Ocean FM News Reports

The outgoing Chairman of the Sligo-Leitrim Constituency Labour Party, Mr. Hugh MacConville, was presented with a long-service award at the party’s 73rd conference. Mr MacConville has been active in politics since the 1960s, and now feels like it is the right time to step aside. He spoke about the changes that occurred in Irish society over his years in service, such as the huge successes in social...

More Gardaí are needed on the roads if fatalities are going to decrease.   Thats according to Sligo Leitrim TD and Sinn Fein Transport Spokesperson Martin Kenny, who was speaking after three more people lost their lives on the roads over the Easter bank holiday weekend.   It brings the total number of such deaths to 58 this year, which is up over a quarter on the same period last year. &...

North West counties in particular are at risk of falling into a two-tier fuel economy.   That's the view of Independent Sligo Leitrim TD, Marian Harkin, after fuel excise hikes came into effect on Monday.   The cost of petrol has jumped up by 4 cent per liter, while diesel increased by 3 cent and marked gas by 1.5 cent.   It is the latest step by Government to restore excise rates a...

It's anticipated that the delays at Rathcormac may not be as severe this week.   Tailbacks of up to an hour were reported at certain times on Thursday last due to ongoing roadworks.   The works had stopped over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend however they have resumed today.   Gardai are also reminding people to stay on the main road and not to use more minor routes in the area. &nb...

A Sligo Leitrim Fine Gael TD has expressed his shock over news that Minister Simon Coveney is to step aside from Cabinet.   The current Enterprise Minister says he spoke to Fine Gael leader Simon Harris last night to inform him he would not be making himself available to serve as a minister when the Dáil resumes next week.   He says he'll continue to work as a proud TD for Cork South Cen...

It's emerged that some households in Donegal were without water for most of the Easter bank Holiday weekend.   There were a number of outages, particularly in west of the county, over the course of the weekend.   Local Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig believes that poor infrastructure is to blame.   He has hit out at both the Government and Uisce Eireann, saying that peop...

It's been revealed that Leitrim had the lowest amount of no-shows for driving tests in 2023. Along with Monaghan, only 40 people failed to turn up for their test across the entire county. Nationally, 6,441 people did not appear for their tests after booking them all over Ireland last year, which equates to about 4%. 2,210 of those lost test slots were in Dublin, which is more than one-third of the...

The condition of some council estates in West Sligo has been challenged by one local councillor. Councillor Michael Clarke raised the issue of five estates, saying that the council's obligation to the tenants is not being met. It's understood that the houses in the estates are beginning to fall into disrepair, while the perimeter fencing around the estates are also damaged. Councillor Clarke says...

The renovation of the Cliff Bath House is considered a game-changer for the tourism of Enniscrone. As previously reported, after having planning permission approved by the Sligo County Council, an application was sent to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for €9.2million in funding. Speaking after this month's meeting of the Ballymote-Tubbercurry Municipal District, Independent councillor...

Questions have been asked about the return of bicycle stands on O'Connell Street and the surrounding areas. The stands had been removed when upgrade works were being carried out on O'Connell Street, but the stands were never replaced upon its completion. It's felt bikes left parked on the footpaths are causing a hazard to blind people, and to those with other disabilities. Sinn Fein councillor, Ar...

Donegal are celebrating a Division 2 Allianz Football League title. Paddy McGill brings you all the postmatch reaction and discussion, in the company of Mark McHugh, Neil McGee, Jason Byrne (Irish Sun), Michael Clifford (Irish Daily Mail) and the '100' man - Ciaran Thompson.

Requests have been made for a disabled parking bay to be installed outside the IONA day centre on Kempten Parade. Their services were previously located in Cregg House, but following their relocation, it's felt there isn't enough disabled parking at the new premises. This has made it difficult for parents and relatives to drop and pick up those who are availing of the service. Mayor of the Sligo B...

There has been a positive uptake on the Croí Cónaithe Scheme in Sligo. The latest meeting of the Borough District Council has heard that there have been 80 applications to scheme, 60 of which have been validated. Following the positive update, it's hoped that more people will apply for the scheme. Councillor Rosaleen O'Grady raised the issue of a small number of derelict homes on Holborn Hill in S...

