Ocean FM News Reports

It's expected that the long-awaited Glenfarne Woods Project will move to the next stage this year. Currently, the development is at the detailed design phase with the project set to go to tender in Quarter 2 of this year, with construction planned to start in July or August of this year. Located on the shores of Lough MacNean, Coillte and Leitrim County Council have collaborated on the project. Lo...

There are renewed calls to prioritise the replacement of Lennox’s Bridge in 2025. The bridge links Leitrim with Donegal and the current structure was previously deemed as only fit for a horse and cart. Leitrim Councillors have previously sought a meeting with the incoming Transport Minister to seek funding for all works necessary to deliver a new bridge, road realignment and walkway/cycleway betwe...

North West poultry owners have been advised to keep their birds indoors following the latest bird flu outbreak. Over the weekend a farm in County Tyrone was ordered to cull 64 thousand birds, after the detection of the influenza. As a result, a compulsory housing order has been issued for all birds and poultry. IFA Poultry Chair, Nigel Sweetnam, says all flocks need to be registered with the depar...

Anyone in Sligo or Leitrim interested in becoming a member of An Garda Siochana is being encouraged to attend an Open Day this week. It's getting underway in the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-On-Shannon this Wednesday from 5-9pm. The latest Garda recruitment competition is now in full swing and interested candidates have until 3pm on Thursday 27 February to apply. Speaking ahead of the Open Day locall...

Gardaí in Sligo are continuing their search for a male intruder who assaulted and terrorised a homeowner over the weekend. The victim, a man in his 50s, was threatened and robbed at his home in Fatima Avenue in the early hours of Saturday. No arrests have yet been made. Local People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says Fatima Avenue is a quiet area of Sligo and the incident has sent shockwaves thr...

A decision to postpone the start of a new Search and Rescue helicopter operating system at the Strandhill base has been deemed the right call. Bristow had been due to take over from previous contractor CHC Ireland at the Sligo base on Friday last. However following safety concerns about the timing of the transition between two different contractors, the Irish Coastguard has shelved the new system...

Donegal are clear at the top of Division 1 following Sunday's 0-21 to 1-10 win over All-Ireland champions Armagh in Ballbofey, in front of 13,109 spectators. In taking out the Orchard County, Donegal have beaten the last three All-Ireland champions (Armagh, Dublin & Kerry) in their opening three national league games. And even better - Michael Murphy is back and on the scoresheet again, contri...

Highlights and reaction from Sligo Rovers opening League of Ireland Premier Division game of the new season, at home to Waterford FC.

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell reflects on the pluses and minuses around Saturday night's 3-2 home loss to Waterford on the opening weekend of the 2025 League of Ireland season.

It's emerged that some people in south Donegal have gone several Christmas's without water.   The issue is said to centre on the reservoir which caters to the Leghowney area.   The facility has been deemed no longer fit to purpose as the population has increased dramatically over the last few years.   Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Naughton is asking Uisce Éireann to urgently examine the...

An increase in funding for home adaption grants is being sought in Sligo.   The recent budget raised the grant limit to €40,000, but it's understood that a larger allocation may been needed due to increased costs.   The adaption grants can be used for a variety of needs, with particular focus on elderly people or people with a disability.   Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon says current...

Sligo’s Mercy College has funding granted for classroom extensions. Education Minister Helen McEntee has confirmed the allocation after her recent visit to the school, where she saw the extensive damage done as a result of Storm Eowyn. While Our Lady of Mercy NS has also been included in the announcement. Sligo-Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan hopes the works can begin before the year ends:

Recruitment agency to open office in the North West

The family of Danielle McLaughlin say they can now grieve their 'immeasurable' loss, after a man was convicted of her rape and murder in India. The 28-year-old from Buncrana in County Donegal had only arrived in the country two weeks before she was killed in 2017. Her body was found in a field in a remote area of Goa. Today at the District and Sessions Court in South Goa, 31-year-old Vikat Bhagat...

The latest funding allocation for the Donegal Tin Shop has been welcomed locally. Under a heritage investment scheme, the landmark has been granted €28,192, while Pettigo Corn and Flax Mill has also received €15,000. There had been fears within Donegal Town in the past that the landmark could have been lost, before reassurances had been given. Mayor Pauric Kennedy spoke about the importance of the...

€42 million has been allocated towards regional and local roads in Donegal. The funding was announced today as part of a huge national rollout of €713 million towards improvement and safety works on Irish roads. Included in the targeted roads are the bridge at Fintra, and the bridge between Laghey and Pettigo. Donegal TD Pat The Cope Gallagher says the investment is about people's safety:

A Sligo Leitrim TD has expressed his confidence that a significant funding allocation will address the current traffic delays that are impacting Sligo Town.   900 thousand euro has been earmarked to connect the mail coach road and Pearse Road at City Gate.   The allocation has been made under the roads improvement scheme.   The allocation is part of an overall national investment pr...

Local TD to visit Belgium and Netherlands for Patrick's Day

A Sligo restaurant owner has called for the VAT rate for food hospitality to be reduced sooner rather than later.   Anthony Gray made the comments after the Finance Minister told the Dáil yesterday that any decision on a reduced VAT rate for the hospitality sector won't be made until the budget. The Minister said that he was inclined towards giving food businesses the reduced VAT rate of 9 pe...

Large crowds attended last night’s Public Meeting concerning the future of the Donegal Education Centre.     Plans are afoot to move the centre to Letterkenny.   Those who attended the meeting in the Abbey Hotel voiced strong opposition to any such moves.   Local Oireachtais members will now meet with the Minister for Education, Helene McEntee to discuss the issued next week &n...

The League of Ireland is back – and once more it’s a new-look Sligo Rovers for 2025 ...and we're not talking about the snazzy new Rovers shirts. Here, we assess Rovers Premier Division Prospects. The players who’ve come in The players who’ve gone out Plus - how Rovers Rivals are shaping up

Preventative measures are being called for in Sligo following the near total collapse of mobile communications during Storm Eowyn. Concerns have been raised locally that in a time of such emergency, that mobile networks should not be allowed to go down. It’s felt locally that provisions should be in place from these major companies to back-up plans going forward. Sligo Independent Cllr Marie Casse...

Donegal TD hits out at ESB in the Dáil

The Irish Forest Owners has organised a public meeting to be held in Leitrim in relation to those who have storm-damaged forests. The meeting will be held at the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon on the 18th of February at 8pm, and aims to address the challenges presented as a result of Storm Eowyn. There are feelings from within the organisation that forest owners have been made scapegoats for...

Over 10 million containers returned in North West businesses