Author name: highlandnews

Second medical evacuation in five days for Arranmore Lifeboat

The volunteer crew of the Arranmore lifeboat has assisted in a second medical evacuation from the island in five days. Following an early call on Sunday morning, the crew wasrequested by Malin Head Coast Guard to assist in a medical evacuation at 07.17 yestrday morning. The patient was transferred to the lifeboat by the local […]

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PSNI provide update on Presbyterian Church investigation

The PSNI has provided an update on their investigation into safeguarding concerns within the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, which began in November 2025. To date, the PSNI have received 101 referrals, which include direct reports from victims, referrals from safeguarding partners, and other parties. Detective Chief Superintendent Zoë McKee confirmed that the investigation relating to

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Minister for Agriculture praises Shared Island Initiative

The Minister for Agriculture has praised the work of the Shared Island Initiative. Earlier this week, the initiative launched a cross-border pilot project to tackle Bovine TB. One benefit that Minister Martin Heydon cites is the work being done on the ground. The Kildare South TD says the investments being made are helping people on

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Pilot cross-border bovine TB project launched in Donegal

The Minister for Agriculture says he is committed to eradicating Bovine TB form the island of Ireland. A major new cross border pilot project to tackle the disease has been launched in Newtowncunningham today. Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon, and his Northern counterpart Andrew Muir were both in attendance. Minister Heydon says he knows first hand the

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Domestic abuse incidents increase 74% since 2018 in Donegal

Domestic abuse incidents have surged by 74% since 2018 in Donegal. These figures were received following a Parliamentary Question from Longford-Westmeath TD, Sorca Clarke. Stranorlar based Councillor, Dakota Nic Mheanman, says the statistics are worrying and that the issue can no longer be neglected. Across the county, domestic abuse calls have increased by 24% since

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ATU applicants among researchers awarded new funding from EPA

Two applicants from Atlantic Technological University have received funding today from the Environmental Protection Agency for new research projects. Salem Gharbia received €159,303.08 to carry out a study addressing Climate Change Evidence Needs, with a project titled, ‘RE-CAP: Reviewing, Experimenting, and Co-Designing Action Pathways for Ireland’s Climate Action Plans’. Heather Lally received €163,789.29 for research

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Lights to be installed at pedestrian crossing on Letterkenny’s Oatfield Roundabout

Donegal County Council has confirmed that a full pedestrian crossing with lights is to be provided at the Oatfield roundabout in Letterkenny, under an active travel project. he issue was raised recently by Cllr Michael McBride, who was seeking to have the current crossing, which currently has no lights, further up the hill. €15,000 has

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Cross border project to tackle Bovine TB being launched this afternoon in Newtowncunningham

A major new cross-border pilot project to tackle bovine TB is being launched today in Newtowncuningham. Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and his Northern counterpart Andrew Muir will launch the project as part of the Shared Island Initiative this afternoon. On today’s Greg Hughes Show, Minister Heydon said the experience elsewhere is that regional approaches work…….

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Drumkeen community group presents 5 year enhancement plan

The Drumkeen Environmental Community Group has recently held a meeting to unveil a five-year strategy for community enhancements. Multiple local Councillors from the Lifford-Stranorlar MD were in attendance at this meeting to hear proposals gathered from a survey of residents. The community raised a number of amenities they would like to see in the survey,

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Letter written by 21 school principals in Donegal produced on the floor of the Dáil

21 school principals in South Donegal have written to Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton expressing concern at how special needs education is being managed. The letter was produced in the Dail this afternoon by Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn, who told Taoiseach Michael Martin it’s a clear indication of the importance of this sector, and the potential

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53 admitted patients awaiting beds this morning in LUH – INMO

There were 575 admitted patients without beds in Irish hospitals this morning, 18% of them in the North West. INMO figures today show Letterkenny University Hospital had 53 awaiting beds, 19 of them on Emergency Department trolleys, while there were 51 patients without beds in Sligo. That’s a combined North West total of 104.

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Public consultation to take place on Derry riverfront project plans

  A Foyle MLA says proposals for Derry’s waterfront area will be a game-changer for the city. Ciara Ferguson was speaking as Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins and Mayor Ruairi McHugh encouraged the public to have their say on the £45 million investment plans for the Derry City Central Riverfront project. The North’s Department for Infrastructure

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National Transport Authority confirms cessation of Letterkenny Town Bus service

The National Transport Authority says it has received confirmation that the town bus service in Letterkenny formerly operated by Doherty Coaches on a commercial basis has now ceased. Following a public consultation in August 2024, a plan was finalised by the NTA for new subsidised town bus services in Letterkenny under a Public Service Obligation..

