Ocean FM News Reports

Speculation is mounting that a Sligo-Leitrim Fine Gael TD is set to miss out on a junior minister position.   The roles are to be announced later today, and Fine Gael's longest sitting TD Frank Feighan looks unlikely to secure a spot.   This is set to be a major blow for the North West region with it widely thought that the former Junior Minister would be successful in securing a role th...

A Donegal TD has criticised the Office of Public Works for its latest case of spending. It's emerged the OPW spent almost half a million euro replacing a 70 metre wall outside the Workplace Relations Commission in Dublin. That's double the estimated cost and follows on from the infamous bike shelter outside Leinster House. Sinn Fein's Spokersperson for Finance, Deputy Pearse Doherty, says it's a w...

The Sinn Fein Party Chief Whip says a quick glance at the front benches of his party and that of the government’s will give people in this region an indication of how the respective parties are prioritising the development of the North West region.     Two North West TDs will form part of Sinn Fein’s front bench spokespersons for the new Dáil term.    Donegal Deputy Pearse Dohe...

A Midlands North West MEP has accused the government for failing to listen to the various warnings that were sounded in advance of storm Éowyn battering the country on Friday last   The EU have provided 17 power generators to Ireland so that water can be restored to thousands of customers. The assistance is being provided after the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and was triggered after Midland...

It's emerged that 90% of properties in Donegal were without power after the damage which was caused by the recent storm Eowyn.   Calls have been made for ESB to meet with members of Donegal County Council to identify possible weaknesses in the infrastructure that is supplying the county.   Donegal MD Councillor Niamh Kennedy says even though the serious strength of the storm was well fla...

It's 20 years since Shaun Duffy was murdered in his home in West Donegal. Mr Duffy was attacked and fatally wounded in his home at Meenacross in Dungloe in the early hours of Saturday, 29th January 2005. His body was discovered in his home shortly before 2.30pm that afternoon. Speaking on social media, Superintendent David Kelly of Milford Garda Station says the solving of this murder continues to...

Harrowing stories are emerging in County Sligo from people who are continuing to be impacted by outages.     The stories are emerging as emergency teams are again working across the North West to renew power and water supplies around the region this morning.     As of last night, nationwide there were 142 thousand customers still without power and around 31 thousand had no wate...

An emergency meeting is taking place tonight over the future of the Education Centre in Donegal Town. It was revealed a few months ago that plans may be afoot to relocate the facility to Letterkenny, which could ultimately put jobs at risk. The Save our Education Centre group is holding its first meeting tonight and represents local teaching bodies, the community, local business interests, public...

The North West is set to see continued improvement in weather conditions this week. Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal had all been under status yellow, orange and red weather warnings over the past week. However, while temperatures are still set to be cold, winds recorded during Storm Eowyn will reduce considerably. Forecaster with Met Eireann, Matthew Martin says the outlook for the rest of the...

A for clarity has been raised over the route selection for the newly proposed N17. There are a number of concerns in the suggested road layout, with a number of farms and homes set to be demolished. While the road is suggested to bypass Charlestown and Curry, which is understood to have left many local residents unhappy. Independent Cllr Michael Clarke says the proposed route will be 8km longer th...

Many local facilities are continuing to offer services for those who are still without power. St Molaise's GAA Club in Grange is providing showering and charging facilities to anyone who may need them. There's still a substantial amount of people in the North Sligo area still impacted by outages. Chairman of St. Molaise GAA Club Mel Casserly says they are there to help out:

Thousands of homes, farms and businesses across the North West are still without electricity since the record breaking winds caused by Storm Éowyn last Friday. The ESB is welcoming crews from Austria, Finland, the Netherlands and France to the region as they look to get power up and running over the next few days. Adrian Walsh, Storm Manger with the ESB has speaking to Ocean FM news inside the las...

