Author name: highlandnews

Veteran DUP MP Sammy Wilson has stepped down as his party’s chief whip at Westminster. A source within the party’s confirmed he’s left his role. It is however understood he’ll remain a member of the party’s officer team.

There’s a new record for the numbers of people living in emergency accommodation. State figures show there were 13,531 people registered as homeless last month. Figures released by the Department of Housing today show there was a 10% increase in the number of adults homeless in the North West last month. 157 adults were homeless,

Diversions are in place in Newtowncunningham following a crash earlier today. Gardaí attended the scene of the collision involving a lorry just before midday. There are no reports of any injuries. The road at Keshends is currently closed and is expected to remain closed for a number of hours. Diversions are in place.

Sinn Fein have confirmed their third candidate to contest this year’s local election in the Donegal Local Electoral Area. At a convention in Kilcar, Linda Boyle, a native of the town was selected to represent the party alongside Councillors Noel Jordan and Michael McMahon. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says Ms Boyle is committed to the

The OPW has confirmed that Grianan of Aileach will be open during daylight hours. There has been much frustration raised by locals and visitors to the amenity over its restricted access. It was confirmed earlier this month that the opening hours of Grianan of Aileach would be extended.

Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín has been selected to contest the European elections as a Midlands North West constituency representative. Deputy Tóibín says the party will use the European elections as a platform to fight for practical common sense solutions to the increasing damage of the government He’s committed to focusing on issues facing the region

Two Donegal schools are among 37 post-primary schools across Ireland to be awarded an LGBTQ+ Quality Mark for their commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. Carndonagh Community School and Moville Community College both recently finished an 18 month programme to embed LGBTQ+ inclusion across their school’s community, policies and practices. Over the year and a half, schools

Parts of Donegal have been affected by power outages today. At one stage, almost 470 properties were without power in Moville, Kilcar and Glenties. ESB crews are on the ground and its estimated that power will be restored to all areas by 2:15pm.

Repairs to a burst water main may cause supply disruptions in parts of Moville this afternoon, including St Finian’s Park, O’Gara Villas, Ard Foyle, and surrounding areas. Works are scheduled to take place until 2pm.

Transport Strikes in the North are to continue after Unions rejected a pay offer they’ve described as “inadequate.” Thousands of Translink workers on bus and rail services will walk out for three days, beginning on Tuesday. The unions, GMB, Unite and SIPTU rejected the pay offer at a meeting yesterday. However they remain ready for

A 29 year old man has been charged in relation to three burglaries in the Strathfoyle area of Derry, and also an aggravated burglary in the Collon Lane area. The 29 year old, who was arrested on Tuesday, has been charged with a number of offences, including four counts of burglary, assault occasioning actual bodily

A teenager has died in a road collision in County Sligo. He was killed in a single car crash on the N17. The man in his late teens was driving an SUV which veered off the road on the N17 at Ballinacarrow, shortly after a quarter past 8 last night. He sustained serious injuries but

Rents in the North West at the end of 2023 were 78% higher than at the start of the Covid pandemic. The latest Daft.ie Rental Price Report reveals that the average rent in Donegal is now €1,154. The cost of rent in Donegal has jumped just over 20% in the past year. According to Daft.ie,

Landowners have an extra day to cut their hedgerows this year. With 2024 being a leap year, hedge-cutting season will end on Thursday, February 29th. From the end of February until the end of August, hedge-cutting is not permitted under the Wildlife Acts. Public works involving the disturbance of hedgerows during this period may only

A quantity of drugs have been seized in Derry along with £8,000 in cash. The suspected Class A and Class B drugs were found during searches at a property in the Racecourse Road area yesterday. A 20-year-old man who was arrested as part of enquiries was subsequently bailed pending further police enquiries.

A man has been sentenced in Derry today after refusing to let a woman leave his house and threatening her with a firearm. Terry McCorkell from Derry, today pleaded guilty to seven offences including false imprisonment, two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of a Class A

The number of commencement notices received by Donegal County Council has increased 127%. In the first month of the year, commencement notices for 41 homes were issued, up from 18 units during the same period in 2023. Over 3,300 housing commencement notices were received by authorities across the country in January. The Department of Housing

Malin Head Coast Guard worked closely with UK and Norwegian coastguard colleagues yesterday, in a medical evacuation of a seriously ill casualty on a Norwegian fishing vessel. It was located 160 miles off the Mayo coast. The operation involved the R116 and R115 Dublin and Shannon helicopters. The patient was winched onboard the R116 and

Derry City and Strabane District Council is offering a fast track cooking course to prepare for jobs within the hospitality sector. The Cookery Academy is split between theory and a practical placement. The Cookery Academy begins on Monday February 26th and is being delivered by the Derry and Strabane Labour Market Partnership and People 1st.

Donegal County Council has been told that there were over 50 adults and 13 children availing of homeless supports in the county earlier this month. The council’s Homeless Prevention Coordinator said that weekly homeless advice clinics are being provided in each Public Services Centre, and that Area Housing Teams and the Homeless Service Team are

Over 1800 non-domestic buildings were assessed in Donegal and given a Building Energy Rating from 2009 until 2023. The data was published today by the CSO. 13% of those were graded as D1, the most common rating in the county. Meanwhile the lowest percentage recorded were that of A and B1 at 3% each, these

The average price of a house in the last year in county Donegal was €177,000 according to the latest Residential Property Price Index. The Border region matched the national average increase of 4.4%. Within the county, the cheapest houses were in the Eircode region of F93, which is Lifford, at €160,000. Those in the Letterkenny

Investigations are underway in Derry after reports of over night burglaries in the grater Strathfoyle area. A 29-year-old man was arrested this morning. Two vehicles and a bicycle are reported to have been taken. Meanwhile other vehicles were opened and rummaged through. PSNI are asking anyone with information and footage or who has discovered something