FRUIT OF THE GLOOM: An objection has been lodged against plans for the redevelopment of part of former Fruit of the Loom site. Conditional permission had been awarded by Donegal County Council for the commercial development of the site to include shopping mall, a petrol station, 447 car parking spaces and all associated site and development works. The application was lodged by Rishton Ltd. The appellant is named as Ronan Gill.
FIANNA FAIL AT WAR?: The Fianna Fail Director of Elections in the Donegal South West constituency says that he is amazed by Micheal Martin’s approach following their major losses in the General election. Brendan Byrne says that the FF Leader would be better or reforming his own party head quarters rather than summonsing the Councillors to Dublin to tell them how to vote in the Seanad elections. He described the two candidate strategy put forward by the party for the 2011 election as a ‘suicide strategy’ and claims that party HQ didn’t have the backbone to make the decision to run just one representative. The Donegal County Councillor says there is a major credibility issue with the party staff at HQ.
LINE OF ENQUIRY: Gardai recovered a quantity of cannabis from a house in Donegal town overnight. The discovery was made following a search of private premises in the town. No arrests have been made. Gardai are following a definite line of enquiry!
GOLD FINGERED: Gardai are hunting a gang which stole a significant haul of gold following a daring burglary in Buncrana. The raiders stole a gold watch, three gold bracelets, one gold neck chain, two diamond rings and a sapphire ring, after breaking into a house on the Lough View estate last Tuesday.
BRIAN HEALING: Burt singing sensation Brian Sheerin has shaken off his head cold in time for this Sunday’s on the ‘All-Ireland Talent Show’. The 21-year old has been using traditional remedies. “I had a head cold so I’ve been taking the healthy option all week trying to shake it off. I had a sore throat too but that’s away now,” said Brian.
GRANTED: Five Donegal peace-building projects have been granted significant funding from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) under an allocation totalling €9.8m to groups in the North and southern border counties. The biggest beneficiaries among the five were Donegal County Council and Strabane District Council who jointly received over €1 million.