Ocean FM News Reports

It’s emerged that the education quality being received by second-level students in the north west is being impact as a result of teacher recruitment and retention.   A recent Red C/ ASTI survey showed that 82% of second-level schools had no applications for an advertised post or posts during the 2023/24 academic year.   87% of schools also said there was no substitute teachers available...

Olympic Sprinter Chris O’Donnell was welcomed back to Grange on Wednesday evening after his recent exploits.   O’Donnell, who’s a member of North Sligo AC was part of the mixed 4×400 metre relay team in Paris.   He was also part of the gold medal winning relay team at the European Championships in June.   Grange's other Olympic athlete, swimmer Mona McSharry won’t be returning to he...

It's been confirmed that changes to EU regulation will see the re-introduction of temporary liquid restrictions in the EU, including Ireland West Airport. From 1st September, passengers will not be permitted to carry liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) in containers greater than 100ml in their cabin baggage through security at the airport. All liquid, aerosol and gels must be stored in containers of...

A Leitrim Cllr has criticised the latest price increase by Irish Water, following a local businessman having a charge rise by nearly 50% to over 8 thousand euro. Irish Water previously highlighted in February that a 29% hike in water charges would be occurring in the future. The issue was raised locally to Ballinamore Fianna Fail Cllr Paddy O’Rourke, who stressed this now threatened the survival o...

Common sense needs to prevail in the case of Billy Bustard, who was fined after parking on the Diamond in Donegal Town while fundraising for cancer services last weekend. That's the view of Independent Donegal Councillor, Michael McClafferty, who is lending his support to Mr Bustard after he was issued a fine of €250  by Donegal County Council. A protest is due to take place on the Diamond on...

From January 2023 to June 2024, passengers on 29 trains on the Sligo to Dublin line were entitled to refunds. 19 of which had delays of one hour or more, while passengers on 10 trains had two hours or more of a wait. Irish Rail has paid out over €30,000 refunds nationally in that time period, however services operated at a 99.9% rate without long delays. Barry Kenny, Corporate Communications Manag...

A number of programmes and campaigns are being launched to educate young people on safe driving behaviour. From next month, an educational programme will be introduced in schools for transition years and junior cycle students. It will aim to teach teenagers how to drive and warn them against unsafe behaviours behind the wheel. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Independent Councillor Marie Casserly says t...

Chronic overcrowding and lack of adequate staffing can be attributed as some of the reasons behind the hospitalisation of twelve prisoners from Portlaoise Prison.   Eleven prisoners remain in hospital after falling seriously ill after a suspected drug overdoses.   It’s believed that three are in intensive care, while the eight others are said to be in a stable condition.   The incid...

Clarification has been sought over the appointment of a new GP in Ardara. The current GP handed her resignation to the HSE in late May. However, despite the fact that she will be finishing up next week, no replacement has been found yet. The HSE has previously stated that active recruitment was ongoing as a matter of priority. In the absence of a new GP, Independent Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle s...

Concerns have been raised locally that ambulances in the north west won't be fitted with the adequate equipment required. A number of the cardiac devices been removed from services in south Leinster following an error message on a piece of a lifesaving equipment during a call out. Paramedics have since been given instructions on how to deal with potential faults, however, the procedure can take up...

Twenty-four properties received planning permission exemptions to convert vacant commercial properties into homes in Sligo since 2018, which has the potential to provide 51 new homes across the county. While the figures stand at 39 in Donegal, and 17 in Leitrim, for the same time period. The Department of Housing released the numbers as the Government commits to combatting the housing crisis. Slig...

Vilification on social media and the demands of the role of a mother are just some of the reasons behind there is no female candidates contesting Fine Gael’s selection convention in Sligo-Leitrim.   The party have previously championed the fact they elected more female councillors than any other Irish political party in the recent local elections.   However, with an impending general ele...

