Ocean FM News Reports

New figures have shown that a significant number of pubs in the North West are among almost 2,000 that have closed in Ireland since 2005. According to new research carried out by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland shows that in that timeframe, 28.6% of pubs closed in Leitrim, with 26.3% closing their doors in Donegal. Limerick, Cork and Roscommon were the counties worst affected, while an averag...

New data shows that Leitrim has some of the highest number of homes available to buy per head of population.   There are only 12 homes for sale, per 10-thousand people, in Monaghan while Meath and Kildare were the counties with the next greatest shortage.   Leitrim and Roscommon, had the highest number of homes available according to the analysis by Savills.   Director of Housing an...

Reassurances have been given that no junctions on the Sligo side of the N17 will be impacted as part of a wider road safety plan along the route.   It's understood that the plans include potential temporary and permanent closures at a number of junctions in County Mayo for improvement works to take place.   More details are set to be revealed in the coming weeks.   But local Fianna...

It's felt locally that the Early Years Education and School Aged Care system is in need of a radical overhaul. Many facilities across the sector have been struggling, with childcare fee increases, a shortage of places for schoolchildren and services exiting core funding, or closing altogether, cited as some of the main reasons. In Sligo alone, 5 childcare providers have left the sector, with more...

There are calls for the Sligo to Swinford bus to be urgently reinstated.   Otherwise known as route 922, the service which had been running by a private operator, was withdrawn during the pandemic but hasn't been brought back since.   It had been catering to areas in south Sligo likes Tubbercurry and Ballinacarrow and the various communities affected are said to be frustrated over the ap...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has described the administration of the ACRES scheme as an absolute shambles. Under the scheme, many farmers have only received interim payments, instead of the full amounts promised under the Acres agreement. Two years into the scheme and for many, especially for hill-farmers, the scoring process attached to the scheme has not been completed and they are said to have no idea ho...

More calls have been made for the land surrounding the Cairn at the top of Cairns Hill to be bought by the state. It comes after a scheduled tour of the Cairn for Heritage Week was called off last Saturday, after the caretaker of the land opposed to the tour going ahead on the day. The cairn is viewed as key to Sligo's bid to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the land currently up for sa...

Sligo Rovers have been drawn against Athlone Town at home in the semi-finals of the Women's FAI Cup for the second year running. The Bit O'Red made it into the semi-finals for the second year in a row, following a 3-1 win over DLR Waves in the quarter finals in Dublin at the weekend, while Athlone saw off Treaty United by a scoreline of 2-1. The other semi final sees Shelbourne, who needed a last...

Following the news this morning that Oasis will play two gigs in Dublin in August next year as part of their reunion tour, one BnB is gearing up to potentially host two famous guests. Liam and Noel Gallagher's mother comes from Charlestown in Co. Mayo, where the owners of the Riverside Guest House are hopeful that the Oasis frontmen will come and visit when they come to Ireland next summer. Oasis...

Doherty’s XL shop in Carrick in south Donegal is set to close after eight years in business.   Friday will be the final day of business for the supermarket.   Owners Andrea and Dermot Doherty have cited the high rising costs of running a small business as the main factor behind the move.   In a statement, they also say the business can no longer compete with the bigger stores and th...

Fine Gael's charge for the General Election in Donegal will revolve around candidates working together and sharing the same goals. That's the view of Senator Nikki Bradley, who made it through the selection convention unopposed along with John McNulty last night. It's been a whirlwind few weeks for Senator Bradley, who was recently made a Senator by Taoiseach Simon Harris before being put forward...

Newly selected Fine Gael candidate for Donegal John McNulty has acknowledged that the hard work begins now in earnest.   He and Senator Nikki Bradley were selected by Fine Gael to represent the party in the Donegal constituency at the next general election at the party's convention last night.   Fine Gael has now selected 30 General Election candidates in 18 constituencies.   Meanwh...

Business consultation begins this week regarding a new one-way system for Collooney.   The village continues to bear the brunt of a number of issues including traffic congestion.   The with an in-person public consultation event also taking place in the Reading Wing Community Room in St. Paul's Church on Tuesday from 6.30pm until 7.30pm.   Local Fine Gael Councillor, Thomas Walsh, s...

The Government is being called on to take responsibility for providing student accommodation in Sligo.   With the new college term just weeks away, there are said to be a limited number of houses to rent in the town.   Meanwhile rents in Sligo have risen by over 11% when compared to the same period last year.   Local People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says this is not a new issu...

Hopes have been further dashed over a potential reopening of the hydrotherapy pool at Cregg House in Sligo.   Following negotiations, an agreement has been reached in principle which could pave the way for the facility to reopen for an interim period of six months – subject to funding and resources.   A Business Case Proposal with updated costs has been submitted for consideration while...

The late Tommy Higgins, former Alderman, member of Sligo Corporation and County Councillor is to be remembered with an award in his honour. The 'Tommy Higgins Community Recognition Award' is to be unveiled and presented by Labour Party Leader, Ivana Bacik, at a special ceremony on September 23rd, in Treacy Avenue in Sligo. He served on both on Sligo County Council and Sligo Corporation for over 20...

Workers at Abtran have been told that they could face potential disciplinary measures if they proceed with planned industrial action. Earlier this month, members of the Independent Workers Union voted overwhelmingly in favour of undertaking industrial action as they look for better pay and conditions. That industrial action began recently on a minor scale, with a series of email pickets marking th...

Frustration has been expressed locally over the lack of Gardaí allocated to the north west region. In recent days it emerged that just one Garda has taken up a new position across the Sligo-Leitrim and Donegal divisions. The appointment was confirmed om the latest appointments and allocations published by the Garda Press Office. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Independent Councillor Michael Clarke says in a...

A substantial amount of people in the North West didn't take all their holidays last year.   Sligo had the lowest among of workers missing out on all their annual leave at 14%, followed by Donegal at 26% while 27% of workers in Leitrim didn't take all their holidays in 2023.   All three counties came in below the national average, with 42% of people around the country failing to use up a...

Rent prices in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal were among the highest increases in rent prices in the second quarter of 2024. The latest Daft.ie report shows that rents in Sligo were 11.3% higher than a year previously, with the average rent price in the county now standing at €1,330. Leitrim also recorded double figures in terms of increases with 12.4% recorded there bringing the average rent...

There have been further calls for increased incentives for recently qualified GPs.    Earlier this week, it emerged there are not enough GPS in the country and with retirement that situation is going to get more acute.   A study from the Irish College of General Practitioners shows where counties align with the WHO’s recommendation of 100 GPs per 100,000 population.   Figures p...

Sligo Rovers assistant manager Ryan Casey apologised to the supporters immediately after Friday night's 7-0 loss to bottom-of-the-table Drogheda United in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division. Manager John Russell is still serving a three-game touchline ban. Casey spoke to Ocean FM Sport's Dónal Ryan.

It’s emerged that no county in the north west has a satisfactory amount of GPs, in line with the World Health Organisation’s standards of care.   A study from the Irish College of General Practitioners shows where counties align with the WHO’s recommendation of 100 GPs per 100,000 population.   Figures published in the Irish Times show that there were 97 GPs in Sligo, 68 were recorded in...

Paul O'Hare, Race Director of the Sligo Olympic Triathlon, talks to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan about this Sunday's event.

As Leaving Cert students across the north west plan their next step, one acting principal has praised this year’s cohort.   The Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns were among the obstacles faced by students who have just completed their second-level education.   Acting principal at St. Mary’s College in Ballisodare, Michael Horkan was overall pleased with his student’s results. &n...