toy brands like the Care Bears, VTEC, LeapFrog, LeMaz, PlayMobile, Tonka and much more. We also have a massive range of outdoor toys like Swings, Slides, Swingball, GoPosts and Rebounders. And don't forget we're still Ireland's largest farm toy super store. Open Monday to Saturday, Let's Road, Letter, Guinea or online at tinnystoys.com The Naughty Alarm Clock Show with City of Derry Airport. Loganair's three times daily service to London Heathrow offers single ticket connections to 119 destinations across 56 countries. Visit cityofderryairport.com And that's it from me this morning. I'm back on air tomorrow evening with the celebrations here at Highland Radio and Rockin' Hits tomorrow. What are you doing tomorrow evening, Marty? Well, I think me and a few of the presenters are going to play some... Let's have a look at the running order here. Going to have fun. To find out exactly what you're doing. The DJ Mashup. This is brilliant. Canis Wilson, Keith Fletcher, Marty Field and Joe Dex from 5.15 to 8.00pm. Ivan Borland there as well, of course. Bit of a crack. Bit of a crack. Good to get everybody in studio and see. I hear there might be a bit of a quiz. Hopefully not too difficult. It'll all be music based. That'll all be music based. I think. So hopefully it'll be a chance to look back in the years and dance music. Exactly. So tune in to Marty and the crew for that DJ Mashup. Taking us through tomorrow evening as part of the birthday celebrations. Marty, have a great one. I enjoy it. See you soon. All right. It is the 9.00pm show at 9.00pm. Let's get a news update and crossover now to Donna Marie Doherty. Thanks, Greg. Good morning. Donegal County Council is being urged to install speed ramps at Kilmachranon National School. The issue was raised by Councillor John O'Donnell while a separate motion calling for more flashing lights at the same location was moved by Councillor Michael McBride and seconded by Councillor Park McGarvey. Meanwhile, Councillor Liam Blaney, the third mill for Electoral Area Councillor, seconded Councillor O'Donnell's motion saying he had to be approached by parents and residents. Officials pointed out that a safety review was carried out at the school last month and new road markings were installed to improve vision lines at the school crossing. Councillor John O'Donnell acknowledges that but says the fact that all of the local councillors were approached is significant. When you see three councillors from that area getting representations on this hot topic I think it's very important that we follow through on it. The executive here and our roads engineer has listened quite closely and I do believe that he will take our views on board and install temporary ramps at the moment to see how they perform and then replace full-time ramps if they're a success and they're needed. A fourth case of measles has been confirmed here. It shows three other cases in recent weeks including one on a flight from Abu Dhabi. The fourth case is equal to the total number of cases last year. The catch-up vaccination programme is expected to get underway next week. The average price for farmland is now 11,929 euro per acre down 3% on last year. The annual land price report from the Irish Farmers Journal looks at who's buying where and how much they paid. It shows prices falling in Connacht and Ulster while they're on the rise in Lentster and Munster. Author of the report Paul Muney says there's a great demand for large farms and the number of large estates with period houses were purchased by international buyers. Very glamorous country estates with 100 acres or more and a period type house would come on the market. They tend to sell by private treaty. There's a small number of buyers who'd be interested in these properties because obviously the price would be quite high. Often the buyers would be coming from abroad. There'd be international business people. We saw that again in 2023. Two men have been sentenced for the offence of behaviour likely to stir up hatred in connection with the singing of a song containing offensive lyrics about the murder of Makayla Makarevi. Yesterday 26-year-old Stephen Cain was sentenced to four months in prison which was suspended for 18 months after being found guilty at Lagonside Magistrates Court. 23-year-old Cain Jones paid a guilty on Wednesday the 17th of January and was later sentenced to 240 hours of community service on Wednesday the 6th of March. A third man has also been found guilty and he will be sentenced on April 24th. Drivers are warned of a road closure in Brachy, our draw today and tomorrow from 12 noon until half past five between the N-56 and Mahara Caves. This is due to essential road work starting at the oyster farm and continuing for 600 metres. A local diversion will be in place during these times. The Royal County Council apologises for any inconvenience which this may have caused. Finally looking to weather overcast today with further spells of rains heavy at times with a chance of local flooding, mild and humid with just light variable winds, highs generally of 8 to 12 degrees. That's all for now from Hidden Video News. We'll be back again at 10 o'clock. Throbbing headache, toothache, backache, period pain. No one pain is the same. But for all those everyday pains, there's a moment when you start to feel release. That moment when you start to get back to being you and you feels amazing. Panadol extra film coated tablets, powerful pain relief. Release starts here. Contains paracetamol always with the label leaflet. And now it's time for the talk of the Northwest, the 9 to noon show with Greg Hughes on Highland Radio. Hello and a very good morning to you. How are you all keeping? It is four minutes past nine on this Thursday, the 14th of March 2024. And we're all set for another busy three hours of the 9 to noon show. I hope you are too. Loads coming up in the show including your voice, your community, that's a new feature for Thursday. That's coming up in so much more besides, we'll keep you across all the big issues, the big stories affecting this region and further afield as well. As always, we want you involved in that conversation and you can WhatsApp or text us on 086 60 25000. If you want to send a voice note to that number two, feel free to do so. That's to WhatsApp, of course. If you're dialing from outside the Republic, it's 0035386 60 25000. Your telephone calls come in to us at<PHONE_NUMBER>0 Caroline taking your calls and email from wherever you are at highlandradio.com comments at highlandradio.com. And if you want to watch today's show, we're live on X formerly Twitter at Highland Radio. We're on YouTube. You can watch us on your smart TV or your forestic on YouTube. Just type in Highland Radio Ireland after you've opened the app and take us wherever you are on Facebook, Highland Hub, Highland News and Sport and new people joining us all the time, by the way, which is wonderful. It's a busy morning for us. It's a busy morning for papers. We'll start with the Chicano Tribune today. A spokesperson for Roadstone Lahee has said that almost all parts of North Donegal are out of bounds for their delivery of ready-mixed concrete products. This effectively challenges the council's own decision to construct social housing in North Donegal given the clarification that Roadstone Lahee cannot service this area with ready-mix. The Roadstone clarification is due to a time constraint from leaving the quarry until being poured or poured on site to ensure strength, air content and serviceability. At a stretch, we could reach as far as Letterkenny depending on temperature levels. Otherwise, all parts of the north of the county are beyond our reach due to travel and distance time limits, said a spokesperson at Roadstone Lahee. Their products include concrete for foundations, easy-flow screed for under-floor heating, pathways, roads, yards and specified demands, including major marine works in killy bags. On to the Donegal News, their lead today. Fire crews responding to a major blaze in Castle Finn at the weekend had to travel two miles to access a working fire hydrant, it has been claimed. It's understood firefighters attended the fire at Tinney's Bar on Sunday, struggling to get access to water from the nearest hydrant due to low pressure. As a result, fire crews were left with no other choice but to travel almost two miles to Liscule to access water in a bid to extinguish the flames. Unfortunately, we're seeing that all too often, aren't we? We've had that situation in at least two house fires and now a fire at a commercial premises and still, I was suggesting at that time we need to do a proper audit. Where is the water? Is it accessible? What's the pressure like? It would be a logical thing to do, I'd imagine, especially for fire crews when they have to cross the border and may not have a greater local knowledge as our own fire crews do if you get where I'm coming from. The dairy news this morning residents in the Belmont area of the city have been left fearful following a targeted arson attack which destroyed a van and three cars. The terrifying incident occurred in Greenon Drive, a quiet residential area, at around 11.30pm on Monday. Onto the Irish Times now and early today, extra 500 beds identified for migrants. There's thousands of Ukrainians leave hotels and I've been saying this on the show for a wee while now is that whether it's policy or personal decisions, far less, I said anecdotally, far less Ukrainians seemingly in quite a few hotels. That seems to be being backed up by figures official today. An audit of emergency accommodation for migrants has found about 500 extra beds despite thousands of Ukrainians leaving their accommodation while hundreds of asylum seekers remain unaccommodated. Figures compiled by the Department of Integration show there are 4,300 fewer Ukrainians in hotels and other service accommodation compared with the start of the year while 1,260 people seeking international protection remain unaccommodated. A spokesperson for Minister for Integration, Roderick O'Gorman, said the department had sourced several hundred beds with providers who are contracted to house Ukrainians which can be converted to accommodation for asylum seekers. I would say a lot of the Ukrainians are moving into the private residential market. That's what I would guess in any case but there seems to be no big move if there are effectively 4,000 plus extra beds, no big move to replace the Ukrainians with international protection applicants. Roderick O'Gorman, said we've undertaken an audit of capacity and started engaging with providers and have identified an initial several 100 beds which can be converted. That's a spelling error in the front page. Remarkable. Okay. On to the Irish Independent now and Fina Falls candidate for Limerick Mayor is a former Fina Gale member who previously described Tanish to Miehel Martin as not a leader and posted a slew of comments criticising her new party on social media. Dee Ryan, the former Chief Executive of Limerick Chamber was confirmed on Monday as Fina Falls candidate for the country's first directly elected mayor contest in Limerick where she was pictured alongside Mr. Martin. Ms. Ryan, who resigned from the Chamber of Commerce to contest the mayoral election in June, was a strong supporter of Fina Gale in the run-up to and after the 2016 general election. According to her social media activity it's understood she is a former member of Fina Gale and was also previously a member of Labour so it's one of those weeks, isn't it, where lots of politicians are changing their minds. She didn't think Miehel Martin was a leader. It wasn't too fond of Fina Falls either but now she is running for Fina Falls in the Limerick Mayoral election. Do you remember at the time when there was a vote of no confidence that was affecting the government and then there were negotiations and the independence came on board with them and at that time I remember quite clearly saying we should know because it's taxpayers money being used I don't know if you remember this but that we should know what the deal is like what do the independence receive for support in the government because they said effectively right let's talk we might back you, get you over the line but what's in it for us I don't think at the time that information should be made freely available because it's bartering with our money effectively taxpayers money. Well as it turns out the Irish Daily Mail has been doing some digging on this as they have the resources I don't have and they've described it as a grubby deal by the government to secure votes from independent TDs to support lifting the eviction ban cost 12 million euro that's how much it cost to defeat or for the government to survive internal documents obtained by the Mail reveal the risks associated with meeting the demand of the regional independence group on the four fair deal scheme to which government bowed in a scramble to secure the support in the crunch vote last March Health Minister Stephen Donnelly was warned that the vote deal with the independence could undermine the financial stability of the nursing home cost scheme however he forced through the changes demanded by regional TDs in a deal agreed with housing Minister Dara O'Brien he was in on it too Mr Donnelly sanctioned the change despite his department's Secretary General Robert Watt urging the minister to bring the proposal back to government for final decision Mr Donnelly insisted they proceeded as requested weeks ago so the cost of independent support in that instance 12 million euro and that there are other instances too where negotiations went on that should be fully divulged to the public before any votes even or any decisions are made in my opinion but maybe I'm an outlier the Irish Farmers Journal entitlement sales are expected to soar this year as trading intensifies ahead of the 15th of May BISS application deadline this comes as the Department of Agriculture confirms it plans to end the two year amnesty on the 20% clawback that applies on the sale of entitlements without land on to the star and it's just a tiny wee paragraph and when you hear the significance of the words the fact it's a tiny wee paragraph this would have been the front page of every newspaper I think 20 years ago I don't know if it's that people aren't interested on the front page or like many people don't think Vladimir Putin would follow through in any of his threats but anyway President Vladimir Putin has said Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if there is a threat to Russians statehood sovereignty or independence Putin also said he hoped the US would refrain from actions that could trigger a nuclear conflict his statement is another blunt warning to the west ahead of a presidential vote this week in which he is all bought certain to win another six year term in an interview with the Russian state television released early yesterday Putin described US President Joe Biden as a veteran politician who fully understands the possible dangers of escalation and said he does not think the world is heading to a nuclear war which is quite comforting a little bit down in that article hundreds of mourners will gather in Dublin city today to celebrate the life of the late Charlie Byrd the beloved journalist died age 74 on Monday following a battle with motor neurone diseases family announced a service to celebrate Charlie's life will be held on Thursday at 12 noon in the round room mansion house Dublin to there is some limited public access to that and finally in the mirror Irish Eurovision hopeful