Ocean FM News Reports

Independent Socialist Councillor Declan Bree and Fianna Fáil’s Tom MacSharry have been re-elected to Sligo County Council after the first count.   Bree’s total of 1537 and MacSharry’s total of 1374 meant they exceeded the quota of 1188.   Also, following the first count, Independent candidate Diarmuid MacConville recorded the lowest number of votes meaning her votes will now be distribut...

A local Sligo businessperson has called for a better working relationship with councillors.   Aisling Kelly, of Sligo Bay Oysters, spoke about the issue while attending the Sligo vote count at the Sligo Park Hotel.   The election cycle and particularly the time around voting brings up the discussion regarding public officials and their role within their communities.   Ms Kelly says...

Fine Gael candidate Fergal Nealon is set to become a councillor for the first time. Mr Nealon is standing in the Sligo-Strandhill electoral area, and received the third highest amount of first preference votes, only behind sitting Cllrs Declan Bree and Tom MacSharry. Mr Nealon highlighted how delighted he was at the news and thankful to those who supported him. He said it hadn’t really sunk in yet...

Outgoing Independent Cllr and candidate Felim Gurn is set to be the big winner from top of the poll's James Gilmartin's surpluss.   First-time Independent candidate James Gilmartin has had a successful initiation to voting day, which saw him gain nearly 500 more first preference votes than the next closest candidate.   In dividing out the number two choices on the votes for Mr Gilmartin,...

"False allegations, illegitimate, wrong, misguided, to negatively effect my vote."   That's according to Fine Gael candidate and top of the tally poll in Sligo-Drumcliffe, Cllr Thomas Walsh on recent claims made against him.   Cllr Walsh was responding to videos circulating on social media and the actions of individuals who were part of what he called a campaign team of another candidate...

Fianna Fáil’s Mícheal Naughton has topped the poll in the Donegal Municipal District after tallying there finished this evening. Naughton finished with over 1800 first preference votes, but the counting proper will begin on Sunday. Speaking to Ocean FM News afterwards, he outlined how much it meant to him.

Former Donegal Fianna Fáil TD and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan spoke out against the abuse that politicians, particularly females, face today.   The panel discussion took place in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny today as the local elections count started.   While votes were being tallied, the question was raised about whether people are being deterred from entering politics due to abuse...

"This has surpassed my wildest dreams."   That's according to first-time Independent candidate in the Manorhamilton Municipal District, James Gilmartin.   Mr Gilmartin has stormed to the top of rankings after the votes were tallied today with 1328, nearly 500 first preference votes ahead of the nearest competitor.   Speaking to OceanFM, Mr Gilmartin wanted to thank all those who tur...

The issue of public engagement from Donegal council candidates was raised at a panel discussion today.   The election count is taking place across the country today, and former Fianna Fáil TD and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan addressed the situation.   Public representatives had not attended a meeting in Donegal Town regarding the one-way system.   Ms Coughlan maintained that councillors h...

Former Donegal Fianna Fáil TD and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan has shared her thoughts on the lack of her old party's presence in election debates.   In the run up the local elections, four Donegal Fianna Fáil candidates were unable to attend OceanFM's debate on public issues.   Ms Coughlin joined the OceanFM panel today at the Donegal count centre in the John Bosco Centre.   Ms Coughlin...

Outgoing Midlands-North West MEP and candidate Luke Ming Flanagan dropped into the Sligo count centre today as votes were being tallied.   With only five seats up for grabs for the 27 possible candidates, MEP Flanagan spoke about how his popularity could have a negative impact on his results.   MEP Flanagan was one of the favourites in the run up to the elections.   He considered hi...

Independent Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin spoke about the importance of women in politics at today's voting count in Sligo.   With outgoing Cllrs Rosaleen O'Grady and Sinead Maguire stepping down from politics, it left just one sitting Cllr in Marie Casserly.   There has since been a discussion on the issue of representation for women on local authorities.   Deputy Harkin says that...

