Ocean FM News Reports

It' anticipated that a boil water notice affecting a large part of north Sligo will be lifted shortly. Thousands of homes and businesses have been impacted for around a week over an issue centring on the Kilsellagh Water Treatment Plant. Samples have taken on a daily basis across the affected areas and testing is continuing this week. Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy says it's hoped that the notice w...

People don't realise what they have until it's gone, according to Sea Sessions' former promoter. The music festival, which usually takes place on Bundoran beach in County Donegal at the end of June, was cancelled last week. Former chief Ray O'Donoghue, announced he was stepping away from the festival last week to focus on his job as Dublin's Night-Time Economy Advisor. He says his departure is not...

A Sligo Cllr has called for steps to be made to protect ESB power lines from further outages in the future. Following the effects of Storm Eowyn earlier this year, many homes across the region were left without electricity and water. It’s now hoped that preventative measures can be implemented soon ahead of any adverse weather events. Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says local legislation requires the...

ASTI members have voted in favour of industrial action, if needed, against Leaving Cert reform proposals. They have also rejected support measures from the Department of Education in the Senior Cycle implementation proposals. The union says second-level teachers have significant concerns about bringing in such radical change in an effective way. ASTI Sligo-Donegal representative, Jimmy Staunton th...

Extra security measures are to be implemented at the Showgrounds in the wake of a rise in antisocial behaviour.   Sligo Rovers have condemned the incidents in a statement issued over the weekend.   Damage to club property, littering and loitering have all been noted by the club and it has asked the wider community to co-operate with them.   Club chairman Tommy Higgins is keen to poi...

There's renewed concern over antisocial behaviour on the Sligo train. It comes as the Connolly - Sligo service came to a halt on Friday after two individuals refused to pay the fare. Gardai were called to the scene and the train was significantly delayed. People before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says a transport police service needs to happen as a matter of urgency: >*

There's said to be widespread sadness in north Roscommon area following the death of a man in Ballyfarnon. The search for Manuel D'Costa was stood down over the weekend after the discovery of a man's body in a field in Ballyfarnon on Friday night. 48-year-old Mr D'Costa had been reported missing from his home in Carrick-on-Shannon on Friday, May 16th. A technical examination took place at the scen...

A rare incident occurred in Co Cavan on Friday evening, with ten cattle killed in a lightning strike. It happened in Butlersbridge as the area was under a thunderstorm warning. It's understood ten suckler-bred heifers had taken shelter from heavy rain under a tree, when the strike happened. Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fail TD Brendan Smith says the sudden loss of livestock will be a major loss to the fa...

A detailed inspection is to be carried out on social housing stock in Sligo following reports of “deplorable conditions”. It’s thought that the council’s maintenance funding is insufficient and that government intervention may be needed. Depending on the result of the inspection, the Taoiseach may be notified of the findings. Independent Cllr Michael Clarke says the situation cannot be allowed to...

The government have been called to back a rainwater harvesting grant scheme in Sligo. The grant would help install harvesting equipment to collect rainwater and use it for household needs. This follows hosepipe bans being imposed across the North West in the past, and fears of water shortages during future heatwaves. Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey says this would be sustainable and take pressure of th...

It's claimed that over half of all empty council homes in Donegal are boarded up for over a year. Freedom of information data released to Sinn Féin show 155 Council Homes are currently vacant across Donegal with 82 houses boarded up for 12 months or more. Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty believes that the buck stops with the Government as it should be giving more resources to local authorities....

Four teenage boys are set to pass through the North West over the coming days, undertaking the huge challenge of walking from Mizen to Malin Head. They're doing it to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society, with people urged show their support and donate. The boys are from Wicklow but have strong Sligo connections. 17 year old Sean Durkan has been telling Ocean FM news why they decided to take o...

A review of the Manorhamilton Road outside Drumshanbo is to take place. It's in the wake of major safety concerns along the route, particularly just before the Mahanagh/Blackrock crossroads. It's claimed that several motorists have been carrying out dangerous overtaking in the area with fears that a serious collision is imminent. Fine Gael Cllr Enda McGloin is hopeful that the necessary safety mea...

