Ocean FM News Reports

Local authorities in the North West could improve their recycling facilities.   That's according to Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig who has accused Donegal County Council of 'doing the bare minimum'.   His comments come as a number of bins and other facilities were reportedly overflowing in a number of areas in the region following the August Bank Holiday weekend.   Cllr MacGio...

The introduction of gender quotas for political parties has been met with a mixed reaction. Ahead of the next general election, gender quotas will be introduced for each party, as 40% of candidates running will have to be female. With a number of selection conventions taking place in the next few weeks, Sinn Fein, Labour, and the Green Party are currently on course to hit that quota, with Fianna F...

Listen back to Ocean FM Sport's commentary of the 2024 TG4 All-Ireland intermediate football final at Croke Park, as described by Amanda Sweeney & John Lynch.

Reassurances have given that the Donegal Tin Shop is going nowhere.   There had been concern over the iconic structure's future, after plans were lodged to demolish the former shop premises which is located on the Donegal Town side of Barnesmore Gap.   The building, owned by the Martin family for over 100 years has fallen into a state of disrepair, with the shop having closed in 2006. &n...

Sligo ATU Students Union are encouraging people who may have a spare room to consider renting it out to a student.   The scheme allows people who let a spare room to students to earn up to €14,000 a year Tax Free.   It's also said to be very flexible, with it being possible to opt for 5 or 7 day weekly lettings, and it is also available to council tenants as well as home owners.   L...

Almost 260 people died in the North Wests two main Emergency Departments in the last 5 years.   150 people died in the Sligo ED and a further 108 died in Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department.   A new report from the Irish Medical Times shows that the national figure is 5428 over the same period.   1000 of those deaths happened last year alone, 200 more than in 2019...

Fine Gael remain the most popular party in the country. That is according to the latest opinion poll carried out by the Irish Independent and Ireland Thinks, which shows Fine Gael standing at 24%, with Fianna Fail on 20%, and Sinn Fein on 19%. The poll also shows that the next government is likely to consist of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Independents, with 63% of those surveyed thinking that way....

There have been renewed calls for the Minister of Housing to see firsthand the effects of mica and defective blocks on homes in Donegal.   In July of last year, the Mica Action Group requested a public meeting with Minister Darragh O’Brien, however, the group received a response stating he hopes to do so “in the near future.”   Chairperson of the group Lisa Hone wants the minister to hea...

Controversy over the new no parking rules on the Diamond in Donegal Town continues.   It's after a well-known fundraiser had a weekend stand-off.   Billy Bustard from Donegal Town has been raising funds for cancer services for more than 20 years.   He parked up on the Diamond on Sunday and it wasn't long before he was approached by both Council Officials and the Gardai, asking him t...

Tributes continue to be paid to the young man who died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision in north Sligo in the early hours of Sunday morning.   28-year-old James McNeive of Knock in county Mayo died when the van he was driving collided with lorry on the N15 at Urlar shortly after 6am.   Mr McNeive was a prominent member of the local Aghamore GAA Club where he held a number o...

It's been claimed that the current Government hasn't built any affordable homes in Sligo or Leitrim.   First time buyers in the region who are on a modest wage are said to be finding it increasingly difficult to get on the property ladder due to the spiralling prices.   This in turn, is said to be adding to population decline and emigration right across rural towns and villages.   S...

It's been confirmed that a one-way system in Collooney will be introduced next month on a trial basis.   A public consultation will take place prior to the rollout.   It's anticipated that the trial will ultimately be a success and will become a permanent fixture.   Cllr Thomas Healy the consultation will provide the community and all those concerned with a clear picture of the plan...

Urgent clarity is being sought over the future of the iconic Tin Shop outside Donegal Town.   It emerged over the weekend that plans have been lodged to demolish the former shop premises which is located on the Donegal Town side of Barnesmore Gap.   The structure is over 100 years old and is said to be steeped in history.   The shop itself closed in 2006 and is said to have fallen i...