A Sligo Councillor says moves like providing low cost housing to attract staff, could be used in the public sector to address shortages of key workers in the North West.     Proposals in the Programme for Government are indicating that housing will be reserved for key workers such as Guards, teachers, Doctors and nurses in cost-rental developments.     The State-subsidised mode...

A Sligo Leitrim TD wants the Dáil to be recalled in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn.     Sinn Fein Deputy, Martin Kenny, was echoing the calls made by his Party Leader, Mary Lou McDonald in an attempt to lure politicians back into the Chamber.   The Dáil is on a two week break to allow the new Ministers to bed into their roles.   The Government say their full focus is on providing...

A proposal has been made for a meeting to be held between local representatives and the department ministers over the N17. It’s requested that the department of finance and department of transport meet with the Ballymote-Tubbercurry MD, the Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Declan Bree, and all Sligo-Leitrim TDs. It’s hoped that the meeting will be able to shed some light over the current pro...

A Sligo Councillor is calling on waste collection companies not increase prices for its services locally.   People Before Profit Councillor, Gino O’Boyle, made the calls in response to Panda Recycling announcing that they are increasing their prices in North Dublin.     The bin company is raising the cost of its half yearly service charge, its waste per lift charge and its recycle p...

It's hoped that a reduced speed limit will reduce reckless driving on roads in north Leitrim.   The R280 which connects the north and south of the county has been cited as a hub of such activity, with many residents in rural areas said to be fearful when out walking.     New road safety laws are on the way which will reduce the speed limit on rural local roads from 80km to 60km per...

Residents in the North West are being warned that rogue traders could capitalise on the storm damage. A vast amount of homes and businesses have been badly damaged and now need repairs works after Storm Eowyn. Gardai in Sligo and Leitrim have issued advice if someone should call offering services, like noting a person's details and looking for ID. People are also being asked to report any suspicio...

Emergency crews from the Netherlands, France, Austria and Finland are due to arrive from today to help the ESB restore electricity supply to homes and businesses across the country.   Many homes, farms and businesses across the North West are entering into day 5 without power while the lack of running water is also an issue for many.     As of last night there were still 180 thousan...

Several schools in Sligo have been significantly damaged during Storm Eowyn. Mercy College, Summerhill College and Curry National School and have all suffered structural damage. A number of classrooms in the Mercy College in Sligo Town have been destroyed after the roof came off the new wing of the school. Some of the student's projects and artwork were also unable to be salvaged. Principal Ann Go...

Farmers right across the north west are among those that have been badly affected by Storm Éowyn. Slatted sheds, fencing, machinery and other equipment has been left severely damaged on a number of farms. Among those affected is Templeboy farmer, Padraig Mulligan. Our reporter Ronan Flanagan has been out to pay a visit to Padraig on his farm and sent us this report:

Several schools in Sligo have been significantly damaged during Storm Eowyn. Mercy College, Summerhill College and Curry National School and have all suffered structural damage. A number of classrooms in the Mercy College in Sligo Town have been destroyed after the roof came off the new wing of the school. Some of the student's projects and artwork were also unable to be salvaged. Principal Ann Go...

A number of housing estates in north Leitrim suffered substantial damage during the storm. Repair works are underway in Melvin Estate and Glenview Manor in Kinlough while some are still without power and water. Local Resident Michelle Brennan has been speaking to reporter John Lynch in Kinlough today:

The level of damage caused by Storm Eowyn in South Sligo is still being assessed. A number of homes are back up and running with power in the region, with trees still being removed from power lines and roads. It’s understood that a number sheds have lost roofing or collapsed entirely. Local Cllr Barry Gallagher has asked for patience as works are continuing to get power back to everyone:

Damage has been caused to Curry National School following the effects of Storm Eowyn. The external wall of the school collapsed after a tree fell into it, spreading debris across the main road. However, the school is open today with power and water back up and running in the building. Principal of Curry National School, Mr Paschal Gallagher, says that he considers the school to be lucky: