Ocean FM News Reports

Tributes are being paid to well-known businessman Stephen McCahill, who was killed in a fatal assault in Ardara in the early hours of yesterday morning. Mr. McCahill, who was in his 60s was a former Donegal Person of the Year for 2016 and a former General Election Independent candidate in 2011. A man in his 30s who was arrested in connection with his death remains in Garda custody this morning. An...

Sligo has been named as the cleanest town in Ireland during 2025. The announcement was made today by IBAL who judged key factors across 40 Irish towns. Chair of Sligo Tidy Towns Finbarr Filan says the achievement is thanks to the people on the ground in Sligo:

Sligo County Council has received the Tom Kavanagh Memorial Trophy for being the cleanest town in Ireland in 2025. Sligo took the honours after being near the top position for an extended period. It marks a steep upturn since being named the least clean town out of the 40 surveyed in 2007. Speaking to Ocean FM News after receiving the award, Sligo County Council Caothaoirleach Donal Gilroy says it...

Local authorities across the North West are continuing to monitor the current cold snap, with gritters out twice daily. There had been some concern locally that some routes, particularly around Dromahair may have been untreated last night / this morning. Director of Administration with Leitrim County Council, Kieran Brett has moved to clarify the situation to Ocean FM news. He says the local autho...

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow Snow-Ice Warning for Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, and Mayo from 11am today until 9am tomorrow. Wintry showers will bring sleet, snow, frost, and icy surfaces, making roads and footpaths treacherous, especially overnight. Conditions will gradually improve tomorrow as milder air moves in from the west, though isolated sleet and drizzle may persist. Ocean FM News sp...

Met Éireann has issued fresh weather warnings after dropping overnight temperatures led to treacherous conditions across parts of the North West. A Status Yellow Snow-Ice Warning is now in place for Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Mayo from 11am today until 9am tomorrow. Wintry showers bringing sleet, snow accumulations, sharp frost and icy surfaces are expected. The earlier snow-ice advisory has been...

An IBAL official has described Sligo's placing at the top of the business group's litter rankings as "a great achievement". The announcement was made today as Sligo replaced Naas as the cleanest town in Ireland. Special mentions were made in the report to the Adelaide Street Car Park that had been heavily littered but was very much cleaned up and deserving of top litter grade this time around. The...

With many Primary and Post Primary schools unable to reopen after the Christmas Holidays this morning a Leitrim teacher has called for the Department of Education to introduce a system similar to that being used in the north when it comes to taking the decision to close schools due to bad weather. The calls from Leitrim Councillor James Gilmartin come as the North West is currently being hit by th...

A Donegal TD has taken issue with a Government Junior Minister expressing concern over the planned crackdown on short-term letting and the damaged it could cause to rural Ireland. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn made the comments after Junior Minister, Michael Healy Rae says the moves could do serious damage” adding that the proposals are scapegoating short-term lets and won't solve the housing crisi...

The North West of the Country is being warned to expect some sleet or snow showers today.   The counties of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal is expected to be hit with the worst of today’s winter weather.   Reports are already coming in of snow falling on the Barnesmore Gap in Donegal     Met Eireann says it'll be a cold start to 2026 with the local region being particularly impacted...

There's been further calls for upgrades across multiple Sligo roads. It comes after the RSA released their end-of-year report on road deaths across Ireland. 185 people were killed on Irish roads in 2025 including 10 in Donegal and one each in Sligo and Leitrim. Ballymote-Tubbercurry MD Cathaoirleach Michael Clarke says roads must be improved across the region:

A Sligo councillor has praised the My Future Fund Pension but has warned it could lead to issues for small businesses across the North West. The New Year marks a the beginning of many new social welfare schemes, including the new auto-enrolment scheme. The measure will see employers match every three euro employees put into the fund, while the government also contributes a euro. Sligo Councillor T...

