Father questions trial delay
Death crash accused remanded on continuing bail
Death crash accused remanded on continuing bail
Minister tells Inishowen Budget cuts were necessary for economy
by Laura Glenn laura.glenn@inishtimes.com
Green Party leader launches election campaign of local candidate
by Laura Glenn laura.glenn@inishtimes.com
Stephen’s just not a pretty face
A Malin athlete has been chosen as the only Inishowen representative to be a ‘Face of the Special Olympics 2009’.
By Ursula Duddy
Stephen McCallion, a member of the Inishowen Special Olympics Club in Carndonagh, was thrilled at being chosen as one of the public faces of the games, which will take place in Letterkenny next June.
The Special Olympics 2009 is set to be one of the largest sporting events to ever come to the North West with an excess of 800 competitors taking part.
His proud father, Joe McCallion told Inish Times what the accolade means to Stephen: “It’s very important to him to be chosen to be a Face of the Special Olympics.
“There was a good few in for it and he was delighted when he got it. It really gives him a chance to shine.”
Stephen said he has been involved with the Special Olympics for five years and competes in Basketball.
“It keeps me fit and I enjoy it,” he said.
As one of the faces of the games, Stephen will appear alongside Killybegs athlete, Stephanie Moore on promotional material and posters for the Special Olympics.
However, Stephen remained very modest when Inish Times suggested that it was his handsome looks that sealed the deal.
“Well, I don’t like to brag!” he quipped.
Dad, Joe said the games provided a valuable lifeline for both those with special needs and their carers.
“Everybody with special needs needs an outlet. It’s nice to have something to make them feel important and it’s great exercise. It gets them up from watching TV and gets them active!”
Joe added that the games, which will run from June 12 – 14 at Letterkenny’s Aura Leisure Centre, promises to be a fantastic event and made an appeal for volunteers to come along and be part of something special.
“The Aura Leisure Centre is a great place for the games and I would ask anyone looking to become a volunteer to apply now. It will be great craic!”
If you wish to volunteer for the Special Olympics 2009 there are a number of information sessions where you can sign up.
The first is at 7.30pm on Monday, November 3 at the Aura Leisure Centre, Letterkenny then also at 7.30pm on Wednesday, November 5 in Arena 7, Letterkenny and on Saturday, November 8, you can come along to the Letterkenny Institute of Technology at 11am.
Alternatively, you can sign up at the Templemore Sports Complex in Derry at 11am on Saturday, November 22.
For more information on the Special Olympics 2009, e-mail 2009ulstergames@specialolympics.ie
Click here to read"Olympic honour for Malin man"Inishowen students elected to Donegal Youth Council
By Laura Glenn
Inishowen secondary school students have elected seven of their peers to represent them on the Donegal Youth Council.
Following weeks of campaigning the seven candidates who were elected to the Council were Matthew Arthur from Crana College, Buncrana; Pádraig Doherty from Carndonagh Community School (both were elected on the first count); Laura O’Connell, Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana; Sarah Friel, Carndonagh Community School; David Lynch, Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana, Lauren Harrigan, Moville Community College and Barry Kearney, Carndonagh Community College.
Votes were cast by students from each secondary school in the peninsula on Tuesday last and were counted by Donegal County Council officials at Carndonagh Public Services Centre the next day.
The Donegal Youth Council comprises of a group of young people, from five electoral areas all over the county. It is the only democratically elected youth council in the Republic of Ireland.
This year, they broke new ground by introducing the new electoral area boundaries eight months before their adult colleagues. 48 candidates stood in five rather than the previous six electoral areas.
The youth councillors are aged between 12 and 18 years old and are elected to identify issues and promote projects in response to young people’s needs. They have a democratic mandate to give young people a voice and allow them to take appropriate action.
The vision of the Donegal Youth Council is to provide “a democratic elected youth council for Donegal which represents young people in the decision making process on issues and policies that effect them locally, regionally and nationally.”
Some of their objectives include offering a forum to young people where they can raise issues and concerns with the relevant authorities and agencies and to develop specific programmes in response to issues raised by their fellow peers.
Newly elected youth councillor Matthew Arthur from Buncrana was one of the candidates nervously waiting to find out the results of the count in Carndonagh. He was “delighted” when it was announced he has exceed the quota and was elected on the first count.
Matthew and his campaign manager Gavin McColgan ran a hugely successful campaign. The main issue the new youth councillor wants to work on is providing more youth facilities for young people in Inishowen and Donegal.
Speaking to Inish Times he said he would work hard to deliver on his campaign issues.
He said: “I am delighted and really excited I got through on the first count. I am going to do my very best to get the teenagers of Donegal and Inishowen the facilities and services they want and need. I’d really like to thank my campaign manager Gavin. He helped me out so much.”
Danielle Ui Dhomhnaill from nGael Coláiste Chinéal Eoghain in Buncrana was also in attendance at the count. Although she narrowly missed getting elected on to the Youth Council, one official described Danielle as “one of the success stories of the youth council elections’ as she managed to received a whopping 160 votes despite the fact she attends a school which has just over 20 pupils in attendance.
The newly elected non-party councillors will serve a two-year term of office and will also attend monthly meetings in their electoral area.
Click here to read"The young ones"
Carn ready of Ulster challenge
GAA - VHI Healthcare Ladies Ulster Senior Club Championship Final
Moville 0-5 Donaghmoye (Monaghan) 0-5
Soccer - Jackie Crossan Premier Division
Culdaff FC 4 Dunree United 3