Ocean FM News Reports

A Donegal TD says data revealed by an investigation into the cancer treatment is concerning but not surprising.     A new report published this morning has raised serious concerns about cancer treatment care delays in the North West, with fears mounting that lives are being put at risk due to delays when it comes to administrating treatment.     Research from The Journal Invest...

The funeral of Natalie McLaughlin and her daughter Ella in county Donegal has heard of its impact on the local community. Six-year-old Ella, died in the collision between a car and a van in Carndonagh on last Wednesday evening. Her mother, Natalie, who was in her 20s was brought to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where she later passed away from her injuries. Large crowds gathered at the S...

Theres been more controversy over the Strandhill Enhancement project.  The plans include reducing car parking on the shore front in a bid to improve the overall pedestrian experience.  Parking spaces will then be increased further in the upper car park to counteract the loss on the shore front.  Councillors have today voted in favour of the project moving forward, with a number of a...

The north west could be in line for its own mini heatwave this week. While Tuesday and Wednesday will temperatures in the high teens or low twenties, Met Éireann say Thursday and Friday could hit up to 26 degrees Celsius. A heatwave in Ireland is defined as five consecutive days of 25C or higher. With the weekend’s temperatures still being determined, it remains unclear if we are set for a hot str...

It's feared that delays in implementing cancer treatment to patients in Donegal is putting lives at risk in the North West.   Research from the Journal investigates found that Just 12% of cancer patients at Letterkenny University Hospital were treated within 15 working days in 2024.  

Students from ATU Sligo and across the country are to gather outside Leinster House this week seeking clarity over proposals to increase student fees. Last week, Minister for Further and Higher Education James Lawless has said that "as things stand" third level students will have to pay €1,000 extra in fees this year compared to last year. Minister Lawless also confirmed last year's reduction was...

House prices in Donegal and Leitrim have witnessed significant increases over the past 12 months.     The trend is keeping with that from across the country with the national average price having increased by 7 percent over the past 12 months.

Sligo Rovers earned another valuable point in the SSE Airtricity League Men's Premier Division with a 2-all draw at home to Shamrock Rovers on Saturday evening. New signings Patrick McClean, James McManus and Ryan O'Kane all started for John Russell's charges in front of a crowd of 3359. Midfielder Jad Hakiki gave the home side the lead with a fine header after just minutes following a quick set-p...

Disgust has been expressed in Sligo after a number of littering incidents in recent days. A significant amount of litter and barbeques were found dumped at Dorrins Strand, Strandhill this week. With the summer months, areas such as Strandhill see a surge in visitor numbers. Local Councillor Fergal Nealon says it's not fair on local community groups who are trying their best to maintain the area. H...

Words don't express the scale of the loss felt in Carndonagh in Donegal this morning, according to the local Parish Priest. It's after the deaths of 6 year-old Ella McLaughlin in a crash on Wednesday, and her mother Natalie who died from her injuries yesterday evening in hospital. It's understood two other family members were also injured in the crash. Carndonagh Parish Priest, Fr Con McLaughlin s...

Thousands of people are expected to arrive into Rossnowlagh tomorrow for the annual for the annual Orange Order Parade. The south Donegal town traditionally sees their march a week before the main July 12th celebrations. Over 50 Orange Order Lodges from Donegal, Cavan, Leitrim and Monaghan, as well as visiting Orangemen from Northern Ireland and further afield, are expected to gather for the annua...

  There should be no controversy surrounding the surgical hub plans for the North West.   That’s according to Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny, who has indicated his wish for two hubs in the region - one in Sligo and one in Letterkenny.   A major campaign is ongoing in Donegal for the hub to be located in Letterkenny, despite a HSE business case being made for Sligo.   The latest...

Birdwatch Ireland is appealing for Government to designate more parts of the coastline as protected areas. The organisation say it's a necessary measure to protect over 20 species of birds. Proposed locations include Inishmurray off County Sligo, Roaninish in south Donegal and the west Donegal coast. The have been identified as 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas'. Birdwatch Ireland's Head of A...

