Ocean FM News Reports

There are renewed appeals for a guitar owned by Rory Gallagher to be purchased and remain in Ireland. The famous Fender Stratocaster owned by the Ballyshannon musician will be up for auction in London later this month with an estimated value of €1.1 million. Speaking in Cork this week, US rocker Joe Bonamassa urged Irish entrepreneurs to purchase the instrument, saying it would be a “tragedy” if i...

There are calls for a bigger clampdown on those who are illegally parking in disabled bays in Sligo. Last week, Gardaí in Leitrim issued a number of fixed charged penalty notices to drivers who parked their vehicles in bays without displaying a blue badge. While over 4 thousand fines were issued in Sligo to motorists in 2023 as the local authority look to crack down on illegal parking. Local Arthu...

The Taoiseach, Simon Harris, has said the Cost of Living package included in today's Budget will be a massive help to people in the North West. Budget 2025 will be launched by the Government this afternoon. A social welfare package of around 2.7bn is expected to be included in today's announcement, as well as core social welfare rates will rising by 12 euro a week with electricity credits totaling...

Objections raised locally over a housing development in Strandhill were rejected at the county development plan meeting. An amendment was raised by local Cllr Fergal Nealon based on safety issues the development would bring to the area. The area of Strandhill in question is close to Strandhill National School, which is currently at capacity due to a recent increase in population. The amendment was...

It's been clamied that local authorities are not being properly supported financially by Government. The comments were made by Independent Donegal Councillor, Declan Meehan, who was speaking after Donegal County Council voted not to change the Local Property Tax rate in Donegal. A motion to lower the rate by 15% was defeated. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Councillor Meehan accused Fianna Fail and Fin...

The Sligo Community Archaeology Project is officially underway. The project, which is being run by Sligo County Council and The Heritage Council, will run until the end of November. A number of archaeology experts will be hosting special lectures throughout the duration of the project, with more information available on the Sligo Community Archaeology Project Facebook page. Senior Archaeologist wi...

The amount of developments being prevented in Sligo due to being on a flood plain has been called “scandalous”. The comments were made by Cllr Paul Taylor who highlighted that it’s an issue occurring across the country. It’s understood that a farmer was unable to build on his own land due to it being a flood risk. Cllr Taylor says the chance of flood is highly unlikely and not a good enough reason...

Members of the public in the north west are being advised to get vaccinated early.   The calls come as the HSE's annual free Winter Vaccination Programme for at-risk groups starts today. Those aged over 60, healthcare workers, pregnant women, anyone with a long-term health condition, and children aged between two and 17 are eligible for a free vaccine at their local pharmacy or GP. The HSE is...

There has been a sense of confusion at the Sligo County Development Plan meeting, with high levels of bureaucracy within the plan highlighted by cllrs. The meeting has been underway since this morning, with the council laying out plans for the next six years. The wording of certain amendments have raised questions and concerns among representatives. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Fianna Fail Cllr Dona...

It's hoped that tomorrow's Budget will result in extra beds at Sligo University Hospital.   It comes as the Department of Health is to receive funding for 350 new beds in acute hospitals and 160 in community facilities.   It's not yet known how that will benefit the likes of Sligo and Letterkenny University Hospitals.   There will also be funding for two new surgical hubs in Galway...

It's been claimed that recent figures for the likes of housing and homeless for County Sligo have been miscalculated.   The issue was raised this afternoon at what's been described as a tense meeting to finalise Sligo's County Development Plan.   It has led to further concern over the amount of land being zoned for future development.   Cllr Fine Gael Thomas Walsh hit out at the pla...

Family Resource Centres in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have renewed calls for adequate funding ahead of Budget 2025. They are seeking a long-term sustainable funding model for FRCs, which is a minimum of €240,000 in supports granted per centre. Fergal Landy, CEO of the Family Resources Centre National Forum, highlighted the impact they have on local communities. Mr Landy says they’re trying to prov...

