Author name: highlandnews

16 schools in Donegal are to benefit from a national funding package of €850,000 under ESD, the Education for Sustainable Development programme. Almost €35,000 has been earmarked for the county. Under the package announced Education Minister Hildegarde Naughton, 11 national schools across Donegal will share almost €27,000 while five post primary schools will share almost […]

Donegal County Council and the Loughs Agency have announced the return the Christmas Tree recycling scheme as part of the Climate Action Campaign. They have encouraged people to recycle their natural Christmas trees which will then be repurposed to stabilise riverbanks, reduce erosion and create habitats for wildlife. The council have highlighted trees from last

Gardaí have arrested 170 people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the past week. Over 5,300 were caught speeding in that time, by officers deployed for the Christmas road safety operation. One driver was spotted travelling at 144km/h in an 80km/h zone on the R239 in Fahan, Co. Donegal. Another was

Gardaí have confirmed they were were called to an incident in a premises in Letterkenny shortly after 3:30 this morning. They say the Armed Support Unit was in attendance, but a less than lethal force option was deployed, and the incident was resolved. No further details have been released.  

Police investigating an assault in Omagh in the early hours of Sunday, 21st December, have charged an 18-year-old man with grievous bodily harm with intent. He is to appear before Omagh Magistrates’ Court on 13th January 2026.

If you’re hoping for a white Christmas in Donegal and the North West, it looks like you’ll be disappointed. Temperatures are set to dip to minus one on Christmas Eve night, but snow isn’t forecast. Met Éireann says Christmas Day will be dry for most with sunny spells and just a schance of some light

Gardaí in Donegal have issued safety advice for those planning to go out this festive season. Gardaí are asking people to: Drink alcohol responsibly – wherever the celebration, everyone should promote safe behaviour Plan your night out – tell somebody where you are going and when you will be back You, your family or friends

Significant damage has been caused to Buncrana’s Christmas tree. In a social media post, organisers say €300 of damage was caused after two people jumped inside and climbed it. They say they have “had enough” of fundraising to repair damage done to the tree. They added that those responsible have until tomorrow to pay the

Gardaí are continuing to conduct foot and motorcycle patrols around retail areas in Letterkenny today. They have issued advice to those doing their last bits of Christmas shopping. They say cars should be parked in a well-lit area, cash and valuables should not be left in cars, the car should be locked before leaving it

Detectives are appealing for information and witnesses following a reported serious assault in Omagh in the early hours of this morning. Police officers on patrol in the Main Street area of the town came across a man with a number of facial and head injuries at around 1am. While he was being spoken to, his

Taoiseach Micheal Martin is to raise the case of Private Sean Rooney as he meets the Lebanese Prime Minister in Beirut today. RTÉ News reports today that the Taoiseach will make it clear that there must be accountability for the killing of the Newtowncunningham native. Lebanon’s military court found six people guilty of involvement in

Three drivers have been arrested on suspicion of drink and drug driving in the Letterkenny area last night. One was arrested on suspicion of drink driving, another tested positive for cocaine, while the third tested positive for cocaine and canabis. Gardaí in Donegal are urging motorists to take care on the roads this festive season.

HSE West and North West are offering a free walk-in flu vaccine services in Donegal. This is to make getting vaccinated more accessible to families. The service will be offered at The Vestry Social Room, St. Conal’s Campus, Kilmacrennan. from Monday 29 December 2025 – 9am to 2pm through Friday 2 January 2026- 9.30am to

Donegal women’s centre have announced emergency contact numbers for women who may be in danger or feeling down or suicidal over the Christmas and New Year period. While the women’s centre will be closed from Tuesday 23rd December at 1pm through Monday 5th January, supports are available. The Donegal women’s centre have urged anyone in

The Strabane business improvement district has donated £2,000 of Strabane local shopping gift cards to the most in need across the district. The cards are being distributed in partnership with the Strabane District and Caring Services, led by a team of community representatives. The most recent data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research agency

    Fermanagh and Omagh District council have taken action following a report that hundreds of tins of hazardous waste were illegally dumped in the Tromore Road area of Omagh. A multi-agency effort was launched after the issue was raised. A spokesperson for the Loughs Agency said that A coordinated response was undertaken by Loughs

253 admitted patients were awaiting beds in Irish hospitals this morning, according to the INMO, a quarter of them in the North West. Sligo University Hospital had the highest number in the state at 37, followed by Limerick on 35. The third highest figure in the state was 25, recorded in Letterkenny University Hospital, giving

Conservation work at the historic Austins building in Derry City is set to begin next year. The Inner City Trust says it will be the beginning of a bigger project to revitalise the site. *************************** Full statement – The Inner City Trust is proud to announce that exploratory and conservation work at the historic Austins

A boy, believed to be in his early teens. has died in a drowning tragedy in Stranorlar. Gardaí have confirmed they and other and emergency services responded after receiving reports of a person falling into the River Finn at Drumboe Woods shortly before 5:40 yesterday evening. They say a male juvenile was taken from the

A young Donegal man who was 16 when he orally raped a 14-year-old girl has been jailed for one year. Jason McLaughlin of Cashel, Gleneely, Co Donegal pleaded guilty to oral rape at a place in Culdaff, Co Donegal on an unknown date in January 2022. The court heard that McLaughlin got the young girl

A man has been jailed for six and a half years for the rape of a woman while she was sleeping in her own home. Kevin McGovern (28) of Main Street, Castlefinn, Co Donegal was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of one count of rape on August 21, 2021. A nolle prosequi was

The Veterinary Council have granted a key accreditation milestone to ATU’s new Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree This milestone confirms that programme development is progressing in line with national and international accreditation expectations and represents a major step forward for veterinary education on the island of Ireland. Atlantic Technological University has been granted an opinion

  Gardai have confirmed that a 15 year old girl who had been missing from Letterkenny, has been found safe. An Garda Síochána have thanked the media and the public for their assistance.      

Preliminary figures from the PSNI show 129 arrests have been made across Northern Ireland on suspicion of drink or drug driving during the first 15 days of the service’s winter campaign. Chief superintendent Sam Donaldson, from the service’s operational support department has called the numbers “shocking”. ************** (Release in Full) Preliminary figures show 129 arrests

Figures from the Department of housing show a drop in the number of commencement notices in Donegal during November compared to November last. 46 notices for new homes were lodged last month, a decrease from 94 in 2024. Despite this, there was an increase of 10% this year nationally, when 1,531 commencement notices for new

Police are concerned for Ruairi McLaughlin who was last seen in the Waterside of the city around 01.00 hours on the 18th December. Please be aware this is a new report for Ruairi who has been reported Missing again. Ruairi is described as 5’ 8”, slim build with dirty fair hair and a beard, believed

A woman in her 30s has died in a crash in County Monaghan. A man in his 50s has been arrested in connection with the incident. This collision involving a car and a lorry happened on the N2 at Mullaghnee, Annalitten outside Castleblayney at around 8am this morning. The driver of the car, a woman

Police in Derry have made two arrests after seizing suspected Class B drugs in the Waterside area of Derry yesterday afternoon. Officers on patrol at around 2.50pm, as part of Operation Season’s Greetings, stopped a vehicle and noted what they believed to be the smell of cannabis emanating from inside it. They searched the car,