Liam Skelly is well-known throughout the county and beyond for his work as a coach with ladies gaelic football, charity work and business.

His latest venture Fit4Food.ie delivers high-quality meals to homes, businesses and creches across County Donegal. Here is the Moville man’s My Donegal

What is your favourite place in Donegal and why?

Moville Shore Walk, I walk it every day & sometimes twice a day.
The morning walk gets me ready for the day ahead & the evening walk gets rid of any stress.

If you could change one thing about Donegal what would it be?

Better links & transport. A Motorway to Dublin would be good so we could be back in God’s country in two hours

How have you coped with Covid?

Fairly well so far, I have worked right through it & I took up gardening & done a bit of extra walking to make up for the lack of football coaching I was doing.
Stick to the rules Social Distance & Wash them hands.
I have just started a new business I am the Donegal agent for www.fit4food.ie we do Premium Frozen food delivered to your door. That has kept me very busy.

Who is the one person that you look up to and why?

My big brother Donal as he was always there for me growing up.

What’s your happiest Christmas memory in Donegal? 

Getting my first bike from Santa & riding it around Ard Foyle for most of the day

What has been Donegal’s proudest moment in recent years?
Winning the All Ireland in 2012. What a great buzz & lift it gave the whole county

Who is Donegal’s greatest ambassador around the world and why?

Daniel O’Donnell without a doubt. Mention Donegal abroad & Daniel will be the next words spoken. Noel Cunningham is another great ambassador for Donegal. He’s always so positive.

What has been the biggest compliment you’ve ever received?

My former head master Seamus McTague never had much reason to compliment me during my school days but he phoned me recently to congratulate me on one of my photos that appeared in a local calendar. I thought it was just all right but he insisted it was more than all right. The composition was perfect, he insisted.

Who is your favourite Donegal sportsperson of all time?

Michael Murphy hands down. He’s the greatest we have ever had.
Now I’ve upset Eamon McGee again!

What is your favourite Donegal restaurant?

Rosatos in Moville is hard to beat great atmosphere & fantastic food, It never disappoints.
Harvey’s Point for those special occasions is amazing – the taster menu is amazing.

What is your favourite Donegal saying or expression?
Is that right awe

What is the biggest challenge facing the people of Donegal today?
Covid is the biggest, keeping our communities safe is paramount.
We need major investment in Jobs & infrastructure in this county.
Cork & Galway are 2 hours from Dublin due to a motorway so they are getting all the big companies investing. We are 4 or 5 hours from Dublin so why would companies invest here when it would cost them so much extra in transport costs etc. We will never have a rail network so we need to make sure we get a workable road network

What is your favourite food that you associate with Donegal?

Living close to Greencastle, Irelands premier whitefish port we are blessed with fresh fish.
I love fish. There is just nothing better than fresh fish straight off the boat.

Is there anything that really annoys you about Donegal or its people?

Yeah, we are too easy going. We should complain & protest more.
We just accept we are the forgotten county & get on with it.

Do you have a favourite local band?
“The Keltic Knights” for a bit of Rabble Rousing.
I got to sing the “Hills of Donegal” with Pat Gallagher from the “Goats Don’t Shave” one night in Gaoth Dobhair. He told me when I finished singing that he had wrtten the song but had never heard my version of it before LOL.

If you had a million euro to improve something in Donegal what would it be?

I’d build a dedicated pitch for Ladies Football so young girls wouldn’t feel like second class citizens anymore.

Where’s the most unusual place you’ve logged on to Donegal Daily? 

At the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland in 2016 on a charity hiking trip in the Thorsmork Valley. This is the volcano that spewed out all the ash and grounded flights in 2010.

Is there anything about Donegal that you are very proud of? 

The scenery here is second to none, I love nothing more than a good walk in secluded places there is nothing like it.
I struggled at school & I hated Irish but I would love to be able to speak it now. I don’t think there is anything nicer than to hear conversations going on in Irish.
We done a thing with the county u14 girls a few years ago where we introduced 1 word of Irish at every training session & every match day & then used them on the pitch.

What is the most rewarding thing about what you do?

Work is work I do it because I have too.
Volunteering & Coaching the county underage girls is great, I get such a sense of pride when some of the girls we started on the pathway as 13 & 14yr olds pull on a senior jersey.

If you found a magic wand that allowed you to grant one wish, what would it be?

A pitch for Donegal Ladies Football.
I wouldn’t be greedy just something practical to help our girls to become the best that they can be

What is your favourite Donegal-made product?

Daniel Doherty’s Bakery Sliced Plain Bread.

What is your New Year wish?

For Covid-19 to go away & let us get back out on the football field coaching & doing what we love best.
I want to work hard & get my new food business off the ground.
After 20 years of retail sales this is a totally new experience for me going around door to door.
But if the first two weeks are anything to go by I will be kept busy. I have had a lot of great reviews about the food & the amount of reorders already is amazing.
We have an extensive menu to suits all tastes. Beef, Fish, Chicken, Pork etc we do 4 different ranges of ready meals Low Calorie, High Protein, Vegan & Fakeaway. All our Chicken products are 100% Irish. I have a Facebook page “Fit 4 Food Donegal” & I can be contacted on 086 860 2070

Where there is a will there is a way.

That was the philosophy of parish priest of Kilmacrennan, Fr Paddy Dunne yesterday.

The popular cleric and his team came up with a plan to ensure that parishioners got mass in the safety of the parish car park.

Fr Paddy abandoned the warmth of St Columba’s Church and took to an open back truck where he performed mass.

Locals tuned into the mass on their car radios.

Local people also volunteered as marshals to ensure that the masses all went off smoothly.

A traffic jam for mass on Christmas Day. Sure you couldn’t beat it!

The head of the HSE has hailed today as a ‘momentous day’ as he traveled to take possession of the first batch of Ireland’s Covid vaccine.

Paul Reid confirmed the first batch of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is due to arrive this morning.

Mr Reid made his remarks on Twitter.

He said “An early morning start to a momentous day. Heading off to take receipt of the first delivery of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine for the HSE. There will be better days ahead for sure. For now, stay safe.”

Ireland is to receive 9,750 doses of the vaccine today but will receive close to 30,000 more doses in the next week.

The country’s first inoculations are set to begin on Wednesday with older people resident in nursing homes and healthcare workers in direct contact with patients first on the list to be vaccinated.

Congratulations to Anne Swann, Stranorlar who was the overall winner in this year’s Friends of LUH annual Christmas Hamper fundraising draw.

Anne is pictured with the hamper plus her two children, Isobel and Daniel. The Friends would like to acknowledge Sara’s Kitchen, Sister Sarah’s, Port Road, Letterkenny for sponsoring the main prize. Anne also received a copy of Michael Sugrue’s book Donegal’s Wild Atlantic Way.

Other prize winners were;

* 2nd prize, Mini hamper – Maria Glackin, Buncrana.
* 3rd prize, Christmas Cake – Brid Browne, Letterkenny
* 4th prize, Bottle of Brandy – Catherine Boyce, Kerrykeel.
* 5th prize, Tin of biscuits – John Gallagher, Carrigart.

The Friends of LUH would like to thank all those who bought tickets and supported the draw in any way.

Over €1,000 was raised in the raffle.

A Letterkenny Chiropractic clinic practice has generously donated over 100 toys for local families this Christmas following another successful charity appeal.

Freedom Spinal Health at Mountain Top held their Annual Christmas Appeal this year in aid of Donegal Domestic Violence Services supporting Women and Children.

On the day, in lieu of payment, they request their guest to donate toys and gifts, which are then donated to the Donegal Domestic Violence Service, who then distribute them among families in need.

FFrom left are Shoneez Freeman, Freedom Spinal Health, Siobhan McKee, Donegal Domestic Violence Service and Anthony Lavin, Freedom Spinal Health. Photo Clive Wasson.

The day was greatly supported by members of the practice and also by people in the locality who dropped in to make a donation.

There were also many donations at the Buncrana practice and over 100 toys in total were collected.

Anthony Lavin, Chiropractor and Practice owner, would like to thank all those who donated so generously to make it such a successful and wonderful event, and hopefully this will bring festive cheer to many children and their families.

Merry Christmas and a very happy and healthy 2020 from all at Freedom Spinal Health.

From left are Anthony Lavin, Freedom Spinal Health, Siobhan McKee, Donegal Domestic Violence Service and Shoneez Freeman, Freedom Spinal Health. Photo Clive Wasson.

There have been 1,296 new cases of Covid-19 across Ireland today.

The Department of Health said that 26 patients are now being treated for Covid at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The new cases bring to 85,394 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

There has also been another six deaths recorded today bring the death toll from Covid here to 2,200 people.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said: “For the second day in a row we are reporting more than 1,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19.

“Within a few short weeks of easing measures at the beginning of December, we have now returned to the very high levels of Covid-19 circulating in the community that we have not seen since the peak of Wave Two of this disease. This is very concerning.

“While today is a positive day with the arrival of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine, it does not mean that we can relax our adherence to public health measures.

“We must continue to stay at home, avoid social contact where possible, avoid visiting friends and family and not have visitors to our homes.”

Donegal’s weather is to turn even colder in the next 24 hours.

The county is currently experiencing the wrath of Storm Bella with gusting winds leading to power-cuts locally as well as heavy rain.

Met Eireann has warned that the storm will last until the early hours of tomorrow morning (Sun).

But now the national forecaster has issued a second yellow warning for Donegal – this time for snow and ice.

The warning comes into effect from 6am and will last until 8pm tomorrow evening.

The forecaster said Donegal and Leitrim will encounter wintry showers and a risk of icy stretches on untreated surfaces.

Snow and ice warnings will also be in place tomorrow for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry with rain, sleet and snow forecast through tomorrow night into Monday morning with the potential for icy surfaces and some travel disruption.

Sponsored Post

New year, new beginnings! The Irish School of Reflexology and Wellness in Stranorlar, Co. Donegal are delighted to introduce a new course in February.

The ITEC Level 3 Award in Diet and Nutrition is an opportunity for learners to focus on the development of their wider skills in complementary therapy and to gain a professional qualification in Diet and Nutrition.

Starting on 9th February 2021, this course is online only. Enrollment is now open on www.irishschoolofreflexology.com

Tatiana Grosso, Principal of ISR&W explains more: 

This course complements Reflexology ( but also other holistic therapies) so well because, as reflexologists, we know how health encapsulates the physical, mental, and spiritual energies. Health comes from an holistic approach that takes into consideration the whole picture: we are what we eat, we are what we do and we are what we think.

So keeping all this in mind: what we do needs to be healing, what we eat needs to be strengthening, what we think needs to be uplifting.

People today are developing a new and responsible attitude to themselves, a new concept of sickness and health, and this in turn is leading them to preventative methods of healing therapies that gives them faith in themselves.

We, as Therapists, can support our clients in this journey by adding this skill to our knowledge library.

This Nutrition qualification is geared towards learners who want to work within the complementary therapy industry. This course can be a great chance for personal development and awareness also for people who are not from the sector to gain insight and knowledge about Nutrition and will open up great opportunities of development and progression in holistic health.

Opportunities for Progression:
Students who achieve this award may protect to other awards at Level 3 and 4 including:

• Level 3 Diploma in Complementary Therapies
• Level 3 Diploma in Massage
• Level 3 Diploma in Reflexology
• Level 3 Diploma in Aromatherapy
• Level 3 Diploma in Indian Head Massage
• Level 3 Certificate in Stone Therapy Massage
• Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage
• Level 4 Diploma in Spa and Salon Management
• Level 4 Certificate in Sports Massage

I am very excited to start this new adventure! I have always been interested in Nutrition. But the role and importance of Nutrition became clearer to me as I progressed with my studies and as I was working with my own patients.

I have started to appreciate even more the benefits of having a proper diet while practicing and teaching Reflexology. As we know  Health comes from a combination of different factors. And diet plays a crucial role in the scenario.

New courses at the Irish School of Reflexology and Wellness in 2021:

With many people looking to start afresh in the New Year, the ISR&W is presenting its new courses for developing your skills.

• ITEC Level 3 Award in Diet and Nutrition – starting 9th February online
• Refresher Reflexology Weekend: Reflexology Refresher Course – Donegal: 20th and 21st of February 2021
• Practitioner’s Diploma in Foot Reflexology – starting on the 27th and 28th of February
• One Day Hand Reflexology course is also coming soon.

The Irish School of Reflexology & Wellness are leaders in holistic health education. Our goal is to educate and train our students to the highest levels of excellence. 

We achieve this by: 

1. Offering Comprehensive, professional and multi-platform education;

2. Delivering high-quality course material and experienced tutors;

3. Accompanying students through their own journey of personal growth during their training. 

By constantly monitoring and improving our own high standards, the ISR&W fosters competence, professionalism, and community; and always strives to preserve and share knowledge in natural healing. Through the promotion of these values we demonstrate our respect for our students, employees, associates and our community.

Here, Tatiana Grosso, N.R.R.I., Principal of ISR&W, shares further details of the upcoming courses:

ITEC Level 3 Award in Diet and Nutrition

Starting 9th February 2021 – Online Only. Download the course brochure at: https://www.irishschoolofreflexology.com/nutritionlevel3itec

The ITEC Level 3 Award in Diet and Nutrition is an opportunity for the learner to explore and learn about all the intricate but fascinating implications that nutrition has to offer in order to understand how to maintain health. Amongst other subjects, we will be learning about the Enteric nervous system and gut health as well. The Enteric Nervous System is also referred as The Brain in the Gut. The gut has a mind of its own, the “enteric nervous system”. Just like the brain, researchers say this system sends and receives impulses, records experiences and responds to emotions. Its nerve cells are bathed and influenced by the same neurotransmitters as the brain. The gut can upset the brain just as the brain can upset the gut. The gut’s brain or the “enteric nervous system” is located in the sheaths of tissue lining the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon. It should be really interesting to learn how much gut health and the food we eat can affect us and our wellbeing.

The aim of the Irish School of Reflexology and Wellness is to promote and support the healing journeys of their students and their clients.

This course provides the related knowledge and understanding required to advise the client on healthy eating and well-being; in particular health and safety considerations, the role and sources of nutrients required for a balanced diet and to maintain good health, understanding of metabolism, and the basic rules and guidelines to food labelling.

The main aim of the ITEC Level 3 Award in Diet and Nutrition is to enable learners to gain the necessary theoretical skills in order to provide healthy eating advice to their clients and to gain employment in the complementary therapy industry.

The student will gain knowledge in the following areas:
• Diet and nutrition – to include dietary requirements such as; roles of carbohydrates, protein, fibre, vitamins, nutritional value of foods, effects of antioxidants and common ailments.
• The student will also learn about related health and safety, and client care and communication which is essential in order to work and be successful in the industry.

This qualification also provides:
• The related knowledge and understanding required to perform the healthy eating skills listed above effectively, in particular the dietary requirements and common diseases and disorders
• Opportunities for learners to focus on the development of their wider skills in a dietary advice setting, such as communicating with clients, working with others and problem solving
• Opportunities for learners to develop a range of skills, techniques, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in employment as a healthy eating adviser.

Enrollment is now open on www.irishschoolofreflexology.com

Practitioner’s Diploma in foot Reflexology

New term starting on the 27th and 28th of February

The Irish School of Reflexology and Wellness provides professional training in traditional reflexology, which enables students to build their own practice or add to their existing health care practice.

Diploma Certification gained from Irish School of Reflexology

Fully Accredited

The ISR is Accredited with the National Register of Reflexologists IRL. At the end of the year, the students will be awarded a Diploma in Traditional Foot Reflexology (recognised by all the major health insurance companies- VHI, Aviva, LayaHealthcare) and will be able to start their own practice, go to work in hospital, daycare centre, hospices, spas, and hotels.

“At the ISR we aim to teach every individual, not just the group, looking to specific ways to help each one of our students in this process in a way that is tailored exactly to them,” says Tatiana Grosso Lawless, Principal of the Irish School of Reflexology.

“We want our students to feel confident in their own practice so when they finish the Diploma course they are in a position to confidently and effectively help their clients with their own complaints and problems. Helping others to heal is our mission and the priority in everything that we teach.

“The Diploma is part-time (one weekend per month) which means our students will only need to attend one weekend per month only. No previous experience needed.

“Part of our syllabus will be teaching the A&P in a way that students will use that knowledge in their treatment. Knowing how the body works will be very useful to understand how to help our clients when the body is not in balance or ill.

“We will be also covering the theory of Reflexology, holistic approach, practical work, and much more. We are very proud of the level of training we provide to our students and they seem to appreciate that.”

Some of the modules are:

• How to use Reflexology to work on specific illnesses and conditions as well as the whole body
• How to set up your own Reflexology practice
• Maternity and Infertility Reflexology
• An introduction to hand Reflexology
• Anatomy and physiology- all the systems of the body. Understand order in order to understand disorders
• Nutrition and healthy habits
• How to interact with patients and manage their care

Enrollment is now open on www.irishschoolofreflexology.com

Refresher Reflexology Weekend

Reflexology Refresher Course – Donegal: 20th & 21st of February 2021.

Refresher Courses are ideal for therapists who haven’t used their skills in a while and would like to get their confidence back. This course is suitable for out-of-practice but trained reflexologists who are keen to return to practicing their healing skills more frequently and learning more about the many conditions they can help to relieve with reflexology.This two days Refresher Reflexology workshop is designed to give you the confidence to go out and be the therapist that you started out to be.

This Refresher Reflexology workshop is all about honing your skills, fine tuning your location of points and to get plenty of practice to get your fingers moving again.

Course Content
Over the course of the two days you will:

• Get plenty of practice to get your fingers moving again with in-depth revision of thumb-walking and finger-walking techniques
• Explore existing and new Reflexology techniques, both basic and advanced
• Refresh your knowledge on the most common ailments/conditions and which reflexes to work with to treat them
• Be shown some advanced techniques to add to your treatment
• Be brought through a full revision of reading the feet, zone therapy and locating reflexes
• Realize that you actually have all the knowledge to be a great reflexologist
• Grow your confidence as a reflexologist
• Cover the importance of joining an organization for your clients to avail of money back from their insurance companies
• Learn useful business strategies to help build and grow your business.

At the end of the weekend, students will receive a Certificate of Attendance and enjoy a newly rediscovered confidence to go out and practice.

Enrollment is now open on www.irishschoolofreflexology.com

Coming soon- One Day Hand Reflexology

The Irish School of Reflexology and Wellness is located at The Base Enterprise Centre, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.

Enrolment is open now for the new term in February 2021 at www.irishschoolofreflexology.com

A kind-hearted Letterkenny woman has made her 16th charity donation following another successful fundraiser.

Over the years, Margaret Coyle raised money for local causes through a popular Christmas hamper draw. 

This year’s fundraiser was in support of RNLI Lifeboats, and Margaret was proud to present a cheque for €1,000 to the life-saving charity.

To date, over 16 different charities have benefited from the raffles, including the Donegal Hospice, Donegal Mountain Rescue, St. Vincent de Paul, Autism family support group, Blood Bikes, Foyle Search and Rescue, Pieta House, Hugh’s Gouse, Irish Kidney Association, BUMBLEance, Donegal Down  Syndrome, Letterkenny Unversity Hospital ICU and Cancer Unit.

THERE was a small rise in the number of Covid-19 patients being treated at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The latest HSE figures show that, as of 8pm on Saturday, there were 27 Covid-19 patients in LUH – up from 26 at the same time 24 hours earlier.

There is also one suspect Covid-19 case at LUH.

There are 71 general beds available at LUH, but there are no vacant critical care beds.

Two of the patients receiving Covid-19 care are in the intensive care unit.

DUE to the new Covid 19 restrictions, Letterkenny Rotary Club’s Virtual Tree of Remembrance is going to remain open, right through to the end of this year. 

This might especially assist many people who have been impacted by the travel ban in being unable to get home for Christmas and who now may wish to send New Year greetings to family and friends when they are unable to visit.

Picture: The traditional Christmas Tree of Remembrance last year is replaced in 2020 by a virtual version.

As before, all funds raised will be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Society who have done Trojan work in the community throughout this difficult year but now especially at this festive time, as we have been assured that there are so many more families dependent on their services now more than ever.

The concept is very simple: Have your bank card to hand and log onto http://Letterkennyrotaryclub.givingtrees.ie

Follow the simple steps to write a dedication for a simple donation of your choosing.

An acknowledgement email will be sent to you afterwards and you may also share your dedication by social media or retain it private if wished.

All information as part of this process will be completely confidential and not shared with any other entity.

Thank you most sincerely to everyone who has already contributed so far and all who has supported our Rotary club events during 2020 which has enabled Letterkenny Rotary Club to support many local charities for example, the We Care Food Bank, Meals for Front Line Workers during Lockdown 1, Women’s refuge & Domestic violence Centre, Literacy Aid for Lebanon, Schools World Polio Day, School Bikes for Africa, Mercy Ships & the St Vincent de Paul.

A SERVING Garda in the Donegal Division has been temporarily suspended after an alleged breach of Covid-19 measures.

Garda bosses were informed that the Garda attended a ‘lock-in’ at a pub.

It was claimed that the Garda attended the pub with some locals who convened to watch a football match.

The Garda was suspended from duty three weeks ago, pending a full investigation.

There have been over 500 new Covid-19 cases in Donegal over the last two weeks and over 3,700 in total since the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has been made aware of the matter and the Garda is said to have made admissions.

The identity of the Garda or the pub in question have not been disclosed by then authorities.

STUDENTS at a Donegal school recorded a heart-warming Christmas song dedicated to the people they miss this festive season.

‘This Christmas’ was recorded by students at Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola.

Before they parted for the Christmas holidays, the students put the song to a video they dedicated to family and friends who are missed this year due to Covid-19.

Watch the video below …

ARDARA GAA club is seeking a further development at its Pearse Park home.

In a month when it was granted permission for the erection of a new gymnasium at training room, plans have been lodged to develop a new training facility.

Ardara GAA Club Chairman John McConnell has sought planning permission for the development of an all-weather training facility and associated site works at the Kentucky facility.

A new floodlit playing pitch, complimented by the addition of a state-of-the-art clubhouse and adjoining spectator stand preceded the club’s hosting of the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta finals in 2015.

A fitness room was officially opened in the spring of 2016.

Pearse Memorial Park was named as Donegal and Ulster Ground of the Year in 2015.

Donegal County Council say a decision on the new application is due on February 23, 2021.

OVER 250 homes in Donegal are without power this afternoon.

The remnants of Storm Bella, which swept across Ireland overnight, has left many in darkness.

In the Milford area, there are 248 customers affected by an outrage.

A further ten customers are affected in the Stranorlar area.

ESB say that they are working to repair the faults and power is expected to be restored by 2pm.

ESB have apologised for the loss of supply.

A status yellow wind warning has been issued for Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry. It is valid until 2pm tomorrow.

Northwesterly winds associated with Storm Bella, veering northerly overnight, will reach mean speeds of 50km/h to 65km/h with gusts of 90km/h to 110km/h. Winds will be stronger in exposed areas and on higher ground.

