Author name: highlandnews

Agriculture and Marine Minister says not only is it a tragedy for Creeslough and Donegal but it is a national tragedy. Minister Charlie McConalogue was at the scene of the explosion this morning, he says it will be something that leaves a mark for years to come. He says support from Government will be forthcoming:

Fr John Joe Duffy, local parish priest of Creeslough has this morning offered a special mass to all those affected by the explosion yesterday. He spoke of the terrible grief and sadness beyond words. Fr Duffy paid a huge tribute to the local community. He said they have been a great source of support and

Emergency services continue to work at the scene at the Applegreen service station. The fire service, Gardai, the ambulance service and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue continued to work overnight and will do so today. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh is at the scene this morning:   It’s thought the blast came from an apartment

Taoiseach Micheál Martin says the explosion at the petrol station in Creeslough is one of the ‘darkest of days’ for Donegal and the entire country. It’s thought people may still be trapped in the rubble and search operations have continued through the night. Bishop of Raphoe Alan McGuckian says emergency services have been praising the

Emergency services continue to deal with a major incident in Creeslough. Mutiple people have been taken to hospital following an explosion at an apartment block above a petrol station this afternoon. Letterkenny University Hospital has moved to Major Emergency Standy. A number of people remain unaccounted for. Speaking at the scene, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty

Works are to start next week to address flooding issues in Glenswilly. An emergency meeting was held today in a bid to resolve the issue which has plagued the area during recent spells of heavy rain. Funding has been secured to carry out the works. Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford District Councillor Donal Mandy Kelly

People are at a critical point with electricity costs. That’s according to Councillor Michael McClafferty who says people simply don’t have the surplus money to meet the cost of living. He says the spiraling costs need to be regulated before its too late for some:

Minister Simon Harris says the government is committed to fully supporting efforts to realise the potential of the North West. He was speaking remotely at a conference at the Letterkenny campus of the Atlantic Technological University exploring how cross border co-operation in education can improve and accelerate the economic and social development of the region.

Donegal has been crowned the Best Accent in Ireland. The county beat competition from Monaghan, Kerry and Galway in the final of a text poll this morning. National School teacher and actor Kieran Kelly won with his ‘Trainspotting’ style homage to his native county……….

Just three counties account for more than 40 per cent of Ukrainians housed in temporary or emergency accommodation, such as hotels. Figures released by the Department of Integration show there are now 38,212 Ukrainians who have a status as “beneficiaries of temporary protection” being accommodated by the State. With 3,971 officially registered according to latest

Almost 900 thousand people were put at risk because of two serious failures at Irish Water plants. The utility has been strongly criticised in a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency over the incidents at Ballymore Eustace in Kildare and Gorey in Co. Wexford last year. There were ‘significant failings in oversight by management’

Donegal County Council’s Waste Awareness Officer has confirmed that inspections will be carried out when new solid fuel regulations come into force at the end of this month. The aim of the new regulations is to take the most polluting solid fuels off the market. Products for use must have an approved label on it

Farmers in Donegal are struggling to keep afloat. That was one of the issues high on the agenda at this week’s meeting of Donegal County Council’s Agriculture Committee. The meeting heard concerns from farmers over the cost of living and how in order to keep afloat, an increase in product price is necessary. While some

The sale of Castlederg Police Station has been delayed. Concerns were raised earlier this week as the North’s Policing Board was set to decide on a proposal to sell the former station. However, social housing agency APEX which had been working with Derry City and Strabane District Council to secure the property were ruled out

The Tanaiste has been accused of failing in his term in Government in tackling homelessness. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty also pressed Leo Varadkar in the Dail this afternoon on the prospect of electricity blackouts over the coming months. In response to Deputy Doherty, the Tanaiste says the Government is doing what it can to address

Up to 150 asylum seekers are to be moved into a block of apartments in Ballybofey. The Department of Immigration say contracts have been signed and families seeking international protection will move in in the coming weeks. The forty-eight apartments had been laying derelict in Ballybofey for a number of years. Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle

A new Mica Action Group committee has been elected with Lisa Hone being named as the new Chairperson. Every member of the MAG Committee is either directly affected, or has family affected by the defective block crisis, some both. Lisa Hone takes over the role of Chairperson from Eamon Jackson as the leader of the

Overcrowding, delays and cancelled operations are going to be ongoing factors at the hospital for a some time to come. That’s according to General Manager of Letterkenny University Hospital Sean Murphy. Attendances at the Emergency Department are at an all time high with over 100 people attending daily over the past few months, with 200

A Donegal Irish dancer says he is not surprised by the results fixing allegations as this has been going on for years. Judges in Irish dancing have been accused of fixing the results of competitions. The allegations have been made within the C-L-R-G body, with one dancing teacher reportedly offering sexual favours for higher scores.

Work on the long awaited A5 road is set to get underway late next year. Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd has confirmed that the A5 Western Transport Corridor Scheme will get underway late next year – starting from Derry to Strabane – with the view of completing it by 2028. The A5 upgrade, which was announced

Progress on the masterplan for Milford has been welcomed as a positive first step towards the future of the town. Last year, €100,000 was provided for a plan to tackle dereliction and revitalise the town centre, with the lead to be taken by Donegal County Council. The first meeting to progress the Town Centre First