Ocean FM News Reports

Three towns in each of Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim are set to receive to €10,000 each as part of the Town Team Support Fund.   The towns are Ballybofey, Creeslough, and Buncrana in Donegal. Enniscrone, Collooney, and Ballisodare in Sligo. And Ballinamore, Kinlough and Dromahair in Leitrim.   The funding may be used to support the establishment and/or development of town teams&nb...

There are further calls on Donegal County Council to rethink parts of the one way system in Donegal Town. Work began on the project last year and some members of the community have been unhappy with how it might impact the town centre. Independent local election candidate Pauric Kennedy says there’s still time to see sense on a few problem areas. He’s adamant that the plan in its current form will...

There are genuine fears that more raw sewerage will run through Rossnowlagh beach this afternoon.   It comes as the portable toilets are set to overflow, leading to major concern for the weekend ahead with an influx of tourists expected to descend on the town.   Lisa McCorley of Friends of Rossnowlagh believes that the main issue is down to a lack of maintenance.   Ms McCorley says...

Uisce Éireann will be asked by Sligo County Council to take charge of temporary wastewater treatment plants that were initially put in place during the building boom.   The plants, which were initially temporary measures, have been in place for over twenty years in some instances.   It’s understood that this is becoming a safety issue in both urban and rural areas of Sligo.   Speaki...

Careful consideration must be taken on all fronts if the Government are to extend drinking hours and opening hours of pubs and nightclubs. The idea of extending opening hours of pubs and clubs has long been floated by the Government, but is yet to be officially confirmed. It's widely thought that the extension would put more strain on already stretched services, such as hospitals and road policing...

The Tánaiste has agreed to talk to the Office of Public Works regarding the possibility of purchasing a site at Cairns Hill in Sligo. A significant Neolithic monument is located on the site and is said to be an integral part of Sligo's heritage. It was put up for sale back in 2021 but a private individual bought the lands after outbidding the state. Now, it's back up for sale. Speaking in the Dail...

Major safety issues have been reported on Bridge Street in Killybegs. Cllr Niamh Kennedy says a lot of motorists are parking on double yellow lines, causing an obstruction. This in turn is said to be leaving motorists very little space to navigate through the narrow street. Donegal County Council says the idea of a one-way system has already been explored but it's been deemed unsuitable and ultima...

Bus Eireann has come under fire over its service which caters to passengers flying into Ireland West Airport in Knock. People wishing to travel onto Sligo and south Donegal are finding it difficult to do so as the bus schedule is not corresponding with flight times. In a lot of cases, people have been effectively left stranded for hours. Local Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon says it's totally unacc...

Paddy McGilll is joined by Ardara senior manager & Donegal county U20 selector Damien Devaney - and the Donegal Democrat's Alan Foley as the dust finally settles on last Sunday's dramatic Ulster football final shootout win over Armagh.

Frustration is said to be building in Dromahair over the speed some motorists are travelling at.   The main thoroughfare of the village is on the R288 and while there is a 50km/h speed limit in place, it’s reported that a number of motorists continue to disobey the signage.   Local Sinn Féin Councillor Padraig Fallon says while some traffic calming measures have been implemented in the a...

A Donegal TD was accused of “strategic heckling” in the Dáil today during a debate on the housing crisis. The Ceann Comhairle directed the claim at Sinn Féin Deputy Pearse Doherty, who interrupted Tánaiste Micheal Martin. Deputy Doherty insisted that Tánaiste Martin had not answered his question regarding the current government's failures on housing. The Ceann Comhairle threatened to suspend the h...

The Western Rail corridor has been at the centre of discussions in the Dáil this morning. Sligo Leitrim TDs Marian Harkin and Martin Kenny have been enquiring about the reopening of the line from Collooney to Claremorris. There has been some debate on the issue as it is felt that the proposed greenway will be competing with the rail line. Deputy Harkin asked Minister Ryan what the Government's pri...

Sligo County Council have been asked to put a schedule of works in place to ensure that roads around the county are drained effectively. There has been a significant amount of rainfall over the last few months, which has led to the deteriation of some roads. In some instances, surface water is gathering on the roads and only drains away properly after a long period of time, leading to hazardous dr...

The ICU at Letterkenny University Hospital and lack of funding were issues raised in the Dáil on Wednesday. Donegal Sinn Féin TD Padraig MacLochlainn highlighted the situation to the Minister of Health, Stephen Donnelly. It was noted that concerns were raised by over 80 GPs and over 20 consultants in Donegal at the end of 2023 regarding LUH. Deputy MacLochLainn says that LUH is being discriminated...

Frustration is building in Murvagh over people camping and littering on the beach.   A considerable amount of litter was thrown in the local car park on Saturday night while there have been several instances of people camping illegally in the area.   The local community is being urged to be on the alert and report any anti-social activity immediately to the Gardai in Donegal.   The...

The victim of last weekends alleged hit-and-run in Donegal has been remembered in the Dail.   The man, a pedestrian, in his 60s was struck by a vehicle on Main Street Clonmany at around 12:15am on Sunday morning last - he died in Beaumont hospital last night.   The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 30s, appeared in court on Monday.   Gardai say it's now a Fatal Road Traffic collis...

A major recreation and tourism development for north Leitrim has moved another step closer.   Located on the shores of Lough MacNean, Coillte and Leitrim County Council have collaborated on the project.   €2.5 million has been allocated for the project under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.   It is believed the project will cost close to €8 million in total.   Local...

Calls have been made for the government to introduce a universal one-tier healthcare system. It's currently felt that the current system places too much emphasis on being able to afford healthcare, rather than on the basis of medical need. A motion was brought to Sligo County Council by Independent Councillor Declan Bree, and received support from other members. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Councill...

It's emerged that Leitrim is just one of two counties in Ireland without a school for those with special needs.   The revelation comes as Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys was responding to an opposition TD's concerns over the waiting times for assessment and therapies for children with additional needs.   Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy said there were record numbers on waiting lists...

A marina for Donegal Town is “a must”.   Thats according to Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Naughton, who says such an amenity would have far-reaching benefits.   There's said to be number of boat people who wish to dock in Donegal Town but are currently unable to do so.   Cllr Naughton feels that when you look at the success the likes of Carrick-On-Shannon enjoys, it's a no brainer:

Most swimming spots across the North West were of high water quality last year.   Figures form the EPA found 114 had excellent water quality, with 97 per cent meeting or exceeding the minimum standard.   Mullaghmore Beach was deemed sufficient but Ladys Bay in Buncrana Donegal was deemed as having poor water quality.   The number of beaches with poor bathing water quality increased...

A definitive timeframe has been demanded over proposed safety measures for outside Dunkineely National School.   It's now four months since a shocking incident was recorded outside the school, showing several motorists breaking the red lights.   There was also another well reported incident where a lorry mounted a kerb in the area, narrowly missing parents and children on the pedestrian...

A Donegal TD has spoken in the Dáil today about the difficulties local authorities face in tackling road safety issues.   Deputy Thomas Pringle criticised the RSA over not sharing road traffic collision data due to GDPR.   There have been 72 road fatalities in Ireland so far this year, an increase on the same period of last year.   Deputy Pringle says Donegal County Council have str...

It's been confirmed that an on-site survey of the Rock area of Ballyshannon will be carried out, to explore the idea of a one way system. There have been reoccurring traffic problems there, particularly on match day and when other events are taking place. Fine Gael Cllr Barry Sweeny feels that a one-way system would be the primary solution. He's confident that this planned survey will prove that....

A Sligo Leitrim Fine Gael TD has welcomed the news that small and medium-sized businesses are in line for more supports.   Among the measures being introduced today are an increase to the Energy Efficient Grant Scheme to 10 thousand euro and the launching of a new 'Ireland's Best Entrepreneur Programme'. The employer PRSI threshold will also be increased in October from 441 euro to 496 euro....