Ocean FM News Reports

Measures to tackle overcrowding at Sligo University Hospital appear to be working. That's according to Fianna Fail Cllr Edel MacSharry, who has been reacting to the latest figures from the INMO, which for the first time in a long time, does not include Sligo in its top five most overcrowded facilities for the month. There were a total of 370 people awaiting admission to the hospital during May, in...

The debate around the deployment of Irish soldiers, as peacekeepers in southern Lebanon is back in the public domain again today.   That’s after Irish Troops that were on a joint patrol with the Lebanese Armed Forces came under fire yesterday near the Blue Line in South Lebanon.    There were no reported injuries and no damage to the armoured vehicles they were operating from. As re...

There are genuine concerns that the future of many Community employment schemes are being placed at risk over the shortage of workers that are available or meet the criteria to work on them.   The fact that participants on such schemes have no option other than to retire at the age of 66 is also thought to be another contributing factor to the number of reduced workers.     Leitrim...

There is a real threat to the future of the Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival. The 21st edition of the festival commenced yesterday in Ballyshannon and will run until Sunday, with 30 acts performing on 15 stages across the event. The festival is organised by volunteers and brings between 4 to 5 million euros to the local economy annually. Chairperson and Founder of the Rory Gallagher I...

A Holiday home owner in the North West has expressed concern over reports that the shortage of rental properties may lead to protests targeting those who own holiday residences.   Richard, who lives between the UK and the North West of Ireland has owned a holiday property in this region for the last 15 years.    He says the local region feels like a second home and that many holiday...

Motorists across the North West are being warned that Gardaí will be cracking down on drink driving this June Bank Holiday weekend.     70 per cent of driver deaths happen during off peak hours between 10pm and 6 o'clock in the morning.     A joint road safety appeal is being made by the force and the Road Safety Authority.     Chief Superintendent David Harrington is...

Serious safety concerns have been raised over the Main Street in Riverstown. It's a busy route, home to a number of businesses and a school and it's said to becoming increasingly difficult to cross the road, particularly for children. Some motorists are also said to be travelling at excessive speeds through the village. Last weekend, parents staged a protest, calling for traffic calming measures....

The Government has been accused of protecting communities only after the flood happens. There's ongoing flooding concerns in a number of towns and villages across the North West and it's claimed that mitigation measures are only implemented when the damage is already done. Speaking in the Dail, Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says that Ireland should take inspiration from other countries i...

MS Ireland have requested the establishment of a Community Worker Post in the Sligo-Leitrim area.   As it stands, this is the only region across Ireland without a dedicated support position in place.   On World MS Day today, MS Ireland are seeking more equity in terms of healthcare for local residents.   Alison Cotter, Advocacy Officer at MS Ireland, says the introduction of the rol...

The Sligo Senator who raised the issue of rail catering services at an Oireachtas Transport Committee this week has welcomed a government review into the matter.   Junior Transport Minister Sean Canney confirmed yesterday that he is now taking steps to resolve the issue.   As it stands, only the Dublin to Cork, and Dublin to Belfast trains can avail of the tea-trolley.   Labour Sena...

This week– we’re on the road from Geevagh to the Stadium of Light with Keith McGrath. who's heading to the English Premier League with Sunderland FC next season. Glenview Stars women’s soccer team have made the last night of the FAI Amateur Cup. Team manager Gino O’Boyle looks ahead to Sunday’s quarter-final in Dublin against Whitehall Rangers. Plus - Sligo Rovers boss John Russell on Friday night...

A blocked stream in Ballymote is said to be causing major flooding problems. A build-up of weeds and other matter is resulting in roads being blocked. Winter time is said to be when the risk is at its highest, with ongoing calls for clean-up works to take place in the coming months before water levels increase again. Local Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey is hopeful that those works will happen shortly:

Tanaiste Simon Harris has reiterated the need to find justice for Private Sean Rooney. Private Rooney from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal lost his life in December 2022 while serving on a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon. The Tanaiste visited the region recently and met with Lebanese Ministers where he stressed the need for accountability. Speaking in the Dail this afternoon, the Tana...

Support has been given in Sligo following the latest success of the e-bike scheme locally. Recent figures showed there had been over 200,000 e-bike rides in Sligo since the scheme was launched in June 2022. Since its rollout, the e-bike scheme has covered over 380,000 kilometres, with over 10,000 individual users, accounting for 50% of the town’s population. Sligo Labour Cllr Ann Higgins says ther...

The Government is reviewing Irish Rail's on-board catering services for the Sligo to Dublin train. It's after an Oireachtas Transport Committee, including Sligo Labour Senator Nessa Cosgrove, were told there's not enough money to provide snacks and beverages on all rail services. Only the Dublin to Cork, and Dublin to Belfast trains can avail of the tea-trolley. Junior Transport Minister Sean Cann...

Donegal is included among the highest amount allocated in the latest government funding announcement. €65 million has been announced by Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD, and will go towards digital learning and minor building works for every school in Ireland. Donegal will receive €1.4 million, making it the fourth largest amount, only behind Dublin, Cork and Galway. Donegal Minister of St...

Tributes are being paid this morning to the Leitrim GAA Official Gerry McGovern who passed away yesterday.   Mr Mc Govern served as County Board Chairman between 2005 and 2009.  He went on to serve as President of Connacht Council for a period of time between 2018 and 2020.   He was also a success player with his native club Cloone and following his playing career he became a highly...

The Sligo base chairman of ISME is calling for a 'reset' of the national minimum wage in its pre-budget submission. The business association want the system which calculates minimum wage to be reassessed. From the start of the year, the national minimum hourly rate is 13 euro 50 cents, for anyone 20 years old and over. Sligo based business man and ISME Chair, Finbar Filan (PRON: Fy-lan), says the...

A Sligo garda and GRA spokesperson says more needs to be done to ensure Gardaí are not injured in the line of duty.   The interim Deputy General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association, James Morris-Roe made the comments after an officer in his 30s suffered serious injuries after being knocked down by a motorbike in Dublin yesterday, while on patrol.     It comes just week...

The Cathaoirleach of the Local Authority in Sligo has urged Local TD's to play their part in the establishment of a surgical hub in Sligo.       A business case has been made for a surgical hub in Sligo, but there is no green light from government yet on the project.   The proposed 42 bed ward for Sligo University Hospital would help alleviate pressure currently faced by the he...

A Leitrim Councillor has described as ‘laughable’ claims that the tourism sector may play an increasingly important role in supporting long-term economic growth.     The predictions were contained in a recent SME Monitor published by the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland.    The report stated how Irish GDP grew by over 13 percent in the first quarter of the year, largel...

The National Transport Authority and Irish Rail say there's no money to provide catering services on all intercity trains, including the Sligo to Dublin line. Catering services had been suspended across the network in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic after government restrictions on passenger numbers made the service commercially unviable. Services, however, were reinstated on the Dublin to...

The issue of management over water and wastewater infrastructure in Leitrim has been raised in the Dail. Leitrim County Council have taken control over 100 estates in the past eight years, however many residents “left in limbo” in relation to water services. Uisce Eireann has taken over management of a portion of the estates, but it's hoped they will expand to cover all of them. Speaking this afte...

The need for fibre optic broadband has been highlighted for all areas of Donegal. It’s understood that a number of businesses in Donegal are struggling with connectivity, making them unable to accept card payments and losing out on customers. Although the National Broadband Plan is being rolled out across Ireland, it’s thought some towns and villages are being left behind. Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Jord...

Met Éireann has issued a potato blight advisory for the north west for the coming days. The national forecaster say that counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal will be at risk. According to Teagasc, blight is still the most serious disease of potatoes in Ireland despite recent advances in fungicides, improved varieties and better disease forecasting. There is still no means of eradicating an out...