Author name: highlandnews

Rent in Donegal is 4.5% higher than this time last year. However, it’s down slightly on the second quarter of 2024. According to the latest Daft.ie report, the average rent in the county is €1,170. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Donegal is €755, 64% higher than the average mortgage for the same […]

Senator Niall Blaney has voiced his support for the cross-border ‘Poreto’ initiative between Loreto Community School, Milford and Portadown College in Armagh. The project has brought together students from both sides of the border to learn from each other. Senator Blaney highlighted the importance of such initiatives in fostering understanding and building peace. He emphasised

Donegal County Council is facing calls to halt an active travel plan in Letterkenny. Plans are in place to install cycle lanes in the Ballyraine area from the Polestar Roundabount to Thomas Keys. However, concerns have been raised that the development currently progressing is not in line with what was agreed with when plans were

A county councillor has voiced concerns over the rising cost of renting in her area. Cllr Dakota Nic Mheanman highlighted exorbitant rental prices in Ballybofey, with some properties reaching as high as €950 per month. Currently residing in a mobile home, Cllr Nic Mheanman expressed worry about the impending cold weather. She called for an

Members of the Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District have backed efforts to get the Buncrana Leisure Centre over the line. Councillor Michael McBride proposed a review of the capacity of Aura Leisure Centre, Letterkenny, with a view towards seeking funding for an extension of the facility. However, with the Buncrana project shovel-ready, Councillor Ciaran Brogan believes Donegal

A Donegal business has been listed as one of the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Priority Sites. The EPA has highlighted Aurivo Consumer Foods Limited’s non-compliant discharges into water. The milk processing company has been on the National Priority Sites List previously. Mick Henry is a Senior Manager in the EPA’s Industrial Licence Enforcement team. He

*Content warning – image below* A local councillor is calling on the public to take the proper steps when an animal dies. This follows the discovery of a dead sheep in a forested area in Falcarragh. Cllr Michael McClafferty says he understands that farmers are facing financial difficulties, but it’s important that animal carcasses are

A Glenties area councillor says a planned social housing development in Ballymacool on the outskirts of Letterkenny will have ramifications for traffic, particularly for those coming in from West Donegal. It’s anticipated that up to 165 houses will be built in total, with 100 of them completed by the end of 2026. Cllr Dennis McGee

Investigations are underway into the theft of a car from Crawford Square, Moville at around 11pm on Wednesday night last. The silver Renault Fluence with a partial registration of ’11 DL 17’ was driven in the direction of Gleneely where it was involved in a crash. Garda Sergeant Eunan Walsh says they are particularly interested

Drivers are being reminded to ensure their vehicles are secured at all times, especially as the Christmas shopping season approaches. It’s after a sum of money and bank cards was stolen from a car parked at An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny on Saturday night between 7:30pm and 11pm. 63% of thefts from cars occur at non-residential

Gardaí say they are keen to hear from anyone who observed a white transit van in the Drumnahoe area of Letterkenny on Saturday night. They believe the vehicle was involved in the theft of two digger buckets from a business premises in the area at around 9pm. Garda Sergeant Eunan Walsh is appealing for information:

A public meeting to discuss funding for Buncrana Leisure Centre is taking place tonight. There was huge disappointment as money for the shovel-ready project was not allocated in the latest round of sports infrastructure funding. It’s understood funding will now be sought under the Repowering Buncrana Project. The meeting gets underway at 8pm at Crana

There’s outrage in Malin after a number of signs were vandalised last night. It’s understood a white Northern registered van was involved in the damaging of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Historic Towns signs at around 9pm. Councillor Martin McDermott is urging other villages to be on alert. He is also appealing to anyone

The Taoiseach has promised to carry out a full review of the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme if back in Government after the upcoming General Election. Simon Harris was in Donegal yesterday as part of his Leader’s Tour. He met with the Raphoe Playgroup in Stranorlar during his visit which is also affected by the

Donegal County Council is being asked who is responsible for ensuring that Uisce Éireann upgrades are implemented in and around Letterkenny. There are plans to develop 165 new houses in Ballymacool and 175 at High Road. Uisce Éireann has confirmed that the plan is feasible, subject to upgrades. A geophysical survey of the Ballymacool site

Protesters have gathered in Letterkenny as Taoiseach Simon Harris visits the town as part of his Leader’s tour. Home owners affected by defective concrete blocks and members from Raphoe Community Playgroup, also impacted by the crisis have in hopes of speaking with the Fine Gael leader. Manager of the playgroup, Fiona McCrabbe told Highland Radio’s

Kevin Sharkey says mass immigration is at the top of his agenda in his campaign in the 2024 General Election. Mr. Sharkey, a well known artist from Killybegs is running as an Independent candidate. He argues that healthy immigration, which could bring in more nurses and doctors, is not the issue. Mr. Sharkey believes that

The Green Party’s Donegal General Election candidate says she wants to work to deliver a better, more resilient county. Nuala Carr, a native of Letterkenny, is currently working at Atlantic Technological University on an EU funded research programme involving offshore wind energy. She says if elected to the Dail, collaboration between communities will be high

A Donegal TD is calling for the recruitment of more gardai for the county, and also for more garda stations to be kept open at night. Deputy Thomas Pringle says the Garda presence in Donegal has shrunk from one Garda per 362 people in 2020 to one per 383 people in 2023, marking a 12%

A Donegal Senator has hit out over the struggles of single parents in Donegal seeking housing from Donegal County Council. One mother who is currently pregnant with her fourth child is living in a two bed apartment in Ardara with her other three children. Mary’s children’s health has been affected by mould in the property.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said teachers are the backbone of Irish society, and Michael O’Leary should stick to running Ryanair. It’s after Mr O’Leary said he prefer less teachers and more accountants in government. He told Fine Gael candidate Peter Burke’s weekend campaign event, he wouldn’t employ teachers to “go out and get things done.”

There’s renewed calls for action to tackle the high volume of deer in Donegal. It’s after two crashes in the county in recent days involving the animals, one in the Barnesmore Gap area, the other in Creeslough during which around €10,000 worth of damage was caused. Councillor Michael McClafferty fears someone will be seriously injured

Serious concerns have been raised over low water levels at Lough Colmcille in Milford. The large water resource is currently the main water supply for Milford and surrounding areas. Councillor Declan Meehan fears the impact the depletion of Lough Colmcille will have on water supply in the coming months as well as the ecological and

Social Justice Ireland says the new government will face some key challenges in rural areas following the General Election. The independent social justice think-tank has outlined what it sees as obstacles facing policymakers. It wants to see people in rural communities have access to everyday services such as doctors, schools and pharmacies. Michelle Murphy Research

The Ryanair boss is being slammed for his controversial remarks on teachers at a Fine Gael campaign event. Michael O’Leary said he “wouldn’t generally employ a lot of teachers to go out and get things done”. He told Fine Gael candidate Peter Burke’s weekend launch he thinks more accountants are needed in Government. Teachers Union

A candidate in the upcoming General Election says there must be an urgent review of Ireland’s Critical Skills List in a bid to address the housing crisis. It follows a recent report from the Fiscal Council indicating that the country requires an additional 80,000 construction workers to tackle pressing infrastructure needs. Fine Gael’s John McNulty