So we put Kildare out of the championship - but they are slowly getting their own back on us - with a Kildare woman scooping 1000,000 euro in the Lotto courtesy of a ticket she bought - guess where? In Donegal. Ouch!

The lucky woman, who is keeping her identity to herself, picked up a wonderful birthday present - 100,000 euro won on a Scratch Card bought in Spar, Derrybeg.

A generous family member recently presented the delighted woman with a Winning Streak Scratch Card for her birthday. Within moments of receiving the Scratch Card, the lucky woman had scratched the panel to reveal three matching 100,000 euro symbols.

“I’m still in shock,” said the lady, who wishes to keep the win private. “I couldn’t believe my eyes. I must’ve re-checked that Scratch Card a thousand times.”

And Donegal’s remarkable recent winning streak via the lotto continued on Tuesday, when the TellyBingo Snowball prize worth 50,000 euro was won by Karen Doherty on a ticket sold at The Lunch Box, Buncrana.

Karen, who has only recently started playing TellyBingo, got the shock of her life, when she realised she had won the snowball prize. “I was watching the draw live on TV at my friend’s house. I was shouting at the telly hoping that number 68 would come out as it was the only number I was missing for the snowball. When it came out I was in shock, I couldn’t believe it.” she said.

“Only a few weeks ago a fortune teller told me that I would win a large sum of money. I still can’t believe I am here in National Lottery offices collecting a prize.” smiled Karen.

]]> 1.3549483 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 18:24:24 +0000 http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/dolores_keane_charged_with_drink_driving_in_donegal_1_3548524

One of Ireland’s best known folk singers has been charged with alleged drink driving and careless driving while in Donegal.

At Glenties District Court today Dolores Keane, who was not in court, was charged with allegedly driving a motor vehicle with excess alcohol and careless driving at Derries, Glenties on March 26 last.

Mr Paudge Dorrian, solicitor, representing Ms Keane of Caherlistane, Tuam, Co. Galway, asked for the case to be adjourned until May 23 in Glenties.

He also requested that the case be heard after 2pm on that date.

Judge Paul Kelly granted both requests.

Donegal Sinn Féin TD, Pearse Doherty, has hit out at the Minister for Educations decision to impose further cuts on small rural schools.

Deputy Doherty described it as an “appalling decision that will further cripple small rural schools who are reeling from the cuts that were imposed on them in December’s budget”.

Deputy Doherty said; “Yesterday’s announcement to partially reverse the cut to Urban Deis schools is to be welcomed. Demanding that rural schools take a 3.5% cut to the capitation funding for primary schools in 2012, however, is appalling. Many schools already have to fund their running costs through cake sales, voluntary donations from parents and other fundraising activities. This, in effect, will mean a five euro cut for every child. While some of the larger schools will be able to absorb this cut, it will impact deepest on the smaller schools.

“In December’s budget, the Fine Gael and Labour government launched a full attack on small rural schools, by increasing the number of pupils they require to retain a classroom teacher. As a result of this change, dozens of schools will lose teachers and pupils will be forced into larger multiple classes. Many parents, teachers and concerned citizens will be shocked that the result of their lobbying efforts to have this cut reversed was for the Minister not to reverse the decision but today to impose even greater hardship on these same schools by cutting their funding by 3.5%.

“There can be no doubt about it, this government is hell bent to see the closure of schools across rural Ireland. The public must let them know that we will not stand idly by while they toy with our children’s future.”

Close to half a century of trading as one of Letterkenny’s most popular shopkeepers is set to draw to an end when Joe Gallagher, proprietor of the Self Service Store on the town’s Lower Main Street, hangs up his familiar coat.

Located on the site of the former Gallagher’s Bakery - no relation - his shop has been a mainstay since opening up forty-eight years ago, boasting, as he says, a “mixture of everything” and hosting countless characters, no less than himself.

But the good news is the long established premises won’t be closing its doors. It has been taken over by Rachel Mullen who herself has worked there for twenty-three years.

“I’ll miss it surely but I’ll keep in touch whenever I can,” said Joe.

“I’ve had a lot of loyal customers over the years - all kinds of characters have come in here,” the Glenswilly native maintained.

“It’s good to see the shop staying open,” he added.

Since starting work in the Lower Main Street store over twenty years ago, Rachel has been a popular shop assistant who ran the store when Joe took ill last year.

The shop has hit national prominence and in 1993 featured in a booklet depicting Irish shop fronts.

So has he any plans for his retirement? “I don’t know what I’ll be doing,” admitted Joe.

