Ocean FM News Reports

A request is being made at today's Sligo County Council meeting to explore the possibilities of running an expanded timetable for trains between Sligo and Longford.   The routes being sought are a daily commuter service running from Longford to Sligo arriving between 8.30-8.45 am, and a daily night time service running from Sligo to Longford at 10-10.30pm.   Currently there is no train t...

Students can't be forced to keep taking the hits when it comes to the accommodation crisis.   That's the view of one of ATU Sligo Student Union's Vice Presidents, who was speaking after it was revealed late last week that Milligan Court in Sligo town is to now house refugees.   Almost 180 asylum seekers are due to move in to the building, which was previously designated as student accomm...

There's further concern over the level of Garda personnel in the Sligo/Leitrim division.   It comes as Garda numbers are continuing to fall as dozens of successful candidates choose not to take up their places.   Figures have revealed there are now fewer sworn in Garda members than at the start of last year despite a recruitment campaign.   Cllr Michael Clarke says the developments...

Calls have been made locally for an immediate, fair and adequate redress scheme following the publication of the Scoping Inquiry report into religious run schools in the North West and elsewhere.   The scoping inquiry found there were around 2,400 allegations of abuse involving more than 800 alleged abusers at religious run schools.   While over the weekend, it emerged that more than 160...

The Taoiseach is under increasing pressure to intervene over the Milligan Court controversy.   Last week, it emerged that the apartment complex in Sligo is set to house almost 180 asylum seekers, despite the now Taoiseach Simon Harris pledging that it would not be used for such accommodation last year.   With a similar application submitted to potentially house refugees at Benbulben Cour...

It’s emerged that some medical card holders in Sligo Town are unable to avail of dental services.   The revelation comes as a number of people have been outlining their frustrations over the delays in dental checks.   Many have been forced to travel to areas such as Grange to avail of a number of servicers including examinations, fillings, cleanings and tooth extractions.   Local Si...

It's been claimed that ambulance response times in Leitrim are still some of the worst in the country.   It comes as nationally, ambulances took over an hour to arrive at high priority calls 500 times in the first half of the year.   Between January and June, delays of up to four hours were reported in some high risk cases that the National Ambulance Service had been tasked to.   Sl...

New Sligo Rovers President Ray Gallagher talks to Austin O'Callaghan about his lifelong association with the club and the Showgrounds.

A popular north Leitrim store has been revealed as the selling location for Friday night's winning Euromillions special ticket.   It's been revealed that McGowan's Spar in Kinlough sold the winning ticket worth just over €1 million.   Friday's marked the start of a four-week run of special draws which promise to make four players across the month of September guaranteed millionaires. &nb...

The cost of apartments in the north west rising faster than houses for the first time ever. The latest IPAV report shows property prices for a two bedroom apartment are up nationally over 5 percent in the first 6 months of the year, with flats leading the way. Donegal has recorded a 20.9 percent jump, Leitrim 10.4 per cent rise and 9.1 per cent of an increase has been recorded in Sligo. CEO of the...

The importance of the hospitality industry to the north west cannot be understated. That's according to local Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom MacSharry who has spoken in favour of restoring the 9% VAT rate for sector. A number of businesses have been forced to close their doors in recent months due to spiralling costs and increased financial burden. Councillor MacSharry says the Government should be su...

Almost 300 constituents from Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have signed an open postcard to TDs calling for more investment in young people in the upcoming Budget. 122 people under 25 in the Sligo-Leitrim constituency, with a further 171 in Donegal, have signed the postcard. It's estimated that by 2025, there will be over a million under-25s in Ireland that need support. Director of Policy and Advocac...

Anyone looking to take advantage of the good weather this weekend is advised to take care on the water. The RNLI says always go to a lifeguarded beach because lifeguards are still on duty at selected beaches. Temperatures could hit highs of 24 degrees today, with a mix of cloud and warm sunshine expected. The RNLI's Water Safety spokesperson Finn Mullen advises to keep an eye on the forecast and w...

