Highland Radio has been informed that the following schools will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday December 1st. This is the final list for tonight, if any school has additions, please call them in t- the station after 7 o’clock tomorrow (Weds) morning.

National Schools

Annagry National School

Convoy Joint National School

Cranford National School

Derryconor National School

Fintown National School

Glassan National School Creeslough

Glenmaquinn National School

Gortahork National School

Letterkenny Educate Together

Little Angels Special School, Letterkenny

Luinneagh NS, Derrybeg

Magherabeg National School Manorcunningham

Magheroarty National School

Robertson School Stranorlar

Scoil  Leanbh Iosa Carrigans

Scoil Naomh Fiachra Illistrin

Scoil Naoomh Brid Downings

St Bridget's National School Convoy

St Egney's National School Desertigney

St Eunans National School Raphoe

St Bernadette's Special School, Letterkenny

Woodland National School

Crannog Bui Loughros Point Ardara

Murrow National School Dunfanaghy

Edinfanagh National School Glenties

Stramore National School Glendoan

Scoil Mhuire Derrybeg

Scoil Conaill Bunbeg

Cloughfinn National School Ballindrait

Scoil Naomh  Iosaf Illies Buncrana

Scoil Colmcille Drumman Ballyare

Secondary Schools

Ballinamore Vocational School

PCC Falcarragh (Closed until Monday December 6th)

Pobail Scoil Gweedore

Royal & Prior Raphoe

St Columbas Comprehensive  School Glenties

Playgroups and other facilities

Glenties Day Care Centre closed till Thursday

Children Point Playgroup in Quigleys point closed till Monday

Crossroads & Killygordon Playgroup closed till Monday

The Doorway Project building at Long Lane will only open from 12 to 4pm

The Doorway Community Playgroup closed on Wednesday

Volt House Raphoe VEC adult education classes cancelled

The new TD for Donegal South West has been formally welcomed into the Dail, and will make his maiden speech tonight.

After the result of the Donegal South West By-Election was read into the record by the Clerk of the Dail, Deputy Pearse Doherty was led into the house by the leader of the Sinn Fein group Deputy Caomhain O’Caolain.

After shaking hands with the Taoioseach and the main opposition leaders, Deputy Doherty was welcomed to the Dail. The first to speak was Deputy O’Caolain………

Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who was elected to the Dail after the death of his father, welcomed Deputy Doherty, and also paid tribute to MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher, who previously held the seat…….

The Dail’s newest member will take his seat in the chamber this afternoon, but while a newcomer to the Dail, former senator Pearse Doherty is no stranger to Leinster House.

However, the new TD for Donegal South West could serve less than ten weeks before a general election is called.

This afternoon, there will be scenes of jubilation as Deputy Pearse Doherty formally signs in as a Dail deputy, with a large contingent of family, friends and supporters in Dublin for day.

Before the festivities though, he will attend a press conference at which Party President Gerry Adams will outline Sinn Féin’s alternative economic analysis, and the Dáil group’s intention   to use its strengthened presence to do all in its power bring down the Government and force a general election.

Deputy Doherty becomes the fifth Sinn Fein member of the Dail, and if they can attract two Independent deputies who oppose the government into a technical group, they can receive enhanced rights, including the right to move motions of no confidence in the Taoiseach, which the party wants to do as quickly as possible.

The Greens remain adamant they want to see the budget and Finance Bill passed early in the new year, and an election called for the last week of January. Sinn Fein hope that the election of Deputy Pearse Doherty may see the budget defeated and the governemnt fall next week.

Donegal County Council should work to make the county the renewable energy capital of Ireland.

Cllr Terence Slowey says jobs can be created and money can be made through renewable technology in Donegal.

He says that there are training courses available now in LYIT, and renewable energy may be the future of job creation:

Donegal County Council is to support in every way possible the work of groups which provide support to immigrants from Donegal.

Raising the issue the Donegal County Council’s monthly meeting in Lifford, Cllr Dessie Larkin said he recently got to see the work being done by Boston Donegal GAA and other such organisations.

The number of people emigrating from Ireland has dramtically increased in the wake of the economic crisis, according to Cllr Larkin, and he says these people need all the support they can get.

This is the list of schools and other facilities which will be closed  tomorrow, Tuesday November 30th, as notified to Highland Radio by 6 0′clock this (Mon) evening.

National Schools

Ayrhill School Ramelton

Ballyraine National School

Brackey National School Ardara

Convoy Joint National School

Cranford National School

Croaghross National School Portsalon Fanad

Derryconnor National School

Drumoghill National School

Edeninfagh National School Glenties

Fintown National School

Gael Scoil Glencar Letterkenny

Glassan National Creeslough

Glenmaquinn National School

Glenswilly National School

Gortahork National School

Letterkenny Educate Together

Littler Angels Special School, Letterkenny

Luinneagh National School Derrybeg

Magherabeg National School Manorcunningham

Magheraroarty National School

Murroe NS, Dunfanaghy

Portleen National School Kilmacrennan

Scoil Colmcille Letterkenny

Scoil Colmcille Newtoncunningham

Scoil Conaill in Bunbeg

Scoil Iosagain, Buncrana

St Mary's NS, Stranorlar

Scoil an Leanbh Iosa NS, Carrigans

Scoil Mhuire Derrybeg

Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal Letterkenny

Scoil Mhuire Ramelton

Scoil Naoimh Fiachra, Illistrin

Scoil Naoimh Iosaf Illies

St Bernadette's Special School, Letterkenny

St Bridgets National School Convoy

St Colmcille national school Drumman Ballyare

St Crona's National School Dungloe

St Egney's NS, Desertegney

St Eunan's National School Raphoe

St Joseph's NS, Ramelton

St Mary's National School Stranorlar

St Oran's NS, Cockhill, Buncrana

St Patrick's NS, Doaghbeg

St Safan's National School Castlfin

Stramore National School Glendowan Churchill

Tamney National School Fanad

Teevog National School Cloughan

Woodlands School, Letterkenny

Secondary Schools

Ballinamore Vocational School

Crana College Buncrana

Loreto Convent, Letterkenny

Mulroy College Milford

PCC Falcarragh

Pobail School Gweedore

Rosses Community School

Royal & Prior School Raphoe

St Columbas Comprehensive School Glenties

St Columba's College, Stranorlar

St Eunan's College, Letterkenny

Playgroups and other facilities

Ballyraine Training Centre

Craoimhin Community Maoinra Termon

Crossroads & Killygordon Playgroup

Drumkeen Community Childcare

HSE "Moving on Programme at LYIT

HSE Garden Centre St Conals Hospital

Illistrin Montessori School

Kilmacrennan Training Centre

Lifford Youth Reach

Little Rascals Community Playgroup, Fanad

Newtoncunningham Community Playgroup

Nionoira Playgroup, Downings

Ramelton Community Playgroup

Raphoe Community Playgroup closed until Monday 6th Dec

Termon Childcare Crech open from 8.30am till 6pm

Tober Training Centre Gweedore

An 87-year-old Donegal man who raped and sexually abused five of his granddaughters over a 19 year period has been sentenced to 15 years at the Central Criminal Court.

The heard that the man methodically “groomed” each of the girls, starting when they were around 7. He committed his final rape last year when he was 86.

The man, who cannot be named to protect his victims’ identities, pleaded guilty to 45 sample counts of rape, indecent assault, sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault at various locations in his rural community between July 1993 and September 2009.

Mr Justice Paul Carney declared the man a sex offender and sentenced him to five years for indecent and sexual assault, to run concurrent to the 15 years.

Mr Justice Carney suspended the final three years of the sentence and remarked that the sentence would “not be expiring until the man is well into his hundreds.”

A detective garda stationed in the area told prosecuting counsel, Ms Patricia McLaughlin BL, that the abuse emerged after one of the victims detailed what happened during a counselling session, causing the others to come forward.

An incident room was set up in the local garda station and the man was arrested soon after.

Defence counsel, Mr Peter Finlay SC,  accepted they were “monstrous and evil acts” but offered his client’s apologies and submitted that any lengthy sentence imposed would likely be a life sentence due to the man’s age.

Donegal man Michael Gallagher is renowned for predicting weather patterns based on observing  nature and the behaviour of animals.

The Glenfinn Postman, who recently published a book on Traditional Weather Signs, says things won’t be as bad as last winter, but the current cold snap will last for a few days yet………

Donegal County Council says there are no major problems on main roads in the county at the moment, and all routes are passable with care.

The weather forecast suggests the worst of the snow is over, but the big freeze is expected to last until at least Thursday.

Senior Roads Engineer Michael Mc Garvey says the situation at the moment is positive, but is warning continuing care and caution are needed………..