One thing he will be continue to do is attend matches at the O’Donnell Park and other G.A.A. venues. On Sunday week last we was among the attendance at the Donegal/Laois National League fixture.

The first sod was turned yesterday for the new Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service (DWDVS) refuge, 21 years after the murder of a Donegal woman led to the establishment of the Donegal service.

Alanna Gallagher, whose mother, Gloria McCole, was killed in May 1991 by her husband, turned the first sod. Alanna’s brother, Joseph; Gloria’s mother, Mary McCole, and Gloria’s sister, Anne Boyle, and brother, Michael McCole, also attended.

“If there was something like this in mammy’s day, she might still be with us,” Alanna said.

Speaking later, Alanna, age 27, said, “This is a great day for Donegal and the northwest. So many women have suffered and are suffering, that this service is very important.”

Fiona Doherty, DWDVS manager, was grateful to the family for attending and for their support. She said the work of DWDVS is undertaken in Gloria’s memory, and thousands of women have been saved since Gloria’s death.

Fiona also said the refuge would not have reached this stage without Donegal County Council, DWDVS partner in the project. Donegal Mayor, Cllr. Noel McBride, County Manager Seamus Neely and several councillors were among those at the sod-turning.

The new refuge will include four two-bedroom apartments and a three-bedroom house. The refuge will be staffed around the clock and also include space for counselling and other services that DWDVS hopes to provide on site.

DWDVS now has a three-bedroom refuge provided by the Health Service Executive, which also provided core funding for the service. Construction of the new, €750,000 refuge is funded by the Department of Environment, though DWDVS is contributing about €75,000.

“Anyone who gave to us in the last 21 years, that was put into a building fund,” said Marie Hainsworth, DWDVS chairperson.

Alanna and her brother, Joseph, age 24, wanted to urge women in need to contact DWDVS.

“There’s help there,” Joseph said. The DWDVS 24-hour helpline is 1800 262 677.

One of Ireland’s top discount retailer, recently gave a selection of its loyal and lucky Facebook followers the chance to shop for free in any of the chain’s large number of stores.

As part of a nationwide online competition, open to all of its 100,000-strong fan base, the retailer rewarded its fans with an opportunity to alleviate those January blues!

Last month the discounter celebrated the milestone of becoming the first Irish Supermarket to reach 100,000 Facebook fans and lucky Maeve Thomas from Ballyshannon was one of the winners selected who got the chance to load up her trolley in the one-minute Supermarket Sweep which took place at the Lidl Bundoran store.

Whether it be food and treats, alcohol, home essentials or DIY goods, the lucky winner had the chance to pick up hundreds of euro worth of top quality shopping without spending a single cent! Maeve happily took off for the Non-Food aisle where she picked up some of the latest quality specials on offer at Lidl.

Paul Shanley, spokesperson for Lidl Ireland, said: “We wanted to say a big thank you to our valued fan community and emphasise the importance of social media to Lidl as a communicative tool. This fantastic and fun prize giveaway seemed the fitting way to mark our significant achievement of reaching 100,000 fans and we were delighted Maeve had a great Sweep and took home some great bargains!”

A Donegal Co. Councillor says he would resign from the Labour Party if there is not a positive outcome to the 3 month consultation process in relation to the future of Lifford Hospital and added that he would not be bullied by Sinn Fein or “the populist Pearse Doherty”

Speaking to the Donegal Democrat/DPP, Cllr. Frank McBrearty said, I was on my way to Lifford when I heard the debate between Deputy Doherty and Senator Jimmy Harte on the future of the hospital where my own cousin has been living.

Deputy Doherty raised the issue of commitments I had made during the two election campaigns - I wish to make it clear that I stand by those commitments and made them on the basis that I would be elected.

“I gave a commitment to the people of the Finn Valley and have been lobbying ever since at local and national levels for the retention of this hospital.”

McBrearty added that he will not be bullied by Sinn Fein or any other party.

“I will not be dictated to by Pearse Doherty or by Government policies some of which I strongly disagree with. Bailouts and bonds mean very little to the man who is going to be thrown out of a bed - a bed that he regarded as home for many years.

“This Government is being dictated to by the Troika and Doherty is just a populist politician - he will say what the people want to hear.

“This is Donegal and people are more concerned about where there next meal is going to come from, how they are going to pay their ESB- I am my own man and I will speak my own mind whether it is polite or not.

“I am giving Dinny McGinley the benefit of the doubt - they have three months to sort this out. If there is not a positive outcome I will be resigning from the Labour Party.

“I wish to make it clear at this stage, I will remain as a councillor - the people of the Finn Valley elected Frank McBrearty to represent them and represent them I will”

]]> 1.3543996 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:40:35 +0000 http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/university_challenge_1_3542777

Olympian Aisling Cooney will be one of the star attractions as Ballyshannon Leisure Centre obtained a significant coup this week having been named as the host venue for next month’s Irish University Swimming and Waterpolo Association (IUSWA) Inter-Varsity Championships.

Twenty-one-year-old UCD student Cooney, from Sandymount in Dublin, took part in both the individual and team 100m backstroke in the Beijing Olympics four years ago and is hopeful of making the standard for London. Conor Leaney, a native of Ballynure, Co. Antrim, competed in the Commonwealth Games in 2010 and the University of Ulster student will also join the 250 competitors who are expected to take part in the championships for third-level students

Mayor of Ballyshannon, Cllr. John Meehan, who is also on the board of management at the leisure centre, believes capturing the competition is a major boost for the town.

“If there’s 250 students taking part and they take three people each with them, then you’re looking at 1,000 people,” said Meehan, a two-time All-Ireland swimming champion. “It’s great the leisure centre was deemed fit and that’s testament to the management and staff. Now we have an opportunity to put our best foot forward.”

The manager of Ballyshannon Leisure Centre, Caroline Patton, has credited the White Flag status, a renewed quality standard award that focuses on hygiene and environmental aspects at indoor leisure facilities, with helping to secure the championships. They will take place on Friday, March 23, from 5-9pm and the following day from 9am-3.30pm. The IUSGA also oversees life-saving and water polo but Ballyshannon will host the swimming championships.

“We were delighted to hear we had been chosen,” she said. “The IUSWA were looking at different pools and ended up picking here, which is great. “We will be concentrating on getting things ready for the event, although most of the infrastructure is in place. They are looking for blocks, lanes and a PA system, which we have, so it’s just a matter of us getting a few things in place over the coming weeks. We had to rearrange a few classes and appointments but everyone is willing to reschedule as they realise this is not an opportunity you get every day.”

There is further reason for Ballyshannon Leisure Centre to celebrate this week with the news they have also been granted the All-Ireland Surf Lifesaving for Nippers (eight to 13-year-olds), in conjunction with Irish Water Safety, which takes place in April.

]]> 1.3542777 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:39:08 +0000 http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/cuts_in_community_employment_schemes_slammed_by_letterkenny_councillors_1_3544287

Letterkenny Town Councillors have backed a call from Town Mayor Gerry McMonagle urging the Government to reverse the decision to cut the Community Employment Scheme budgets by 66% which it was claimed could have serious implications for the future of the local schemes.

Calling for immediate action, he said the proposed cuts could affect some of the “most vulnerable in society” and would lead to some of the schemes closing.

His proposal that they write to the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, to express opposition to the cuts and asking that none be implemented during the period of the review was amended by cllr. Ciaran Brogan who suggested that instead of a formal letter to which they would receive a standard reply, the Council should draw up a detailed submission outlining the importance of the Community Employment Schemes and forward it to the Minister.

“I honestly believe that the Minister does not see the benefits of it,” he told last Monday’s meeting of the Town authority.

POINTING out that the cuts would have implications not just for the people employed in them but also for the local communities, cllr. McMonagle called on the Government to reverse the 66% cut to the C.E.S. training and materials budget.

The Town Mayor said organisations such as the Tidy Towns and the Letterkenny Community Development projects benefited from the schemes. Seventeen FAS workers were involved in projects ranging from childcare to working with travellers, assisting at the Cheshire Apartments and providing security for elderly people.

Any cutbacks could result in community resource centres closing their doors, cllr. McMonagle warned.

Workers on the schemes were provided with skills and self-esteem while the trainers involved would also be out of work if there were no people to train.

Cllr. Brogan said he could not understand how Community Employment Schemes were being cut at a time when people need to work. There were many people who would be happy to give something back to the community and to be taken off social welfare and put on a scheme.

“Think of what it costs to keep someone on social welfare. You are getting far more value for money putting someone on a Community Employment Scheme,” he said, adding that the benefits of the CES was a “non-brainer” and it was a scheme that should be enhanced.

Cllr. Dessie Larkin suggested that the CES could be used to “take up the slack” and finish off footpaths, roads and treatment plants in unfinished estates which could then be handed over to the council.

Cllr. Tom Crossan, who has overseen such schemes for 22 years, estimated that around 40% - 50% of people went on to get jobs.

But Fine Gael councillor Jimmy Kavanagh noted that none of the Community Employment Schemes had closed yet and said that there was an issue regarding the progression of people on schemes into full-time employment.

