Ocean FM News Reports

The economic development of Leitrim is being put at risk by the absence of adequate political representation at government level.   That is the warnings that has been sounded by the former north Leitrim Senator and General Election candidate, Michael Comiskey.   The Fine Gael party member fears it will be unlikely that there will be a Leitrim based candidate contesting the next General E...

A Leitrim Fianna Fáil Councillor has urged Fine Gael members to concentrate on getting everybody re-connected to vital utilities such as electricity and water and not to try and start laying the blame for an inadequate response with Fianna Fáil.   Drumkeerin based Councillor Mary Bohan was responding to weekend reports where it was claimed that Fine Gael members were unhappy with how the stor...

A plan for the future is being urged to be laid out for the areas in Sligo that were the longest without power.   Following Storm Eowyn, there was mass power outages across the North West region, with some areas remaining without electricity for over two weeks.   It's understood that warning signs were unheeded, as previous, less severe storms caused power outages in the same places. &nb...

Owen Elding has signed a contract extension with Sligo Rovers until the end of the 2027.   Confirmation of the deal was announced by Rovers on Monday afternoon.   The 18-year-old attacker featured for The Bit O’ Red on 24 occasions in 2024 and will hope to play a starring role at The Showgrounds throughout the new season, which begins on Saturday with a home game against Waterford. &nbsp...

Owen Elding has signed a contract extension with Sligo Rovers until the end of the 2027 season.   Confirmation of the deal was announced by Rovers on Monday afternoon.   The 18-year-old attacker featured for The Bit O’ Red on 24 occasions in 2024 and will hope to play a starring role at The Showgrounds throughout the new season, which begins on Saturday with a home game against Waterford...

Clarity has been sought over whether full services will be provided for Rescue 118's Strandhill base under the new contract. From Friday, Bristow Ireland Limited's contract for the search and rescue and H-E-M service will be operational. The matter was discussed at today's monthly meeting of Sligo County Council. Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon has been vocal on the issue and feels questions remain o...

A housing protest may be on the cards in Sligo over the ongoing lack of accommodation. It comes as a motion to write to the Housing Minister to put a stop on all no fault evictions in Sligo was not passed at today’s sitting of Sligo County Council. Reasons against the motion included not blocking incentives for landlords getting into the housing market. People Before Profit Cllr Gino O’Boyle broug...

A Sligo Leitrim TD says measures need to introduced that will tackle the issues of rising rents across the Country.     The calls were made as the government is set to explore alternatives to Rent Pressure Zones before they expire at the end of this year.     Taoiseach Micheál Martin has signalled changes to the system, including the possible removal of the zones.    ...

It's emerged that Sligo-based coast guard helicopter Rescue 118 has been forced to undertake a number of additional serious medical evacuations. New contractor Bristow Ireland Limited took over the Shannon rescue base in early December, however, it has only been offering a daytime service. This has resulted in Rescue 118 extending its service to cover a wider area along the west coast. Local Fiann...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has further defended the Governments approach in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn. It comes as there's been further criticism over the Government 'taking holidays' while the country was being hit by a record-breaking storm. There's still some homes and businesses in this region without power, now 17 days on from the storm. Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan says just because they weren't si...

A decision on the long delayed murder trial of a Donegal woman who was murdered in India is expected this week. It's almost eight years since Danielle McLaughlin was murdered in Goa back in March, 2017. For all of that time, Danielle's mother, Andrea and her family and friends have campaigned for justice. They are currently travelling India to be present in court for the decision. Sinn Fein TD Pad...

Disappointment has been expressed after Leitrim has been left with no representation in the Seanad. Fianna Fáil Councillor Paddy O'Rourke contested the recent elections in the Agricultural Panel and missed out on a seat. While there are no representatives from the county, there are four in total from Donegal with Manus Boyle and Nikki Bradley joining the elected Niall Blaney and Eileen Flynn. Coun...

The former Donegal County Councillor, Barry Sweeny is believed to be in the running to be co-opted on to the Local Authority following the nomination of Manus Boyle to the Seanad.   Fine Gael Councillor Manus Boyle was one of the Taoiseach's 11 nominees for the Seanad announced on Friday.    The first time Councillor was elected to Donegal County Council last June.   Also in la...

Leitrim Sports Star Hall of Fame Inductee, Eddy Leddy, and County LGFA Chairperson Kathy Butler speak to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan following Saturday night's Sports Star Awards Ceremony in the Landmark Hotel in Carrick-on-Shannon,

A Donegal TD has highlighted the regional imbalance of the pyrite remediation scheme. Instances were given in the Dail where homeowners in Dublin and North Leinster had to make no contribution to avail of the scheme. Whereas a number of families across the North West cannot access full redress despite provide a large amount of funding themselves. Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn says local reside...

Over 500 homes, farms and businesses remain without power in the north west.   Arigna, Tubbercurry and Donegal Town are among the areas affected with various estimated restoration times.   Meanwhile, the ESB is facing calls to issue a "goodwill payment" to customers left waiting long periods without power. It comes after the company's CEO, Paddy Hayes, rowed back on comments he made abou...

Paddy McGill reports from Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney following Donegal's first win against Kerry in the Kingdom since 1988 (0-23 to 1-18). Postmatch reaction from Jim McGuinness, Ryan McHugh and Neil McGee - plus considered thoughts from Martin McHugh, Radio Kerry's Tim Moynihan and Donegal Democrat's Conor Breslin.

Newly appointed Senator Manus Boyle believes the selection of two Fine Gael nominees from Donegal in the Seanad shows the party are laying the groundwork for future General Elections.   On Friday, it was announced that Senator Boyle and Senator Nikki Bradley had received nominations from the Tánaiste to be part of the Seanad.   Following Joe McHugh’s retirement, neither Nikki Bradley nor...

Ireland is to join 76 other nations in condemning Donald Trump's sanctions on the International Criminal Court.   The US President criticised the court for targeting allies of America, after an arrest warrant was issued for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu.   Ireland will join with almost 80 other States in issuing the statement this afternoon, in a move which is being described as unpreceden...

Ireland is to join 76 other nations in condemning Donald Trump's sanctions on the International Criminal Court. The US President criticised the court for targeting allies of America, after an arrest warrant was issued for Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu. Ireland will join with almost 80 other States in issuing the statement this afternoon, in a move which is being described as unprecedented. Sinn Féin...

A Midlands - North West MEP has been appointed as lead for EU-UK issues on the EU Parliament's Agriculture and Rural Development Committee. The role will involve trade rules and addressing the unique challenges faced by Irish exporters and farmers. It's hoped that relations between the UK and farmers in the North West border counties will continue to be encouraged. Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh highli...

Calls have been made for farmers in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal to be contracted to address trees and poles that pose a danger to power lines. Storm Eowyn led to mass power outages in the North West region, with many areas still without power two weeks later. The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association highlighted that local farmers could assist the ESB in maintaining power lines. President of th...

Local Cllr weighs in on rural speed limit reductions

A Donegal GP has questioned a new proposal by the government to directly employ HSE GPs. It is hoped to address the issue of GP shortages, while also being a way to tackle the lack of doctors in rural areas. GPs currently run independent practices, and this would be a move away from the current set up. President of the IMO, Dr Denis McCauley, says it’s a good idea, but isn’t sure if it resolves th...

It's been claimed that there's been a frightening spike in shoplifting in Sligo. According to local businesses, the likes of shoplifting, thefts and general crime figures are rising all the time. It has led to serious concern over associated incidents such as assaults, hateful comments being made to staff, and public order offences. Local Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey is pleading with Justice Ministe...