Author name: highlandnews

A Letterkenny mother has been left shaken after her three year old son was allegedly approached and given sweets by a man in the Bernard McGlinchey Town Park. Emma’s son became unsettled and when she went to investigate she found a pile of sweets accompanied by a note reading ‘for kids, from Santa’ at the

Donegal County Council is coming under pressure from Councillors in the Inishowen Municipal District to ensure a water tanker that is currently on order is located in the peninsula. There have been calls for many years for such a resource for Inishowen to back up the fire service. There was huge disappointment when a much

An organised crime gang has made off with thousands of euros worth of goods after targeting a number of businesses in Letterkenny on Saturday. The thefts occurred in Watson Hire, Ben Sweeny Euronics and Smyths Toy Store. Gardai have confirmed that investigations are ongoing but say no arrests have been made. John Watson is appealing

One in 10 people in the Republic could call themselves a victim of the Troubles. That’s according to new research from the Commission for Victims and Survivors in Northern Ireland. It found 4% of those living south of the border have been bereaved as a result of conflict in the North, while 7% say their

Budget 2024 should avoid using taxation measures as a means of providing short term solutions to the ongoing cost of living challenges. Social Justice Ireland outlines taxation proposals for Budget 2024. Colette Bennett, Economic and Social Analyst for Social Justice Ireland says that there that funding could be used for much more targeted purposes :

The Minister for Further and Higher Education TD Simon Harris today encourages students to take advantage of new student supports as it emerged only one in four of those eligible had applied for a €500 grant towards their contribution fee. 40,000 students are estimated to be eligible for the grant, however, the most recent figures

It was revealed hospitals in Letterkenny and Sligo were among the top five overcrowded hospitals in the country. On today’s World Patient Safety Day, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has called for the HSE to come to this week’s Emergency Department Taskforce meeting with revised and renewed solutions to reduce overcrowding which in turn

There’s an urgent need for vital aid for survivors of Libya’s floods. The Irish Red Cross says aid is starting to arrive in the country to help survivors, but in small amounts. The charity’s Secretary-General, Deirdre Garvey says Irish people can help through donations:  

Ireland is set to be hit with stormy weather next week. “Tropical Storm Nigel” is currently travelling across the Atlantic, bringing unsettled conditions. Nigel is forecast to develop into a hurricane by tomorrow, but transition back into a regular storm before hitting Irish shores. Met Eireann Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly says this is a usual process:

It look likes mortgage holders may get a short-term financial boost in the budget to pay their mortgages. The Government’s thinking about bringing in a new scheme to give them short-term support, according to the Irish Independent. It’s in the wake of the latest ECB rate hike which is putting pressure on home-owners. Donegal Deputy

Donegal County Council welcomed a visit from the Chinese Ambassador He Xiandong to the Lifford headquarters yesterday. The ambassador was greeted by Cathaoirleach Cllr. Martin Harley and Deputy Chief Executive Liam Ward. Several key areas were discussed during the visit including opportunities to explore areas of cooperation between Chinese local governments and County Donegal. Cllr.

Northern Ireland Water insists there’s no risk to supplies despite toxic algae overtaking Lough Neagh. Footage shows an almost-luminous colour in the lake, with a deadly form of bacteria killing fish, birds, and even dogs. It’s mostly caused by farming discharge, and sewage. Gary McErlain’s family has fished in the waters for generations – and

The cost of living supports in the budget will be smaller than last year. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed the support level will drop as the rate of inflation has eased. There also won’t be a return of the reduced VAT rate for the hospitality sector. The Taoiseach says people shouldn’t expect the level of different

The Social Protection Minister says auto-enrolment pensions should be in place by the middle of next year. Heather Humphreys plans to bring forward legislation in this upcoming Dáil term to give effect to the plans. They will see some 750-thousand people currently without a pension automatically entered into one which both the employer and the

  14 groups and 200 volunteers are set to join the Big Beach Clean this weekend in County Donegal, helping to remove marine litter. The Clean Coasts initiative is part of the International Coastal Cleanup organised by the Ocean Conservancy, and happens in several countries at the end of the bathing season. Alena Kunkel is

The Taoiseach has agreed to write to the European Agriculture Commissioner to discuss the issue of the nitrates derogation. Leo Varadkar will invite the commissioner to visit Ireland. That’s despite Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue earlier ruling out any re-negotiation when he appeared before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee earlier today. He told members Irish farmers must

Recent vandalism on Arranmore Island has been condemned. Significant damage was caused to lighting at the island’s foreshore amenity, in recent days. Comharchumann Arranmore says there were further attempts to break industrial lighting in the area. The organisation has warned that if the vandalism continues, there will be no other option but to permanently remove

A Moroccan barber who has been living in Letterkenny for over 20 years has launched a fundraising campaign to raise vital money to help in the wake of an earthquake which has caused much devastation in Morocco. Said Ben Salem is hosting a fundraising day at Future Style Barbers, Letterkenny on Sunday between 1pm-6pm. All

Legislation around roadside drug testing is set to change. It’s currently mandatory for gardaí to conduct a test for drink driving after serious road collisions, but not drug-driving. Junior Transport Minister Jack Chambers says he’s asked officials in the Department of Transport to progress work which would allow Gardaí to carry out the test. Fine

The Taoiseach has warned of the dangers of Sinn Fein taking power in government saying it would not be good for the economy. Speaking ahead of the Fine Gael think-in in Limerick this morning Leo Varadkar said jobs and housing would suffer with Sinn Fein at the helm Leo Varadkar said under Sinn Fein the

The 100% Redress Party has been approved by the Electoral Commission to contest the next local and general elections. It is the party’s intention to field candidates in Donegal and contest next year’s local elections. The decision made by the Chief Executive of the Electoral Commission, Mr. Art O’Leary, as Ireland’s Registrar of Political Parties,

Minister Charlie McConalogue will appear before the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee this morning to face questions on the nitrates derogation. The derogation determines the amount of manure that is spread per hectare on land. Ireland currently has a derogation until 2026 however plans are underway to reduce the level from 250 kilogrammes per hectare to 220

A major investment event takes place in Donegal today. The ‘2023 Shark Tank’ investor conference in Rathmullan will see small scale-up companies pitch their ideas to larger US Corporations in return for investment. The winning pitch will receive 100,000 Euro. Organiser of the event, Kevin Sexton of Alpha Innovation, says the event will assist the

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Defective Concrete Block Committee has proposed updates on the progress of the enhanced grant scheme be issued on a monthly basis. There have been calls for better communication on the transition of homeowner applications from the previous scheme onto the new one. The Council’s Director of Housing, Corporate &

An engineer attached to the Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District is working to improve access for people with disabilities in the Twin Towns, but members have been told there needs to be a plan in place to ensure government funding is available for a proper improvement programme. Proposing the move this week, Cllr Patrick McGowan said

The fashion and lifestyle retailer Carraig Donn has confirmed it is to open a store in Buncrana on October 20th, with the initial creation of between 10 and 15 jobs. It will be based at the former Topline Department Store on Main Street, which ceased trading late last year. Carraig Donn say final contracts have

The Garda Commissioner says he is committed to his job and has no interest in applying for the role of Chief Constable of the PSNI. Drew Harris was speaking at the re-opening of a garda station in Rathcormac County Cork this afternoon, following yesterday’s overwhelming vote of no confidence by members of the Garda Representative

A former senior PSNI officer has been appointed to a new Troubles legacy body. The UK government’s controversial Legacy Bill is due to be signed into law soon – after which Peter Sheridan will take up the role of Commissioner for Investigations and oversee hundreds of unresolved Troubles cases. He served in both the RUC