Up to 20 thousand people are expected in Bundoran over the next week for Eurosurf Bundoran 2011 which gets underway later today.

The parade of nations will commence in Bundoran this afternoon at 3pm.

Comeptition starts on Sunday with the worlds top surfers battling it out over a weeks competition.

The event is expected to be worth at least 3 million euro to the local economy.

The Eurosurf Bundoran spokesperson is Shane Smyth – he has this advise for those going to the event:

Letterkenny Institute of Technology has been named as the runner up Irish Institute of Technology of the year.

It came behind Dublin Institute of Technology in The Sunday Times University Guide 2012,

The guide is one of the most read in the world and contains full lists of the major third-level institutions in Ireland and higher education institutions in the UK.

Critiera for guide include the average number of leaving certificate points gained by new entrants, research income generated, graduate unemployment, student/staff ratios and the dropout rate.

It’s reported this morning that the US tourist found alive after going missing for five days told gardai she cannot remember most of her ordeal.

The Garda Press Office is not confirming that a formal interview has taken place, but the Irish Independent is reporting that 41 year old Kelly Jones has told gardai she “blacked out” for four days.

Ms Jones says she blacked out at around 8.30pm on Friday September 16th, the day before she was reported missing, and her next memory was at around 7.30pm on Tuesday night last.

She was very afraid and feared for her life, and broke into the rectory to take shelter.

She doesn’t remember much else until she was found by Garda Odhran McBride and volunteers on Wednesday at 12.30pm.

The main Fintown to Glenties road has re-opened following an earlier crash.

A man was injured in the single vehicle incident close to Fintown.

He was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital, his injuries are not life threatening.

373 thousand euro has been approved by Donegal Local Development Company to the Doe Community Association for upgrade works in Creeslough.

It is a further boost for the town which was awarded €560,000 by the National Roads Authority for improvement’s to th main street.

A contractor to do the work has been selected but not yet appointed -  work is still expected to commence at the end of October.

Doe Community Association encompasses the Creeslough Tidy Towns Committee – its spokesperson is Margaret Roarty:

Derry, Strabane and Letterkenny will join 30 towns and cities across Ireland tonight as part of Culture Night 2011.

The event sees galleries, museums, churches and other cultural sites open late so visitors can experience what they have to offer.

Culture Night, which has been running since 2006, offers live performances, tours and workshops in a wide range of areas that organisers say “appeal to all tastes”.

Senior Economic Development Officer with Derry City Council, Tony Monaghan, says Derry will come alive tonight for this cultural event….

A list of Garda stations to be closed in Donegal could include a number of one-man stations and border town stations.

The stations understood to be up for closure include Culdaff, Glencolmcille, Carrick, Annagry, Burtonport, Creeselough, Dunfanaghy, Rathmullen, Ramelton, Pettigo, Churchill, Brockagh, Carrigans, Newtowncunningham, Convoy and Malin.

Public meetings have been planned against the moves.

As of yet Senior members of the Gardai and the Government have denied that any decisions have been made yet.

Deputy Padraig McLaughlin, who has raised the issue three times in the Dail this week, is demanding answers from the….

Gardai are investigating after a suspected arson attack in Letterkenny in the early hours of this morning.

A skip was set alight on the town’s Main Street close to Blake’s Bar.

Gardai and two sections of the local fire service were quickly on the scene of the blaze which broke out around 1.30am.

Gardai quickly sealed off the street as members of the fire service brought the blaze under control.

Mayor of Letterkenny, Gerry McMonagle, condemned the incident, and says it could have been a lot more serious……

An Bord Pleannala has given the go ahead for a controversial new research project of the west Donegal coast which some locals fear will be the precursor to offshore wind farms.

Queen’s University in Belfast plans to build fifty four – 5 tonne – concrete pillars along coast to the west of Falchorrib Pier, close to Dungloe.

An Teasca had appealed a decision to award planning permission for the controversial project but failed.

It is understood that the development, which could be in place for 25 years, is to test how concrete reacts to the elements.

Patricia Sharkey of the Gweebara Conservation Group previously outlined why they didn’t want the development to go ahead:

The ICSA is calling for an increase in inspections at the country’s metal recycling centres in the wake of an increase in the theft of metal.

There have been numerous cases in Donegal this year of farming machinery, gates, pot holes and other metal items being stolen.

The ICSA says it is to easy for these items to be turned in to cash.

The farming organisations spokesperson is Cathal Maher: