Ocean FM News Reports

There's been a watery response from the TII on safety proposals for outside Dunkineely National School.   That's according to local Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Jordan who has again raised concern over little progress in getting some measures in place there.   Speeding issues have become notorious outside the school there, with a number of near misses and some motorists breaking the red lights at...

Ireland West Airport Knock is celebrating today after yet another milestone was reached in the first quarter of 2024. The first three months of the year have been the busiest on record, with 159,000 people passing thorugh the airport between January and March. The passenger numbers represented an 18% increase on 2023 passenger numbers, and a 6% increase on the previous busiest first quarter in 201...

Serious questions are being asked over progress on various road projects in Sligo. Frustration is said to be building among some communities over a lack of a timeframe for when upgrades will be carried out. Local Fianna Fáil Cllr Dónal Gilroy says that a lot of these projects have been in the pipeline for some time. He's calling on Sligo County Council to provide more clarity on the matter:

There are further calls for excise fuel hikes to be scrapped to help people deal with the cost of living crisis. The cost of petrol and diesel rose by 4 and 3 cent a litre this month with a further increase planned for August. The tax take from fuel was just under 3.8 billion euro last year despite cuts to excise duties. Independent TD for Sligo Leitrim Marian Harkin says petrol stations in the bo...

Mixed results are expected for Sligo in the All Ireland Strategic Rail Review. The long-awaited review, which is to be published tomorrow, will have no new lines from Sligo, including the much debated Collooney to Claremorris and Sligo to Galway lines. Improvements will be made to the current Sligo to Dublin Connolly services however, with double-tracks being laid between Mullingar and Maynooth to...

There’s renewed calls for a new Renal Dialysis Unit at Sligo University Hospital.   The current unit is one of the oldest of it’s kind in the country, yet it hasn’t been modernised over the years.   Overcrowding issues and a lack of facilities for both staff and patients have long been flagged as key areas of concern.   Fianna Fáil Councillor, Tom MacSharry, says it’s no longer fit...

The Dail was suspended earlier today after a row broke out between Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty and Finance Minister Michael McGrath.   The row centred on a rise in fuel prices here and a further expected rise later this year.   There's major concern over the impact that this will have on  filling stations this side of the border with Deputy Pearse Doherty claiming that the l...

A new candidate has announced their intention to run in both the Manorhamilton and Sligo-Strandhill Municipal Districts. Diarmuid MacConville of North Leitrim will be running as an Independent in the upcoming elections. Mr MacConville was previously in the public eye after he attended Covid-related protests dressed as the "Straw Man", and he has also received multiple death threats in the past. He...

There's too much stick and not enough carrot coming from Europe for Irish farms. That's according to Midlands North-West MEP, Chris MacManus, who has welcomed a new simplification package proposed for farmers. An urgent procedure will be brought to the European Parliament surrounding the common agricultural policy to deliver much needed simplification, administrative burden reduction, and greater...

There's calls for a full investigation into reports of a woman with a disability getting clamped in Sligo.   The incident is said to have happened in the town in recent days.   The woman reportedly approached the clamper who allegedly said he didn't see her disabled badge but still refused to remove the clamp.   There are further claims that the lady in question was carrying to indi...

The conversation of a permanent community facility for Rossnowlagh has been reignited.   There was extreme dissatisfaction in the area recently over what's been described as the substandard maintenance of the local public toilets.   The portable toilets were said to be in a deplorable state particularly over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.   Local Cllr Barry Sweeny says it's clear...

There’s renewed calls for a new Renal Dialysis Unit at Sligo University Hospital. The current unit is one of the oldest of it’s kind in the country, yet it hasn’t been modernised over the years. Overcrowding issues and a lack of facilities for both staff and patients have long been flagged as key areas of concern. Fianna Fáil Councillor, Tom MacSharry, says it’s no longer fit for purpose and that...