A potential move to ease restrictions that currently prevent credit unions expanding in the mortgage market has been welcomed locally. Sligo Leitrim Independent TD, Marian Harkin, says that Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, is in favour of relaxing restrictions that are currently imposed by the Central Bank. Credit unions could only lend €615m in mortgages last year, despite having assets of up...

The new north Leitrim to north Sligo local link bus services have been officially launched this week. The Monday to Friday service runs from Kinlough to Grange, visiting areas along the way including Ballintrillick. There have been calls spanning over two years from locals for this bus route to be put in place. Sligo-Drumcliff Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy praised residents and local link for their...

Yesterday has been described as a "sad day for Pettigo", after a popular restaurant in the village was burned down. A fire destroyed Mani's Bar and Bistro in the early hours of Monday morning. There were no injuries sustained during the incident and it's understood that no foul play is suspected, however Gardaí say investigations are ongoing. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Sinn Fein Councillor Michael...

It's thought that the installation of rock armour at Strandhill to combat coastal erosion is now an urgent matter. A motion will be brought before the next meeting of Sligo County Council in September in an effort to secure funding to get the relevant structures in place. Locals have recently taken to social media to show parts of the path on the beach front falling away due to the erosion. Mayor...

A Sligo-Leitrim TD has raised concerns over the future of small family farms. The popular farming model in Ireland results in a large amount of international exports, but the current sustainability of it has been questioned. Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Kenny highlighted the current situation following his visit to the recent Tullamore Agricultural Show. Deputy Kenny says that a lot of schemes need to...

There's been widespread shock in the wider south Donegal area following a fire at a well-known restaurant in Pettigo. The blaze broke out at Mani's Bar and Bistro in the early hours of Monday morning. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene and there were no injuries. Local Fianna Fáil Councillor Mícheál Naughton says the whole area will get behind those affected.  

Questions are being asked over the appointment of a new GP in Ardara. The current GP has resigned and will be finishing up on August 22nd, and no replacement has been confirmed as of yet. It's understood that the HSE previously said an active recruitment was ongoing as a matter of priority, but there are no details available regarding the timeline of the process to date. Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pears...

Olympic Sprinter Chris O'Donnell will be welcomed back to Grange on Wednesday evening after his recent exploits. O'Donnell, who's a member of North Sligo AC was part of the mixed 4x400 metre relay team in Paris. He was also gold medal winning relay team at the European Championships in June. He is due to arrive at Grange Car Park at 8.45pm. Locals are being encouraged to come out and welcome him h...

Sligo County Council have condemned graffiti that appeared on the council buildings. It's understood the graffiti was carried out over the weekend. The phrase "House the Irish" was spraypainted on to the wall near the entrance to the offices. In a brief statement issued to Ocean FM News, Sligo County Council say the grafitti has since been removed, and are working with the relevant authorities to...

Public anger over the RTE payments scandal is still evident. Sales of TV licences are down by 10 million euro in the past year when compared to the year before. The Irish Times reports over 72 thousand TV licences were sold so far this year when compared to the same timeframe in 2022. OceanFM News spoke to people on the streets of Sligo today, as they shared their thoughts:

A new Garda car first seen at the Donegal Rally has been launched with the aim of engaging with "boy racers". The souped-up Volkswagen Golf R was seized from a criminal gang by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the courts have granted permission for it to be used by Gardaí. The car will now form part of Operation Nexus, which aims to improve engagement with motoring enthusiasts, and go on d...

Parents should still have the choice of sending their children to a single-sex school if they feel it is appropriate. That's the view of a former second level vice principal, who was speaking after Minister for Higher Education, Patrick O'Donovan, said he would like to see single-sex schools in Ireland abolished. The Minister has raised concerns around increasing "aggression" and gender-based viol...

Public consultation begins today regarding a new one-way system for Collooney. Traffic congestion issues have been a bone of contention for many years in the village, and progress is now being made on relieving them. The designs can be accessed on the Sligo County Council website until Friday, September 6th, with an in-person public consultation event also taking place in the Teeling Centre on Thu...