North West Today

Zoologists at the National Museum have been described the significance and excitement of the discovery of a Greenland shark, washed up at Finisklin in Sligo last weekend. The shark is believed to have been around 150 years old and it's the first recorded stranding of this species of shark on the Irish coast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ardara-based Senator Eileen Flynn says she was too terrified to attend last week's fuel protests because of the presence of so many tricoour flags at them. She claims members of far right organisations took over many of the protests to try and use them to their advantage See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Margaret Gallagher operates five school buses in Co Donegal, but says she won't be able to do so for much longer because of the escalating price of fuel. It has already meant her having to raise the price per child for school travel - Margeret took part in last week's fuel convoy protests See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Gurhy, a native of Riverstown in Co Sligo, now resident in Chicago, has campaigned for Donald Trump in his two Presidential campaigns of 2016 and 2024. He now says he disagrees with a lot of what Trump has done and said, inlcluding his war with Iran and his crtiicism of Pope Leo, but still supports him, as he is creating a stronger US economy See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Junior Minister Independent TD Marian Harkin has defended her decision to vote confidence in the Government in yesterday's vote, during which Minister Michael Healy-Rae resigned . She says the Government is trying to do its best for the people. Fine Gael Junior Minister Frank Feighan believes the Government remains stable despite Healy-Rae's departure See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Rachael Scanlon was in her late 30s when she acquired sudden onset Functional Neurological Disorder, of FND. It began when she experienced sudden seizures, and the loss of the ability to walk. She describes what happened, and what has happened since, with the assistance of the FND Ireland charity See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of the famous Boys of Ballisodare Festival, Philip Flynn, has paid tribute to the late Moya Brennan of Clannad fame. Philip says Moya's and Clannad's Sligo musical connections date back to very early days in their careeer and they played at every one of the Ballisodare Festivals from 1977 to 1982 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One local woman's frustration at being forced to cancel an urgent hospital appointment in Dublin due to the fuel protests - she's been waiting 14 months for such an appointment. She says she still supports the cause for which people are protesting, but that the ordinary citiizen should not be affected in such a manner See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Junior Minister Marian Harkin says she is 'hugely disappointed' with the resumption of fuel price protests in Sligo this morning, despite the Government announcement of measures to address the crisis. Minister Harkin says she does not understand what the protesters are trying to achieve, and insists the Government measures represent the best package per head of population within the EU See omnystu...

This week's Friday Panel discussion is dominated by the fuel price protests of the past week - our panellists offer their views, as well as Donald Trump threats of annihilation of Iran, modular home and the housing crisis, the Artemis moon mission and how the upgrading of the Sligo Rail was secured in the 90s - guests are Jim Lawlor and Kevin Comiskey See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

'Very little disruption' has been caused to people by the fuel protests of the past week and what's happening is a rebellion, not witnessed since the Easter Rising rebellion of 1916. That's according to Sligo Independent councillor, Michael Clarke, who has once again joined protesters in Sligo today - he maintains more organisations are set to join protests next week See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

A nurse who works at the Nazareth House nursing home says it took her an hour longer than usual to get to work this morning because of the fuel price protests - she says it's not the way to go about protesting. While delivery driver Jarlath expresses his frustration after been stuck in traffic on the N15 road - he says the protests have become ridiculous See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Reaction continues to yesterday's fuel price protest which led to gridlock on roads across the region. Maelissa McGettigan of McGettigan Travel was one of those asked by organisers of the demonstration to arrange for participation of members in the transport industry in the region, which she did, and says it's unfortunate that people were inconvenienced See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

The owner of the land along a walking route to the scenic Devil's Chimney waterfall at Glencar says he would not have any problem with its name being restored to its original 'Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird'. Mark Magennis says the matter should be decided by those residents who have expressed concern at the name change See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public have their say on this morning's fuel price convoy protests which have caused traffic chaos on roads across the region. Protesters outline why such a protest was necessary, while some motorists rage over being caught up in long traffic delays, particularly on the N15 and N4 roads into Sligo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samaarha is the mother of a 15 year old boy with autism - she says his life has changed utterly from being bullied at school and having no-one to invite to birthday parties after availing of the autism support from the Sligo-Leitrim Home Youth Liaison Service. And there are more autism supports on the way for the Service See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of residents in the Glencar area have called on The Devil's Chimney waterfall to be restored to its original Irish name - Sruth in Aghaidh an Airde, 'Stream Against the Height'. The Devil's Chimney name was given after the opening of a wallking trail in 2015 but Seosamh, Carmel and many others want it changed back See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The President of the Sligo Solicitors Bar Association has congratulated local solicitor Tom MacSharry on his nomination to become a District Court judge. Caroline McLoughlin says it's an honour for him and his family and he has been a hard-working solicitor - MacSharry has resigned as a councillor because of the nomination See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There have been an increasing number of complaintas in relation to the potholed state of the road leading to scenic Lissadell Beach in North Sligo - listeners have also complained at the potholes on Pearse Road and Cairns Road in Sligo. Meanwhile, in Co Kerry, one independent Cllr has, along with residents, decided to fill in their own local potholes See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

35 year old Ben Hughes of Belleek remains in intensive care in hospital after a series of serious epileptic seizures. His wife, Ciara, has appealed for assistance in having surgery for him and is concerned that the expected delay for such surgery could endanger his life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ireland's exit from The World Cup, the rise in fuel prices and Govt response, the future of coalition Governments, one-off housing, Donald Trump coming to Ireland and putting clocks foward - permanently - are discussed on this week's Friday Panel. Guests are former Minister and TD, John Perry, and Leitrim councillor Mary Bohan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The father of a son and daughter who have both been refused planning permission to build houses on the family land in Easkey says the planning system must change - his daughter returned home with her family from Australia seeking to settle there but is now considering emigrating again due to the planning obstacles See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The clocks go forward one hour this weekend as Summertime officially begins - but according to MEP Sean Kelly, they should never be changed again. He says the vast majority of Irish people don't want the clocks moving back and forward every six months and wants the matter addressed when Ireland assumes the EU Presidency this year See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holborn Street in Sligo is to be closed to traffic for 4 months from this Thursday, as part of works under the Sligo City Public Realm Enhancement Project. Concerns have been raised at the possible knock-on effect on traffic congestion, as Cllr Arthur Gibbons outlines See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sligo Fr Flanagan Committee has been pushing the case for Fr Edward Flanagan to become a saint since 2015. Now the former Summerhill College student has been formally declared venerable by Pope Leo, the second of four steps to sainthood - Bishop Kevin Doran gives his reaction See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.