Bambi Thog has said they don't practice Satanism which is good only witchcraft which is probably bad but they do respect Satanists adding the ones they know live in light and are so kind last month RTE refused to say whether the word Satan was hidden in Irish Eurovision entry doomsday blue after the singer suggested they were occult messages concealed in the tracks so while she is or there is a Satanist not a Satanist sorry not a Satanist they do practice witchcraft alright now just to give you a reminder head's up I would love to see us really making a start on our auction today there is a special day of programming tomorrow it's Highland Radio's big birthday bash supporting three brilliant local charities namely the Irish Wheelchair Association Jigsaw and Brest centre north west we're hoping to all together raise money for these great organisations and there's a nice little mix of programming tomorrow it's completely different to what you might expect the 6.30 to 9am slot I'll do up to launch time and then do after launch time later the 6am to 9am slot Jimmy Stafford and Paul McDevitt are in studio for Naughty Friday morning sessions not two Naughty Boys they've got a number of guests of course taking part in that show John Bresen's on between 9 and 10 funny you should say that it's a panel of comedians Connell Gallen, Port Gallagher and Paddy Brown it's a Friday panel with a difference don't you agree then between 10 and 11 me and Lee Gooch are going to be hosting an auction I'm going to tell you more about that in a little later on at the same time running from 10am to 12 noon we have a coffee morning here at Highland Radio so please call up between 11 and 12 noon that's entertainment with a difference with Finula Rabbit, her guests Maria Rosch, Michael Eddy and Noel Cunningham and then from 12 to 1pm it's Donald Kavanaugh, Canis Wilson and Aidan Murphy a nostalgia hour really challenge you as regular listeners how well do you know Highland Radio I'll talk about the afternoon a little later on but me and Lee tomorrow now between 10 and 11 and we have auctions and we have some fantastic prizes and I would really love I'm going to read some of them for you right now and I'd really love just some early bids on these lots just to get things going you can give us a call here 07491 25000 if you're interested in bidding on any of the following lots as I say you could get early you could go in early but all of the money that you would bid on these lots just to be very very clear all of the money goes directly to the Irish wheelchair association Jigsaw and Breast Centre North West and I think there's no one listening to me right now that isn't in some way either engaging with those services or know someone that is because they're so important now one of the lots is dinner for eight with Chef Gary O'Hanlon he's a world renowned chef whose career is only going on the up up up the lot includes dinner for eight in your home with food and drinks supplied so award-winning internationally renowned chef Gary O'Hanlon will go into your home and cook dinner for eight people so we have a bid at the moment for 1500 euro on that if you would to book Gary O'Hanlon for a couple hours you're talking double that right so it's a very valuable price so if you can beat 1500 on that give us a call on 07491 25,000 we've got an overnight stay in Harveys with dinner included for two people if you fancy bidding on the Harveys lot give us a call again 07491 25,000 overnight in Harveys with dinner included for two we've got 20 ton of decorative stone and delivery from GM stone so if you want a bid on GM stone 07491 25,000 Sunday launch for four in Harveys if you want a bid on that launch give us a call and 07491 25,000 we've got a three night stay in the Wild Atlantic camp which would be wonderful three nights whenever you like subject to availability if you want a bid on that and start low if you wish you never know please give us a call and 07491 25,000 and if you've ever tried to book McNean house and restaurant this is Nevin McGuire's restaurant you will know how difficult that can be in some cases not wishing to discourage anyone from trying there might be later availability but you can be waiting weeks if not months we've got dinner for two at Nevin McGuire's restaurant McNean house and restaurant so if you would like to bid on that please give us a call on 07491 25,000 there will be much more of that tomorrow but I just wanted to put that out there in case anything caught your ear and you have a few euro you'd get to do something nice or receive something nice and support at the same time the Irish Wheelchair Association Jigsaw and Breast Centre North West Digital Loans now available apply online or via our app today and get your loan transferred directly to your current account Harkins have been providing customers with quality fireplaces, stoves and electric fires for over 30 years and now you can experience the elegance of luxurious worktop from Harkins their experience craftsmen can fabricate marble, quartz or granite worktop's cure specification so if you're planning a new kitchen or bathroom or upgrading your existing work you can provide a quote for your quartz, marble or granite worktop visit their showroom in Ballymogan-Lifford or call 9141109 or visit them online at harkinfireplaces.ie Refresh your shoe wardrobe with the latest arrivals from Green Shoes bringing you the latest styles from top brands such as Riker Birkenstock and Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Harkins Skoda Fabia Scala and Kamek Models are available in the Monte Carlo range. Black exterior details, excusez-moi, sports seats and bumpers, and carbon deco. So chic. Order your new 2024 Skoda with more je ne sais quoi at skoda.ie. Skoda, let's explore. Your local Skoda dealer is DMG Motors Clareau Dunigaltown, telephone 074 97 21396 or visit DMGMotors.ie. OK, you're very welcome back to the 9 till noon show here on Highland Radio. We're joined on the programme now by Leah. Leah, sorry for everything you and your family are going through. Jordan now has been missing for almost two weeks. How are you coping? Are you OK? As best as can be expected. Hi, best is to be expected, Greg. We're just trying to show Toronto's best as possible and hope that we find them soon. Yeah, for sure. Can you tell us what we know as to what happened to Jordan and when? What? Well, Jordan went missing on Saturday the 2nd of March. Approximately 9.15pm, he was seen entering the water near his grandmother's house in the Balai Koman area. And since then, a search has been ongoing to bring Jordan home. Yeah, the search has been ongoing since that Sunday then. And we're just really looking to put in a family appeal to try and get as many people on board as possible. All right, stay with me, Leah, because Cullen McDade is part of the search team and maybe he'll pick it up here just to let the public know how they can help because it has to be done in an obviously a very organised and routine way. Cullen, good morning to you. Thanks for joining us. Good morning, Greg. Good morning, Leah. Yes, Greg. I see that ongoing search now since the 2nd of March, there's multiple agencies involved in it, but they have a specific job to do, but it's eyes on the water at this stage that we need people that's out walking, people that usually be on the river banks. Anything they see unusual, just to contact the police or the Guardian, depend on what side they're on, and some of the emergency services then will react and go and check stuff out. People coming to the search is going to appeal to people, come on out to the bank all the weekend, people will have an extra time, and you know, if you're going for a walk, go and groups don't come alone, wear proper clothing, we've got people at the start, we just want to help, it's a natural thing, but they're landing with a pair of runners on them to the river bank. You need Walton boots, you need good walking boots, good walking shoes, bring wet gear what the hive is if possible, a communication device and stay together in groups, but we would appeal to people to go on to the page, bring Jordan home page, there's times on there where people are meeting, there's safety brief and scaling, you're going to get people doing their own thing anyway, Greg and we, you know, you can't stop that, but we would rather do it in a coordinated approach, it's more beneficial to the agencies involved, it's more beneficial to the family, the family are coordinating all this, which gives them something to do, it's a chance of belonging, you know, we're all out there for the one thing and that's to bring Jordan home, and we want to give Jordan home as quickly as we can. Colin, what would be the search area? I mean obviously you've been involved in this type of, these type of searches before, but you know, maybe the sort of general public might not be aware of, you know, what distance we're covering upstream, downstream, that type of stuff, can you just go through that so if people do want to get involved, that they're looking in the right place as much as we can determine? It can be a massive area, Greg, we've got Jordan into the River Moor, which flows on a Glippard Bridge, it's joined by Le Fan and to the Foyle, now very, very fast flowing water, very, very dangerous water. We were blessed, more or less last week and all, we had very dry weather, but there's massive spring tides, so the river bank is very dangerous. So people, if you have a flotation device, they don't harm putting it on you either, but the area, we're covering, I say that the volume of water comes down the mooring and down the Fondon to the Foyle, you're working on a massive radius and we can't really put a point if we're working with a 2 mile or 3 mile, it's a massive river with a massive flow, as you said, these massive spring tides at the moment are pushing up on this tidal, right up the mooring, right up the fan, there's a possibility to go either way or down the Foyle. People who do not know the river, we would want to keep them away from certain places, like the island and Port Hall and let people who are used to that area do that. From Lippard Bridge, both sides, the back, you can enter down by the cinema on Lippard or you can enter just at Lippard Bridge, that river bank can be walked down a good, but that will be well within the catchment area we would expect and have still to be on. So we'll be concentrating on that as well as the mooring of parts of the fund. Accessibility, sorry Greg, to the river. We don't want people endangering themselves because that causes a separate problem and people have to be very, very careful along the river bank. We need the help, we need the eyes, but people, a big thing that I've mentioned a few people, Greg, and I suppose the society at the moment, a lot of people walk on the river bank, more interested in the screen than the phone, put the phone in your pocket and watch where you're going, watch the trip hazards. You know, there's animals there too so you've got to be very, very careful. You know, the landowners have been very generous to us, giving us access to the land, you know, so if you open the gate, close the gate, you know, stop the gate. That's more or less common sense and if people want to, a bit of exercise, fresh air, come on ahead and give us a hand.  Is the appeal for their assistance still out there? The kayakers, yes, we have a good team of kayakers going, there's rescue teams of well-hub experienced kayakers, but the word experienced, Greg, needs to be pushed here. I don't want somebody that's just bought a kayak for paddling around the beach and we don't want them on the river because the river is far too dangerous. If you're an experienced kayaker, well, I'm good, but if you're just a leisure character who's not used to working on currents or working on big tides, we will appeal to them, people not to come near the river. As for the drones, we have enough drones out, there's emergency teams, what drones? We have members of the public, we know them to the family and that's how put it in a better word, they're level-headed, Greg, we just don't want somebody, I have a drone, I'm going to look because we don't want footage going on social media or being portrayed the wrong way in a negative way. So the drones, no, stay away from the drones, like we have enough drones there, they're a fantastic tool, but they have to be used in the right hands. And I say to the kayaker, if you're not an experienced kayaker, you know, I would rather than be on the water. Okay, Leah, it's clear since Jordan went missing, how highly he's thought of, his former teammates, obviously his family and friends in the wider community, a very well thought of young man. He was certainly, he was a very loved young fellow, wasn't he? And at this point, Leah, I think anyone listening will understand why you just want to be able to bring him home now, not to be anywhere on his own. I have just thought of Jordan being out there alone in the dark water, just breaks our hearts every day, having to leave the rubber bank at night, just heart breaking. Okay, Leah. But each morning we get that wee bit more hope on my way, that day might be the day. Okay, Leah, I hope you know that everyone's thinking on you and sending you as much strength and love as they can to get through this incredibly difficult time for you and all the family and friends as well as to everyone's deeply affected by this. I know that. Leah, thanks for joining us. And I just hope there is positive news in the search for Jordan very, very soon. Thanks very much. Thanks for having me on. No, no. Thank you, Leah. And Colin, thank you for helping us to sort of lay out the search and the pattern of that search and what's useful and what is not. We do appreciate your time and fair play to you and everybody else involved in that search with a review to recovering, to recovering Jordan and getting him back into the loving embrace of his family. No problem. Greg, just one last thing. Greg, appealing for people at night time to stay off the rubber banks. It's hazardous at night time and leave it to ourselves. We have teams that can go out in the dark, out in the dark. You know, we don't want people down along the rubber bank, what flashlamps, but to say it's a multi-agency, both sides of the border. They're coming from all over the country. We're getting good support, but that's the public step on here. Anyway, they think you just get in contact with the girl, Leah, on the page. We appreciate everybody's help. I appreciate the time at Highland Radio. We have missed this morning. Thank you very much. Thanks very much, Colm.  He's a professional in this area, but those with the best will in the world in assisting, we don't want another tragedy on top of tragedy already. So, hate the advice and hopefully there's a positive outcome to that very, very soon. Watch the show live now on YouTube, Facebook and at Highland Radio.com. The 9 till noon show with Letter Kenny Credit Union, now offering mortgages from 40,000 to 600,000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges. Letter Kenny Credit Union, 9102127. Top Donegal Land fetches big prices for more in your farmer's journal. His Paul Mooney. Donegal Land prices remain stable overall, but with huge variance. In this McSarish Farmers Journal, we publish our 17th annual agricultural land price report. We reveal a growing gap in land prices across the country, the latest unbissed entitlements and eco schemes and just how much is the weather costing farmers. Don't miss your free land price report worth 15 euro. Inside this week's Irish Farmers Journal, you cannot afford to miss it. It's colorless, it's all the lessons that it takes. So cabin monoxide, it deserves your respect.  