Ocean FM News Reports

A Sligo Councillor is to request Re-Turn install surrounds at public bins in the county. Re-Turn are the company responsible for the plastic bottles and cans Deposit Return Scheme. The surrounds hold around 12 bottles or cans and are attached to the outside of bins allowing easy access for people to collect and return for the deposit. The initiative was piloted in Dublin and is set to roll out in...

A Sligo Leitrim Fine Gael TD has expressed solidarity with the Tánaiste and his family. An investigation is underway after Gardaí received calls about a bomb threat against the home of Simon Harris yesterday. It's the third threat against Simon Harris and his family in a week, and has triggered a major security operation at his home in County Wicklow. Meanwhile, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin hold their...

There are fears that the brakes may have been put on plans for purpose built student accommodation in Sligo. It comes as than 100 State-funded student beds are opening in Maynooth today. It follows other accommodation opened at UCD last week. It's almost a year since it emerged that Sligo County Council was to sell a 16 acre site to ATU Sligo, with a view towards expanding the campus and building...

Plans are ongoing to bring more and more people to Sligo. That's according to Sligo Bids Finbarr Filan, who gave a presentation at the latest sitting of Sligo County Council today. Sligo BID is currently in its tenth year. Speaking to Ocean FM, Mr. Filan has been outlining what they hope to achieve in the years ahead in Sligo Town: >*

Calls are being made for the re-establishment of the rail network across Donegal. There were over 300km of tracks in the county up until the final lines closed in 1959. The West Ulster Rail Initiative envisions connecting the West coast up to Donegal going from Derry to Letterkenny, continuing through the gap to Sligo and Galway before extending to Limerick and Cork. They also suggest connecting t...

As Sligo GAA mourns the loss of former county goalkeeper Noel Mullaney this weekend, we listen back to an interview he gave in November of 2019 when his beloved St Michael's GAA Club reached a first-ever Connacht club football final. Noel's good friend John Kent also paid a moving tribute on Sunday's programme.

Community alerts issued to people living on border counties

Sligo Councillor calls on people to show support ahead of protest

It's thought that Fianna Fail could have handled Bertie Aherns bid for Aras better. The former Taoiseach and leader of Fianna Fáil released a statement last night to say he won't be seeking the party's nomination, and won't run as an independent candidate. Fianna Fáil's nominations close today, with the contest likely to be between MEP Billy Kelleher and Jim Gavin. Former Donegal County Councillor...

More regular and reliable public transport is needed across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal according to Green Party North West representative, Blaithin Gallagher. A recent report shows over 200 new electric vehicles were registered in August this year compared to 2024. While welcoming the latest increase, she says the priority for government should be more public tranposrt infrastructure across the re...

The European Championships in Waveski and Surf Kayaking come to Easkey this weekend. Autumn O’Donnell from Paddlesurf Ireland is on the programme to explain all. We’re approaching the business end of the senior club football championships in Sligo and Donegal this weekend. Manus Boyle will take us through the key round four matches in the Michael Murphy sports and leisure senior championship as th...

Free public transport is now available for children aged 5 to 8 under a new TFI Leap Card scheme. Parents can apply online from today, with the card covering all major services including Bus Éireann, Irish Rail, and Local Link. The move is expected to benefit over 230,000 children and ease transport costs for families nationwide. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Cllr Eamon Scanlon said the move is a maj...

The former Garda barracks in Dromahair, Co. Leitrim has been transformed into a new community hub. Minister for Social Protection and Rural & Community Development, TD Dara Calleary, will officially open the facility this evening. The project was led by Dromahair Development Association under a long-term lease agreement and funded through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Speaking to Ocean...

Serious concern has been raised over the lack of bus shelters in County Sligo. One major area of concern is the bus stop on Clarion Road, which is home to the ATU and a special needs centre. While earlier this week, it emerged that numerous ATU students were soaked to the bone waiting on a bus in Ballisodare. Local Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons has hit out at the National Transport Authority, desc...

Demands are being made for an emergency meeting on the strike affecting schools. The ongoing action by school secretaries and caretakers is continuing today in the North West and across the country - as their call for pension parity with other workers is met with a wall of silence from Government. Labour’s Education Spokesperson Eoghan Kenny says schools are struggling to operate as normal without...

The cost of living crisis is said to be seriously impacting older people in Sligo. A report out earlier this week shows that inflation has caused food prices to rise by 5% in the past year. There's an expectation locally that the Government will provide some sort of counter measures in the upcoming Budget. People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says there's now a range of issues affecting families...

The School Secretary and Caretaker strike moves back to the school gates across the North West this morning. Their union says there's been 'radio-silence' from the Government despite yesterday's pickets at Leinster House and TD offices around the country. They also say they have had strong expressions of support from 40 Government representatives so far, with Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan and Fianna...

A saltwater pool for Strandhill could be a step closer. Due to dangerous currents, swimming at Strandhill is prohibited with longstanding calls for such an amenity to be put in place there. Discussions on the project are said to be an advanced stage with a traditional tidal pool thought to be unsuitable for the area as it could impact the surf. Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon is confident that it wil...

The challenges facing coastal communities in the North West have been raised once again in Brussels. Irish representatives this week pressed the EU for fairness in fishing quotas. Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle says there are new opportunities out there for fishermen and its about trying to maximise that at EU level. Speaking to Ocean FM new, Senator Boyle says the talks were worthwhile and is hope...

One of two local Government TDs who have expressed support to school secretaries and caretakers hopes for a resolution soon. It comes as FORSA says they'd welcome a Labour Court intervention in the School Secretary and Caretaker strike - if the Government agreed to abide by it's findings: They also say they have had strong support from 40 Government representatives so far, with Fine Gael TD Frank...

The Society of St Vincent de Paul has received nearly 3,500 calls this year for help with back-to-school costs. Despite the expansion of the free books scheme, many families are still struggling with expenses like uniforms and exam fees. SVP says more government action is needed in Budget 2026 to make education truly free and inclusive. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Niamh Dalziel from SVP said parent...

Staff at nightclubs, pubs and festivals in Sligo are to get new safety traning. It aims to tackle sexual harassment, violence against women and girls, and drink spiking at night. This training will be available free for 12 months in Sligo and the right other Night-Time Economy Pilot areas. It's part of the Governments 'Safe & Sound' campaign aims to make Ireland's nightlife safer for customers...

Urgent clarity is being sought over speeding fines collected in County Sligo. It comes as speed vans in Sligo collected the lowest amount of fines in the North West over a 30 month period. The amount for the entire County at just over €261,000 is less than fines collected in the Ballyshannon Garda District at 300,000. Ireland South MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú who collated the data, believes serious que...

There are genuine fears that Glenveagh Castle could close for good. While Glenveagh National Park is open to the public every day, staffing problems at the castle itself is said to be an ongoing problem. It has led to the popular amenity being frequently closed, leaving many tourists disappointed over the summer months. Independent Cllr Michael Choilm MacGiolla Easbuig says the Government need to...

A Leitrim Councillor is supporting calls to allow drivers over 70 to transport school children. The Junior Transport Minister has asked Bus Éireann to review its policy, which currently bars drivers over that age. The rule is based on RSA advice, which highlights increased collision risks for large vehicle drivers over 65. Bus Éireann says it's engaging with the Departments of Education and Transp...