A significant number of people have been left without a landline in south Donegal. Residents signed up to upgrade 5G box only to discover later that it wouldn't include a landline service. Some of those impacted are said to be waiting on the likes of hospital appointments via the phone or who live alone without a mobile. Local Fine Gael Cllr Michael Boyle says many people are now left in limbo and...

Further calls have been for more robust measures to curb dog attacks on sheep. Recent incidents have led to a spate of deaths of a number of sheep with farmers right across the north west among those impacted. A Dáil sub-committee heard this week discussed dog control and sheep worrying with a number of farming and elected representatives debating a range of issues including oversight, enforcement...

It's estimated that over 100 Fine Gael members attended the Sligo-Leitrim Constituency AGM held in Rosses Point yesterday evening. Blaine Gaffney was elected Chairperson while Jude Perry was elected Vice-Chairperson. A number of issues were also set out by members locally to work towards in the year ahead. Vice-Chair Jude Perry believes that Fine Gael is in a very healthy place in this region:

It remains to be when a review into the State's response to Storm Éowyn will be submitted to the Government. Tánaiste Simon Harris previously said the report would be ready prior to the summer recess. An estimated €200m in damage was caused with the north west in particular, bearing the brunt with some areas seeing power cuts for three weeks. Speaking in the Dáil, Galway West Deputy John Connolly...

The funeral Mass of Sister Magdalene Moore has heard that her legacy will live on for generations to come. Her funeral took place in Donegal Town this afternoon. The pioneering nun was well known in the local community, having been instrumental in setting up the Solace Cancer Support Centre. The Priest presiding over the funeral of Sister Magdalene says Donegal Town and elsewhere have lost a speci...

The Minister of Health will provide a long-term plan for the health service in Donegal at the end of the month. The latest revelation comes as both the Minister and several local Government TDs have been urged to provide clarity on the controversy. While yesterday, the Chief Executive of the HSE admitted that Donegal needs more capacity. Bernard Gloster attended an Oireachtas Committee meeting on...

TDs, GPs, consultants and health leaders across Sligo, Leitrim, West Cavan and South Donegal are being urged to step up and make their voices heard in support of locating the new Regional Surgical Hub in Sligo. A major campaign is underway in Donegal for the hub to be located in Letterkenny, despite a HSE business case being made for Sligo. The latest from the Health Minister is that no decision h...

A community in County Donegal is said to be raw with grief after a young girl was killed in a crash yesterday evening.   The collision involved a car and a van - and happened near Carndonagh at around 6.30 yesterday evening.   A woman, man and another child - who were all in the car - have been taken to hospital in Derry in a serious condition.   Gardaí are appealing for witnesses....

The North West surgical hub controversy has been branded a farcical situation. Questions have this week turned to the so-called ‘Lowry Deal’ and its association with the location of the planned hub. Meanwhile, a delegation of Donegal doctors met with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill this week and the Minister is now to take some time to review the data. A campaign continues for the surgic...

There are renewed calls to prioritise CCTV in areas affected by anti-social behaviour in County Sligo. There's said to be a number of towns and village in need of the equipment due to issues with crime and illegal dumping. It comes the Joint Policing Committee is set to be replaced by the Sligo County Local Community Safety Partnership this year. These new partnerships will bring together the Gard...

A Junior Transport Minister says work is ongoing to decide which rail projects should be prioritised. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review was published last summer, and includes plans for the Western Rail Corridor, as well as a service to Donegal and Navan. Irish Rail says it is working on an investment plan for the project over the next 10 years. Minister Sean Canney told the Dáil, public transp...

The youth wings of both Government parties have come out against the return to full student fees. It was confirmed over the weekend the 1,000 euro cut, which has been present for three years, will be ended. Ógra Fianna Fáil says the decision stands in direct opposition to the group's objectives and called for it to be kept. International officer with Ogra Fianna Fail and Sligo native Padraig Cawle...