Ocean FM News Reports

A Leitrim Fianna Fáil Councillor and former Sligo Leitrim General Election candidate says he would not be surprised if the party review into the doomed Presenditial Election campaign was not published until as close to Christmas as possible.     The Parliamentary Party met last night, where members demanded a set date from the Taoiseach, which still has not been given.     The...

Donegal Animals in Need are warning they are already at crisis point ahead of the festive season. The closure of the ISPCA centre in Letterkenny earlier this year has resulted in the Donegal Town based charity being placed under unprecedented pressure. Coupled with this is the expected rise in animal surrender in the days after Christmas. Gitta McMullin from Donegal Animals in Need says they are a...

It's being claimed that over 20 vehicles have been damaged in recent weeks as a result of the state of roads in the Ballisodare area. The roads in question were recently dug up to facilitate water works by Uisce Eireann. It's understood that repair works on road surfaces in the area was carried out by Irish Water last night. Local Councillor Thomas Walsh says the number of tyres and wheels that we...

The funeral of the former Fine Gael minister for justice Paddy Cooney will take place later this morning in Athlone.   Mr Cooney died last week at the age of 94.   He served as a minister in various cabinet roles including Education, Defence, justice and Transport, Posts and Telegraphs.   He also served as a MEP and senator for Fine Gael.   For a period of time he operated a le...

Donegal County Council is to write to the Government in support of local school secretaries and caretakers.     It’s claimed that they feel effectively duped out of strike action earlier this year.     Negotiations are ongoing but if they do not get pay parity, they will be back at the picket line in the New Year.     Cllr Noel Jordan says all these workers are lookin...

Both the Transport Minister and the Irish Aviation Authority are facing pressure to change the use of factoring in the Coast Guard helicopter service.   Yesterday, a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport heard that Search and Rescue aircrew in Sligo face “unfair and unsafe” working-time practices next year unless there is such intervention.   Under the new working model, crews must rem...

There are further claims that working conditions at Sligo Coastguard Search and Rescue are unfair and unsafe. It comes as the Government is again being urged intervene to end the long-standing use of factoring in the Coast Guard helicopter service. The immediate-readiness model to the Sligo base is set to be introduced from 1st February, will mean crews must remain on site for 24-hour duty periods...

Owen Elding's marvellous strike against Bohemians in June's 1-1 draw at Dalymount Park has been named as the League of Ireland's Premier Division Goal of the Season for 2025. Here's how the Ocean FM Sport commentary team that night, Odhrán Keating and Mark Rossiter, described the goal.

There are calls for a suitable site to be identified for a new library in Donegal Town. A proposal was put forward a number of years ago but it never came to fruition. Now funding has been earmarked for the project with anticipation that it can finally move forward. Cllr Jimmy Brogan says it's important to get it over the line and that a site in the town centre would be the ideal location:

There doesn’t seem to be any plans to reinstate children dental services to Killybegs. The former clinic closed in December of last year ahead of the planned retirement of the dentist in May. This closure was planned, as the premises no longer met updated compliance and infection-prevention standards however there’s said to be frustration locally over a lack of consultation. Eligible children from...

The Dail has heard that many Donegal people can't afford to heat their homes. It comes as the Government has come in for further criticism for not including energy credits in the latest Budget. Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris was quizzed on Budget decisions in the Dail last night and defended the measures saying that it will reduce energy bills. But Sinn Feins Finance Spokesperson and D...

It's claimed that residents in the Bruckless area have suffered ten recent power outages without a storm taking place. The issue is said to centre on not enough trees which are close to powerlines being cut back since Storm Eowyn. An elderly woman in the area is also said to be without a phone line since January and therefore doesn't have an alarm at her disposal. Fine Gael Cllr Michael Boyle says...

A Sligo Councillor says it's a hugely positive development that Sligo will be included in the Living City Initiative from next year. It's been confirmed this morning that both Sligo and Letterkenny are among a number of new towns that will be able to avail of a scheme to tackle dereliction next year. The Living City Initiative, in place for areas like Cork and Dublin, will now be enacted in Sligo...

There are renewed fears in an area of south Donegal that they could be without water this festive season. Last year, some families in the Lecamey area couldn't make Christmas dinner due to a major water outage. It's said to be a regular occurrence and despite Uisce Eireann being aware of the issue, they have yet carry out the necessary work. Cathaoirleach of the Donegal MD and Fianna Fail Cllr Mic...

Sligo and Letterkenny have been announced as a number of new towns that will be able to avail of a scheme to tackle dereliction next year. The Living City Initiative, in place for areas like Cork and Dublin, will now be enacted in Sligo, Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk and Letterkenny. The scheme provides targeted tax incentives to encourage investment and bring vacant or underused buildings back into...

New research from DCU has found high levels of stress and burnout among Irish teachers, with 85% citing workload as a major factor. The study of over 1,000 primary and post-primary teachers also highlights challenges from unrealistic parental expectations and supporting pupils with special needs. The INTO is calling on the Education Minister to establish an independent review into teacher workload...

A Donegal teaching union official has called for teacher’s workloads to be reviewed.     The calls come as a new survey shows almost nine in ten teachers are reporting feeling burnt out.     The study by DCU, involving more than 1-thousand teachers, found 85 per cent describe feeling moderately or highly burned out.     Donegal native, John Boyle is the General Secret...

The Justice Minister is set to face further pressure to ensure Donegal Town courthouse reopens sooner rather than later. Minister Jim O'Callaghan gave a commitment to see court sittings returned to Donegal Town as part of a visit to the area on Friday. However, Carndonagh Courthouse closed temporarily in March 2019 due to health and safety issues, primarily roof problems, and has remained shut sin...

A Donegal TD has called the government's description of defective concrete as "a legacy issue" disappointing but not surprising. The defective concrete scandal has led to homes across Donegal crumbling, as the government continues not to offer full compensation. The message comes as Storm Bram approaches communities in Donegal. Speaking to Ocean FM News, 100% Redress Deputy Charles Ward described...

There are fears across the North West that the damage caused by Storm Bram could be comparable to Storms Amy and Eowyn. Sligo councillor Thomas Walsh has said that storm readiness has improved across the North West.

The community in Killybegs is said to be bracing itself for potential flooding today as Storm Bram continues to batter the North West. The town was badly hit by flood water just over a year ago during Storm Bert, with several premises on Bridge Street destroyed as a result. At the time, some residents and businesses in the area lost everything and there's said to be a renewed sense of fear today w...

The North West Region is under an orange wind alert today as Storm Bram brings very strong to gale force southerly winds. The warning was activated for Sligo and Leitrim at 11 a.m. this morning and will come into effect in Donegal inside the hour. The warning will expire at different times this evening, Air and sea travel are also affected, with flights and ferry services already impacted. Jim Mol...

Authorities across the North West are continuing to monitor the latest developments in relation to storm Bram.   The alert has already been upgraded this morning.     The entire country will now come under an orange alert for wind.   It's already in place in Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford, lasting until 3pm.   It will ext...

A Status Orange Wind warning for Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal will come into effect from 10 am this morning. The warning will cover the rest of Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath. The warning will remain in place until 9 p.m. this evening. Storm Bram will bring very strong to gale force winds with severe gusts. Keith Leonard from the National Direc...

As Storm Bram approaches the North West, Donegal County Council has activated its Severe Weather Assessment Team, putting resources on heightened alert. A Status Orange wind warning has been issued for the county, with gale-force winds expected along coastal areas. Authorities urge residents to stay cautious, with coastal flooding risks heightened due to tidal surges and persistent rainfall. Speak...