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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.

Belladrum Queen of Hearts is feeling the love as 20,000 festival-goers start to arrive on site

26 July 2024
Belladrum Queen of Hearts is feeling the love as 20,000 festival-goers start to arrive on site

Belladrum Queen of Hearts is feeling the love as 20,000 festival-goers start to arrive on site

26 July 2024

The tartan-dressed stilt-walker smiled regally over the scene before her - and declared yes, she was definitely feeling the love.


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.


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.


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

24 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

24 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.


WATCH: What is the highlight of Belladrum Festival for founder Joe Gibbs - and who is he looking forward to seeing?

24 July 2024
WATCH: What is the highlight of Belladrum Festival for founder Joe Gibbs - and who is he looking forward to seeing?

WATCH: What is the highlight of Belladrum Festival for founder Joe Gibbs - and who is he looking forward to seeing?

24 July 2024

Belladrum Festival founder Joe Gibbs has revealed his key moment as the annual event celebrates 20 years.


PICTURES: A sneak peek at Belladrum Festival site

24 July 2024
PICTURES: A sneak peek at Belladrum Festival site

PICTURES: A sneak peek at Belladrum Festival site

24 July 2024

From constructing stages to putting up psychedelic signs, a huge team has been busy preparing the Belladrum Festival site.


Quirky Belladrum poster features lovebirds

24 July 2024
Quirky Belladrum poster features lovebirds

Quirky Belladrum poster features lovebirds

24 July 2024

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


Wartime flying boat to visit Inverness for 80th anniversary VC commemoration

19 July 2024
Wartime flying boat to visit Inverness for 80th anniversary VC commemoration

Wartime flying boat to visit Inverness for 80th anniversary VC commemoration

19 July 2024

A wartime flying boat is due to stop off in Inverness this week in honour of two Catalina pilots who each received the Victoria Cross 80 years ago.


Tain musician (19) wins competition for major gig slot at Belladrum Festival

16 July 2024
Tain musician (19) wins competition for major gig slot at Belladrum Festival

Tain musician (19) wins competition for major gig slot at Belladrum Festival

16 July 2024

Cameron Ferguson will be the opening act for this year’s Belladrum Festival, after winning a talent search launched in collaboration with BBC ALBA.


Clans to be joined by Outlander fans at Inverness Highland Games

10 July 2024
Clans to be joined by Outlander fans at Inverness Highland Games

Clans to be joined by Outlander fans at Inverness Highland Games

10 July 2024

A record attendance of clans is expected at the Clans Tent at this year’s Inverness Highland Games.


Why did it take so long for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire election result to be announced?

08 July 2024
Why did it take so long for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire election result to be announced?

Why did it take so long for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire election result to be announced?

08 July 2024

Questions are being asked about why it took so long to declare the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire constituency result in the General Election.


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.


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.


‘We lost out on quality time when the children were little’ - devastating toll of Infected blood scandal on family

13 June 2024
‘We lost out on quality time when the children were little’ - devastating toll of Infected blood scandal on family

‘We lost out on quality time when the children were little’ - devastating toll of Infected blood scandal on family

13 June 2024

The thought of coming home from school and finding her father dead was one which used to fill Bruce Norval’s daughter with dread.


‘It made us social pariahs’ - Black Isle campaigner reflects on personal impact of infected blood scandal

12 June 2024
‘It made us social pariahs’ - Black Isle campaigner reflects on personal impact of infected blood scandal

‘It made us social pariahs’ - Black Isle campaigner reflects on personal impact of infected blood scandal

12 June 2024

As he reflects on the personal impact of the infected blood scandal, Bruce Norval recalls how he was once threatened in an Inverness city centre pub.


Deadline looms for public consultation on improving transport in Highlands and Islands

12 June 2024
Deadline looms for public consultation on improving transport in Highlands and Islands

Deadline looms for public consultation on improving transport in Highlands and Islands

12 June 2024

The deadline is looming for people to give their views on a 20-year vision to improve transport in the Highlands and Islands.


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