North West Today

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.

The failure by the GAA to provide any live TV coverage of the weekend GAA Championshlp clash between Donegal and Cork has been described as inexplisable by a Donegal councillor. Sinn Fein councillor, Jack Murray, says there's still no reason being given as to why, and the decision was unfair on many, particulaly the elderly who could not attend the match See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The Panel discuss The World Cup, the increase in numbers of learner drivers, the Northern Ireland riots, vaping and children, job losses at Kingsbridge and the weekend GAA fixtures. Guests are Cllr Marie Casserly and former head of FAS Peter Tiernan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder and Chairperson of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival in Ballyshannon has spoken of the sickening and raw experience of finding out that they are owed €283,000 following the liquidation of the company behing the tickets.ie website. Barry O'Neill says it's a devastating and unfair blow to smaller festivals and wants the Government to step in to ensure such festivals...

Olympic and World Boxing Champion Katie Taylor visits the Ocean FM studios as she prepares for the final fight of her career, Croke Park on 5th September next. Katie talks about how important this fight was for her personally, why she wants the growth of women's boxing to be her legacy, and reflects on her and all aspects of her life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A caller from Drumkeeran contacted us after booking a builder through an online agency to carry out work on her guttering. She has since handed over 7.5k to the builder with no sign of work to begin and no updated communication from them and now fears she has been scammed See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A solar waste bin, which cost 6k, was destroyed by fire at Mullaghmore at the weekend -  it's not yet known if it was a case of vandalism or not. The Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Donal Gilroy, has expressed his concern at what happened, and also at the disposal of waste from camper vans in chemical disabled toilets beside the beach See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

The detention of Dr Margaret Connolly and her flotilla colleagues, the boycott of the Ireland Israel soccer international, the rise in cost of living, the Government's new car scrappage scheme, the temporary removal of Sligo's WB Yeats statue, and Donald Trump coming to |reland are all discussed on The Friday Panel - with Cllr Declan Bree and Dympna Mannion See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

A young mother has spoken of her frightening expeience of being approached and followed by 2 men while out walking on the Rosses Point coastal loop path this week. The woman says the men attempted to access her phone to take photographs of her children in their double pram when she realised that they could be in danger See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The iconic WB Yeats statue at Stephen Street in Sligo has been removed temporarily as a result of ongoing town enhancement works. However, some claim that it was not the wisest time to make the move, as we head into the tourism season and that many visitors like to have their photo taken beside the statue See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Chambers from Sligo lost his young son, Conor, to suicide in 2019. The huge grief and isolation that Alan and his family suffered led him to seek out the services and supports of national suicide bereavement organisation, HUGG, with whom he now volunteers. He's spoken out publicly to give hope to others in a similar situation See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chairperson of the Irish Motorhome Working Group says the residents of Donegal Town need to embrace the camper van and motorhome community and recognise that they bring much income to the town. Jason Carmody has made his comments after criticism of the latest numbers of camper vans parkling in The Pier area of the Town See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's Panel discuss the detenation of the flotilla activists in Israel, tourism and facilites for camper vans and motorhomes, the latest RTE payments controversy, the rise in the price of groceries, King Charles invitation to visit Ireland and GAA games not being free-to-air. Guests are Cormac Meehan and Miriam Kivlehan See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sligo GP Margaret Connolly and her colleagues on the Gaza flotilla were not well treated and roughed up by Israeli forces, during their detention at a port there. That's according to her husband, Cllr Declan Bree, who finally spoke to his wife last evening after she arrived in Istanbul, having been flown from Israel. He attended a vigil in Sligo in suipport of the activists    ...

A woman who came across the body of a mutilated dog at Dooney Rock in Sligo has described her horror at what she saw. She says it appears as if the dog was sawn in half and had its ears ripped off. She reported the matter to the Gardai and authorties but the dog's body was removed before they got to the scene See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two people from the region join us in studio to talk about their battle with alcoholism - Cathy, who's been sober for the past 18 years, and Richard, sober for 17 years. They turned successfully to Alcoholics Anonymous for help - a Connacht Intergroup of AA takes place this coming Sunday See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councillor Declan Bree has described his wife as a truly exceptional human being and says her family couldn't be prouder of her, as  she contines to be detained by Israeli forces. Dr Margaret Connolly and her colleagues were arrested after their flotilla vessel, en route to Gaza, was intercepted - Cllr Bree continues to wait for word on her safety See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Leitrim Fianna Fail councillor Paddy O'Rourke has condemned the secret video recording of Bertie Ahern during a political canvas in which he made controversial comments on immigration. He says the incident sets a 'dangerous precedent' for canvassers in future See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a weekend  of devastation on Irish roads, including the death of three young people on roads in County Donegal, the Taoiseach and Government Minsters have been called on to treat road deaths as a national emergency. Sligo Cllr Marie Casserly has written to them urging immediate intervention in the crisis See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.