And if you don't believe me, ask me, dear Uncle Pash, taking you. Cold tarfoil gas even would, I need you, I can hand. So get yourself a cabin monoxide alarm. Or you might just wake up dead. Getting married, Evolve Clothing, Atleti Kenny Retail Park is your destination. Book today for expert advice, a private wedding room and great value. Make your wedding day unforgettable with Evolve Clothing. Donegal County Council invites you to an information evening on initiatives shaping the future of sustainable living, including the Community Climate Action Fund, vacant and derelict properties refurbishment grant scheme and insights into SEAI grants. The event will take place in the Atleti Kenny Public Services Centre on 30, 14th of March from 5.30pm until 8pm. Attendees are advised to bring along a recent electricity bowl. Join us and share experiences and insights from industry leaders, booking not essential. The Highland Radio Birthday Bash featuring Margot and Special Guests. Tickets are 30 Euro each and are now available at Highland Radio, the Mount Terrigal Hotel Atleti Kenny, Alexander's Bali Buffet, Simpsons Bar Cairndonna and the Coupe Dunlowe. For further information, call the station on 9125000 or check out TheOutlet at HighlandRadio.com. OK, thanks very much by the way. A number of bids coming in for the auction, which is officially tomorrow, but it's great to get a start on it. And thanks to your generosity. I'll run through the lots a little later on. Also later on today, we're going to be going around and plugging and promoting the various St Patrick's Day celebrations. We had a huge response to it, perhaps slightly larger than we were anticipating, so we're having to dedicate quite a bit of time to that. But why not to support the efforts of the great people out there in the community organising activities for us for the weekend? Right, OK, back to more serious matters now. And I'm joined by Kevin on the programme. Kevin, thanks for joining us. How are you doing today? I'm doing all right. I'll just let you say what you want to say, Kevin, rather than me sort of trying to preempt it. It's born of frustration, I would say, and born of love of your son. There's no doubt about that. Well, I've actually two sons. I made two sons. I was listening to the radio yesterday and they were on a bit of a fly in the flag. The European flag, I'd say, the Skrulls. And there was a few workers on. I thought it was a good time to bring this up. I have two kids who make neurological conditions, ADHD, ASD, and one of them has Tourette's syndrome. But we've been, like, we've had a long road, trying to get them diagnosed and they've gone to Skrulls and they've had a lot of trouble. You know, we've had Skrull refusals and we've had attendance officers ringing us and we're just constantly battling the Skrull all the time. The lack of understanding from not all the teachers I'm not here to run down the Skrulls or the teachers, but there is out there still teachers resisting to change against these conditions. You know, they put it down to bad behaviour. They don't put it down to their sensory issues, their process and, you know, overwhelming of noise.  I mean, my wife's been on this road for four years now and it's still the same. There's no change.  That's not an issue. That's not what you're talking about. But then, when it comes to your sons, ASD, ADHD and Tourette's, that same, you're not feeling that same level of acceptance and desire to include them? Yeah, well, we had to go through, you know, various assessments. That cost me a lot of money. It cost me thousands of pounds to get Richard's diagnosed and, you know, it was a long road to a witness and deferency and, you know, the services are both for the team and, you know, for my sons to accept it and the school environment, I needed all these reports and assessments and constantly get out and out of the school. But if they had it went on to the school, it was non-binary or any of that or whatever they wanted to be, I'm not against that. I'm not all for that, you know. But we needed to spend so much money and go through so much hardship to get our kids accepted and they're still not being accepted yet. These issues are still, you know, these, it's just certain teachers are reluctant to the change, putting it down to, you know, like Adam Manners and not last time, but when you get in with the sense of the profile and an audio processing disorder, Tourette's syndrome, you have to see them in your picture. You know, it's them navigating through a screwed day for them. That's a big challenge for them. Every day they get up the only issue of command for going under school, you know, for being so brave for, like, they don't get the help that they need. So even though this is a diagnosed conditions that your children have, it's not self-declared, for example, it is diagnosed. And even though you can prove that with paper, you're saying that they're not being accepted for who they are, i.e., accommodated for maybe additional needs that they might have. That's what you're feeling? Oh, exactly. Like, well, one principal actually said to me, like, he asked me, how could he polish me some for having Tourette's out first? What way could he polish him? Or, you know, what sanctions could he use and he should have some control over it? Like, this is a condition that you have that is involuntary, you know, right-bursts of maybe swearing or movement or it could be anything. They shall think that, please, this point system that they have on schools and, you know, they'll be asked where and they write these things down and they accumulate so many points then, they get punished, they don't get to trips. My son's been at school for four years now and he hasn't gone on a school trip once. But do you think, does part of you think that maybe a point system is being used to avoid the hassle of him going on a trip? And I'm not using the word hassle. I'm not using the word hassle. Like, I don't see it that way. But I'm just wondering as a dad, do you think that, oh, right, well, this is handy because now he doesn't have to be accommodated on a trip? Of course it is. Of course there's too much hassle for them.  There are points we shouldn't, but when you peel the layers away there, you can see it. Like, if you've seen them walking down the street, you wouldn't have done anything wrong until you actually meet them and sit down with them. Well, they're very good at masking as well. But like, I went on to numerous meetings to do the principal, the vice principal I even had, like mediator from Pista there, which is kind of like a watch hump then. And once I started to ask questions and trying to resolve the problems, I felt like that was a watch hump. The teachers up their game, they were under heavy surveillance, so they watched for minor things, so that even the thing that normal kids would do, you know, wouldn't be out of the way. Like, they weren't partying on anybody. They weren't, you know, dangerous. So just to be clear, your son has Tourette's and Tourette's presents itself in many different ways, tics or verbal outbursts or whatever. So are you saying even now still, or has that been resolved? So if he has an outburst, which people might find offensive, is he being treated as if he's bold or naughty or what? Like, it's not accepted that this is really still to this day. That's just happening now, just in the screen now. Yeah, no, I get that. A lot of people, like, the public have a big understanding of it. Like, people's very aware of it, but it seems to be, but it was under the school and under the bathroom and behind closed doors. It seems to be a problem then. Like, we have a principal comment. He's supposed to be an educator. Like, when they are looking for students to join their school, they're advocating that they're a great school for inclusion and, you know, everybody's welcome. But then when it calms down to it, when you get in there and it's changed on the screen then, it all changes. The whole thing is like the one that, all the reports you have, all the psychology information, just don't seem to want to listen to it.  Yeah, okay. Which is very difficult for the boys, but very difficult for the wider family as well. Okay. My oldest son, my oldest son ended up in Peterhouse twice. Right. You know, it was very hard for me and his mother to see our children through this, you know? I can imagine. But you just found a handful of teachers. There were some great teachers out there, very understanding. What's the solution though, Kevin? You know, I mean, it's, in this part of the world, it's impractical to often sometimes move children between schools and what have you. But like, how do you hope to resolve this if you see a pathway to resolving it? I just think when parents go to school with an issue with the teacher, like, we're not going there to cause to the trouble. We're going there to try it. Like, we felt it was a witch hunt against us after we had a few meetings with them and we made a few suggestions. It was kind of like, you're not going to tell us what to do. We're going to do it our way. Yeah. And then, if you don't get anywhere in the meetings or you don't get anywhere with psychology reports, then you have to go to a board of management where the board of management as the chairman of the board of management is the principal. And then maybe you have a few other teachers on that from maybe another school. And you know, and really the outcomes of the board of management and never ever say to the parents, it's, you know, you're getting nowhere. So I think there should be an independent body set up for parents to go to make these issues, to, you know, to clear these issues without, you know, which could have been involved. I've heard these similar calls for parents whose children have been bullied as well too.  And it'll be interesting to see if this resonates with many people listening out there today. I hope things improve. As a parent, we feel it's so personally and it's so hopeful as well as what the boys are going through. I understand that. But I just appreciate you talking to us and I hope it's helped that maybe you've got it off your chest publicly. And we'll see what others say. Okay, Kevin. I just think I definitely do think the board of management is a waste of time. Okay. Parents, anybody going to the board of management to make a complaint, they're just absolutely wasting their time. We were told by the school when we're asked for how do we make a complaint, the chairperson of the board of management called us. They didn't know that we kept pressing them and eventually they sent us out. We couldn't get the people or we couldn't get the stuff on the website how to make a complaint. So we contacted the chairperson and they told us they weren't sure, but then they contacted us back a day later to say that they would send us out a letter about a school, how they moved forward with the actual complaint. Yeah. Okay. Kevin, thank you for your time this morning. If you can relate to Kevin or any advice even not that he's seeking it, but anything that you might think might be helpful, please get in touch with us. 08 660 25000. That's the WhatsApp and text or call an old 749 125000. The 9 till noon show is brought to you by Lettercanny Credit Union with monster loans available up to 60,000 euro for all occasions. Visit lettercannycu.ie Join us this Thursday on Around the Northwest with John Resnan from 12 to 230. We'll be coming live from Foy and Company and Lettercanny launching something very exciting. Stay tuned. Top Donegal Land Fetches Big Prices for more in your farmer's journal is Paul Mooney. Donegal Land Prices remain stable overall but with huge variance. In this week's Irish Farmers Journal we publish our 17th annual Agricultural Land Price Report. We reveal a growing gap in land prices across the country, the latest on this entitlements and eco schemes and just how much is the weather costing farmers. Don't miss your free land price report worth 15 euro. Inside this week's Irish Farmers Journal you cannot afford to miss it. Imagine.ie for full T and Cs. Charlie McLeafordy Funeral Directors serving Lettercanny and the surrounding areas for over 100 years. Charlie McLeafordy Funeral Directors then our family take care of your family and guide you through a difficult time. Today will be another mostly dollar overcast day with further spells of rain, heavy at times across the region with the chance of flooding. A modern humid day with just like variable winds, highs of generally 8 to 12 degrees, though coolest the further west you are. Right, James is with us now. James is from Rosnala Surf School. How are you getting on James? Greg, all good. How are you doing? I'm doing good. Good to talk to you as well. And the old issue of, the old issue of toilets at Rosnala Beach. We were talking about this, I think last year or the year before the ones that are there can sometimes be unusable. It is the county's busiest beach. Do you think it sort of gets the resources it deserves? Look, we got a bit of money off the council to do a bit of work there about four years ago or so, you know, but now it's kind of time to fit the music about the toilets in Rosnala. At the about time we got our next stage of help. As you know, it is the busiest beach in the county, and we were only serviced by a few portals there at the minute. So, you know, the portals have been overflowing in the middle of January, so you can only imagine what it would look like in the summer, Greg. But yeah, hopefully we do get some form of funding for a toilet block at the about time, you know? James, was there a permanent toilet block there? Was there not a permanent toilet block there going back 20 or 30 years ago, I seem to remember, or maybe I'm thinking of somewhere else, but I thought there was. Yeah, I think there was, you know, along to probably before my time, to be honest, I'm 30 now, but I think there was definitely something there, a public toilet, but look, like it's kind of obvious, portals aren't going to do the job, you know? And yeah, hopefully this is the push we need now, just to keep fresh air on the console and everything. And thankfully Michael McMahon and Neve Cannon, it's Kennedy, have been bringing it into the pushing it for us. So, thank you so much to them. And yeah, hopefully this is the start. Nice for the way you push we need. Have you been and responded recently, Greg? Well, relatively recently. Nice, yeah, yeah. So, you're aware of the toilets they choose? Well, listen, come here, it's been highlighted on this programme on numerous occasions, James. At one point we were sent pictures of the state of the portals, and I wish we weren't. Very quickly, very quickly they become unusable. They become completely unusable very, very quickly. The thing about it is, though, it's not just the provision of public toilets. I think sometimes really what the big issue is, because they're easily enough provided, it's their upkeep and maintenance. And sometimes I think we avoid providing services because we don't have a plan to service them. We take bins away because you have to empty them. Exactly, that is a good point actually, and that's the point a lot of people bring up, you know, who's going to service them. But at the moment actually, we know that we can get people through a certain, I don't know what it is, but we can get two people, you know, locally that are there at the moment, and will be there going into the future to service them. So it isn't really much of an issue. The council has said there's ways around that, and we have access to getting those people to help. So yeah, there's no excuses really for us at all down there. I mean, there's a lot of money has been, and rightly so, there's a lot of money has been put into Sleeve League, new toilet blocks and what have you. I would be interested to compare the number of visitors to Sleeve League versus Rosnalla. All right, James, listen, we're losing the link there. I'm going to let you go. Unfortunately, the phone lines this morning have been absolutely brutal. That was James, though, from Rosnalla Surf School. He's created this petition. Lots of people from the north of the county, Derry and Tyrone as well, go down to visit Rosnalla and the Bondorn area throughout the summer. You'd know what the toilet block is like down there, the toilets that are down there.  If you're interested in signing this petition, there is a big push on at the moment, it's being raised at local council level. You can go to the Rosnalla Surf School Facebook page, or we'll provide a link on our socials. If you wish to sign that uplift petition. Thanks to James there. Apologies for the phone going unfortunately. All the best to St Catherine's band from Kili Beggs, who are leading the Donegal Society on St Patrick's Day in the New York parade. Have fun, lovely stuff, OK? And good morning, Greg. Can you please wish our little Miss Mary, Katie Gallowhert? A very happy birthday and I hope that she thoroughly enjoys her time in New York this St Patrick's weekend. Lots of love from Carol, your fairy godmother. A car key was lost on Monday morning, this week in Letter Kenny, between the Market Square and Sister Sarah's. If you found a car key, obviously it's no use to you. If you found a car key on Letter Kenny, or in Letter Kenny, between Market Square and Sister Sarah's, the owner has been in touch with us, they'd be very keen to get it back. Could you please give a mention to our annual Coffee Morning, Bricka Brack and Raffle. It's in Glenvar Old School on St Patrick's Day from 11 a.m. and is from 11 a.m. onwards and is in aid of small animal welfare. Please support this worthy cause. Prizes galore were told, thank you. So that's in Glenvar Old School, St Patrick's Morning at 11 a.m. and which is a nice time, I think, to have these types of things. And just before 10, could you wish Kathleen McGee from Mean Lara, Gorda Hawke, a happy birthday from Lionel, Rachel and Emma and our own. That's another K. McGee, Katie McGee from Highland Radio was celebrating her birthday today, though she's not in for us to make fun of in a very nice way, to make fuss of. Let me say let's make it fuss off. Katie's not here today, but it is her birthday. So a big happy birthday to you, Katie. I really do appreciate it. Right, only time for a very brief conversation. If that's okay, Michelle. Michelle, have a minute or two. I can speak to you after 10. Are you happy to squeeze in your point now? No, a minute or two is fine, Greg. All right, you were listening to Kevin. What's your view? Yeah, I know I'd miss the start of it, but I have to totally agree with Kevin. And I sympathise with him. But unfortunately, like him, we don't have a diagnosis for our child at the minute, but we're going through a very difficult time with him. Now it's not alone in school, but at home as well. But I just feel at the minute that, like he said, that they see the child maybe as being bold rather than suffering like he is. Yes, so in other words, rather than being understood, he's actually the situation is made worse because he's being seen as bold when really what he needs is further assistance. Yeah, now don't get me wrong. The school have moved heaven and earth for him, but it's the waiting list that we all face at the minute. It's months upon months waiting for these children to be seen and to get help. That's not fair on them because they're the ones that are left suffering. And not alone that, the child obviously has other siblings and us as a family are suffering and dealing with it as well. You also resonated with you when he mentioned his issues with boards of management. Yeah, now I haven't had made big dealings with the board of management as of yet, but I do feel that there is no big backing for the parent in regards to what he says. You don't know where to turn, for support. There's nobody out there to help us and guide us as to what's the next step or where do we go for our child, for help. Because the child is fully entitled to an education and as he said, these schools are crying in for students and that they're open and they're inclusive and all that there. But then when they're faced with difficult situations, sometimes things completely change for us as parents and the children. Who are you dealing with? Wait, not the individual, but the organisation waiting to get a diagnosis. Michelle? Well, I have tried all avenues. Net and private psychologists, I can't get any. I've even taken my child to the hospital and have had no avail. And what age is he? Eight and a half. Okay, all right. So it's a critical part of his learning life as well. All right, Michelle. It's an awful situation and listening to Kevin, even if you do get a diagnosis, it's not a silver bullet in the school environment seemingly. Yeah, and I know, like, it's not a magic wand by getting a diagnosis. I know that. But then at least we might know what we're dealing with. But I'm very glad that this topic was brought up today because it kind of helps us that we're not the only one going through this and struggling. Well, that's what we're here for. And I don't mind giving over a whole show to talk about this, Michelle, if it helps people like you. So anyone else who wishes to get in contact with us to talk about this, please do, if it is at all helpful. Michelle, thanks very much for your time and I definitely will come back to you if anyone else is interested in talking about it. All right, back after the news and a bit sherry notes is the news a little late. But I just wanted to hear, Michelle. The Ninetyl News Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union, offering low-rate car loans with fast approval. Apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today. Get the Irish Daily Star today for your free 16-page Cheltenham pull-out with the inside scoop from the track with Brian Flanagan, exclusives from Davey Rosalind, Gary O'Brien, plus top tipsters to get you first past the post. The Irish Daily Star, number one for racing, number one for you. So it's shot in the Gaelic, says Elmester Brennan. Do you have my joys yourselves, Suzu? Oh, I've got a cup of vocal to see. Well, Suzu, can't fog a Dachne to quitter on the munch on a heron. Oh, Suzu, when I said a cup of vocal, I wasn't exaggerating. Well, Suzu, how about this? Brennan's a raw non-lay in you. Ha-ha, boo-la-busters-y! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Fat-dissolving treatments, dermal fillers, and laser treatments for all skin conditions. Hair and makeup packages also available. Genesis Aesthetics and Skin Care Clinic, E-Dorg. 07495-325-75. Get ready for an amazing bank holiday weekend sale at Easy Living Furniture. For this weekend only, absolutely everything's reduced across SOFA, dining, bedroom, mattress, and accessories. Get the three-seater dark grey Harper's SOFA for only 429, donut 240-centimeter dining table for only 249, and much more. Don't miss out on these lucky savings at Easy Living Furniture, present Link Retail Park. When it's time for confirmation or first communion, it's time for a trip to wantson mainswear, Leonard Kenny. Choose from a great selection of top label, casual and formal wear. Suits with matching shirts and ties, blazers and jackets, also denims, chinos and footwear from big names like Diesel, 1880 Club, and Tommy Bowe. Stand out on the big day at wantson mainswear. Open seven days a week on Main Street, Leonard Kenny, and wassonmenswear.com. Live on air, online, and on the Highland Radio app, this is Highland Radio News. Good morning, it's 10 o'clock. Donald Kavanaugh at the News Desk. The family of missing Straban man Jordan Gallagher are appealing for information as searches entered their 12th day. He was last seen on Saturday, March 2nd at around quarter past nine, entering water near his grandmother's house in the Bally Coleman area. Daily search operations have been ongoing with a focus on the riverbanks, and even walking on the riverbank on either the Straban or Lifford site is being asked to keep their eyes on the water. Colin McDade is part of the search team. He has this advice for those wishing to become involved in the search for Jordan. Alone, wear proper clothing. We've got people at the start. We just want the help, it's a natural thing, but they're landing with a pair of runners on them to the riverbank. You need good walking boots, good walking shoes. Bring wet gear with you. Hive as if possible. A communication device, and stay together in groups. But we would appeal to people to go onto the page, bring Jordan home page. There's times on there where people are meeting. There's safety brief and scaling. Don't go on to Council has been urged to install speed rams at Skull Column Kill in Kilmick Crennan. The issue was raised by Councillor John O'Donnell while a separate motion calling for more flashing lights at the same location was moved by Councillor Michael McBride and second by Councillor Porrick McGarvey. Councillor Liam Blaney, the Third Milford Electoral Area Councillor, seconded to Councillor Donald's motion, saying he too had been approached by parents and residents. Officials pointed out that a safety review was carried out at the school last month and new road markings were installed at the school crossing. Well, Councillor John O'Donnell acknowledges that but says the fact that all the local councillors were approached is very significant. When you see three councillors from that area getting representations on this hot topic, I think it's very important that we follow through on it. The executive here and our roads engineer has listened quite closely and I do believe that he will take our views on board and install temporary ramps at the moment to see how they perform and then replace full-time ramps in the future. A fourth case of measles has been confirmed in Ireland. It follows three other cases in recent weeks, including one on a flight from Abu Dhabi. The fourth case is equal to the total number of cases in 2023. A catch-up of vaccination programme is expected to get underway next week. The average price for farmland in Ireland is now €11,925 per acre down 3 per cent on last year. The annual land price report from the Irish Farmers Journal looks at who's buying where it shows prices falling in Cymoth and Ulster while they're on the rise in Leinster and Munster. Author of the report, Paul Mooney says there's great demand for large farms and a large number of large estates with period houses were purchased by international buyers. Very glamorous country estates with 100 acres or more and a period type house would come on the market. They tend to sell by private treaty. There's a small number of buyers who'd be interested in these properties but obviously the price would be quite high. Often the buyers would be coming from abroad, there'd be international business people and we saw that again in 2023. Drivers are warned of a road closure today and tomorrow in Brachy-Ardra from 12 noon till half past five today and tomorrow as well. Starting earlier, it's between the N56 and Mahara caves. It's due to, essentially, road works the diversion starting at the oyster farm and continuing for 600 metres. Don't you go come to council apologising for any inconvenience. Irish officials are being urged to fight back against the so-called heavy hand of the European Commission when it comes to cutting turf. A case is being sent forward to the European Courts of Justice after the commission claimed not enough is being done here to protect raised and blanket bogs. Ireland has signed up to Habitat Directives which require us to stop the destruction of special areas of conservation but independent of Galway East, Td. Sean Canny says a lot of people rely on turf to heat their homes because they have no viable alternative. In all of the discussions ever in relation to climate action we've all heard the phrase a just transition so it has to be a just transition for everybody including the people who are relying genuinely on the turf cutting the bogs every summer to heat their homes for the winter. And increasing numbers of asylum seekers are entering the Republic from Northern Ireland that's according to the Taoiseach to take steps with the EU to strengthen its borders. Speaking in Washington the government can't guarantee accommodation because of the rising numbers of people coming into the country seeking asylum. While the forecast now it'll be overcast with further spells of rain today heavy at times with a chance of some flooding mild and humid with just light variable winds, highs of generally 8-12 degrees Celsius, coolest further west tonight we'll bring scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle with low cloud and mist clearer spells developing across the west later low storm night temperatures 5-8 degrees Celsius in light to moderate south west winds later veering west and that's Ireland radio news we're back with headlines again at 11 check all of today's news of course on our website Irelandradio.com but for now from the news team good morning. Mickey is now reposing at his home. The death has occurred of John Doherty St Anne's Moirode in Cunningham formerly Sheriff's Mountain Glenone. John will repose at his late residence on Moirode today from 11 a.m. to half past eight followed by Rosary. Funeral from there tomorrow morning at 20 past 10 going to All Saints Church in Newton Cunningham for 11 o'clock requiem mass burials afterwards in the adjoining cemetery mass can be viewed on the parish webcam family time please on the morning of the funeral family flowers only please donations in lieu if desired to all saints church fund Newton Cunningham care of any family member or Kellys funeral directors. The death has taken place of Charlie O'Neill 20 Lisbonny Road Donna Manah reposing at his late home today from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. funeral tomorrow leaving his late home at quarter past 10 for 11 a.m. requiem mass in St Mary's church a ha break interment afterwards in the adjoining graveyard. Family home private please on the morning of the funeral. Family, flowers only please, donations in lieu if desired, to foil hospice care of McLaughlin's funeral directors done given. The death has taken place of Paddy Gill to St Mary's Parkcock Hill, her mains will repose at McLaughlin's funeral home Bunkrana today, from 4pm until removal at 7 o'clock to St Mary's Churchcock Hill to repose overnight. Rakeway amassed their tomorrow at 11 o'clock with burial afterwards in the adjoining graveyard. For family information and more details regarding wigs and funerals, please go to highlandradio.com Live score bet would like to welcome you to Cheltenham. Nestled against the cotswolds, it is the perfect place to unwind and refresh your mind, body and soul. A regency town that's intimate and friendly, a civilized place of culture and learning, of peace and quiet, except for four days of the year. No matter who you're backing this Cheltenham festival, celebrate with