Playback Archives - Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport

On Business Matters this week Chris’s Ashmore’s guest is Dr. Siobhan Murray, the founder of Blue Poppy Dentistry and Orthodontics.

A native of Omagh and a graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, she opened her first practice in Donegal Town in 2010. Then in 2019  a second practice was opened on the Pearse Road in Letterkenny.

The company has grown over the years expanding the range of treatments and using the very latest technology.

And shortly they will open a third premises, this one being in the Letterkenny Shopping Centre, where there will be considerable passing footfall and people will be able to see just what they offer.

In this interview, Dr. Siobhan talks about a range of matters, including the ever-evolving advances in technology and the positive impact that this has had on the sector, her great team, fashion trends, and the risks associated with going for dental related treatment abroad.

You can listen to the full episode here:

The post Business Matters – Ep 278: Dr. Siobhan Murray, Blue Poppy Dentistry and Orthodontics appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

In this week’s Business Matters, Chris Ashmore traces the story of McGinley Coaches, founded by John McGinley more than 50 years ago.

In December, James McGinley was named as the 2025 Business Person of the Year Award at the Donegal Dublin Business Network Gala Night.

The current CEO and son of John McGinley, he has overseen both growth and diversity in recent years as the West Donegal company continues to go from strength to strength.

So it is timely to hear about the company – including its venture into the cruise tourism sector – in this interview that was first broadcast last April.

The post Business Matters – EP 277 – Donegal Dublin Business Network Business Person of the Year James McGinley appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

In this week’s Business Matters, Chris Ashmore’s main focus of attention is a look at a very exciting Donegal Diaspora Initiative that is taking place in March in Philadelphia. 

And later in the programme, he’ll be speaking with Paul O’Donnell, about his role as Employment Engagement Coordinator, with the Donegal Local Development Company and what it entails. 

But first, the event in Philadelphia is essentially all about turning connections into action, and bringing together Donegal people through sport, culture, music, and business.

And by linking global experience with local communities this can certainly create meaningful opportunities, and open all sorts of doors.

Highland Radio is going to be directly involved, and there will be live broadcasts from Philadelphia in March. There will be a Business Forum, with some big name speakers, on Friday, March 20th, a Gaelic football tournament on Saturday, March 21st followed by plenty of music and then on Sunday, March 22nd, a brunch and various sessions in bars.

To get some more details and to find out how it has all come about, Chris linked up on zoom with the Business Forum Co-Chairs, John McDaid and Raymond Porter, who spoke to him from Philadelphia, while in studio Highland Radio’s Chief Executive Officer Sean Quinn came into explain the input from the station and how it has really captured everyone’s imagination.

More details are also available at https://connectdonegal.org/

 You can listen to the full programme here:

The post Business Matters – Ep 276: Philadelphia business forum, sport and music event takes shape – plus DLDC’s Employment Engagement Coordinator appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

In this week’s Business Matters, Chris Ashmore has been finding out more about a great little Donegal business that is expanding rapidly and which looks to have a bright future.

Donegal Sea Salt, based in Cranford, is making waves, and has won a number of awards, most the most recent being at the Donegal Enterprise Awards where it was named as the Best Start Up Business for 2025.

Located on the shores of Mulroy Bay, it’s a wonderful example of using a natural product and bringing it to the market.

Chris paid a trip to Donegal Sea Salt which is run by John Slater and his partner Caroline, to get a first hand view of how he extracts the water from the sea and how it then evaporates to produce the clear white sea salt which is a premium product and indeed one that is becoming increasingly popular.

The post Business Matters – Ep 275: Donegal Sea Salt is making waves appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

On Business Matters this week Chris Ashmore talks with Martin Hilferty of Orbit Security which has now been in business for over 30 years.

From small beginners, the company has expanded considerably over the years, during which time there have been periods of growth, but also challenges.

Martin also overcame a major health issue several years ago following the discovery of a tumour in his heart that required major surgery.

He speaks with Chris about his business journey, changing trends in the security industry and keeping abreast with technological changes – not least AI – and he is also upbeat about the future for his firm and indeed Donegal.

The post Business Matters – Ep 274: Martin Hilferty manager of Orbit Security reflects on 30 years in business appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

In this week’s edition, Chris Ashmore looks at the new auto enrolment pension scheme in Ireland, called “My Future Fund” which will begin on January 1, 2026, automatically enrolling eligible employees into a retirement savings plan.

Thousands of people in Donegal are set to benefit.

You will be automatically enrolled in the new pension scheme if you are an employee and you: Are aged between 23 and 60; Do not pay into a pension through payroll; Earn €20,000 or more per year across all employments, or more than €5,000 over a 13-week period.

Neil McDonnell, CEO of ISME, the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, joined Chris on the programme to discuss the matter further.

Later in the programme, we hear how thousands of SMEs across Ireland, particularly outside Dublin, are failing to use one of the most valuable tax reliefs available to them.

The Small Benefit Tax Exemption allows employers to give up to €1,500 in non-cash benefits tax-free to each employee every year. This exemption requires no PAYE, USC, employee PRSI or employer PRSI.

Kealan Lennon, Founder and CEO of CleverCards, explains in detail how the scheme works.

But first up, Chris has been finding out more about the Donegal Business Network, and has been speaking with its director Anthony McGlynn.

The post Business Matters – Ep 273: Auto-enrolment update – plus the Employee Small Benefit Tax Exemption, and the Donegal Business Network appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

This week Chris has been looking at two very different  businesses, one aimed at storytelling and creativity and getting children away from screens, and the other which is a luxury hotel and spa gifting platform that is rapidly expanding.

First up, Fudge and Gandol is a new Donegal-based children’s creativity company built around storytelling.

Founded  by Ballyshannon mum Julie Dowling, it all stemmed from a bedtime routine and telling stories to her own children. That routine led to the creation of a full set of Story Cards.

And so the idea was hatched that other families could try the same idea. Each pack includes illustrated characters, locations and “story sparks” from Myrndale, a gentle and fantasy world inspired by the Irish countryside. Children pick a few cards and shape the plot in their own way, telling it aloud, writing it down or acting it out.

Julie, who is a manager of an innovation centre in Sligo works  says their motto is ‘screens off, imaginations on’.

Meanwhile, a Wicklow based Irish start-up has seen a huge growth in its voucher sales in the luxury hotel gifting market.

Founded by Adrienne Stewart and Zoë Byrne, the company claims to have the world’s most flexible luxury hotel gift voucher. In fact the voucher is redeemable at over 10,000 premium hotels – including ones in Donegal – and across some 75 countries. Adrienne joined Chris to give some more details.

You can hear the full programme now:

The post Business Matters – Eps 272: Ballyshannon mum’s storytelling business is a case of ‘screens off, imaginations on’ appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

This week on “The Score” with Mark Gallagher…

We speak to Maxi Curran after his ATU Donegal side defeated SETU Carlow in the Higher Education Division 2 League Final last night.

We also speak to ATU Freshers manager Ryan McHugh after they also progressed to their league final, Mickey McCann looks ahead to the Burt hurlers’ trip to London on Saturday and we talk to Rory Kennedy to look forward to the Killarney Historic Rally on Saturday…

The post The Score – 26/11/25 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

On the final DL Debate of the season, Brendan Devenney is joined by a host of guests to look back at the highs and lows of 2025 and look ahead to next season.

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

The post DL Debate – 24/11/15 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.

This week, on “The Score” with Mark Gallagher…

We hear from the Donegal and Inishowen camps to look forward to Sunday’s Oscar Traynor Trophy meeting in Ballyare, Buncrana Kickboxer Liam Grant speaks to us ahead of his tilt at the Cadet Irish Title next weekend and our Athletics correspondent Patsy McGonigle talks us through the local interest at this Sunday’s National Senior & Underage Cross Country Championships in Derry…

The post The Score – 20/11/25 appeared first on Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport.