Catlefinn Community News:

Whist: 17/12/2014

Ladies. 1st Kathleen Duffy, Stranorlar 171 2nd Abina Mc Menamin, glenswilley 170 3rd Molly O Hare, 160.

Gents. 1st Bob Glacken, Castlederg 169 2nd Patsy O Hagan, Cloghfin 162 3rd Tommy Murphy, Letterkenny 158

1st Half TIE:

Malachy Brown, Raphoe 84

2nd Half:

Geraldine Vambeck, Lifford 88

Snowball:

Snowball next week is 40 euro for 189 or more.

Everyone Welcome on Wednesday@ 8.30pm to st marys hall castlefinn.

Congratualtions to Molly O Hare who celebrated her 94th birthday on the 3rd of January.

Parent and Toddler Group

The Parent and toddler group returns on Tuesday the 20th of January. New members are always welcome.

Slim R Us

Slim R Us fitness classes are on at the CPI on Monday evenings from 6.30 to 7.30 pm. Contact Tilly on 086 2490095 for more information on how to join

Castlefinn Running:

Castefinn running has now started a new walking/running group for absolute beginners. This group will be walking, light running and light circuits + core, it will run at the CPI Centre on Mondays and Wednesdays @6.30pm. all levels of fitness catered for. Males and females over 16 years welcome.

Castlefinn Walking:

The walking group returns this wednesday the 14th of January at 10.30 a.m. with a new walking programme, and will run every Wednesday.

The programme has been developed and will be delivered by a fully qualified FitWalk Ireland tutor, and will incorporate different challenges and a different route each week. The programme is suitable for all fitness levels and abilities; regardless of whether you walk regularly or not. Come along and join a walking group that will provide the enthusiasm and motivation to help you achieve your personal goals, and ensure your walking workout is enjoyable and worth while!

ASIST

An Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop will be held in the CPI Castlefinn. This is a two day skills building workshop in suicide prevention. The course will run on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th January 2015 from 9.30 am to 4.30pm each day. If interested contact the CPI on 074-9143976

The owner of an Indian restaurant has been ordered to pay the ESB almost €4,000 when a worker had his eyebrows burned after a meter was tampered with.

A man was injured after the ESB meter was tampered with.

Bettina Adams, of the Spice of India restaurant in Milford, was charged with failing to stop the interference of a meter.

Letterkenny District Court heard how an electrical contractor received injuries after investigating a meter at the premises.

His eyebrows were burned after he encountered a flash while working at the meter on April 19th, 2013.

The ESB investigated the issue and found the meter had been tampered with and it was made safe.

Solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client was not responsible for tampering with the meter but knew it had been interfered with.

He said the accused was only rented the premises and said it was not “a hive of activity.”

The court was told that the contractor had been lucky he had not been more seriously hurt.

Judge Paul Kelly said “This graphically illustrates the dangers of such operations.”

Mr Gallagher said Ms Adams had agreed to pay the ESB the €4,000 they were owed at €100 per month.

Judge Kelly also fined the woman €350 for failing to stop an interference with a meter.

A soldier who appeared in court for having bald tyres was told to look after his car or he may not be around to see his young child grow up.

Martin McCrossan, 34, was stopped by Gardai at Castlefin.

Sgt Paul Magee told the court that the tyres was so bald you could se the wire coming through.

However he said McCrossan, of Liscooley Villas, Castlefin got new tyres straight after the incident.

The court heard that McCrossan was a married father of two, whose wife had recently given birth to their second child, was employed by the defense forces.

Judge Paul Kelly warned McCrossan that he needed to pay more attention to the condition of his car or he might not be around to look after his new baby.

He fined him €150 for having bald tyres.

Joe Brolly with Donegal and Termon star Geraldine McLaughlin.

Joe Brolly has stoked the flames with Kerry AGAIN by tweeting the scoring statistics of Geraldine McLaughlin in comparison to Player of the year James O’Donoghue.

In the picture Brolly tweets, “Geraldine McLaughlin. 25-35 in 7 games en-route to the Senior All Ireland club title. What you think of that @Jamesod7?

Kerry star O’Donoghue and Brolly exchanged ’friendly tweets’ after the All-Ireland Football Final in September.

