Ocean FM News Reports

A collapsed bridge between Collooney and Coolaney will be included for funding in the next round of the national Bridge Rehabilitation Scheme. Part of the bridge collapsed early last year, and a number of temporary fences have been in place since. It's hoped that following that an announcement on funding will come in January or February of 2025. Fine Gael councillor, Thomas Walsh, says that althou...

The potential knock-on effects of gold mining on land in the north west remains a live issue.     Members of the Tresure Leitrim group have held a number of meetings in recent weeks with the area just one of the proposed destinations for a gold mine in the near future.      Landowners are being reminded that they can prevent the mining company gaining access to their land....

Two Sligo farmers are among those chosen as ambassadors for the 2024 Farming for Nature programme.     Rob Kennedy and Seán Gilligan, who operate an organic farming system from Knocknarea Farm near Strandhill are among those chosen for this year's programme.     Across the year, the duo will host a number of events, including a farm walk on their land, and participate in a 5-mi...

Sligo Tidy Towns is celebrating a number of prizes in the 2024 Tidy Towns national awards.     It was named the winner in the Bat Conservation Ireland award for its Bat Mural.     It also received a special award (large town and large urban centre) in the gum litter task force category and received €2000.     Elsewhere, Riverstown was named as Sligo’s tidiest town. &n...

Warnings have been issued over a scam text relating to electricity credit payments. A large number of people have been sent texts from a number claiming to be from gov.ie , asking them to click on a link to apply for a discounted electricity bill. This is false, as the credits will actually be applied to people's accounts automatically, with the first payment of 125 euro coming before the end of t...

The Garda Commissioner says it could be possible to have a public inquiry into the Creeslough tragedy at the same time as the criminal investigation. Several families of those who died in the County Donegal explosion two years ago met the Justice Minister earlier this week, to press their case for an inquiry into non-criminal factors of the blast. Four men, three women and three children died...

Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Declan Bree, says he has not decided if he will run in the General Election or not. The former Labour party TD says that while he is certainly interested in running as an Independent this time around, negotiations are ongoing and a decision is yet to be made. He was re-elected to Sligo County Council in June's local elections, topping the poll in the Sligo Bo...

The Labour Party say their plans for Early Years and Childcare Providers will revolutionise the sector. They claim that the current system is not working for anyone involved, particularly parents and children. Among Labour's plans are a complete overhaul of the childcare sector, which will see an increase in wages to prevent providers effectively becoming minimum wage workers. Speaking to Ocean FM...

The Sinn Fein leader is in Donegal for a number of engagements today, including meeting the families who lost loved ones or who were injured in the Creeslough tragedy.   It follows a meeting between the families and Justice Minister Helen McEntee at Government Buildings this week.   That meeting came after fears were expressed by the families that their request for an independent inquiry...

Measures have been put in place to facilitate the return the stop on the 981 bus route to Collooney village. The stop was due to return following the start of the trial one way system, however it was removed again as the bus couldn't get down the Main Street due to a number of cars double parked on both sides of the road. Following a meeting between Sligo County Council, An Garda Síochána and Loca...

There are calls for a bigger Garda clampdown on the illegal use of fireworks in Sligo going forward.   It's after what's been described as a night of disruption in the town and in other parts of the County.   There are reports that fireworks were being let off until the early hours of this morning in some areas.   The penalties are fines of up to €10,000 and 5 years imprisonment for...

There's said to be an alarming increase in erratic and dangerous driving behaviour on a main road in south Donegal. Several complaints have been sounded over some motorists overtaking on the continuous white line on the Fintra to Kilcar R263. This is then said to be leading to a big safety risk for residents accessing properties on the right side of the road. A number of near misses has been repor...

On the Halloween edition of 'The Final Whistle': Leitrim's Mickey Quinn and Sligo's Brendan Kilcoyne remember former county bainisteoir PJ Carroll, who past away this week. Reflections on last Sunday's dramatic finish to the Sligo Homeland senior football final with Coolera/Strandhill's Sean Taylor and St Molaise Gaels Jimmy Langan & Jack Davitt. Plus - the rise and rise of Sligo women's gaeli...

Sligo residents describe TD Payments as "ludicrous" and "hard to Justify"

Pedestrian path from Coolaney to Rockfield into final stages

The Department of Health have confirmed this morning that an additional 8 million euro is to be allocated to the National Ambulance Service. The aim of the will see an additional 180 staff added, improve response times and increase access to care. Funding for the service will now stand at 16 million euro by 2026. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Independent Donegal TD, Thomas Pringle, says he's doubtful...

The funeral of a 22 year old man killed in a weekend collision in south Sligo has heard that burying someone so young is not the norm.   Sean McGuiness who from the Lavagh area of County Sligo, died after the car he was driving was involved in a collision on the R294 near Tubbercurry in the early hours of Saturday morning last.   An investigation into the crash and Gardai are continuing...

People living in North Leitrim are said to be crying out for more investment into the area.   There's significant disparities as it relates to Government funding sanctioned to north of the county when compared to South Leitrim.   Fianna Fail Cllr and General Election Candidate Edel MacSharry says local residents feel hard done by and that there are a lot issues affecting those living in...

It's expected the Garda investigation into the Creeslough tragedy will be completed in the first quarter of 2025. Families of the victims met with the Justice Minister yesterday, and say "extremely serious questions" still need to be answered about why the explosion occurred.   Last month, Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, confirmed the investigation file on the disaster in Donegal was near co...

There's said to be concern among some voters in the north west over general election candidates calling to them in the evening time.   With an election date set to be announced imminently, and the clocks going back an hour over the weekend, many are said to feel uncomfortable answering their door in the dark.   Independent candidate for Sligo-Leitrim, Michael Clarke says he nor his campa...

Two outgoing North West TDs are set to get substantial exit payments and pensions in the 12 months after the Dáil is dissolved. The figures come from a report by The Journal Investigates, which looked at what each of the 29 current deputies who will not stand in the next election will be entitled to. Both Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marc MacSharry and Fine Gael Donegal TD Joe McHugh are to receiv...

The families affected by the Creeslough tragedy have told the Justice Minister they want an independent statutory inquiry to be held urgently.     10 people died in the explosion in the County Donegal village on October 7th, 2022.     Around 20 family members who have been directly impacted and their legal representatives attended a meeting this afternoon with Minister Helen Mc...

It’s felt that ATU is missing out on reaching its full potential.     That’s according to the university’s president, Doctor Orla Flynn who is calling on the government and policymakers to enable it fully to deliver on its promise to the north west.     Dr Flynn says it’s vital the current constraints on the ATU are lifted and the same tools afforded to other universities are a...

A business owner in Leitrim has hit out at the Government over a lack of financial support following last year's tornado. Last December, a tornado ripped through Leitrim Village, devastating a number of local residents and businesses. Following the freak incident, loans with an interest rate of 5.5% were offered, but it was not clear how to access them, with some feeling that it wasn't enough of a...

Long-standing drainage issues must be resolved before work can proceed on upgrading paths around Ahamlish Cemetery. The paths around the cemetery are have fallen into disrepair, however, nothing can be done with them until issues regarding the draining of land in the area can be sorted. It's hoped that drainage work can begin in the cemetery in the early stages of 2025. Fianna Fail Councillor, Don...