Ocean FM News Reports

There has been widespread shock and disappointment after damage was sustained to an outdoor Christmas decoration in south Sligo.   The festive tree located at Wolfe Tone Square in Tubbercurry is one of just many that brightened up the town during the festive season.   However, the acts of mindless vandals on Monday has left the tree in a sorry state.   Local volunteers have been lef...

A Sligo school is one of 50 private secondary schools being subsidised by the taxpayer by more than €140 million a year. According to a report from The Irish Times, Sligo Grammar school recorded the biggest year on year fee increase. It’s understood that the vast bulk of funding goes towards staff salaries. Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny says its important that all children have equal opp...

O’Connell Street has reopened following a fire that broke out at a premises this morning. Emergency services attended the incident in Sligo town and closed off the scene to public access. No injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. Independent local Cllr Marie Casserly praised the swift response of the emergency services:

Fire fighters are currently battling a blaze in Sligo town.   The fire broke out at a business premises on O’Connell Street this morning.   Emergency services are at the scene with O’Connell Street currently closed.   Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes until the road reopens.   There are no reports of any injuries. People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle hopes that...

Fire fighters are currently battling a blaze in Sligo town.   The fire broke out at a business premises on O’Connell Street this morning.   Emergency services are at the scene with O’Connell Street currently closed.   Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes until the road reopens.   There are no reports of any injuries.   Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons was in town...

It's hoped that the incoming Government will address a lack of investment in a number of key areas in Sligo. Infrastructure, housing and health are just some the issues said to be seriously impacting Sligo and the wider North West region. Cathoirleach of Sligo County Council Cllr Declan Bree has been looking ahead to 2025. He feels Sligo has huge potential and its high time that it got its fair sh...

Fine Gaels Frank Feighan hasn't ruled out a Ministerial position when Government formation talks resume in the New Year. The Sligo Leitrim TD topped the poll in the recent General Elections. Feighan is now the only Fine Gael TD in the Sligo Leitrim constituency. Negotiations to form a new Government are to continue in January with positons also set to be divvied out. Speaking to Ocean FM news, Dep...

Ireland West Airport is probably going to see its busiest Christmas on record. Thousands of passengers have already passed through its doors in the last few days with numbers generally set to be up on 10% on 2023. Meanwhile, operating profits at the company which operates Ireland West Airport Knock last year increased by 9 per cent to €2.02 million. Head of Marketing at Ireland West Airport Donal...

Secondary school students from across the ocean FM franchise areas joined us at our Studios in Collooney for a week long media training course just before Christmas.   The group have compiled, researched, produced and presented the following show.   The version of our TY podcast contains some additional material in addition to the material that was broadcast earlier today (Sunday Decembe...

Ocean FM's Sports Review of the Year - Part 2 looks back on some of the soccer and rugby highlights from 2024.

Ocean FM's Sports Review of the Year brings you highlights from this year's Ocean FM Sports Awards Ceremony at the Radisson Hotel in November.

Ocean FM's Sports Review of the Year remains the late Billy Boyers - Sligo's best known horse racing trainer, who died in October.

Ocean FM's Sports Review of the Year 2024 - Part 1 looks back at some of the Gaelic Games highlights across Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim.

Ocean FM's Sports Review of the Year looks back on Mona McSharry Olympic bronze medal success in Paris.

Changes to housing adaptation grants for older people and people with a disability have been welcomed locally in Donegal. More people will now be eligible to apply following an increase to the means assessment. The only people who will not qualify are those who earn over €75,000 annually. Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan says it will made home improvements accessible:

The need for hedge cutting has been highlighted on the road near Killenumery National School in Leitrim. A number of buses travel this route and there is concern that if the hedge cutting is not addressed, that it will lead to an accident. As it stands, responsibility is upon the landowner to maintain hedges and does not fall under the county council's remit. Fianna Fail Cllr Mary Bohan says it's...

Sligo Rovers have signed former Galway United and Athlone Town midfielder Ronan Manning. Manning and Rovers boss John Russell spoke to Ocean FM Sport's Ronan Flanagan on Friday.

The Bishop of Elphin has shared his Christmas message for the festive period. The message focuses on some key issues faced in the North West region, such as homelessness. Bishop Kevin Doran says it is not up to the leader to do everything, and people must play their own part to find peace on earth:

An online Sligo business has been without broadband for nearly three weeks following the cable being cut down by an individual. Format Web Design LTD works from home and have been unable to continue operations as normal despite attempts to work from local cafés. It’s understood the business has contacted Eir every day since the incident on December 2nd, and have repeatedly been told that engineers...

This Christmas in Ballyshannon will be about remembering those who are not with us during the festive period.   “Remembering absent friends” will be the theme of this year’s Christmas Busk at the Gables in Ballyshannon.   The community event takes place on Sunday, the 29th of December from 5 o’clock underneath the Christmas lights display of the South Donegal area and promises to showcas...

A Midlands North West MEP has passed an amendment calling on the EU to ramp up the detection and prevention of deepfakes. Deepfakes are images, videos or a voice note in which somebody's face, body or voice has been digitally altered so that they appear to be someone else. They are an online tool being typically used to spread disinformation. MEP Maria Walsh who is a member of the Women's Rights a...

The final National Slow Down Day of the year is underway. A heavier Garda presence will be visible on the roads across the North West until early tomorrow morning. One notable speed detection in the region this morning was 131kph in a 100 kph zone on the N15 near Keeldrum in Donegal. 167 people have died on our roads so far this year. Sgt Aoife Hayes of the Sligo Leitrim Roads Policing Unit is urg...

Donegal singer Daniel O'Donnell is warning fans not to click on links offering a meet-and-greet with him on Facebook. The 63-year-old says a fake account pretending to be him is replying to comments made by fans on his official page. Daniel says he would never make personal contact with fans online, and is warning people not to be fooled by scammers:

Concerns have been raised over a Leitrim mountain range potentially being earmarked for wind turbine development. Wording in the current county development plan in relation to the Aroo Mountain range is vague and may be interpreted as permitting industrial development around Dough Mountain. It is thought that such works would threaten the ecological integrity, cultural heritage, and landscape valu...

There's been a 9% increase in those accessing supports from Sligo's Domestic Violence service DVAs in 2024. Figures released by the charity also show that there's been a year on year rise in those contacting them. It comes as often, the festive season can lead to a further spike in cases. Carmel McNamee, DVAs Manager says they there is help available over Christmas and that ultimately, a 24 emerge...