Author name: highlandnews

Call for British Government to replace vital funding lost due to Brexit

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

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Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford

Donegal County Council to investigate “quarry development” near Convoy

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

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Decommissioning scheme announced for Irish fishing fleet

  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

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Green light given for completion of Donegal Community Stadium

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

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Killybegs woman speaks out after former partner is jailed for rape and coercive control

A man who raped, assaulted and coercively controlled a Killybegs woman in the course of a six week relationship has been jailed for 17 years. On various occasions, 36 year old Dean Ward sprayed Mace into the woman’s face, tied her up, choked her and then raped her, threatened her with a hammer and punched

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Magheraroarty water disruption hit Irish language classes

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

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Highland Radio’s market share still the highest in the country

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

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Extension of covid vaccination programme welcomed

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

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‘Emission cuts won’t impact farmers in Donegal’ – Michael White

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

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Transatlantic jet makes mayday call of Donegal coast

A transatlantic jet had to perform an emergency landing at Shannon Airport after making a mayday call off the coast of Donegal yesterday afternoon. The United Airlines flight left Edinburgh before issuing the emergency call. It’s understood the Boeing plane suffered pressure problems and came to land at Shannon just after 12 midday. Emergency services

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Gardai in Donegal issue plea to drivers to play part to save lives

Gardai are pleading with drivers to play your part to help save lives. It’s after a driver was arrested by the Buncrana Roads Policing Unit on Tuesday evening after testing positive for cannabis following a roadside drug test. Meanwhile, a motorist was yesterday arrested for travelling at 168kph in a 100kph zone in the Letterkenny

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Call for support similar to pandemic rebates for businesses struggling with rising costs

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

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Minister promises to listen to road funding applications, but makes no promises

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

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Council discusses proposal to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Drumboe Martyrs

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

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Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford

Harley seeks further rates reliefs for struggling businesses

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.

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PSNI officer suspected of sharing photos of man who died by suicide

In the North, a criminal investigation is underway after a PSNI officer allegedly took photos of a man who died by suicide in 2012, from a police database. Prosecutors say they received a file from the watchdog ”with potential offences including misconduct in a public office, harassment and theft’. It’s reported the same officer accused

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Fears of serious crash unless West Donegal bridge is repaired

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

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Review of coercive control legislation needed – Dr Hainsworth

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

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Tourism on Donegal islands being monitored by smart technology

Smart technology is being used to monitor sustainable tourism on islands in the North West and West. The study will measure the effect of tourism on islands, such as economic value, environmental impact, waste and water management, energy usage, access and transport, carbon footprint, and the social and cultural impact. The Atlantic Technological University are

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At least 700 people in Donegal continuously on jobseekers allowance

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

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Lawyer claims ‘hefty’ cash reward needed to solve Michaela McAreavey murder

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

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Almost 70% of land in Derry and Strabane district is covered by mining concessions

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

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