Following the launch of Donegal County Development Board’s €4 million Tourism Development Plan for Sliabh Liag at the weekend, a Donegal councillor and election candidate is questioning whether the plan will achieve the promised growth in visitor numbers.

Over a fortnight ago, details emerged of the cross border plan which will see joint marketting and strategic planning involving Sliabh Liag and another site in County Antrim.

However, Cllr Frank Mc Brearty claims the plan is based on a document drawn up by consultants who did not consult widely in the local community, and that’s a cause for concern.

Tanaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan says she will contest the General Election, and has no intention of stepping aside.

In a statement this evening, Ms Coughlan’s spokesperson said -

“The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan TD, has tonight rubbished speculation that she will not be contesting the forthcoming General Election. The Tánaiste was ratified as a candidate in Donegal South West at convention held in Glenties on January 9^th last and is fully focused on the campaign ahead”.

In a shock move this evening, Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney has become the latest Dail deputy to announce he will not run in the General Election.  He withdrew ahead of tonight’s selection convention in Letterkenny, citing ‘personal reasons’ for his decision.

Mr Blaney was first elected to the Dáil as an Independent Fianna Fail Deputy in 2002, and in 2006,  his organisation merged with Fianna Fáil. It was a merger which led to tensions which continue to reverberate in Donegal North East, particularly in Letterkenny.

His decision leaves the way open to Cllr Charlie Mc Conalogue, a former Political Organiser at party headquarters to fight the election for Fianna Fail in the constituency. Cllr Mc Conalogue was the only candidate selected at the convention, with party headquarters now considering whether or not they will add another candidate to the ticket. That possibility will once again attention on Letterkenny, and the possibility of a candidate from the town or its environs being selected in a bid to heal the rift which developed between the ‘Blaney’ and ‘Mc Daid’ camps over the past five years.

Cllr Ciaran Brogan, one of Dr James Mc Daid’s closest colleagues, who many saw as a prospective candidate withdrew from convention a fortnight ago amid speculation that he would run as an independent. Cllr Dessie Larkin, who traditionally has been close to Deputy Blaney, has also expressed an interest.

Fermanagh 0-12
Donegal 0-7

Donegal’s bid for three-in-a-row ended at Ballybofey on Saturday night when they lost to Fermanagh. The first month of 2011 has been a frustrating one for Jim Mc Guinness’. The new manager handed first starts to seven players, due to injury, sickness and college tied personnel. The Erne County’s victory, which was their first of the campaign, means Cavan advance to contest the semi-final against Tyrone. Fermanagh led by 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time and strong performances from Barry Owens, Peter Sheery, James Corrigan, Paul Ward and Tomas Corrigan kept them in the driving seat in the second half. Adrian O’Hanlon and Marty Boyle tried hard for Donegal.

Fianna Fail’s selection convention for Donegal North East takes place this evening with two nominees in the ring – Deputy Niall Blaney and Cllr Charlie Mc Conalogue. We understand national headquarters has decided to pursue a two candidate strategy in the constituency, with both now set to be ratified.

The convention was initially to have taken place in the Radisson Hotel, but it will now take place in the Mount Errigal instead.

Senator Keavney, a former Dail Deputy, confirmd last night she would not be standing.

She is not commenting on what she believes should happen at convention tonight, nor is she speaking about the current tensions within Fianna Fail in the constituency.

Speaking to Highland Radio News this evening, Senator Keavney said the decision was not taken lightly, and is not a reaction to the events of the past week………..

Derry 2-14
Antrim 0-14
Derry qualified for the final of the competition with a six point semi-final win over Antrim. Derry hit two crucial first half goals from Sean Leo McGoldrick and Paddy Bradley. Antrim did close the gap to four points in the latter half but Derry had enough gas in the tank to hold out and advance to the  finals.

Tyrone 1-18
UUJ 2-11
Tyrone qualified for the semi-finals of the Dr McKenna Cup on Saturday after chalking up their third straight win. The students scored an earlier goal in the 13^th minute but with Sean Cavanagh hitting three points, Tyrone lead by 0-10 to 1-6 at half time. UUJ grabbed another goal in the second half, but a Brian McGuigan goal set the Red Hands on their way to victory. It was Tyrone’s third win in a week and they will now take on Cavan in the semis, with the winners of that game playing Derry in the Final.

Dates for the remaining matches have yet to be confirmed by the Ulster Council.

The final anniversary march marking the Bloody Sunday killings is to take place in Derry this afternoon.

13 people died after British soldiers opened fire on a civil rights march 39 years ago today.

A fourteenth man died later.

Organisers say the annual commemoration won’t be held again as it’s no longer necessary after the Saville Report exonerated the dead and wounded.

None of the soldiers involved have been charged in connection with the killings.

17-year-old Michael Kelly was one of the victims.

His brother, John, says their late mother died heartbroken and her dying wish was that justice would be done.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney has confirmed this evening that she will not be seeking a nomination to contest the General Election for Fianna Fail in Donegal North East.

In a statement the Senator says the decision was taken over Christmas but re-enforced after she was asked to continue the very significant investigation she is involved in for the Council of Ministers.

Ms Keaveney says to fight an election campaign now would ‘fly in the face of the international recognition and respect that I have attained on the issue of preserving the Integrity of Sport’

The announcement was made off the back of a widening division within Fianna Fail in Inishowen. Many felt Senator Keaveney had been frozen out as the party on the Peninsuala pushed for Fianna Fail to add an Inishowen based candidate to the ticket to run along side Deputy Niall Blaney.

This was underlined in a press release from the party ahead of an unofficial selection convention – it stated ‘Senator Keaveney is a regular attender of Inishowen Comhairle Ceantair Meetings.She was however absent for the last three meetings. In the first instance apologies were received. Despite being notified by mail, by telephone, by mobile and by text message – she was not present at the last two meetings.’

The contact for the press release was listed as Councillor Charlie McConalogue who went on to be selected by the party for athe forementioned selection convection.

It’s emerged that at least one of four people whose cancer diagnoses were delayed at Derry’s Altnagelvin Hospital has since died.

Details of the person’s death emerged after the Western Health Trust revealed that four people had to wait up to 10 months for their cancer to be diagnosed.

The delays in diagnosing the cancers happened after written assessments of 18,500 X-rays were not carried out. The backlog emerged last July when it came to light that important reports had not been completed by clinicians.

The Western Health Trust has refused to give details of the four people because of what it described as “patient confidentiality”, but is apologising for the backlog, which has now been cleared.

A spokesperson says the delay in carrying out the written assessments was caused by staff and equipment shortages. It is not yet clear whether the delay in diagnosis contributed to the patient’s death.

The Managing Director of the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny says there is no question whatsoever about the future of the facility.

In its 2009 accounts which have been lodged in the Companies Office, the value of the company’s assetshas been written down from €16.9m to €12.8m, with a note inserted saying that uncertainty over  access to bank loans and the impact of the current economic situation “casts significant doubt upon the company’s ability to continue as a going concern”.

However, Terry Mc Eniff says this is merely complying with a requirement of the Companies Act. he says  the Mount Errigal is trading profitably, and the future looks very good…….