Further Covid restrictions are on the cards in the North.
This week the Stormont Executive agreed to roll out vaccination passes in the hospitality sector.
It’s now emerged consideration is being given to recommending working from home.
British Minister Michael Gove has said he’s confident progress can be made on the Northern Ireland protocol without triggering Article 16.
He was speaking following a meeting of the British Irish Council in Wales this morning.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there was a need for the UK and EU to turn a corner in its relationship after a turbulent few years.
Michael Gove said while the UK may still trigger Article 16 – he believes progress can be made on the Brexit protocol:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/gove3pm.mp3
Chameleon has been crowned the overall winner of A New Local Hero.
The final showcase was held last night in The Academy, Dublin, with performances from Chameleon, Leah Moran, Carrie Baxter, Mia Yermeche, Fintan McKahey and special guest David Keenan.
Over the past two months, in partnership with Hot Press, 25 of Ireland’s independent radio stations, including Highland Radio, have been highlighting the extraordinary music talent at local level in Ireland – and picking their own ‘local hero’, as part of a special initiative. Five outstanding talents were selected from those 25 to showcase before the music industry at the special showcase event – with David Keenan also featuring as special guest on the night.
The shortlist of five were, Carrie Baxter (WLR), Chameleon (98FM), Fintan McKahey (96FM), Leah Moran (Spin 1038) and Mia Yermeche (FM104).
Representatives from across the Irish music industry were in attendance at the gig, watching five of Ireland’s most promising stars-in-the-making showcasing their talents. The acts, who hail from across the country, each brought their own unique styles and flavours to the evening – from jazz-infused neo-soul to funk-flavoured pop – ensuring that the gig highlighted the remarkable range of Irish music in 2021.
Despite brilliant performances from all of the acts, there could only be one winner – with Chameleon ultimately winning over the judges.
Having established himself as a remarkable force in Irish music through his collaborations with Malaki, Matthew Harris (aka Chameleon) has stepped into the spotlight as a spectacular solo artist this year.
Drawing influence from the likes of James Blake, Brockhampton and Arlo Parks, the Dublin-based artist released a collaborative single, ‘You Know’, with Lucy McWilliams earlier this year.
A New Local Hero has been a centre-piece of Irish Music Month – an initiative of Hot Press and Independent Broadcasters of Ireland, funded by the BAI, under its Sound & Vision scheme, and supported by XL Retail, MCD Productions, IMRO, RAAP and XMusic.
“I congratulate Hot Press and the IBI for developing the Irish Music Month and ‘A New Local Hero’ initiatives,” comments Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin. “I was delighted to be able to support these projects from the additional €1.4m of funding I secured to assist the live music sector within the BAI’s Sound and Vision scheme.”
“I would like to congratulate all who took part in Irish Music Month and especially the finalists who participated in tonight’s ‘A New Local Hero’ showcase,” says BAI Deputy Chief Executive, Celene Craig. “With the help of additional funding secured by the Minister for the live music sector, the BAI was delighted to support this project, among others, under its Sound & Vision scheme. The project not only highlights the talent across the sector today but also the value of, and potential for, partnerships. The BAI extends its congratulations to Hot Press, the IBI and all involved for delivering such a successful initiative.”
“Irish Music Month really has been a fantastic adventure,” said Niall Stokes, editor of Hot Press. “And at the heart of it, the A New Local Hero initiative has been a wild ride unto itself. We are well aware in Hot Press of the extraordinary depth of brilliant, original music talent in Ireland right now. But this understanding was amplified further by the remarkable quality of the 125 artists who were shortlisted, across 25 stations, covering every blade of grass in the country. The hardest part, of course, is that only one artist or band can be selected in the end, so I think it is important to say that all of the final five really are winners. And they all have the potential to go on to hit the heights. In fact I have no doubt that some, if not all, of them will. The judges were faced with an extremely difficult decision – but there was complete unanimity that Chameleon is an outstanding and original talent, with huge potential to go all the way in what is an extremely tough world.
“I want to say a huge thank you to all of those who supported the Irish Music Month project from the outset: to Minister Catherine Martin, who provided the funds to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland; to the BAI who supported Irish Music Month so well through its Sound & Vision fund; the 25 radio stations who got involved through Independent Broadcasters of Ireland; XL Retail and MCD Productions who were so important to getting the project across the line; and to IMRO, RAAP and X-Music, who also supported us in a really vital way. Muchas gracias.
“Irish Music Month, and the A New local Hero initiative, have enjoyed enthusiastic support right across the music industry. So to everyone who was involved, at any and every step along the way, we salute you.”