North west farmers have been given an extension to the deadline for when lime can be spread under the National Liming Programme.   The date has been moved back from March 31st, and will now be set at June 28th, with the decision largely due to the recent adverse weather conditions.   Manorhamilton local election candidate, and former chairperson of the IFA National Sheep committee, Kevin...

A Leitrim-based publisher has cited a Dragons Den experience as a moment that spurred them on. Stephen Keane, of News Mag Media LTD, appeared on the BBC programme yesterday, and although he left without investment, he was given motivation. Mr Keane presented a reading kit called The Fact Factory – an audio-print magazine series written and recorded to include readers with print disabilities such a...

Sligo Leitrim Independent TD Marc MacSharry is only one of 22 Independent TDs who is set to vote with the Coalition when Fine Gael leader Simon Harris is nominated for Taoiseach on 9 April.   There's still, however, a number of them undecided.   MacSharry has cited Minister Harris' efforts in the amalgamation of St Angela's College with the Atlantic Technological University" as a reason...

Sligo Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin has announced she will not be backing Fine Gael leader Simon Harris for Taoiseach. This comes as just one Independent TD has shown public support for Minister Harris ahead of his nomination for the role. Deputy Harkin has said her decision wasn’t a comment on Minister Harris, but rather the wider government. She says the issue is about what the country ne...

Anyone who is injured or feeling unwell this long weekend is being urged to consider a pharmacy, out of hours GP or injury clinic as their first port-of-call.   The HSE says hospitals are already 'extremely busy', and it wants people to stay away unless absolutely necessary.   However its stressing that anyone who does present to the Emergency Department in Sligo or Letterkenny over East...

It's felt that vacant and derelict homes in Donegal are not being turned around quick enough to match the demand for them.   Although there are a number of incentives available at the moment for homes to get done up, it's felt they are progressing much too slowly.   The matter will be raised at the next meeting of the Donegal Municipal District.   Local Sinn Fein councillor, Michael...

It's 20 years since the smoking ban was introduced, making Ireland the first country to bring in such a measure. It was viewed as controversial at the time, but over 70 countries then followed suit. Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Martin Harley, hailed what he acknowledged was a brave decision in that moment. Being a pub owner and smoker at the time of the ban's introduction, he praised t...

It has been revealed that figures relating to vacant homes in Donegal are wrong. A recent survey has shown that of 1,700 homes surveyed, 770 that had previously been listed as vacant were not at all. That amounts to about 45%. It's understood that the majority of mistaken vacant homes were holiday homes left empty for the majority of the year. Fine Gael councillor, Barry Sweeny, says the figures h...

An appeal has been made for the identity of a good Samaritan in Bundoran. Dima, a young man from Ukraine who works in the Great Northern Hotel in Bundoran, fell off his bicycle on March 25th, at Church Road near the garda station. An unknown passing person helped the unconscious Dima and called an ambulance. Marion Fitzgerald, who works with Dima and his family at the hotel, made the request on th...

Gardai in Sligo are warning that they will be out in force this Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Extra checkpoints will be conducted throughout the course of the weekend with Gardai urging all motorists to adhere to the rules of the road. People who are planning to go out socialising at various venues across the region over the coming days, are also being urged to act responsibly. Sgt Aoife Hayes of t...

Tailbacks of up to an hour are being reported in the Rathcormac area due to ongoing roadworks.   The works, which began earlier this week, are set to finish on Friday week but are said to be causing severe disruption.   Sligo County Council previously warned that it would result in significant delays to traffic.   One motorist Eileen, who travelled from Donegal earlier this afternoo...

Clean Coasts have organised a new campaign to highlight what people should and should not be pouring down their sinks. A recent survey showed 34% of people were regularly pouring damaging items down the sink, which included items such as milk, gravy, and cooking oils. The Think Before You Pour campaign is connected with their previous Think Before You Flush campaign, which has the aim protecting w...