Ocean FM News Reports

Sligo Councillor calls for a more proactive approach from road chiefs to address rising road fatalities

Everyone in the Twin Towns are said to be heartbroken after a teenage boy died in a drowning tragedy in Stranorlar. Gardaí along with the emergency services responded after receiving reports of a person entering the River Finn at Drumboe Woods, shortly before 5:40pm yesterday evening. The boy was brought from the water and transferred by ambulance to Letterkenny University Hospital, where he was p...

A Midlands/North-West MEP believes that the EU's latest housing plan doesn't do enough to help combat the housing crisis in the North West. The plan, which is 20 pages long, was released by the EU Housing Commission earlier this week. MEP Ciaran Mullooly said that the plan have some positive aspects but is not enough on its own. The Independent Ireland MEP raised the challenge faced by the Atlanti...

A significant Christmas decoration has been allegedly stolen from a roundabout in Ballyshannon. It's believed that the large decorative reindeer was taken at some stage last night and the electrical connection was also damaged during the course of the incident. Taking to social media, Ballyshannon Business Chamber expressed their disappointment, as local volunteers gave a lot of their time install...

A Sligo Councillor has taken issue with the Tánaiste’s evaluation of NAMA.   It emerged this week that the body made a final transfer of a 450 million surplus euro to the exchequer.   It brings to five point six billion euro the total amount of money transferred to the state in its lifetime.   Tánaiste Simon Harris thanked staff as it winds down its operations at the end of the year...

Sligo’s John Murphy has joined the race to become the next President of the GAA. The Tubbercurry man explains the rationale behind his bid. European Gold medallists in their respective sports, Gearoid McDaid, Paddy Reape and Cian McMunn, are honoured by Sligo County Council. We  hear from all three. Fermanagh gaelic footballer Darragh McGurn shares what life is like under new manager Dec...

Local butchers say they're continuing to trade strongly in the run up to Christmas. This is despite the fears around bird flu in the area with outbreaks recorded around the country. Concerns remain also around the Mercosur deal for suppliers and butchers in the region. Peter Wynne, owner of For Pete's Steak Butchers believes it will always be tough for standalone butchers to compete with their sup...

The December meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District of Leitrim heard calls for an updated progress report on the Safe Routes to School scheme for St Clare's National School, Manorhamilton.   The calls were made as the Department of Transport expanded a scheme which encourages parents to ditch the car for the school run.   The Safe Routes to School Programme accepted 105 more sch...

Farmers from the North West are on their way to join their peers from across Europe at a protest in Brussels today.   It's expected that at today demonstration they will raise concerns over the CAP budget, trade deals including Mercosur and excessive regulation around the cost of doing business.   The IFA Chairman in Sligo is in Belgium for today’s event.   He says farmers intend to...

Sligo's Caredoc won't be impacted in today's strike action.   INMO and SIPTU members are in dispute over an unpaid eight per cent pay increase agreed in 2023.   The action which begins at 8am and will last until 8am tomorrow is set to focus on centres in the south east of the country.    Caredoc, warns the stoppage will severely impact services over the Christmas period, with u...

Business owners across Sligo town will be incentivised to live above their premises. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is being renewed with an added "Vacant Above the Shop" Grant. It aims to tackle dereliction by allowing people to use "above shop" space as homes. Finbarr Filan of Sligo BID says the new grant will improve the scheme in town centres:

A Sligo/Leitrim TD has expressed reservations about the potential ban on foxhunting. Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny is opposed to the motion put forward by People Before Profit TD Ruth Coppinger. The ban is being debated today in the Dail, with a vote on the bill expected this evening. Deputy Kenny said the practice is different from how it was historically portrayed:

With the Christmas season in full swing, schools across the North West are preparing for their festive celebrations. Ransboro National School is one of the many schools hosting Christmas carols this winter. Jack Duignan has this report:

It now seems likely that the Taoiseach has survived a heated meeting with his TDs and Senators over the fallout from the Presidential election.   Micheal Martin was heavily criticised during a Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting in Leinster House last night.   A review of the selection process showed Jim Gavin was asked five times about a reference to a dispute with a tenant.  ...

Christmas has arrived at Ozanam House in Bundoran, where residents and staff are celebrating the festive season together. The St Vincent de Paul–run centre supports older people who wish to maintain their independence in a safe and welcoming environment. Ocean FM reporter Dervla Carr paid a visit to Ozanam House to meet the residents and find out how Ozanam house makes them feel at home this Chris...

A review into Fianna Fail’s handling of the Presidential Election Campaign reveals potential tenancy issues were raised with Fianna Fail before Jim Gavin was selected as the party’s candidate. The issue was discussed at Parliamentary Party meeting last night. It’s being reported that many members were unhappy with having little input into the selection process. It’s also understood there was criti...

Further energy price hikes are set to hit people across the North West. The changes are set to take effect from January, with the government citing upgrades to the national grid as the reason. Customers' bills are set to increase by 1 euro 75 per month. Councillor Michael Clarke says the government are looking for excuses to take money from people:

A Leitrim Councillor says all Fianna Fail Councillor and party members should be forwarded a copy of the review into the Presidential campaign. The calls from Cllr Paddy O' Rourke come as the Taoiseach survived a heated meeting with his TDs and Senators over the fallout from the debacle. Micheal Martin was heavily criticised during the meeting in Leinster House. A review of the selection process s...

A North West Junior Minister says bot the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, are committed to the development of a greenway in Sligo.   Minister Marian Harkin while acknowledging the ongoing debate over the reintroduction of railway infrastructure highlighted the need for a realistic, achievable solution now.    The Greenway is seen as a vital asset for local communities and tourism, offering...

The Government has been accused of being blind to the potential of the North West.   It comes as there are renewed calls for a number of key infrastructure projects to be fast tracked.   In recent weeks, it was confirmed that the likes of planned upgrades to the N17, N15 and N4 are to progress further.   Speaking in the Dail last night, Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says t...

Yesterday’s meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District of Leitrim County Council heard calls for the Western Commission to provide assistance in tackling the issue of dereliction in Kiltyclogher.    At present there are 30 derelict houses in the village.   Cllr Justin Warnock has questioned how this situation can exist at a time when the village was crying out for new residents...

Sligo’s John Murphy is to run for the Presidency of the GAA. He was nominated by his club, Tubbercurry, at last night’s Sligo County Convention in the Clayton Hotel. Murphy will be one of three candidates in the running to succeed current Uachtarán Jarlath Burns. He's been speaking to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan.

There are hopes that the N17 Sligo to Galway road may finally see an upgrade. The N17 Knock to Collooney Transportation Project has moved to Phase 3 which involves evaluations on the design and evironmental impact of the route. Serious safety concerns were raised by numerous residents and councillors in the county on the current condition of the existing road. Caithaoirleach of the Ballymote-Tubbe...

A Donegal Town journalist based in Sydney says what started off as a beautiful day on Bondi Beach yesterday turned into a scene of horror. Fifteen people are now dead and dozens are injured following the attack, carried out by a father and son, with one gunman killed at the scene and the other in hospital. The Australian government is moving to tighten gun laws in the wake of the deadly shooting....

A Leitrim Councillor says the recent announcement that there is to be further significant investment in the Belfast to Dublin rail infrastructure will infuriate north west commuters further who still can't buy a cup of tea or coffee on the Sligo to Dublin service.   The comments from Cllr Padraig Fallon come as The Belfast to Dublin train fleet is being upgraded with a new fleet of Enterprise...