Sligo University Hospital’s Cardiac Investigations Department has earned the prestigious ESC Echocardiography Laboratory Accreditation, a first for any lab in Ireland. This accreditation ensures that heart patients receive the highest level of care, with expert-trained physiologists and modern techniques. Speaking to Ocean FM News, Dr. Diarmaid Hughes says this achievement reflects the hard work a...

A Sligo/Leitrim TD has outlined his plans for next year. Junior Minister Frank Feighan has been given a job promotion in the last 12 months. He became the Minister of State for Public Procurements, Digitalisation and eGovernment in November. Speaking to Ocean FM News, he has reflected on the past year and looked ahead to 2026.

As the new year approaches, Minister Marian Harkin reflects on 2025 and outlines her priorities for 2026. She emphasizes the importance of progress in housing, disability support, and family carers. Minister Harkin also expressed her hopes for global peace, particularly in Ukraine and Gaza, while stressing the need for continued investment in the region. Looking ahead, she remains focused on deliv...

Met Eireann is warning of very cold conditions throughout the country from Friday. An artic airmass is expected, with the possibility of snow along with freezing fog. Flurries and heavier showers of sleet and snow are expected in parts of Ulster and Connaught with widespread sharp to severe frost at night. Forecaster with Met Eireann Matthew Martin, tells us what to expect.

As the new year comes closer, councillors across County Sligo are switching focus to 2026. Multiple projects are set to commence in the county next year, including initiatives surrounding the Spanish Armada. Councillor Marie Casserly, Cathaoirleach of the Sligo-Drumcliffe MD assumed the role over the summer. Speaking to Ocean FM News, she reflected on the past year and looked ahead to what 2026 ha...

A number of projects in the North West are set to benefit from the Dormant Accounts Fund. It comes as more than €5m in funding is to be awarded for disability supports, NGB equality, diversity & inclusion, and volunteer supports. It has a particular focus on inclusion for those experiencing disadvantage or living with disabilities, while also helping to boost participation in sport and physica...

Local TD hopes for better 2026 following Connolly election win

Calls have been made to the Local Authority in Leitrim to ensure that routes to schools are salted and gritted in the weeks and months ahead. Drumkeerin Councillor Padraig Fallon raised the issue at the December meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District. The Sinn Féin Councillor says in the past, some rural schools have been forced to close due to roads being too dangerous for students and t...

The Irish Coast Guard, Water Safety Ireland and the RNLI are urging anyone planning a Christmas or winter sea dip to put safety first as water temperatures drop. They're reminding swimmers to check conditions, go in slowly, wear visible gear and never swim alone, while coastal walkers are advised to stay well back from stormy seas. Cold water shock, hypothermia and unpredictable waves remain key r...

While it has been a productive 2025 for Sligo County Council, its councillors are looking ahead to next year. In the year the council has shelved the Sligo Greenway project in favour of the Collooney to Claremorris rail line. It also chose not to raise commercial rates in their latest budget, a move praised by business owners. Caothaoirleach of Sligo County Council Donal Gilroy says there's more t...

Santa Claus is officially on the move, having begun delivering Christmas presents to children across the globe. His sleigh took off earlier today, already passing over Australia and New Zealand, before he and his reindeer make their way toward Ireland. Across the country, stockings are being hung, while carrots and festive treats have been left out in anticipation of his arrival. Santa's journey c...

The December meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District of Leitrim County Council heard how frustration is building among local residents over the lack of bus shelters in the area. It's proposed to build shelters at Our Lady's Hospital and St Clare's National School in Manorhamilton. While another bus shelter is scheduled to be constructed at Clancy's in Glenfarne. Manorhamilton Councillor Fe...

Irish farmers have been given the green light to vaccinate cattle and sheep against bluetongue from 2026, following confirmed outbreaks of the BTV3 strain in Northern Ireland. Three EU-approved vaccines are available, with farmers required to apply for a licence from the Department, and details expected to be published shortly. The Minister says vaccination could be a key tool ahead of the high-ri...