Author name: highlandnews

Outgoing Fine Gael TD, Joe McHugh says it’s a ‘bittersweet’ day for him. In May 2022 Deputy McHugh announced that he was stepping away from politics. He previously took a stand in voting against the Government in the controversial Enhanced Defective Concrete Block scheme, which he said didn’t go far enough. Senator Nikki Bradley and John […]

Padraig MacLochlainn looks set to take the second Sinn Féin seat in Donegal. He was first elected to the Dail in 2011 but lost his seat in the 2016 General Election. The huge surplus from his party colleague Pearse Doherty is expected to take him over the line. Padraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Fein’s Dail Whip says

Pat the Cope Gallagher believes it will be down to ‘the wire’ to secure two Fianna Fail seats in Donegal. The party ran three candidates in the constituency with Charlie McConalogue and Claudia Kennedy also on the ticket. Tallies indicate Claudia Kennedy has secured just 297 votes. She’s a long shot off but Pat the

Sinn Féin Councillor Jack Murray, Cathaoirleach of the Inishowen Municipal District says it will be a ‘difficult path to power’ but that his party will be speaking to a number of other parties if they secure the majority of Dail seats. He has expressed his confidence in party leader Mary Lou McDonald after what has

Senator Nikki Bradley has conceded that she will not take a Dail seat. She was appointed to the Seanad by Taoiseach Simon Harris in July. Senator Bradley says she is proud of what the party has achieved today despite Fine Gael set to lose its seat. However, she said negative attitudes in Donegal need to

‘Maybe there’s lessons to be learnt’. That’s the view of Fine Gael Councillor Jimmy Kavanagh. First tallies indicate Fine Gael will lose it’s Dail seat in Donegal which will be a bruising result for the party. They ran two candidates in a bid to retain outgoing Joe McHugh’s seat but as it stands it doesn’t

Fine Gael look to be struggling in Donegal. Joe McHugh won a seat for the party in the last General Election. He announced previously that he was stepping away from politics at the end of this Dail term. The two candidates vying for the Fine Gael seat in Donegal are John McNulty and Senator Nikki

Thomas Pringle has increased his vote in parts of Inishowen and Letterkenny. He is on is on 6.9% but his focus will be on how many votes he can get under his belt in his own area of South Donegal. With Sinn Féin confident they can get Noel Jordan over the line, Thomas Pringle’s camp

Sinn Féin are confident they can secure three seats in Donegal. As it stands around lunchtime here in the count centre at Aura Leisure Centre, Sinn Féin, according to tally figures, are sitting on 43%. Pearse Doherty is polling well right across the county with Padraig MacLochlainn cleaning up in Inishowen. Noel Jordan meanwhile, is

Early tallie indicated support for Fianna Fail has dropped approximately 20% in Inishowen. Sinn Féin has secured the majority of votes from the electorate in the peninsula. However, Charlie McConalogue and Pat the Cope Gallagher’s Director of Elections, Senator Niall Blaney says while the vote in McConalogue’s backyard was crucial, it is manageable. He says

While the big story during the local election in June was the success of the 100% Redress Party in Donegal, it doesn’t look to be the case this time round. It is still very early days but particularly in the Inishowen area where it was expected Charles Ward would have received a huge share of

Three men will appear in court in the North today, charged after a car pursuit in County Derry. Police are also investigating an alleged ramming and related offences in Kilrea on Wednesday afternoon. One man aged 38 and two men, both aged 27 , have been charged with a number of offences including attempted kidnapping.

The record homeless figures of almost 15 thousand people is being described as “unacceptable.” DePaul says any new government must gather a strong response to the crisis. It says the housing market isn’t working for those most vulnerable, with 4,645 children trapped in homelessness. DePaul Director of Services and Development Dermot Murphy says children deserve

People are being warned to be careful on what they plan to post abroad this Christmas. Presents containing batteries and liquids will not be accepted by airlines, and will be destroyed. The postal service says there is a restrictive list on their website for people who are unsure of what they can, or can’t post.

A survey published this week by Nursing Homes Ireland says the average 60 bed public nursing home receives €2m more subvention per annum than an equivalent sized private facility. The survey, carried out by BDO also found disparity also in private and voluntary Fair Deal rates across regions, with an average sized nursing home in

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council says the council’s success at last week’s Chambers Ireland awards will pave the way for more growth and success. The council was named ‘Local Authority of the Year’ at the annual Chambers Ireland awards, and also took the ‘Supporting Sustainable Communities’ award for the Burtonport and Arranmore ‘Harbour to Island’

Work has begun on the New Advanced IDA Building Solution in Letterkenny. Donegal firm Glebe Builders started the works on the major development at the IDA business and technology park yesterday. The news has been welcomed by Letterkenny Councillor Ciaran Brogan. He says the development shows a commitment to making Letterkenny and the North West

Researchers in Derry have developed a faster and more accurate method for diagnosing Chronic Kidney Disease and predicting severe cases of Covid-19. The Personalised Medicine Centre at Ulster University says the pioneering research could also be key in preventing disease. Dr Taranjit Singh Rai is a Senior Lecturer at the University’s School of Medicine and

Ulster University has been awarded ‘University of the Year 2024’ in the UK and Ireland by the Times Higher Education annual awards. The establishment was shortlisted in September alongside London Metropolitan University, the University of Stirling, the University of Leicester, the University of Sunderland, and the University of Surrey. Contributing factors to the success include

Breezy and wet at times with outbreaks of rain, becoming persistent by midday. Drier weather with sunny spells may develop by evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh, strong at times, southerly winds.

There’s calls for Land and Property Service in Northern Ireland to urgently reach out to landowners who will be impacted by the development of the A5. Compulsory acquisition of land was due to take place on November 25th. That however, has not happened to date. The Ulster Farmers’ Union says the LPS have failed to

It’s been confirmed that Transport Infrastructure Ireland will carry out a review of tourism signage in Donegal next year. It’s after members passed a motion from Cllr Martin Scanlon calling on Donegal County Council to repurpose existing signage infrastructure which may be out of date to promote tourism. Officials welcomed the suggestion, saying while such

The St Vincent De Paul organisation in Donegal is urging anyone in need of help over Christmas to contact them. Ahead of what will be their busiest month of the year, Rosa Glackin says social welfare boosts and other payments this month have had some benefit, but that will not last, She says more permanent

Nursing unions are warning we could see the withdrawal of labour, after healthcare workers voting overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. A six week in-person ballot of INMO, FORSA and UNITE members has resulted in a strong mandate for action, over what the unions say are unsafe staffing levels in hospitals. The Irish Nurses and