With the combination of strong winds, high waves and forecasted storm surge, there is a risk of coastal flooding.

There is also a yellow warning in place for snow and ice in a number of countries, including Donegal, with Met Éireann cautioning of wintry showers and a risk of icy stretches on untreated surfaces.

The warning is in place until Monday morning at 7am.

TAOISEACH Micheál Martin says the government is considering introducing a ‘living wage’ in a bid to fight income inequality.

The Taoiseach says that the Covid-19 pandemic had highlighted the vast inequality and a living wage was among measures being considered.

“I think there is a clear message emanating from Covid that it has exposed the duality of the Irish economy in terms of low-paid workers and yet the sectors that were key to us all from March onwards were retail and so forth,” he said.

“Now some employers have been good, I have to say, in terms of the practices that they’ve deployed in respect of their workforce. And I do think we need to look at that and the Government will be looking at the whole area of a living wage, that’s something we’ve got to do, not just a minimum wage but a living wage, which would really deal to some degree with that issue.

“And also, better conditions for workers and we’ll have to constantly look at that, we have dealt with this in some shape already in terms of the contract hours and in terms of security of tenure for employees.

“All of that has to be examined and is being examined, with a view to underpinning security income for lower paid workers, even the current public service pay agreement is weighted towards lower income workers in the public service. And I think that will be a theme of the Government in terms of that issue.”

HEIGHTENED Covid-19 restrictions came into place today.

Inter-county travel is now banned while household visits are now under new measures.

People are now only allowed to have visitors from one other household. After January 1, household visits are not permitted.

Hotel guests who were book in for Christmas have to check out today with hotels now only permitted to open for essential purposes.

A record daily high of 1,296 cases of Covid-19 were reported by health officials yesterday.

Contact tracing calls have more than tripled with over 30,000 class now being made in a week.

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid tweeted today: “Testing & tracing volumes now at alarming levels. Our highest daily tests now at 23,000. Community positivity reaching 10%. Close contacts averaging at 5 people. Tracing calls gone from less than 10K to now over 3OK per week. Please review New Year Plans to keep safe.”

A SUSPECTED handgun has been recovered by Gardaí following a robbery at a busy filling station in Letterkenny this morning.

A man entered the Spar Express at Glencar, Letterkenny at approximately 9.40am.

The man was armed with what appeared to be a gun, Gardaí have confirmed.

Terrified staff were threatened before the man fled on foot with a sum of cash and a quantity of cigarettes.

Later in the morning, Gardaí responded to a reports of a theft of a vehicle and intercepted a car in Donegal town.

The driver, a man aged in his 20s, was arrested and is being detained at Letterkenny Garda Station under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

A suspected handgun, a sum of cash and a quantity of cigarettes were all recovered by Gardaí.

The suspected handgun will be sent to the Ballistics Unit for analysis. The car was seized for technical examination.

A Garda spokesperson said that investigations are ongoing.

GARDAÍ in Donegal last night apprehended a motorist driving while disqualified.

The driver was detected on Letterkenny Main Street with the aid of the mobility app.

The driver was arrested, charged and now faces a court appearance in the near future.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Please do not take risks when it comes to road safety.”

The Long Lane Area Residents Association and Donegal Youth Service have created a new art Mural to inspire young people who visit the youth club.

The piece was created by artist, Donal O Doherty from Peaball Visual Arts and was funded by Creative Ireland, Donegal County Council and The Department of Heritage, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

The initial artwork was designed by a young person from the Long Lane area who was part of the youth led art project for the Long Lane.

Chairperson of the Long Lane Committee, Finn O Donnell said “We initially wanted to have this mural on the Long Lane however, with having another mural for another location and having this project as a youth led project, where better to have it than at Donegal Youth Service.”

The Long Lane group and the DYS have discussed similar projects and collaborations in the future. ”It has been a great success working with DY”, Mr O Donnell said. “We have many young people from Long Lane who avail of the services at DYS. I can’t see why we shouldn’t work with the great hard working people at DYS on other projects like this.”