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In this episode, Greg Hughes speaks with Maeve and Ian Gallagher following the inquest into the tragic death of their three-year-old son, Darragh.

Darragh passed away in March 2023 after a rapid onset of Invasive Group A Streptococcal (iGAS) which led to bacterial sepsis. This episode provides a detailed look at the timeline leading up to Darragh’s passing, beginning with his initial symptoms on St. Patrick’s Day and a subsequent visit to an out-of-hours GP service where his condition was identified as a mild viral infection.

Key Discussion Points:

The Clinical Journey: The symptoms Darragh displayed, including abdominal pain and vomiting, and the challenges of diagnosing iGAS in its early stages.

The Inquest Findings: A breakdown of the narrative finding returned by Coroner Dr. McCauley and why the request for a finding of medical misadventure was not met.

A National Spike: Insight from the inquest regarding the 2022/2023 iGAS outbreak in Ireland, which resulted in 12 deaths and 200 pediatric intensive care admissions.

Coroner’s Recommendations: The vital importance of childhood vaccinations (including flu and chickenpox) and the need for non-alarmist public health campaigns to help parents recognize early signs of sepsis.

Moving Forward: How Maeve and Ian are coping with their loss while advocating for better support for GPs and clearer communication for parents through tools like the Aladdin App.

The post The Greg Hughes Podcast – Episode 7: A Story of Loss, Resilience, and the Search for Answers appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

This week on The Score…

Anthony Gorman joins us to look ahead to Friday night’s League Of Ireland games for Finn Harps and Derry City, Chris Ashmore will bring us the latest from Harps press conference ahead of the first home game of the season and we’ll hear from Finn Harps’ ladies manager Dessie McGlinchey as he prepares his team to make history this weekend…

Plus, in GAA, we’ll get the thoughts of The Sideline Eye’s Sean Casey ahead of Donegal’s clash with Armagh in the National Football League Division 1…

The post The Score – 19/02/26 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

On Business Matters this week Chris Ashmore has been finding all about how a Donegal oyster producer who is using AI to monitor oyster health with support from Enterprise Ireland, ATU Donegal and Board Iascaigh Mhara.

Lee Hunter, a marine biologist and owner of Oisirí Oileán Cróine Teoranta in Dungloe Bay, has created the system, known as The Oyster Pitch, which analyses the sound oysters make when they are handled to distinguish live shellfish from dead stock with a high degree of accuracy.

His innovation has considerable potential in the shellfish sector.

Also in the programme, Chris has been hearing about Enterprise Week which runs from Monday, March 3rd to Friday, March 7th, and once again there is a packed programme full of events. He has been speaking with Brenda Hegarty, Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office, Donegal, Cllr. Paul Canning, Cathaoirleach of Donegal Co. Council, and John McLaughlin, Chief Executive of Donegal Co. Council.

The post Business Matters, Ep 284: Lee Hunter and using AI in the shellfish sector – plus Enterprise Week appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

A packed show today as we dive into the papers and look at the stories affecting the North West.

The Papers We take a look at the local and national headlines, from the latest political moves to the stories hitting the front pages across Donegal.

Diabetes Care in Donegal Paul Gillespie, Chair of the Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland, joins Greg to discuss the positive advances in care at Letterkenny University Hospital. While the progress is welcome, Paul highlights the urgent work still required to meet patient needs.

SNA Review: The Fight Continues Local parent Fiona speaks out on the recent pause on SNA cuts. She tells Greg why this is not a victory for parents and previews a protest taking place in Buncrana next week to demand better for our children.

From Derry to Netflix We catch up with Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee! She tells us all about her brand-new Netflix project and the transition to a brand-new story.

Live Music & Business

David James is in studio for a live performance and a chat about his upcoming gigs.

Chris Ashmore drops by to preview what’s coming up on this week’s Business Matters Podcast.

The post The Greg Hughes Show Thursday 19/02/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

Today on the show, we dive deep into the stories impacting the North West—from a multi-million euro boost for our crumbling roads to a brave and disturbing account of the daily realities inside a local massage business.

The Morning Papers: A full run-through of the headlines making waves in Donegal and beyond.

€69 Million for Donegal Roads: Brian Cannon, Director of Roads with Donegal County Council, joins Greg to react to the massive funding announcement. He explains where the money is going, which projects are being prioritized, and how this will tackle the county’s infrastructure challenges.

National No Smoking Day: We mark the day with a focus on quitting for good. Fionna Boyle from the HSE’s I Quit programme discusses the supports available, while Mo Kelly shares her inspiring journey of being 100 days smoke-free.

The SNA U-Turn: After a week of intense pressure, the government has paused planned cuts to Special Needs Assistants. Parent Janice returns to react to the news, and SNA Aine provides a boots-on-the-ground perspective on why the system is still under immense pressure.

The Fight for Donegal Cancer Flights: With a crucial meeting set for February 24th with the Minister for Transport, Mary Coyle (Donegal Cancer Flights and Services) gives us an update. The community is demanding a reversal of changes to the PSO flight schedule, which many call a “medical lifeline.”

A Shocking Reality at Smile Thai Massage: In a candid and troubling interview, Nam, owner of Smile Thai Massage, speaks out about the regular abuse she and her staff face. From “additional service” requests to inappropriate language and physical touching, Nam explains why she is no longer staying silent.

