Ocean FM News Reports

A Donegal publican has raised concerns over the latest price increases set for the industry. From February 3rd, Diageo will increase the price of their draught products by six cent per pint, excluding VAT. This includes products such as Guinness and Smithwick’s. There are fears that this hike will only further the financial strain that many pubs and restaurants are currently facing. Donegal Cllr M...

The news that Expressways will be implementing an improved timetable for its Route 30, Donegal to Dublin service has been welcomed. The new timetable will come into effect later this month on the Route 30, Donegal to Dublin service which will see an increased service frequency for Belleek. Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Jemma Dolan described the move as a vital development for the local region. T...

More frustration has been expressed over the proposal to relocate the Donegal Education Centre to Letterkenny. The building has been based in Donegal Town for 27 years, with many of the staff living locally. It's understood that there was little to no consultation with the local council over the situation. Sinn Fein Cllr Noel Jordan says that it sends a bad message to services considering setting...

Sligo Cllr confident of programme for government being ratified despite concessions to Independents

Local Councillor shows concern over driving test wait times

Local Fine Gael members to vote on ratification of government

A Ballymote Tubbercurry Councillor is challenging the incoming government to honour pre-election promises and ease the restrictions when it comes to those living rurally building on their own property.   Cllr Michael Clarke has expressed concern that planning permission will not be given to those hoping to build on family lands in rural areas of Sligo.   The Independent Councillor says s...

Concerns have been raised over the changes to the policing model in Donegal.   The county has overseen drastic changes in recent months to its Garda division with affectively two divisions forming in one with services managed from Ballyshannon and Letterkenny.   It is feared, however, that the new plan that does not take into consideration the specific challenges that face Donegal from a...

A teen parent programme is to be evolved and expanded in Sligo, Leitrim and West Cavan. Funding has been secured to support parents under the age of 24 and will also remain engaged for the first 1,000 days of the child's life. The programme has approximately supported 10,000 women and men, across ten counties since it was founded 25 years ago. Mick Hedigan, local lead of the Young Parents Support...

There are hopes for a new link bus route between Ransboro and Strandhill Village.     As it stands, there are no current direct public transport links between the two areas.     It's hoped that the proposed route would allow those in the Ransboro area connect with the existing S2 and 981 routes.       Local Fine Gael Cllr Fergal Nealon says the move would

A Leitrim Councillor has expressed his frustration with a ban that is currently being imposed on the Local Authorities from purchasing any properties that become available in their respective areas.   Cllr Padraig Fallon described such moves as ‘ridiculous’ as the housing crisis continues to grow in severity in Leitrim and across the Country.   The Sinn Fein elected representative raised...

Sligo Leitrim TD says solutions must be found to address the anomaly where numbers on the live Register are increasing at the same time as a major shortage of workers is being experienced in the Labour Market.   The number of people on the Live Register increased by 2 per cent in the month to December.   The seasonally adjusted total for the month is 166 thousand 600 people.   That'...

Fresh calls have been placed on the new Government to address staffing issues facing St. Cecilia’s School. The special education school based in Sligo town has a number of students waiting on a speech and language and an occupational therapist.   Fianna Fail Councillor Edel McSharry believes that if this issue is not resolved, students at St Cecilias will be impacted in the short and indeed f...

Listen back to Ocean FM's live commentary of basketball's Pat Duffy National Cup semi-final in Neptune Stadium, Cork.

There are calls for a passport office to be established in Tubbercurry. It’s believed there are plans to create either a third passport processing facility with two existing ones in Cork and Dublin. It’s being proposed that the Sligo office could process the Connaught/Ulster applications and also deal with Northern Ireland Passport Express. Local Councillor Michael Clarke says the accommodation an...

The Donegal Education Centre AGM this evening has been postponed. The meeting has been called off at short notice, and it’s understood to have left disappointment among a number of stakeholders in South Donegal. The centre is also proposed to be relocated from Donegal Town, to Letterkenny. Local Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says this will have a heavy impact locally and the decision should be rev...

This month's meeting has heard for further hopes for the re-opening of Sligo Jail. Prior to its closure in 1956, the jail was in use from 1818. Just last month, the local authority was awarded a grant of €200,000 through the European Regional Development Fund. This was seen as a major step forward in transforming the old jail into a modern tourism and community amenity with hopes for more funding...

Today's meeting of Leitrim County Council will hear calls on members of the Local Authority to back calls which would change the legislation lead to a referendum that would allow the Irish diaspora to vote in this year's Presidential Election. Kinlough based Councillor Justin Warnock is tabling a motion on the issue. The Fianna Fáil Coucillor says a referendum was promised by previous government a...

A man in his 30s continues to be questioned by gardaí investigating a suspected murder in County Cavan.   55 year old Annie Heyneman was found dead at a house in Kilnavart outside Ballyconnell on Saturday night. A man in 60s was also found with serious injuries.   Gardaí later arrested a man in Ballyconnell - and are appealing to anyone who travelled on the road between Kilnavart and Bal...

A Leitrim Councillor is warning the general public to be on the lookout for damaged water pipes over the coming days.   The  end to the cold snap and thaw from sub-zero temperatures could see some water mains burst. There are fears that damaged infrastructure could lead to reduced pressure and a diminished supply.   A reservoir interruption may cause supply disruptions to Drumshanbo...

A Midlands North West MEP has become the latest public representative to call on the Sligo Leitrim Garda Division to launch a new investigation into the death of Leitrim man Liam Farrell which took place in January 2020.   The body of Mr Farrell was found unconscious, lying at the back of the family home where he lived alone in Rooskey on January 12th, five years ago.     Yesterday...

Almost 2 thousand 500 people died due to lengthy emergency department waiting times last year.     Around 48 people died prematurely in hospital every week in 2024, according to a report in the Irish Mail.     Research found the most vulnerable over the age of 75 waited 3.5 hours more than the rest of the population so far this winter.   Already last week there were report...

A public inquiry is due to start today into proposals for a controversial gold mine in Tyrone.     Canadian company Dalradian is behind the application for the Sperrin Mountains.     It says it'll boost the economy - but local campaigners are worried about the impact on the area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.   The results of the inquiry will be watched with great interest...

A Sligo Leitrim TD has expressed his confidence that the future of major infrastructure projects in the North West stand a better chance of progressing in the absence of the Green Party from the next Government.   With a programme for Government currently being thrashed out between Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and independents, there is interest in relation to the stance being taken on infrastructu...

Large crowds gathered in Rooskey on Sunday afternoon as a memorial plaque was unveiled outside the home of Liam Farrell.   The body of the late Mr Farrell was found outside his home in January 2020.   A Garda investigation into Mr Farrell’s death is ongoing with members of his family believing he was brutally attacked after he returned from Reynolds’ bar in the village.   A Garda in...