great offers from Live Score Bet. Tees and Seas and account terms apply, bet responsibly, 18plusgamblingcare.ie And now, ImRose 2023 best local original news programme, The Voice of the Northwest, the 9 till noon show, with Greg Hughes. OK, you're very welcome back to the programme. Coming up in this hour, your voice, your community, where we speak to different members of various communities across the region, two interesting guests introduced to you very shortly. But lots of you getting in contact with us off the back of our conversation with Kevin, and as I say, if this is something that needs more coverage, please get involved in the conversation and help us drive that. Call us as teachers who have an interest in the field of additional needs, children, educate themselves and do relevant courses to enable them to assist the student and would seek any info the SNA may have as they're not given any training while they train as a teacher as these courses are not designed for challenging teaching only mainstream children with little or no challenges. Are they in mainstream school? This is often the issue. Sometimes parents need to think about the school they are in. Maybe he'd be better off in a school, better equipped to suit his needs, but that's not always possible. Like I'm thinking if I were in that situation, you know, which school would we be talking about and how would you get someone to and from that school dependent way you are living in the county. This caller says, I'm not being mean, but parents have a difficulty in accepting their child's needs. Other supports with a different way of teaching. I sent my daughter to mainstream school. I wouldn't accept her condition. And she learned nothing. I changed to another school and it's been the best thing for her, which is good. I appreciate that that's worked for you. But as I say, there aren't options for all of us out there. My grandchild has autism and hates clothing and just couldn't deal with people, crowds and people in general. We went through such a battle with him. He ended up in CAMHS and typically ended up on medication. After a year on medication, which was making no difference to him, she took him off the medication and took him to a doctor in Derry who has made a huge difference in his behavior. I totally agree. National and secondary school teachers here do not have enough training in childhood behaviors or the behaviors of children on the autism spectrum. Let me see. Is there more on that just before I move to another story? My heart goes out to Kevin. I hope he gets the help he should be getting. I totally agree with Kevin. My son went to mainstream school and everyone around him was accepted and treated for their needs. But because his were not visible, he was treated like a bold child. We have to break break those barriers down, don't we?  Right. Okay. Keep them coming into us, by the way, if you have any concerns in that regard or any comments in that regard. Good morning, Greg. In relation to public toilets, the toilets here in Don Fannahy have been closed for many weeks. The notice on the door says closed for maintenance, but nothing is being done over weeks and Easter weekend. The holiday season is on the way. Don Fannahy, very popular with visitors, of course it is. Yeah. Thanks, John, for that. Okay. We need toilets at the bottom of Mount Erigal, two at least three hours on the mountain and no toilet for the hundreds of people climbing this beautiful mountain, especially weekends. Fabulous job done with the steps up indeed that worked on over the last few months. I'm saying as if I've gone up there. I haven't. But anyway, yep, we often get calls for same facilities needed at the bottom of Mount Erigal. Greg, I'm glad to see the rules and how long Ukrainians are entitled to free accommodation for this, I feel will go a long way to stop the hate campaign on social media against them. As we know, lots of Ukrainians, 4,000 over the course of the year so far are not in hotel accommodation any longer. I suspect if either some will have gone home, I suspect the majority are in private rental accommodation now. New rules mean they are only provided with accommodation for 90 days. The payments are being more aligned to that received by I pass applicants as well. And there are five centres providing this 90 day refuge where they are. I don't know where one is. I'm not sure where the one in the Northwest is. If anyone out there knows, please let us know. Let me see. I've already mentioned that Brickabrack. I'll do it again. Could you please give a mention to our annual coffee morning Brickabrack and raffle. It's on Glenbar old school on St Patrick's Day from 11am and onwards. It's an aid of small animal welfare. Please support. And also later on we're going to be supporting local St Patrick's Day events because we put the call out earlier in the week and we got some response because there's so many brilliant people out there. Brilliant organisation. Organising our entertainment. I want to say ours. I mean those of us who don't organise it, we just roll up and go wow, this is great. How did this happen? Did they plan this this morning? Of course they didn't. They're planning it for weeks and months in some cases. So we want to give people who have gone to that effort an opportunity to plug the events because it looks like the weather's going to be okay. It's going to be really marred on Sunday. We're going to have some showers but actually quite a bit of spring sunshine as well. That's what we're being told. And anyway, in any case, the only thing missing if it is raining is the clothes, the right clothes, but all being told, we should be getting a decent bit of weather on St Patrick's Day which is extra good news for those that went to the effort of organising the various events. Alright, I'm waffling but I just wanted to mention that. That's coming up probably. It's going to be after 11 now at this point. Your voice, your community, just after the Bingo numbers. It's time for Vision Ireland Bingo on Highland Radio. It's Thursday, the 14th of March, Jackpot Day. You're playing for the Jackpot prize of 9,200 euro on the pink sheet. The reference number is S14. It's game number 11. The jackpot number is 36. This number can come out in any position from the next 10 numbers drawn. And now, here are your daily numbers. 12, 88, 16, 54, 26, 38, 9, 32, 29 and finally, 87. Phone your claim to 9104833 before it's night. It's leaving your name, contact number and the name of the shop where you purchased your book.  Get all your Vision Ireland Bingo information at HighlandRadio.com. Nutrious Milk Replacer range which includes Nutri Start and Nutri Start Plus offers the best start to your calves this spring season. With 23% and 25% crude proteins ideal for calf to beef and heifers raring systems. Give your calves the best possible start available in your local home land store. Visit Nutrious.ie for full nutritional information. If the medical experts get it wrong, everything changes from misdiagnosis or delay diagnosis to surgical injury or even poor treatment. All have physical, emotional and financial consequences. We're here to help. So if your treatment didn't go according to plan, speak to our experienced medical negligence team at McElhenney and Associates. Find us online. Our call<PHONE_NUMBER>. McElhenney and Associates solicitors, Strenorla. In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. The life of a Charlie's chip is never dulled. Once they're selected, they're off to Charlie's where they lose that jacket, have a nice wash and get into shape. Before going out, there's always a few nerves totally unnecessary because let's face it, they always go down well. Enjoy Charlie's chips to sit in or take away. Daily from 12 to 8 at Pierce Road, Lettercanny. When the hunger hits, pull into Charlie's. The Nine Till Noon Show with Lettercanny Credit Union. Simplify your debts with a debt consolidation loan from Lettercanny Credit Union. Call us on<PHONE_NUMBER> or apply online via our app or in office today. Now it's time for our regular Thursday feature, our new feature. It's called Your Voice, Your Community and I'm delighted to welcome into studio two guests, Bahia Devine. Good morning to you. Good morning. Thank you so much for joining us and also Anastasia Enquetea. Good morning to you Anastasia. Good morning. Thanks so much for joining us. Now both of you are from the Bahia Faith in Donegal. I'll start with you if that's okay. Bahia. Bahia, big apology. Bahia and Bahia. Bahia. Exactly. This is all a learning cover and this is what this is all about isn't it really? It's about learning new things and if we make a few mistakes on the way, my apologies. So Bahia, tell us about the Bahia Faith. Yeah, so the Bahia Faith is the most recent in world religions. It teaches that Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, came with a message of peace, a message of unity for today. Some of the teachings are that there's needs to be a quality of men and women that all religions are one, that God is one and that humanity is one, so mankind is one. So is there a religion it's more we might be more familiar with that it's more aligned to in terms of prayer or what have you? So it believes that all religions are one so it's a continuation of a cycle that that God sends a messenger for today. So Bahá'u'lláh is the most recent messenger of God and he revealed prayers and writings and yeah there's books that we read and pray to. And what are we to believe happened to the gods that came before him or her? I'm not sure if his gender or her gender? Yeah, that they had they came for a purpose and that they came with a message for that time and that it's a progressive revelation that's all one that all religion is basically good in essence and it teaches the same qualities to be good and to be good on to others and to live a good life. So it's it it believes that too. Anastasia how big is the the the I suppose congregation or the how big is the group of people in this part of the world or in this country that that practice the Bahá'u'lláh faith? We have quite a lot of people around especially even in Danegal. We have quite few and regarding the faith it's not we don't really just focus on just the faith you know but it's about how people live you know. So it's a lifestyle. Yes. How we treat each other. Yes. How we treat each other. How kind the the fundamental living you know of how we treat each other. How kind we relate to one another. How we feel empathy towards one another. That's you know. So it's it's it's kind of a broad way of how it's teaching us how we live you know to live with one another in the community. So a lot of a lot of disputes wars we see around the world are often different religions pitched against each other. How where does the highlight in relation to that in other words it respects or understands all religions it could never find itself could it in a conflict and be that you know spiritual or physical with members of another faith. No. No. No. This is the thing is that the world's in like turmoil and everyone's hurting a lot these countries it's not just what's happening in the mainstream media that we see but it's other countries who are really suffering and it's never the Baha'i faith it's it never believes that religion is the cause of this it's it's people that that go against each other and they they do harmful things to each other. So religion is is one that teaches love and unity and harmony and the Baha'i faith believes that it it would never cause unity is the the main focus of of life on this earth. Yeah. Do you come together Anastasia? Yes. How how does that look? Oh. Like is it in a building do you you know I'm trying to just see how what we want people have an understanding of how the Muslim faith would gather and pray the Christian faith quite similar across that in terms of Baha'i how do you come together? Is it? Yeah at the moment we we come together in in one of our our people's places you know so we always every week one or week we try and meet like a gathering and so you don't actually have a central area you will go to someone's property or back garden or yeah dependent on the numbers. Yes. There's no clergy in the Baha'i faith so there's no it's very much a personal relationship with with your Creator so we kind of go to each other's homes and and there is gatherings that happening that are public as well that would be events that would and everyone's welcome to them but in terms of us gathering together it would be in each other's home. So who leads the faith? Leads the the world center of the Baha'i faith is based in Haifa in Israel and that's where the world the guidance would come from but there's no there's no clergy or like Pope or any of that within the Baha'i faith it's very much that we have these writings have been revealed to us and prayers and it's a personal relationship between that and faith. And you have set prayers? Yeah we have prayers that we've got prayers for all different things so you could have prayers for healing for aid and assistance for humanity for your family there's all these different prayers revealed but also yeah. Well talk about your you were born into the faith as such Anastasia what is your background I mean were you born into the Baha'i faith? No um I'll start with I was born in Ghana West Africa yeah that's where I'm from and in West Africa we don't Baha'i is not there yet I wasn't familiar with Baha'i at that moment and I've been in um island for 18 years now and with Daniel 11 this my 11th year and so during my four five years ago I had in contact with David Foley who is currently my boss at the moment as well I work in the natural way and he had this program of um gathering the youth they start they normally they start the youth from 12 years so they will gather the youth to help them with some some basic way of life you know because some of the youth they have some challenges that you know sometimes they can't even discuss with parents and all that you know so they gather the youth and after school they will sit with them and go through some programs on how to live with one another connect with each other and be kind to them so that's how I get to know about the Baha'i faith and through David you know my boss so whilst the the my son he'll be 17 two months time you know so he go involved with it and like I said you know through that time I can see so many changes in him if I compare him I'm not saying he's perfect but if I compare him to some teenage you know I can see that that couple of years has done a very good days in his life and whilst going there there's this program going on for the young ones I have two young ones which is six and ten and they they do that kids program as well and I see a lot of difference in them it's not really a spiritual thing you know so I want everybody to you know it's not really a spiritual thing but rather is it's how kids relates to one another you know how they feel is they don't have to be kind to people who they are only related to you understand but this teaches them to be kind to anybody you know it teaches them to have empathy for one another and I see that in my kids as they go to that programs you know and at the beginning I'm just Bahia okay your your name is very familiar very similar to you know person who's heard it for the first time to the actual name of the faith yeah is that a coincidence or will you name it is pure coincidence no no sorry it is okay it's my parents they became Bahais in the I think it was maybe the 80s and they I was born in the late 90s so they wanted to give me a Bahai name my brothers don't have Bahai names but I do so it's it's the daughter of the founder of the faith Bahá'u'lláh had a daughter called Bahia so that it means it's Arabic and it means glorious light or like light upon light and in in terms of in terms of how you practice the religion Anastasia I think or no it's actually you I think that you don't drink or smoke no do you now is that or anything like that for that matter drugs or anything is that a is that a personal decision inspired by your faith or is it a condition of your faith so it is a condition of the faith if you want to be a Bahá'u'lláh and and practice Bahá'u'lláh faith you don't drink you can smoke but I just don't smoke and yeah so I just I never when I was 15 that's the age that I was deciding that myself even like everyone you're born into the faith that your parents have but at a conscious age you start to become your own person so I consciously made the decision to not drink or smoke or Anastasia your son has done that too I take him yes he is yeah right stay with us we are speaking to different voices different members of our community here in Ireland it's your voice your community we're in the company of Anastasia and Bahá'u'lláh here and we're talking about the Bahá'u'lláh faith I think I've got it finally after about 10 minutes but as I say it's a learning curve we'll be back with more from our guests after these watch the show live now on youtube facebook and at highlandradio.com the Ninetal Noon Show is brought to you by Letter Kenny Credit Union digital loans now available apply online or via our app today and get your loan transferred directly to your current account. 