A 20-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital after being assaulted in the Sylvan Park area of Letterkenny.

It’s understood the 20-year-old was at a house party in the early hours of this morning, and there was an argument at the party before the assault happened.

The 20-year-old victim from Rathmullan was found badly beaten. He was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital, where he remains today. He’s said to be in a critical condition.

Gardai have arrested one man in relation to the assault. Five others are helping Gardai with their enquiries.

The gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 916 7100

Gardai in Donegal want drivers themselves to report any wreckless driving they may see over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Gardai are deploying more resources to monitor the counties roads over the long weekend.

Six people have died on Donegals roads so far this year, that’s 15% of the road deaths in Ireland.

Traffic Inspector for Donegal, Michael Harrison, made this appeal to the public.

The possibility of a ‘Letterkenny Town Festival’ was discussed at a public meeting in The Ramada Hotel last night.

A group called “Revive the Letterkenny Town Festival” has been active on Facebook in recent weeks, with over 1,300 members.

Letterkenny Chamber CEO says it’s time to bring the plans to the festival to the next stage.

And she says she’d hope the festival could take place in 2011.

SDLP MLA John Dallat has resigned his seat on Coleraine Borough Council after 33 years. He’s been replaced by Cllr Roisin Loftus, and says he will now concentrate his energies on serving the East Derry constituency in Stormont.

Mr Dallat says he would have preferred to have ended the dual mandate sooner, but held on to the seat until new legislation was passed clearing the way for a party colleague to be coopted.

Mr Dallat remains the only catholic to have served as Mayor of Coleraine under the present structures. he says that’s a distinction he would rather not have.

A section of the N13 Letterkenny to Derry Road remains closed by gardai this morning after a fire at a garage close to Newtowncunningham last night.

The fire has since been put out, but gas cylinders which had caught fire are now being kept cool by the fire service.

The road remain closed until 7 o clock this evening. Traffic is being diverted through Newtowncunningham.

Local Fire Officer, Bobby McMennamin expalined what happened.

A road crossing has been put in place at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny, but persons are being warned it is not a fully lit pedestrian crossing, and care is needed when using it.

Cllr Dessie Larkin is hopeful that more work can be done at the crossing in the future, but he says, for now, it’s the best available solution.

Plans should be set in place for the extension of rail services in Donegal and the North West immediatley.

Speaking on a debate on Transport in the Seanad last night, Senator Pearse Doherty, called on the Minister of Transport to make the creation of rail services in Donegal a priority.

He says all parties, cross-border, are behind bringing rail here.

And that it would be unacceptable if there was still no railway system in place in 20 years time.

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On Wednesday’s  GAA Programme Tom Comack looked ahead to a possible third U21 All Ireland success for the county and also reflected back on the previous two triumphs.

Tom Conaghan, Manager of the first U21 All Ireland winning team in 1982.
 

PJ Mc Gowan, Current County Chairman and the man who guided the county to their second U21 All Ireland five years later in 1987.
 

Martin Mc Hugh, who was an influential member of the 1982 team and father of current player Mark Mc Hugh who has been a key member of this years team.
 

Martin Mc Hugh,  giving his thoughts on Donegal’s opponents on Saturday Night.
 

Highland Radio Sport will have the match build up and the entire game live on Saturday with Charlie Collins and Martin Mc Hugh.

The average waiting time for operations has fallen to its lowest level ever.

According to the National Treatment Purchase Fund , patients booked for surgical or medical procedures are now on lists for an average two and a half months.

And the numbers waiting longer than a year plummeted from more than 4,000 two years ago to 611 now, according to the NTPF.

Health Minister Mary Harney says it shows hospitals are treating patients in a timely manner despite economic and financial pressures.

Letterkenny General Hospital is being offered as one of the prime examples of how the scheme is working, with the number of patients waiting 12 months falling from 960 in January 2008 to 23 now.

A section of the N13 Letterkenny to Derry Road has been closed by gardai as the fire service tackles a fire at a storage facility close to Newcunningham.

Traffic is being diverted through Newtowncunningham village as efforts continue to put out the fire.

Gardai are stressing there is no risk to life,  and no injuries have been reported.