North West Today

The inspirational Paddy Joe Burke and his lessons in how to live your best life - the former barber, Roscommon GAA superfan, story teller and Ballymote resident talks eveything from happiness to loneliness, kindness and Paddy Joe-ness, as he chooses his favourite pieces of music. And how his mother taught him the most important PHDs - eye contact, saying hello, smiling, manners and common sense Se...

'We'll have another go at it' - 10 years ago, businessman and funeral director, David McGowan, managed to have a huge Boeing 767 plane transported to Enniscrone as the focal point of his Quirky Nights Glamping Village project. But for varioius reasons, there has been no progress since then - but David says he's set to make that change See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual Orange Order 12th July parade in Rossnowlagh takes place this Saturday with Orange lodges from Donegal, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and the North of Ireland due to be involved. David Mahon, Grand Master of the Orange Order in Co Donegal outlines more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two residents of the Nazareth Village social housing complex in Sligo outline their shock at the proposals for a major hike in their rent - Loro Tylor and Trevor Sweeney outline the stress it has caused, while Cllr Ann Higgins says talks are ongoing to ensure such increases are not imposed See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gabriel was visiting County Sligo in the past week and noticed giant hogweed in parts of Collooney, which he insists can be a dangerous plant as it can burn people's skin. He says the local authority need to take action straight away to have it removed See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mayor of Donegal Town, Anna Gallagher, and writer and journalist Peigin Doyle are this week's Friday Panel guests. Topics discussed include the VAT reduction, one-off housing guidelines, developing local tourism, women in politics, the World Cup and...meeting Rod Stewart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Leitrim referee and Chairman of the GAA County Board, Enda Stenson, says the physical attack on a referee this week at an Under 15 boys match in Co Clare is an absolute scandal. He says the GAA need to come down hard on all those involved, as such incidents are preventing the recruitment of younger referees See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Sligo resident who previously organised a petition to call for CCTV cameras to be installed in Sligo Cemetery says those with family  members buried there might consider contributing to the cost of lighting and CCTV. Sligo Co Co has already ruled out CCTV due to data protection issues but Hilda says something is urgently needed because of the scale of anti-social incidents See omnystudio.co...

The man behind the voice on 'It Says in the Papers' on RTE Radio has written a new book about his life in Maugherow in Co Sligo for the past 34 years, during which he and his wife have developed a barren two-acre site into a home, a woodland and sanctuary for wildlife. John S. Doyle speaks about the inspiration for 'Salt Wind, Rising Water' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's largest replica of a Spanish Galleon has now docked in Sligo after an emotional journey around the North West coast - the Galleon fired shots as it passed by Streegadh strand where three Spanish Armada vessels were shipwrecked in 1588. Dr Prannie Rhatigan, Chair of Spanish Armada Ireland, says it's wonderful to welcome the Galleon to Co Sligo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

This year's Sligo Relay for Life cancer fundraising event is to take place on 5th and 6th September, following on from the huge success of last year's event - teams and individuals are being asked to sign up to participate. Committee chair Ann Higggins and community fundraiser Monica McElhinney outllne more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Church of Ireland Archdeacon, Patrick Bamber, has confirmed that there is a 'restoration levy' for commercial tour groups visiting WB Yeats' grave at Drumcliffe but insists there is no charge for members of the public -the levy is being used for upkeep of the site - but Yeats Society Director, Susan O'Keeffe, says the move may be counter productive as the number of bus tours to the site have decre...

This week's Friday Panel discuss an early morning train service to Sligo, proposals for maximum temperature limits in the workplace, the promotion or not of local tourism, Hospital car parking charges, the World Cup and more. Guests are Sligo county councillors Thomas Walsh and Seamus Kilgannon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Election posters should not be banned but there should be restrictions on their size and shape in future. That's the recommendation of the Electoral Commission, which has published the outcome of public consultation on the matter -  the Commission's Head of Research, Mary Clare O'Sullivan, outlines more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A well-known WB Yeats author and scholar has described the decision to seek donations to visit the poet's grave at Drumcliffe as miserable and scraping the bottom of the barrel. Declan Foley, a native of Sligo, is an Australian-based author, editor, and scholar who focuses heavily on the Yeats family. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Falling space debris is the cause of a number of forest fires in this country - that's according to a long-time campaigner on the dangers and frequency of space debris fallling to earth. John Hall from Lincolnshire in England has close family ties with Templeboy in Co Sligo, where he's been visiting this week, and still insists society is not fully aware of the disasters space debris is causing Se...

It's been claimed that a suggested donation of €5 to visit the grave of WB Yeats at Drumcliffe is actually damaging tourism locally. Visitors to the historic grave are being asked to make the donation - local resident and tour guide, Leo Leydon, insists it's a charge, not a donation, and it should be removed See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legislation needs to be brought foward to set a maximum workplace temperature limit, which would compel employers to ensure the safety of workers during periods of extreme heat. That's according to Sligo Labour Party Senator Nessa Cosgrove, who's been outlining more about her proposal See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fianna Fail TD, Eamon Scanlon, has moved to clarify which way he voted in last week's Dail vote on the proposal to abolish the three-day waiting period for abortion services. Deputy Scanlon's Dail seat had indicated a vote in favour, but Deputy Scanlon says he wasn't sitting in his seat the time - he was in the adjoining seat, and definitely voted No See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

The  principal of Our Lady of Mercy Primarhy School in Sligo says the Government sanction for a new ASD class does not mean that there will be additional places in the school's existing special classes for autism. While welcoming the announcement of the Autism Inclusive Special Class, Olivia Flannery says it is separate to the Special Classes the school already has See omnystudio.com/listener...

A Donegal Garda Superintendent has warned that modern slavery exists and is hidden in plain sight, and we all have a responsibilty to report any such activity. Supt Siobhan Mollahan has been commenting on the outcome of a court case which resulted in the jailing of two Ballyshanon residents for human trafficking See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North West Today broadcasts live from Tubbercurry where our guests are Joann Hosey, Tubbercurry Town Team, Micheál McGinty, Town Regeneration Officer, Louise Kilbane of Tubbercurry Old Fair Day committee, Sandra Cribben of the Family and Childcare Resource Centre adn Sarah Kelly, Manager of Tubbercurry Community Library. While our Friday Panel is Helen Rochford Brennand and Gearóid S...

Martina lives in the hinterland of the proposed new wind farm development at LIssinagroagh in North Leitrim and says the location is completely unsuitable for a number of reasons, primarily environmental. The development includes proposals for a 14-turbine wind farm and Martina already  lives in the shadow of 3 wind turbines See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are new fears over the future of the national school in Kiltyclogher due to declining student enrolment numbers - the matter was raised at this week's meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District Council. A similar challenge arose there is 2017 when the Kilty Live initiative began, as organiser Ciaran Rock recalls See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's 30 years since the visit of Mother Teresa of Calcutta to Sligo - now, a Saint. We look back at the coverage of the event at Sligo Cathedral at the time, where she was also accorded the Freedom of Sligo. Canon Niall Ahern and former Mayor Matt Lyons outline their recollections of the historic event See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.