Ocean FM News Reports

A number of patients who had surgeries cancelled at Sligo University Hospital’s orthopaedic theatre are yet to receive an alternative date. This follows ongoing safety concerns at the theatre, where surgeries had to be paused in April due to poor infrastructure and leaks. The Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, has previously confirmed that a new roof will be developed for the site late...

Four Wicklow teenagers are making their way through County Sligo today, as part of their major challenge walking from Mizen to Malin Head. They're doing it to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society - a link to their gofundme page is available on our website. It's a 600km trip and they've walking an average of 40km per day and motorists are being asked to show their support if they spot them alon...

Sinn Fein have launched what they say is a comprehensive’ Fisheries and Seafood survey.   The findings of the survey were launched earlier in Leinster House by the Donegal TD, and spokesperson on Fisheries and the Marine, Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, and by the Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Conor McGuinness.   The survey highlighted the severe challenges...

A processing centre for the deposit return scheme has been requested locally in the North West. It’s been reported that the majority of plastic collected through the scheme is being transported across the world, instead of being addressed in Ireland. It’s now argued that any progress in terms of sustainability is now being offset in the emissions used to ship the plastic abroad. Sinn Fein Cllr Tho...

The devastation caused to the family of a consultant at Sligo University Hospital has once again by raised on the floor of the Dáil. Last month, Dr Ali Al Najjar lost nine of nieces and nephews in an Israeli airstrike on their home. Their father, Hamid, died in hospital last week from wounds sustained during the attack. Dr Ali’s sister, Alaa and her 11-year-old son Adam, who remains in hospital, a...

A Midlands North MEP is urging the European Commission and Irish Government to draft a housing policy that will ease tensions between local residents and those looking to buy properties for short term lets. The comments come as Irish residents heading abroad on holidays are being warned about anti-tourism protests that are scheduled to take place on June 15th. The protests are expected to be stage...

Local jockey Colm Hayden made his racing debut at Sligo Races on Tuesday evening - at the age of 53. He saddled the Mark McEniff-trained 'Wild Mandate' - a horse Colm owns - in the final race of the evening. Hayden, who's a native of Cloonloo, now lives in Billa near Collooney in Co Sligo. He spoke to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan after his racing debut.

A Sligo Senator, and member of the Oireachtas Transport Committee members says they will look to see how the RSA plan to reduce the unacceptable waiting times for driving tests in the north west when the head of the Organisation appears before them today. Oireachtas Transport Committee members will also have the opportunity to Grill Sam Waide on NCT wait times and road crash data which was due to...

A Donegal TD is raising serious concerns over how 13-thousand retired civil servants and some government ministers had errors around pension payments. It's understood most ministers are affected and the majority owe money to the state, while others are due money. The sums range from hundreds of euro to just above 30-thousand euro, and the error is now under investigation. Donegal Deputy and Sinn F...

Donegal's TDs are set to meet with the Health Minister today to discuss the issue of a surgical hub for the North West. It comes as Sligo has already been put forward as part of a HSE business case as the preferred location for the hub, as opposed to Letterkenny. This sparked an unprecedented response in Donegal, with over 170 GPs in the county uniting behind a call for the hub to be situated in L...

A waste recycling company are to be contacted by Sligo County Council following a number of issues raised by customers.   Panda Waste are being requested to address what's labelled “worsening conditions”.   These include problems such as a lack of communication, and missed or irregular bin collections.   Independent Cllr Marie Casserly says the company needs to have a representative...

RSA chiefs will face questions about long wait times for driving tests at Leinster House today.     Officials from the Road Safety Authority will appear before the Oireachtas Transport Committee with NCT wait times and road crash data also up for discussion.   Locally the issue has been raised on multiple occasions by elected representatives from across Sligo, Leitrim nd Donegal. &n...

Ireland is committed to protecting and restoring Irish waters while supporting sustainable development.   Junior Minister for the Marine, Timmy Dooley, has just returned from the UN Ocean Conference in Nice in France, where delegates have been assessing progress on protecting our marine environment.   Already locally sever beach cleaning events are held on a regular basis throughout the...

The Yeats Day Festival will run this weekend in Sligo for the 14th time to mark the poet's birthday. From June 12th - 15th the festival aims to bring his poetry out of schools, lecture theatres and books and share it with people in many different ways. A variety of events will be held over the four days, including readings, walks, and paintings, with more information to be found on yeatssociety.co...

Sligo Leitrim Mountain Rescue Team have highlighted the danger changeable weather poses to hikers in the North West. This follows a rescue mission yesterday where four individuals became disoriented and weather-bound on Benbulben mountain yesterday. The responders located and treated them for onset hypothermia, and escorted them to an awaiting helicopter. Ciarán Davis, PRO of SLMRT, issued safety...

The North West could be hit with thunderstorms this week. Severe thunderstorm activity has been forecast tomorrow evening into Thursday, with the possibility of weather warnings also on the horizon. Frequent lightning, heavy rain, flooding and disruption is also possible for some places. But Kenneth Conlon from the Donegal Weather Channel says it's not at all bad news and that better weather is se...

A decision is set to be made next month on the future model of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival for 2026. It follows what's been described a hugely successful event over the June Bank Holiday weekend, with thousands of people said to have passed through Ballyshannon over four days. The festival is however said to be facing a number of challenges. Chairman and Founder of the festiv...

The former Green Party leader has strongly criticised the Government’s plan to develop a state-owned floating LNG terminal. Writing in the Irish Times, Eamon Ryan described the move as “ill-advised, expensive and environmentally harmful.” Last week it was announced that Shannon LNG Ltd has reactivated its plans to develop an energy site to An Bord Pleanála. While the Government estimates the termi...

A Local Councillor has predicted that proposed changes to the rental property market will not go far enough to address the increasing number of people at risk of becoming homeless.   Rent Pressure Zones are to be extended to cover the North West and entire country.   Sweeping new changes will be brought to cabinet for approval today. Every single tenancy will be in a Rent Pressure Zone.&...

Claims that the Sea Sessions music festival was pulled due to a lack of support have been refuted locally. The music festival, which usually takes place on Bundoran beach in County Donegal at the end of June, was cancelled last week. Earlier this week, former chief Ray O'Donoghue, who announced he was stepping away said his departure is not the reason for the festival being pulled - but rather a l...

A former Donegal Sergeant has been described a new Garda report as a lovely piece of literary work. The launch of the 'Transforming An Garda Síochána 2018-2024' report was launched this week. It was compiled to give an account of the 'Policing Service for Our Future' programme, which is described as the biggest structural change to the force in its history. Steps being taken include the roll-out o...

It's hoped that the Government can intervene and save local festivals. It comes amid fears for the independent festival scene, after Sea Sessions announced it isn't going ahead while a liquidator was appointed to the company behind Wild Roots last year. Deputy Pearse Doherty, who is also a festival director, says it’s a huge loss to artists, vendors, stage crews, and the local economy. The Donegal...

A local doctor has explained why he supports Sligo University Hospital's decision to be a Tobacco Free Campus. The policy to promote a safe and healthy environment for patients, staff and visitors. The hospital is applying a zero tolerance approach to smoking on hospital grounds and is seeking the support of the local community to help achieve this. Dr Diarmaid Hughes, who works at SUH, says smoki...

A North West MEP has called for a plan to be laid out to counter the impacts that US tariffs could have on local businesses and farms. In its latest economic forecast, the OECD says Ireland will be the third hardest hit country in the world, after Mexico and Canada. It's due to the high proportion of products and services Ireland exports to America. MEP Maria Walsh says the region is in a vulnerab...

Questions have been asked over the practicality of EU Commission proposals around rental vehicles that would have a major impact on local tourism. The Commission is calling on rental car companies to switch to electric vehicles in a shorter timeframe than initially earmarked. The agreed target for zero-emission vehicles is 2035, but the EU commission has now indicated it is considering introducing...