Ocean FM News Reports

Serious concern has been raised over the water supply in Collooney and the surrounding area.   Low pressure has been reported in a number of parts of the town with claims some residents are at a point now where they cant use their washing machines.   There are further calls on Uisce Eireann to carry out investigation.   Local Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says this has been ongoing fo...

It's emerged that a number of people with a disability in Leitrim found it difficult to navigate the polling booths on Friday.   The polling booths were said to be too narrow to facilitate those in a wheelchair.   Fianna Fail Cllr Mary Bohan believes that there should be at least one purpose built booth at every station to cater to those with a disability.   Cllr Bohan says it's som...

People in south Sligo are being urged to be on high alert over bogus contractors operating in the area.   Their sales pitch is that they have leftover materials from Sligo County Council and are offering works like tarmacing driveways at a reduced rate.   If the homeowner agrees to the works, the gang carry out a botched job and then demand money be handed over.   Gardai have been m...

Further warnings have been sounded of more job losses in the fishing sector.   It comes five Irish fish producing and processing organisations have joined forces to demand change at national and EU level for the sector.   The objective of the Killybegs Fisherman's Organisation, the Irish Fish Producers Organisation, the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association and the Irish South...

Sinn Feins Chris MacManus has not ruled out running in a General Election.   It comes as the sitting MEP was been eliminated after the seventeenth count in the Midlands North West constituency this afternoon.    Independent Ireland's Ciaran Mullooly is currently 17 thousand 830 votes ahead of Michelle Gildernew - however Sinn Féin expects Chris McManus to transfer significantly to h...

It's hoped that further fish kills won't take place in the north west.   Two fish kills previously took place in Donegal earlier this year- in Bridgend and Killygordon.   While a major a major kill in Cork where at least 5,000 fish were found to have died is being investigated.   The investigation is being conducted by Inland Fisheries Ireland, the State agency responsible for the p...

There are calls locally on the Government to abolish all sub-minimum rates of pay, for all employees.   It comes as the Low Pay Commission is recommending the same minimum wage rate be introduced for all age groups.   Currently, the law allows for lower levels of pay for people under the age of 20.   Newly elected Labour Cllr for Sligo Strandhill Nessa Cosgrove thinks that there sho...

Ongoing issues hindering the school transport system in the north west have been brought before the floor of the Dáil. Many parents in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have struggled for years to try get their child a place on the bus to and from school. Spaces, eligibility, concessionary tickets and roads that are not on the bus route are said to be just some of the obstacles faced by those who wish to...

Padraig MacLochlainn says Sinn Fein is not out of the race for a seat in the Midlands Northwest constituency.   While no-one has been elected yet, Luke Ming Flanagan, Nina Carberry, Maria Walsh and Barry Cowen all look certain to take the first four seats.   Ciarán Mullooly is in pole position to take the fifth and final seat and is currently 12,576 votes clear of Michelle Gildernew afte...

Calls have been made for the abolishment of the carer's allowance means test in light of the State of Caring 2024 report. Sligo-Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin rose the issue following the report's publication by Family Carer's Ireland. It was highlighted by the Deputy that only around a quarter of carer's currently receive the full allowance. Deputy Harkin said the income threshold for the a...

Homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks in the north west will soon be able to avail of a much-anticipated SEAI grant. That's after cabinet ministers have signed off on guidelines for activation of grants from the authority. The grant will allow homeowners the working capital they need to start a rebuild of their home along with the current defective concrete block scheme. Donegal TD and...

It's emerged that no money will be paid to farmers in Sligo this week under TAMS 3. The announcement was made by the Department of Agriculture in respect of claims submitted under the scheme. TAMS 3 provides grant to farmers to build and/or improve a specified range of farm buildings and equipment on their holding. The picture is brighter in Donegal and Leitrim, however where farmers will receive...

Fine Gael Taoiseach Simon Harris has been speaking in the Dáil this afternoon on funding for the defective block crisis following the success of 100% redress party in the Donegal local elections.   Donegal Independent TD Thomas Pringle brought the situation to attention, looking for the current scheme to be scrapped.   Taoiseach Harris said that the government made a decision today that...

Measures looking into banning certain dog breeds are to be discussed in the Seanad.   It comes after a 23-year-old woman from Limerick was killed by her dogs at her home last Tuesday night.   Currently, there are 11 different dog breeds listed as a restricted dog in Ireland, meaning owners are required to follow a strict set of rules.   Leitrim County Council vet James Madden is cal...

"If I'm going out anywhere, I have to plan ahead." That's according to Ballyshannon disability activist Vicky Matthews on accessibility issues she has faced when socialising. Submissions closed last night for the Night Time Economy Accessibility survey, which intends to make evening venues more inclusive. Ms Matthews says she has found herself excluded from certain restaurants and bars:

The success of the 100% Redress Party in the Donegal local elections needs to act as a wakeup call for the Government.   That's according to Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle, who says that the result should prompt the Government to go back to the drawing board.   The party took four seats across a number of Local Electoral Areas in Donegal after running 6 candidates.   Deputy P...

A former Leitrim vice-principal believes that a balance needs to be struck in any reform of the Leaving Cert.   The comments come against the backdrop of a call for the traditional form of Leaving Certificate exams to be scrapped.   State examinations are in full swing this week, and will continue until the 25th of this month.   Sean Wynne, former vice-principal and secondary school...

The funeral mass of well-renowned traditional musician and composer Charlie Lennon takes place this morning.   Originally from Kiltyclogher, Mr Lennon will be fondly remembered by many traditional music fans in the north west and indeed all over the country.   President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to Mr Lennon, saying with his passing “Irish music has lost one of its most talented...

Just 5 out of the 30 seats on local electoral areas in the Ocean FM franchise area will be filled by women following the 2024 local elections.   Neither of the two women who contested the seven-seater Ballymote-Tubbercurry electoral area were elected, which means Independent Margaret Gormley was the last sitting councillor in that area following her election in 2014.   Labour's Nessa Cos...

Sinn Féin's spokesperson for transport and Sligo-Leitrim TD, Martin Kenny, has reflected on his party's underwhelming performance in the local elections.   In what was anticipated to be strong support for Sinn Féin proved to not be the case, as Independents received a large backing from the public.   In Sligo and Leitrim, the party maintained their seats but did not manage to increase th...

It’s emerged that the home of a west Sligo Cllr was robbed and ransacked while he was at the local election count in Sligo over the weekend.   Cllr Joe Queenan was at the count at The Sligo Park Hotel on Saturday and upon returning home shortly after 2pm, he discovered his house had been burgled.   The incident comes just a few months after Cllr Queenan’s business premises was also broke...

In the first six months of this year, there have been 84 deaths on Irish roads. 2023 recorded the highest number of road deaths in almost a decade, with 184. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Martin Harley, lost his own daughter in a crash ten years ago. The council holds a road safety campaign for students across the county each year, to raise awareness and show the dangers of irresponsibl...

Counting in the local elections in Sligo finished up just a few hours ago with a number of sitting Cllrs losing their seat.   In what was a lengthy battle, the final seat in the Sligo-Drumcliffe Municipal District was eventually won by Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy with Fine Gaels Tom Fox narrowly missing out.   The seven seats on the Ballymote-Tubbercurry MD were also fully filled in th...

Elected Cllrs Sinn Fein's Michael McMahon, Independent Jimmy Brogan, Fianna Fail's Michael Naughton, and Independent Niamh Kennedy gave OceanFM their immediate thoughts after being voted in:

Outgoing Fine Gael Cllr Barry Sweeny was eliminated on the final vote count for the Donegal LEA council.   He shared his immediate thoughts with OceanFM: