Playback Archives - Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport

Today we address commercial pressures on school transport operators, equine therapy for additional needs, parking vigilantes vs. accessibility, road safety concerns in Burt, and a moving reality for families impacted by defective concrete blocks.

Inside Today’s Episode:

The Morning Press: We open the program with a scan through the morning newspapers, tracking the top local, regional, and national headlines breaking across the papers today.

School Transport Sustainability Crisis: Irish Farmers Journal journalist Jacqueline Hogge joins Greg to discuss growing anxieties within the private bus and school transport sector. Bus operators warn that soaring fuel costs, combined with fixed-rate contracts, are making their runs financially unsustainable ahead of the new school term.

Equine Therapy & Inclusive Community Morning: We visit the Glebe Farm Equine Centre to explore their work with children and adults with additional needs:

Expanded Services: Linda Doherty joins us from the centre to discuss their therapeutic equine programs and preview an upcoming coffee morning aimed at making their facilities even more inclusive for the community.

Camp Interactions: Caoimhe Gill from Spraoi agus Spórt shares her firsthand observations on how young participants interact with the horses during their summer camps, highlighting the physical, social, and emotional benefits of equine-assisted learning.

Blue Badges & Parking Vigilantes: A story shared by listener Mark sparks intense debate across the text lines. Mark relates how a disabled friend—currently awaiting his official blue badge—returned to his car to find it stickered by an overzealous parking vigilante for using an accessible space, raising sharp questions about public enforcement, empathy, and accessibility barriers.

Road Safety Demands in Burt: Following another serious road traffic collision in the area yesterday, local resident Mark outlines the ongoing hazards on the local road network around Burt and urges responsible authorities to implement long-overdue safety interventions before further lives are lost.

Honouring Donegal’s Emergency Responders: Dr. Gerry Lane joins Greg in-studio following his joint win with Dr. Jack Collins for the Blue Light Unsung Hero Award at the 2026 Blue Light Awards. Dr. Lane outlines the life-saving voluntary work they undertake across the region with CRITICAL, the emergency medical response charity.

Onam Celebrations in Letterkenny: Abin Joshy and Arya Satheesh drop by to preview Ponnonam Ponnarangu 2026, taking place this Sunday at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny, extending a warm invitation to the entire community to experience traditional music, dance, and festive celebrations.

The Human Toll of Defective Concrete Blocks: Councillor Ali Farren shares a poignant personal update regarding his parents, both in their 80s, who have been forced to move out of their family home to facilitate a complete rebuild under the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme, emphasizing the deep emotional strain felt by elderly residents across Donegal.

Listen to the full episode and stay ahead of the local news:

The post The Greg Hughes Show | Wednesday | 19/08/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Today we address urgent calls to combat drug and vape spiking, police pursuit training in the wake of the M9 tragic collision, youth diversion programs, and new cross-border e-commerce charges facing consumers.

Inside Today’s Episode:

The Morning Press: We kick off the show with our daily scan of the regional and national headlines breaking across the papers today.

Tackling the Rise of Drink & Vape Spiking: Mary Crilly, Spokesperson for the Cork Sexual Violence Centre, joins Greg to discuss alarming increases in drink and vape spiking incidents. Mary calls for stronger legislative penalties and the urgent rollout of standardized toxicological screening in hospital emergency departments to assist victims and support prosecutions.

GRA Calls for Pursuit Training Following M9 Tragedy: Following the horrific crash on the M9 motorway near Moone, Co. Kildare, which claimed the lives of five teenage boys, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan pledged that Gardaí will receive “whatever resources” are required, including specialized pursuit training. Donegal Garda Representative Association (GRA) Spokesperson Garda Brendan O’Connor responds, highlighting that the GRA has been campaigning for high-speed tactical pursuit training for frontline officers for years to deal safely with high-risk road incidents.

Youth Justice & Lessons from Kildare: Minister of State with responsibility for Youth Justice, Catherine Ardagh TD, joins us in-studio during her visit to local youth diversion programs in the county. Minister Ardagh reflects on early intervention strategies for at-risk youth and discusses what policy lessons must be learned from the M9 tragedy.

