Author name: highlandnews

There was a slight reduction in the unemployment rate for February. The seasonably adjusted rate was 4.3%, down from 4.4% in January. According to the CSO, the rate was lower than the pre-pandemic level of 4.8%, recorded in February 2020.

  Ulster Bank is warning people its credit cards will no longer work from next month. Customers are being advised to begin the process of moving their credit card to a new provider. Cards will no longer work from the 22nd of March, and any recurring transactions set up on an Ulster Bank customer’s credit

A Donegal nurse who co-lead a research team that devised a trial to take more patients out of hospital for routine cancer medications has been awarded the Irish Cancer Society Senior Researcher of the Year title. Advanced Nurse Practitioner Dr Janice Richmond of Letterkenny University Hospital was instrumental in the trial, which set about taking patients receiving oral anti-cancer

The number of people waiting on trolleys at Letterkenny University Hospital halved last month. According to latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Association, 382 patients were without a bed at the hospital during February, down 50% when compared to figures during the same period last year. Today, there are no patients on trolleys

Calls for a public inquiry into the killing of Donegal man, Michael Leonard are stepping up. This May marks the 50th anniversary of his death after he was shot by the RUC near the Donegal-Fermanagh border. A campaign for an inquiry into the killing of Michael Leonard will be launched in Leinster House tomorrow. Michael

Over 600 drivers have been caught speeding on National Slow Down Day. The speed of 173,811 vehicles was checked over the course of the past 24 hours. A number of notable detections were made in Donegal, including a driver caught travelling at 88km/h in a 50km/h zone in Porthall and another driving at 86 km/h

Works are underway to repair a burst water main in the Greencastle area. Homes and businesses are experiencing supply disruptions. Irish Water is advising that traffic disruptions may be experienced with works scheduled to be complete by 3pm this afternoon.  

Detectives have been granted more time to question a 47-year-old man arrested in connection with the attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh. He is still in a critical condition after being shot multiple times a week ago today. A court in Belfast has granted an extension to the detention of the

A number of routes are due to be gritted at 6am on Wednesday the 1st of March at 6am. Drivers are urged to drive with caution and assume that no road is ice-free. The following routes will be gritted from 6AM on Wed. 01/03: 03: National Primary South 04: Inishowen South 05: Inishowen East 06:

Donegal Charities are invited to to apply for funding under Aldi’s 2023 Community Grants programme. Over 165 bursary grants will be distributed to make a national total of €80,000. Charities who wish to nominate themselves can do so at their local Aldi store in the months of March and April. Last year, the RNLI Lough

A water outage issue has been reported in the Drumore area. Repairs to the burst water main may cause traffic disruptions on Rossnowlagh Road, Drumore and surrounding areas. Works are scheduled to take place until 6pm on this evening. It is recommend that 2-3 hours is allowed after the estimated restoration time for supply to

Reports on two designated centres for people with disabilities in Donegal show them to be mostly compliant. HIQA has highlighted a number of issues to be addressed at centres in Dungloe following unannounced visits. At Dungloe Services 2 inspectors discovered that not all staff had completed ‘sexuality awareness in supported settings’ training or online training

Gardaí are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of 17-year-old Aaron Donnelly who is missing from Rathmullan since the 13th February 2023. Aaron is described as being 6 foot in height, of slim build with short black hair. When last seen he was wearing a grey tracksuit and black jacket. Anyone with

The commercial vacancy rate is Donegal has increased. According to Geo Directory’s Commercial Vacancy Rates Report, the county has the third highest commercial vacancy rate in the country at 17.5%. The commercial vacancy rate in Donegal was higher than the national average of 14% at 17.5%, up 0.6%. Over the past ten years, Donegal has

A formal wreath laying ceremony will take place to commemorate the centenary of executions at Drumboe Castle, Stranorlar. Donegal County Council has confirmed that Minister Charlie McConalogue will attend the event to commemorate the arrest and execution of Charlie Daly, Daniel Enright, Timothy O’Sullivan and Séan Larkin 100 years ago. The ceremony will take place

Investigations are continuing into a crash in Stranorlar last week in which a pedestrian was injured. The collision involving a green Volkswagen van occurred at around 7pm on Tuesday evening last at Main Street, Stranorlar. The pedestrian was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital for treatment to what have been described as non-life threatening injuries. Anyone

Minister Charlie McConalogue will attend a formal wreath laying ceremony organised by Donegal County Council to commemorate the execution of 4 men at Drumboe Castle, Stranorlar 100 years ago. The arrests and execution of Charlie Daly, Daniel Enright, Timothy O’Sullivan and Séan Larkin during the civil war impacted communities around Donegal. The ceremony will take

The Donegal Fire Service was tasked last night to a wildfire in Carndonagh. They were alerted to the blaze at around 11:25pm in the Glentougher area. Carndonagh Fire Brigade were mobilised, arriving at the scene 7 minutes later. Moville Fire Brigade also provided assistance. The blaze was brought under control with both brigades leaving the

Detectives have been granted more time to question a 71-year-old man in relation to the attempted murder of a police officer in Omagh. The PSNI say a court in Belfast has granted an extension until ten o’clock tomorrow night. Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot at at least ten times at a sports complex

  A Donegal driver was among those caught speeding in the first 2 hours of National Slow Down Day. GoSafe checked the speed of 36,679 vehicles and detected 69 vehicles travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit. A was vehicle detected driving 113km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N15 in Drumnagahan. Gardaí continue

Donegal County Council are reminding landowners that today marks the final day of hedge cutting season. Hedges are not to be cut from now until the end of August under the Wildlife Acts with the exception of cases of public health & safety. Reports of unauthorised hedge-cutting should be made to the National Parks &

Border Communities Against Brexit has been welcoming the deal being reached on the protocol. In a statement they say it protects and enhances the All Island Economy and protects the 40 million vehicles, with families, workers, and goods, that criss cross the Border as part of their normal life. The dual market access of the

A man has been arrested in Letterkenny after entering a house armed with a hammer and assaulting the occupants. At around 7:55pm last night, the man broke into a house in the Glenard Park area. A woman in her 40s and man in his 20s were injured during the incident. The man was arrested by

Drivers are being warned gardai are out in force this morning for the next 24 hours as part of National Slow Down Day. 156 people died on the country’s roads last year – the highest number since 2016. The aim of this operation is simple – to get drivers to slow down. Road deaths increased

Plans for students to sit their Leaving Cert English and Irish Paper One at the end of fifth year are being delayed. It’s one of a number of planned reforms of the Leaving Cert cycle, aimed at easing exam pressure in sixth year. However, teacher, student and subject unions all opposed the move, claiming it

The Killybegs Coast Guard was involved in an 8 hour salvage operation yesterday after a boat started to take on water. The rescue service was tasked at around 9.40am to a 75 meter vessel at Killybegs Harbour which was taking water on board via the hull. The team commenced pumping using a salvage water pump

The Donegal Public Participation Network is urging community and voluntary groups in the county to become involved. A new national brand identity and awareness campaign for Public Participation Networks across the state has been launched this week by Junior Community and Charities Minister Joe O’Brien. The Donegal Public Participation Network is one of 31 PPNs

The education collaboration organisation Leargas says that CASE, the cross border ‘Collaboration and Sharing Education programme has helped children to acknowledge, accept and celebrate differences between them and their peers from different communities or backgrounds – whether this was religious or otherwise. The six year programme has now come to an end, with an evaluation