Gene McDonald has been remembered as a gentleman at his funeral mass this afternoon.

He and co-driver Daire Maguire were killed when their rally car crashed near Ballymote on Sunday afternoon during the Sligo Stages Rally.

Mr. Maguire’s funeral took place on Thursday.

Two separate investigations into the crash are ongoing.

During the homily at St Mary’s Middle Chapel in Cavan this afternoon, Mr. McDonald was described as a man who loved life, his family and his work and was highly respected in rallying.

A Donegal Councillor is calling for driving test waiting times to be addressed.

The current waiting time stands at four months with many being left frustrated at the length.

With driving tests centres currently operating five days a week, Independent Councillor Michael McClafferty says an increase of the service to seven days along with the employment of more tests would elevate some of the pressure on the current system.

Councillor McClafferty, who is the Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District says learner drivers are often having to drive unaccompanied which leads to them to “being coraled into breaking the law.”

The Government is being urged to implement targeted measures in a bid to eliminate deaths on the roads.

Recent figures released by Parc show a higher risk for motorists who use secondary roads and there are calls for an examination into the issue.

Sinn Fein's Transport Spokesperson and Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny says there needs to be action by a number of bodies to curb this emerging trend.

Deputy Kenny says while road safety is everyone's responsibility, promised improvement works on routes such as the N17 would also be hugely beneficial:

Daire Maguire has been remembered as a hard working family man at his funeral mass this morning.

He and driver Gene McDonald were killed when their rally car crashed near Ballymote on Sunday afternoon during the Sligo Stages Rally.

Mr. McDonald's funeral will take place tomorrow.

Two separate investigations into the crash are ongoing.

During the homily this morning, Father Saghar Sabir said Mr Maguire was deeply passionate about rallying and wherever he went, his family went too:

A Donegal TD has said proposed new powers for An Garda Síochána need more oversight and that any changes in relation to the use of recording devices should be subject to public consultation.

Deputy Thomas Pringle believes the Garda monitoring of vehicles with the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) monitors should require an order signed by a District Court judge, and for longer periods, an order signed by a Circuit Court judge.

The Government bill on the matter requires an officer at the rank of Superintendent to sign off on the monitoring order for a period of up to three months, and a District Court judge to sign off if the period extends beyond three months.

Something Deputy Pringle says not enough of a check currently takes place:

Ireland's senior women's soccer team will make their World Cup debut later this morning.

Their opening game against tournament co-hosts Australia kicks off at the Accor Stadium in Sydney at 11 o'clock Irish time.

Two Donegal women, Amber Barrett and Ciara Grant are part of the squad.

It's expected to be a sell-out crowd of over 80 thousand fans.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is wishing the team well :

Bus Eireann has come in for criticism over imminent price hikes to fares at a time when some of its services catering to the North West have been deemed unreliable.

Bus Eireann says it's down to a rise in costs and the reviewed fares are due to come into effect at the end of the month.

However, the company has come under fire in recent weeks again after its early morning service from Dublin to Donegal was cancelled at short notice.

Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon believes that their focus should be on trying to bring the service itself back up to scratch:

Guinness owner Diageo is to increase the price it charges for draught beer for the second time this year.

The cost of a pint is to rise by 4 cent from August 14th.

It's the second time this year Diageo has increased its prices, and says it's down to rising costs.

Guinness, Carlsberg, Smithwicks, Harp, Rockshore and Hop House 13 are all set to be a little more expensive.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland says it'll be calling on Diageo to review its decision immediately.

It adds the increase is "poorly timed and deeply unfair to both consumers and publicans".

Cathaoirleach of the Manorhamilton Municipal District and publican Felim Gurn has labelled the price increase as "bad timing":

A Sligo councillor says it needs to be established if there will be changes in relation to how Irish coastguard search and rescue operations are ran locally after the contract for the provision of the service recently was awarded to a different company.

Bristow Ltd were recently awarded the contract and whereas Sligo Strandhill Councillor Sinead Maguire fully supports the process which allows companies to tender for such contracts she says the finer detail of the contract must be examined carefully. 

The Fine Gael councillor say it's vital to establish that there will be no changes in relation to how coastguard operations are ran in the North West.

Its been confirmed that two badly needed bus shelters will be finally established in north Sligo, four years after they were first approved.

In 2019, Sligo County Council got the green light for the shelters in Grange and Cliffoney however they have yet to be put in place.

However, it's understood that tenders have been accepted with renewed hopes that they will be installed by years end.

Local Fianna Fail Councillor Dónal Gilroy says the infrastructure is vital to the communities in question: