Author name: highlandnews

A motion calling for the British government to replace European funding which has been lost due to Brexit and is worth £90m has been passed in Strabane and Derry District Council. Last night, Sinn Fein Cllr John McGowan tabled a motion at the Council’s monthly meeting calling for the replacement of vital European funding lost

Concerns have been raised in Convoy, after residents noticed work being done on a new development which appears to be a quarry, on the outskirts of the town. Donegal County Council has confirmed it’s received a complaint regarding the activity, and an officer has been assigned to the case, with a site inspection due to

It’s emerged that IVT injections are no longer being administered at Letterkenny University Hospital, because the area where they were given is no longer available. Cllr Albert Doherty raised the issue on behalf of a constituent in Carndonagh who now has to travel to Sligo to avail of the vital eye treatment, a round trip

  The European Commission’s approved an eighty million euro decommissioning scheme to support the Irish fishery sector affected by Brexit. The scheme will run until the end of next year. Aid will be granted to Irish-registered vessel owners in the form of a direct grant to compensate them for ceasing their fishing work. It will

The government has given the green light for the completion of the Donegal Community Stadium in Stranorlar. Earlier this month, Donegal County Council confirmed €500,000 in match funding for the completion of the facility, which will be home to Finn Harps Football Club. Similar amounts have been confirmed by the club and the FAI. That

A West Donegal councillor has hit out at Irish Water following another disruption to supplies in Magheraroarty and Meenlaragh. The utility confirmed this afternoon it is investigating the reports. Cllr Michael Cholm McGiollasbuig says this is an all too frequent occurrence, especially as there are over 100 young people using the local community hall for

A Letterkenny accountant is warning people after a client was almost scammed out of £6,000. The person was communicating with a supplier in Northern Ireland via email and agreed to transfer the funds. In a follow-up email, it was requested that the money be transferred to a different account. It subsequently transpired that the supplier’s

New listenership figures have cemented Highland Radio’s position as Donegal’s most listened to radio station. Today’s JNLR figures show that in the year up to the end of June, 78% of people in the county tuned into Highland Radio each week, with 55% tuning in every day. Highland’s market share sits at 63%, the highest

A Donegal County Councillor has described a fine issued to the developer of the Meenbog wind farm as scandalously low. A court order was made against the developer in recent days and a €1,500 fine issued as well as notice to cover mitigation works costs. The Meenbog landslide caused much destruction to local land and

The Health Minister’s acceptation of NIAC’s recommendations to extend the Covid vaccination programme is being welcomed. Second boosters are set to be offered to a cohort of people including those aged 50-64, people who have an underlying medical condition and healthcare workers. Noel Cullen, Deputy Operational Site Manager for the Letterkenny Vaccination Centre says work

The Chair of the Green Party in Donegal believes cuts to carbon emissions in the agriculture sector will not impact farmers in the county. Talks have resumed today on cutting emissions in the agriculture sector by between 30% and 22%. The Green Party wants it cut by 30%. Michael White says the style of farming

South Inishowen has the lowest uptake of additional covid vaccines in the country. According to latest figures from the CSO up to June 30th, 36% of people in the LEA have received an additional dose. The highest uptake in an additional dose of the Covid vaccine in Donegal was in the Glenties LEA with 61%

There is speculation that a deal may be reached on how much the agriculture sector should have to cut its carbon emissions before the end of the week and possibly as early as today. Talks are resuming this morning but it’s understood the three coalition party leaders are edging towards agreement on a number. Meanwhile

A local Councillor has called for a rebate or reduced rates similar to what was rolled out during the Covid Pandemic for businesses who are struggling to cope with rising costs. Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Lifford Stranorlar Municipal District, Cllr Martin Harley said many businesses are not going to survive the winter without government

The Junior Transport Minister has pledged to listen to any applications from Donegal County Council for extra roads funding, but stopped short of making any commitments about projects such as the Bonagee Link and the Twin Towns By-Pass. Hildegarde Naughton said annual allocations will continue for major roads projects, but also stressed that more funding

Plans are to be drawn up for a special commemoration in Stranorlar next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Drumboe martyrs. On March 14th 1923, four Republicans, Charles Daly, Daniel Enright, Sean Larkin and Timothy O’ Sullivan were shot by Free State soldiers in retaliation for the death of a National Army soldier

A local councillor has called for a rebate or reduced rates similar to what was rolled out during the Covid Pandemic for businesses who are struggling to cope with rising costs. Speaking at yesterday’s meeting of Lifford Stranolar Municipal District, Cllr Martin Harley said many businesses are not going to survive the winter without support.

A boost in funding for the night-time sector has been described as ‘crumbs from the table’, after it emerged this week that the long-promised basic income for the arts has again been delayed. An extra 1.4 million euro is being made available to support off-peak entertainment in venues across the country. Donegal musician Matt McGranaghan

A public consultation on a new €3.5m visitor centre at Fanad Lighthouse is being held today. The 7,800 square foot centre includes a cafe, shop, meeting room and an art/workshop space as well as an upgraded car park and a play area. Plans will be on view at Fanavolty Hall today from 4pm to 8pm.

There’s fears someone will be seriously injured or worse unless works are carried out on a bridge in the Meenbanad area of West Donegal. There have been a number of crashes at Bunawillian Bridge with calls from locals for remedial works to be completed and the bridge to be widened and signage erected. Councillor Micheal

There’s calls for a review of coercive control legislation. The manager of the Donegal Domestic Violence Centre believes there needs to be an overhaul due to the amount and high level of complexity of cases coming forward. Yesterday, Garda Paul Moody was jailed for coercively controlling his ex-girlfriend. From 2017 to 2020, he bombarded her

Coalition Party leaders have failed to break the deadlock over how much Ireland should reduce carbon emissions from agriculture by the end of the decade. Talks ended without agreement last night, its unclear whether a deal can be reached in the short term. Its expected the talks will resume this morning ahead of the Cabinet

Over 15,000 people have been continuously on jobseeker’s allowance for at least 10 years. According to the Department of Social Protection, they include more than 4,000 in Dublin. Cork, Donegal, Galway, Louth and Wexford all have at least 700 each. Brid O’Brien, from the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, says extra support is needed

A leading lawyer in Mauritius claims a ‘hefty’ cash reward is needed to try to solve Michaela McAreavey’s murder. The Tyrone school teacher was killed while on honeymoon on the holiday island in 2011. No one has ever been convicted of the 27-year-old’s murder – after two hotel workers were cleared 10 years ago. Former

Initial work has commenced on the new state of the art €12.5m Fort Dunree visitor experience. The initial design team meeting took place at the site on Wednesday last. The project is due to be developed over the next 18 months, with construction expected to commence late next year, early 2024. Joan Crawford, Manager Wild

Recent statistics have revealed that almost 70% of land in the Derry City and Strabane district is covered by mining concessions. These concessions give private companies the rights to extract minerals from public lands, or carry out exploration of the area. Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin has written to the Economy Minister to express deep concern