Ocean FM News Reports

The new €35 million Smooth Point Pier Extension at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre was officially opened today. The project was delivered over the past ten years, was funded through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. It is expected to bring huge opportunities to the north west in relation to the fishing and offsho...

The Taste of Sligo food festival is due to take place this weekend in Queen Maeve's Square. The event kicks off on Saturday at 12:30pm, with a wide of variety of food and entertainment on offer. The food available at the event is set to showcase the best cuisine of Sligo and the Northwest region. The event's organiser, Anthony Gray has coined the event as "challenging" but hopes that it will be a...

The full potential of Sligo Airport is yet to be unlocked. That's according to the Sligo Airport Chairman, Albert Higgins, following the recent arrival of the new Rescue 118 Helicopter, as it visited its new base. The new contract for operations was awarded to Bristow Ireland, and the public has been reassured that the new helicopter has the same capabilities as the previous one. Mr Higgins says t...

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty says Sinn Fein are "taking nothing for granted" ahead of the next General Election. Both Deputy Doherty and fellow sitting TD, Padraig MacLochlainn, were chosen unopposed to contest the next election at Sinn Fein's selection convention in the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny last night. It remains to be seen if Sinn Fein will add another candidate to the ticket in Donegal in...

Plans are afoot to roll out gender-based violence prevention training in schools across the North West. A pilot scheme, launched by the Men's Development Network, is currently being rolled out in schools in Dublin, Wicklow and Laois. No schools in the North West are currently taking part in the training, but it is hoped that more schools will participate in the training in the near future. Speakin...

Representatives from Love Leitrim are taking part in an anti-fracking protest in Dublin this afternoon.   Serious concern has already been expressed over plans to build a Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve in Ireland in the form of a fracked gas import terminal.   Independent Cllr Eddie Mitchell believes that this is ultimately a hugely important issue for County Leitrim.   He spoke to...

The N17 is a top priority for the current government, and will continue to be so should they get re-elected. That’s according to Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan, who confirmed that TII are continuing to work on the developments. It has been a long running issue in Sligo, with many locals highlighting the dangerous junctions and bends located on the road. Deputy Feighan says previously raised proble...

A seminar will be held in Sligo today, documenting the history of the 16th Century Armada Ships that sank off Streedagh beach. The event is being run by the National Monument Service, and gets underway in the Southern Hotel from 11am. A number of experts in underwater arcaheology and heritage are expected to be in attendance, as well as delegates from the Spanish Ministry of Culture. Updates will...

Sligo senior football manager Tony McEntee talks to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan about his decision to stay on for two more years.

It's thought that a record deer cull in the North West doesn't go far enough.   Sligo had 1723 wild deer culled in a 12 month period up to February 28th last year, up 54% from the previous year.   Just over 2,700 deer were culled in Donegal over the same period and a further 549 in Leitrim.   Independent Cllr Michael McClafferty has previously called for army snipers to be drafted i...

Irish rail and An Garda Siochana are acting proactively in introducing high-visibility patrols on the Sligo to Dublin line, rather than reacting to incidents.   The collaboration comes as part of the community policing strategy, which sees Gardaí supporting safety on all forms of public transport.   It is with the intention of preventing instances of antisocial behaviour, which has previ...

Sligo Rovers application for funding in excess of €10 million to redevelop the Showgrounds will reach a conclusion in October.   The project aims to provide the town with a new multi-sport stadium - the first UEFA Category 3 Stadium outside Dublin - in the lead up to Sligo Rovers’ centenary in 2028.   A funding application was lodged by the club earlier this summer.   Following disc...

Two more years for Tony McEntee as Sligo senior gaelic football manager City Hall celebrates Sligo's Olympiic & Paralympic heroes The fine calm weather forces the postponement of this weekend's National Surfing Championships in Biundoran Can Sligo Rovers upset holders Athlone Town in Sunday's FAI Cup semi-final? Emma Hansberry & Tommy Hewitt assess their chances Tourlestrane's Stephen Henr...

Anne Rabbitte responds to the issue of child service closure.

Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin has raised concern over closure of multiple child services.

Sligo Rovers Emma Hansberry and team manager Tommy Hewitt chat with Austin O'Callaghan ahead of Sunday's Sports Direct FAI Cup semi-final against holders Athlone Town at the Showgrounds.

This month's meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District has heard for an adequate bus supply to meet an ever-increasing demand in north Leitrim. A number of passengers from the area currently avail an early morning service to Sligo Town. However, owing to many students opting to live and travel from home, many passengers have been left stranded while others have been forced to seek alternativ...

Ryan Scanlon of Sonic Minds discusses the preparation behind winning Ocean FM's Search for a Local Hero

There are a number of Sligo patients unable to be discharged from hospital due to a lack of home care hours available. That's according to Ballymote-Tubbercurry Fianna Fail Cllr Liam Brennan, who has been speaking to families of those affected. It's understood that two 30 minute sessions of home help a day would be enough to facilitate the movement of some patients back home. Cllr Brennan says he...

There are further fears over fuel prices between Northwest counties and their neighbours across the border, as by January 1st, there could be a difference in diesel of 20c per litre. That’s according to Fuels for Ireland, who also highlighted how Ireland is set to become the most expensive country in Europe for diesel, once the next hike comes in on Budget Day. While it’s understood Irish motorist...

Proper implementation is needed to support victims of domestic abuse and gender based violence across the North West. That's the view of Leitrim Sinn Fein Councillor, Roisin Kenny, who was speaking after it was revealed that Ireland is off the mark when it comes to providing safe spaces for victims. Leitrim and Sligo are among nine counties where there are currently no designated refuge units for...

The Oireachtas Committee on Drug Use has been hearing submissions from the Irish College of GPs and Irish Pharmacy Union. They've been discussing the potential for decriminalisation and legalisation of drugs in Ireland. Donegal based Pharmacist Tom Murray from the Irish Pharmacy Union gave this submission in his opening address:

The Government is being urged to use the Apple tax windfall to address regional imbalance in the North West.   The Taoiseach told a Fine Gael meeting last night he hopes to reveal how the 14 billion will be invested on Budget Day October 1st.   He's already hinted it will be used for infrastructure and investment.   Speaking in the Dail last night, Sligo Leitrim Independent TD Marc...

A petition has been launched over a grandfather with dementia being cared for in a utility room at Sligo University Hospital. 78 year old George Downey remains in the utility room this week, despite calls from his family to have him moved over safety concerns. While a number of cardboard boxes have been moved this week, the room has no bathroom. A petition, in a bid to secure a private room has be...

There's urgent calls on Uisce Eireann to upgrade the wastewater treatment plant in Ballisodare in the wake of mass salmon deaths in the river over the summer.   It follows the conclusion of Inland Fisheries Island's investigation.   The IFI found that there was no pollution in the Ballisodare River system, but identified a number of factors that could have contributed to death of almost...