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Doherty urges government to follow through on pledge to stop vulture funds buying family homes

Donegal TD and Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty says the government continues to sit by and allow vulture funds to bulk purchase homes at the expense of ordinary workers and families. He was speaking as he introduced a motion in the Dáil last evening calling for the banning of investment funds buying family homes.

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Councillor claims some people in Aghyaran haven’t received post for weeks

  It’s been claimed Royal Mail’s letter delivery service has deteriorated so much in parts of West Tyrone that some people in the Aghyaran area haven’t received post for weeks. Cllr Caroline Devine says over the last few weeks, some areas of Aghyaran have had no letters delivered by Royal Mail, and she’s been contacted

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Cabinet to discuss possible social media ban for under-16s

Government is expected to take the first steps towards banning social media for under 16s today. Cabinet is expected to confirm plans to introduce legislation in the area. A new age verification tool is going to be piloted on online platforms, to assess how the ban will work. It’s understood Government’s preference is for the

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‘Into the West’ Chair insists ‘Metro North-West’ plan is viable and achievable

The Chair of ‘Into the West’ says he firmly believes the idea of a regular, eco-friendly rail service across the North-West is viable and achievable. The “Metro North-West” plan would see expanded lines into Donegal and Tyrone, with new stations connecting towns like Letterkenny, Omagh and Strabane to Derry and Coleraine. Plans include running trains

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Government pauses SNA review as Ward raises concerns on the floor of Dail Eireann

The Department of Education is pausing the review into SNA allocations. In the Dail this afternoon, the Taoiseach has acknowledged that where schools are set to lose multiple SNAs in September as a result of a review, the change should be implemented gradually rather than in one go. Michael Martin was responding to Donegal TD

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€69m funding allocated to Donegal roads network

Donegal has been allocated €69m of funding for projects and maintenance of the roads network. This comes as part of a €1.5bn investment announcement by the Department of Transport. €46m will go toward regional roads, while the remaining €23m for new projects and maintenance of national roads. This includes €2.5m of dedicated funding for the

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Almost €4m of Peaceplus funding allocated to Rural project

A new PEACEPLUS project has been unveiled with the aim of supported rural areas in sustainability, innovation and long-term growth has been launched. The Rural Innovation and Social Enterprise Project (RiSE) is being supported by €3.97m of funding. RiSE will encourage and facilitate collaboration between rural communities on a cross-border and cross-community basis. Participating groups

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Welfare Station being made available in Sligo’s Queen Maeve Square tonight

The ‘Care in The Square’ welfare station will be available to people out in Sligo tonight. It will return to Queen Maeve Square and operate from 9.00pm to 1.00am, providing free water, first aid, advice, drink spiking prevention tools, and phone recharging facilities. Edel Doran, Night time Economy advisor for Sligo Town, explains how the

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Murray concerned at EU reclassification of Donegal’s economic status

Donegal and the border could lose out on funding for major projects as a result of an EU reclassification of the region’s economic status. The EU has upgraded the status of the West and North West to ‘more developed’, meaning that the amount of EU funding for major projects now falls from 60% to between

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Blaney welcomes University of Galway involvement in project to tackle Ballymastocker erosion

Donegal County Council says action is being taken to tackle coastal erosion at Ballymastocker Strand. Responding to a motion from Cllr Liam Blaney, officials confirmed they are working closely with experts from the University of Galway’s Geography Department on this matter. They say the team has a solid understanding of the local challenges involved and

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Councillor says new cemetery in Derry must be served by public transport

A Derry based councillor says it’s vital that Translink introduce a bus service to the serve the new £5.2 million Mullenan Derry City Cemetery, which is set to open in the spring. Councillor Patricia Logue says it’s also important that Bus Eireann are involved in those discussions, as she believes the new cemetery will be

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Man jailed for seven years for sexual assault of partner’s best friend

A Donegal man who sexually assaulted his partner’s best friend while she slept on a sofa in his home has been jailed for seven years. Richard Walsh (32) of Lisminton, Ballintra, Co Donegal pleaded guilty last November at the Central Criminal Court to the sexual assault of the woman, who was in her 20s, at

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