A Sligo Cllr has said that there are no winners over the recent accommodation issue at Milligan Court, and has called for the government to develop student-purposed buildings. It’s been confirmed that almost 180 asylum seekers would be housed at the premises, which had previously been used for students. The situation has caused major controversy due to a lack of accommodation options for students,...

The Vintners Federation of Ireland have released a statement calling for urgent budget supports as there is “no profit in pubs”. Many in the pub industry have fears that unless major changes are made, pubs nationwide may face closure. The VFI have requested a number of measures to be introduced, including the lowering of the hospitality VAT rate, and a reduction of the Employer’s PRSI. Secretary o...

The Big Beach Clean 2024, organised by Clean Coasts is set to take place in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal over the weekend of September 20th.   With over 400 groups and 10,000 volunteers registered nationwide, a final call has been made for people to sign up before September 11th to avail of a free clean-up kit.   This year volunteers are being asked to record what litter they find, so it c...

Taoiseach Simon Harris said it was "disappointing" that Milligan Court was not in use for students, when speaking in Sligo last year. Harris, who was Minister for Further and Higher Education at the time, said he was working closely with Minister for Children, Roderic O'Gorman, to ensure that student accomodation was to be kept for students. Almost 180 international protection applicants are set t...

What’s transpiring at Milligan Court in Sligo should be the catalyst for a General Election issue.   That’s according to Independent TD Marc MacSharry, who has been reacting to today’s developments that the apartment complex is to house almost 180 asylum seekers.   Over a year ago, the owners of both Milligan Court and Benbulben made an initial application to let the apartments to refuge...

A cautious welcome has been given to the overhaul in EU payments planned for the next CAP by the Sligo IFA chair. There have been previous claims that the current CAP system fails to meet the needs of smaller and medium sized farms, and the latest report aims to change that imbalance. It will be a switch from an area-based payment, and will potentially benefit farmers in the North West. Michael O’...

It’s been confirmed that almost 180 asylum seekers are due to be housed in Milligan Court in Sligo.   Major controversy arose last year after the owners of both Milligan Court and Benbulben Court were to stop letting their accommodation to students.   Both properties had been traditionally catering to students and it resulted in around 500 young people scrambling for somewhere else to li...

One in Four is supporting the Government's approval of a Commission to investigate alleged abuse in schools.   The Garda Commissioner says gardai are investigating whether school abuse was organised and co-ordinated.   Earlier this week a scoping inquiry found there were around 2-thousand-400 allegations of abuse involving more than 800 alleged abusers.   A number of local schools w...

A Donegal TD has slammed the Government over this week's shocking report on child poverty.   The ESRI report revealed earlier this week revealed that rates of child poverty have risen in recent years when housing costs are accounted for, from 20% in 2020 to 22% in 2023.   The data also shows that 230,000 children are experiencing material deprivation, an increase of almost 30,000 childre...

The HSE have acknowledged that the Collooney Health Centre requires an expansion due to the growing population in the area.   Following an assessment, they also admitted that additional space would be essential for future needs of both the HSE and GP services within the town.   A submission now needs to be made for funding to make the relevant developments.   Sligo-Drumcliff Fine Ga...

Sligo's Martin Gordon on his Paris Paralympics experience Peter McFarlane - on the rise of hurling in Four Masters, Donegal Town. Nando Pijnaker on why the time is now to leave Sligo Rovers. Plus - here comes the women’s senior club football championship in Sligo. We’ll hear from all four contenders ahead of the championship throw-in this weekend.

There are hopes that a rural bus stop in Sligo will be moved, due to health and safety concerns at its current location. It's been suggested to move the stop from McCann's Cross into Coolaney Village, as a large number of students attending St Attracta's College in Tubbercurry are picked up and dropped off at the crossroads. This has led to heavy traffic in the dangerous area at certain times of t...