Ocean FM News Reports

Another candidate has stepped forward to run in the local elections. Colm McGurran has declared his intention to run as an Independent in the Sligo Drumcliffe Municipal District. He ran for Fianna Fail in the local elections in 2019, but was not selected to run for the party this year. A builder by trade, Mr McGurran is a board member of Sligo Leader, and is also chairman of his local GAA club, Ow...

Kilcar woman Linda Boyle says she's looking forward to the challenge of contesting the local elections for Sinn Fein in the Donegal Municipal District.   Ms Boyle was ratified at a convention in her native Kilcar last night.   Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty has described Ms Boyle as a committed community activist who would be a great representative for her local area. &nbs...

The most popular baby names in the North West have been revealed.   The most popular baby boy's name in both Leitrim and Donegal last year was Jack.   While Noah was the top baby boy's name in Sligo.   Grace was the most popular baby girls name in Leitrim while Donegal had both Grace and Annie in joint top position.   The most popular new-born girls name in Sligo last year was...

The Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education Training Board (MSLETB) is set to receive funding of €507,500 to develop its training facilities. A total of €8,000,000 has been announced for ETBs around the country. The funding follows confirmation earlier this week that Sligo College of Further Education is to amalgamate with North Connaught College of Further Education and Sligo Vocational Training Opportuniti...

A number of new social housing units are a step closer for Manorhamilton.   The proposal includes demolishing an existing two storey building on Seán Mac Diarmada Street to pave the way for four apartments for social housing.   The project has now gone to part 8 planning with people who would like to make submissions asked to do so before 4pm on Thursday April 11th on Leitrim County Coun...

Gardai have been praised following the discovery of a massive growhouse in Donegal Town this week.   During the course of the search at an industrial premises in the town on Wednesday, a large scale growhouse was located with cannabis plants at various stages of growth - valued at over €630,000.   Gardai say that so far no arrests have been made and that investigations are ongoing. &nbsp...

This week, the story of the Sligo man who’s become the youngest ever Irish climber to complete the seven summits challenge – that’s climbing the highest mountain in each of the seven continents. Ryan O’Sullivan, from Grange, tells us he did it. Plus, the sports stadium debate in this country is cranking up a gear. As Casement Park in Belfast finally looks like it’s moving, the league of Ireland is...

The Sinn Fein Leader believes that offshore wind will be a 'big boom' for the North West region in the future. Mary Lou McDonald was in Sligo and Leitrim today ahead of the upcoming local and European elections in June. She's now travelling onto Enniskillen for further engagements later. Speaking to reporter Dónal Ryan in Sligo this evening, Deputy McDonald says the view towards infrastructure nee...

One project that has been allocated funding is resurfacing works at Rathcormac National School. The work is to be carried out over the Easter holidays, to ensure minimal traffic disruption. Local Independent Councillor, Marie Casserly, says the long-awaited developments will be a big lift to the area.

The Government have been urged to step in to prevent the HSE from limiting the provision of post-mastectomy products. It's understood the HSE are introducing a 50% reduction in products including bras, prosthesis, and post-mastectomy swimwear. A similar move was suggested in 2017, but former Health Minister, Simon Harris, deferred the HSE's decision following outcry from the public. Sligo Leitrim...

Where the hell is your housing plan?   That's the question Tánaiste Michael Martin posed to Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty during tense scenes over the housing crisis in the Dail this afternoon.   Deputy Doherty made reference to yesterday's report from the CSO, which shows that house prices are now higher than they were during the Celtic Tiger.   He described it as a housing d...

Concern is said to be growing among businesses in the wider Sligo area over a lack of tourism accommodation for this upcoming season. There are fears locally that the increased use of hotels for refugee accommodation will push up prices for tourists. Nationally, 12 percent of registered tourism accommodation is being used for humanitarian reasons - rising to 20 to 30 per cent in some counties. Fái...

Leitrim had the lowest median house price last year, according to the CSO's Residential Property Price Index   House prices are now higher than they were at the peak of the Celtic Tiger boom in 2007.   The report also shows the average price of a property now sits at 327-thousand 500 euro.   The lowest median price for a house last year was 165-thousand in Leitrim, while the highest...

It’s hoped that upcoming work will deliver major wastewater upgrades in Mountcharles.   Almost €30m is being invested into county Donegal by Uisce Éireann, with the south Donegal village set to benefit along with Carrigart and Kilmacrennan.   Uisce Éireann is set decommission the existing plant at Mountacharles and Hall Demesne and construct new pump stations and link them to the Donegal...

A planned development for Spencer Harbour has officially moved to the next stage. Efforts by a local community group to secure funding had previously been quashed. The creation of a slipway would allow for local residents and tourists to launch small boats at the harbour. The project is now expected to go out to tender, with progress expected within the first quarter of this year. Manorhamilton Mu...

It's thought that the long awaited A4 Enniskillen bypass will improve connectivity between Fermanagh and Sligo.   It emerged this week that Northern Ireland's Minister for Finance, Caoimhe Archibald, has allocated over £16 million to help with the development of the project, renewing hopes locally that the road may finally get off the ground.   Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Jemma Dolan...

There are hopes that someone will take over an iconic seafood restaurant in County Sligo following news that it's not to reopen for the upcoming tourism season.   Eithnas by the Sea in Mullaghmore is the latest local restaurant to announce its permanent closure, after 30 years in business.   The current climate with the VAT rate and the difficulty sourcing seasonal staff are said to have...

Mica and Pyrite is too big an issue for one Government Department to handle.   That's according to Donegal Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh who has also described it as a 'humanitarian crisis'.   There's major concern over how living in Mica affected homes is impacting the mental health of people, particularly the younger generation.   Meanwhile, homeowners in Sligo are still in limbo over w...

There are urgent calls for better public toilets to be installed at Rossnowlagh beach.   It's after a number of serious sewerage blockages in the area recently.   While there are some portable toilets in place there, they have been deemed insufficient.   Local Sinn Fein Cllr Michael McMahon says both locals and tourists deserve better:

There's major concern that many children in the North West continue to face long delays for spinal surgeries.   Sinn Fein tabled a motion in the Dail yesterday on orthopaedic and urology services, which calls on the Government to address the growing waiting lists for children with scoliosis and spina bifida.   Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that he was informed that a €19m allocat...

Members of the Teachers Union of Ireland at ATU Sligo held a protest at lunchtime against regional disparities in pay and conditions.   The union, whose members include lecturers at third level, is calling on the Department of Further and Higher Education to treat all Technological Universities the same.   They claim Simon Harris’ department wants each TU to work separately, without reco...

The roads funding allocation to Sligo will barely scratch the surface on the work that's needed in the county.   That's according to local Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy who has been reacting to the recent Government announcement of 16.7M for regional and local roads in the County.   However while it's been termed a much needed funding boost, it's said to be only a marginal increase when...

26 residents are moving into the new community hospital in Ballyshannon today.   The hospital was due to open last week but had been stalled due to concerns from the INMO around planned staffing levels.   An agreement has since been reached with an official opening of the new facility to take place at a later date.   Local Fine Gael Cllr Barry Sweeney says it was important that conc...

An investigation is continuing into a crash which claimed the life of a pedestrian in Belleek yesterday evening.   The crash happened at around 8pm in the village centre, close to the entrance of Daly Park and near St Patrick's Church.   Boa Island Road, which was closed following a collision, has now fully reopened.   Local SDLP Councillor in the area Adam Gannon says its a tragic...

The Irish Farmers Association has reiterated its calls for support for farmers.   The association will continue to highlight the frustration and anger felt by farmers with planned protests at county council meetings around the country.   These include Donegal where members will stage a protest outside Donegal County Council's special plenary meeting in Lifford on Wednesday.   IFA Ul...