Ocean FM News Reports

A Green Party representative in the north west is calling on young people to be encouraged to make stands on issues they believe in. Dr Blaithin Gallagher made the comments after the US President described Swedish activist Greta Thunberg ‘as a strange and angry person’ over her mission to deliver aid to Gaza. The local area representative for the Green Party says it’s refreshing to see young peopl...

Lisnaskea native Conán McCaughey and Tuam Athletic Club's Alexandra Joyce won the men's and women's Streets of Sligo 5k on Saturday evening. Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan spoke to the winners.

It's hoped that the Minister for Agriculture can step up support for the local sheep farming industry. Minister Martin Hayden has been urged to allocate funding to Teagasc for the delivery of sheep wool handling and classification courses in the county. Council Justin Warnock says that while wool remains a by-product of sheep farming, proper handling and classification skills could add real value...

Emergency services and a member of the public have been praised for their swift response in the rescue of a casualty in Bundoran. The alarm was raised shortly after 7am after a member of the public heard calls for help and contacted the emergency services. Malin Heath coordinated the rescue with Bundoran RNLI, Donegal Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service, and Rescue 118 all involved. The c...

The public are being urged to stay safe while engaging in activities in and around water. That's after a man was hospitalised following a fall from a cliff at Bundoran's West End on Saturday morning. A warning was previously issued with many looking to bask in the current pleasant weather conditions. The RNLI are reminding the public if they are visiting the coast to stay well back from cliff edge...

It's hoped support can be afforded to the Sligo GAA County Board when it comes to addressing the state of the playing surface at Markievicz Park. Last Sunday, a crowd in the region of between 19 and 20,000 supporters were attended the All-Ireland football championship encounter between Donegal and Mayo, which took place in Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon The chairperson of the GAA's Central Competitions...

The blocking of the redevelopment of a service station at the site of the Creeslough explosion is being welcomed. An Coimisiun Pleanála has refused planning permission at the site where 10 people were killed on October 7th 2022. Vivo Shell Limited had previously been granted permission by Donegal County Council to redevelop the site. Donegal Councillor Tomás Sean Devine says it should never have b...

The Sligo-Drumcliff Municipal District has been described Sligo-Boroughs poor relation. The comments have been made by outgoing Cathaoirleach of the Sligo-Drumcliff MD, Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy who believes that the area does not get the respect that it deserves. Cllr Gilroy has also claimed that he only wore the chain of office on one occasion during his entire term. Speaking to Ocean FM new...

  MEP Maria Walsh has blamed a slip of the tongue after mistakenly saying Ballymena, Co Antrim was in Co Leitrim during a session of the European Parliament in Strasburg.     It was during her contribution on general “matters of political importance”, during which she condemned the violence:   In a statement issued to Ocean FM news, the Midlands North West MEP says that the ref...

Homeless accommodation is being sought in a number of towns and villages in County Sligo. Sligo County Council is looking for suitable properties with management services in Sligo Town, Ballymote, Collooney, Ballisadare and Tubbercurry. The deadline for submission is 28th July at 12 noon. Meanwhile, the latest figures from the Department of Housing show that Sligo continues to have the highest num...

Frustration is building over a lack of progress on upgrading the public toilets in Donegal Town. It had been hoped that the work would have been done ahead of the summer months and while money has been sanctioned for the project, the tendering process is said to be taking longer than was first anticipated. Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton says there seems to be too much paperwork involved in smal...

It's claimed that some people in Donegal getting nothing better than bog water through their taps.   The issue is said to be affecting the townland of Leagan near Inver for over 20 years and centres on the local group water scheme in need of an upgrade.   A funding application has already been submitted for the area to be included in the nationally water programme but there's said to be...

A Leitrim TD has claimed that there is too much emphasis being placed on what the economic consequence would be for the Republic’s economy in the event of a United Ireland being carried in a referendum.   Sinn Fein Deputy, Martin Kenny, was responding to comments from former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar where he said that he would “forego two years of economic growth” for the unification of Ireland...

Irish Rail is to meet with TDs next where the south Sligo Greenway controversy is set to be discussed.   It comes senior Department of Transport official's confirmed this week there will be no greenway developed on the western rail corridor in County Sligo.

The public are being urged to stay safe while swimming today and over the weekend.   The warning has been issued as many are expected to visit various beaches in the North West with Met Eireann advising that today will be the hottest day of the year.    Temperatures are expected to reach 29 degrees in some parts later today.

New Sligo Rovers signing Seb Quirke explains how he might help Sligo Rovers climb the League of Ireland table in the second half of the season. Who will be the next Sligo senior gaelic football manager following Tony McEntee's weekend depature? Neuro Diverse FC is a football club with a difference. It's coming to Sligo next month with soccer sessions tailored for children with additional needs.. T...

There are calls for an expansion to the local link that services Pettigo. Currently the bus only runs from Pettigo to Donegal Town two days a week and there's said to be a strong appetite locally for that to increase. There's ongoing concern that the area is not being adequately catered to, leaving residents unable to attend appointments in Donegal. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Nia...

Speculation is growing that a significant number of redundancies are being offered by Abbott in Sligo. Around 70 staff across its plants in Sligo and Longford are said to be impacted. Abbott currently employs thousands of people right across the North West region. Ocean FM News has today contacted Abbott for comment who say that the company evaluates its competitive position and makes changes that...

A North West based Children’s Disability Network Forum member has predicted that restoring public confidence will be a big challenge for Children's Health Ireland.      The comments from Brendan Barry come as the head of CHI has apologised for revelations within the organisation that led to "great pain being inflicted" on some patients in its care.     Lucy Nugent and othe...

A Sligo Councillor claims the news that there will be no greenway developed on the western rail corridor in County Sligo is a major blow to the tourism potential of the County     Senior Department of Transport officials confirmed the decision at a Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee hearing yesterday.     Ballymote Tubbercurry Councillor Barry Gallagher says that with no rail...

It's hoped that the Sligo train will be prioritised in any rollout of a dedicated transport police. Anti-social behaviour has been a major issue on the Connolly to Sligo service for some time. Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien has indicated that he wants to see legislation fast tracked on introducing a security force for public transport. Last year saw a pilot introduced to tackle anti-social beh...

There are renewed calls for two vacant units at the Donegal Craft Village to be brought back into use.   The units need upgraded before they can be occupied with electrical work said to be main issue.   The craft village itself is said to be thriving but it's thought that the overall appearance would improve if it was fully operational.   Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says the lack...

There will be no greenway developed on the western rail corridor in County Sligo     That’s been confirmed by senior Department of Transport officials.     The news emerged at a Joint Oireachtas Transport Committee hearing yesterday.

What has been described as ‘a constructive meeting’ has taken place between the Minister for Health and a delegation of Consultants and General Practitioners from Donegal.   The meeting was called to discuss concerns surrounding Letterkenny University Hospital and the positioning of a surgical hub in the North West.     The meeting was arranged by the Minister in response to 171 cli...

Recommendations from the Climate Change Advisory Council have been welcomed locally. The council are recommending an additional €10,000 in grants to low-income households for the purchase of electric vehicles, particularly in areas with limited access to public transport such as the north west. The calls are an effort to address the fall in sales of electric vehicles which reduced by 24% last year...