Ocean FM News Reports

Calls have been made for more government supports to prevent the collapse of live local events.   It comes as the highly-anticipated Sligo Air Show was to take place this weekend, but had to cancel due to the costs of the operation.   Another high-profile cancellation in the North West region was the Wild Roots Festival, with more happening across the country.   Sligo-Drumcliffe Cll...

Only one drinking water private drinking water supply in the North West has failed to meet E. coli standards. Today's EPA report shows 22 of these schemes failed the standard for E. coli, putting the health of around 4,600 consumers at risk. The scheme affected in this region is on Tory Island in Donegal, with none impacted across Sligo or Leitrim. Environmental Protection Agency Programme Manager...

Ireland has 133 athletes competing at the Paris Games over the next fortnight – its biggest ever Olympic team. Eight of them are local: Four from Sligo and four from Donegal. We give you the lowdown on the local hopes across the Olympic sports of Athletics, badmintion, boxing and swimming.

Donegal County Council has announced a Speed Limit Public Consultation over the reduction of speed on some local roads. The process will be carried out for 30 days, starting on August 1st, with the aim of addressing the rise in road deaths when compared to last year. Certain rural roads are being considered to be lowered from 80 to 60km, with town roads dropping from 50 to 30km. Independent Donega...

The government have bottled the new funding plan for RTÉ. That's according to Sinn Fein Manorhamilton Cllr Padraig Fallon, on the newly announced €725 million funding package announced yesterday by the government. The funding will be comprised of the TV licence fee and exchequer revenue over a three year period. Cllr Fallon says there is a sense of entitlement coming from the national broadcaster:

The former IFA national vice chairperson, Seán Tempany has been described as an “encyclopaedia of knowledge” following his passing. A native of Templeboy, Mr Tempany passed away on Tuesday in the care of the Sligo University Hospital surrounded by his loving family. Mr Tempany held a number of roles in the IFA, both locally and nationally and served as chairman and treasurer of the Sligo branch on...

Despite the HSE recruitment embargo being lifted, not all vacancies will be guaranteed to be filled in the North West region. It was revealed at the most recent Regional Health Forum West meeting that staffing levels will be addressed in terms of priority. Any persons who had a job offer prior to the embargo, will find the contract honoured, but other selection processes may begin again. Fianna Fa...

There's major concern over the future of housing developments along the N56 in Donegal.   The route spans from Donegal Town, right around the south west coast and back into Letterkenny.   This week, it emerged that the Government is seeking to prevent further development along the road from the County Development Plan.   Local Independent Cllr Michael McClafferty says there are many...

A cautious welcome has been given to the 'Access to Cash' bill.   The Department of Finance says legislative intervention was needed to stop more ATMs being removed from communities as banks move away from cash post-pandemic.   The 'Access to Cash' bill enshrines the use of cash in law and will allow the Central Bank to intervene where rural areas do not have access to a local ATM. &nbsp...

Cabinet has given approval for the Donegal TEN-T Priority Route Improvement Project to move to the planning stage. The project looks to address critical transport deficiencies along three targeted sections- the Ballybofey-Stranorlar bypass, Letterkenny to Manorcunningham and Manorcunnuingham to Lifford, linking the A5 in Strabane. Donegal TD and Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue says th...

For the second year in a row, Sligo contest the All-Ireland ZuCar minor 'B' football championship final when they take on Tyrone this Saturday (July 27th) in Brewster Park, Enniskillen. Ocean FM Sport's Dónal Ryan spoke with some of the Sligo players ahead of the match, including team captain Ciara Walsh, Jade Gabbidon, Rachel McGoldrick, Jasmine Dunleavy, Keeva Flynn and Anna McDaniel.

Criminal barristers continue to strike in Sligo and nationwide today as their legal fees dispute rumbles on. The protests centre on calls for the government to implement an independent mechanism to determine legal fees, which the government had previously committed to. Sligo County Prosecutor, Leo Mulrooney attended the protest and highlighted how barristers feel let down by the situation. Speakin...