Councils in the likes of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal could stop cars and raid houses under plans for fresh crackdown on smoky fuel sales.   The measures are contained in a draft Air Pollution Bill which is currently being finalised.   Tighter controls on imported fuels would also be introduced, stiffer penalties would apply and on-the-spot fines would be imposed.   But Sinn Fein Cllr...

Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal saw some of highest increases in house prices in the third quarter of 2024.   The latest Daft.ie report shows that prices in Donegal were 12.4% higher than a year previously, with the average house price in the county now standing at €239,000.   Leitrim also recorded double figures in terms of increases with 11.7% recorded there bringing the average house price...

Councillors are set to make the final adjustments to the Sligo County Development Plan later today.   The plan sets out various developments for the county between now and 2030.   A number of amendments are to be voted on by local representatives today.   Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh has reiterated his belief that as much land as is possible must be zoned for future housing developme...

Frustration has been expressed over the increased number of dog fouling incidents at a north west rugby club's facilities.   In post on social media, Donegal Town Rugby Club has appealed to dog owners to clean up after their pets.   The club say the problem has started to impact their games and say a full sweep of the pitch took place to remove a large amount of dog excrement on Saturday...

Sligo Rovers U20 boss Declan Boyle on a heart-breaking extra-time loss to UCD in the Enda McGuill Cup final 1983 FAI Cup winner Andy Elliott makes a rare visit to the Showgrounds Rovers first team boss John Russell on last Friday's 0-0 draw with leaders Shelbourne at Tolka Park..

Dungloe reached their first Donegal senior men's championship final since 1964, on the same Sunday that the club's women's footballers lifted the county intermediate title. Lots for Paddy McGill to digest - in the company of Peter Campbell, Tony Boyle, Mark Curran and Alan Foley.

Serious safety concerns have been raised over a route in south Sligo.   The main Ballymote to Boyle route is home to a number of housing estates.   There are calls for traffic calming measures to be installed at a particular section.   Fine Gael Cllr Gerard Mullaney says a funding application for the works has been resubmitted and is hopeful that the Department will finally give the...

The Domestic Violence Advocacy Service in Sligo-Leitrim has spoken out against recent figures showing the rise of femicide in Ireland.   According to a new study by the office of the state pathologist, there was a 10% rise in homicides against women between 2020 and 2021.   While in 2022, there were 13 femicides in the country, which was the highest number recorded by the study.   C...

There's calls for more funding for the upkeep and improvements to a number of graveyards in south Sligo.   In particular, Ballyrush cemetery is said to be in bad need extra funding to finished off an extension and other upgrade works.   Sooey, Corrig and the Old Kilmorgan graveyards have also been flagged as areas of concern.   Fianna Fail Cllr Liam Brennan feels that not enough mon...

It is hoped that European priorities and projects are not abandoned in the forthcoming Budget. That's according to Midlands North West MEP Maria Walsh, who wants to see more being done for the nature restoration law, critical infrastructure projects, along with spending increases on mental health services. MEP Walsh believes an approach that safeguards Ireland's commitments to Europe and domestic...

A new housing development is to be officially launched in Sligo this weekend. The Tannery, situated on Cairns Hill, will see over 70 new, state-of-the-art 3 and 4 bed houses available, as well as 1 and 2 bed apartments. The launch gets underway this Sunday at 1pm, with a show-house open to viewing for prospective homeowners. Renowned celebrity architect, and Home of the Year judge, Hugh Wallace, w...

There's been a mixed reaction to a dramatic increase in drug driving detections in the North West. This week's CSO crime statistics show that there's been a 66% rise in drug driving offences in this region in the second half of 2024 when compared to the same period last year. Driving drinking was up 4%. Chairperson of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee and Sinn Fein Cllr Gerry McGonagle says the...

It's emerged that Sligo County Council didn't carry out any planned farm inspections last year.   According to a recent EPA report, complaints to Sligo County Council were investigated and followed up and planning applications relating to farming activities were assessed but no planned inspections were undertaken.   However, some non-compliances were detected during complaint investigati...