The post The Greg Hughes Show Wednesday 18/02/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

In today’s episode, we navigate a heavy news agenda for the North West—from the parking chaos in Letterkenny and the rising costs of hospitality to a global study on deadly scorpions and a sensitive discussion on support services following recent court convictions.

The Morning Papers: Greg takes a look at the front pages and main stories making the headlines today, Tuesday, February 17th.

The Cost of Doing Business: Tommy McBride of Quaywest Restaurant in Derry joins us to discuss the “perfect storm” hitting the hospitality sector. Between energy costs and the burden of rates, he explains why simply keeping the doors open is becoming an uphill battle.

Deadliest Scorpions: We dive into a fascinating but frightening new study from the University of Galway. Researchers have identified global “hotspots” for the world’s most venomous scorpions; we chat with the team behind the findings about where the highest risks are and why soil type matters.

“Enough is Enough” in Ballymacool: Residents in Letterkenny are fuming after Sunday’s Donegal v Mayo clash. Despite Garda warnings, many fans abandoned their cars on footpaths and driveways. We speak to the Ballymacool Residents Association about the gridlock and why they say the current match-day arrangements are failing the community.

Highland Online: Oisin Kelly joins Greg to discuss the latest updates to Highland Radio’s online streaming services. Whether you’re at home or abroad, Oisin shares the best ways to ensure a crystal-clear connection to your favorite shows.

Community Garda Information: Garda Grainne Doherty is in the studio for her weekly slot, bringing us the latest appeals, crime prevention advice, and updates from the Donegal Gardai.

Support & Advice: Following the convictions of three Donegal men for sexual crimes yesterday, we speak with the Donegal Rape Crisis Centre. We discuss the impact of such cases on the community and provide vital information on the services available for those affected by sexual violence.

The post The Greg Hughes Show Tuesday 17/02/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

This week on the DL Debate there will be lots of GAA talk as Pauric Hilferty takes up the reigns for Brendan Devenney, Pauric speaks with Highland Match Pundit Brendan Kilcoyne, Mayo’s John Casey, Ryan Ferry Sports Editor of the Donegal News and Michael McMullan of the Gaelic Life.

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

The post DL Debate – 16/02/26 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

It’s a packed Monday morning as we look back on a huge sporting weekend and tackle the issues hitting the headlines across Donegal.

The Morning Paper Review

The Loss of the Letterkenny Town Bus

Review of Telemedicine Abortion

GAA: Donegal v Mayo & The DL Debate

Short-Term Let Regulations: Clarity Needed

A Night with Neven: Fundraising for Downstrands

The post The Greg Hughes Show Monday 16/02/2026 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

On today’s show, Greg Hughes brings you a packed Friday agenda, from international controversies to the issues hitting the heart of Donegal.

The Friday Panel: Football, Policing, and Politics We are joined by our Friday Panel—Former Garda Sergeant Christie Galligan, Professor Pat O’Connor, and Cllr Denis McGee—to discuss the fallout from Ireland being drawn against Israel in the UEFA Nations League. We examine the immediate political and social reactions to the draw and the significant policing challenges surrounding these high-profile fixtures.

The Donegal-Dublin PSO: What Next? The panel examines the “what next” following the controversial changes to the Donegal–Dublin Public Service Obligation (PSO). With the midday flight removed and the aircraft no longer based at Donegal Airport overnight, we discuss the regional impact on business, tourism, and essential medical travel.

County Reputation: Dog Fouling and Litter We address the growing frustration over the county’s cleanliness. Despite rising complaints, figures show zero dog fouling fines were issued in Donegal last year. We also look at reports of overflowing bottle banks and littering, asking if a lack of enforcement is damaging Donegal’s reputation.

Crisis at St Oran’s National School We speak to parents following the shock announcement that St Oran’s National School is set to lose 1.5 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) positions. We discuss the devastating impact this will have on vulnerable students and the heartbreak felt by the school community.

Call for Boycott: Cllr Jack Murray Cllr Jack Murray joins us to explain why he is calling for Ireland to pull out of its matches against Israel, arguing that the sporting fixtures cannot be separated from the ongoing international conflict.

Trending with Shannen Wilkins To wrap up, Shannen Wilkins takes a look at what’s hot on the TV this weekend and what is currently trending across the socials.

The post The Greg Hughes Show Friday 13/02/26 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

What does it feel like to plan your daughter’s funeral while she is still alive? In this raw and deeply personal episode, Bernadette McConnell joins us to share her journey as a mother navigating her daughter Bailey’s decade-long battle with cocaine and prescription drug addiction.

Bernadette pulls back the curtain on the “silent suffering” of parents. She discusses the agonizing thin line between helping and enabling, the physical toll of constant worry, and the moment she realized she didn’t hate her daughter—she hated the addict that had stolen her “Bailey Boo.”

In this episode, we discuss:

The Reality of Addiction: Moving from “daddling” in teens to full-blown addiction in the 20s.

The Mother’s Burden: Managing the guilt, the sleepless nights, and the trauma of “checking socials” just to see if your child is alive.

The Systemic Failure: The “closed doors” of mental health services and the lack of immediate support for those in crisis.

The Turning Point: Why Bernadette had to step back to save both herself and her daughter.

Hope in Recovery: Celebrating Bailey’s 14 months of sobriety and the power of professional detox centers.

Connect with the Show: New episodes are released every Friday at 11:00 AM. We value your feedback and stories. Please reach out to our researcher and producer, Caroline Orr, at [email protected] with any comments or inquiries.

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