Ocean FM News Reports

The Taoiseach has been called to immediately address the N15 in Sligo in relation to a number of developments. There’s local urgency that the road be included in the National Development Plan, as well as a new rail line and greenway route selection to be done. While there’s also calls for safety measures to be implemented at numerous junctions along the road. Local Independent Cllr Michael Clarke...

Ocean FM broadcasted Hospital Requests, Oldies and Irish from Riverside in Sligo town last Sunday. Listen back as Marion Fitzgerald speaks to those involved in the organising of and those who took part in the annual North West Hospice Memorial Walk in Sligo

The non-payment of several workers in Killybegs has been raised on the floor of the Seanad. Over the weekend, it emerged that around 50 workers lost out on two days' pay. That's after 750 tonnes of blue whiting which was destined for processing for human consumption at a local factory was sent for fish meal instead. Local Senator Manus Boyle raised the matter during Tuesday's Order of Business in...

The level of fly tipping in south Donegal is said to have skyrocketed. Several beauty spots have been impacted in recent weeks. In one case, a local clean up group was unable to remove the high volume of items dumped at a scenic location. In another incident, a forestry close to a Caravan Park was also badly hit with illegal dumping. Cathaoirleach of the Donegal MD, Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Jordan has...

Just over €23 million has been announced for County Sligo under the HSE's Capital Plan for 2025. The funding will progress and deliver a range of community and acute projects across the region. Among the local highlights include direct investment in extra bed capacity at Sligo University Hospital, investment in the North West Hospice, Nazareth House and Tubbercurry Primary Care Centre. Donegal is...

There are still homes and schools in Sligo without broadband and phone connection since Storm Eowyn. The devastating storm knocked down power lines across the country, however a number of buildings haven’t had full power restored. A number of elderly people in the region are without a broadband signal, and Moylough National School’s phone lines don’t work. Local Fianna Fail Cllr Barry Gallagher sa...

Uisce Eireann has been branded a total disaster with claims that several people across Sligo and Leitrim are being denied a basic service. It comes as the Government has confirmed that there no plans to introduce a conservation charge for water contained in the new programme for government. Speaking in the Dail, Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says there are many instances locally where wa...

Tourism figures for Slieve League have been brought into question. The latest data for 2024 shows that number visiting the cliffs is down dramatically, but it's thought locally that that's incorrect. Cathaorileach of Donegal County Council Cllr Niamh Kennedy feels that the amount of people travelling through airports in the region is in sharp contrast to the tourism statistics. Cllr Kennedy believ...

Gardaí will be out in force today across the North West for the second 'National Slow Down Day' of the year.     A 24-hour speed enforcement operation is underway nationwide, until midnight tonight. (Wednesday)   The Garda National Roads Policing Bureau says it's aimed at getting people to talk about their driving behaviour   Sarah O’Connor from the Road Safety Authority says t...

No catering or shorter journey times for Sligo to Dublin rail line planned for the immediate future.   It was hoped that catering services would be back on the route before the end of last year, however a contract is yet to be awarded.   While no funding has been made available for the double-tracking of the Maynooth to Mullingar line, which would significantly cut travelling time for pa...

The high number of gorse fires in south Donegal in recent days has led to further calls for the retention of both Bundoran and Ballyshannon fire stations. The future of both fire stations and their viability combined has been an issue for over 40 years.   It had been thought in recent months that a decision was imminent but there’s been no confirmation from Donegal County Council has of yet o...

There's major concern over the low level of septic tank grants being paid out in Donegal. It comes as just fourteen such grants have been distributed in the Donegal MD since 2014. Meanwhile it's claimed that there are several high-risk situations in the south Donegal area, with several requests for an inspection yet to be processed. The Government is being urged to remove the need for a national i...

A Donegal TD has reiterated his claims that it’s the government’s fault that Oireachtas committees are yet to be set up. The main function of most committees, the likes of Justice, Finance and other sectoral committees, is to scrutinise legislation. However it's understood that has now been delayed for another month until May 5th. Speaking at the Dail Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn says this is...

Full support has been given by Sligo County Council for regular competency tests to be required of drivers. This is with the aim of reducing the number of serious injuries and deaths on Irish roads. It's thought that the new rules may only apply to new drivers in the future. Fianna Fáil Cllr Donal Gilroy says that you can't put a value on a person's life:

A Donegal woman has been selected to the IFA's national 'Ready to Lead 2025' programme. The initiative aims to develop the next generation of leaders within the farming community, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to effectively navigate and influence policy for the agricultural sector. Among those selected is Shannon Porter, from Carrigans who opened Donegal's first milk vending machin...

There are calls for a dedicated derelict sites unit to enforce levies in Sligo. This follows a report in the Irish Times last month, that showed derelict site owners in Sligo are not being levied. While its been highlighted that Limerick's derelict sites unit collected just under €300,000 in 2023 alone. Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon says with the current housing crisis, this must be addressed as a...

A public meeting over GAEC Two and Nature Restoration in the north west is to take place in Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday evening. There's major confusion locally over the schemes with farmers voicing their concerns on how it could impact their locality. Under new GAEC Two rules, any land that is recorded as being over 50% peatland, will be considered as 100% peatland. This has caused confusion o...

Urgent clarity is being sought over the progress of student accommodation being developed by ATU Sligo. A sale has been agreed between Sligo County Council and the ATU over 16 acres of land at Ardaghowen. This was with the condition that a portion of the land be dedicated to student accommodation. Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh is looking for a timeline of the works:

House prices across Donegal were among those to have increased exponentially in the last year. The last MyHome.ie Property Price Report shows prices have risen by over 32 thousand 500 euro compared with this time last year. The median asking price for a property in the county is now 242 and half thousand euro. Prices in Leitrim have risen by over 13 thousand euro while the prices in Sligo have rem...

It's thought that shoplifting in Sligo goes underreported. It comes as there's said to have been a significant increase in shoplifting across Sligo and Leitrim. According to CSO figures, there were 185 recorded incidents in the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Division in 2003. This grew to 479 recorded incidents of shoplifting in Sligo/Leitrim in 2024, an increase of 159%. Between 2023 and last year, there wa...

It's emerged around 50 workers in Killybegs lost two days' pay at weekend. It's after 750 tonnes of blue whiting which was destined for processing for human consumption at a local factory was forced to send it for fish meal. The issue, which is said to centre on controversial rules and regulations has ultimately resulted in a massive loss of export to the local industry. Fine Gael Senator Manus Bo...

Urgent clarity is being sought over the progress of student accommodation being developed by ATU Sligo. A sale has been agreed between Sligo County Council and the ATU over 16 acres of land at Ardaghowen. This was with the condition that a portion of the land be dedicated to student accommodation. Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh is looking for a timeline of the works:

A feasibility study into a new rail line between Collooney and Charlestown has been rejected. The previous government committed to the reopening of the Claremorris to Athenry line, with the reopening of the Claremorris-Collooney section ruled out. A motion was raised before Sligo County Council today for a route alongside the new N17. It was defeated by 10 votes to 4, with reasons cited such as it...

The wildfire at Barnesmore Gap is under control this lunchtime.   The blaze initially broke out at yesterday evening.   Director of Emergency services at Donegal County Council Garry Martin has been speaking to Ocean FM news this afternoon.   He has also issued a warning with the dry spell set to continue:

Emergency services have been praised for a mammoth response to the wildfire at Barnesmore Gap. Multiple fire units, Gardai, a helicopter and members of the community worked through the night to combat the blaze. It had been thought the fire was under control at a stage last night but it took hold once more in the early hours of this morning. The fire service remain at the scene this lunchtime Cath...