Cllr. Victor Fisher said that it was all “cut, cut, cut” while Cllr. Jim Lynch noted that by being on a CES at least you had a reason to get up in the mornings. He pointed out that there were health benefits from working that must also be taken into consideration.

]]> 1.3544287 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 12:32:02 +0000 http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/sod_turned_for_women_s_refuge_1_3544063

- New refuge will be the first of its kind in a three-county area

The first sod was turned yesterday (Monday) for the new Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service (DWDVS) refuge, 21 years after the murder of a Donegal woman led to the establishment of the Donegal service.

Alanna Gallagher, whose mother, Gloria McCole, was killed in May 1991 by her husband, turned the first sod. Alanna’s brother, Joseph, Gloria’s mother, Mary McCole, and Gloria’s sister, Anne Boyle, and brother, Michael McCole, also attended.

“If there was something like this in mammy’s day, she might still be with us,” Alanna said.

Speaking later, Alanna, age 27, said, “This is a great day for Donegal and the northwest. So many women have suffered and are suffering, that this service is very important.”

Read more in today’s Donegal Democrat and Donegal People’s Press.

Dinny McDinley, TD, Aire Stáit na Gaeltach conducted a fact finding visit to a broad range of different enterprises on two Gaeltacht facilities in the

county last Friday.

At Pháirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair, he viewed operations at a number of facilities on the Gweedore Business Park including SIOEN Éireann Teo; Fáisc

Miotail Teo; Áislann Ghaoth Dobhair; Ionad Cúram Páistí Ghaoth Dobhair- Naíonra agus naíolann and an Leabharlann, Spás Ealaíne agus Lárionad

Conaithe Fiontar; R.A. Pacáistí Teo; Bia Ghaoth Dobhair; Euroflex Teo; VHI Árachas Sláinte agus Taistil; Éist agus Cuidiú Teo and in at Eastát Údaras na Gaeltachta in an Fál Carrach, he went to see operations at Fheidhm Mara Teo and Chora Tine Teo.

Minister McGinley was delighted to see such a wide range of indigenous industries that had dramatically expanded their workforces over the years and are very focused on export markets.

There has been widespread shock at the news the residential section of Lifford Hospital is to close this year.

In a statement released by the HSE on Friday, the closure of the residential care aspect of Lifford Hospital is being proposed.

It reads: “Since the moratorium on recruitment was introduced to the end of February 2012, a total of 61.7 staff will have left the community hospital services in Donegal. This includes 36 nursing staff. In order to maintain patient safety there is a need to consolidate residential care at a smaller number of locations. The provision of a safe and quality service is paramount to the HSE. The intention to close the unit was taken on the basis that the capacity to continue to deliver a safe service is not possible in view of the reducing financial allocation across all HSE services, continued reductions in staff numbers, (in line with plans to reduce the overall number of staff working in the public sector) and the difficulty in meeting future HIQA Standards, in particular the standard for physical environment.”

Speaking out against the cuts, GP and medical officer at the hospital, Dr Martin Coyne said “the heart of the hospital and the heart of the community is broken” by the news.

“Obviously our long stay patients, they are going to essentially leave what is their home and at an elderly and advanced stage of their lives they will have to relocate,” he stated.

Area Manager for the HSE, John Hayes said they have begun the process of meeting the families affected as the patients are their priority.

“We have eleven long stay patients at Lifford and obviously our first priority is in making arrangements to suit these patients. We will be meeting these patients, their families and their carers shortly and have, in fact, already met some of them.

“The consultation process with staff will also begin regarding their future redeployment.

“We have already given an undertaking to listen to any proposals regarding the future viability of the hospital in Lifford,” he added.

Two men have appeared in court charged with an assault in Letterkenny which left the victim with a fractured skull.

There was a heavy garda presence at Letterkenny District Court yesterday morning when the two men appeared. Gerard Ward (30) of 9 Fernhill, Letterkenny and Thomas Gerard McDonagh (37) of 42 Hazelbrook in the town were led into the court by detectives. Both men have been charged with assault causing harm to Dermot Kildea at Long Lane in Letterkenny on February 17th.

Ward was given a nine-month jail sentence for motoring offences including driving without insurance, driving without a driving licence and refusing to give a name and address to gardaí. He was also disqualified from driving for six years.

Ward was remanded to appear at Harristown District Court on Friday. He shouted during his reappearance in the court in the afternoon.

McDonagh, a father of eight, was remanded to appear again at Letterkenny District Court on March 26th. Bail conditions were imposed and McDonagh has been remanded to live with his sister,