Tributes have been paid to the young man who lost his life in crash near Drumcliffe.   28 year old James McNeive from Knock in Co Mayo, died after the van he was driving was involved in a collision with a lorry yesterday morning.   Gardai are continuing to appeal for witnesses to come forward.   The late Mr McNeive had been teaching locally and played senior football with Aghamore G...

Organisers have expressed their deep disappointment over the cancellation of the Ballintra Races.   A waterlogged course has led to the decision, in the interest of the health and safety of the jockeys and the horses.   There was a lot of anticipation for the event locally as it was set to return this afternoon after a five year hiatus.   While the races have traditionally taken pla...

The wider north Sligo area has descended into unspeakable sadness following the death of a man in a road-traffic collision.   That’s according to local Fianna Fáil Councillor Dónal Gilroy who has been speaking after the man in his twenties died after the van, he was driving collided with a lorry at Urlar.   It’s believed the collision happened at around 6am.   The driver of the lorr...

Angling events across the North West are set to benefit from a financial boost from Inland Fisheries Ireland. The IFI are providing up to 30,000 euro to over 80 events taking place around the country. The programme is a key funding mechanism by the IFI to promote sustainable angling tourism in rural areas - while also assisting initiatives for beginner and young anglers. Nine events across Sligo,...

Rossnowlagh Beach in Donegal will be hosting a 2 Minute Beach Clean Summer Swim event on Saturday, August 10th at 11am. Clean Coasts and Fáilte Ireland have organised the initiative to celebrate ten years of the Wild Atlantic Way, with the intention of getting people out to Irish beaches for a swim following with a quick clean-up. It’s estimated that every 2 Minute Beach Clean amounts to approxima...

The Ballintra Races return to Lahey in Donegal this bank-holiday Monday (Aug 5th) after a five-year absence. The event was in a hiatus since 2020 because of Covid and subsequent insurance issues. But now they're back - and a six-race card is lined up for Monday with the first race due off at 2:30pm. Races Secretary Lisa McGrane has been chatting with Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan.

Questions are being asked over when Gardai in the North West will be allocated body worn cameras.   It comes as Gardai in Limerick are this week taking part in the second phase of the trail of the cameras, which will eventually be issued to every Garda in the country.   Gardai in Dublin have already been allocated the equipment, with twelve hundred pieces of footage recorded and 300 of t...

A new scheme is on the way which aims to support and enable the economic development of the inshore fishing fleet.   Payments will be based on vessel length, and will be paid in two instalments, one on completion of each stage of the survey.   Under the scheme, up to five thousand euro will be made available through An Bord Iascaigh Mhara next month.   Speaking to Ocean FM news, Mar...

Serious concern has been raised after multiple gates at various state department were damaged in apparent ramming's overnight.   Three scenes have been sealed off and a man has been arrested.   Gardaí are also investigating criminal damage at the gates of Aras an Uachtarain in the Phoenix Park.   It's unknown if these incidents are linked.   Sligo Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Fei...

Gardai in the North West are warning that they will be out in force this bank holiday weekend.   Studies show that the August bank holiday is one of the busiest times of the year on the roads, and motorists are urged to adhere to the speed limits and the rules of the road.   113 people have lost their lives on Irish roads so far this year.   Sergeant Aoife Hayes of the Sligo Roads P...

Leitrim are back at Croke Park for an All-Ireland football final this Sunday. We’ll take you inside the Leitrim camp as they look to regain the women’s All-Ireland intermediate football title for the first time since 2007. We hear from the new Donegal GAA County Administrator Lisa McTernan, who begins her new appointment this month. Plus - the Sligo woman who’s helping teenagers in Australia enhan...

The newly proposed housing plan by Sinn Fein commits to affordable housing and renting in the North West. That's according to Donegal TD Padraig Maclochlainn, who was speaking following his party's proposal. The plan's aim for house purchase prices to be between €250,000 - €300,000, and rents to be below €1,000 a month, and significantly less in this region. Deputy MacLochlainn says working famili...