Ocean FM News Reports

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is under increasing pressure to withdraw a proposal to amalgamate the Sligo and Leitrim Garda Division with Donegal. The proposed new model would create one “North West Garda Division” which is creating major ongoing concern in region over how this it would affect day to day policing. Both Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn have written to t...

We preview our live broadcast that takes place next week at The Tubbercurry Old Fair day as Joe & Georgie talk with the chairperson of the event Tony O'Brien.

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat crew will host an open day at the lifeboat station which will also incorporate an Emergency Services Open Day. On the day, the volunteer crew of the lifeboat as well as representatives from locally based emergency services will be on hand to talk to people and display some of the lifesaving equipment that they use during a callout. The event is free of...

A local farming official is warning that the damage caused to farms by flooding in the west of Ireland could leave farmers in the North West facing higher animal feed prices or even a potential fodder shortage. Around 5,000 bales of hay and silage have been lost due to flooding on farms along the Shannon. Farmers are counting the cost of the recent bad weather, which saw the wettest July on record...

A Donegal TD has accused the Taoiseach of failing to deliver on a commitment to take action on rising energy costs. It comes as figures released by the statistics office of the European Union show that while European energy prices fell in July, Irish energy prices increased. Sinn Feins Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty wrote to the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in June calling for an in...

A retired Army General says there are growing concern among the Defence Forces over the ongoing retention crisis. Latest figures show that almost 900 people left the Irish Defence Forces last year, while only 435 signed up. The exodus means the number of personnel available to Ireland's military continues to decrease. Retired General Ger Ahern says not enough people care in trying to replenish the...

The Taoiseach says there will be an extra focus on enforcement to combat the 'shocking' rise in the number of road fatalities on the roads this year. Leo Varadkar says he is very concerned about the number of deaths and has discussed the matter with the Garda Commissioner. 101 road users have lost their lives so far in 2023, compared to 89 up to this day last year. Five of the fatalities happened...

The Garda Representative Association says no progress was made in a meeting with the Garda Commissioner this morning when it came to the issue regarding rosters. The GRA says Drew Harris reiterated his intention to revert to the pre-covid roster in November, and stated his team have already initiated the implementation of this. Brendan O'Connor, President of the GRA and Donegal based Garda, says a...

Sligo Firefighters are continuing their strike action today. The strikes are continuing nationwide as part of a dispute over more secure pay and conditions. In Sligo, a 50/50 approach has been taken, with only two of the counties four stations open at any given time. Today, Ballymote and Enniscrone are closed, while Sligo Town and Tubbercurry are open. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Sligo firefighters...

There are calls to name a new development in Doorly Park after the late Sinead O'Connor. 22 modular homes were constructed in the area recently to house Ukrainian Refugees and some of them moving into their new homes last week. The late singer also passed away last week and also leaves behind a legacy of activism on many controversial issues. Sligo's new Mayor Cllr Declan Bree is proposing that th...

A period of stability in the job must be the priority for the next Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council. That's according to a North Leitrim councillor who made the comments as the current CEO Lar Power has announced he will be leaving his role. The Wexford native was elected to the top position in Leitirm almost five years and half years ago. Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Bohan hopes his succe...

A Sligo Councillor is calling for legislation to ban the practice of seeking sex in lieu of rent. The calls from Councillor Sinéad Maguire come as Sinn Féin has also published legislation that would make it an offence to seek sex for rent or to advertise such arrangements. The Bill seeks to amend the Residential Tenancies Act making it an offence for a landlord to seek sex in lieu of rent or to ad...

Sligo Train Station has been selected for a car park expansion project in Iarnród Éireann's National Car Park Programme strategy report. The strategy report prioritised car park expansion projects nationwide into two lots of work with Sligo placed in the second lot. Subject to funding approval and land availability, design work for Sligo car park is expected to commence in 2024 with construction l...

There are fears that a lack of a decision on the fate of two apartment complexes in Sligo Town could mean that students won't be housed there for the upcoming academic year. Both parents and students were left reeling earlier in the summer following revelations that Milligan Court and Benbulben court were to no longer provide student accommodation. It had been reported that the complexes were to b...

There are renewed hopes for a long awaited cinema in Donegal. It follows a For Sale sign appearing on the intended site in Drumlonagher in recent days. Earlier this year, it was reported that the site was sold by the owner to Lidl Ireland leaving the community of Donegal Town devastated after many years of campaigning for a cinema. However, it's believed that Lidl is now selling the site and the i...

A shortage of Gardaí in the Roads Policing Unit and speed has contributed to the increasing number of road deaths. That's the view of former Transport Minister Shane Ross, who says the current number of fatalities is deeply concerning. The RSA says road deaths have reached a six-year high, with 100 people killed so far this year. Five of the fatalities happened in the North West - one in Sligo and...

Both the Garda Commissioner and Justice Minister have come in for criticism over revelations that Sligo is to receive no new Garda recruits in the latest round of graduates from Templemore. It was confirmed last week that eight new Garda recruits are to be stationed in the North West out of 87 who graduated from the Garda College on Friday. However it's understood that none are to be stationed in...

Both the Government and Uisce Eireann have been accused of wasting taxpayer's money by fixing water pipes in the North West. There have been numerous outages right across the region in recent weeks, leaving homes and businesses without water for a time. Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig claims the way in which these bursts are repairs is merely a band aid solution. He feels its dead money and p...

A Drumkeerin native has been appointed as the new President of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland. Geraldine O’Brien teaches Home Economics, Computing, CSPE and SPHE in St Joseph’s Community College, Kilkee and previously served as ASTI Vice President. Ms. O'Brien has also previously held the role of Vice Chairperson of the Clare branch of the ASTI. The new ASTI president believes a...

Almost half a million people across the country are being served by an 'at risk' water supply. That's an increase of nearly 100 thousand people since 2021, according to the EPA's latest report into public drinking water supplies. Three of Donegal's water systems remain on the Environmental Protection Agency's the remedial action list. Included in this are 3,518 residents Glenties-Ardara, 2,266 in...

Work is set to begin on two infrastructure projects in the Collooney area. It follows confirmation that the tendering process has been completed, paving the way for works to start in the coming weeks. Local contractor, Donlon Civil and Building Services has been awarded both contracts. The works include the second phase of a footpath between Collooney and Ballisodare. Funding allocated will also a...

A Sligo councillor says calls by the Minister for Higher Education pleading with homeowners to rent a room to students in order to help ease the student accommodation crisis smells of desperation. Minister Harris made the calls adding that families living in social housing and social welfare recipients can also benefit from the rent a room scheme. It's expected that many third level students will...

A Sligo Leitrim TD says that although the salaries which will be paid to HSE management under a new structure seems high it will provide an opportunity to help streamline management structures within the Health System. Six new regional health areas are coming on stream as the health service is restructured. The new RHA's will be rolled out on a phased basis from next February through to 2025. Heal...

A Donegal TD says that despite the desperate efforts of the Government parties to remain in power change will happen at the next general election. The Taoiseach earlier confirmed that there are no plans for an early election. Leo Varadkar has suggested the Government will run to its full term, which would be early 2025. The statement from the Fine Gael Leader was made as speculation within politic...

Sligo's Chief Superintendent has stated that Sligo man Barry Young directed and controlled a very large organised crime gang involved in an illegal business in the North West and that this gang had substantial international links. The 38 year old from Geldof Drive in Sligo, pleaded guilty to a charge of directing the activities of a criminal gang at the Special Criminal Court earlier today. He was...