Community Garda Information: Garda Pádraig McFadden drops into the studio for his weekly frontline brief, sharing local crime prevention alerts, road safety advice, and ongoing community policing initiatives across Donegal.

New Extra Charge on Non-EU Shopping Orders: Consumer journalist Conor Pope joins Greg to break down proposed new €2 processing charges on online shopping orders shipped from outside the EU, explaining how the fees will impact consumers buying goods online.

Listen to the full episode and stay ahead of the local news:

The post The Greg Hughes Show | Tuesday | 18/08/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

This week on the DL Debate, Brendan Devenney recaps the local championships action with Brendan Kilcoyne and we pay tribute to James McHugh with his fellow 92 winners John Joe Doherty and Tony Boyle.

The DL Debate in association with Sara’s Kitchen at Sister Sara’s Letterkenny:

The post The DL Debate – 17/08/26 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Today we examine the fallout from a devastating road collision in Kildare, ongoing shortages in children’s dental healthcare, road safety protests in West Donegal, and a major national search for Ireland’s next musical talent.

Inside Today’s Episode:

The Morning Press: We open the program with a review of the national and local headlines, focusing on the tragic road collision in Athy, County Kildare, which claimed the lives of five teenagers and left a family in a second vehicle seriously injured.

Legal & Policing Impact: Irish Independent journalist Darragh Nolan breaks down the details of the crash investigation and what the tragic case means for Garda operational protocols going forward.

Community Reaction: Chair of Athy Municipal District Council Cllr Mark Leigh joins the show to reflect on the profound shock, grief, and community support in the wake of the tragedy.

Healthcare Gaps in Children’s Dental Screening: Dr. Gerard Roarty reacts to shocking new figures revealing the staggering number of primary school children missing out on routine state dental screenings. Dr. Roarty outlines how government inaction is worsening long-term oral health and calls for urgent intervention.

The DL Debate & Tributes to James & Noreen McHugh: Brendan Devenney previews this evening’s edition of The DL Debate. The show pays a heartfelt tribute to Donegal GAA legend James McHugh and his wife Noreen following their tragic deaths, alongside a comprehensive review of the weekend’s local club championship football action.

Road Safety Demonstration on the N56: Breeda Burns from the Lettermacaward Development Group outlines why local residents will take to the N56 next month for a peaceful road safety protest, demanding urgent traffic-calming measures and engineering solutions to address speeding along the stretch.

Making Ballybofey & Stranorlar Neurodivergent-Inclusive: Yvonne Lang joins the show with an update on an ongoing community movement aimed at making the Twin Towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive for neurodivergent individuals and their families.

A New Local Hero: Search for Ireland’s Next Star: Jimmy and Paul from Monday Night Sessions drop into the studio as Highland Radio officially launches its search for the region’s top music talent as part of Irish Music Month. They detail how local independent artists can submit their original tracks to compete for airplay, funding, and a spot on the national stage.

Listen to the full episode and stay ahead of the local news:

The post The Greg Hughes Show | Monday | 17/08/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Today we address critical discussions on gender equality and online abuse, celebrate historic European athletics glory for Donegal, and kick off our massive summer giveaway.

Inside Today’s Episode:

The Friday Panel: Eimear McGuinness, Professor Pat O’Connor, and Dr. Michelle Maher join Greg in-studio for an extensive and wide-ranging debate:

Teaching Consent in Preschools: The panel evaluates controversial proposals calling for age-appropriate body autonomy and consent concepts to be introduced in early childhood education.

Women in Politics & Gender Quotas: The guests discuss strategies to increase female representation in Irish politics, debating whether statutory candidate quotas are the most effective path forward or if broader systemic barriers need addressing.

Online Abuse & Social Media Harassment: Following the European Athletics Championships, the panel addresses the disgraceful torrent of racial abuse directed at Irish sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke under RTÉ Facebook posts after her silver medal win, discussing platform accountability and digital hate speech enforcement.

