Ocean FM News Reports

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 politi...

If an extension to Pullaheanny Pier isn't possible than any other investment at the facility would be a waste of time. Those are the words of Independent Cllr Michael Clarke who was reacting to confirmation from Sligo County Council that an extension to the pier is not being considered. There's ongoing concern in the west Sligo area that the pier in its current state means that fishermen can't lan...

Rosses Point has been identified as one of the areas in Sligo suffering the most from the ongoing accommodation crisis. The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation took a trip to Sligo recently to see how the county is faring as part of a wider investigation on the impact of tourism accommodation crisis. The investigation found that while tourism in Sligo is recovering, its full potential is being ha...

The Government has been accused of snubbing Sligo in an announcement of extra policing hours and Garda resources for the Capital. In recent days, it was confirmed by Justice Minister Helen McEntee that an additional 240 thousand policing hours are being allocated to Gardai to ensure a more visible presence in Dublin city centre at a cost of 10 million euro. It follows the recent assault on a US to...

A Leitrim Councillor has called for a task force to be established with the view of finding solutions to falling tourist numbers in north Leitrim. The calls from Councillor Seán McDermott come as latest findings have found that at least 20 per cent of all accommodation is unavailable in a number of counites including Leitrim. As a result, the tourism industry expected to lose between 700 million,...

The Government's All-Island Strategic Rail Review contains glaring omissions for Donegal and the wider North West. That's according to Independent TD for Donegal Thomas Pringle who has been expressing his disappointment over the plan which was announced last week. There is no proposed line between Sligo and Letterkenny while the plan gives no mention to Donegal Town. Deputy Pringle says it's clear...

Homeowners are being urged to open up their homes to house a student. The Higher Education Minister says families living in social housing and social welfare recipients can also benefit from the rent a room scheme. That allows homeowners earn up to 14 thousand euro a year tax free. It’s expected that in Sligo Students will face a major challenge in securing accommodation ahead of the new academic...

The Chairperson of the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association is calling on the Minister of Agriculture Charlie McConalogue to prioritise the sheep sector. The calls come as the EU Commission recently announced a €430 million support package which can be targeted at farmers impacted by adverse climate events, high input costs and diverse market and trade related issues. Ireland will receive €9....

Further surveys are to take place off the back of calls for a pedestrian crossing at Cloghogue School National School in Castlebaldwin. There are major safety concerns over children crossing the busy road in the area. Sligo County Council has said that installing such a crossing may result in the loss of valuable car parking spaces. Fine Gael Councillor Gerard Mullaney says other options need to b...

Thousands of people are expected to climb Croagh Patrick for the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage. This year's Reek Sunday is dedicated to vocations to the priesthood and aims to highlight the Year for Vocations to the Diocesan Priesthood taking place across Ireland over 2023-2024. Among them will be Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin will celebrate mass in the small church at the summit following the...

The IFA’s National Livestock Chairperson is calling on beef prices to be reflective of improving market conditions and tightening of supplies. Brendan Golden believes beef farmers have been operating well below the breakeven price projected by Teagasc for the year to-date, losing over €100m for the first 6 months of the year, a situation compounded by the cuts of over 30c/kg in the past month to b...

Retained fire fighters in Sligo resumed strike action outside the GPO this afternoon. They are some of 2,000 retained fire fighters across the country who have taken to the picket line as SIPTU members have campaigned for better pay and conditions among other things. Plans for all-out strike action were suspended last month in order to allow for the Labour Court intervention. However, the trade un...

A number of residents in Ballymote have expressed fears over extreme speeds by motorists in residential areas. In an attempt to deal with excessive speed on the R296, a number of traffic calming measures have been encouraged, including the addition solar speed indicator signs. Local Fine Gael Councillor Dara Mulvey believes the introduction of such measures would alleviate some of the pressure fel...

An Independent Sligo Leitrim TD is asking why modular homes used to house Ukrainian refugees can't also be given to Irish people. 24 families have been housed at Doorly Park in Sligo after the units were delivered under emergency planning laws. The development was started in February and the new residents moved in last week. Independent TD for Sligo Leitrim Marc McSharry is questioning why similar...

A section of the N59 between Sligo and Ballina has reopened today, six weeks ahead of schedule. The improvement works at Owenbeg began almost two months ago at a cost of 5.5 million euro. Sligo County Council has confirmed today that diversions on regional roads in the area have been lifted however accommodation works will continue over the coming weeks. Local Independent Cllr Michael Clarke says...

A Sligo councillor says the reported rift between the Government Parties over the all Island Rail review could be good news for the future of the N59 upgrade between Knock and Collooney. The future of the project was cast in major doubt following comments by the Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan in Sligo this year. It emerged this week that Green party members have been angered by remarks made by the...

There are renewed calls for the old railway line from Athenry in Galway to Collooney in Sligo to be used for a Greenway. While the All Island Strategic Rail Review was published this week, no timeline was given, and it's thought that closed lines could still be used for greenways in the interim. A petition with over 26,000 signatures has been submitted to the Oireachtas Petitions Committee asking...

Eir has been called on to increase its fibre capacity in certain areas of County Sligo. The calls comes as a number of residents in Coolaney have expressed their frustrations with their inability to make or receive calls and use mobile data. Despite Eir increasing its fibre capacity throughout the country and Sligo, it has not done so in the Coolaney area. Fibre services only become available thro...

A programme designed to help small businesses reduce their carbon footprint and create more sustainable practices within their business is now available in the northwest. Green for Micro is a free programme available from Local Enterprise Offices in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal that helps small businesses take the first step towards becoming more sustainable. The programme gives eligible businesses...

Over €565,000 has been awarded to County Sligo for improvements to LIS roads. It’s part of a €16 million national fund for repairs and improvement works on rural roads and laneways. The funding is also targeted towards improving access to homes, farms and outdoor amenities such as lakes, rivers and beaches. The latest allocation brings the total allocation for Sligo this year to almost €900,000. C...

There are calls for a specific funding package for the repair and replacement of crash barriers on regional routes in the North West. There's ongoing concern, particularly in coastal areas, over the current condition of some of the barriers due to erosion from the elements. Currently, funding has to be sought from the roads maintenance budget and it's understood that it does take a substantial amo...

The Mica Action Group in Donegal has called on the Housing Minister,  Darragh O’Brien to attend a public meeting of affected homeowners in the county to outline the recently published enhanced scheme will work. The group claim statements have been made by Minister O’ Brien’s department since the publication of the scheme, stating that they believe the vast majority of those affected will receive 1...

The search for a man missing in Enniscrone is set to intensify further this evening. The man, originally from Dublin, had been holidaying in the area has been missing for over two days. He was last seen in the coastal walk area on Tuesday morning. A multi-agency operation including members of the Grainne Uaile Search and Recovery Unit is continuing while an extensive shore search was undertaken ye...

A collection of over 100 books, many of which belonging to the late Dr Simon Sheil, will be presented to the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital tomorrow. This event will include descendants of Dr McMullin, who rescued the books from the hospital in 1916. Dr Simon Sheil, who built the former Sheil hospital, was a doctor who practised in the town. Meanwhile, it's expected that the 80 bed facility w...

Further energy supports for households and businesses will do little to help the ordinary people of Sligo. That's according to Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons who was reacting to some possible measures contained in the upcoming Budget. The financial support will be funded from the proceeds of the Energy Windfall Tax, the final part of which was agreed by Government this week. Consumers' bills remain...