North West Today

Business Freddy Gonzalez, a former professional footballer and Philippines international, outlines his plans for a takeover of the Finn Harps club with an initial €4m investment. Members of the co-op structured club will vote on acceptance or not of his plans at a special meeting on Monday evening next See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wendy, who lives in the Arigna area, has taken to wearing a badge with the message 'Too old to be cold' and she wants others as concerned as she is about spiralling energy costs to do likewise. She points to a €1,100 increase in a home heating oil tank fill in the past year and warns of the dangers people being cold over the winter period See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fr John Carroll told the North West Today show in a 2019 interview that he wanted to remembered as somebody who did his best - we recall some of that interview while tributes continue to pour in for him, and we hear from the Bishop of Elphin and Achonry, and Mary, who met him randomly once and remembers his kindness See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Nathan Carter concert which was to take place at St Joseph's Church in Boyle in December has now been cancelled by local church authorities, after originally been given the go-ahead by them. There's been a wave of criticism at the move - local resident, Viv Moran, says the issue at the heart of the dedate is not the concert, but the role of music in the church See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Sligo Labour Party Senator Nessa Cosgrove visited the Garvaghy Road in Portadown at the weekend as the dispute over the Orange Order parade drags on. She addressed residents, insisting that while there is a law of the land, the law of humanity needs to be uppermost in what is happening See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remembering former Sligo Councillor Ita Fox who passed away at the weekend. Tributes are paid by her former council colleague Tony McLoughlin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Mayo councillor claims that it's common knowledge that Taoiseach Micheál Martin instructed Irish Rail to reverse a decision which now leads to allowing the proposed Sligo Greenway be developed along the route of the Western Rail Corridor between Collooney and Bellaghy. Cllr Gerry Murray was one of the Mayo councillors who criticised the move as they passed a motion to this effect See omny...

A Donegal councillor claims the annual Orange Order parade in Rossnowlagh in the county should be banned as a result of what is happening in Drumcree and the continuing stand-off there. Cllr Micheál Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig says the Orange Order need to be called out for thier sectarianism and what they actually stand for See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Galway County Council has passed a motion condemning the decision by Iarnrod Eireann to allow the new Sligo Greenway to proceed along the route of the Western Rail Corridor between Collooney and Bellaghy. The councillor who put foward the motion, FG's Peter Feeney, has described the move as deplorable See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sligo Geenway, the Government's Emergency Ready Booklet, lack of parking at Sligo Rail Station, risiing fuel prices, the Ireland V Israel soccer fixture, and a little slice of political rivalry are up for discussion on this week's Friday Panel. Guests are councillors Michael Clarke and Seamus Kilgannon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The parent of two secondary school children who live in Gurteen and attend school in Sligo has criticised the haphazard nature of the bus service between the two areas. There is no dedicated school bus service on this route, so they rely on Local Link buses which she says often have no room on them for the students See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sligo councillor Michael Clarke has been appointed as the Independent Ireland's spokesperson on the Environment and Local Government. The confirmation came on the day that three more councillors across the country joined the ranks of the party See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A request to have the Devil's Chimney waterfall in Glencar offiically restored to its traditional name of Sruith in Aghaidh an Airde is now to be referred to Sligo County Council's Placenames Committee. It's as a result of a campaign by residents in the Glencar area See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chairman of the Sligo Greenway Co-Op has launched a stinging attack on the councillors on Sligo Municipal District Council who have passed a motion calling on Iarnrod Eireann to reverse its decision to allow the greenway be developed along the disused Western Rail Corridor. Peadar Conway says their actions and comments are 'like something from Fr. Ted' and insists 'the nonsense has to stop' Se...

The sister of Michael Hanley says the family have been utterly shattered and traumatised at his death on the day he was discharged from the acute mental health unit in Sligo. Mary Hanley says the family have been pushing for a review of adult mental health retention laws not just in Michael's memory, but to help other families in similar circumstances See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

The need for transport in Sligo and the North West has never been more critical and it's people power that will lead to a Western Rail link from Sligo to Galway, an upgadde of the N17 road and the provision of a greenway. That's according to Sligo publican and businessman, Martin Foley, who  insists politicians will listen to the people if they shout loud enough on these issues See omnystudio...

This week's Friday Panel clash on the Sligo Greenway-Western Rail Corridor issue, while also discussing the Trump visit, the state of our local health service, the huge rise in fuel prices, the attack on TD Michael Healy Rae and more. Guests are Sligo IFA Chairman Michael O'Dowd and restaurant owner Anthony Gray See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a tumultuous last year on a personal level for Sligo singer, Tommy Fleming, for various reasons. But he's back on stage again in coming weeks, as his new Encore Tour begins, with gigs in Sligo, Carrick-on-Shannon and Ballybofey. He's been speaking candidly on how difficult things have been See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sligo GP Margaret Connolly, the sister of President Catherine Connolly, has been explaining the reasoning behind comments made by her on CNN news that The Whitehouse should be flattened with the rubble left by the Isreali bombing of Gaza. Dr. Connolly was interviewed by CNN as she took part in an anti-Trump protest in Dublin during his Irish visit See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

It's now emerged that five more elective surgery procedures were cancelled at Sligo University Hospital yesterday, Monday, due to a recurring problem with a leaking roof in the orhthopaedic theatre. One patient affected has described the situation as an absolute disgrace - the Minister for Health indicated this problem would be prioritised when she visited the Hospital in May, 2025 See omnystudio....

All councillors, TDs and Senators should be randomly screened for drug and alcohol abuse to ensure they are not under the influence when making decisions - that's according to Sligo FF Cllr Donal Gilroy, who says he's aware of some politicians who have been given nicknames as a result of such indulgence See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Chairman of Leitrim GAA has crticised Mary McAleese in resigning from its Integration Committee and claims she has 'run away' from the issue. Enda Stenson insists the GAA will merge with the Ladies Football and Camogie Associations, and it's the Committee's fault for not ensuring deadlines which were put in place were met See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sligo consultant physician David Tansey has written to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, calling for the development of a long-term infrastructure and regional growth strategy for Sligo and the North West. He's been prompted to do so for a number of reasons, including the ongoing controversy over the development of the Sligo Greenway along the route of the Western Rail Corridor See...

A special commemoration service has taken place in Ballymote to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, again highlighting the close links between Ballymote and New York. A host of guests join us on the show, including those who were in New York and Washington on the day of the attack, and former Irish Ambassador to the US, Dan Mulhall See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 years ago, Desmond Beglin rang the newsroom of North West Radio, as he watched the horror of the 9/11 attack on New York unfold before his very eyes. On the anniversary of the atrocity, the native of Culleens recalls that momentous day in world history and the impact it had on New Yorkers and the Irish community there See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.