Author name: highlandnews

Pope’s funeral to take place on Saturday ; Conclave starts on May 5th

The funeral of Pope Francis will be held on Saturday morning. The Vatican has confirmed it will take place at St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope’s funeral will take place in the square in front of St Peter’s Basilica at 9am Irish time. His coffin will then be taken inside the church and from there brought […]

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Gweedore Parish Priest says he felt helpless as he watched embers fall like snowflakes

The Parish Priest of Gweedore says he felt helpless while he watched the embers fall like snowflakes as flames engulfed St Mary’s Church, Derrybeg. The fire service battled to bring the blaze under control after it broke out at around 4am yesterday morning. Gardai are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire. The Parish of

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Council urged to address ‘unacceptable condition’ of public toilets on Buncrana shore front

Donegal County Council is being urged to address the ‘unacceptable condition’ of public toilets on Buncrana shore front. Councillor Joy Beard says she was contacted by a regular visitor to the town who expressed their disappointment at the state of the facilities, with reports of broken locks, rusty handwash dispensers, and an unpleasant smell. Plans

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Government urged to ensure single people are not locked out of housing market

The Government is being called on to ensure single people are not getting locked out of the housing market. A single person earning €62,000 a year armed with a 10% deposit would be unable to buy a home in Dublin, Cork city, Galway city, and some commuter county areas. Buyers in South County Dublin have

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Teacher shortages, lack of facilities and threats posed by AI set to dominate teacher conferences

Teacher shortages, a lack of facilities, and the threats posed by AI are some of the issues set to dominate the annual conferences of the teaching unions this week. Education Minister Helen McEntee has announced a series of measures to boost the profession, including permanent contracts for teachers after just one year of service. However,

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Five people, including two children injured in crash in Co Sligo

Investigations are underway after five people, including two children, were brought to hospital following a road crash in County Sligo. The two-car collision occurred yesterday on the N59 in Ballysadare at around 2:30pm. Two women, aged in their 20s and 40s, along with a 9-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl, were hospitalised with serious injuries.

Five people, including two children injured in crash in Co Sligo Read More »

‘Gaoth Dobhair will rebuild from the ashes’ – Deputy Pearse Doherty

A community has been left in shock following a fire that destroyed St. Mary’s Chapel in Derrybeg yesterday. The alarm was raised around 4am with five units of the fire service, along with gardai, responding to the scene. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty, who was due to attend his father’s anniversary mass in the chapel yesterday,

‘Gaoth Dobhair will rebuild from the ashes’ – Deputy Pearse Doherty Read More »

Donegal groups being urged to apply for digital literacy fund for older adults

Community groups in Donegal are being urged to apply for digital literacy fund for older adults. Rethink Ireland and Vodafone Foundation have launched €540,000 in funding to help bridge the digital divide for older adults in Ireland. This two-year fund will support five innovative organisations that are providing services for older adults aged 65 and

Donegal groups being urged to apply for digital literacy fund for older adults Read More »

Over 50 drivers arrested for driving under the influence on Easter Sunday

Over 50 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol on Easter Sunday. Gardai are into day five of their Easter Bank Holiday road safety campaign as they urge drivers to slow down and take care when driving over the weekend. Yesterday, over 550 drivers were detected exceeding the speed limit

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Newly qualified teachers could be made permanent after just one year under new measures announced by Education Minister

Newly qualified teachers could be made permanent in their school after just one year under new measures announced by the Minister for Education. It comes as schools continue to struggle to fill positions, and the demand for substitute teachers continues. Helen McEntee also says those who completed training abroad will have the opportunity to complete

Newly qualified teachers could be made permanent after just one year under new measures announced by Education Minister Read More »

Thousands attend 1916 Easter Rising commemorations in Dublin

The families of those who fought in the 1916 Easter Rising have been remembering their loved ones. Thousands attended the event at the GPO on O’Connell Street, including the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Lord Mayor and President Michael D. Higgins. Captain Conor Gibbons from the Defence Forces HQ in Kildare, read out the proclamation this afternoon: Dermot

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New bill calls for Irish citizens north of the border to vote in presidential elections

A new bill is calling for Irish citizens north of the border to be allowed to vote in presidential elections. It’s been submitted to the Dáil’s bills office by Aontú, ahead of the upcoming election in October. Over 600 thousand people in Northern Ireland claim Irish citizenship – party leader Peadar Tóibín says it’s only

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Diocese of Derry launces internal investigation after Fr Edward Gallagher charged with alleged sex offences

The Diocese of Derry has launched an internal investigation after one of its priests was charged with alleged sex offences. 58 year old Father Edward Gallagher, of Orchard Park, Lifford, County Donegal, appeared before Derry Magistrates’ Court yesterday, accused of attempted sexual communication with a child between April 2nd and 17th 2025. No bail application

Diocese of Derry launces internal investigation after Fr Edward Gallagher charged with alleged sex offences Read More »

Over 900 motorists caught speeding during the first 24 hours of the Easter Roads Policing Operation

Over 900 drivers were detected travelling over the speed limit in the first 24 hours of an Garda Síochána’s national Easter Roads Policing Operation. Meanwhile, 41 motorists were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant during the first 48 hours of the operation. Gardaí are urging people to never drive under the influence

Over 900 motorists caught speeding during the first 24 hours of the Easter Roads Policing Operation Read More »

