Ocean FM News Reports

The Donegal based President of the GRA says it's 'disappointing' that they have reached the situation where Rank and file members of the Gardaí will be balloted on whether they have confidence in Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. The decision to hold a vote of no confidence in the commissioner was made at a meeting of The Garda Representative Association's central executive committee yesterday. The...

Retained fire fighters in Sligo say that don't want to be at the picket line but are left with no choice. They are among the two thousand retained firefighters across the country who are engaging in strike action this week over an ongoing pay dispute. They voted to reject a Labour Court recommendation on pay and working hours, but will cover life-threatening emergencies. Colin McGowan Sligo SIPTU...

No decision has yet been made over who will be housed in two apartment complexes in Sligo. In June, it emerged that Benbulben and Milligan Court in the town which traditionally housed students were no longer to do so, with reports that they would be used as refugee accommodation going forward. The revelations sparked outrage, with up 500 students effectively misplaced for the upcoming academic yea...

Retained fire fighters across the North West are currently engaging in strike action again this afternoon. They're resuming industrial action after voting to reject a Labour Court recommendation on pay and working hours, but will cover life-threatening emergencies. Speaking to Ocean FM News from the picket line, Independent TD Marc MacSharry urged the government to engage in talks once again to re...

The development of the Western Rail Corridor needs to be prioritised as part of the All Island Rail Review. The Government is being urged to step up and deliver what has been outlined in the review. A draft was published yesterday and includes around 30 recommendations to improve the rail network. The review wants faster speeds, improved frequency, and new rail routes for people and freight, parti...

A Donegal rape victim hopes her decision to waive her anonymity will help others speak out. 22 year old Karen Harkin's father, 55 year old Michael Carter, was jailed for 10 and a half years yesterday for raping and sexually assaulting her over a four year period. The abuse started when she was 9 years old and stopped when she was 12. Karen says speaking out has helped release her from a feeling of...

Rural towns and villages in west Sligo are being unfairly treated when it comes to the Active Travel. That's according to Fianna Fail Cllr Paul Taylor who has expressed further frustration over funding constraints with the scheme. The scheme funds improvements and upgrade works to the likes of footpaths and cycle ways but the criteria means a lot of rural areas don't qualify. There's just four pro...

Retained fire fighters across the North West are engaging in strike action again this morning. They are among the two thousand retained firefighters across the country are returning to the picket lines today. They're resuming strike action after voting to reject a Labour Court recommendation on pay and working hours, but will cover life-threatening emergencies. SIPTU has condemned local authoritie...

Leitrim and Donegal are among the only four counties in the Republic of Ireland with an average house price of below 200 thousand euro. The average home cost just over 366 thousand euro in the 12 months to May. According to GeoDirectory, Dublin had the highest prices at just over 538 thousand, while Longford had the lowest at just over 174 thousand. Donegal, Leitrim and Roscommon and Donegal were...

Retained firefighters will resume their strike action from midnight tonight after rejecting Labour Court proposals aimed at settling their dispute over pay and staffing levels. SIPTU had recommended rejection of the recommendations, which included large percentage increases to the annual retainers paid to the roughly 2,000 workers, increased staffing and rostering for more time off. Leitrim Counci...

The public are being asked to heed water safety advice on World Drowning Prevention Day. Water Safety Ireland, the Coast Guard and the RNLI are calling on people to “Do One Thing or Improve One Thing” to help prevent drownings. With increased activity on the water, all three agencies have teamed up in asking people to stay safe on the water. Killian O'Kelly, Water Safety Education Manager at the R...

The Transport Minister says he would like to see a rail network return to the Northwest. The first All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which makes 30 recommendations, is being brought before Cabinet this morning. The review wants faster speeds, improved frequency, and new rail routes for people and freight, particularly across the west and north of the country. Minister Eamon Ryan says the country h...