A reminder has been issued to North West parents that today is the payment deadline for the school transport scheme. If the fees are not met on time, then a child will not be guaranteed a seat on the school bus. For the following school year, a place costs €50 for a primary school student, and €75 for post primary. Sligo independent Cllr Marie Casserly has urged parents to make sure they are in wi...

The permanent closure of the Strandhill People's Market has been described as "heartbreaking" by one of the traders. The market announced the decision yesterday following the Hangar One at Sligo airport no longer being available, bringing an end to an 11 year venture. Sligo Airport has maintained that its priority must remain to aviation. Tony Osborne, Painter and Trader at the market, explained h...

Robert Pether has been released on bail in Iraq. The Australian national lived with his family in Co. Roscommon before travelling to Iraq where he was arrested and jailed on fraud charges. The Tanaiste was informed of his release during a call with Foreign Minister Hussein of Iraq yesterday evening. Simon Harris has welcomed this as a first step to his being allowed to return to his wife and three...

It's estimated that Bundoran is set to lose out on tens of thousands of euro in revenue following confirmation that Sea Sessions has been shelved. The popular music festival is not going ahead this year, a three day event which brought thousands of people to the south Donegal resort since 2008. Organisers confirmed the news in a brief statement on social media yesterday evening. Local Sinn Fein Cl...

A Donegal TD has called on the banks to pass on the profits as a result of the ECB interest rate cuts. The European Central Bank's cutting interest rates by a quarter of one per cent. Around 130 thousand tracker mortgage holders will immediately benefit from the move. Sinn Fein Deputy Pearse Doherty says other mortgage holders will not benefit from this unless the banks do the right thing:

There's a further reminder for people to have their say on the new Barnesmore Gap Greenway Project It's now in the Design & Environmental Evaluation stage. Communities from Donegal Town & Ballybofey/Stranorlar areas are invited to two public consultations. The first is in the Abbey Hotel, Donegal Town on Wednesday 11th June from 12pm - 8pm, the second is in Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey on T...

A timeline has been set out for the development of upgrades to Cleveragh Regional Park. Among the improvement works include a skate park, basketball courts, and a learn to cycle area. A public consultation will now be held during the summer for feedback, and if the process moves smoothly, it’s hoped building could commence next year. Sligo-Strandhill Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon outlined the steps...

Sligo Airport have highlighted that their priority must remain aviation as the Strandhill People's Market announced its closure. The Market have operated from Hangar One at the airport since it began eleven years ago. The Market issued their thanks to everyone who made it possible, but said it would not be returning in the future. Albert Higgins, Chairman of Sligo Airport, says an offer still stan...

A significant number of projects in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal have been allocated money under the 2025 Community Recognition Fund. Among the local highlights include 132,000 for upgrade works in the Manorhamilton Youth Resource Centre, and 110,000 for upgrades to Dromahair Community Playground. Arrow Harps Football Club in Riverstown are receiving over 88 thousand for pitch floodlighting. While €...

The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht visits Boyle today. Minister Dara Calleary will turn the sod of the site of the new town library at An Ríoga. It will be located behind the old Royal Hotel and will replace the current library in King House. The Minister's visit will be part of a wider trip to north Roscommon which includes the official opening of the 'accessible f...

The government has agreed to allow for retrospective payments to homeowners under the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme. Legislation will now be drawn up to ensure those that have incurred eligible scheme costs since March 2024 can benefit from the increased grant amounts announced late last year. So far, there have been over 2,500 applications to the scheme nationwide, including the areas of Doneg...

Plans for a €650 million Liquefied Natural Gas facility in Kerry is expected to have a big impact in Leitrim. Last week it was announced that Shannon LNG Ltd has reactivated its plans to develop and energy site to An Bord Pleanala. They were previously refused planning, however government policy has now changed and a decision by the board on the new application is due in September. Independent Man...