Chris O'Donnell and this Ireland 4 x 400m mixed relay team-mates chat to Will Downing's following Friday night's gold medal at the European Athletics Championships in Rome.

There are currently over 16,000 vacant homes right across the North West region. According to campaign group Uplift, there are over 9,600 empty houses in Donegal, over 3,900 in Sligo and just over 2,800 in Leitrim. The group have also published a report, detailing how dereliction and the issue of vacant homes across the country can be tackled. One of the group's campaigners, Patrick Kelleher, says...

It would be unfair to put additional costs onto the public to help fund the Road Safety Authority. That's according to Sinn Féin's Spokesperson for Transport and Sligo-Leitrim TD Martin Kenny, who felt that the Government should support the RSA instead. The RSA are looking to increase fees for their services by 10%, which would include a price rise in the NCT and driving test. Deputy Kenny highlig...

People are being reminded of a vigil taking place in Sligo this weekend, to remember the children who were killed in Gaza.   It's estimated that over 15000 children have been killed since October last year.   The vigil, which is getting underway at Queen Maeve's Square at 1pm, was inspired by a similar event in Berlin last week.   Caoimhe McDermott from North West Mothers For Social...

It's thought that a ban on certain breeds of dogs would be supported locally. Calls for a ban of restricted breeds have ramped up of late, after 23-year-old Nicole Morey was killed after being attacked by her own dog in Limerick earlier this week. The dog in question was an XL Bully, a breed which has already been banned in the UK. Veterinary Inspector with Sligo County Council, Conall Colleary, s...

The North West has not been experiencing the same increase in Covid-19 cases as other parts of the country. It comes as health officials elsewhere say cases are already on the rise and the virus has mutated again. It's also expected that there may be another fresh wave over the summer months. But Dr Anthony Breslin, Consultant in Public Health Medicine with the HSE North West is not overly concern...

Eddie Lee talks to OceanFM about Sligo Jazz

Sligo-Leitrim reach the Girls U14 Gaynor Cup final after a penalty shoot-out win - Tina Beirne reports from Limerick. Kilcar manager Michael Hegarty on his club's seventh All-Ireland Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta title in their Centenary year. Breege Connolly on the Ireland European Athletics Championship line-up. Sligo Rovers defender JR Wilson on Thursday's FAI Cup draw. Sligo's Fittest Superstar...

There was a mix of emotions present on High St in Sligo town today as demolition work continued.   Ocean FM news visited the site where the deconstruction is taking place and spoke to local business owners.   Relief was the most common sentiment expressed by business owners along High Street today.   It what has been a long, drawn-out process over the demolition, locals are now happ...

Outgoing Sligo-Drumcliffe Cllr and Independent candidate Marie Casserly has been providing updates on village enhancement works in Rosses Point. The application for the rural regeneration and development fund was unsuccessful, but Cllr Casserly confirmed that they will reapply next year. And among the number of successful acquirements of funding was €125,000 for the development of a playground fro...

A Donegal national school is struggling to meet demand ahead of the start of the new school year.   Glebe national school in Donegal Town applied for a modular classroom in March 2023, and are still yet to hear back from the department of education on the situation.   There are currently 5 teachers to 4 classrooms, and 120 students enrolled for the next school year.   After being qu...

TUI members of the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education Training Board (MSLETB) are set to go on strike this coming September. It's in a dispute over breaches of the teacher transfer agreement. 95% of TUI members voted in favour of undertaking industrial action when schools return in September if the issue is not resolved by then. The union say that MSLETB have continually broken the national agreeme...

The government doesn't understand the pressures that the people of the North West are under. That's according to Sinn Féin Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, who was commenting on the recent PwC Consumer survey that found 58% of consumers are either extremely or very concerned about their personal financial situation. With further price hikes on fuel expected in the coming months, fears are being raised o...