Ocean FM News Reports

Sligo Food Trail are hosting an event aimed at helping small buisness owners to build a network and support each other. The event will be hosted in the Glasshouse on Wednesday evening between 7pm-9.30pm. Bronagh Conlon of Listoke Distillery and Gin School, will be a guest speaker on the night. Local Independent Councillor, and Chair of Sligo Food Trail, Marie Casserly, believes that the event coul...

There are calls for the HSE to fully utilise Constance Markievicz House.   The building, located on Barrack Street in Sligo town has been lying idle for several years.   The building has been used in more recent years, however, with the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.   With the HSE renting a number of office spaces throughout the county, one Sligo Councillor believes the restoration...

Social Prescribing is an initiative to encourage people who would like to engage in their community more, but don't know where to start, or may be lacking confidence to get started. Loretta McLoughlin from the Sligo Family Resource Centre, highlighted how the socialising can improve a person's mental health and wellbeing. Each prescription varies from person to person, and can include activities s...

There is a profound housing crisis in south Donegal.  That’s according to Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy, who was speaking following confirmation that almost 30 families in Killybegs alone are currently on the social housing waiting list.  Cllr Kennedy believes that the number doesn’t paint a true picture and feels that there are many more out there who should be on the list.  Cllr...

Ireland has just over half the number of neurologists required to meet patients' needs - according to the Neurological Alliance.   It's launching the third phase of its Patients Deserve Better campaign, to provide support for the 800 thousand people with neurological conditions nationwide.   It's calling for increase services at hospitals in Letterkenny, Mayo, Bantry, Portlaoise and Wexf...

A hotelier in the North West says the region can capitalise on price-gouging in Dublin ahead of St Patrick's weekend.   A bed in a six-bedroom dorm at a hostel in the city will cost just under 200 euro this weekend, with a king en-suite costing nearly 600 euro.   It's claimed practices by these hotels have an impact on the entire industry in Ireland.   But Ciaran Kelly, Managing Dir...

It's feared an increase in fuel excise duty could force a number of smaller petrol stations along the border to close.   The UK Government announced last week that it will extend its reduced fuel excise duty rate for another year.   From April 1 petrol here will rise by 4 cent a litre and diesel will go up by 3 cent, meaning fuel prices in the North will eventually be around 10% cheaper...

There have been more calls for a regional Cancer Support Centre to be built in the North West. It comes as it has been revealed that the West and North West regions have the highest mortality rates from cancer in the country. The incidence rates were highlighted by Head of the Saolta Cancer Network, Professor Michael Kerin, at the recent Policy Forum for Ireland meeting. Independent TD for Sligo L...

The Government has come in for critcisim locally following the largest ever defeat of a referendum in the history of the State. The Care Amendment was rejected by 74 per cent of voters, while the Family Amendment was rejected by 68 per cent. The proposed wording of the referendums has been heavily criticised. These people in Sligo have been sharing their views with Ocean FM news:

This month’s meeting of Leitrim County Council in Kinlough heard calls on the government to tackle the current Childcare Crisis experienced by many families, locally and nationally. The issue was raised by Councillor Paddy Farrell. The Fianna Fail Councillor says there is a lack of facilities available to care for young babies when maternity leave has ended. Councillor Farrell says it’s a matter t...

A recent funding opportunity has been highlighted amid calls for an increase in childcare resources. The Green Party's Johnny Gogan spoke about the new scheme that has made €18 million available to combat capacity issues. The Sligo-Strandhill candidate hopes the new funds will help meet the demand that was raised in concern by a local Councillor.

There are calls for a building in Bundoran, which formerly housed Town Council meetings, to be occupied on full time.   The state of the art building on the Station Road has been lying idle most of the time for the best part of a decade.   2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the abolition of the town councils.   The community centre is currently using the premises on temporarily whil...

Mountcharles native, Jimmy Brogan is to stand as an Independent candidate in the upcoming local elections for the Donegal Municipal District. Mr. Brogan has worked for Independent TD Thomas Pringle for the last 10 years as an administrative assistant. Mr. Brogan says his role has allowed him see first-hand the issues that affect the people of South Donegal. Speaking to Ocean FM News, he says he's...

Listen back to the All-Ireland senior 'B' colleges football final between AVS Donegal & Ashbourne CS (Meath) from Clones, as described by Ocean FM Sport's Conor Breslin & Joyce McMullin.

Listen back to the postmatch celebrations and interviews on Ocean FM Sport from last Saturday's All-Ireland senior 'B' colleges football final success for Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town, following their 1-15 to 0-9 victory over Ashbourne CS (Meath).

It's emerged that a large number of people across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal were unable to cast their vote in the referendums for various reasons.   It's reported that some people were removed from the electoral register as they moved house while is also been claimed there were general inaccuracies with the register.   A number of people also didn't receive a polling card in the first p...

 The government needs to reconnect with the public and reflect on the referendum defeats at the weekend - according to one of its own MEPs.   Fine Gael's Colm Markey says the coalition must take collective responsibility, claiming it was not the fault of one individual.   The Midlands North West MEP says the government needs re-evaluate ahead of the local and European election in th...

There was said to be a lot of confusion at the Bundoran polling station last Friday as people cast their vote in the referendums.    Donegal, recorded the highest percentage ‘No’ vote in both referendums nationally.   80.2% voted against the proposed changes in the Family Amendment in Donegal, with just 19.8% voting ‘Yes’.   78.11% voted ‘No’ in Sligo- Leitrim.   In the Ca...

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell and winger Will Fitzgerald give their assessments of Saturday night's 0-0 draw with Shamrock Rovers at the Showgrounds.

This month's meeting of Leitrim County Council has heard calls for the extension of the Help to Buy Scheme which has assisted 124 individuals and families to date in county Leitrim. The scheme provides those that avail of it with up to €30,000 of their taxes back from the previous four years, towards a deposit to either build or purchase their first home. Councillor Enda McGloin is supporting the...

A nurse based at Sligo University Hospital will be putting the pedal to the metal this month, as he aims to cycle 23 thousand kilometres from the North west to Australia. The 11-month trek will see Fergal Guihen cross into 25 countries. The 'Rossie to Aussie' challenge is all in aid of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation and North West Stop suicide prevention. The Arigna native says he will be t...

Leitrim County Council are to contact the HSE in relation to them immediately increasing Home Help hours. The issued was raised at this week’s meeting in Kinlough by Fianna Fail Councillor Mary Bohan. The Drumkeerin based elected representative says current provision is not adequate to cater for the numbers requiring the service and is causing delays in hospital discharges.

The former chef, and media personality Joe Shannon is being remembered as somebody that worked tirelessly for charitable organisations. The funeral mass of our colleague and friend here at Ocean FM took place earlier in Saint Colmcille's Church, in Rathcormac. The chief celebrant of today's funeral mass Cannon Tom Hever spoke of Joe's extensive work when it came to raising funds for different char...

With just under 9,000 currently waiting for off-the-job training, apprentices are said to be considering emigrating due to the delays. Almost 4,000 have been waiting for six months to progress. Local Sinn Féin councillor Arthur Gibbons has been contacted by many affected by the issue in recent weeks. He says with a shortage of skilled workers already in Ireland, the country cannot afford to lose c...

The March meeting of Leitrim heard calls call for the local Authority to urge the Minister for Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman to adequately fund and increase capacity in the early childcare sector. Sinn Fein Councillor Padraig Fallon says there is a shocking shortage of spaces, availability, and overall resources for this vital sector. The Drumkeerin Councillor says the issue is impacting...