European Athletics Champion Mark English: Fresh off his historic victory, European 800m Gold Medalist Mark English joins us live! The Finn Valley AC star and pride of Donegal reflects on taking his long-awaited European title in Birmingham, becoming Ireland’s first male individual European champion, and bringing gold back to the North West.

Highland Radio’s €20k Summer Cash Giveaway: Sean Quinn drops into the studio to conduct our very first €2,000 draw as part of Highland Radio’s Big Summer Cash Giveaway, announcing our first big winner live on air!

The Greg Hughes Podcast Preview: We feature a preview clip of this week’s episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, featuring a candid conversation with guest Councillor Gerry McMonagle.

Live Music with Cillian McCann McLaughlin: We round out today’s show with a live performance and chat in-studio with rising local musical talent Cillian McCann McLaughlin, discussing his newest material and upcoming performances.

Listen to the full episode and stay ahead of the local news:

The post The Greg Hughes Show | Friday | 14/08/26 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

In this episode of The Greg Hughes Podcast, Greg is joined in studio by Letterkenny Sinn Féin Councillor Gerry McMonagle for an in-depth conversation reflecting on his life, personal history, and political career.

Gerry opens up about growing up in Derry during the height of the Troubles, his early activism, and the personal and political experiences that shaped his path—including his arrests and receiving an official “letter of comfort.” He speaks candidly about making the move across the border to establish a new life in Letterkenny, making Donegal his home, and his deep-rooted passion for community politics.

The discussion also explores his long-standing work representing the local community, his view on the evolution of Sinn Féin over the decades, and his thoughts on the current party leadership.

Listen back to the full episode now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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This week on The Score, Patsy McGonagle looks ahead to Mark English’s 800m European Final, Brendan Devenney pays tribute to James McHugh, Shane Byrne talks rallying, Soccer writer Aidan Fitzmaurice previews this weekend’s FAI Cup action and we speak with Father and Daughter Noel and Leona McLaughlin on their latest success at the Dingle Derby.

The post The Score – 13/08/26 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

On Business Matters this week, Chris Ashmore hears from Gareth McGlynn about Niche Specialist Staffing Partners, a recruitment company based in Donegal whose entire customer base is in the United States, plus he finds out about new online courses to upskill those in the construction sector as it transitions into a low-carbon era. 

The main focus of attention is a company called Niche Specialist Staffing Partners – or Niche SSP as it is known – which is based in Bridgend in Donegal but specialises in the recruitment of people in America in the preconstruction sector –  estimators – or as we would refer to them here, quantity surveyors.

Gareth McGlynn, from Inch Island, runs the company with his wife Ciara, from Derry, and it’s been an interesting journey to say the least. Now, the name Gareth McGlynn may well  be familiar to many of you. Yes, he is a Derry City FC legend having had three spells at the club and made more than 350  appearances scoring just shy of 50 goals.

So to hear more about what’s going on at Niche SPP, Chris paid a visit to its offices in Burnfoot, which now employs nine sales consultants. 

Also this week Chris has been speaking to Louise Parkes, Project manager at Atlantic Technological University for the Green Accelerator Skills Programme known as GRASP. A number of new certificate courses will begin in September, they are all free and will be delivered online.

It’s an opportunity for people to equip themselves for the construction sector in an era with an increasing emphasis on green related projects and more energy efficiency construction methods.

You can listen to this week’s programme here:

The post Business Matters – Eps 309: Gareth McGlynn’s Niche SSP recruitment success, plus new green construction ATU courses appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Today we explore milestone infrastructure plans connecting Donegal Town to the Twin Towns, disturbing classroom insights into childhood social pressures, and cross-border roadside assistance failures.

Inside Today’s Episode:

The Morning Press: We open the show with our daily scan through the local and national newspapers, catching up on the leading stories, community news, and headlines breaking across the country today.

Major Progress for the Barnesmore Gap Greenway: Donegal County Council has officially published the statutory planning application, Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), and Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the long-awaited 37.5km Barnesmore Gap Greenway.

