Author name: highlandnews

The number of people on the Live Register in Donegal is down 14% over the past year. CSO figures show there were 7,756 people signing on in the county in December, down compared to 9,118 during the same period in 2023. However, the figure is up 3.2% from November last. Nationally, the number of people

Repairs to a burst water main are ongoing in Ballybofey, Stranorlar and surrounding areas. Uisce Eireann say works are scheduled to be completed by 6pm this evening. A traffic management plan is in place for the duration of the works.

Gardaí have confirmed that they are investigating a complaint of an alleged fraud at a business in East Donegal. The complaint was made on December 19th and is believed to have involved a number of people at the major manufacturer in Ballybofey. Gardaí say the investigation is ongoing. The exact nature of the alleged fraud

It looks like the cold snap will be coming to an end, with temperatures slowly starting to rise from today. The entire country is still under a yellow warning for low temperatures and ice until midday, before a gradual thaw begins. Motorists are again urged to take care on the roads this morning with temperatures

A 39-year-old man has been charged with a number of drug-related offences as part of an investigation by detectives from The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Organised Crime Branch. The man was first arrested in October 2024 and subsequently bailed. On the same day, searches were carried out in Derry during which around £20,000 in

The Northern Ireland Executive is to try and identify those abused as children in church settings. It addresses all faiths and includes schools overseen by Northern Ireland’s main Churches and religious congregations. It follows the scoping inquiry into childhood sexual abuse in schools run by the Catholic Church in the Republic. It’s calling for survivors

Gardai say foul play is not suspected in the death of a man whose body was found at a vacant property in Burnfoot earlier this week. The man’s, body was discovered in the Dundrain area at around 2:30pm on Wednesday. Gardai believe the death of the man, who was in his 30s was a tragic

Sligo University Hospital has opened a medical offsite ward. The 26-bed ward is hoped to lessen the burden on current bed capacity. The facility will be used by many in South Donegal as it is their nearest ED. The facility located at St. John’s Community Hospital in Sligo has six four-bed rooms and two single

Grainne’s Gap remains closed this morning due to the hazardous road conditions. The closure was requested by an Garda Siochana. The road is due to reopen at 10am this morning pending weather conditions.

Jerry Early has been appointed the role of Lifeboat Operations Manager at Arranmore RNLI. It follows 43 years of service in which Mr Early has held the position of volunteer crew member, 10 years as the 2nd coxswain and the Deputy Launch Authority. He is also chairperson of the Irish Islands Marine Resource Organisation. Mr

375 drivers have been caught speeding over the last 72 hours. One motorist was travelling at 156 kilometre per hour in a 100 zone on the N15 Drumrat in Donegal. 29 motorists were arrested for drink or drug driving during that same period. Gardaí are repeating their appeal to drivers to Slow Down during the

Grainne’s Gap in Muff will be closed at 6pm this evening at the request of an Garda Síochana. It is due to the treacherous conditions with the cold snap. The road will open once more at 10am tomorrow morning, subject to weather conditions.

A vehicle collided with the front of the Donegal Hearing Clinic on Pearse Road in Letterkenny this afternoon. The organisation shared images of the damage caused at the front door of the premises on social media. Gardaí confirmed they received a report of criminal damage earlier today in the area. It’s believed the vehicle fled the scene

Local Link says transport for passengers attending HSE day services will not operate due to unsafe conditions tomorrow in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim. Local Link Demand Responsive Services will be assessed locally by each operator tomorrow morning. For commuter services, people are asked to check Local Link’s social media and Facebook page from 6am for

Bus Eireann says from Monday next, January 13th, Service 1426, which operates one daily return service between Stranorlar and St Johnston on weekdays will no longer operate. They say this decision has been made following a review of service usage and alignment with existing routes in the region. The company says passengers will still have

Another Status Orange low temperature and ice warning has been issued by Met Eireann, with Donegal included. The alert warns of extremely cold weather with widespread severe frost and ice, along with lying snow in some areas. Patches of freezing fog is also expected. The alert comes into effect at 7pm tonight, until 8am tomorrow

Uisce Eireann says repairs to a burst water main in Derrybeg may cause supply disruptions to MÍn an Iolair and surrounding areas. An alternative water supply is available at NowDoc, Derrybeg (F92DN4X) until 6pm tomorrow. Irish Water make every effort to ensure that the alternative drinking water supply provided, including the tanker / bowser, and

Tidy Town groups can now obtain insurance through their local authority at no cost. The announcement was made this morning by the Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance, Neale Richmond. The launch of the community insurance initiative will enable local authorites to get the insurance through a partnership with Irish Public

A second protest has been organised in response to a decision not to make a prosecution in the case of Rebecca Browne. The 21 year old from Derry, died in May 2023 after being struck by a Garda patrol car at Ludden, Buncrana. GSOC ruled in December that it would not prosecute any Gardai. The

Five organisations in Donegal are to receive over €750,000 in funding from the Arts Council. €68.5 million has been allocated to 175 arts organisations, centres and studios across the country. €180,000 has been announced for An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny and €205,000 for the Regional Cultural Centre. Cairdeas na bhFidiléirí is to receive €56,950 while €305,000

` The proposed developer of the site of the Creeslough explosion has responded to Donegal County Council’s request for further clarification. Vivo Shell Limited has submitted significant further information and revised plans to their planning application to redevelop the site where 10 people lost their lives in an explosion over two years ago. Donegal County

Schools in Donegal remain closed today due to the adverse weather conditions. A status yellow low temperature and ice warning remains in place for the county until lunchtime tomorrow. The full list of closures and service interruptions are below. School Closures: Scoil Mhuire Gan Smál, Letterkenny Carndonagh Community School will open at 11am today. Buses

Donegal property prices rise by €15,475 in the last three months of last year, according to myhome.ie The median asking price for a property in the county is now €245,475, with year on year price inflation in Donegal twice the national average. The report, which covers Quarter 4 of 2024 shows that the median asking

Donegal County Council has launched a new Cultural Calendar to celebrate the diverse cultures in the county. The initiative has been developed as part of the EU BELONG pilot project. This initiative, aligned with the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Inclusion Strategy for Donegal 2021-2026, aims to foster inclusivity and understanding by highlighting key cultural

A list of those contesting the Seanad elections has been revealed with five candidates from Donegal vying for a seat. On the agriculture panel, Senator Niall Blaney of Fianna Fáil is contesting, as is John McNulty of Fine Gael who recently was a candidate in the General Elections. Also from Fine Gael is Cllr Jimmy

Ireland has joined South Africa’s International Court of Justice case against Israel. Tánaiste Micheál Martin secured Cabinet approval in December to intervene in the case, which alleges Israel is breaching the Genocide Convention through the war in Gaza. Ireland’s intervention in the case requests the court broaden the interpretation of genocide within the Convention. The

It’s understood that there is severe traffic congestion between Kilross and Stranorlar this evening. It follows reports that a lorry has broken down leading to delays on the road. Gardaí have been dispatched to the scene.

The first reports from the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery, created under the Legacy Act, are expected to be published in the Autumn. The Irish Examiner reports that the new body, tasked to probe cases from the Troubles, is currently looking at 25 cases and has also accepted a request for an investigation

Gardaí tended the scene of a road traffic collision in Creeslough this morning. No injuries have been reported from the incident that happened on the N56 in Derryfad at around 10:30 am. However its understood that the car involved is blocking the road at the moment and is due to be moved. Update 13:52pm:  The

Government formation talks are continuing as Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil hammer out the details of a programme for Government. The attention has been turning to which independent TDs may support that coalition. With the Social Democrats joining Labour on the opposition benches for the next five years, it’s clear independents will be the ones

Derry City and Strabane District Council is advising the public that the ongoing severe weather conditions is impacting on some services today. City of Derry Airport is open, but people are advised to allow extra time for journeys, and check arrival and departure times online. Refuse collection services are operating, but there may be delays,

There were 27 admitted patients awaiting beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, 11 of them on trolleys in the Emergency Department. In Sligo, the figure was 53, 31 of them in the ED. Nationally, the INMO says there were 658 patients awaiting beds.