Ocean FM News Reports

It's feared that a serious accident will occur in south Donegal should appropriate safety measures not be put in place. Speeding issues have become notorious outside a number of schools including Dunkineely National School and Abbey Vocational School with a number of near misses in recent times. Earlier this year, it emerged that the local authority received an unsatisfactory response from the TII...

Paddy McGill is joined by Owenie McGarvey & Brian McCabe Cork v Donegal this Saturday in Pairc Ui Rinn, Donegal v Mayo in hurling's Nickey Rackard Cup final - and Kilcar in the All-Ireland Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta in Cork.

A contractor has been appointed to service public toilets in Mullaghmore. They will be open from today, and will be maintained after Sligo County Council secured an appointment. Portaloos have been in operations for the last number of years, as local residents campaign to have them changed for more long-term solutions. Independent Sligo-Drumcliffe Cllr Marie Casserly highlighted the importance of...

Further warnings have been sounded over a childcare catastrophe looming in north Leitrim. Many providers have shut for good in Leitrim and the wider North West region, with many more struggling to continue operating. The root of the issue is said to be the red tape with core funding - providers must now submit mass amounts of accounts records in a specific way in order to obtain it. Independent Ca...

There are further fears over the future of filling stations along the border over potential Government plans to reinstate excise on fuel. There's major concern that the planned reintroduction of the higher rates of excise duties will have a disastrous impact on petrol stations in the south. The Taoiseach has insisted that the matter is being kept under review. But Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Mari...

Transport Infrastructure Ireland have confirmed that roads funding for local authorities has been cut, despite previous denials by government. The revelations came after the Irish Asphelt Producers Association requested projections for funding from the TII, and were told that finances were being scaled back. It means a number of local and national roads earmarked for development now cannot go out...

A Donegal TD has spoken out in the Dáil this afternoon regarding the Defective Concrete Block Scheme. Sinn Féin TD Padraig MacLochlainn highlighted the situation during questions for the Minister for Housing. The case was made that the grant scheme should be changed to a genuine 100% redress. Deputy MacLochlainn labelled aspects of the current set up as desperately cruel.

A series of workshops are being run in Sligo Town by the HSE for parents of children diagnosed with autism. This new initiative includes five in depth sessions delivered by skilled HSE staff including Psychologists, Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists. The workshops aim to increase family understanding of the needs of their child following a diagnosis. Dr Mark Hogan, Princip...

The Sligo greenway was a topic of discussion at a joint committee in Dublin today. Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny and Independent TD Marian Harkin took part in a discussion regarding the future of the Greenway and rail line in the North West. Although both initiatives are sought, Deputy Kenny highlighted that it's important to not risk one for the sake of the other. While Deputy Harkin believes a Green...

The Irish Nurses' and Midwives' Organisation extra beds announced for the likes of Sligo and Letterkenny University hospitals are pointless without a workplace plan in place.   Plans are afoot to provide over 140 additional beds across the two hospitals - 69 extra beds in Sligo and 72 in Letterkenny.   The Health Minister announced the new beds are to come on stream between now and 2031....

An annual tradition in Sligo Town will again take place this weekend. It's the Corpus Christi Procession this Sunday evening, June 2, leaving the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception after the 7pm Mass there. On its route through the town, the procession will be joined by groups and individuals from the parishes that make up the Sligo cluster of parishes. They will arrive at the Abbey at 8:30pm,...

The Secretary of Donegal Vintners' Branch has reiterated the importance of extending opening hours to the industry. Concerns have been raised as though the new laws have long been planned, there is no immediate end in sight. The new rules propose that nightclubs can stay open until 6am, and pubs can stay open until 12:30am every night. Also a county councillor and pub owner, Martin Harley, says th...

There's still a lot of wide-ranging issues and dissatisfaction among frontline Gardai over the direction the organisation is going.   That's according to Donegal GRA Representative Brendan O'Connor, who has been reacting to this week's developments that rank and file Gardaí have backed a new roster by an overwhelming majority.   The proposal is said to largely mirror the roster put forwa...

A new poll out this morning shows Sinn Fein's vote has collapsed among farmers. The Irish Farmers' Journal says support for Sinn Fein continues to plummet, while support is on the rise for fledgling party 'Independent Ireland' and the country's independent candidates. Irish Farmers' Journal Political Correspondent, Pat O'Toole, says Fine Gael tops their poll - Independent Ireland is the 3rd most p...

There are calls on the Government to expand a new initiative supporting medical students that would benefit students from Donegal and across the North West.   There's said to be many young people in the region Donegal who go on to study in the North, given its close proximity to home and given the housing shortage in Dublin at the moment.   At the beginning of this year, it was announced...

Plans are afoot to provide over 140 additional beds across Sligo and Letterkenny University Hospitals.   Sligo is set to receive 69 extra beds while there are plans to provide 72 at Letterkenny.   The Department of Health announced that almost 3 thousand beds will be delivered nationally by 2031, on top of over 1000 beds previously promised.   It's estimated it will take approximate...

Confirmation that Letterkenny University Hospital will receive 72 new acute beds has been met with a cautious welcome locally.   The increase was announced this afternoon by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly under the Acute Inpatient Hospital Bed Expansion Plan.   Local Fianna Fáil election candidate Claudia Kennedy says while the new beds are needed, more needs to be done to bring t...

There are calls for more youth-centred facilities in the North West amid a recent study showing young teens have fewer close friends today than they did ten years ago. The Growing Up In Ireland report by the ESRI, also showed that 13 year olds have a closer relationship with their parents now than the previous generation did a decade ago. Other aspects of the report showed there has been an increa...

The RNLI turns 200 this year.   The charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK.   Latest statistics show that its lifeboat crews and lifeguards saved a total of 355 lives last year – that’s almost one life saved for every day of the year.   This special programme is in recognition of the invaluable work that they...

West Sligo voters once again face the prospect of casting their votes in a different polling station in the upcoming local and European elections. Voters from Culleens and Owenbeg traditionally voted at Culleens National School. However, following the school's closure in September 2022, they have been forced to move to a separate booth at Kilglass National School. Local Independent Councillor Joe...

There's a reason why many people in the North West are spending intense days in the bog.   That's according to Independent TD Thomas Pringle, who claims that there is been a resurgence in turf cutting due to the spiralling cost of fuel.   Deputy Pringle says if the Government are serious about a green agenda then they need to provide more supports to people to upgrade their homes.  ...

The Marine Minister has given a commitment to explore all funding avenues and supports for the inshore fishing sector.   It follows concern that the sector has received little financial assistance since Brexit.   There was no tie up scheme or fuel supports provided to cope with the big increases in energy costs and now this is said to be further compounded by a collapse in crab and lobst...

A Donegal TD has raised concerns over the future of Ireland's neutrality. Independent TD Thomas Pringle will be speaking in the Dáil this week on the issue, with the hopes of seeking assurances on the country's future. Fears have often been stated that Ireland may no longer be a neutral country in future wars, due to its ties to other states. Deputy Pringle says the government is undermining the t...

The Irish SME Association Roadshow is set to land in Sligo this week.       They are to hold a number of events including network events, guest speakers and panel discussions at the Sligo Park Hotel.       The association say the roadshows provide SMEs with the knowledge they need to thrive and be an opportunity for businesses to gain a competitive edge.    ...

Fears remain that a number of derelict buildings on a Sligo street are on the verge of collapse.     Despite strengthening works being carried out on some of the structures on High Street, cracks are said to be widening while it's believed a front window has shattered due to pressure buildup.     This in turn has caused disruption for retailers, pedestrians, and motorists. &nbs...