The Engineering Vision: Senior Executive Engineer Brian Reid joins the show to detail the proposed route linking Donegal Town to Ballybofey and Stranorlar, outlining the statutory timeline, public consultation details, and safety benefits.

Local Political Reaction: Local Councillor Patrick McGowan shares his perspective on what this major active travel project means for tourism, local land acquisition, and economic growth across the East Donegal region.

Classroom Realities: Social Media Pressure & Lost Creativity: Teacher Nessa McGrattan drops into the studio to share troubling observations from the modern primary classroom. Nessa highlights a noticeable decline in independent creative thinking among pupils, alongside early-onset social pressures—where young girls are becoming hyper-conscious of their image and boys as young as 10 have been observed “grading” female classmates on their physical appearance.

Cross-Border Roadside Assistance Breakdown:  Nicholas Crossan shares a recent personal ordeal that exposed severe flaws and disastrous breakdowns in communication when using AA roadside assistance across the border, sparking a broader discussion on service reliability for cross-border drivers.

Highland Radio Customer Service Awards 2026: We broadcast live from the Mount Errigal Hotel in Letterkenny for the official launch of the 2026 Highland Radio Customer Service Awards! We celebrate excellence in local business, outline this year’s categories, and explain how listeners can nominate their favorite local businesses.

Business Matters Preview: Chris Ashmore stops by to preview this week’s episode of the Business Matters podcast, keeping us up to speed on commercial trends, local enterprise, and economic news across Donegal.

Listen to the full episode and stay ahead of the local news:

The post The Greg Hughes Show |Thursday| 13/08/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Today we address a heartbreaking update to a local tragedy in Kilcar, strategic proposals for regional healthcare education, an investigation into synthetic drug proliferation, and sharp debate over early childhood consent education.

Inside Today’s Episode:

The Morning Press: We open the show with a look at the front pages and key news stories making headlines across the morning papers.

Kilcar Devastated by Passing of Noreen McHugh: Fr. William Peoples, Parish Priest in Kilcar, joins the show to react to the devastating news that Noreen McHugh has passed away in hospital. Noreen succumbed to injuries sustained in Monday’s road collision in Cavan which also tragically claimed the life of her husband, Donegal GAA legend James McHugh. Fr. Peoples reflects on the deep shock, grief, and profound sadness overwhelming the local community as they support the McHugh family.

The Case for a Dental School at ATU Letterkenny: We explore growing calls to establish a new School of Dentistry at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Letterkenny to combat the nationwide dentist shortage and regional access gaps:

The Political View: Deputy Charles Ward discusses the strategic policy, regional investment, and government backing needed to deliver the facility.

The Clinical Perspective: Dr. Gerard Roarty outlines the severe operational pressures on local dental practices and how a regional training hub would help recruit and retain qualified professionals in the North West.

The Rise of Synthetic Drugs: Noel Baker, investigative journalist with Journal.ie, joins Greg to discuss his recent deep-dive investigation into the dangerous proliferation of synthetic drugs across Ireland. Noel breaks down how new chemical compounds are being manufactured, distributed, and the growing risks they pose to public health and law enforcement.

Teaching Consent in Preschools Debate: Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, outgoing member of the EU’s GREVIO monitoring body, discusses recommendations calling for age-appropriate concepts of consent and body autonomy to be introduced at preschool level. The proposal sparks significant debate, with a flood of listeners contacting the show to voice strong concerns and reservations about early childhood implementation.

Surging Parking Charges at LUH: A Sinn Féin TD joins the program to break down newly obtained HSE figures revealing a dramatic increase in revenue collected from hospital car parking fees at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH). The discussion highlights how rising rates act as an unfair financial penalty on patients, regular visitors, and healthcare staff during an ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

In the Garden with Paul McLaughlin: Resident gardening expert Paul McLaughlin is in-studio taking listener calls, offering seasonal planting tips, and answering your late-summer garden maintenance questions.

Listen to the full episode and stay ahead of the local news:

The post The Greg Hughes Show | Wednesday | 12/08/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.