A number of colourful umbrellas have popped up over Water Lane in Sligo.   They're part of wider Summer Street decoration initiative by Sligo BID.   It's planned to roll out more decorations in and around the town in the coming weeks.   The umbrella concept has already been a huge success in the likes of Camden Market in London and in the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast, with many tour...

It's been claimed that recycling habits among Sligo people have changed which could be resulting in a big increase in the use of bottle banks.   While there's been a big uptake in the Deposit Return Scheme, it's also thought that consumers locally are now buying more bottles, owing to the extra charge on cans.   A number of bottle banks in and around Sligo are now said to be filling up s...

A Donegal Sinn Fein TD has defended the timing of the party's launch of a policy document, which outlines their plan for international protection.   Sinn Fein is calling for more asylum seeker accommodation centres to be located in middle-class areas across the country.   They want criteria such as the availability of GPs and school places, proximity to public transport and existing leve...

There have been calls locally to ease the drain of recently qualified doctors and nurses to other countries. Debts incurred during their studies has forced many graduates to seek employment opportunities abroad. Councillor Justin Warnock feels that with an increase in numbers on waiting lists, Ireland cannot afford to lose its talent. The Fianna Fáil Councillor feels better conditions and greater...

It's claimed that the Emergency Department in Sligo University Hospital is in a deplorable state.   It's emerged that at the beginning of this week, one patient waited to be seen for over 20 hours while several others waited throughout the night.   Independent Cllr Michael Clarke says he's deeply concerned over the huge pressure the hospital seems to be under.   Cllr Clarke says it'...

Barristers are returning to strike action for a third time this month later on today. The industrial action follows disputes between barristers and the Government as the council of the bar of Ireland are seeking a binding, independent and time-limited mechanism to set legal aid fees, paid to criminal barristers by the DPP. Barristers in Sligo will be protesting from 10am this morning, and protests...

It has been revealed that drugs are being brought into Irish prisons through the use of drones. A recent drug overdose resulting in a prisoner fatality has brought the situation to national attention. There has been long-standing issues surrounding overcrowding in Irish prions, with the availability of drugs only further heightening tensions among sections of prisoners. Deputy General Secretary of...

Sinn Fein's new plans on immigration policy has been questioned by a former Manorhamilton local election candidate. The party says that audits should be carried out before international protection applicants are placed in communities, to assess the level of services available. It had previously been argued that many rural areas did not have the healthcare or educational resources to support an inf...

Anthony McGwynne has been remembered as a person with many gifts. A funeral mass for the 27 year old took place this afternoon at St Josephs Church, Ballytivnan, Sligo. Mr McGwynne, originally from Calry, died when the motorbike he was travelling on was struck by a car in Vancouver on the night of Thursday, July 4th. Speaking during the homily, Fr Gerard Cryan said Mr McGwynne showed people a wind...

Tourism and hospitality businesses across the North West are breathing a sigh of relief this afternoon, following news that Aer Lingus pilots with IALPA have voted to accept a Labour Court recommendation to end the pay row. It follows a ballot by the pilots union IALPA, which closed this morning.   It’s estimated that the local economy here lost out tens of thousands of euro over the recent p...

Long-time learner drivers won't be able to continuously renew their provisional licences anymore without sitting their driving test. A loophole that allowed them to stay on the roads without undergoing the test is finally being closed off.   You'll only be allowed to continue driving beyond a third learner permit, if you sit a test.   Around 30 thousand people are driving on provisional...

A motion of no confidence in Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien has been passed by Donegal County Council.   The motion was brought forward head of a planned visit by the Minister to the county next month.   100% Redress Party member Cllr Tomás Seán Devine moved the motion over the Ministers handling of the defective concrete block crisis.   Cllr Devine believes that communities local...

Anything that can improve road safety locally has to be taken seriously. That's according to Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny who has been reacting to potential moves by Government to bring in retraining courses for drivers who repeatedly commit offences. It's one of a number of initiatives reportedly being examined to reduce the number of deaths on the country's roads. Training and educati...