Ocean FM News Reports

Reassurances have been given that refugees set to be housed in Dromahair will be families.   It's thought that a number of international protection applicants are expected to move into the former Abbey Manor Hotel shortly.   It's after the High Court rejected a bid by Leitrim County Council to block the plan - and said work on the site can 'go ahead'.   Rumours began circulating on...

There's further calls for longer opening hours at rural Garda stations close to the border.   With an increase in population, Leitrim Councillor Felim Gurn is hopeful for fully maned, operational stations in Manorhamilton and Blacklion.   On several occasions, it's been reported that a notice has appeared on the front door of Manorhamilton Garda station advising people to contact Carrick...

The Government has been accused of crucifying border filling stations with its planned tax hikes on petrol and diesel.   Fuel prices have risen by more than 30 percent in the past three years.   The AA Ireland's latest monthly Fuel Price Survey has reported a surge recently, with fears the cost of fuel will soon rise to €2 per litre.   The Government is under pressure to scrap the h...

Serious safety concerns have been raised once again over the N15.   The route, which runs through Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo, is home to a number of rural villages and a large number of schools.   Hopes for an upgrade were dashed some time back, after it was removed from the Departments agenda.   Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy believes that a number of short term measures can be take...

An Independent Donegal TD has raised the issue of social media safety in the Dáil today. Recent reports highlighted that adolescent males can be quickly subjected to harmful online content curated by algorithms. Deputy Thomas Pringle said he was horrified by the content that young Irish men are targeted with online. He also said that we must get serious about protecting young people.

It’s emerged that a number of refugees are set to move to Dromahair in the next 24 hours.   Just yesterday, the former Abbey Manor Hotel got the ‘green light’ to house 155 international protection applicants.   The High Court rejected a bid by Leitrim County Council to block the plan – and said work can ‘go ahead’ at the former Abbey Manor Hotel in Dromahair.   A group of local resi...

Letterkenny University Hospital was among the most overcrowded facilities in Ireland in April. In a statement today, the INMO says that a worrying trend of overcrowding across the country has continued, particularly in the north west and west. Figures released today by the INMO show that a total of 594 people waited for a bed at Letterkenny over the course of the month. The figure makes it the fif...

There's said to be huge disappointment in Easkey over the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.   The community submitted what's been described as an impressive application for much needed funding but was unsuccessful.   County Sligo got one million euro under the scheme this week, with Tubbercurry, Ballymote and Culfadda all set to benefit.   Independent Cllr Michael...

Once again during the Month of April a group of TY students joined us here at the Ocean FM studios in Collooney   Students from a number of local schools had the opportunity to see how radio worked and as a result took responsibility for the research, production, presentation and editorial content for a special TY Radio show that was recently broadcast on Ocean FM.   For the show the stu...

The community of Dromahair now has two choices following a High Court decision over the Abbey Manor Hotel. That's according to Local Election Labour Candidate Bernie Linanne, who was speaking after the former hotel was given the green light to house 155 asylum seekers. The High Court's rejected Leitrim County Council's move to block the development - and says work can 'go ahead'. Local residents h...

The HSE has confirmed that a funding application is to be made to redevelop Markievicz House in Sligo.   A feasibility study has already been completed to ascertain the extent of potential services that could be accommodated in the building and the costs associated with it.   The next step in the process will be the completion of a capital submission for its future inclusion in the HSE C...

Farmers who are losing forestry land as a result of ash dieback could be set receive grants to clear them and replant new trees.   The Agriculture Minister is bringing proposals to Cabinet for a 79-and-a-half million euro package – with farmers receiving 5 thousand euro per hectare.   Ash dieback is a fungal disease which was first recorded in trees here in 2012.   Agriculture Minis...

A former hotel in north Leitrim has got the 'green light' to house 155 international protection applicants.   The High Court has rejected a bid by Leitrim County Council to block the plan - and said work can 'go ahead' at the former Abbey Manor Hotel in Dromahair.   A group of local residents held protests in the village last November over concerns that asylum seekers were to be accommod...

Getting rid of rent pressure zones would prove disastrous for Sligo. That's according to local People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle, who was reacting to calls from The Irish Property Owners' Association for the Government to row back on the current system which has been in place since 2016.   The Sligo-Strandhill Local Electoral Area is currently the only area in the County a designated a r...

A new community park is on the way to Laghey. It's after the village was awarded €250k as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme earlier today. The project is set to include an outdoor recreational amenity and play space. Local Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton says it'll be a major boost for the area:

The Killybegs Garda station has been open more days and longer hours since the employment of an administrative position. This was welcomed by local councillors at the recent Donegal Joint Policing Committee meeting, where it was highlighted that it has resulted in a larger Garda presence in the area. Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy, says that it's important for people to see the station door open w...

Sligo County Council have unanimously supported a motion to reopen the Western Rail Corridor. The motion was proposed by Mayor of Sligo and Independent Councillor, Declan Bree, who believes the rail corridor is a crucial piece of infrastructure for the region. Although the All Island Strategic Rail Review is yet to be published, it's widely expected that there will be no new lines included for Sli...

The recent drop in arrests for road offences does not mean that incidents of that nature aren't happening. That's the view of Sinn Fein's Transport Spokesperson, Martin Kenny, after figures released showed a decline in arrests driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and for speeding. Last year, 7,771 people were arrested for driving under the influence, a 3 percent drop in comparison with...

With the ongoing housing crisis continuing to impact county Sligo, fixing current issues remains a top priority. Midlands- North West European election candidate Lisa Chambers has been speaking ahead of a public meeting which takes place tonight. It's hoped that the meeting will provide information on housing grants and government supports. Senator Chambers says its important that the public voice...

Staff at Sligo University Hospital need to know they are supported if a patient becomes violent or aggressive.   That's according to Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler, who was speaking at the opening of the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital last Friday.   The Minister was reacting to reports of alleged assaults on hospital staff in Sligo recently.   Meanwhi...

A Donegal Pharmacist is urging the Government to reform the funding model for pharmacies, before increasing their workload.   An expert taskforce is considering expanding pharmacy services to include independent prescribing powers, the provision of care for common conditions and enhanced contraceptive care.   It's hoped it will reduce wait times in the health service and increase accessi...

New research about the Irish Civil War is said to have uncovered new information.   The Irish Civil War Fatalities Project shows that County Sligo experienced much higher levels of violence in the Civil War than it had in the War of Independence.   There were forty-four fatalities in Sligo between 28 June 1922 and 24 May 1923, 24 in Donegal over the same period.   The highest number...

There's only ever been nine female Councillors elected to Sligo County Council since the formation of the state.   In Leitrim, the number is just six while there have been eleven women elected onto Donegal County Council.   So far, there are currently 15 female candidates running in this year's local elections in the Ocean FM franchise area.   However there are two key departures lo...

It's claimed that a motorist travelled through a north Leitrim village at 150km/h recently.   There's a limit of 50km in place at Lurganboy, but it's reported that a lot of drivers are speeding excessively through the village.   Residents are said to be deeply concerned that someone may be killed if action isn't taken.   Local Independent Cllr Felim Gurn feels that number of safety...

Both Sligo and Leitrim buck the national trend when it comes to the number of claims over accidents caused by uninsured cars   Nationally, there's been an 11 per cent rise in such claims with most counties recording an increase.   Leitrim however had the largest percentage decrease, down 55%, while claims in Sligo were down 21%   The Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland has released fi...