Ocean FM News Reports

The issue of how GAEC-2 will impact North West farm owners has been highlighted in the Dail. Under new rules, any land that is recorded as being over 50% peatland, will be considered as 100% peatland. This has caused confusion over how people can legally farm their land, due to particular restrictions around peatland. Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny raised these concerns to the Minister fo...

There are concerns that some Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal businesses will be harmed by higher US tariffs than faced by neighbouring counties across the border. US President Donald Trump announced last night that all EU countries would face a 20% tariff on all goods and services entering the country. This will see prices rise in the American markets and harm the output of companies in this region. In...

It’s emerged a number of locals in Leitrim have concerns over the use of electric cars. The latest report from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry showed that Leitrim was the county with the lowest amount of new electric cars registered so far in 2025. There were 22 registered in the first 3 months of this year, compared to 84 in Sligo and 144 in Donegal. Manorhamilton Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig F...

A Donegal GP has issued advice to anyone that may have been exposed to measles on Irish Rail recently. Passengers who spent more than 15 minutes in Carriage D on the Dublin Connolly to Sligo train last Friday may have contracted the infection. Anyone vaccinated against measles would be unlikely to catch it, although anyone who has a temperature after sitting in the carriage is encouraged to seek m...

Donegal's Brian McEniff shares his memories of the Kerry's legendary football manager Mick O'Dwyer, who has died at the age of 88.

There are calls on the HSE to do more to ensure a Labour Room at Sligo University Hospital is used more. The Labour room costing €100,000 euro at Sligo University Hospital has been nick-named 'the Good Sitting Room' by frustrated staff and 'mums to be'. A report by 'The Journal Investigates' says the labour room with a birthing pool is funded by the HSE but has rarely been used. The 'home-from-hom...

A Sligo woman is one of two Irish citizens have said they are facing deportation from Germany after taking part in pro-Palestinian protests in Berlin, despite having no criminal convictions. Roberta Murray (31) and Shane O'Brien (29) are among four, including a Polish and US citizen, facing deportation on April 21. Ms Murray has been accused by police of using banned slogans in support of Palestin...

A Donegal TD says cool heads are needed in response to Donald Trump's tariffs. The US President last night announced a 20 per cent penalty on all goods imported from the EU. In his Liberation Day announcement at the White House he promised economic freedom for American workers. However it means Irish exporters - including those in the food and drink sectors - will face tougher competition from tho...

A comprehensive review of the response to Storm Eowyn is underway. It comes as the Taoiseach was responding to questions from Fianna Fail Sligo Leitrim TD Eamon Scanlon on the issue in the Dail this week. Michael Martin acknowledged that lessons need to be learned and that there's an onus on all concerned to do better going forward. He says that while warnings also need to be examined, the red ale...

Freeland Journalist Adriana Casserly spoke about the importance of physiological birth being accessible to mothers:

A labour room in Sligo University Hospital is rarely being used, despite it costing €100,000. According to a report from The Journal Investigates, a number of frustrated mothers have been denied access to the room, with some referring to it as “the good sitting room”. This is despite it being the only delivery suite in the hospital that adheres to modern infrastructure guidelines. Freelance Journa...

There are calls to make public spaces in Sligo more accessible and autism friendly. This marks World Autism Day today, as it is considered how to incorporate a more equal environment for all members of the community. An example of this would be a way to prevent sensory overloads by introducing quiet zones or quiet shopping hours for the public. Local Labour Cllr Ann Higgins says it’s time to make...

The Minister for Housing has been asked to meet with the people of Donegal over the mica crisis in the county. This follows comments from the Minister James Browne where he highlighted the importance of solving the housing problem in Dublin. The current situation has left many homes in the region damaged beyond repair, with people struggling to find alternative accommodation. 100% Redress Party an...

There are calls for a reform of animal welfare after a zebra was pictured in a pub in county Clare. A photo has been shared online of a man drinking beside a zebra and a pony following the Ennistymon Horse Fair. A spokesperson for the fair has said they knew of the zebra’s involvement in the show but noted they had not seen the animal. Current laws do allow for exotic animals to be imported and so...

The need for a surgical hub locally has been raised on the floor on the floor of the Dáil.   Last week, it emerged that a greenfield site has been identified as a potential location in the north west.   While a business case is currently being updated with it expected to be submitted nationally be early April.   The Programme for Government previously committed to explore the provis...

There are renewed calls on the National Transport Authority to expand the S2 bus route in Sligo. With an ever-increasing number of businesses located around Sligo Airport, it's thought there is a big demand for the service particularly at peak times. Fine Gael Councillor Fergal Nealon raised the matter and feels that there are large number of people locally who would gladly avail of this service i...

Companies across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are bracing themselves for impact as Donald Trump prepares to bring in wide-ranging tariffs. The EU and Irish Government are expecting the US President to announce taxes of 20 per cent on all goods imported into America. President Trump is due to make his landmark 'Liberation Day' announcement at 9 o'clock tonight Irish time. It's thought the tariffs wil...

There are fears new charges for European visitors to the UK could hurt the tourism sector in Fermanagh. They now have to get Electronic Travel Authorisation when travelling to Northern Ireland- which costs nearly 12 euro; soon going up to 19. It's feared European tourists arriving to Ireland will be put off travelling to the North, because of the paperwork and cost. Stormont's Economy Minister's C...

The first quarter of 2025 was the busiest on record at Ireland West Airport. 168,000 passengers travelled through the airport between January and March, representing a 6% increase in 2024 passenger numbers. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair recorded their busiest-ever first quarter for passenger numbers at the airport. The figures have been released as the airport has also launched a record breaking 202...

Odds continue to be defied at farms across the north west. Following the birth of triplet calves in north Leitrim in mid-March, one south Donegal farmer has achieved his own remarkable story. The Crawford brothers, based in Dowra welcomed triplet calves to their farm on March 16th. The odds of having three calves of the same sex is a 1 in 400,000 chance. However, Peter McGee, a sheep farmer based...

The Dáil has heard that many communities across the north west are still feeling effects of Storm Éowyn. It was widely documented that the level of forestry that fell on powerlines in particular Sligo and Leitrim had a devastating impact. There have been ongoing calls for such infrastructure to be better protected going forward. With more storms an ever-increasing possibility, Sligo-Leitrim Fianna...

It's been claimed that the Trump Administration has resulted in a drop in American tourists visiting Sligo and the North West. There's said to be a significant decrease in the number of North Americans coming to Ireland in the first quarter of this year. Neil Walton of Voya Seaweed Baths in Strandhill believes that there's a direct link. He feels that there's a sense of apprehension now among Amer...

It's still not too late for the Education Minister to intervene in the Donegal Education Centre debacle. That's according to Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Jordan, who has rowed in behind calls on the management committee to allow for a vote on the matter with all the information made available. A highly controversial AGM held last Wednesday evening in Letterkenny saw a protest outside against the move and a...

It’s thought that there’s over 430 social homes urgently needed in south Donegal. It comes as a special meeting between the Construction Industry Federation and Donegal County Council is taking place at the end of the month. It's in response to the level of housing construction taking place in various parts of the county. There were tense scenes at a recent meeting over the ongoing housing crisis...

Serious concern has been raised over the amount of vacant occupational therapist positions in south Donegal. Killybegs, Kilcar, Ardara and Bruckless are just some of the areas affected with fears that a large number of clients may not be receiving much needed treatment. The situation is also said to be having a major knock on effect on hospital admissions in both Sligo and Letterkenny. Speaking in...