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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.

Campaigners hoping to buy historic Inverness building appoint design team in race against time

17 July 2025
Campaigners hoping to buy historic Inverness building appoint design team in race against time

Campaigners hoping to buy historic Inverness building appoint design team in race against time

17 July 2025

A campaign group hoping to secure the future of a historic Inverness building for community use has appointed a design team in a race against time.


A magical memory-provoking meander in solitude around the Belladrum Festival site

16 July 2025
A magical memory-provoking meander in solitude around the Belladrum Festival site

A magical memory-provoking meander in solitude around the Belladrum Festival site

16 July 2025

All is quiet at the deserted Belladrum Tartan Heart festival site near Beauly,


Bold geometric gown created by Inverness student impresses The Great British Sewing Bee judges

16 July 2025
Bold geometric gown created by Inverness student impresses The Great British Sewing Bee judges

Bold geometric gown created by Inverness student impresses The Great British Sewing Bee judges

16 July 2025

A gown created by Inverness student Órla Ní Eadhra won praise from judges of The Great British Sewing Bee as the popular TV show returned last night.


The Great British Sewing Bee returns to TV screens tonight with contestants including Inverness student

15 July 2025
The Great British Sewing Bee returns to TV screens tonight with contestants including Inverness student

The Great British Sewing Bee returns to TV screens tonight with contestants including Inverness student

15 July 2025

Fans of the TV show, The Great British Sewing Bee, are eagerly awaiting its return tonight when the hopefuls include an Inverness student.


‘Empty homes are a wasted resource,’ says councillor in call for action plan

15 July 2025
‘Empty homes are a wasted resource,’ says councillor in call for action plan

‘Empty homes are a wasted resource,’ says councillor in call for action plan

15 July 2025

She also felt that empty upper office space in city centre buildings could be repurposed as flats to help ease the housing shortage.


‘There is no human life which is spared in Gaza’ - doctor condemns deteriorating humanitarian situation

12 July 2025
‘There is no human life which is spared in Gaza’ - doctor condemns deteriorating humanitarian situation

‘There is no human life which is spared in Gaza’ - doctor condemns deteriorating humanitarian situation

12 July 2025

The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, including killings at food distribution sites, has been condemned by an Inverness doctor.


Inverness cafe worker to appear in new series of BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee

08 July 2025
Inverness cafe worker to appear in new series of BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee

Inverness cafe worker to appear in new series of BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee

08 July 2025

A student from Inverness will be among the contestants put to the test as the BBC TV programme The Great British Sewing Bee returns next week.


Long-held grow-your-own vision for city community reaches significant milestone

05 July 2025
Long-held grow-your-own vision for city community reaches significant milestone

Long-held grow-your-own vision for city community reaches significant milestone

05 July 2025

A long-held vision to create a community growing space in an expanding Inverness neighbourhood has reached a significant milestone.


PICTURES: Orange Ball raises £41k for charity marking 20 years of providing support for people with cancer

02 July 2025
PICTURES: Orange Ball raises £41k for charity marking 20 years of providing support for people with cancer

PICTURES: Orange Ball raises £41k for charity marking 20 years of providing support for people with cancer

02 July 2025

Supporters of a cancer charity donned a touch of orange for a fundraising ball to celebrate its 20th anniversary in the Highlands.


Community buyout campaigners intend to submit offer for historic Inverness landmark but timing not ideal

02 July 2025
Community buyout campaigners intend to submit offer for historic Inverness landmark but timing not ideal

Community buyout campaigners intend to submit offer for historic Inverness landmark but timing not ideal

02 July 2025

Campaigners hoping to buy Inverness’s oldest church for community use intend to submit an offer by the closing date but say the timing is not ideal.


Closing date set for offers to buy historic Inverness landmark

02 July 2025
Closing date set for offers to buy historic Inverness landmark

Closing date set for offers to buy historic Inverness landmark

02 July 2025

A closing date of August 1 has been set for offers to be submitted to buy a historic landmark building in Inverness.


Lifechanging programme benefits young people facing challenges

29 June 2025
Lifechanging programme benefits young people facing challenges

Lifechanging programme benefits young people facing challenges

29 June 2025

Pupils at an Inverness school have given first-hand accounts of a “lifechanging” programme to a Highlands and Islands MSP.


PICTURES: Children helping children - pupils presented with special award for work to support world’s poorest areas

26 June 2025
PICTURES: Children helping children - pupils presented with special award for work to support world’s poorest areas

PICTURES: Children helping children - pupils presented with special award for work to support world’s poorest areas

26 June 2025

Pupils at an Inverness school have celebrated being the first in the area to receive an award for their efforts to help the world’s poorest children.


Council says it is committed to ongoing repairs and replacement of riverside railings

26 June 2025
Council says it is committed to ongoing repairs and replacement of riverside railings

Council says it is committed to ongoing repairs and replacement of riverside railings

26 June 2025

Broken railings at an Inverness beauty spot will be repaired or replaced, Highland Council has insisted.


Church under offer after being placed on market at starting price of £20k

25 June 2025
Church under offer after being placed on market at starting price of £20k

Church under offer after being placed on market at starting price of £20k

25 June 2025

An offer has been made for a Highland church after it was put up for sale inviting offers of more than £20,000.


Armed Forces Day parade to take place in Inverness for first time since pandemic

21 June 2025
Armed Forces Day parade to take place in Inverness for first time since pandemic

Armed Forces Day parade to take place in Inverness for first time since pandemic

21 June 2025

Veterans will march alongside members of the cadet services as an Armed Forces Day parade returns to the streets of Inverness.


Diverse voices to be highlighted at film event to mark Refugee Festival Scotland

20 June 2025
Diverse voices to be highlighted at film event to mark Refugee Festival Scotland

Diverse voices to be highlighted at film event to mark Refugee Festival Scotland

20 June 2025

Diversity and community in the Highlands will be celebrated at an event being staged in Inverness as part of Refugee Festival Scotland 2025.


Flag-raising ceremony in Inverness to mark Armed Forces Week

19 June 2025
Flag-raising ceremony in Inverness to mark Armed Forces Week

Flag-raising ceremony in Inverness to mark Armed Forces Week

19 June 2025

A flag-raising ceremony will be held at Inverness Town House on Monday to mark the start of Armed Forces Week.


Save the Old High Inverness crowdfunding campaign to buy historic A-listed building raises £1100 in first week

19 June 2025
Save the Old High Inverness crowdfunding campaign to buy historic A-listed building raises £1100 in first week

Save the Old High Inverness crowdfunding campaign to buy historic A-listed building raises £1100 in first week

19 June 2025

A fundraising campaign aimed at buying Inverness’s oldest church for community use has raised more than £1100 in one week.


Climate festival to focus on localism

18 June 2025
Climate festival to focus on localism

Climate festival to focus on localism

18 June 2025

A celebration of localism will be at the heart of the month-long Highlands and Islands Climate Festival later this year.


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