No North West representatives have been included in Fine Gael's cabinet reshuffle. Simon Harris' first day as Taoiseach will see his team will gather around the cabinet table later today, with the appointment of new junior ministers on the agenda. So far, there weren't many changes when it came to the appointment of ministers - with only three adjustments to Cabinet yesterday. Mayo TD Alan Dillon...

Sligo’s High Street is being held to ransom. That’s according to local Independent Councillor Declan Bree, who says both business owners and residents are at the end of their tether over ongoing dereliction issues in the area. A number of buildings have fallen into a serious state of disrepair and safety bollards put in place are taking up valuable car parking spaces. A meeting took place over the...

Donegal Animals In Need are appealing to people to consider taking pets into their homes. Currently, the centre has twenty rescued dogs in their care, as well as a number of rescued cats. People who are interested are encouraged to check the Donegal Animals in Need website or facebook page. Volunteer with the Animals in Need centre, Gitta McMullan, made the following appeal.

The National Transport Authority has been accused of dragging its heels over the notorious bus stop in Donegal Town centre. The bus stop, located outside the Abbey Hotel, has long been cited as the root of major congestion in and around the Diamond. There are ongoing calls for it to be situated on the outskirts of the town, especially for the bigger coaches. Local Sinn Fein Councillor Noel Jordan...

Appeals have been made for information in relation to acts of vandalism at a county Sligo pub, with a number of windows smashed overnight.   The vandalism at The Inisfree Bar in Ballintogher happened at around 1.45am.   No arrests have been made at this time and investigations into the incident are ongoing.   Speaking to Ocean FM news, owner of the pub, Padraig Killoran made is aski...

The outdoor swimming pool at Westend in Bundoran is said to be in a bad state of disrepair.  The pool is one of the oldest of its kind in the country.  With sea swimming becoming hugely popular, the amenity is now being used all year round.  Local Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon says this warrants some works being carried out in the area: 

Learner drivers are now waiting up to 8 months to sit their driving test in south Donegal. Two new instructors were due to be drafted into the county to alleviate the waiting list but it’s claimed that the backlog has worsened. Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Naughton says Cllrs can no long contact NDLS directly with queries and to make specific cases for people, which is hugely frustrating. He says many...

A passenger on the 9.05am Sligo to Dublin Connolly train service absconded this morning after a row broke out in one of the carriages. It's understood a physical fight broke out on the train, with one man brandishing a weapon believed to be a knife in the process. This did not lead to any injuries. This led to the train being stopped in Kilcock for about ten minutes as Irish Rail staff threatened...

Residents in Killybegs are concerned about more refugees coming into Donegal. Local taxi driver, Derek Vial, says Donegal has done its fair share as a county in housing international protection applicants.

During their time in government, Fine Gael have not delivered for the North West.   That's according to Sligo-Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin who spoke today in the Dail regarding Leo Varadkar's resignation as Taoiseach, and Simon Harris's appointment.   Deputy Harkin said that she didn't back the new Taoiseach because of the wider government's failures, but wished him well on a per...

There isn’t the fodder available in the north west to move around the country, and a voucher system should be put in place for farmers. Sligo Chair of the IFA, Michael O’Dowd, shared these thoughts ahead of the National Fodder and Food Security meeting later today, which will be addressing the current fodder crisis. Mr O’Dowd said that financial support needs to be felt immediately for farmers ami...

It’s been revealed that there’s a 20% refusal rate of social housing in Sligo. The figure was confirmed by Council officials amid concerns over a lack of emergency accommodation in the County. The council has also confirmed that in extreme cases, they are having to resort to housing families in hotels. Local People Before Profit Cllr Gino O’Boyle has called for modular homes to be built on council...

Mardan House in Killybegs is to be used for temporary emergency accomodation. 22 beds in the B&B, which has been lying idle for a number of years, will be made available for international protection applicants. The contract with Mardan House has been signed for a period of one year. It's also understood that families and couples will be among those moving in, with seven bedrooms being made ava...