Author name: highlandnews

Health Care Assistants in the Home Support Service in Donegal will strike for two days next month. Earlier this month, 95% of Siptu staff in the Home Support Service voted for industrial action, due to what they say is the employer’s failure to honour improvements in terms and conditions which were agreed 8 years ago. […]

Jessie Buckley has picked up an Oscar nomination. The Kerry native has been nominated in the Best Actress category, for her performance in ‘Hamnet.’ While her co-star Paul Mescal missed out on a nod in the Best Supporting Actor category, the film is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay, Costume Design, and Casting. Dubliner Richard Baneham

A Finn Valley Cllr has criticised the air quality in Ballybofey during a meeting of Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District. Cllr Patrick McGowan has hit out at “haphazard” air quality monitoring that has taken place in the town previously, because of inconclusive results it produced. Cllr McGowan now has hopes that new funding allocated to Ernact for

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty and Tanaiste Simon Harris have clashed in the Dail regarding the future of the Chair of Bord Bia, the body charged with promoting Irish food internationally. It follows the revelation that Larry Murrin’s firm Dawn Farm Foods imports Brazilian beef into Ireland. The board of Bord Bia is meeting at the

Business owners in Strabane have held a meeting to discuss the impact of non-domestic rates in the town. With politicians and business leaders in attendance, multiple issues were discussed. The meeting’s organiser, Niall Speak, felt positive about the meeting and hopes this can be the beginning of a wider movement………

The Northern Ireland Assembly has heard a call for anyone with information about the murder of eight workmen in County Tyrone 34 years ago to come forward. The attack at Teebane Crossroads happened as the workmen were on their way home from an army barracks in Omagh where they had been working. At a commemoration

Donegal Deputy Charles Ward has attacked the Government, accusing it of deliberately leaving families in dangerously defective homes to limit its own costs. Deputy Ward told Taoiseach Michael Martin on the floor of the Dail that homeowners who clearly qualify under I.S. 465 are being deliberately shut out, with technical interpretations used as a shield

The Dail has been told that a lack of communication between Uisce Eireann and local politicians in Donegal is a major issue, with the water utility being accused of displaying a culture of arrogance. Deputy MacLochlainn said in his experience, every other public service has systems in place to allow public representatives make contact with

The Mercosur trade deal is being sent to the European Court of Justice for review. MEPs are concerned splitting the deal into two parts doesn’t comply with an existing EU framework. The Irish Farmers Association says it’s the right decision. Speaking in the Dáil Deputy Michael Collins, leader of Independent Ireland hit out at MEPs

MEPs have referred the EU-Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice amid concerns it conflicts with EU law. The deal, which covers imports, exports, and climate-related data-sharing measures, is now under scrutiny and could be delayed for years. The Irish Farmers Association says it’s the right decision. Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher voted

The Donegal Sports Partnership is set to receive €477,807in core funding. The allocation, which includes €9,000 for Women in Sport, is an increase of €40,000 on the amount for 2025. This allocation comes as part of a wider €12.66m investment in Ireland’s 29 Local Sports Partnerships. The funding for Local Sports Partnerships this year includes

A recent allocation of Greenway funding for a proposed route from Burtonport to Letterkenny has left a bad taste in the mouth of a local councillor. Councillor Micheál Coilm Mac Giolla Easbuig is questioning why just €20,000 was allocated to the project, the lowest amount awarded in the county. While he has welcomed the other

We can’t afford to wait for European laws on deepfakes and Ireland must take action now. That’s according to an Irish MEP who says we should be a changemaker on the issue of non-consensual AI generated images. The issue will also be discussed by broadcaster Grainne Seoige at today’s meeting of the Oireachtas Media Committee.

The official launch takes place in Monaghan today of a new project aimed at building positive relationships in communities experiencing rapid demographic change. The Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme, supported by PEACEPLUS, is a three-year initiative encompassing the whole of Northern Ireland, and the border counties of Donegal, Leitrim and Monaghan. Meanwhile, the Donegal Intercultural Platform,

Today is Red Squirrel Appreciation Day and marks the launch of the 2026 All-Ireland Squirrel and Pine Marten Survey. The survey is being led by researchers from the University of Galway, Ulster Wildlife and the Vincent Wildlife Trust. It aims to build an up-to-date picture of where red and grey squirrels and pine martens are

A Donegal TD has told the Dail that the introduction of independent regulation of the Home Care sector must be accompanied by better training, and more flexibility in the HSE’s approach. Deputy Charles Ward told a debate on the second stage of an amendment to the 2025 Home Support Providers Bill that when he was

People are losing faith in the institutions at Stormont because of the failure of the Executive to address the real issues facing the people of Northern Ireland. That’s the belief of West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, who told the Assembly this week that while people are facing delays in the health service, lack of adequate

A Donegal TD is demanding that the government address the issue of carers being hit with bills for back tax after the Department of Social Protection started sharing data files on those receiving the carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit with the Revenue Commissioners. The Irish Independent reports today that 34,000 carers are being hit with

The HSE says it will shortly be recruiting for a wide range of roles at the new 110 bed Community Hospital facility in Letterkenny. Dermot Monaghan, The HSE’s Area Manager for Donegal, says with the population aged 65 and over projected to grow to over 1.3 million by 2040, now is the time to prepare

Gardaí are warning of a scam taking place on the messaging app WhatsApp Scammers are impersonating Gardaí and contacting people for information Garda Grainne Doherty gave information concerning the scam on today’s Greg Hughes Show……….

As part of ongoing work to combat drink and drug driving Gardaí in Donegal have arrested nine people on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs/alcohol over the past week Seven people drug driving and two drink driving. Garda Grainne Doherty gave this update on today’s Greg Hughes Show……

Donegal County Council is working to ensure last year’s traffic problems at Big White Bay in Stroove are not replicated this year. At a recent meeting of Inishowen Municipal District, Cllr Martin Farren said last year saw buses unable to get to the beach because of double parking on the road, and that he says

The Northern Ireland Assembly has been told that the Magee Campus of Ulster University is on track reach 10,000 within seven years, with a 22% increase registered in less than 24 months. Foyle MLA Padraig Delargey told the Assembly that expanding Magee has between a priority for Sinn Fein Ministers, and their commitment will continue.

A plan to develop lands at Mount Marian in Milford will go forward for Part 8 planning at the end of the month. The development will include a new town park and a new community hub building. A recent meeting of Letterkenny Milford Municipal District was told the plan will be on the agenda for

A 33-year-old man charged with the murder of 43-year old Wayne Reid in County Derry has been remanded in custody at Coleraine Magistrates Court. Mr Reed was found dead at a property in the Society Court area of Coleraine on a January 12th. Chelsie Kealey reports…………………

Proposed variations to the Donegal County Development Plan have gone to public consultation for a three week period. The proposed variation includes new Area Plans for Dubgloe, Ballyshannon, Bridgend, Carndonagh Donegal Town and Killybegs, as well as the rezoning of some lands in Buncrana, Letterkenny and the Twin Towns. The proposed variation also incorporates new

A Letterkenny Cllr has hit out at illegal dumping at Kirkstown Forest. Cllr Gerry McMonagle pointed out the issue in a social media post highlighting how most of the dumped material was recyclable. On today’s Greg Hughes Show Cllr McMonagle called the situation disgraceful………..