In the immediate aftermath of that All-Ireland Final, Kerry full-forward Kieran Donaghey was interviewed and famously shouted into the camera, “Well what do you make of that Joe Brolly?”

Donaghey claimed the reason for his outburst was that James O’Donoghue had told him on the morning of the final that Brolly had written an article in which he claimed the conveyor belt of talent in Kerry was broken.

However, Brolly has used Termon star Geraldine McLaughlin to reignite the friendly banter between himself and O’Donoghue on Twitter.

McLaughlin’s scoring exploits have been well documented and her season tally of 25-35 in seven matches is simply incredible.

McLaughlin scored 3-8 in the All-Ireland final alone!

O’Donoghue scored 4-24 in the same number of matches as McLaughlin.

Brolly pokes fun at O’Donoghue own scoring exploits by disclosing McLaughlin’s incredible statistics in the tweet which he sent directly to him.

O’Donoghue had been lauded for his scoring exploits this season which earned him the coveted Player of the year gong.

But Brolly reminded him as only he can do that his scoring exploits aren’t that impressive when compared to the Termon star.

Brolly was the guest of honour at the Termon GAA Dinner Dance which celebrated the incredible achievements of the Termon Ladies team.

Right2Water Donegal have announced plans for another major demonstration against water charges to be held in Letterkenny on the 31st of January.

The huge crowd at the anti-water charge march in November in Letterkenny.

The latest protest march follows the huge demonstration held in the town in November.

Right2Water Donegal PRO Gary Doherty says the march is being organised on foot of the continued installation of water meters in Donegal.

“In the last number of months we have seen a high level of activity from Irish Water contractors in Donegal, and this week has seen meter installation begin in Letterkenny for the first time. This has caused huge anger and upset in the County from our people who are totally opposed to the imposition of water charges, and Right2Water Donegal members have been leading the protests against this meter installation.

“The demonstration on January 31st will provide a platform and an opportunity for all of those opposed to water charges to vent their anger at the Government, and send the message once more that Donegal will not acquiesce with this unfair and unjust tax”, he said.

Fellow Right2Water Donegal member Owen Curran also encouraged all those opposed to water charges to support the demonstration and the Right2Water campaign.

“Right2Water is the largest anti – water charges organisation in the country , and our strength lies in the number of political groupings, independents, trade unions and community groups who are affiliated to the campaign.

“It is only through a united and concerted campaign can Irish Water and the Government be defeated. Right2Water has brought hundreds of thousands of people to our streets in the last number of months. On the 1st of November we had 10,000 people protesting on the streets of Donegal. That level of public protest is unheard of in the last few decades here, and we believe we have the Government rattled.

“We in Right2Water Donegal held a committee meeting in Letterkenny on Tuesday night last, and this planned protest is only one tenet of our plan of action against the water charges. We plan to build the campaign further until we have defeated the Government on this issue, and water charges and Irish Water are abolished.”

PICTURE SPECIAL: Daltaí Choláiste Ailigh ag baint sult as an BT Eolaí Óg san RDS.

Frank Ryan, Chairman – IDA Ireland, Minister Richard Bruton, Martin Shanahan, CEO – IDA Ireland

THE IDA has said 125 extra jobs were created in the North West last year – out of 15,200 new jobs created in the State in 2014.

The organisation had boasted at a press conference this week about the increased job creation – with impressive new figures nationally.

They also boasted that more than a third of the new jobs were outside Dublin and Cork.

But less that one per cent were in Donegal/Sligo/Leitrim.

And the IDA wouldn’t say how many were created in Donegal out of the 125 extra positions.

In total 316 jobs were created last year but due to job losses the net gain was just 125.

An IDA spokesman defended the non-release of county by county data.

“We are not releasing that information as companies would then become identifiable,” he said.

New Drumkeen United manager Shaun Gallagher.

Drumkeen United FC have appointed Shaun Gallagher as their new first-team manager, but the club have revealed they won’t be participating in the USL interim season.

Gallagher is a former player with the club and won a League Cup in 2009, he also featured for Drumkeen in their historic FAI Cup appearance against League of Ireland giants Bohemians FC in 2012.

However, it has been revealed that the club will opt out of the USL interim season which will run from February to May, but they will return for the new season which will start  in August.

