Ocean FM News Reports

Following the success of the 100% Redress Party in Donegal’s election over the weekend, thoughts now turn to the formation of the next government. Deputy Ward made history as the first-ever 100% Redress Party candidate to be elected to Dáil Éireann. However the impact this will have on the issue will depend on what approach the new government take towards assisted those effected. PRO of the Sligo...

The north west is set to fall under another spell of unsettled weather conditions in the coming days.   Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have each bore the brunt of adverse weather conditions in recent weeks with severe frost and icy patches.   Met Éireann hasn't ruled out the possibility of a weather warning being issued, as the next named storm 'Darragh' looms on the horizon.  ...

It's hoped that more women will continue to put their names on the electoral ballot member. That's after just one of the 38 candidates contesting the Sligo-Leitrim and Donegal constituencies was elected in the General Election. Independent Marian was re-elected following the 14th count in the Sligo-Leitrim while none of the five female candidates in Donegal were elected. Mairead O'Shea of See Her...

There are concerns in Sligo that the number of people sanctioned on jobseeker's allowance nationally is expected to double this year. New figures from the Department of Social Protection, reported in the Irish Times show nearly nine thousand recipients had payment reductions imposed at the end of October, nearly double of last year. Payment reductions occur if a jobseeker fails to engage with empl...

Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are being urged to improve electrical recycling habits coming into the Christmas period. As it stands, only 30% of devices are being recycled in Sligo and Leitrim, with that figure dropping to 20% in Donegal. According to figures from WEEE Ireland, almost half of Ireland’s small electronics are bought in November and December. Elizabeth O’Reilly, Head of Environmental Co...

Questions have been raised in Killybegs over how increased taxi prices will impact the night time economy. A 9 per cent average increase in fares came into effect yesterday, after a review by the National Transport Authority. There are now concerns that people will opt for other, cheaper modes of transport. Local taxi man and tourism promoter, Derek Vial wonders how much customers can afford:

Charles Ward has been elected from the Donegal constituency.   The 100% Redress Party candidate's total of x votes ensured he secured the fourth seat following the 15th count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.   Ward, who was contesting his first ever election either at local or national level, polled 6,862 votes in the first count.   He has subsequently picked up a number o...

Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher has been elected from the Donegal constituency.   The Fianna Fáil candidate's total of votes ensured he secured the third seat following the count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.   The Cope', contesting his seventeenth election, was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981.   He held a number of Minister of State roles and also served as a member of...

Charlie McConalogue has retained his seat in the Donegal constituency.   The Fianna Fáil candidate's total of x votes saw him elected following the 15th count.   McConalogue held a role in the outgoing government as Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine.   He joins Pearse Doherty, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (both Sinn Féin), party colleague Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher and 100% Redress P...

Outgoing Independent TD Thomas Pringle has conceded defeat in the 2024 General Election in the Donegal constituency.   Pringle nudged ahead of Charlie McConalogue in the fourteenth and penultimate count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny by 341.   However, owing to the fact that Nikki Bradley was eliminated, it is widely expected that the Fianna Fáil candidate will be elected. &nb...

100% Redress Party candidate Charles Ward looks set to win one of five seats in the Donegal constituency.   Ward, who was contesting his first ever election either at local or national level, polling 6,862 votes in the first count.   He has subsquently picked up a number of transfers from eliminated candidates which have further boosted his chances.   Speaking to Ocean FM, Charles W...

Listen back to Sunday's historic Connacht senior club football final at Markievicz Park between Coolera/Strandhill (Sligo) and Padraig Pearses (Roscommon). Commentary from Colm McGee & Eamonn O'Hara.

Two of the team behind Fianna Fáil candidate Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher joined Ocean FM's coverage of the Donegal constituency.   Ben Harkin and Susan Meehan are among those behind what looks set to be the successful 'Team Cope' as Gallagher is set to regain the seat he won in 2020.   Hear their chat with host Jerome Hughes at the Aura Leisure Centre:  

Fine Gael Councillor Manus Boyle joined Ocean FM's panel of experts on Sunday morning at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.   Councillor Boyle, elected to Donegal County Council for the first time in June's local elections, spoke about a range of topics including the poor performance of the two Fine Gael candidates in the Donegal constituency.    He also looked back on his term...

Pearse Doherty has been re-elected to the Donegal constituency.   The Sinn Féin candidate's total of 19,213 votes ensured he topped the poll following the first count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.   Doherty was first elected to the Dáil in 2010 as part of the Donegal south west constituency.    He was subsequently elected in 2016 and 2020 elections in the Donegal c...

Donegal Councillor Mícheál Naughton was next to join our panel of experts at the Donegal constituency count.   The Fianna Fáil Councillor has watched from afar as his party colleagues Pat 'The Cope Gallagher looks set to regain the seat he lost in 2020.   While, outgoing TD Charlie McConalogue was among the top five in tallied figures.   Councillor Naughton, who has harboured about...

Aontú candidate Mary T. Sweeney tallied over 2,400 first preference votes in the General Election count in the Donegal constituency. She joined Ocean FM's panel of experts to look back on her campaign. She has vowed to keep going, to be a voice for not only those who voted for her but for the wider constituency of Donegal  

Outgoing Independent TD Thomas Pringle joined Ocean FM's panel of experts during live count of the Donegal constituency. Pringle tallied 5,344 first preference votes putting him outside the top five, however it is widely expected that he will regain his seat. Speaking at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny, Pringle says it's been a short but enjoyable campaign:

Independent Councillor Frank McBrearty Junior joined Ocean FM's panel for the coverage of the Donegal constituency.   McBrearty Junior, a former member of both Fine Gael and the Labour Party spoke about party's promises and the potential make-up of the next government.    

Following his tally figure of over 10,000 first preference votes, Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher joined our panel of experts at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.   'The Cope', contesting his seventeenth election, was first elected to Dáil Éireann in 1981.   He held a number of Minister of State roles and also served as a member of the European Parliament in three seperate terms.   H...

The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Councillor Niamh Kennedy is among those who are in attendance at the Donegal constituency count.   Councillor Kennedy regained her seat in the local authority in June's local elections in the Donegal Municipal District.   She, is, however, delighted to be watching from the other side this time around.   Donegal County Council also won the...

First-time candidate, Charles Ward of the 100% joined host Jerome Hughes as part of Ocean FM's live coverage of Donegal constituency count at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny.   Ward tallied almost 7,000 first preference votes, polling more than Fine Gael candidates Nikki Bradley and John McNulty.   Hear Charles and Jerome's deep, honest conversation below:

A decision to leave the Donegal Dáil constituency without parts of the south of the county has been a key talking point at the General Election count.   Despite numerous calls, the Electoral Commission recommended no change to the Donegal Dáil constituency in a new boundary report in August 2023.   As a result, Donegal remains a five-seater constituency, with parts of the county remainin...

It remains to be seen whether or not Thomas Pringle will retain his seat in the Donegal consistituency. The outgoing Independent Deputy has increased his vote in Inishowen and Letterkenny, however. He was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 as part of the Donegal- South West constituency. Independent Councillor Jimmy Brogan, who was part of Pringle's campaign team for the General Election has been g...

As part of Ocean FM's coverage of the Donegal constituency count at the Letterkenny, our panel of experts discuss the plight and the lack of funding for the health service.   Both Sligo and Letterkenny University Hospitals have seen serious problems with overcrowding and understaffing in recent times.   It emerged last month that both facilties were among the top six most overcrowded in...