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Val Sweeney


Senior reporter

Val Sweeney is an award-winning and experienced journalist. Having worked on several newspapers in the north of England in various roles as a reporter and feature writer, she joined the Inverness Courier in 2001.

PICTURES: Day one at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

26 July 2024
PICTURES: Day one at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

PICTURES: Day one at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

26 July 2024

Crowds of eager festival-goers have been filling up the Belladrum Festival site near Beauly as the three-day event gets off to a start.


Thousands start arriving at start of three-day Belladrum Festival near Beauly

25 July 2024
Thousands start arriving at start of three-day Belladrum Festival near Beauly

Thousands start arriving at start of three-day Belladrum Festival near Beauly

25 July 2024

Thousands of festival-goers have started arriving at the Belladrum Estate near Beauly for three days of music, dance and entertainment.


Creating the second biggest town in the Highlands as Belladrum prepares to welcome 20,000 visitors

25 July 2024
Creating the second biggest town in the Highlands as Belladrum prepares to welcome 20,000 visitors

Creating the second biggest town in the Highlands as Belladrum prepares to welcome 20,000 visitors

25 July 2024

In a corner of the Belladrum Festival site, work is under way to secure an inflatable giant pair of rainbow-coloured hands in the shape of heart.


Quirky Belladrum poster features lovebirds

25 July 2024
Quirky Belladrum poster features lovebirds

Quirky Belladrum poster features lovebirds

25 July 2024

From blue elephants to psychedelic Highland cows, the quirky Belladrum Festival posters are an integral feature of the event.


Have your say on the future of crofting in Scotland

30 June 2024
Have your say on the future of crofting in Scotland

Have your say on the future of crofting in Scotland

30 June 2024

People across Scotland are being invited to have a say on how crofting is reformed.


Still to receive or return your postal vote in the Highlands?

30 June 2024
Still to receive or return your postal vote in the Highlands?

Still to receive or return your postal vote in the Highlands?

30 June 2024

Advice has been issued for voters in the Highlands who have yet to receive or return their postal votes.


NHS dentistry in Highlands in crisis, says Alba candidate

29 June 2024
NHS dentistry in Highlands in crisis, says Alba candidate

NHS dentistry in Highlands in crisis, says Alba candidate

29 June 2024

Urgent action is needed to aid recruitment of dentists for NHS Highland, according to the Alba candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.


Highland councillors lobbied by campaigners opposing overhead powerlines and onshore wind development

27 June 2024
Highland councillors lobbied by campaigners opposing overhead powerlines and onshore wind development

Highland councillors lobbied by campaigners opposing overhead powerlines and onshore wind development

27 June 2024

Campaigners worried about the “industrialisation” of the Highlands from renewables greeted councillors arriving for a meeting.


Highland hotel reaches worId green final

23 June 2024
Highland hotel reaches worId green final

Highland hotel reaches worId green final

23 June 2024

A Highland hotel which built a pioneering energy centre has been shortlisted in the first World Sustainable Travel and Hospitality Awards.


Sponsors recognising female success at Highland Business Women Awards

22 June 2024
Sponsors recognising female success at Highland Business Women Awards

Sponsors recognising female success at Highland Business Women Awards

22 June 2024

Highland businesswomen are among those supporting an event to celebrate other women on their own business journeys.


Historic fishing lodge in finals of BBC Scotland’s Home of the Year

10 June 2024
Historic fishing lodge in finals of BBC Scotland’s Home of the Year

Historic fishing lodge in finals of BBC Scotland’s Home of the Year

10 June 2024

An historic Highland fishing lodge will feature in tonight’s televised grand final to find Scotland’s Home of the Year.


PICTURES: Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter ‘fantastic’, say fans - despite long bar queues

27 May 2024
PICTURES: Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter ‘fantastic’, say fans - despite long bar queues

PICTURES: Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter ‘fantastic’, say fans - despite long bar queues

27 May 2024

Hot weather and thousands of thirsty festival-goers led to long bar queues on day one of Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter.


PICTURES: Festival-goers gather for Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter

26 May 2024
PICTURES: Festival-goers gather for Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter

PICTURES: Festival-goers gather for Peat & Diesel’s Black Isle Belter

26 May 2024

Festival-goers have been gathering on the Black Isle for two-days of music from a range of bands including Peat & Diesel.


Highland MSP calls on SNP to drop wood-burner ban

25 May 2024
Highland MSP calls on SNP to drop wood-burner ban

Highland MSP calls on SNP to drop wood-burner ban

25 May 2024

The importance of wood-burning stoves to homes in rural and islands communities will be debated in the Scottish Parliament next week.


Motorists caught speeding on North Coast 500 during weekend police operation

20 May 2024
Motorists caught speeding on North Coast 500 during weekend police operation

Motorists caught speeding on North Coast 500 during weekend police operation

20 May 2024

A police operation on the North Coast 500 route has resulted in 24 drivers being charged with speeding offences.


‘There were times I thought I would never see them alive again’ - Inverness doctor reunited with family

04 May 2024
‘There were times I thought I would never see them alive again’ - Inverness doctor reunited with family

‘There were times I thought I would never see them alive again’ - Inverness doctor reunited with family

04 May 2024

An Inverness doctor is hoping to evacuate more of his family out of Gaza after four members were allowed to leave the war-torn territory.


Vital step for freeport as Inverness and Cromarty Firth set to become green energy super hub

08 April 2024
Vital step for freeport as Inverness and Cromarty Firth set to become green energy super hub

Vital step for freeport as Inverness and Cromarty Firth set to become green energy super hub

08 April 2024

The Highlands are set become the focus of international attention from the renewable energy industry as the region’s freeport reached a milestone.


Committed public transport user joins HiTrans board

07 April 2024
Committed public transport user joins HiTrans board

Committed public transport user joins HiTrans board

07 April 2024

A former champion of Gaelic culture and language is taking up a new role to help improve public transport in the Highlands.


Police issue appeal to help trace missing 51-year-old Lairg man

30 March 2024
Police issue appeal to help trace missing 51-year-old Lairg man

Police issue appeal to help trace missing 51-year-old Lairg man

30 March 2024

Police have issued an appeal for public help in tracing a 51-year-old man reported missing from Lairg in Sutherland.


VisitScotland announces visitor information centres to close over next two years

27 March 2024
VisitScotland announces visitor information centres to close over next two years

VisitScotland announces visitor information centres to close over next two years

27 March 2024

VisitScotland has announced it will close its network of information centres over the next two years.


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