Rescue 116 helicopter joins search operation for man missing ‘overboard’ from yacht off the Waterford Coast

Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter 116 has joined a search operation for a man reported missing ‘overboard’ from a yacht off the Waterford Coast. RNLI lifeboats from Dunmore East, Ballycotton and Kilmore Quay are also assisting. The rescue began last night when the alert was raised by a 2nd person who was still on board the

Rescue 116 helicopter joins search operation for man missing ‘overboard’ from yacht off the Waterford Coast Read More »

Motorists being urged to slow down and use lights in heavy rain this weekend

People are being urged to slow down, use their lights in heavy rain and leave space between yourself and others on the roads this weekend. It comes as Gardaí crack down on speed, intoxicated driving and distracted driving for the bank holiday weekend. Around 51 per cent of motorists also say they feel less safe

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Donegal-based priest appears in court, charged with alleged ‘attempted sexual communication with a child’

A Donegal-based Catholic priest has appeared in court, charged with attempted sexual communication with a child. 58-year-old Fr Edward Gallagher, of Orchard Park, Lifford, was arrested on Thursday, following an incident outside a Derry hotel. Fr Edward Gallagher appeared via video link at a special sitting of Derry Magistrates’ Court sitting in Dungannon this morning.

Donegal-based priest appears in court, charged with alleged ‘attempted sexual communication with a child’ Read More »

Fermanagh Police appealing for information following Lisnaskea collision

Police in Fermanagh are investigating a road traffic collision that occurred on Sunday last. The incident occurred on the Nutfield Road, Lisnaskea at approximately 12pm. The PSNI are trying to establish the registration of a red BMW that was on this road at the time of the accident. Anyone with dash-cam and who was on

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Motorists advised of possible traffic disruption in Derry due to planned parades

Motorists are being advised of possible traffic disruption in Derry tomorrow due to a number of planned parades. The first one will leave Cromore Gardens at 1pm, towards Linsfort Drive, Iniscarn Road, Eastway Road, Elmwood Terrace to Westland Street. Meanwhile, at 2pm, a parade will leave from Lecky Road towards Westland Street, Elmwood Terrace, Eastway

Motorists advised of possible traffic disruption in Derry due to planned parades Read More »

BREAKING: Priest charged with attempted sexual communication with a child

Police in Derry have charged a priest with attempted sexual communication with a child. The 58-year-old, who is understood to have been serving in Donegal, was arrested in Derry yesterday. He is due before a special sitting of Derry Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, sitting at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court. The Diocese of Derry yesterday confirmed that it

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Renewed calls for mental health supports for defective block homeowners

There are renewed calls for mental health supports to be put in place to support defective block homeowners. It follows recent research published by Ulster University, which laid bare the stark impact the crisis is having on affected homeowners. 30% of people who took part in the survey were found to be suffering from severe

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Protest to show support for Legacy Act to get underway at Westminster

Around a thousand bikers are expected in Westminster later to show support for British troops who served in Northern Ireland. They’re opposed to the repealing of the Legacy Act, which gave immunity for crimes committed during the troubles in return for co-operation with a new truth recovery body. The original bill was opposed by all

Protest to show support for Legacy Act to get underway at Westminster Read More »

Two men charged to court following £170,000 drug haul yesterday

Two men have been charged to appear in court following a major drug haul in Trillick, West Tyrone, yesterday. Officers yesterday recovered suspected cannabis, with an approximate street value of £170,000 and €10,000 cash from a house at that location. The men, aged 19 and 24, have been charged with several offences including possession of

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Water burst leaves Crolly without supply hours before festival set to launch

A water outage in Crolly is causing major concern, just hours before the Féile Croithlí is set to get underway. Cllr Michael Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig says it’s very disappointing at a time when there will be visitors to the area. The festival is set to launch at 7 o’clock this evening, while the works

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Accused killer of Optum boss indicted on federal murder charge

The man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare and Letterkenny-based Optum boss Brian Thompson in New York has been indicted on a federal murder charge. 26-year-old Luigi Mangione is suspected of shooting the insurance chief executive outside a hotel in December. The charge, returned by a grand jury in federal court, is a necessary step for prosecutors

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Rigid planning permission system is killing Gaeltachts – MEP Ní Mhurchú

The Donegal Gaeltacht will die if more planning permission is not granted. That’s the warning from Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, who is calling for a relaxation of the ‘overly rigid planning system’ that is currently in place. Native speakers are having to leave Gaeltacht areas because they cannot build houses on land they

Rigid planning permission system is killing Gaeltachts – MEP Ní Mhurchú Read More »

DCC seeking the stories of Donegal people who worked in Scotland from 1940 to 1990

Donegal County Council is seeking participants for a new exhibition exploring the history of Donegal people who travelled to Scotland to work between 1940 and 1990. The ‘Working Over By’ exhibition is being developed by the council’s Culture Division, in partnership with the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. People are being asked to record their

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North’s Economy Dept assumes responsibility for funding of CoDA

The North’s Department of the Economy has assumed responsibility for funding the City of Derry Airport. Northern Ireland Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald has announced that her department will now provided annual operating funding of up to £3 million for the airport. The responsibility previously fell to Derry City and Strabane District Council to fund the

North’s Economy Dept assumes responsibility for funding of CoDA Read More »