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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: Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival well and truly under way

26 July 2024
Pictures: Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival well and truly under way

Pictures: Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival well and truly under way

26 July 2024

The Belladrum Festival is well and truly under way as iit launches itself into day two.


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

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

PICTURES: Day one at Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival

25 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.


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.


WATCH: What will Belladrum Festival traffic be like this year?

24 July 2024
WATCH: What will Belladrum Festival traffic be like this year?

WATCH: What will Belladrum Festival traffic be like this year?

24 July 2024

The organisers of the Belladrum Festival near Beauly are confident changes to managing the traffic will see a vast improvement this year.


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.


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.


Work ongoing to ensure safety of Inverness building where man died in fire

23 July 2024
Work ongoing to ensure safety of Inverness building where man died in fire

Work ongoing to ensure safety of Inverness building where man died in fire

23 July 2024

Work is ongoing to ensure an Inverness building where a man died in a fire almost two weeks ago is made safe.


Police officers unable to access Inverness building where man died in fire

22 July 2024
Police officers unable to access Inverness building where man died in fire

Police officers unable to access Inverness building where man died in fire

22 July 2024

Poignant tribute was paid by American football enthusiasts in Inverness to a former player who died in a devastating fire.


Campaigners call for rethink over use of Inverness community room by Barclays

22 July 2024
Campaigners call for rethink over use of Inverness community room by Barclays

Campaigners call for rethink over use of Inverness community room by Barclays

22 July 2024

A campaign group has started a petition amid an ongoing row.


Behind The Lens: The legacy of a Highland news photographer

21 July 2024
Behind The Lens: The legacy of a Highland news photographer

Behind The Lens: The legacy of a Highland news photographer

21 July 2024

Friday night at Belladrum Festival 2018.


Double accolade for New Start Highland as UK’s best social enterprises named

21 July 2024
Double accolade for New Start Highland as UK’s best social enterprises named

Double accolade for New Start Highland as UK’s best social enterprises named

21 July 2024

An Inverness social enterprise which helps people to get back on their feet after facing hardship has received a double accolade.


Double accolade for New Start Highland as UK’s best social enterprises named

20 July 2024
Double accolade for New Start Highland as UK’s best social enterprises named

Double accolade for New Start Highland as UK’s best social enterprises named

20 July 2024

An Inverness social enterprise which helps people to get back on their feet after facing hardship has received a double accolade.


Rare wartime flying boat touches down at Inverness Airport

19 July 2024
Rare wartime flying boat touches down at Inverness Airport

Rare wartime flying boat touches down at Inverness Airport

19 July 2024

A rare World War II flying boat has flown over Inverness in honour of two Catalina pilots who each received the Victoria Cross 80 years ago.


PICTURES: Hawaii comes to the Highlands at beach party in shopping centre

19 July 2024
PICTURES: Hawaii comes to the Highlands at beach party in shopping centre

PICTURES: Hawaii comes to the Highlands at beach party in shopping centre

19 July 2024

Youngsters got low down with their limbo skills and practised their hula moves at an indoor beach party in Inverness.


Communities invited to comment on proposed vision for Nairnshire

19 July 2024
Communities invited to comment on proposed vision for Nairnshire

Communities invited to comment on proposed vision for Nairnshire

19 July 2024

People in Nairnshire are being encouraged to have their say on a newly-published vision for the area.


Blue-green algae warning at loch near Beauly

18 July 2024
Blue-green algae warning at loch near Beauly

Blue-green algae warning at loch near Beauly

18 July 2024

A warning has been issued after the discovery of blue-green algae in a loch near Beauly.


Healthcare crisis in Gaza highlighted by Highland health workers

17 July 2024
Healthcare crisis in Gaza highlighted by Highland health workers

Healthcare crisis in Gaza highlighted by Highland health workers

17 July 2024

Evocative and emotional testimonies highlighting the healthcare crisis in war-torn Gaza were conveyed at an event in Inverness.


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