Author name: highlandnews

Martina Martin has been remembered as a very special person who was at the heart of the Creeslough community working in the petrol station. The 49 year old was working in Lafferty’s at the time of last Friday’s explosion. Fr John Joe Duffy at Martina’s funeral today, spoke of how a matter of seconds last

49 year old Martina Martin’s funeral mass will be held this morning at 11am in St Michael’s Church, Creeslough. She is one of ten people to have died in an explosion at the petrol station in the village on Friday last. She was working in the shop at the time. You can view Martina’s funeral

People in Creeslough and surrounding areas are being urged to prioritise their mental health in the aftermath of the explosion last Friday. Free counselling services are being made available from specialist support teams. A dedicated helpline to provide direct access to professional support and advice has also been set up. Anyone seeking help can call

Students nationwide will stage a ‘walkout’ at 11 minutes past 11 in protest of the cost-of-living crisis. They are calling on the government to prioritise the cost of third level education and the effects of rising inflation. Beth O’Reilly, President of the USI, says students want to show they they have had enough:

Passport waiting times have now returned to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Foreign Affairs Minister. Simon Coveney says it only takes 10 working days for an adult to get the document, if they apply online – and 15 days for a child. 2022 will be the first year ever that over 1 million passports will

The Dail’s been told that more radiation therapists need to be appointed in Galway University Hospital. South Donegal TD Marian Harkin said notwithstanding the North West Radiotherapy Centre in Derry, most cancer patients from the region go to Galway for treatment, and that’s being compromised because of staff shortages. She was told a review will

Foyle MP Colm Eastwood has urged Northern Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to follow through on the commitment to have 10,000 students on Ulster University’s Magee campus within five years. Speaking during the Westminster debate on the Identity and Language Bill, Mr Eastwood said it’s important that legislation is passed and implemented. However, he said there are

The Finance Minister is considering all submissions made following the announcement of a Defective Blocks Levy in last month’s budget. During exchanges in the Dail, Sinn Fein’s Matt Carthy told Minster Michael McGrath that there have been rumours about what may or may not happen with the levy, and they need to be addressed. He

President Michael D Higgins paid tribute to the community in Creeslough today after attending two funerals. He told journalists outside St Michael’s Church that the example of the people is one that will resonate around the country…… President Higgins also paid tribute to the Emergency Services, saying he will be speaking to them and to

The funeral has taken place in Creeslough this afternoon of 39 year old Catherine O’Donnell and her 13 year old son James, both of whom died in Friday’s tragedy. Speaking to the congregation, Fr John Joe Duffy urged everyone present who needs support to avail of it, particularly at Mulroy College, where James was a

President Michael D Higgins, who is in Creeslough to attendthe remainder of the funerals, says the families of the victims are an inspiration to the country………… In the House of Commons in the UK, politicians have been sending solidarity to the victims of the Creeslough tragedy. Labour leader Keir Starmer and DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson

James O’Flaherty’s son, Hamish today at the end of the funeral mass bravely remembered his father fondly. The 12 year old was in his dad’s car at Lafferty’s Petrol Station on Friday when the explosion took place but survived. He thanked the emergency services who attended the scene. Hamish finished his tribute to his dad

The funeral mass of James O’Flaherty has heard how he was inseparable from his wife and son. Gifts brought to the altar during the funeral mass of the 48 year old, a native of Sydney was a copy of Roald Dahl’s ‘Going Solo’, the last book he read to his son Hamish before he was

A soup kitchen will open this Friday in Letterkenny. Free Soup Friday’s will be a weekly event at the Open Door Centre, Letterkenny from 12pm to 2pm. It’s in response to an increase in people availing of a foodbank run by the Letterkenny Baptist Church. Steven Wilson, Pastor of the Letterkenny Baptist Church says as

48 year old James O’Flaherty will be laid to rest today. He is one of ten people who have died following an explosion in Creeslough on Friday last. You can view his funeral mass here It is available also on Kieran Roarty Funeral Director’s Facebook page

An Inishowen Councillor has expressed his disappointment at the lack of progress on delivering respite services in the peninsula. Councillor Albert Doherty says Inishowen is melting fast in terms of respite care. He recently issued a plea to HSE officials to ensure the return of respite care to Riverwalk House. Councillor Doherty says it is

Tributes continue to be paid to the community of Creeslough for their response in the aftermath of the explosion on Friday. As sympathies were expressed in the Dail yesterday, Deputy Matt Carthy says while the nation was shocked by the tragedy, no one was surprised by the instinctive reaction of the locals first on the

The Government’s being accusing the Government of looking after the rich and ignoring the poor. It’s over plans to issue the €600 energy credit announced in the budget to the owners of 62,000 holiday home owners. It’ll cost the state 37 million euro, but Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore says its grossly unfair. Deputy Whitmore

Further supports are required for small and medium-sized enterprises to increase businesses and improve consumer demand. That’s one of the key findings in the latest SME Market Monitor published by the Banking and Payments Federation. It says despite the fall in Covid 19 infections, certain sectors such as accommodation and food services have not recovered

A Derry Councillor has raised concerns after she received complaints from upset residents about fireworks and bangers being let off in local communities. Sinn Fein Councillor Patricia Logue has received reports of fireworks and bangers are being let off in and around the Bogside and Brandywell areas as well as across the city. She says

Martin McGill has been described as a carer who was full of love, kindness and compassion. At his funeral mass this afternoon, Fr John Joe Duffy said Martin typified the spirit that has been evidenced in Creeslough since Friday’s tragic explosion, but has always existed there. He said Martin was always ready to do a

The Government’s Humanitarian Assistance Fund has been opened to the families of those killed in Creeslough. The fund is usually used to help families in the wake of natural disasters like flooding. Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says she hopes it will provide some financial help……..

Martin McGill, aged 49 is the second funeral of the Creeslough tragedy victims to take place. He will be laid to rest following funeral mass at 2pm this afternoon at St Michael’s Church, Creeslough. You can watch the funeral mass live here

Parents will get their winter double child benefit payment in the week of November 1st. Cabinet has signed off on payment dates for the budget’s cost of living package, which will include a double social welfare payment next Monday. Lump sums to those on the fuel allowance, living alone allowance and people with a disability

A family, who was put against another family in a random draw for a school bus ticket, is still without a ticket six weeks into the new school year. James, a father of two pupils at Letterkenny Educate Together, has been fighting for months to get a bus ticket for his children. Both children are