Ocean FM News Reports

The 65th Yeats International Summer School kickstarts tomorrow, Thursday July 11th at 6pm, and runs until the 19th July. The festivities will begin with the BBC’s Irish correspondent Fergal Keane providing an opening address, which is free to the public. A collaboration is also happening with the national library of Ireland to stream the event to an audience in Dublin. Susan O’Keeffe, Director of...

An Irish flight attendant is facing jail in Dubai after being charged with attempting suicide and consuming alcohol.   The Dail heard yesterday that Tori Towey from Boyle in County Roscommon has been banned from leaving the country, despite being the victim of domestic violence.   Taoiseach Simon Harris says he will work to intervene, and the Department of Foreign Affairs says it's provi...

Sligo-Leitrim Deputy Marian Harkin has commended the Taoiseach and government for their work in getting Ms. Towey back home.

The Sligo Air Show is returning with a new and improved event over the 27th and 28th of July. The performances will take place at Sligo Airport in Strandhill, and will feature some of the most talented Irish, international pilots and aerobatic formation teams. And in a first of its kind in Ireland, a spectacular airborne fireworks display by the Firebirds will take place. Sé Pardy, Sligo Air Show...

The travel ban has been lifted for Tori Towey in Dubai, and she is now permitted to travel home. Ms Towey, originally of Boyle, was charged with attempting suicide following an alleged attack by her husband. Taoiseach Simon Harris provided the update in the Dáil this afternoon, and confirmed the Irish embassy will continue to follow up on the case.

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it's providing consular assistance to an Irish woman who's been charged by police in Dubai.   Tori Towey, who's originally from Boyle was charged with attempting suicide and consuming alcohol following an alleged attack by her husband.   The 28-year-old flight attendant is currently staying in an Airbnb with her mother, who's travelled from Ireland...

The Lord Mayor of Cork is adding his voice to the calls for Rory Gallagher's iconic guitar to remain in Ireland.   The famous Fender Stratocaster owned by Ballyshannon musician will be up for auction in London in October, with an estimate of €1.1 million.   The guitar was bought in Crowley's Music Store, Cork in 1963 and has been on display in Ireland at various times however no permanen...

Further calls have been made for the HSE's recruitment ban to be lifted locally.   Sligo University Hospital has consistently been among the most overcrowded facilities in Ireland of late, as Emergency Department staff tackle a wide range of shortages.   Other services, including speech and language therapy and nursing, are also struggling as a result of the ban.   Fianna Fail Counc...

Overcrowding figures for Sligo University Hospital have been described as the fox looking after the chicken coop. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has claimed that there's been a 25% reduction in overcrowding levels in Sligo in the first five months of this year. Minister Donnelly has also indicated that there has been a significant improvement in Emergency Departments in the region. But the figur...

There are renewed calls for additional dog wardens to be deployed to the North West.   There's ongoing concern over restricted breeds not being muzzled or on a lead.   Last month, a complaint was made to Sligo County Council over an XL Bully dog, accompanying a female jogger in Slish wood without a lead or muzzle.   Local Independent Cllr Michael McClafferty believes that there's no...

The need for a sustainable model for public service broadcasting and local radio stations such as Ocean FM has been raised on the floor of the Dáil.   The calls were made by local TD Frank Feighan who praised the coverage by stations in his constituency during the recent local and European elections.   Taoiseach Simon Harris previously acknowledged that a fix “is needed not just for RTÉ”...

Criminal barristers in Sligo have been protesting outside the courthouse today over a long-running dispute relating to legal fees. Following similar protests from last year, the government committed to implementing an independent mechanism to determine legal fees, but are yet to follow through on it. Sligo County Prosecutor, Leo Mulrooney, was at the protest and highlighted his concerns for the fu...

A review regarding the construction of a new Garda Headquarters in Sligo is to be carried out. Sligo County Council recently purchased a site in Caltragh with the view to housing both a new Garda Station and Headquarters for Sligo Fire Service. The development was previously stalled due to the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Division being amalgamated with South Donegal, a move that has now been reversed to s...

A meeting is being arranged in the wake of the controversial motorbike ban on the Diamond in Donegal Town.   Donegal County Council has made the request for all road users to use nearby car parks instead as the new-look Diamond is now a pedestrianised area.   The move has since caused uproar in the town, with some businesses claiming revenue will be lost, particularly due to bikers being...

A number of questions still need to be answered as it relates to the chronic pain unit at Sligo University Hospital.   That's according to Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy, who raised the matter at the latest sitting of Sligo County Council.   It was revealed in recent weeks that the unit was set to close due to the departure of two consultants.   When asked in the Dáil about the issue p...

There is serious concern in north Leitrim area as regards increased ambulance response times.   These concerns increased during the past month where it emerged that the base in Manorhamilton is not always staffed appropriately.   This, in turn has led to Donegal Town being the next available service which increases the response time for those in need.   Local Sinn Féin Councillor Pa...

Paddy McGill is joined by Roscommon senior football manager Davy Burke and Cahair O' Kane of the Irish News to look ahead to this Sunday's All-Ireland Semi-Final clash with Galway

Sligo County Council have been asked to write to Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman in relation to redress for Mother and Baby Home survivors. To date, around 3,600 applications have been made, 316 of which have been deemed eligible, but only 55 payments have been made so far. No response has been issued by Minister O’Gorman to similar requests from Sligo County Council to date. People Before...

There was tension at today’s meeting of Sligo County Council after a motion on reinstating the eviction ban was brought forward. The motion was proposed by Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons, but was opposed by various council members. It was put to a vote and ultimately defeated by 12 votes to 5, with one abstaining. Cllr Gibbons was disappointed that the motion was defeated, and took exception to oth...

It's been claimed that speeding and dangerous driving continue to be major issues in the north Leitrim area. Dromahair and Manorhamilton are said to be just two of many areas that are seeing excess of speeds of motorists on a daily basis. Residents are said to be deeply concerned that someone may be seriously injured if action isn't taken. Local Independent Cllr James Gilmartin feels that a number...

There are calls on the Government to investigate why there seems to be a struggle in recruiting staff for the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital.   The state-of-the-art facility only partially opened earlier this year, and the HSE has stated that efforts are ongoing to recruit additional staff in a bid to reopen the rest of it.   The local HSE Management Team are said to be working towa...

Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton has confirmed that he has put his name forward for the party's General Election selection convention in the Donegal constituency.   The south Donegal Councillor topped the poll in the Donegal LEA in last month's local elections.   It's not yet known when Fianna Fail will hold their convention but gave party members only two weeks' notice to submit nomina...

It’s thought that there are some positives to be taken from a new housing report, despite prices continuing to increase across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal.   According to the latest property price report from MyHome.ie , prices have gone up in Donegal by over 5,000 euro, in Leitrim by 6,000, and in Sligo by 2,000.   The median price of property in all three counties has also risen, with i...

Roderic O’Gorman has been elected as the new leader of the Green Party.   The Minister for Integration narrowly defeated Senator Pippa Hackett in the race to replace Eamon Ryan, on a margin of just 72 votes.   There was a little over 55 per cent turnout, with 52 per cent of those voting for Minister O’Gorman.   The new Green leader said he wants to see a progressive budget and he wo...

Connacht GAA has paid tribute to former Leitrim manager John O'Mahony, who has passed away at age 71.   The late Mr O'Mahony will be remembered in Leitrim for being manager of the 1994 Connacht championship winning side, only the second and last time the county won the Nestor Cup.   He led his native Mayo to Connacht titles in 1988, 1989 and 2009.   He also won four Connacht titles...