North West Today

Long-time Finn Valley Athletics Club member Patsy McGonigle and Media Officer Chris McNulty reflect on Mark English's Gold Medal peformance in last evening's European Athletics Championships. English became the first ever Irish male athlete to win a Gold at the Championships See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

90 year old Breandán MacConamhna of Riverstown celebrated Mayo's historic All-Ireland win by brining his grandchildren to the grave of his brother. The former Director of IT Sligo has been describing what the victory means to him, alongside his College colleague, John Comiskey, whom we facilitated in produding an AI-generated audio tribute to Breandán See omnystudio.com/listener for...

James McHugh will be forever remembered as a member of the first ever Donegal team to win an All-Ireland title in 1992 and his tragic death in a road traffic accident has numbed the county. As tributes pour in for him, one Donegal councillor says it's the saddest of sad days for the county and everyone is devastated See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sligo sisters, Grainne and Katrina Cunniffe were both diagnosed with breast cancer, just weeks apart. And they say their experience again highlights the importance of early detection and regular testing. Grainne of Cliffoney, and Katrina of Skreen, will be among those again taking part in this year's Sligo Relay for  Life event in September See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The decision by Brittany Ferries to stop carrying livestock from Rosslare to France from next month is a disaster for the farming industry and the Government need to act to provide other transport options - that's according to Leitrim Cllr Paddy O'Rourke, who rejects claims that the transport of livestock conflicts with animal welfare standards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miriam Cunningham is the co-owner for Fitness 4 All in Strandhill. She says being involved in Relay for Life is a very personal matter for her as her mother died from cancer in 1985 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 4th Dublin to Drimarone Charity Cycle takes place on  the weekend of 14-16 August, a 275 kilometre charity to Donegal. This year, the event will raise money for Donegal Hospice, The Solace Cancer Support Centre and Letterbarrow Celtic - representatives of all three organisations outline more along with Cycle co-ordinator, Fergus McGroary See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

Gardai continue to investigate the circumstances where over 70 women councillors received what have been described as disturbing calls, with the male caller indicating he had a sexual interest in children. Killybegs-based councillor Niamh Kennedy has confirmed the person involved tried to call her on a number of occasions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sligo GP Dr Margaret Connolly outlines why she feels so strongly that Ireland's soccer team should boycott the forthcoming fixtures against Israel - she says they have a moral duty to take a stand and remaining silent is a form of cowardice. Dr Connolly was arrested by the Israeli Defence Forces as a member of the Global Flotilla headed for Gaza in May See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

A fascinating interview with well-known musician and singer, Tabby Callaghan, who reached the semi-final of the very first X Factor series, which led to international recogniation. He speaks candidly about his brush with fame and the most famous, his Sligo musical roots, the importance of family, his local community, and his faith in God which helped him through a period when his son was ill See o...

The Chairman of the Sligo Greenway Co-Op has urged those who  have opposed the Greenway to now get behind, and he believes the resurrection of the project can be a unifying decision. The Transport Minister this week confirmed that the project will proceed, six months after it was shelved by Sligo Co Co due to the non-availability of its preferred route See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The British had a better rail service when they ruled Ireland than we do now - that's according to Joseph from Mountcharles, who says the absence of any rail service at all in Co Donegal is a disgrace. He says the lack of public transport for cancer patients in particular who have to travel for treatment is completely unacceptable See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minsiter signed off this week on the contract to proceed with the Eastern Garavogue Bridge which has been a contentious issue for some local communities. The Secretary of the Doorly Park Resident's Assocation, Patricia Gardiner, still insists the bridge is not needed and remains 'the bridge to nowhere' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Mitchell of Dervish pays tribute to the late singer songwriter, Glen Hansard, who died in a motorcycle inciident in Dublin yesterday morning, Glen had previously recorded music with Dervish and collaborated with them on one of his songs on a recent album See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local authorities in the Republic need to ensure their public toilets are kept clean in the way that toilets are maintained in the North of Ireland. That's according to Sligo businesman David Smith who says he's consistently amazed at the cleanliness of public toilets in border areas, compared wtih those in the south See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister for Defence says the latest €125m Government support package for Ukraine is justified as Ukraine's war with Russia is Europe's war, despite critcism that more supports are needed for those who live here. The Minister is visting Finner Camp in Donegal today where she is meeting troops and reviewing facilities  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Izzie Schon of Ransnboro, Sligo, is a 16 year old student - she is visually impaired and autistic, and this week, is launching her new sensory-friendly colouring book. She has already launched a podcast series to explore differnt walks of life and is petitioning to have exam structures changed to facilitae those who are visually impaired See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mayo diaspora continue to celebrate wildly after the footballers extraordinary All-Ireland win yesterday - Reacting are Mary Henry of Achonry, whose uncle, Fr Peter Quinn was on the last Mayo team to win Sam Maguire in 1951, and Eugene Henry of Grange, former Mayo senior footballer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mentalist  and entertainer Keith Barry hacks the brain of NWT presenter, Niall Delaney, as well as a member of the public and Ocean FM staff, on this week's Friday Focus. Keith talks also about his love for his fishing trips to Rosses Point, the recent loss of his Dad, how he learned the art of hypnosis at the age of 14,  and much more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Pettigo man has offered free blocklaying services to assist the efforts by Paddy Cosgrave to provide new public toilets at Rossnowlagh Beach. The web summit founder, Cosgrave, who lives in Rosslowagh, has pledged 50k of his own money to provide the toilets, saying the existing portaloos are a disgrace See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Patrick McPolin set up his new exterior cleaning  business in Co Leitrim just three days ago, and he says he's already lost customers due to confusion over the hosepipe ban. He insists Irish Water need to make it absolutely clear that the ban does not apply to legitimate commericial operations like his See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rosses Point's Kieran Devaney tells the story of Oscar-winner Brena Fricker helping him with carrying his shopping 25 years ago, and he bringing her for a drink in the United Arts Club without realising who she was - until people started staring. Brenda passed away at the weekend See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A long-time member of the Sligo Cycling Campaign has critcised consideration being given by the Government to introducing registartion plates for bicycles, and forcing cyclists to wear helmets and hi-vis vests. The Road Safety Minister says such rules couild be on the cards See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councillor Ann Higgins looks forward to her year ahead as Mayor of Sligo - her late father, Tommy, was Mayor of Sligo on three occasions. And she has become the 6th Mayor to hail from Treacy Avenue See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a need and a demand for the development of a retirement village in the general Sligo Urban area - that's according to Cllr Seamus Kilgannon who has raised the matter with Sligo County Council. He outlines the benefits of such a development See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.