Donegal County Council has announced plans to close the N15, east of Killygordon village this Thursday and Friday night for necessary resurfacing works.

The road will be closed to traffic from 7pm to 8am on Thursday the 8th of October and Friday 9th October.

Motorists are being asked to please follow alternative routes on both nights.

DONEGAL Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called the government’s €10million allocation to families, carers and service provers as ‘frankly an insult’.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn was speaking ahead of  a vote in the Dáil this evening on a cross party opposition motion on the funding for disability services.

“Families, Carers and Service Providers have been stretched to their limits during the pandemic, many are at breaking point,” he said.

“The Government’s allocation of €10 million to the sector in the Winter Plan is frankly an insult and will not address the funding crisis for services for people with disabilities.

“Disability services across Donegal, whether delivered by community and voluntary organisations or the HSE, have been seriously affected by this crisis.

“Charities and other bodies that rely on fundraising will lose an average of 40% of their income due to Covid 19 and, due to chronic underfunding by successive Governments, disability services are carrying over €40 million in deficits.

“After months of closure, recently reopened disability day services are currently operating at 40% capacity. These are crucial supports for people with disabilities and their families – full capacity must be restored as a matter of priority.”

Deputy Mac Lochliann says that Budget 2021 must include an increase in Personal Assistance provision and funding for dementia supports and services.

He said: “I welcome support from opposition TDs for this cross party motion, which highlights how serious and urgent this situation is. This motion sends a strong message to the Government – Budget 2021 must address the Funding Crisis within Disability Services.”

AS GARDAÍ ramp up checkpoints across the country, the Government is exploring measures to ensure stronger enforcement of Level 3 restrictions.

Ireland made a nationwide move to Level 3 at midnight and Gardaí have been on patrol at 132 checkpoints nationwide in order to police the movement of people making unnecessary journeys outside of their counties.

Picture: Gardaí conduct an Operation Fanacht checkpoint at Lifford Bridge. (North West Newspix)

Operation Fanacht was reintroduced by An Garda Síochána and visibility has significantly increased, including checkpoints at major border crossings in Donegal.

Under Level 3, people are being encouraged not to travel out of their county unless for essential reasons.

In the Dáil, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed that the Government is looking at fines in order to enforce these measures – or to act as a deterrent.

The Covid-19 oversight committee met this morning to consider enhanced enforcement.

Gardaí conduct an Operation Fanacht checkpoint at Lifford Bridge. (North West Newspix)

“We are particularly concerned about Northern Ireland,” Martin said.

“Northern Ireland is now a significantly challenging situation in terms of the very, very high numbers.

“Clearly, the overspill into the Republic and the consequence that could there, so we have to deal with that as well.”

Martin confirmed that the Government is looking at fines in terms of traffic and other movements within the State.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has suggested penalties such as €50 for not wearing a face covering or €200 for not abiding by travel guidelines. He stressed that fines would have to be graduated and on-the-spot rather than issuing court proceedings.

Varadkar is reported to have told a Fine Gael meeting that the aim was to ensure public buy-in to Level 3 restrictions rather than have to introduce a heightened penalty system.

Gardaí conduct an Operation Fanacht checkpoint at Lifford Bridge. (North West Newspix)

A missing persons appeal has been launched for Derry man John Hill. 

The PSNI in Derry city and Strabane are looking for help in locating John Hill, who is missing from his home since Sunday, October 4, at around 6pm.

If you have any information please contact Police on 101 and quote CCS360 06/10/20

MOLLIE Gribbin has put her cruciate nightmare behind her – and is gearing up for a big 2021 in Finn Valley AC’s colours.

Gribbin was a silver medalist in the women’s long jump at the 2019 Irish Senior Championships in Santry, leaping out to 5.90m.

However, a few weeks later, Gribbin went under the knife to have corrective surgery after rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament.

Despite losing 11 months of action, Gribbin ready to go again.

The Covid-19 lockdown was perhaps something of a paradoxical positive for the Vermont woman as she has missed little in the way of competition action and is firmly focussed now on the 2021 calendar.

Gribbin was recruited just before the 2019 seniors and Finn Valley have continued to support her recovery over the last 11 months.

Gribbin is equally adept in long jump and triple jump and will hope to get a chance to showcase her talents at Irish Championships after Christmas.

“We’re looking forward to seeing Mollie back in action in 2021,” Patsy McGonagle, the former Irish Olympic Team Manager, said.

“Mollie has returned after a long period of surgery and rehab. It’s great to have her back preparing again.”

Meanwhile, Finn Valley AC man Oisin Gallen finished sixth in an 8km cross-country race in Kentucky last weekend to open his season.

Donegal’s famous Sliabh Liag cliffs and the Wild Atlantic Way have been featured on a list of the world’s top unmissable travel experiences. 

The Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List, unveiled today, lists eight Irish attractions among 500 of the most thrilling, memorable and interesting travel experiences in the world.

The Wild Atlantic Way came in at number 21, while Sliabh Liag, Titanic Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway, the Ring of Kerry, Connemara, Brú na Bóinne and Trinity College also feature.

The Wild Atlantic Way earned the highest new entry of any new experience on the 2020 list.

Visitor facilities and amenities at Sliabh Liag have been closed from 2nd October due to lareg crowds and Covid-19 concerns.

In the meantime, the Lonely Planet list has been greeted as a cause for celebration and there are hopes it will inspire visitors when it is safe to travel again.

Welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: “I am delighted to see eight fantastic attractions and experiences on the island of Ireland feature in the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travel List – including the Wild Atlantic Way, coming in at number 21. I would like to thank Lonely Planet for the wonderful support they have shown to the island of Ireland over the years. In what has been a truly terrible year for travel and tourism, this accolade is some good news for overseas tourism to Ireland. It will help ensure that Ireland stays front-of-mind with prospective travellers around the world, until such time as they can visit again.”

At a time when international visitors cannot travel here, Tourism Ireland is aiming to ‘keep the lights on’ for the island of Ireland, to help ensure that Ireland stays ‘front-of-mind’ with prospective visitors for future holidays. The organisation will share this good news around the world with its millions of fans and followers on social media.

Sixty new cases of Covid-19 have been detected in Donegal, the Department of Health reports.

There are 611 new cases of the virus nationwide and five more people have died of Covid-19 related illness.

Of the cases detected on Tuesday, 218 are in Dublin, 63 in Cork, 60 in Donegal, 35 in Galway, 31 in Kildare and the remaining 204 are located across 21 counties.

The number of Covid-19 cases has increased by 497 in the past two weeks in Donegal.

Today marks the first Department of Health press briefing headed up by Dr Tony Holohan since his return as Chief Medical Officer.

Dr Holohan commented: “All key indicators of the disease have deteriorated further in the three days since the last meeting of NPHET on Sunday 4th October. COVID-19 is spreading in our community in a very worrying manner. We have to break these chains of transmission.”

“80 COVID-19 cases were hospitalised in August, 206 in September and 77 so far in October.

“In August, 4 COVID-19 related deaths in total were reported, 34 in September and today on the 7th of October we report 8 COVID-19 related deaths this month.”

Older people, families with low literacy skills and disadvantaged and marginalised groups are set to benefit from greater library services under a new funding package announced today.

€18,913 has been allocated to Donegal libraries to deliver five projects that will reach more people in local communities. 

Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has welcomed the funding and said: “The funding has a specific focus and is aimed at groups such as the elderly, the Traveller Community and those with disabilities and I am delighted that five Donegal projects have been included for funding.”

Among the Donegal projects is one aimed at older people in Buncrana and surrounding areas, that will encourage older people to engage with the Library Service in a safe location and offer them a space in which to share their COVID-19 experiences. 

Another project is an innovative STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) initiative aimed at the Traveller Community, children with intellectual differences and residents of deprived areas. 

The aim of that programme is to develop an interest in STEAM based activities among children and to be a learning experience for the parents/guardians, by using kits which are circuit based packs for building a small robotic piece. 

According to Minister McConalogue, the funding will have real positive benefits for many people in Donegal.  

“I am delighted that this funding has been allocated to assist the libraries in Donegal with the outstanding work they do. The last few months have been very difficult and any funding which helps our libraries to reach out and engage with communities is most welcome.” 

Another of the Donegal projects to receive funding is the purchase of Teach, Type, Read and Spell (TTRS) licences to assist people with low literacy levels or learning differences. 

“These licences can be expensive and very difficult to afford for families who need them. I hope that those who really need them can avail of these and benefit from them,” Minister McConalogue added. 

The two other Donegal projects will see a 6 week personalised 30 minute bedtime music and movement session provided as part of the children’s book festival (Wainfest), under the Right to Read programme and a programme for blind & visually impaired people and older people to meet with others, and interact and enjoy various activities.

