Author name: highlandnews

A lunar eclipse during which the moon will turn a deep blood red colour, will be visible in the early hours of tomorrow morning. Astronomy Ireland is inviting everyone to go outdoors and take a look at the skies from 3 am early on Monday morning to watch the phenomenon. David Moore of Astronomy Ireland […]

The Foreign Affairs Minister says he’s ‘deeply concerned’ about Ireland’s future partnership with the UK. It’s due to the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol, which has led to the collapse of power-sharing at Stormont yet again. The British government is threatening to remove parts of the protocol, to try to resolve Unionist concerns –

Diesel prices are likely to hit 2 euro per litre in the coming days, according to an Irish Independent survey. The surge in cost is expected to negate the government’s cut of 20 cent on petrol and 15 cent per litre of diesel. Average price of one litre in Ireland currently stands at 1 euro

Sinn Fein’s health spokesperson says the new National Maternity Hospital should be built on public land, in full public ownership. David Cullinane says that would be the best outcome not just for staff and patients but also for the taxpayer who’ll pay for the new hospital. It comes ahead of St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group appearing

The British government has been accused of engaging in “nothing more than a stunt” over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The comments by the Fine Gael spokesperson on European Affairs come as the British prime minister, Boris Johnson, will visit Northern Ireland on Monday to try to resolve the political crisis. The Stormont Assembly failed to

The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District says the government would save money by making more funds available for small repair work, especially in relation to footpaths. Officials say the public light and footpath programme, which is co funded by Irish Public Bodies, is available for improvement works and upgrades to the existing footpath

“Supply is the answer” to Ireland’s housing crisis, according to the Taoiseach. It follows a recent report which showed rent prices continue to rise as well as supply becoming lowered. Rents in Donegal increased 22.7% to €857 according to the laste Daft.ie report. Micheal Martin’s confirmed over 24,600 homes are to be completed this year,

A high visibility road crossing pilot scheme is being rolled out in the Twin Towns this week. Ballybofey and Stranorlar were selected for the pilot scheme as both towns have been identified as high collision locations and having a history of pedestrian collisions. Two High Visibility Pedestrian Crossings have been established in Ballybofey and two

People in Buncrana are being urged to have their say on the future of the town, with a consultation event to take place on Monday week May 23rd in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel. Donegal County Council will outline plans for the development of the Shore Front, and discuss the Buncrana Local Area plan, while architects

Steps are being taken to restore blanket bog habitat in the northwest of the country. The Junior Minister for Heritage Malcolm Noonan has unveiled a 20.6 million euro Bog Conservation Project today. The project has 35 sites covering a total of more than 250,000 hectares along the Western seaboard from south Galway to north Donegal

The DUP says it won’t support the nomination a Speaker for the Northern Ireland Assembly as it meets for the first time since last week’s historic election result. In a Statement to The Belfast Newsletter, Jeffrey Donaldson says the party will keep its promise to the electorate and demand ‘decisive action’ on the Northern Ireland

The Dail has been told there’s an urgent need to address waiting lists and staffing issues at Letterkenny University Hospital. However, Deputy Thomas Pringle told the Dail his fear is that the hospital seems to be on the bottom of Saolta’s priority list, while Saolta is at the bottom of the government’s. He said the

A new website has been launched to promote the development of a digital transformation plan for the North West City Region. Developed by the ERNACT network, the website will facilitate information to interested parties about digital transformation, with an emphasis on the various initiatives and action plans in the cross-border area. Derry City and Strabane

The DUP leader has resigned his assembly seat today, saying he expects the UK government to act on the Brexit protocol ‘fairly soon’, with former MP and MLA Emma Little-Pengeley taking his seat. Tensions between Britain and the EU over the post Brexit deal have increased today. EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic insists the

A ‘Blanket of Hope’ was launched today, featuring hundreds of individual squares knitted and crocheted by people all over Donegal and further afield. The project, which was launched earlier this year was coordinated by the Letterkenny Youth and Family Service Knitting and Crochet Group, the Donegal Social Prescribing Network and Errigal College. The squares have

This Saturday marks Africa Day in Donegal. Donegal County Council and Donegal Intercultural Platform will jointly present an Africa Day celebration at the Regional Cultural Centre and An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny. Celebrations commence at 11am with a series of exhibitions, discussions and creative writing workshops. The day will also include a Family Fun Day and

A child has died from a probable case of hepatitis, the HSE has confirmed. It’s one of 6 cases identified in Ireland over the past 10 weeks in children aged between 1 and 12 years old. A second child has received a liver transplant. The World Health Organisation says at least 169 cases of acute

Latest figures illustrating rent increases has resulted in fiery exchanges in the Dail this afternoon as Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty and the Tanaiste clash again. Deputy Doherty labasted Leo Varadkar also over a proposal which could see developers being paid up to €144,000 for each apartment they build outside of Dublin under a new scheme

Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn says the county is now in the midst of a crisis as latest figures show yet another rent hike. According to today’s Daft.ie report, the average cost of rent in the first quarter of the year in Donegal is €857, up 22.7% on the same period last year. Deputy MacLochlainn says

The Marine Minister hopes a €45 million Brexit Seafood Processing scheme can maximise the value of Ireland’s fish quota. Minister Charlie McConalogue announced the funding today which aims to support processors in developing their enterprises, navigating the challenging trading environment and supporting jobs. He says it is an unprecedented investment in the sector which he

A decision to move the Donegal Rally ‘service park’ to Letterkenny has sparked anger in Milford. Milford Mart has for many a year been a home to the service park. Councillor Liam Blaney has hit out at the move on what is the 50th anniversary of the rally and says it is not the first

Donegal County Council is to assess a new government scheme for wastewater treatment and collection with a view towards applying to have a number of areas in the Letterkenny Milford area included. Cllr Donal Coyle says the scheme announced recently by Minister Darragh O’Brien could provide much needed infrastructure in Bonagee, Drumany, Drumnahoe, Lurgybrack, Leck

The Cathaoirleach of the Letterkenny Milford Municipal District has warned that the ongoing dangers around Woodlands School need to be addressed urgently. It comes following reports of a number of near misses with children and passing vehicles. Donegal County Council says there is currently no funding stream available to implement safety measures in the area

A vigil is taking place this evening in Letterkenny to mark a month since the killing of Sligo men Aidan Moffitt and Michael Snee. The Chair of Donegal LGBT says its vital that Ireland’s hate crime laws are revised to make people feel safe and supported. This evening’s vigil at 7:30pm at Market Square, Letterkenny

A new Primary Care Centre in Newtowncunningham will be operational within months. The new development will see many health services combined in a new state-of-the-art centre. Councillor Paul Canning says the project is progressing well with the opening of the centre and delivery of services expected in the coming months. He says the new centre

MEPs and UK parliamentarians will discuss the row over the Northern Ireland Protocol in Brussels today. It’s the first meeting of a post-Brexit assembly, which is aimed at maintaining cooperation between both sides. It comes amid a political stalemate in the North – with the DUP refusing to form a Stormont Executive unless the protocol’s

The average cost of rent in Donegal is now €857, up a huge 77% from its lowest point. Latest figures from Daft.ie reveal the average rent in the county has increased 22.7% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2021, that’s the second highest increase in the country. Nationally,

A Donegal Deputy believes minimum wage should be increased to meet the living wage. Deputy Thomas Pringle says a Labour Living Wage Bill is a necessary first step but doesn’t go far enough. He told the Dail that due to the cost of living, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to survive on the