The future looks bright for Sligo town. That's according to Sligo-Strandhill Sinn Féin Cllr, Arthur Gibbons, who is already anticipating opportunities ahead. With recent additions to the tourism sector in Sligo, hopes are being raised over the possibilities that they bring. Cllr Gibbons said that something has been established that will be here for…

Queen Maeve's Square in Sligo town can be an example for further tourism infrastructure in the North West. That's according to Sligo-Leitrim Sinn Féin TD Martin Kenny, who was speaking at the Square's opening on Friday evening. It required an investment of over €4 million by Fáilte Ireland, the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and…

Funding has been granted to St Paul's NS, Collooney for a new mainstream classroom extension. The Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, confirmed that funds were secured under the additional School Accommodation Scheme 2024. It is hoped that the works can get underway and be completed before the end of the year. Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan has…

Planning permission has been granted for a new water sports facility in Rosses Point. The centre is one of two in Sligo, with the other set to be built in Enniscrone, that received a share of a €22 million investment in facility centres at beaches and inland water spots. It's expected that the total cost of the project in Rosses Point will come to …

The annual convention of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will take place in Sligo for the first time this weekend. The convention, or Comhaltas Congress, will take place at the Clayton Hotel in Sligo this weekend between Friday - Sunday, and will feature a number of lectures, discussions and musical performances throughout the weekend that are free to …

The issue of Garda pensions was highlighted in the Dáil on Thursday by a Sligo-Leitrim Independent TD. It was during a session of questions for Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Paschal Donohoe. The question focused on the Gardaí who retire on full pension after 30 years, that are then forced to claim j…

Another candidate has put their name forward to contest the upcoming local elections in the Donegal Municipal District. Businessman Derek Vial is set to run as an Independent Candidate. Based in the Killybegs area, Mr. Vial is a local taxi man and tourism promoter. Speaking to Ocean FM news, Mr. Vial says housing, immigration and tourism are among …

There's not a blade of grass left in Donegal for livestock because the county is overrun with deer. That's according to Independent Cllr Michael McClafferty, who says while the road safety element is still a major issue, farmers are now suffering at the hands of a rise in deer population. Land that is saved for silage and hay is being eaten by Deer…

The Government is being urged to ensure the adequate resources are in place in Dromahair in the wake of a number of asylum seekers arriving to the village. 30 people, including 10 adults and 20 children are now settling into the former Abbey Manor Hotel after being transported by bus yesterday afternoon. It's not yet known when the next group are d…

The Government is facing pressure to implement measures to curb sky-rocketing rental prices in Sligo. It comes as the County was found to have the biggest gap nationwide between new and existing rents. According to the latest report from the Residential Tenancies Board, new tenants in Sligo are paying 36% more than existing ones. It means that new …

The “Use Your Vote” campaign is in Sligo today to encourage voter turnout ahead of the upcoming European elections. Organised by the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland, a number of events are taking place in the town today, including a pop-up information stand outside the Yeats Society, and a poetry evening taking place at 8pm in the Mod…

Little to no progress has been made on the ongoing situation regarding diabetes care in Letterkenny University Hospital. Currently, 387 people are currently awaiting a review appointment, with 112 of those waiting for as long as two years. It's understood that the delays are down to a lack of staffing and resources for the diabetes unit at Letterke…

The Health Minister has refused to meet with Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland in the wake of a major crisis in services locally. Campaigners in Donegal are calling for a meeting with Minister Stephen Donnelly and the HSE over critical delays in adult diabetes services at Letterkenny University Hospital. The Health Minister has however given reass…

Leitrim County Council could be facing a six figure bill for legal costs after its failed High Court action to prevent the former Abbey Manor Hotel in Dromahair from being used to house international protection applicants. It is expected that applicants, believed to be families, will move to the north Leitrim village shortly. But it has led to majo…

The Dail has heard that vital funds for the North West Hospice in Sligo could be impacted if the Government presses ahead with a new Gambling Bill. The proposed legislation may threaten on-air bingo games and advertising for certain fundraisers. A proposed ban on betting advertising between 5.30am and 9pm means radio stations would be unable to run…

It's estimated that there around four thousand properties lying vacant in Sligo. The high level of vacancy comes against the backdrop of what's been described as a major rental crisis in the town. Local People before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle says efforts to date by both the Government and Sligo County Council have been found wanting. He's urging th…

There's outrage in south Sligo after a large section of the N17 was omitted from a speed safety camera rollout. Gardai have confirmed that nine static speed safety cameras are to be installed on routes across the country with aim of them being fully operational by the end of this year. The camera for the N17 is set to be located in Mayo, close to C…

The IFA is holding a public meeting for farmers and the wider community to confront issues to candidates in the upcoming European elections in the Midlands North West constituency. The meeting will take place on Thursday evening at The MacWilliam Park Hotel in Claremorris at 8pm. Among the items the IFA is looking to discuss include CAP, over-regul…

Another candidate has put their name forward to contest June's local elections. Seán Wynne, a native of Drumshanbo has announced his intention to contest the election as an Independent today. Mr. Wynne unsuccessfully contested the 2019 local elections in both the Carrick-on-Shannon and Ballinamore electoral areas. He will contest this year's in the…

Significant improvements need to be made to footpaths and roads in Strandhill. That's the view of Green Party election candidate Johnny Gogan, who feels a lot of infrastructure is currently not in place in Strandhill. A development committee for the village has managed to secure up to €200,000 euro for work to be carried out, but none of that work …

The Taoiseach has failed to give a commitment to visit Dromahair in the wake of a number of asylum seekers set to be housed in the former Abbey Manor Hotel. It’s reported that a number of refugees are due to arrive to the area shortly, after the High Court this week ruled that the plans can proceed. While the Abbey Manor Hotel could cater to up to …

It's been 15 years since a greenway was first suggested between Sligo and Mayo. On May 1st 2009, the then Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs, Eamon O'Cuiv, proposed to use the section of the railway line north of Claremorris as a walkway and cycleway. The Western Rail Trail campaign aims to utilise the transport corridor which carr…

Reassurances have been given that refugees set to be housed in Dromahair will be families. It's thought that a number of international protection applicants are expected to move into the former Abbey Manor Hotel shortly. It's after the High Court rejected a bid by Leitrim County Council to block the plan - and said work on the site can 'go ahead'. …

Serious safety concerns have been raised once again over the N15. The route, which runs through Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo, is home to a number of rural villages and a large number of schools. Hopes for an upgrade were dashed some time back, after it was removed from the Departments agenda. Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy believes that a number of sh…

The Government has been accused of crucifying border filling stations with its planned tax hikes on petrol and diesel. Fuel prices have risen by more than 30 percent in the past three years. The AA Ireland's latest monthly Fuel Price Survey has reported a surge recently, with fears the cost of fuel will soon rise to €2 per litre. The Government is …

There's further calls for longer opening hours at rural Garda stations close to the border. With an increase in population, Leitrim Councillor Felim Gurn is hopeful for fully maned, operational stations in Manorhamilton and Blacklion. On several occasions, it's been reported that a notice has appeared on the front door of Manorhamilton Garda statio…

An Independent Donegal TD has raised the issue of social media safety in the Dáil today. Recent reports highlighted that adolescent males can be quickly subjected to harmful online content curated by algorithms. Deputy Thomas Pringle said he was horrified by the content that young Irish men are targeted with online. He also said that we must get se…

It’s emerged that a number of refugees are set to move to Dromahair in the next 24 hours. Just yesterday, the former Abbey Manor Hotel got the ‘green light’ to house 155 international protection applicants. The High Court rejected a bid by Leitrim County Council to block the plan – and said work can ‘go ahead’ at the former Abbey Manor Hotel in Dro…

Letterkenny University Hospital was among the most overcrowded facilities in Ireland in April. In a statement today, the INMO says that a worrying trend of overcrowding across the country has continued, particularly in the north west and west. Figures released today by the INMO show that a total of 594 people waited for a bed at Letterkenny over th…

Once again during the Month of April a group of TY students joined us here at the Ocean FM studios in Collooney Students from a number of local schools had the opportunity to see how radio worked and as a result took responsibility for the research, production, presentation and editorial content for a special TY Radio show that was recently broadca…

There's said to be huge disappointment in Easkey over the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The community submitted what's been described as an impressive application for much needed funding but was unsuccessful. County Sligo got one million euro under the scheme this week, with Tubbercurry, Ballymote and Culfadda all set to bene…

Farmers who are losing forestry land as a result of ash dieback could be set receive grants to clear them and replant new trees. The Agriculture Minister is bringing proposals to Cabinet for a 79-and-a-half million euro package – with farmers receiving 5 thousand euro per hectare. Ash dieback is a fungal disease which was first recorded in trees he…

Getting rid of rent pressure zones would prove disastrous for Sligo. That's according to local People Before Profit Cllr Gino O'Boyle, who was reacting to calls from The Irish Property Owners' Association for the Government to row back on the current system which has been in place since 2016. The Sligo-Strandhill Local Electoral Area is currently t…

A former hotel in north Leitrim has got the 'green light' to house 155 international protection applicants. The High Court has rejected a bid by Leitrim County Council to block the plan - and said work can 'go ahead' at the former Abbey Manor Hotel in Dromahair. A group of local residents held protests in the village last November over concerns tha…

The community of Dromahair now has two choices following a High Court decision over the Abbey Manor Hotel. That's according to Local Election Labour Candidate Bernie Linanne, who was speaking after the former hotel was given the green light to house 155 asylum seekers. The High Court's rejected Leitrim County Council's move to block the development…

The HSE has confirmed that a funding application is to be made to redevelop Markievicz House in Sligo. A feasibility study has already been completed to ascertain the extent of potential services that could be accommodated in the building and the costs associated with it. The next step in the process will be the completion of a capital submission f…

A new community park is on the way to Laghey. It's after the village was awarded €250k as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme earlier today. The project is set to include an outdoor recreational amenity and play space. Local Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton says it'll be a major boost for the area:…

Sligo County Council have unanimously supported a motion to reopen the Western Rail Corridor. The motion was proposed by Mayor of Sligo and Independent Councillor, Declan Bree, who believes the rail corridor is a crucial piece of infrastructure for the region. Although the All Island Strategic Rail Review is yet to be published, it's widely expecte…

The Killybegs Garda station has been open more days and longer hours since the employment of an administrative position. This was welcomed by local councillors at the recent Donegal Joint Policing Committee meeting, where it was highlighted that it has resulted in a larger Garda presence in the area. Independent Cllr Niamh Kennedy, says that it's i…

The recent drop in arrests for road offences does not mean that incidents of that nature aren't happening. That's the view of Sinn Fein's Transport Spokesperson, Martin Kenny, after figures released showed a decline in arrests driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and for speeding. Last year, 7,771 people were arrested for driving under …

With the ongoing housing crisis continuing to impact county Sligo, fixing current issues remains a top priority. Midlands- North West European election candidate Lisa Chambers has been speaking ahead of a public meeting which takes place tonight. It's hoped that the meeting will provide information on housing grants and government supports. Senator…

A number of projects in Sligo and Leitrim are set to benefit from almost €2 million in funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The funding will see old and derelict buildings repurposed for community use. Tubbercurry is to get the biggest share at half a million euro to purchase two sites for the development of a food hub and recreationa…

There's only ever been nine female Councillors elected to Sligo County Council since the formation of the state. In Leitrim, the number is just six while there have been eleven women elected onto Donegal County Council. So far, there are currently 15 female candidates running in this year's local elections in the Ocean FM franchise area. However th…

New research about the Irish Civil War is said to have uncovered new information. The Irish Civil War Fatalities Project shows that County Sligo experienced much higher levels of violence in the Civil War than it had in the War of Independence. There were forty-four fatalities in Sligo between 28 June 1922 and 24 May 1923, 24 in Donegal over the sa…

Staff at Sligo University Hospital need to know they are supported if a patient becomes violent or aggressive. That's according to Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler, who was speaking at the opening of the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital last Friday. The Minister was reacting to reports of alleged assaults on hospital sta…

It's claimed that a motorist travelled through a north Leitrim village at 150km/h recently. There's a limit of 50km in place at Lurganboy, but it's reported that a lot of drivers are speeding excessively through the village. Residents are said to be deeply concerned that someone may be killed if action isn't taken. Local Independent Cllr Felim Gurn…

Both Sligo and Leitrim buck the national trend when it comes to the number of claims over accidents caused by uninsured cars Nationally, there's been an 11 per cent rise in such claims with most counties recording an increase. Leitrim however had the largest percentage decrease, down 55%, while claims in Sligo were down 21% The Motor Insurers' Bure…

A Donegal Pharmacist is urging the Government to reform the funding model for pharmacies, before increasing their workload. An expert taskforce is considering expanding pharmacy services to include independent prescribing powers, the provision of care for common conditions and enhanced contraceptive care. It's hoped it will reduce wait times in the…

For the second Sunday in a row, Donegal leave Celtic Park with an Ulster Championship victory. Sunday's extra-time win (0-18 to 0-16) over Tyrone sets up an Ulster final with Armagh on May 12th. Despite running on fumes, Paddy McGill and his team of contributors digest another memorable Ulster Championship Sunday.…

Men's manager John Russell on Friday night's 3-1 loss in Drogheda - Women's manager Tommy Hewitt on Saturday night's 1-0 home loss to Cork City - plus outgoing Rovers Treasurer David Rowe Rovers current financial situation - following a deficit of €299,000 for 2023, which was revealed at this week's Club AGM.…