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Centre Northwest and the Irish We Chair Association every donation counts save the date and join us in making a difference Highland Radio's Big Birthday Charity Day Friday March the 15th tune in donate and be part of something special okay it's part of your voice your community we're learning about the Bahia Faith in Donegal we've got two people who remember of the community Anastasia and also we have another guest here of course as well and that is Bahia we're getting there folks in terms of in terms of sort of relationships and what have you this I'm not probing deep into this obviously but is it is it routine that you try and you know go out with or marry someone as part of the faith or is that not a proviso it doesn't matter it doesn't matter no it stands your own personal choice of course yeah all right and in terms of getting married if either of you were to get married if you're not I don't know and I'm not asking is it is it is there a ceremony for that as part of the faith and what's that look like yeah a Bahai marriage is it can be it's quite unique that it doesn't have a set kind of look it doesn't you don't have to do certain things in it there's just one one requirement and that's that you recite one of one line of a prayer that it that you're married in the eyes of God and then you also have to do the registration of your country that you're in but other than that it takes different um takes different ways of of doing it normally there's lots of music um different readings and prayers and writings people bring their own cultural background exactly I presume yeah okay um in in terms of you know people being able to publicly celebrate religion and a stage yeah I mean obviously you know in certain countries you know people are persecuted uh because of their religious beliefs globally um is that an issue at all for people of your faith not really not really because um on behalf of it you know it doesn't really discriminate other other religions you know it's more like we putting all religion in one you know so we wouldn't really have a conflict with any other person in their religion like I said you know it's mainly for how we live you know how we treat each other how kind because we we the kids and us we will be the next generation you know so if we can affect their society or the community and they become the better people it doesn't really martyr their religion if they are they have a um a good foundation of how kind because the the high faith is about treating each other with kindness with love you know and empathy and somebody could be from another religion but if we we organize a program like recently we had a program in the St. O'Connell and it was for the whole community you know it was we we had about more than 15 nationalities it was um Sudebe Foley David's wife and other women they put that together and it involved so many people and so many nationalities which is about 15 nationalities and it wouldn't be all of them who will be Baha'i you know but it connected the whole community together yeah with different culture different food and connecting with ourselves you know yeah okay um and then I would imagine Baha'i is that this it is the most the the the the relationship with the the broadest cultural representation in it then I'd imagine it certainly in Latter-Canadian whatever about other places is is is is that the case yeah it it it embraces and actually it it celebrates diversity and um you can't have diversity without unity and you can't have unity without diversity this is it goes hand in hand so I think that's it shows that um the Baha'i faith has reached like all corners of the world and it has people from all different walks of life and different tribes and different backgrounds yeah do you have to would you have to forego your Catholicism to be a member of the Baha'i faith no no it can can both run alongside each other you have the thing that it promotes is that it that you like religion is one so that would never ask you to forget about your love for Jesus or forget about your love for Muhammad or um these other prophets that you believe in exactly so because it believes in all of of the prophets of God and and sort of not going to get controversial but of course but obviously um you know the the the roots are very deeply in Israel how do you can you use your religion or your faith to make sense of what we're seeing over there at the moment Anastasia oh I might help yeah that the the we don't have any um I think the the world center is there in in Mount Carmel in Haifa just like all faiths they have their place of pilgrimage and their holy places and it just so happens that the Baha'u'llah passed away in in Haifa in Israel and and in Akka so there's two different holy spots that people the Baha'is like to go from all around the world and we wouldn't um have any connection to like Israel or have any uh political party politics and within the faith so it's more that the faith is is is centered there but it's it's like all faiths you have a place that you go to to to pray and to um learn about your faith and that's in Anastasia you've been there a couple of times have you? No I have what was your experience there uh beautiful it's just a very tranquil and um peaceful place and it has beautiful gardens and shrines you can um look it up online you can see it's it's based in Mount Carmel in Haifa and then also in Akka outside of of Haifa and it just is a beautiful place that you go to connect with your faith with God and you pray and um learn about the history of the faith as well and also too we've talked about uh how we treat each other and how each other are viewed uh men and women are seen as as equals is that right Anastasia? Yes. That's important. Extremely. Very important. How is that sort of uh how was that talked of sort of by the founders of the faith? Yeah so as in back the Baha'u'llah came two thousand two hundred years ago so you can imagine there was not much equality of men and women back then it might have been a radical it was a radical thing to to have said within a religion so um even today we see that men and men and women aren't um equal so yes the teachings are still it's it's very much relevant that we um we like champion that and try to have justice for um men and women to be equal. All right and you referenced the event that you had 150 people came out for that and presumed more planned for the summer? Yes um with that one it normally to be like an unwell thing so that was the one for this year. Okay but coming this summer there's a program being I can't place a date on it but there's a program ahead for the kids you know for the summer yeah but but aside that every week there's there's a gathering for the kids every week after school which and how does the community grow if you know what I mean is it by meeting people do you actively sort of I don't know not the word convince but how of you might describe it like how do you grow the community I mean obviously yours was a personal engagement okay and that worked for you but beyond that yeah it's more that like people are searching for um I think the world is in such a bad way the people are really crying out for change and for something to give healing to them but also that we don't preach or um try and convince anyone as you said it's more that um when we tried to do good deeds and try to be good people in our community I don't condemn one's faith you know or one's belief you know but in this world nowadays that's actually even a challenge in of itself being impartial yes but we don't do that you know because people expect you to side with whatever they believe don't they yeah yeah which I think is one of the the greatest issues we have in the world at the moment is is how divided we are um and and in the past you sort of got a sense that two people could have a difference of an opinion and I mean on a global stage or even an individual stage have a discussion and come up with some sort of commonality or at least mutual respect for each other's positions that seems to be gone now yeah just we I don't know if there'll be a reset in relation to that but at the moment and if you know what's happening on a on a global level is actually happening in communities as well yeah it's chaotic I think the world's in chaos and I think that it's just a reflection that you need you need to have a belief system that is rooted in something that's bigger than yourself yes and that they'll be love yeah exactly and these virtues that Anastasia is talking about that the children are learning about at a young age and the junior youth which would be 12 to 15 and then older youth like myself we're trying every day to practice this and it starts with within isn't it like change starts when you make a conscious effort yourself to live a good life and in turn you affect your community and then the world yeah okay I find it hard to look down my nose at anything that promotes that kind of ethos if you know what I'm saying because as I say it's sickening when you look at what's going on it's very very tough even just to be a spectator and in it all isn't it yeah okay anything you want to add that's good that means I've done a good job yeah I'm sorry no Dave that sounds is excellent it means I've asked everything this is so good all love yeah all love all love all love maybe one thing is that if anyone's listening and wants to um learn more you can look it up but also that there's an email that you can send an email to letterkennylsa at bahai.ie so that's also that's b uh h uh i yeah exactly .ie right uh Bahia divine yeah and also Anastasia and Ketia both from the Bahia faith in Donegal um this reminds me of we had a competition once and it was three callers on the line this is not disrespectful at all there's three callers on the line and they had the way I selected uh who was to answer a question right they had to shout their name out but there were three ladies and it was Marie Mary and Maria okay great so I asked a question it's right and it was like Maria I'm still I'm still a little scarred and people weren't happy about it at all because I think the prize was really quite significant but anyway uh it just put me in mind of that but as I say every day is a learning day but here and uh and I stated both thank you very much indeed I really appreciate your time today and best wishes to both of you okay that was your voice at your community for this Thursday we'll be back with that item on the show next uh Thursday for now though we're going to take a short break stay right where you are the 90 noon show with letterkenny credit union now offering mortgages from 40 000 to 600 000 euro with no hidden fees or transaction charges letterkenny credit union 9102127 this Easter come rain or sun put a spring in their steps and seek out somewhere special as a family from Easter trails for young explorers to a treasure trove of stories at historic places and room to roam in the fresh spring air you'll find more than one great day out on your doorstep or further away with the national trust this Easter search national trust n i and start planning your family's adventure get all your training and match day essentials at michael murphy sports from gaa gloves to mouth guards and grip socks to boots also shorts base layers and training equipment gear up for pre-season and match days with the new dunnygall home jersey and the dunnygall gaa rockway range of sweaters bottoms and half zips at michael murphy sports dot ie so what do you want to watch tonight oh what about uh can't find something to watch introducing sky stream the new way to get sky it takes all your shows out of all your apps and channels and puts them in one place so you can end the uh oh that looks good search sky stream today sky believe in better requires broadband and relevant third-party subscriptions further terms apply at kumis home interiors we pride ourselves on offering you the very best in choice quality and value on all home furnishings treat your home with a visit to kumis today and choose from our large range of suites tables beds not to mention our large selection of home accessories our motto is if you see it you can buy it and we will deliver it to your door kumis home interiors letterkenny retail park style and perfection at incredible value join us this thursday on around the northwest with john resin from 12 to 230 we'll be coming live from foyer company and letterkenny london something very exciting stay tuned a highland radio weather updates with arland west airport time to book that business trip to london fly daily to london stanstead and lutan with ryanair and london he's from with erlingus arland west airport don't just take off take it easy okay today mostly duller overcast with further spells of rain heavy at times across the northwest with a chance of flooding to a mild and humid day with just light variable winds i've generally 8 to 12 degrees coolest further west right okay um i'm going to give you an update on some bids we've had in relation to our auction which is very exciting actually mainly our live between 10 and 11 tomorrow with a live auction and a bit of crack as well hopefully um but we've had some really quite good bids in and i'll give you another flag of that before 11 though i didn't seek permission for this but i just want to start tomorrow that we've got something in there which we have already which is great we can crack on from there and raise a load of money for cancer care northwest the archival chair association and jigsaw right now earlier on we were speaking to kevin about um well it was different people had different situations he had diagnoses for his children of adhd um and uh and adh um i think and uh he was having difficulties in in in the school environment and we spoke to another lady michelle uh who has yet to get a diagnosis but is