Ocean FM News Reports

Sligo County Council are to host three clinics to advise those applying for the Enhanced Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme on the Online Application process. Following a report by the housing agency, Sligo was included in the scheme after a significant number of effected properties were found in the county. The clinics will be by appointment only and for those who cannot attend in person, the...

Donegal have negotiated their Ulster SFC quarter-final against Monaghan with a 0-23 to 0-21 win in Clones. The victory sets up a semi-final meeting with Down next Sunday. Paddy McGill digests the game in the company of Peter Campbell, Fergal Monaghan, Dessie Mone, Jim McGuinness, Mark McHugh and Alan Foley.

A new bill is calling for Irish citizens north of the border to be allowed to vote in presidential elections. It's been submitted to the Dáil's bills office by Aontú, ahead of the upcoming election in October. Over 600 thousand people in Northern Ireland claim Irish citizenship - party leader Peadar Tóibín says it's only fair they should have a say:

A commemoration in honour of IRA volunteer Martin Savage from Ballisodare will be held this afternoon. Martin Savage participated in the 1916 Easter rising and was the first volunteer to be killed in action in the War of Independence on 19th December 1919. This year's commemoration takes place at St Feichin's Cemetery in Ballisodare at 12 noon with Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Féin TD, Martin Kenny the main...

There are fears over the impact the absence of Strandhill Market will have on future local SMEs. As it stands, the market is not set to reopen until December at the earliest, knocked back from the planned opening in March last month. It's thought that many businesses depend on the income provided from the market, while others depend on the feedback it provides. Lani Gregory, painter and one of the...

Payment delays under both the SCEP and ACRES schemes remain reals issues for farmers right across the north west. Progress was previously made with around 1,000 payments per week. However, some who have met all requirements under the scheme are still waiting on payments owed to them. Former IFA Sheep Committee Chairperson, Kevin Comiskey says once again, farmers are being let down:

Gardai in the North West are continuing an extensive Roads Safety Operation throughout the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend. The operation began yesterday, and will run right through the extended weekend period. This weekend is one of the busiest of the year on Irish roads, and many motorists take to the roads for the break. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Sergeant Aoife Hayes, of the Sligo Roads Policing U...

The coming days are expected to be the busiest Easter break in Ireland West Airport’s history. 40,000 passengers are expected to be travelling through the airport with an increased number of flights passing through. People are being reminded to arrive at the airport in plenty of time due to the large number of passengers being processed. Donal Healy, Head of Marketing at Ireland West Airport Knock...

The HSE has issued the usual set of guidelines to the general public entering into the Bank Holiday Weekend.   The Health Service Executive is asking people to consider all care options before presenting to a hospital emergency department this weekend.   Bank Holiday weekends can be extremely busy in some Emergency Departments as a result patients with non-urgent injuries are being warne...

A Leitrim Councillor is warning that the new rules around short-term lets could negatively impact the local tourism economy in the North West.     Under the legislation online platforms could be hit with hefty fines if they fail to comply with the changes.     Under the regulations,  Fáilte Ireland will manage a new register, from May 2026. Anyone offering accommodation fo...

The waiting list for driving tests in Sligo has been described as shameful.   It comes as new figures show that a total of 1,135 people were waiting for a test in Sligo as of the end of March.   Nationally there were over 81,000 people waiting.   Labour Cllr Ann Higgins described the situation as having a detrimental effect on young people in the county.   Cllr Higgins is calli...

Gardai are warning that motorists are more likely to be involved in a serious collision on the Friday of a bank holiday. A new road safety operation has got underway across the North West this morning. Throughout the counties of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal Gardai will be focusing on offences such as speeding, phone use, and driving under the influence. Director of Partnerships at the Road Safety Au...

Austin O'Callaghan introduces Ocean FM Sport's preview of the 2025 Connolly Motor Group West of Ireland Championship - live from Co Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point. With contributions from Tournament Director Enda Lonergan, Club Captain Robbie Fitzpatrick, Kevin & Shane Flanagan and Irish Golfer Magazine journalist Mark McGowan. Plus - former golf instructor Anthony Gray shares his memories of...

Local support has been given following the government decision to not use the Leitrim Marina Hotel as accommodation for international protection applicants. The Leitrim Village based hotel had been offered to the Department of Integration as it has been used previously to provide safety to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. However following this latest decision, it is hoped the services will retur...

Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are set to escape the worst of the heavy rainfall over the weekend. It comes as several parts of the country have been issued status yellow alerts. Met Éireann has forecast heavy showers and spot flooding, particularly in the South and West. Deirdre Lowe, Meteorologist with Met Éireann, says the first warning takes effect tonight:

A Leitrim Councillor has again expressed his frustration with the current HAP rental scheme that is currently in place.   Sinn Fein Councillor Padraig Fallon’s come as a new report has found that there are currently no properties available to rent under the scheme in Sligo town or the entire County of Leitrim.     Simon's latest Locked Out of the Market report also found that out of...

It's emerged that up to 150 farmers face financial losses over the wildfire at Barnesmore Gap. The blaze ravaged through the hillside the weekend before last, destroying a vast amount of land in its wake - a lot of which is claimed as commonage by local farmers. Now single farm payments are being held following the fire. Local Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton says it's totally unfair that farmers...

It's thought that additional funding will be needed to get coastal erosion works completed at Inver. It comes as the OPW has sanctioned €45,000 for planned works there which include constructing a row of rock armour. The money has been awarded under the Office of Public Works' Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme. Fine Gael Senator Manus Boyle thinks a lot more will be needed...

A Donegal TD has shared their disappointment over a lack of public representatives present at defective-concrete block meeting. The Critical Defective Concrete Conference 2025 was held this week, highlighting the crisis impacting homeowners in the region. 100% Redress Party TD Charles Ward attended the event, but was unhappy with the turnout of public officials. Deputy Ward says there needs to be...

A Sligo Leitrim TD says there is a ‘legacy of inadequate mental health care’ in the Country and in particular here in the North West.   The comments from Deputy Martin Kenny come as new findings show the quality of mental health care in hospital emergency departments depends on where you live with substantial variations in services provided in ED's across the country and especially for ‘out-o...

A Fine Gael TD says he's not too bothered by opinions polls. It comes as the latest Irish Times/Ipsos poll shows support for the party has dropped three to 16 per cent, its lowest support since 1994. Fianna Fail is up one to 22 per cent while Sinn Fein support has risen six points to 26 per cent. Deputy Frank Feighan says only when a trend emerges would there be a cause for concern. He says the on...

There's renewed hope that a Sligo woman and three others may not be deported from Berlin.   Roberta Murray is one of four people who had been ordered to leave Germany for taking part in pro-Palestine protests.   This is despite not having been convicted of a crime.    The situation has caused huge controversy both locally and internationally.   Independent Ireland MEP Ciar...

A new report has found that there are currently no properties to rent HAP recipients in Sligo town or County Leitrim.     The number of properties available to rent for HAP recipients has fallen once again.     Simon's latest Locked Out of the Market report found out of 1,119 properties in 16 areas across the country, only 41 were available for those on the Housing Assistance P...

A meeting held for farmers in Leitrim last week over the potential impacts of GAEC 2 has been seen as a success locally. The meeting was organised with the intention of providing clarity of what new regulations would mean for landowners. Under GAEC 2, any farm that had over 50% peatland would be considered as 100% peatland going forward, which would have restrictions on how the land is maintained....

Earlier this month a group of TY Students from across the region took part in a week long training programme with Ocean FM.   The group compiled, researched, edited, and presented their very own show which was broadcast on Sunday last.   This very diligent and enthusiastic group came up with more material than we could fit into one show so the following podcast contains as well as everyt...