Drumkeen United PRO John Cannon issued the following statement, “Drumkeen United are pleased to announce the appointment of Shaun Gallagher as First Team Manager.

“Shaun is no stranger to the club having played with us for several years.

“During his time with us as a player he was part of the Team that won the League cup in 2009, he also played in one of the biggest days in the history of the club when we played Bohemians in Dalymount Park in the FAI Senior Cup in 2012.

“Drumkeen also wish to confirm that we will not be entering the short season of the Ulster Senior League.

“We had already informed the League of this in early December but in the last few weeks we did make a further attempt to get a squad of players together but this proved to be unsuccessful.

“While it is regrettable that we are not in a position to enter the short season we now have a Team Manager in place and over the coming months he will be working to put together a squad of players with a view to entering the USL regular season in August.

Donegal TV is back on our screen’s tonight with the first of 52 shows to be aired during 2015.

The half hour programmes can be viewed each Thursday at 9.30pm on Sky Channel 266 Freesat 157.

This weeks show has an in depth interview with newly elected Senator Brendan Boyle who was sworn in as a member of the US Congress yesterday. He talks of his passion for his family and all things Irish and the programme includes reaction from Brendan’s father Frank and other family members who all hail from Glencolmcille and it would appear that they have a strong desire to bring Congressman Boyle to his father’s native county of Donegal.

The programme which can also be viewed on Today’s Ireland on the MHz network in the USA has a strong Donegal/American flavour with a feature on the Tip O’ Neill awards in Buncrana including interviews with President Michael D. Higgins and the 2014 recipient US Senator Therese Murray.

The programme also has a report by Noel Cunningham from the Donegal Association in London and will conclude with a highly entertaining piece from the Sound Man awards in Ballyshannon.

SIMPLY CLICK TO SEE THE FULL PROGRAMME.

Knock Airport.

2014 has proven to be a record breaking year at Ireland West Airport Knock with Donegal passengers flocking to the airport.

Knock Airport boasted numbers exceeding 700,000 for the first time in the airports 29 year history.

In 2014, the annual number of passengers using the airport increased by over 38,000 to 703,324 – an increase of 5.7% on 2013 numbers.

The Airport now serves over 20 International destinations and is served by three of Europes major International airlines, Aer Lingus, Flybe and Ryanair.

August 2014 also saw the airport experience its busiest ever month with a total of 102,774 passengers passing through the terminal – the first time in the 28 year history that over 100,000 passengers have used the airport in a calendar month.

2014 saw a major increase in traffic to/from the UK, which represents the airports biggest market, with traffic up 9.4% on 2013 numbers.

Particularly strong performers were Ryanairs London services to Stansted and Luton, which carried an extra 44,000 passengers (20% increase), whilst Aer Lingus’s London Gatwick service grew by 6%.

Flybe services to Manchester and Birmingham, also performed strongly with passenger numbers up 9% across both routes.

The strong increases on UK services highlights the importance of the Airport from a regional perspective in providing essential connectivity for leisure, tourist and in particular in providing increased frequencies to the London market for those commuting to and from London for work purposes.

In addition a number of important safety and security upgrades were carried out at the airport in 2014 including the installation of an airport wide CCTV system.

Costing €200,000, across the entire airport facility providing enhanced security and safety measures for passengers and staff at the airport, whilst a €1.7m upgrade of the Runway End Safety Area and aircraft turning circle was completed in 2014 to meet existing regulatory requirements.

Commenting on the 2014 performance, Joe Gilmore, Managing Director at Ireland West Airport Knock told Donegal Daily, “We are delighted to have had a record year in 2014 with record numbers on almost all of our services, highlighting the airports importance as the main international gateway for the West & North West of Ireland and indeed the Wild Atlantic Way.

“I would like to express our thanks to all our customers, stakeholders, tourism groups, local authorities and Govt representatives for their continued support in helping us to grow and develop essential international connectivity, that will lead to more jobs and prosperity for the people of the West and North West of Ireland.

“I would also like to say a special word of thanks to the staff at the airport for their hard work and continued focus on ensuring the customer and passenger experience through the airport is both a safe and welcoming one’

It was recently announced that 7 local authorities have approved in principle to take an investment in the airport. These include both Galway city and county councils together with Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Roscommon and Mayo

- See more at: http://m.irelandwestairport.com/newsSingle.php?id=32#sthash.LR97fx4e.dpuf

A 24 year old man was arrested twice on the same night after getting involved in two different fights outside takeaways.

Shane McFadden, from Ballygohan, Carrigart was first arrested at a chip van in Letterkenny on December 14th last.

He was arrested but when he was released he was found fighting again outside the Mr Chippie restaurant.

He was arrested a second time but when he was put in a patrol car he escaped again.

The court heard that McFadden plans to move to Scotland where he has a job in the fishing industry.

he added that he came from a good background and had completed a number of courses at Greencastle Maritime College.

Judge Paul Kelly ordered McFadden to pay €200 to the Irish Wheelchair Association.

The massive low pressure set to crash into Donegal overnight and into tomorrow….snow to follow at the weekend

THIS is the massive storm heading for Donegal tonight – packing hurricane-force wind gusts of more than 120km/hr.

Met Eireann has issued a Status Orange weather alert this evening for Donegal. A yellow alert is in place for other counties.

“Southwest to west winds with mean speeds of 50 to 75 km will gust 90 to 120 km/h are on their way,” said Met Eireann’s Siobhan Ryan.

“It will also bring very high waves so there is also with the risk of coastal flooding.”

The warning is in place from 6pm this evening until 6am tomorrow morning so it’s going to be a very stormy night.

It will remain blustery on Friday before temperatures drop dramatically on Saturday. The UK Met Office is predicting snow of 5cms to 15cms for north Donegal on Saturday afternoon and into Sunday.

Winds will be westerly 60-100 km/hr and large waves likely on the Donegal coast over the weekend.

UPDATED: AN investigation has begun into an explosion at a west Donegal factory this afternoon which has left a man seriously injured..

Fire and ambulance crews and a Garda unit attended the scene of the incident at North West Wood Products in Summy, Portnoo.

One person was seriously injured in the incident.

It’s understood a tyre exploded sending equipment onto the top of the victim. He was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital by helicopter for treatment.

The Health and Safety Authority will investigate the incident.

Locals in Portnoo have expressed shock at the incident.

“Everyone is praying that he pulls through,” said one.

“He’s an extremely popular man in the area and this appears to have been a tragic accident.”

One of Donegal’s best-known hotels has gone into receivership.

Jackson’s Hotel

The Bank of Ireland has confirmed it has appointed a receiver to Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey.

The hotel will continue to trade as a going concern and al staff will remain in place.

All wedding bookings and other vouchers will be honoured, the hotel has confirmed.

The news comes just two days after the Seaview Hotel in Gaoth Dobhair confirmed it has closed with the loss of 35 jobs.

Jackson’s Hotel

Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson, Deputy Pearse Doherty has this evening described as ‘deeply saddening’ today’s shock announcement that Jackson’s Hotel in Ballybofey has gone into receivership. 

“This announcement by the management at Jackson’s Hotel has come as a huge shock to everyone,” he said.

“At this sad time, my sympathies go to all the staff and management at the hotel who I imagine are deeply upset and shocked following this news that a Receiver has been appointed to the hotel.

“I would like also to extend my sympathies to the Jackson family, whom I am sure are particularly devastated; the family has been a major employer in the Finn Valley area for years and have worked very hard to build up their business during that time.

“While this news is naturally very upsetting, I would hope that the hotel can be rescued and that the business can be retained in Ballybofey.”

Also commenting on today’s announcement was Sinn Féin Councillor for the Stranorlar Electoral Area, Cllr Gary Doherty, who described the news as ‘a huge blow to the Finn Valley Area’, and extended his sympathies to the owners, Barry and Margaret Jackson.

“The Jackson Family has employed hundreds of people over the years – myself included. I’d like to thank them for all the employment which they have provided over the years to myself and others, and I of course would like to wish them and all the staff well going forward in the wake of today’s announcement.”

Power has just returned to more than 1,000 homes across Dungloe town centre and its outlying areas.

Shops, pubs and other centres were plunged into darkness just after 9pm. The power returned just after 10pm.

Heavy winds continue to lash the county with further power cuts expected.

A man was treated in hospital after his car crashed into a pole at Porthall, Lifford last night (THURS).

The accident happened before 8pm and the road was closed for a time to allow the emergency services to attend the scene.

