legs, the hunger was there and we thought we were in a good place.

“Every man was trying their best but we just didn’t have it in the legs, didn’t have the endurance, didn’t have the speed or sharpness.

“You’re looking over at the sideline and asking Jim, ‘what the hell’s going on here?’ Jim didn’t have the answers.

“It was a funny year coming back from everything that happened in 2012 and going away on a team holiday, coming back on January 8.

“You’re straight in to National League nearly and you’ve no pre-season done, no base built up.

“We were just playing catch-up from there and never got up to the levels that any of the other teams were at.

“We were found out against Monaghan in the Ulster final and started to go downhill really from there.”

However, Lacey is delighted with how preparations for the 2014 season have begun and reckons Donegal can reach the dizzying heights of 2012 again.

“I got a good 70 minutes under the belt against Armagh and another 30 minutes against St.Mary’s we’re in a different place to last year and we’ve a good base of hard running down.

“We’re all looking forward to the first league match against Laois and hopefully we can get a positive result.

Dr O’Donnell

The West / North West Hospitals Group has recently appointed Dr Colm O’Donnell, consultant radiologist at Letterkenny General Hospital, as one of four clinical directors to advance the integration of the hospital group and to provide leadership for training and education across the Group.

Dr O’Donnell will lead the Diagnostics Directorate (incorporating Radiology and Laboratory Medicine).

The existing Group governance structure has been streamlined and now a total of four clinical directorates will manage the clinical specialties across all hospitals.

Bill Maher, CEO of the West / North West Hospitals Group commented, “One of the Group priorities was to strengthen the governance structure across all hospitals in the Group and the new directorates will be responsible for providing high quality and equitable services for all patients based on excellence in clinical practices and teaching and to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times.

“The Clinical Directors are responsible for implementing the national clinical care programmes, developing service plans and setting performance targets. This will lead to improved quality and performance and will ensure greater efficiency by involving the appropriate medical, allied health professionals, pharmacy, nursing, administrative and support service staff working together as one business unit.

“The Clinical Directors will also play a key role in quality and safety by implementing the national standards for better safer healthcare, conducting regular clinical audits and implementing the risk management and complaints procedure in each directorate.

“An interim Chief Academic Officer, responsible for developing a structured and integrated approach to education and training for all healthcare professionals in the Group, has also been appointed. Duties include establishing a Graduate Medical Education Department to co-ordinate Non Consultant Hospital Doctor and Consultant training and creating a system of support/mentoring for all trainees.

“The role will also involve working closely with our academic partner, NUI Galway to ensure a cohesive and integrated approach to undergraduate medical, nursing and allied health professional education.

“I wish Colm and the other new appointees the best of luck with their new roles and I look forward on reporting on further developments at our public Board Meetings that will take place in Roscommon on 03 June and in Mayo on 02 September.”

Dr Colm O’Donnell is a Consultant Radiologist in Letterkenny General Hospital with a special interest is musculoskeletal imaging. Originally from Loughrea, Co Galway, he was educated at St Brendan’s National School and St Raphael’s Secondary School. He attended Medical School at UCD and worked in general medicine for several years in Ireland and England. Subsequently he trained in Radiology in Wales before returning to Ireland in 2010.