Sligo has been chosen to house the biggest strategic road maintenance facility in the country. The proposed site, located on the N4 at Drumfin, will have the capacity to store around 30 thousand tonnes of salt and will serve the entire North West region. The centre will cater to the treatment of both national and regional routes over the winter months. Currently, there is no such storage facility...

Donegal County Council is to request the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to withdraw the proposal to amalgamate Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal into one Garda Division. The move was first mooted back in January, sparking major concern among the force and communities in the North West region. There are major fears that it would make policing the three counties all the more difficult against the backdrop...

Up to 40 elderly people in west Sligo are said to be left isolated due to day care services being unavailable for the last six weeks. The service, which is usually housed in the Skreen Health Centre, provides members of the community with hot meals and other activities and has been described as a vital social outlet for those between 70-90 years of age. The temporary cancellation of the service is...

There are further calls on Sligo County Council to make immediate safety improvements for motorists on the N17. With the added speed reduction on the Tubbercurry road, it's reported that this inturn is creating a larger build-up of traffic at certain times. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District Councillor Dara Mulvey has long campaigned for improvements to be made. Speaking to Ocean FM News, he...

There's roughly around 120 applications currently submitted to Sligo County Council for consideration for a Government scheme to bring vacant homes back into use. Up to 50 thousand euro is available for those looking to restore a derelict house. However, according to the latest Department of Housing, only four grants have been issued nationally out of more than one thousand applications. But local...

It's been claimed that the lack of parking facilities at Rosses Point beach could deter tourists coming to the area. Planning permission had previously been lodged for a new outdoor water area at the facility. Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District Councillor Thomas Walsh believes every effort must be made to improve facilities there. Cllr Walsh believes that a better car park would be the first step...

The Government has been accused of not doing enough for people who have additional needs and who want to access some of the piers and harbours in the North West. Some of the infrastructure in the region has been deemed inadequate for people with a disability with claims that's its preventing some from visiting local islands and using other amenities. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig says a lo...

A North Leitrim amenity is set to reopen this afternoon. Development works were carried out at O’Rourke’s Table in Newtownmanor between February and June of this year. Under the Department of protection and rural affairs’ outdoor rural recreation funds, O’Rourke’s Table received close to €160,000. O’Rourke’s Table 144 metres above sea-level, and country-star Nathan Carter will provide the entertai...

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is once again calling for a long-term plan to tackle overcrowding. It says "band-aid measures" do not address the issues affecting the country's hospitals. Sligo and Letterkenny University Hospitals have both seen a surge in numbers waiting for beds throughout the last week. This week alone, there were 139 people on trollies in Sligo, while 97 were in Let...

The recently elected Cathaoirleach of the Manorhamilton Municipal District has expressed his concern for the future of community group water schemes that are not yet under the umbrella of Irish Water. Cllr Felim Gurn says many of these schemes are currently in limbo and are mounting up serious costs such as ESB Bills. For many homes, this is the only supply of water with Irish Water having washed...

A Sligo Councillor has called on the council to make provisions to have the Lady Erin Monument and base stone cleaned on a more frequent basis. The monument, which was erected 124 years ago was a presentation by the French government the people of Ireland to commemorate the 1798 rebellion in the country. With its significance to the people of Sligo, Councillor Arthur Gibbons believes cleaning of t...

A Sligo Councillor has confirmed that a cattle grid will be put in place in Luke's Bridge at the foot of Benbulben. There have previously been calls for sheep grids to be installed on roads in upland and mountain areas. The grids are essentially bars in the road, which prevent animals from crossing the road, but allows people and vehicles to cross. The aim of the grids is to keep sheep within a pa...

Gene McDonald has been remembered as a gentleman at his funeral mass this afternoon. He and co-driver Daire Maguire were killed when their rally car crashed near Ballymote on Sunday afternoon during the Sligo Stages Rally. Mr. Maguire’s funeral took place on Thursday. Two separate investigations into the crash are ongoing. During the homily at St Mary’s Middle Chapel in Cavan this afternoon, Mr. M...