also struggling uh in the school environment and and by a schedule in coincidence uh this is not terribly dissimilar allison daugherty has been on the show with a few times uh and she's back with us again good morning allison good morning greg how you doing thanks for having me on this morning no it's good to have you on right we're we're talking about dyspraxia and you are responsible for the donagall dyspraxia uh information activities page for children and we'll talk about your experience with your children but i think it's always good really to get it out there um what dyspraxia is if you can help me with that allison yeah well dyspraxia a slight developmental coordination disorder great um and the signs of that will be like um difficulty with your fine motor skills like maybe holding a pencil on that maybe like doing the zips on the coat maybe your leg grip as i'm picking up toys and stuff um difficulty with hand writing and stuff difficulty with like maybe doing off buttons and then you would have um gross motor difficulties which may include cycling a bike a child may have like a lump in their leg they may be a bit clumsy and off balance but each child greg will um present differently with this um can this also be like the conditions we talked of earlier in the school environment and i think particularly without the diagnoses can the child be viewed as as as you know being disruptive or i don't know how the you know what i mean or lazy uh what what can the experience of a child be if it's not diagnosed or understood in the school environment yeah well i would have had um you know parents contact me before and children they would have had a diagnosis unfortunately there was one child in particular with dyspraxia dcd and they were being punished for being themselves and what i mean now by that is due to their coordination difficulties in the playground and in everyday life they may bump into children but once again they were seen as being like the bold child one in fact it could be um fixed if the correct accommodations were put in the classroom for this child this child was getting one month's attention for being themselves man are you fought hard for your first child to get a diagnosis it took uh two years and a lot of of battling uh did that help he's a young teen now uh did that help in terms of you know a greater understanding outside of the home of uh him having dyspraxia yeah well my son is 13 um and he is getting on absolutely fab like early intervention is key on all of this but sometimes it's not available and you just have to fight but sometimes now and um the education system it's still very misunderstood and it can be seen as you have a lazy child but now thankfully he has an absolutely wonderful teacher brilliant but you're starting your the journey again to some extent are you because aren't you because you have a second son who with your knowledge i presume you are of the belief he has dyspraxia but you're having to go through trying to get a diagnosis again so it's like groundhog day isn't it is it more difficult this time what stage of that process are you in yeah and greg um i just believe now the hsc have got progressively worse compared to five years ago my other son now just to make it very clear does not have a diagnosis of dyspraxia as of yet but i want to make parents aware of what's going on because i know there's a parent maybe sitting at our table maybe at work they're in their chair and i know they can relate to this but they just don't have the fight so where i'm at at the minute and i was i sent in a little um saying to occupational therapy it's like um i can't my mind's gone blank like he fell in a form a referral form and i did all that and i outlined my difficulty so um this came back and unfortunately my son didn't meet the criteria to be seen by occupational therapy this is your second son uh allison is it my second son yeah and they it's very important that these um agencies uh liaison with the school as well to get a picture of the child but um unfortunately you know they were of the belief that there were no functional difficulties and i believe that it's very damaging because number one now this um therapist has never met or seen my son so therefore an assessment didn't take place and i just believe that it is detrimental so the this person when you know their difficulty i beg your pardon allison this person made the judgment call based on the form that you submitted to them no engagement with the school uh no appointment or or uh evaluation of your child in person the decision that he didn't need uh he had no issues in inverted commas was made off the back of of a form that you submitted um just to be clear now on that today deadly is with the school they send them like a questionnaire but there were no difficulties outlined on that which you know clearly there is difficulties but what i mean like moving forward as if a parent has a fight on them and they believe that this is wrong to you know just go above and maybe contact management because you know it's really not fair and as i said it well it's detrimental for both the family and the child because they don't know what rule to go down and chatting to the team beforehand uh you've got the experience and you have the fight uh i think you said uh that you know if you were a first-time mother trying to do this again now you would give up absolutely and i would say first-time mothers know the way it is you know you get this back and you pet your face on the hsc and you're thinking well they're the experts they should know but if you don't look at them when they're young as time goes on like my son knows going to secondary school and do not wait till they're in sex class you basically have to be a pest that's what i was no one asked and the hsc why are you pestering me again well this is my son and you know no one else is going to fight unless the parent does it and i would also say to parents as well forget about the housework if you're doing like emails and make them phone calls you'll be thinking oh no i did not on all days i used to be like that but you have don't think you're making yourself up yeah i get you and then on the email yeah as well as that too because you've seen that your elder son is getting on well because of the diagnosis and the campaigning that you also want the same opportunities for your second son people can go to the donagore dyspraxia information activities page for children where there's more information and i'm sure you don't mind people making contact with you allison because as you say you are confident unfortunately that there are people listening that this will sort of chime with them they'll go right is that what's happening in our house sort of a thing and it could be a very lonely place until you sort of i think can get a name on something or a diagnosis on something yeah absolutely it is vital moving forward and it's also very late that they're able to access the curriculum and they get the services that's required of them because we know the list are so big at the minute but i'm just appealing to parents as it says that you know this is what's going on on the hsc at the minute and we are the experts of our own children we know them better than anyone else yeah yeah very good way of putting it listen thanks so much for your time allison best wishes to you and the family lovely chat to you thank you great have a great day bye bye thank you very much take care allison again sort of on the on a similar theme as to as to what we have been talking about already this morning i'm more than willing and happy to talk more about those issues if it helps anyone out there right okay between 10 and 11 tomorrow myself and leagooch are teaming up the dream team some might say and when i say some me and lee but we're teaming up for an hour's crack and an auction and already some of you showing an interest dinner for eight with chef gary ohanlan he's an internationally renowned chef and his career is only going on the up as well to believe it or not he'll come to your home cook food for you and seven of your friends or family food and drink supplied you can actually bid on that lot right now i think it's at 1500 i'm open to correction but even at that divide eight into 1500 that would just cover the food and drink let alone the expertise of chef gary ohanlan he's donated his time to this of course we've got two beautiful lots from harvey's point overnight in harvey's with dinner included for two i think that's up at 150 if not 200 already but listen you know feel free to give us a bid on that if you don't mind sunday lunch for harvey's we've also had a bid for 200 on that again still excellent value the money that you donate is going to our three charities jigsaw breast cancer northwest the irish wheelchair association you can bid on the next lot three nights stay in the wild atlantic camp this is a cracker very hard to get in here dinner for two at nevin maguire's restaurant macneen house and bistro if you want to bid on that give us a call 07491 25 000 i think we've a bid for 800 euro on the 20 tonne of decorative stone and delivery from gmg stone i think we're 800 on that as well the actual auction really in full terms is not till tomorrow between 10 and 11 but i want lee geuch landing in tomorrow with quite a bit of money already on the table so help me out please these are brilliant prizes for three brilliant causes i would love to do big numbers on this auction i know some of you out there i know most of you out there times can be tough but i do know there are some of you out there that have a few bob on standby to get chef gary ohanlon in your house a world-renowned chef cooking for you and eight people overnight stay in harvey's point sunday lunch for four in harvey's point 20 tonne decorative stone and delivery all of these lots are available for you to bid on right now give us a call 07491 25 000 dinner for two at nevin maguire's restaurant bid on that and i'll come with you for free how generous is that of me but please folks if you have if you have the money please dig deep and help us raise loads of money for the Irish wheelchair association jigsaw and breast cancer northwest and if you have a fiver of a tenor to spare and you can't really get involved in this auction go to our website highlandradio.com you'll see the donation page there i mean obviously as generously as you can be but for some it could be a fiver or something like that that you have every penny counts every cent counts back with news shortly the 90 noon show is brought to you by letterkenny credit union with monster loans available up to 60 000 euro for all occasions visit letterkennycu.ie craving a taste of bliss by the water dive into deliciousness at the water's edge in Rathmullen our coffee and snack bar offers a daily dose of freshness and flavour from scrumptious light bites to tasty snacks and freshly brewed coffee serve daily from 10 a.m to 3 p.m and delicious fresh pizza serve daily from 12 p.m opening thursday the 14th of march see you soon at the water's edge your smartphone is a wonderful tool opening amazing ways to connect with friends family and even businesses all over Ireland and across the world whether it's chatting to your family and friends on whatsapp grabbing a bargain by safely online shopping or even doing all your daily banking needs through an app your phone or tablet can help you do it all if you wanted to learn how to use all these features on your device now you can with high digital a free online skills course designed with older people in mind available in person and online so if you're ready to unlock your smartphone's potential or know someone who's always wanted to learn more online skills go to highdigital.ie or call 1800 20 30 30 for more information brought to you by Vodafone Foundation and alone for a great breakfast pull into kelly's diner in letter kenny not just a great breakfast but mouthwatering burgers delicious chicken succulent steaks and so much more for kids it's not just about pancakes but a full children's menu to choose from first communion and confirmation celebrations also catered for great food and great service every time a kelly's diner letter kenny winner of best family dining at the Highland Radio Hospitality Awards don't miss the BAFTA award winning comedian Michael McIntyre's brand new show magnificent at the SSZ Arena Belfast on Friday the 31st of May 2024 as always Highland Radio make it easy for you as we look after all your needs we will provide luxury transfers overnight stay at the Clinton Hotel Belfast on a B&B basis your ticket to the show shopping time in Belfast city centre for more information go to the outlet at highlandradio.com or give us a call on 07491 25 000 Michael McIntyre in Belfast all the stories that matter across the northwest it's Greg Hughes on the 90 noon show on Highland Radio do you want to find out what's happening in your area for the St Patrick's Day weekend we're going to be doing a phone around finding out that's all coming up and more in the next hour but first let's get a news update and it's over to Donna Marie Doherty thanks Greg good morning a castle fin counselor says it's essential that firefighters have access to water in an emergency it's emerged the crews had to travel two miles away from the blaze at tinnies bar and castle fin to get the water they needed to carry out operations this is because of low water pressure at the nearest hydrant following other problems in letterkenny and Newton Cunningham in recent months two people have been hospitalized following a three vehicle crash in Elystron last night a man in his 20s and a woman in her 60s were brought to letterkenny university hospital after the incident at 10 p.m for what are believed to be serious but non-life-threatening injuries Gardie say investigations are ongoing Dunningall County Council has been urged to install speed ramps at Kilmachran and National School it's after all councillors all the local councillors excuse me were approached by concerned parents officials pointed out that safety reviews were carried out at the school last month and new road markings were installed to improve vision lines at the school crossing councillor John O'Donnell acknowledges that but says the number of concerns raised is significant Dunningall County Council has been allocated 337 000 euro for the repair and renovation of historic and heritage buildings 20 projects are being funded in the county 16 of them through the built heritage scheme and four through the historic structures fund a fourth case of measles has been confirmed here it follows three other cases in recent weeks including one on a flight from Abu Dhabi a catch-up vaccination program is expected to get underway next week drivers are warned of road closures in Brachy Ardra today and tomorrow from 12 noon until half past five between the N56 and Mahara Caves this is due to essential road work starting at the oyster farm and will continue for 600 metres a local diversion will be in place during these times and finally a service to celebrate the life of veteran broadcaster Charlie Bird will take place in an hour's time in Dublin the former RTE journalist died on Monday at the age of 74 after being diagnosed with motor neuron disease in 2021 that's all for now on Highland Radio news move back again at 12 noon Donna Marie I couldn't help but notice that you are sporting a crutch now I don't know what happened so I was thinking right obviously maybe you were skydiving yeah skiing roller skating that could also in plain football because these are all very dangerous activities so what dangerous activity were you involved in when you hurt your ankle or your foot sorry I was having a conversation on the spot right on a on a outside of building and I turned around very quickly and tripped on my own foot and fell okay in the line of duty as well you were attending a council meeting yeah yeah so really it's a high-risk business we're in here we should be on danger money Greg danger money okay so so just be careful if you're covering any council meetings please folks be careful it's very very dangerous evidence stuff we wish you a speedy recovery okay back with more very shortly the big kahoon is back for the bank holiday weekend the euro millions mega draw will be a guaranteed jackpot of 130 million euro on Friday March 15th 130 million euro time to dream big so don't forget to get your ticket the national lottery it could be you play responsibly play for fun okay let's talk about the roads Lynn good morning to you how are you getting on I'm getting on saying Greg that's good to hear Lynn right okay what are you good all right you know broadly fine now we're talking about a stretch of road close to the good new cancer shop the good new cancer charity shop yeah what's going on there there's a there's a small road as you turn off the new road the Joe boner road and you come in the back of it to the good new charity shop lots of apartments on there as well and we reported it when it was potholes Greg it's now duck ponds my word you could put ducks in them there's several there we have wrote letters to the council emailed the council not just me or and volunteers have done that and so has their customers now you're somebody's going to wreck their car on it and it's dangerous coming out onto them roads on the evening because people are going round the potholes to try and get away from them but it's ridiculous and I just want to know who owns a road if the council doesn't own it the council should get somebody to sort that so is this the main road into uh into good and you yes okay yes and we are only a charity Greg but a lot of people have said they're not driving their cars on it anymore to come and to visit us even patients have said they'll get the bus out on the road before they'll bring their cars in to get the bus to go to Galway for their treatment wow that's how bad it has got and and I mean I'm I wish yes go ahead a newspaper or you know somebody would come down and take pictures off it because that's how bad it is Greg you could swim and never mind a duck wow okay uh what you send us pictures in as well we can platform them here um as well but it's always good to get as much media around this as as is possible you've been on to the council on to local reps no success so far obviously not been on to several reps they said if they that doesn't belong to them they can't fix it but Greg somebody put a pavement right an air shot right a good new cancer shot and somebody put broadband and whatever fiber optic went and on the same road so if they put the pavement and the broadband you know the hole for the broadband why can they not follow the import holes because we're going to lose out we're a charity as you know everyone we get at Sedonic all people that give it to us we're only volunteers but we we'll just have to close up and go you know we just can't do anything if people's going to stop coming in they support us right okay and I suppose it comes down to who owns this road is it a private development if it's private development who put the footpath out if it's a public road why is it being allowed to to fall into such disrepair I brand new Joe boner road like and then you turn off and then you're following the mean the road had to get fixed at some stage there over to the you know the apartments the village or whatever I don't really know what you call the apartments but like there's lots the school buses are complaining the buses you know they pick up the kids I mean that road's going on it's the back of McGinley's and the gym so like like it is a road that shoes but I'm just fearing for our the good new charity because as I say we rely on people to help us out and it's getting harder as you know and now the big creators on the road and I really mean creators yeah son some pictures into me Lin will you yeah I will send them into the hailing number and we'll we'll get to let people see what we're talking about Lin thanks for that for now take care of yourself and thank you as well now it's important my word is god bless thank you take care of yourself okay some more of your comments here I heard the parents on today and feel for them as I've been there uh been here done that but thankfully education is moving forward and more and more schools have ASD units in place to accommodate children there's a blog here which may help Kevin and other parents are entitled ignorance is the tragedy so you go to autism dad there's a blog there of course John Joe a regular guest on this show um they say ignorance or he says ignorance is the tragedy not autism hello we had to move our son from fifth class in our local school after an essay nay said to him she wouldn't give him his water bottle until he tied his shoelaces he has dyspraxia also which could potentially have a dependent on how the dyspraxia affects him make that actually physically impossible if not incredibly difficult and withholding water uh to try and encourage a child with a condition that may not allow them to do something maybe the s&a's heart was in the right place but anyway it must have escalated beyond that uh because this family moved the fifth uh the son from fifth class over the head of them my autistic granddaughter is 14 has always been treated well by the school that she went to which is great fantastic and I'm sure uh maybe the majority of people's experiences are positive one but we can't have any children left behind either and that's why we have to platform but it is not to say the entire system is broken or every school is the same but we can only give parents a voice when they feel unheard that's what we do here but I I I'm glad to hear that your daughter's experience is very difficult or different to beg your pardon hi my heart goes out to them parents it's a bloody joke the way children are treated in schools thank god I don't have any child with needs but see when my children went national school the stories they come home with would scare you I had one girl that used to come home and cry her heart out the way some wee ones were treated at her school and these children had special needs by some staff I was afraid to talk out in case my children were picked on for telling tales to this day my children still talk about uh and that's going back they talk about and that's going back 10 years I thought things had moved on but my god I feel so sorry for them I think when you're going to work with children you need to have to be a caring adult not just there for the money okay now let's say hello to definitely Michael Fitz Morris he's chair of the turf cutters and contractors association good morning to you definitely thanks for your time today no problem how are you I'm doing good what's your reaction to the news that Ireland is to be referred to the EU court of justice for not doing enough to protect our bogs is this the beginning of another turf war if the last maybe the last never first of all it's a retrograde first of all first of all it's a retrograde step it's actually discussed in what the EU have done because over the last number of years a huge amount of work has been put in by both turf cutting immunity the turf crossing contractors and indeed the national parks and on the raised bogs and and there was 57 complexes on the habitat directive they have restored something like 23 of them and there's a small amount of turf cutting going on in about 12 of them that's been resolved year by year and there's a good relationship built up from a very protracted relationship in 2011 and 12 to with the national parks in resolving this issue the ultimate reference to blanket bogs the reality of blanket bogs is it's actually minuscule when you look at the amount of blanket bogs it's around this country it's minuscule the amount of turf being cautioned in actual fact people stay within their own boundaries at that it's a pity that whoever decided to refer this and I actually went over myself and I was in September or October to the commission I met the people from the commission and the legal people and the scientific people and I was explaining to them the amount of work that's being done here in Ireland it's ironic that the only country in Europe that's actually doing restoration works at the moment is the country that's being brought in front of the ECJ I asked yesterday would I be allowed to give evidence that is because I think that the need to know from basically the harshest mouth you know from people affected by it what's going on and I was told that no it's all legal arguments you kind of you kind of go over and give the evidence so it's basically kangaroo court it won't be happening for two years and the court case that you're referred for and then it takes up to two years before it happens but what people must realize is you know it's very easy for someone to give out and say oh turf cultures and the reality of it is we are talking about private property so if they are trying to restore certain areas on the raised bugs especially which is totally different to the blanket bugs they need the goodwill of the local communities and by doing what they done yesterday in my opinion they have demolished that in one false but why now because this has been threatened for quite some time the government statistics indicate that there's been a complete cessation of turf cutting on almost 80% of the raised bugs yeah and a reduction of 40% on 2022 turf cutting levels in 2023 in raised bugs so I mean obviously you know we don't see the trailers of turf around the place as much as we used to there's been a ban on commercial selling of turf so why this why now when when they seem to be getting the wrong way it's a good question um like the reality of it is is that unfortunately these bureaucrats in the commission don't understand this um if you look at new houses now there's no chimney in them that's the reality if you look at the age profile of people that could start um they're you know look at our contractor either fear knowledge of us and you're looking at people you know 70 it's a sunset practice isn't it's naturally dying out it yeah yeah yeah and and why they're using a sledge to crack a note I don't know is the straight answer to you it is a foolish move it is a move that could set the whole process and the goodwill that was built up um it could set the whole process back 10 years again and um look I kind of answer for the commission what to do but it shows nearly like a bullying tactic towards this country which shouldn't be accepted by our system it seems that the government the state is putting up a robust defense and will it defend its position in front of the ECJ on this issue uh you and they seem to at least be on the right side of things or the same side of things a bit of a yeah well I I I welcome that the state has acknowledged the amount of work um and the amount of goodwill from ordinary turf cutting communities out there I I I want to acknowledge that I want to thank them for coming out so robust that they will defend what they have done and I'm fearless they have a lot of work done I saw a day when we wouldn't talk to each other it took years of building trying to build trust because it was very protracted as you can remember in 2011 12 or 13 and it took years to put that together and my god it's said to see a farting power trying to demolish that with one referral in the line of a leisure like it it is it is sickening to be quite frank about it and just very finally yeah sorry go ahead deputy which in fairness to the state they have come out robust and said we are going to defend the pathway we're on working with communities and working with turf cushers because at the end of the day if they want to the sledge hammer loose we can go back into the trenches and they will never as long as they live guess what they want so it's up to them now to pull back and have a bit of confidence in and and finally and this can sometimes get lost in the coverage you know your your average person out there wants to know what if any implications this might have for them for those that still cut a bit of turf no look at what does this mean for this summer next summer does it mean anything in reality just just just to be clear the way people will know on the undesignated bogs this doesn't have anything got to do whatsoever with it right so just be clear on that this is on the designated bogs around the country um bush and if you look at the raised bog SACs there's about 12 out of the 57 that uh a small amount of turf coating going on um and over the coming years that will be resolved but uh if they basically come the bully they will get their answer back fairly quick right thanks for your time i do appreciate it that's deputy michael uh fits morris there and independent but also chair of the turf cutters and contractors association the night all new show is brought to you by letter kenny credit union offering low-rate car loans with fast approval apply online at letterkennycu.ie or in office today atlantic technological university invites you to take the next step in your learning journey at our postgraduate information day on tuesday 19th of march at our dunningall campus in letter kenny from four to six p.m with over 110 part-time and full-time postgraduate courses to choose from we have the course to help you develop your skills and shape your future study your masters your way at atu for more information visit atu.ie forward slash masters top dunningall land fetches big prices for more in your farmers journal his paul mooney dunningall land prices remain stable overall but with huge variance in this week's Irish farmers journal we publish our 17th annual agricultural land price report we reveal a growing gap in land prices across the country the latest on based entitlements and eco schemes and just how much is the weather costing farmers don't miss your free land price report worth 15 euro inside this week's irish farmers journal you cannot afford to miss it experience total relaxation in the spa at orchards at the hollywood hotel bundoren recently awarded best hotel spa getaway at the rsvp spa awards enjoy luxury spa baths revitalizing facials rejuvenating massages pampering body treatments outdoor hot tub and tranquil japanese garden visit on a luxury spa day pop in for some meantime or buy the perfect present with a gift voucher relax and let the spa at orchards transport you to another world see hollywood hotel dot com get ready for an amazing bank holiday weekend sale at easy living furniture for this weekend only absolutely everything's reduced across sofa dining bedroom mattress and accessories get the three-seater dark grey harper sofa for only four two nine donut 240 centimeter dining table for only two four nine and much more don't miss out on these lucky savings at easy living furniture present link retail park hello donnie gall it's michael murphy here letting you know that i'd be in on green on in letter kenny on saturday march 16th with my new show the mysterious case of kitsy rainy it's a follow-up to the man in the woman shoes and i hear you and rejoice and if you come along we'll have the crack march 16th on green