DONEGAL jockeys Dyland Browne-McMonagle and Luke McAteer both saddled winners at Navan this afternoon.

The Donegal duo have been in fine form of late and both rode 15/2 winners.

Browne-McMonagle took victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap on Joseph O’Brien’s Memyselfandmoi.

Browne-McMonagle held sway, but only by a neck from Stormy Belle (14/1).  The Letterkenny lad held on well to claim his 24th win of the calendar year.

McAteer won the Yellow Furze Handicap on Paul Flynn’s 15/2 shot Na Caith Tobac.

McAteer led after two furlongs and was a comfortable winner.

On the Dutch bred Na Caith Tobac, McAteer had almost two lengths to the 9/2 joint favourite Vita Veritas, with Browne-McMonagle in the saddle.

McAteer will now give up his 7lb claim.

Heeney’s U Drop Inn, one of Ballybofey’s most iconic pubs, has been put on the market.

The sale marks the end of an era for the local Heeney family, who are retiring from the hospitality trade after 59 successful years. The founding owner of the pub, Mrs Brigid Heeney, sadly passed away in August at the age of 95.

Heeney’s The U Drop Inn is now for sale by private treaty as going concern via estate agency Lisney’s licensed and leisure division, Morrissey’s.

Heeney’s The U Drop Inn, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. Photo: Lisney.com

The long established licensed complex extends to approx. 1,442 sqm and comprises a Public Bar and Lounge Bar, with Restaurant and Function Room on the ground floor complimented by a requisite kitchen, service and storage accommodation. The former Stampys Nite Club is included as a self-contained night club. The property also includes a spacious residence comprising 3 reception rooms, 5 bedrooms and storage areas.

Heeney’s has long been at the heart of events and social occasions in Ballybofey. It is strategically located in the town centre and is close to the grounds of Finn Harps Football Club.

Heeney’s The U Drop Inn, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal. Photo: Lisney.com

The potential of the property, as described by Lisney’s is: “Enjoys a very steady voluminous annual turnover with very real potential to exploit and expand the established business.”

See the full listing at: https://www.lisney.com/commercial-properties/licensed-and-leisure-property-in-heeneys-the-u-drop-inn-ballybofey-co-donegal/28473

IRELAND’S chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) is ‘deeply concerned’ over the spread of Covid-19 since the weekend.

Dr Holohan’s comments come  as Donegal recorded its highest daily increase of new cases since the outbreak. Yesterday, the Department of Health confirmed 60 new cases in the county.

In the last two weeks, there have been 497 new cases in Donegal, where the incidence rate – 312 cases per 100,000 population – is the highest in the country.

NPHET met on Sunday and recommended a move to Level 5 of Covid-19 restrictions; a suggestion that was rejected by the Government, who instead announced a nationwide move to Level 3 from midnight on Tuesday.

“We took the decision to meet out of cycle because of what we have seen in terms of the changes of the disease,” Dr Holohan said.

“We have seen further deterioration and we are deeply concerned about the changing path of this infection.

“We conveyed our findings, analysis and recommendations to the Minister of Health and into the Government.”

Dr Holohan was critical of how NPHET’s proposal to move to Level 5 was leaked to the media on Sunday night – prompting widespread panic across the country.

He said: “The findings and recommendations, as in the past, required early and serious and confidential discussion. That didn’t happen. The content leaked into the media and whoever leaked that did not share our objective to deal with the disease in the way we think appropriate.”

In August, four Covid-19 related deaths were recorded, with that number jumping to 34 in September and there have been eight Covid-19 related deaths noted so far in October.

80 COVID-19 cases were hospitalised in August, 206 in September and there have been 77 hospitalisations so far in October.

Dr Holohan said: “I have to get across the seriousness of the situation we are in.

“We are now beginning to see exponential growth in case numbers. Unless we individually and collectively take the message that we are giving seriously, it will become inevitable.

“All key indicators of the disease have deteriorated further in the three days since the last meeting of NPHET on Sunday 4th October. COVID-19 is spreading in our community in a very worrying manner. We have to break these chains of transmission.”

The Connacht Ulster Alliance remains on track to submit an application for University status before end of year, Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has confirmed.

The Connacht Ulster Alliance is comprised of GMIT, IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT, who are moving forward to secure university status by becoming a Technological University (TU) for the West/North West with eight campuses stretching from Letterkenny to Galway.

Further funding has been allocated to higher education institutions across the country to help them in their progression towards the sought-after status.

Joe McHugh, TD for Donegal said: “The Connacht Ulster Alliance consortium, comprising Galway-Mayo IT, Letterkenny IT and IT Sligo, is continuing to work towards submission of an application for University designation towards the end of this year or early 2021, which is good news for this County and region.

“The creation of Technological Universities is a key commitment within the Programme for Government and will deliver significant advantages to national priorities in relation to Higher Education access, research-informed teaching and learning, as well as supporting enterprise and regional development here in Donegal and across the North West.

“The unparalleled national Government investment of €34.33 million this year and € 90 million over the lifetime of the Fund, will establish TUs across all regions capable of delivering national strategic objectives in accordance with the TURN report vision.

“The TURN report “Connectedness & Collaboration enabled by Connectivity”, was published in October 2019 and sets out the case for a State change in higher education reform for the delivery of national strategic priorities.

“This is to be achieved through the connectedness, particularly at regional level, collaboration and connectivity of technological universities and their unique delivery of programmes across the full range of the National Framework of Qualifications from apprenticeships to doctoral degrees.”

“This investment will help deliver for the benefit of Donegal communities, the north-west region and Ireland internationally,” McHugh concluded.

This Road Safety Week, our motoring columnist Brian McDaid explains from experience why we should always be ready to react to the roads.

Suddenly there was a very powerful pull on the steering wheel, now I am heading towards the ditch. The windscreen is now covered with a massive spray of water. It all happened so fast and then everything seemed to move in slow motion. My vision was blocked, I was waiting for the bang. 

It was a lot duller than it should be for this time of the evening, it had been raining all afternoon. I was coming from work covering a junior football GAA final. Ten minutes before that I was joking with a few fellow journalists about the evening’s heavy rain suggesting to them it wasn’t too bad and they were looking at me as if I had two heads on me!

‘Ah Hello Brian are you serious sir’ one of them called over to me as they were wrapping up the wet gear that covered their cameras and microphones, ‘rain is bad but rain and wind is worse’. I suggested but they weren’t buying it from me.

After that we got into our cars and vans and put the heaters on and headed for home. Behind me, a car was travelling very close and when it got a chance the car flew passt on the straight of the road. I checked the car’s speed by comparing it to the reading on my speedometer, I was doing 90 km per hour so the authority at which they passed me would suggest they were travelling a lot faster than me. 

‘What’s your rush?’ I thought to myself as I watched the spray follow the trail of this car as it headed down the road and out of sight.

Then a few minutes later the steering was pulled out of my hand and I was heading towards the ditch. 

The spray of water that covered the windscreen blinded my view of the road ahead. The flow of water running down the side of the road then was gone for a moment and the pull on the steering was also free now I was heading in the other direction, out to the middle of the road and into the path of a line of oncoming cars. At the side of my view I could see more water flowing out on the road and more cars coming in the opposite direction. I had no option but to drive into the flood again and by this stage I had slowed up a bit and it was easier to control the direction that the water was pulling the van. 

Hitting water at speed from a picture of flooding from last year near Kilmacrennan, a hazard that can strike without notice in these autumn and winter months. photo Brian Mc Daid.

Aquaplaning. 

Aquaplaning sounds different to what it feels like, it’s when pools of water after heavy rain lying on the road cause the tyres of a car to loss contact with the road and will have a pull on the steering, which was what happened when I hit this big flow of water running down the side of the road on Sunday evening. 

The tyres on my van are not that wide (185/65/R15) and only on the van a month so it felt as if they cut into the water a bit more than ski over the top of the water surface when it hit the flow. A wider tyre which is the norm on a typical family car may have behaved differently and possibly worse in water like this on the road. As things worked out on Sunday evening I was lucky enough to get through this without any damage a bit James Bond feeling – shaken but not stirred. 

I could just put it down to a near miss. It’s not the first time it has happened to me on the road, especially at this time of the year as water from fields along county roads end up as ‘ pop up’ fast flowing small rivers. 

As I headed on up the road I caught up with what looked very like the car that flew past me a mile or so before we met the flooded road. They were travelling slower now presumably caught by the same water flowing down the road. We were both lucky to get away with a scare and both go to their destination. 

Floods on the road last years in Donegal which are common hazard you will unexpectedly meet on you journey. Photo Brian McDaid.

There was a time that I was more likely to be that car in front, I had no patience to sit behind. A few years in the fire service attending car crashes changes your view over the years and you wonder – is it really necessary to be that car in front? Having said that it didn’t matter which position on the road you were when you meet the unexpected like a heavy flow of water flowing down the road, I know I was travelling too fast at 90kms per hour to make driving through this amount of water on the road very dangerous. That is just one of the hazards that you are more likely to have to deal with as the evenings get shorter and the weather gets worse. 

Nobody wants to hear about what you should or shouldn’t do to prepare for winter driving maybe because we don’t get real winters anymore, well, not the kind you see on the front of a Christmas Card. 

Our snow doesn’t last long enough. We wait until the snow arrives then we slip and slide about the place until it goes away. Between wet and greasy roads from heavy rain fall, falling leaves right through to frost, the road that you think you know will throw all these dangers up on to your path without any notice. In these coming months, every night or day you sit in behind the steering wheel, be ready to react for the roads ahead in the coming months 

Hundreds and thousands. 

And finally I couldn’t let this week go without saying a big Happy Birthday to a neighbour at the foot of the town, Jim Houston who celebrated his 84th birthday this week.

Jim was a familiar sight at Eunan’s Cathedral where he spent a lot of his life both in prayer and helping out opening and closing the gates every morning and night up to a few years ago. So a few of team that help out at the chapel landed down in a social distance planned visit with a birthday cake specially made up in Macs bakery and deli on the High Rd which was presented by Fr Damien, assisted by a few of the brides, Adria McGlinchey and Tina Carr Lewis along with Elanor McDermott who run a fundraising seven brides wedding for Jim on his 80th birthday at the Station House Hotel four years ago. I think this photo of Jim standing out with his sister Olive James who looks after him now in Ballymacool just says everything that genuine joy says and what it feels like to appreciate someone’s kind gesture. 

The smile says it all as one of Letterkenny’s best , Jim Houston celebrates his 84th birthday pictured with his sister Olive James on Tuesday morning. Photo Brian McDaid.

One of the brides Adrienne Mc Glinchey who helped Jim Celebrate his 80th birthday arrived (fashionably late) and a quick check in the window she was ready to celebrate his 84th birthday.

Add that all up and then spot the hundreds and thousands on the side of the cake and your name in the top. And I’m back in the 70’s at the foot of the town waiting on my Uncle Miah Deeney to arrive in the old Model Bakery bread van with my birthday cake for a party at my Auntie B’s and him sitting in for a quick cuppa and getting a slice of cake before he headed off again. 

Happy Birthday Jim Houston and 

Safe Motoring Folks. 

A LETTERKENNY woman with 24 previous convictions has been given a three-month suspended sentence after appearing in court on two theft charges.

Julia Stokes (36), with an address at The Elms, Letterkenny, was before Letterkenny District Court, where she pleaded guilty to the charges.

On February 17, 2016, Gardaí reacted to a call at Pennys, Letterkenny Shopping Centre. The manager reported that the accused hd placed items of clothing, valued at €321, into a used Pennys shopping bag before leaving the last point of sale without paying.

Stokes was apprehended by security staff. The items were recovered and resaleable.

On December 18, 2017, Stokes entered the Lidl store at Pearse Road, Letterkenny and placed two bottles of Chardonnay wine into her handbag. Store security followed her and the items were recovered

The court heard that Stokes had 24 previous counts of section 4 theft and handling offences.

Solicitor Mr Patsy Gallagher said his client had gone through a ‘traumatic personal medical matter’.

“She is in counselling and is attending AA and drug awareness classes,”he said.

“She wants to put these matters behind her.”

Stokes was in court to plead guilty to the charges.

For the December 2017 offence, Judge Paul Kelly sentenced Stokes to three months in prison, suspended for two years on her own bond of €200. Judge Kelly marked the February 2016 matter taken into consideration.

Judge Kelly warned Stokes: “It’s up to you whether you serve that sentence or not.”

THERE have been almost 10,000 Covid-19 tests conducted in Donegal over the last four weeks.

In the four seven-day periods since September 7, there were 9,556 tests conducted in the county.

In the weekend ending Sunday, October 4, there were 2,875 tests conducted in Donegal, the HSE confirmed to Donegal Daily.

That is 85 fewer tests that in the preceding seven-day period, when there were 2,959 tests conducted in the county.

There are now two tests centres operating in Donegal and in the last week there were an average of 408 tests a day carried out in the county.

Towards the end of September, a pop-up test centre began operating at the Cleary Centre in Donegal. This facility compliments the Community Testing Centre at the St Conal’s Campus in Letterkenny.

On the week ending September 13, there were a total of 1,348 tests carried out and that number rose significantly, to 2,375, by the end of the next week.

On the last weekend in August, Donegal had a total of 476 tests.

A HSE spokesperson said they were not releasing test data for the individual centres and would not divulge the amount of people in Donegal who have not presented for a scheduled Covid-19 test.

In the last two weeks, there have been 497 new cases of coronavirus in Donegal, where the incidence rate – 312 cases per 100,000 population – is the highest in the country.

A special social enterprise in Donegal has won a place on Rethink Ireland’s Genesis Programme.

Liquid Therapy, based in Bundoran, provides young people with physical, mental, emotional, behavioural and intellectual needs from rural areas with the opportunity to take part in ocean and surf-based activities.

The project is one of 40 awardees selected to benefit from Rethink Ireland’s  Social Enterprise Development Fund. Sixteen enterprises will receive cash grants and business support. A further 24 enterprises including Liquid Therapy, will receive strategic support to help expand their impact through a ‘Genesis Programme’. The programme is an intensive two-day residential workshop that will focus on building the skills and knowledge needed to develop a sustainable social enterprise and be successful in future funding opportunities.

Liquid Therapy Bundoran

The Social Enterprise Development Fund is a €3.2 million Fund being delivered from 2018 – 2022. The fund was created by Rethink Ireland in partnership with Local Authorities Ireland and funded by IPB Insurance and the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Dormant Accounts Fund.

Seamus Neely, former Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, said: “We would like to extend our congratulations to Liquid Therapy on their success in receiving a Social Enterprise Development Fund Award from Rethink Ireland.

“The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted many challenges and opportunities for our local communities in recent months – at both a social and economic level. Social Enterprises can contribute an enormous amount to creating strong communities and to agile responses as our context continually changes.  Thanks to Rethink Ireland and the Social Enterprise Development Fund, innovative organisations like Liquid Therapy will continue to bring about positive social change, while also boosting the local economy by creating jobs.”

A woman with Donegal roots has been charged with money laundering after more than €2million in cash was seized by Border Force officers at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Tara Hanlon, 30, was stopped at the airport’s Terminal 2 at around 8pm on Saturday night last, 3 October before attempting to board a flight to Dubai.

Ms Hanlon is originally from rural Donegal but has been living in a Leeds in England.

Officers searched FIVE suitcases and found cash totalling £1.9 million in sterling notes – the largest such detection at the border so far in 2020.

Hanlon was arrested, along with a 28-year-old woman from the Doncaster area, and the investigation was referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Chris Philp, Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts, said “This is the largest individual cash seizure at the border so far in 2020 and I am delighted with the efforts of Border Force officers.

“Preventing the export of undeclared cash from the UK is a vital step in clamping down on organised criminal gangs.”

Miss Hanlon, with an address at Pelham Court, Leeds, was later charged with money laundering and appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Monday, 5 October where she was remanded in custody until her next appearance at Isleworth Crown Court on 5 November.

The other woman arrested has been released under investigation.

DONEGAL’S 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 cases has gone up to over 312 per 100,000 population.

This is the highest figure in the country, while the national average rate is 124.4.

The incidence rate is calculated by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre based on the number of new cases in a county in relation to the local population.

Donegal has recorded 497 new infections between 23rd September to 6th October. The county case total took a record spike yesterday after 60 more infections were confirmed locally.

The latest data from Letterkenny University Hospital (as of 8pm Wednesday) shows that there are 12 patients with Covid-19 receiving care onsite. One of those patients is in critical care.

“COVID-19 is spreading in our community in a very worrying manner. We have to break these chains of transmission,” said Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer yesterday.

Monaghan has the second highest Covid-19 14-day incidence rate at 257.4, followed by Dublin (171.4) and Roscommon (170.4).

Dr. Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer said the spread of the virus is also contributing to more serious cases of illness: “Trends in case numbers and incidence are now being reflected in indicators of disease severity. The number of people in hospital has increased from 122 last Thursday to 156 this afternoon. There are currently 25 people in critical care compared to 20 one week ago.”

The remains of a large basking shark have washed up on a beach in West Donegal.

Job Vacancy: A Letterkenny-based Accountancy Company is currently recruiting for a Payroll Administrator to join their team. 

This is a part-time position.

Experience of VAT and Accounts preparation required.

Hours flexible.

To apply, send a CV to donegaldailyjobs@gmail.com with PAYROLL ADMINISTRATOR 8 in the email subject line. Closing date for applications is Friday 16th October