It is understood the man lost control of his car before it crashed.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident.

It is believed there was also a young person in the car but they were not injured.

The road was reopened around 9pm.

The man’s injuries are not understood to be serious.

There have been a series of power cuts and reports of trees down and damage to buildings across Donegal this morning.

At midnight a wind gust of 68 knots – or 126km/hr – was recorded at Malin Head,

Consistent wind speeds have topped 100km/hr, with the north and the west of the county feeling the brunt of the storm.

But it’s nothing compared to what has hit western and north-western Scotland where wind speeds have topped 140km/hr.

Winds will ease – but will remain strong – around 7am.

Motorists are being urged to drive with extreme caution later this morning.

Some homes outside Carndonagh remain without power. ESB Networks will wait until first light before carrying out repairs.

We have reports of trees down in Ramelton, Buncrana, Letterkenny, Carndonagh, Lifford and Rathmullan.

Gardai say motorists should drive with caution on all routes, especially rural roads – and to expect debris on the roads.

An experienced electrician has said the tampering of ESB supply boxes across Donegal is rampant.

The tampering of ESB meters is widespread across Donegal, an electrician has claimed.

The contractor contacted Donegal Daily after our story yesterday in which a woman was ordered to pay the ESB almost €4,000 after an electrician was hurt while examining a meter box.

The woman did not tamper with the meter box but was aware the electricity supply had been interfered with.

Bettina Adams of the Spice of India restaurant in Milford admitted the charge.

Today the electrician warned that people are so desperate to avoid paying charges that they are going to any lengths to block meters.

And he warned that it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or even killed.

“It is much more common place that people realise. With people more and more strapped for cash, they are wiling to take chances.

“But taking chances with electricity is just madness. I have had some close calls.

“People used to use magnets to slow down or disrupt the reading on the meter but the ESB have now rectified that situation.

‘But people are coming up with different ways of tampering with meter boxes and they are literally taking their lives in their hands,” he said.

Meter tampering charges regularly come before the local courts.

Judge Paul Kelly echoed the warning given by the electrician who contacted us.

Addressing the injuries suffered by an electrical contractor at the Milford incident, he said “This graphically illustrates the dangers of such operations.”

The hugely popular Letterkenny Driving Range celebrates its second birthday later this week.

Since opening two years ago, the range has been an been an incredible success, and owner David Moore has credited that with the fact it’s accessible to golfers every single day.

Open seven days a week from 9am to 10pm, the flexible opening hours gives everybody the opportunity to get a bit of practice in at any time of the day.

The Driving Range is located beside the Letterkenny Rugby Club, which is also close to Arena 7.

The Drving Range has been praised by those who frequent the facility regularly for its fantastic facilities.

The Driving Range boasts Teaching Bay Facilities with Floodlight and Flatland Range.

It has state-of-the art Range Mats and Range Balls and the Driving Range has been praised for its innovative Prepaid Digicards System.

Prepaid Digicards are available for just €25, this enables you to get TEN baskets of balls for €2.50 instead of the normal fixed price of €4.00.

Owner David Moore spoke to Donegal Daily about the success of the business since its inception two years ago.

David said, “We’re absolutely delighted with the progress the business has made over the last couple of years.

“It’s been an incredible success and is continuing to grow from strength-to-strength.

“I think the fact we’re accessible to everybody everyday makes a big difference, our opening hours are flexible too and this ensures that anybody who wants to go to the range can, even if it’s at 9 at night!

The Letterkenny Driving Range has an onsite PGA Golf Shop with PGA Professional James Gallagher.

Golf lessons are available for all levels from beginners to advanced players, individual or group lessons are also catered for.

David added, “It’s great that we have a PGA Golf Shop onsite it works well for us and we offer players at any level the opportunity to avail of lessons with PGA Professional James Gallagher.

“You can have individual lessons, or lessons as part of a group and it’s a great option for golfing enthusiasts to avail of.

The range can also boast that it’s the No.1 Stockists of High quality used clubs in North West and has a large Selection of Clothing, Trolleys, Bags, Gloves, and shoes.

Check them out on Facebook for offers and giveaways at www.facebook.com/letterkennydrivingrange

For more information contact David on 086 3229483.

For lessons or shop details contact James Gallagher PGA Golf Professional 087 6461240.