Ocean FM News Reports

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell with Jessica Farry after Monday night's 5-0 win over Dundalk at Oriel Park.

Mercy College Sligo won the Connacht LGFA Post Primary Schools 'D' football title on Monday with an impressive 5-11 to 1-5 win over Colaiste na Coiribe (Galway) in Swinford. Team manager Lisa Casey spoke to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan after the game.

Local farmers have began the next phase of the IFA's 'Enough is Enough' campaign with a protest at the meeting of Sligo County Council this morning.   Met by local representatives, members highlighted farmer's complaints about over-regulations and payment delays.   Chairperson of the Sligo Dairy Committee, Padraig Mulligan was just one of those who took to the picket line.   He outl...

The death has taken place this morning of popular celebrity chef, Joe Shannon.   Joe had presented the Joe and Georgie Unplugged Show here on Ocean FM since last summer.   He passed away after a short illness.   His outgoing nature and involvement in many organisations made him one of the best known personalities in the North West region and he was a tireless campaigner for cancer c...

IFA representatives addressed this morning’s meeting of Leitrim Co Council in Kinlough.   They highlighted the ongoing challenges and rising costs associated with farming and pleaded for greater support and high prices for their produce.   Prior to this morning’s meeting getting under way John Lynch spoke to these farmers that were protesting outside the community Centre in Kinlough, the...

The Sligo chairperson the IFA says he is hopeful members of the local authority have taken on farmers concerns.   Members of Sligo IFA gathered outside the offices of Sligo County Council this morning as part of their "Enough is enough" campaign.   Michael O'Dowd says farmers came from all corners of the county to take part in the protest.   He says it's important that councillors d...

This month's meeting of Sligo County Council has heard calls for a continuation of cash payments.   Fianna Fáil Councillor Tom MacSharry put forward a motion urging the Government to recognise the importance of cash as a means of payment.   He says notes and coins are crucial to prevent the exclusion of vulnerable groups, such as the elderly.   Councillor MacSharry says Ireland shou...

It’s hoped that Donegal County Council will do all it can to ensure all planning issues are resolved at the Ringfort Inn in Bruckless.   A letter from the Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman's office was circulated last week, which outlines that the Department will not enter into contract with the owner until such matters are addressed.   The south Donegal hotel had been earmarked to h...

A former chair of the Sligo branch of the IFA says farmers are losing grip of their land.   Farmers in Sligo and Leitrim staging protests this morning as part of The 'Enough is Enough' campaign, which centres around the fact that farmers are angry with 'increased regulation, reduced supports, and falling incomes'.   The demonstrations are taking place outside the offices of Sligo County...

Donegal senior gaelic footballers are closing in on a quick return to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League, following Sunday's 1-17 to 0-15 win over Louth in Ballyshannon. Paddy McGill digests the performance in the company of Pauric McShea, Garrett Blake, Brian McCabe, Jim McGuinness, David McLoone and Tom Daly.

Double goalscorer Katie Wlalsh gives her reaction to Ocean FM Sport, following Sunday's penalty shoot-out victory over Athenry, which sees Gurteen Celtic FC reach the women's Connacht Shield final.

Sligo senior football manager Tony McEntee made no excuses following Sunday's 2-17 to 1-8 loss to Down in Newry, in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League.

Leitrim manager Andy Moran gives his assessment of Sunday's 1-16 to 0-13 loss to Longford in Division 4 of the Allianz Football League.

It's emerged that a number of children in Leitrim are being faced with substantial delays when it comes to adequate health resources to fit their needs. It's believed that there is currently no physiotherapist in place for the child development team in the county while some children are not receiving a continuation of the speech and language services. Manorhamilton Municipal District Councillor Ma...

The Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co. Leitrim is hosting a Potato Day today. Among the events taking place throughout the day are Boxty making and Loy demonstrations, as well as an outdoor food and craft market. The centre will also have one of the largest national variations of potato seeds for sale with availability of handy sizes to start growing in the garden. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Dervill...

Part-time students at ATU Sligo will be eligible for a grant for fees from September 2024. While details of the new scheme are still being worked out, it will cover awards at Levels 6,7, or 8 and will be open to applicants with incomes below 56 thousand euro. Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan brought the matter before the floor of the Dáil. He says those who choose to study part-time should benefit f...

This month's meeting of the Regional Health Forum West has heard there is no plan to expand reposing hours from Our Lady's Hospital in Manorhamilton. Currently, funeral directors are only permitted to use the service from 5.30pm, owing to employees working hours in and around the facility. With no funeral home located in town, many have resorted to using the hospital for removals. Local Independen...

Another candidate has stepped forward to run in the local elections.   Diarmaid Doherty has declared his intention to run as an Independent in the Donegal Municipal District.   A carpenter by trade, Mr Doherty is contesting his second local election having previously been on the 2019 ticket.   Mr Doherty is also former councillor on Bundoran Town Council.   Speaking to Ocean FM...

A warning has been sounded over the proposed Bellaghy-Collooney Greenway.   Last week it was announced that €700,000 was allocated to the project which was part of a nationwide funding pot from the TII.   But Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus believes that the project must remain a safe distance from the rain line itself.   He says if a greenway is constructed on the line it would make i...

Donegal Senator Niall Blaney believes that nobody is looking to get balanced regional development at European level.   Yesterday, Fianna Fail made the shock move to add both Senator Niall Blaney and Senator Lisa Chambers to their party ticket for the upcoming European elections.   The pair will run in the Midlands-North-West constituency alongside party colleague Barry Cowen. Speaking to...

The Agriculture Minister is hopeful that a functioning executive in Northern Ireland will be hugely beneficial to farmers north and south of the border. Minister Charlie McConalogue met with his Northern Ireland counterpart in Donegal today. Minister McConalogue and Minister of Agriculture in the North Andrew Muir hosted a joint event to mark the registration of 'Irish Grass Fed Beef' as an all-is...

For the first time, Ireland will play Australia in a women's Masters International Rules Serie - and a Sligo woman will captain the girls in green. We’ll hear from her on the programme. After helping Glenview Stars win a league and cup double in junior soccer, Laura McGinn puts on the Ireland shirt again – this time at the Deaflympics in Turkey. She’ll explain why the hearing implants will all be...

Sligo County Council have been fined €2,600 after damaging a river tributary linked to a Special Area of Conservation. The fine was sought by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), after a tributary stream at Corballa was damaged by heavy machinery. It's understood the machinery crossed the stream a number of times, despite previous instructions from IFI to use an alternative route. Sligo County Council...

Ocean FM brings you a special preview of the 2024 Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Championship live from Co Sligo Golf Club - with contributions from Kevin & Shane Flanagan, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Ben O'Dowd (Assistant Pro at Co Sligo GC) & Mark McGowan (Irish Golfer magazine).

It's emerged that a Donegal parent has been waiting for more than a year for 'urgent' mental health support for their child.   The revelation comes against the backdrop of calls on the Government to regulate and reform Of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as soon as possible.   It's understood that the Donegal parent who has been seeking urgent services for her young child for...