“I want to say a huge congratulations to Chameleon on being selected as A New Local Hero 2021,” John Purcell, Chair of IBI said. “It was a journey into the unknown when 25 independent radio stations joined forces with Hot Press for Irish Music Month – but I think I speak for all of the stations when I say that it really has been a brilliant project. On behalf of the IBI, I want to extend our thanks to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for their invaluable support for the project, and to Minister Catherine Martin, who provided the additional funding to the sector to support live music. The ‘A New Local Hero’ initiative has been an integral part of Irish Music Month. In fact there were 25 winners, one from each station – all of whom deserve our congratulations, and all of whom have benefitted from the support of their local stations. But there can only be one recipient of the A New Local Hero Award – and I know that the judges deliberated long and hard. Well done again to Chameleon and to the station who championed him, Chameleon on what really is a great achievement.”
Irish Music Month is supported by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland from its Sound & Vision fund and by XL Retail. It is also supported by MCD Productions, IMRO, RAAP and XMusic.
Sinn Feins Health Spokesperson says there’s a difference between supporting public health measures and supporting the Government.
Deputy David Cullinane is in Donegal today to join Deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty for a number of meetings with those in the health sector in the county.
They are due to meet with the Forsa and SIPTU trade unions, Management of Letterkenny University Hospital and Donegal Action for Cancer Care to discuss a range of issues.
Speaking on the Nine Till Noon Show about the pandemic, Deputy Cullinane says Sinn Fein quarrel has never been with health measures but a lack of planning on the Governments part:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/davidcullane1pm.mp3
Donegal’s Jason Quigley will fight tonight for the WBO World Middleweight title taking on the champion Demetrius Andrade.
They fight is schedule to start in Manchester New Hampshire at around 3am Irish time.
Former WBC bantamweight champion Wayne McCullough will again be in Jason’s corner.
The ‘Pocket Rocket’ steps in for coach Andy Lee who was unable to travel.
McCullagh was alongside Jason when he defeated Shane Mosley Jr in Las Vegas last May and he told Chris McNulty if Jason executes the plan he is in with a chance:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Wayne-McCullagh.mp3
Olympic Gold medalist Michael Carruth was speaking on this mornings Nine Til Noon Show, he is hopeful Jason can take the belt tonight and can go the distance with the champion:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/carruth.mp3
Cases of Covid-19 among children have nearly doubled in the past two weeks.
There were over 15,000 cases in the fortnight that ended on Wednesday.
That’s 82 per cent higher than the 8,435 in the previous two weeks.
But Education Minister Norma Foley insists schools remain safe places for children:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/foley1pm.mp3
Gardaí are investigating a series of thefts from cars in a residential area of Muff.
A number of cars were targeted in the Ard Ban area in the early hours of Thursday the 18th of November.
Gardai say that all vehicles had been entered unlawfully and are appealing to residents in that area who may have seen or heard anything on that date that might assist with them investigation to contact them in Buncrana.
Gardai wish to remind all car owners to ensure that their car is secured when unattended/parked.
Please do not leave anything valuable in your car eg. cash, jewellery or electronics even if it is parked at your home.
Donegal’s Geraldine McLaughlin
Three Donegal players have been named on the Irish News Ulster Ladies All Stars for 2021.
The Termon trio of Geraldine McLaughlin, her sister Nicole McLaughlin and Evelyn McGinley have been included on the 15 award winners.
The provincial All Star is a second accolade within a week for Geraldine who picked up her first ever Ladies All Star last weekend in Dublin.
There are calls for people who assault emergency workers to face tougher sanctions.
Fianna Fail Senator Robbie Gallagher has put forward his Criminal Justice Bill 2019 which is proposing harsher penalties.
If passed into law, it would see a minimum prison sentence of five years introduced for the crime.
Donegal born Senator Gallagher says these assaults are on the increase and this proposed legislation would hopefully act as a deterrent:
https://www.highlandradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/robbiegallagher1pm.mp3
Photo Gerard Grant.
DCU with a host of Donegal players on the field beat University of Limerick by 3-11 to 0-11 in the Higher Education 2nd Year A Football Final on Thursday night.
DCU were captained by Termon’s Jamie Grant with the rest of the Donegal contingent made up of Shane O’Donnell St Eunan’s, Downings’ Johnny McGroddy who scored the first goal, Kilcar’s Ryan McShane, Seamus Óg Byrne from Killybegs, Oisin Cannon from St Michael’s and Joey Gillespie from Naomh Muire who came off the substitutes’ bench.
