Author name: highlandnews

Naomh Conaill GAA club has paid tribute to one of the two men who died in a crash in Mayo on Thursday night. 27-year-old Martin Murphy and 25-year-old Stephen Brennan, whose mother is a native of Donegal, were both pronounced dead at the scene. In a post, Naomh Conaill said they were devastated to hear

Stormont’s five main parties are meeting with Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Belfast today to discuss the power-sharing stalemate – that’s now hit the 1 year mark. It’s been 12 months since the DUP pulled out of the executive in protest against the post-Brexit protocol. Some progress has been made recently in talks between the UK

South Donegal TD, Marian Harkin, has urged the Government to deliver support for tourism dependent businesses affected by the number of refugees being housed in hotels. The issue was raised off the back of a recent meeting with community leaders and businesses people which Deputy Harkin described as ‘constructive and focused on seeking solutions’. She

Donegal County Council is to write to OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan asking him to progress a flood relief scheme in Donegal Town. At this week’s meeting of Donegal County Council, Cllr Noel Jordan sought an update on the applications for Flood Relief Schemes in Donegal, with specific emphasis on the south of the county. He

The Tanaiste has been told that the owners of defective block homes in Donegal are at their wits end. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has once again pressed the Government to commence the Defective Blocks Act. Homeowners were due to be consulted this week on the draft regulations. In responding to Deputy Pringle, Micheal Martin gave

Over 80 million euro in social welfare payments were reclaimed by the state last year. The money was taken off around 115,000 people. The Department of Social Protection also launched almost 6,300 investigations into welfare fraud in 2022 – with four people jailed for the crime. Criminal barrister and Fine Gael senator, Barry Ward, says

There’s a call on the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to ensure a strong NPHET-style approach to accommodating refugees. Labour Leader Ivana Bacik’s made the call, saying Government needs to do a lot more proactively to counter the disinformation and myths that are spreading. It comes after a large anti-immigration protest was held outside Finglas Garda Station

Donegal County Council is being asked to implement a policy that would guarantee the delivery of 5% of all social houses constructed in the next 5 years for the sole purpose of occupancy of residents with special needs. Cllr Paul Canning moved a motion saying such units should be tailored to the needs of the

A plea has been issued to Marine Minister Charlie McConalogue to provide a pathway for young people embarking on a career in fishing. Member of Donegal County Council’s Fishing Committee, Jerry Early says it is proving more difficult and more costly for younger generations getting into the sector. He believes the Government needs to ensure

A North West MEP claims millions of Euro which was supposed to be used to help the Irish economy recover from covid is “sitting on a shelf in Brussels”. Ireland was allocated €915 million in grants from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. The money is supposed to be used for investment projects and advancing

A former British solider has been given a three year suspended sentence for the killing of Aiden McAnespie in 1988. David Jonathan Holden was found guilty of his manslaughter last November, but today escaped a jail sentence. Mr. McAnespie – who was 23 at the time – was shot in the back at an army

The British Government has confirmed there will be a public inquiry into the Omagh bombing. Northern Secretary Chris Heaton Harris made the announcement in the House of Commons just after 1 o’clock this afternoon. He said he had made the decision after meeting with Michael Gallagher and other campaigners, and visiting Omagh itself…….

The ASTI and TUI are objecting to one of the proposals made by the Minister of Education in relation to the Leaving Cert programme. It would see incoming fifth year students sitting English and Irish paper one exams at the end of the year, only half way through the syllabus. General Secretary of the ASTI,

Questions are being raised once again over Donegal’s casual trading by-laws. A number of businesses are said to be experiencing a loss in profits due to a rise in portable vendours popping up. Cllr Martin Harley says it is his priority is to protect rate-paying establishments:

If your aged between 18 and 49 your being encouraged to get your COVID booster jab. The HSE says you can get it at a walk-in clinic this Bank Holiday weekend. No appointment’s necessary. Eileen Whelan is the Executive’s National Lead for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme:

Donegal County Council is being urged to review and reassess spending practices in order to provide the best possible value for money. The call came this week from Cllr Nicholas Crossan, who says officials suggested at the last budget meeting a rates increase may be sought in 2024, and he wants to avoid that. Director

A decision will be announced later today if a public inquiry will be held into the 1998 Omagh bombing. 29 people were killed and more than 200 others were injured in the Real IRA attack. It was the worst single worst atrocity of the Troubles. Chloe St John reports:

A former soldier will be sentenced today for the manslaughter of Aidan McAnespie in Co. Tyrone 35 years ago. 53-year-old David Holden was found guilty of manslaughter last November, after the judge found he gave a “deliberately false account” of events. He was due to be sentenced last Friday, but the trial judge instead heard

A Donegal Deputy has called for fair wealth taxes to be introduced to fund critical public services. It’s emerged that the combined wealth of just two people in Ireland, €15 billion is more than half of what the entire population earns. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn compared it to how thousands of defective block homeowners in Donegal

Donegal County Council is to write to OPW Minister Patrick O’Donovan asking him to progress a flood relief scheme in Donegal Town. At this week’s meeting of Donegal County Council, Cllr Noel Jordan sought an update on the applications for Flood Relief Schemes in Donegal, with specific emphasis on the south of the county. He

A Donegal TD has backed a private members motion in the Dail calling for at least 20% of development levies to be ringfenced for the local area in which the development is taking place. Deputy Thomas Pringle says it’s only right in order to guarantee that communities experiencing high levels of new developments receive commensurate

The British Government says “there’s still lots of work to do” to get a deal on the Northern Ireland Protocol. It follows reports in the London Times this morning that the UK and EU had reached an agreement on customs. But Number 10 says no deal has been agreed – and significant gaps remain. Friday

The Transport Minister says he wants to see older rail lines in the west and south return to their original use, not turned into greenways. Eamon Ryan says he wants to see a revived ‘Western Atlantic Rail Corridor’, as more plans emerge to turn duisused lines into greenways. Minister Ryan says the outcome of a

Press reports about an imminent Brexit deal are overblown speculation, according to an Irish MEP. The Times of London reports the EU might be prepared to offer new concessions on customs and the role of the European Court of Justice in relation to Northern Ireland. Fianna Fáil MEP, Barry Andrews, says while progress is being

The pandemic has had a lasting impact on Cancer diagnosis in Ireland. The HSE claims they have seen more presentations for later stage cancer diagnoses since the pandemic. It’s to tell the Oireachtas Health Committee that it recorded 10 or 11 percent fewer cancer diagnoses than it expected in 2020. It adds cancer services remain

An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny is set to get a major refurbishment. €600,000 is being invested to transform and enhance the amenity. Plans include re-purposing the upper foyer of the building to create a studio space, redesigning the box office and making the theatre more energy efficient. Patricia McBride is Managing Director of An Grianan Theatre,

It’s claimed over 100 Council houses in Donegal, while rented out are not being lived in. It’s believed in some instances some social homes are being listed on Airbnb or rented out to someone other than the assigned tenant. Councillor Michéal Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig told today’s Nine til Noon Show that it is totally