The Government needs to push local authorities to collect unpaid levies from the owners of derelict sites. Over 20.5 million euro in levies is owed to councils nationwide. There were more than 1,913 sites on derelict site registers at the end of last year, an annual increase of 21.6%. Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle says that local authoritie…

The Tánaiste has shared his opinion over the future of Ballyshannon guitarist Rory Gallagher’s iconic guitar. The guitar is part of ‘The Rory Gallagher Collection’ and its coming to auction in London on 17th October, and it’s estimated that it could earn between £700,000 – 1,000,000. Micheál Martin says he will speak with the Arts Minister to see i…

Concerns have been raised locally of the lack of podiatry services in Sligo. The only remaining service is based in Sligo town, following the removal from other areas within the county. Sligo-Drumcliffe Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy highlighted the issue as he called for vital services to be kept within communities. Cllr Healy says he's concerned tha…

The HSE recruitment freeze has ended today. The health authority has announced it's been lifted after securing a 1.5 billion euro financial package. HSE CEO Brendan Gloster says it's to be invested in the health service this year and is welcoming this "positive step". It's understood a further 1.2 billion euro is to be invested next year. Speaking …

A National Day of Commemoration ceremony has been held at Sligo town. The events honour all Irish men and Irish women who died in wars or on service with the United Nations and other international organisations in the service of peace. Sunday's ceremony took place at City Hall on Quay Street with representatives of all of Sligo's Christian churches…

A site in Ballytivnan could be used for the provision of modular housing to tackle the ongoing housing crisis. That's the view of People Before Profit Councillor, Gino O'Boyle, who was speaking about the site where the old Cash and Carry building is located. The site has recently been put up for sale and is close to a number of local amenities, suc…

It's been proposed that a report should be carried out examining the poor management of the Gran Fondo cycling event in Sligo. The event received scathing criticism from both members of the public and Sligo County Council staff, mainly down to a lack of communication across the entire weekend. The route of the event was changed with short notice, a…

This month's meeting of the Manorhamilton Municipal District heard calls on the government to tackle the current childcare crisis. Many families, particularly in north Leitrim are said to be bearing the brunt of the problem. Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Bohan says there is a distinct lack of facilities available. Councillor Bohan says it's a matter …

A meeting will be held next week between bikers and the local authority over the recent pedestrianisation of the diamond in Donegal Town. The decision resulting in bikers no longer having access to the area. A swell of support has been given towards bikers from the public, with many calling for the traditional meeting point to be reinstated. Local …

A solidarity event for Natasha O'Brien is to be held in Sligo. The event will take place outside the GPO in Sligo Town at 3pm on July 14th. A number of similar events have taken place all over the country to date, with large crowds turning out in support. One of the event organisers, Janet Jinks, has been telling Ocean FM News why the event is bein…

A heated exchange took place in the Dáil between a Donegal TD and a Minister of State over Ireland's position in the EU council. In recent months, the council which includes Ireland has lent its support to Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Independent Deputy Thomas Pringle raised the matter with Minister of State for responsibility for EU…

XL Bully dogs are to be banned in Ireland under new regulations following a number of attacks on people in recent months. The new rules will come into effect over two phases: in October it will be illegal to breed, rehome, sell or import the animal, and in February it will be illegal to own one without a certificate of exemption. The former chair o…

Clarification has been sought over Sligo's addition to the Defective Concrete Blocks scheme. It was confirmed some time ago that Sligo, along with other counties, would be included to support homeowners affected by the defective blocks crisis. However, since that confirmation, there has been little to no update on the matter. Sligo County Council a…

There are calls on the Government to further invest in student accommodation in the North West. Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien confirmed an investment of €100 million to deliver more than 1,000 student accommodation beds, which includes 493 beds in UCD, 405 in DCU and 116 in Maynooth. Sligo-Leitrim Independent TD Marian Harkin has questioned wher…

Tori Towey is back with her family in Boyle today after her ordeal in Dubai. She was arrested in the UAE for attempted suicide and drinking alcohol, following alleged gender-based violence. The 28 year-old arrived into Dublin Airport yesterday with her mum, Caroline after the Government intervened. Roscommon TD Claire Kerrane is relieved Tori is ho…

Government Ministers are said to have reaffirmed their commitment in helping the fishing industry in Killybegs and elsewhere. It follows what's been described as a positive meeting held in Government buildings this week. During the meeting, various challenges facing the industry were highlighted and it's now envisaged that this will reinforce previ…

Farmers in the North West are being left in the dark over issues with the Acres scheme. That's according to Sinn Fein Sligo Leitrim TD Martin Kenny, who says delays and a lack of details is resulting in many among the farming community in this region not knowing where they stand. A recent meeting in Leitrim has also heard that the scheme was not th…

€500,000 have been provided in funding towards the improvement of bus stops and shelters across Sligo. The allocation comes from the NTA, as more infrastructure has been called for following the increase of routes coming available. Sligo-Drumcliffe Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy highlighted there is also a need for full disability access in rural area…

The Think Before Your Flush campaign has partnered with Sligo and Donegal County Councils to protect Blue Flag beaches and marinas. The initiative is operated by Clean Coasts in partnership with Uisce Eireann, and aims to highlight the problems caused by flushing sanitary products and other items down the toilet. Serious blockages in waste water sy…

Seafood factories in Killybegs have been used as an example of the unfair treatments faced by Irish fisheries in Europe. Sinn Fein Donegal TD Padraig MacLochlainn raised the issue of a recent whistleblower report which showed the difference of oversight faced. It has been long-running problem in the fishing sector that super factory ships from Euro…

Funding has been allocated for a new bus service that runs through North Leitrim to North Sligo via Ballintrillick. The route will from Kinlough to Grange will be commenced by late July or August. Sligo-Drumcliffe Independent Cllr Marie Casserly praised the announcement, Independent Deputy Marian Harkin, the Department of Transport, and those who p…

The Government has been accused of locking people out of the Defective Concrete Blocks Scheme. It comes following the publication of two articles on the Ditch website this week which claims that the attorney general in private correspondence on government's mica scheme suggested measures to reduce the number of applicants. It's also alleged that th…

Donegal woman Nikki Bradley says she's honoured to have been appointed to the Seanad by the Taoiseach. The disability rights activist replaces Fine Gael's Regina Doherty who has been elected to the European Parliament. She has survived multiple surgeries, including a tumour removal, two hip replacements, a femur repair and an amputation. Ms. Bradle…

The Taoiseach has committed to finding out why there are apparent difficulties in recruiting staff for the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital. The state of the art facility only partially opened earlier this year and the HSE say that efforts are ongoing in meeting the phased opening deadlines. However, there are fears that the staffing levels requ…

The importance of Rory Gallagher's iconic guitar to Ireland has been compared to the Book of Kells. The famous Fender Stratocaster owned by the Ballyshannon musician will be up for auction in London in October, with an estimate of €1.1 million. There have been numerous calls this week for the guitar to remain in Ireland with the state urged to purc…

The Sinn Fein Leader's described the treatment of Tori Towey as medieval and barbaric. The 28 year old from Boyle is expected to board a flight home from Dubai today a travel ban was lifted yesterday. Criminal charges of attempted suicide and alcohol consumption have also been dropped. Mary Lou Mc Donald says people are struggling to understand how…

Reassurances have been given that efforts are ongoing to provide a new Garda Station in Sligo. The current station on Pearse Road has long been deemed unfit for purpose and a cost benefit analysis on the current building is nearing completion which, its expected will recommend that no further money should be spent on it. A site in Caltragh has been…

The 65th Yeats International Summer School kickstarts tomorrow, Thursday July 11th at 6pm, and runs until the 19th July. The festivities will begin with the BBC’s Irish correspondent Fergal Keane providing an opening address, which is free to the public. A collaboration is also happening with the national library of Ireland to stream the event to a…

An Irish flight attendant is facing jail in Dubai after being charged with attempting suicide and consuming alcohol. The Dail heard yesterday that Tori Towey from Boyle in County Roscommon has been banned from leaving the country, despite being the victim of domestic violence. Taoiseach Simon Harris says he will work to intervene, and the Departmen…

Sligo-Leitrim Deputy Marian Harkin has commended the Taoiseach and government for their work in getting Ms. Towey back home.

The Sligo Air Show is returning with a new and improved event over the 27th and 28th of July. The performances will take place at Sligo Airport in Strandhill, and will feature some of the most talented Irish, international pilots and aerobatic formation teams. And in a first of its kind in Ireland, a spectacular airborne fireworks display by the Fi…

The travel ban has been lifted for Tori Towey in Dubai, and she is now permitted to travel home. Ms Towey, originally of Boyle, was charged with attempting suicide following an alleged attack by her husband. Taoiseach Simon Harris provided the update in the Dáil this afternoon, and confirmed the Irish embassy will continue to follow up on the case.…

The Department of Foreign Affairs says it's providing consular assistance to an Irish woman who's been charged by police in Dubai. Tori Towey, who's originally from Boyle was charged with attempting suicide and consuming alcohol following an alleged attack by her husband. The 28-year-old flight attendant is currently staying in an Airbnb with her m…

The Lord Mayor of Cork is adding his voice to the calls for Rory Gallagher's iconic guitar to remain in Ireland. The famous Fender Stratocaster owned by Ballyshannon musician will be up for auction in London in October, with an estimate of €1.1 million. The guitar was bought in Crowley's Music Store, Cork in 1963 and has been on display in Ireland …

Overcrowding figures for Sligo University Hospital have been described as the fox looking after the chicken coop. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has claimed that there's been a 25% reduction in overcrowding levels in Sligo in the first five months of this year. Minister Donnelly has also indicated that there has been a significant improvement in …

There are renewed calls for additional dog wardens to be deployed to the North West. There's ongoing concern over restricted breeds not being muzzled or on a lead. Last month, a complaint was made to Sligo County Council over an XL Bully dog, accompanying a female jogger in Slish wood without a lead or muzzle. Local Independent Cllr Michael McClaff…

Further calls have been made for the HSE's recruitment ban to be lifted locally. Sligo University Hospital has consistently been among the most overcrowded facilities in Ireland of late, as Emergency Department staff tackle a wide range of shortages. Other services, including speech and language therapy and nursing, are also struggling as a result …

The need for a sustainable model for public service broadcasting and local radio stations such as Ocean FM has been raised on the floor of the Dáil. The calls were made by local TD Frank Feighan who praised the coverage by stations in his constituency during the recent local and European elections. Taoiseach Simon Harris previously acknowledged tha…

A review regarding the construction of a new Garda Headquarters in Sligo is to be carried out. Sligo County Council recently purchased a site in Caltragh with the view to housing both a new Garda Station and Headquarters for Sligo Fire Service. The development was previously stalled due to the Sligo/Leitrim Garda Division being amalgamated with Sou…

Criminal barristers in Sligo have been protesting outside the courthouse today over a long-running dispute relating to legal fees. Following similar protests from last year, the government committed to implementing an independent mechanism to determine legal fees, but are yet to follow through on it. Sligo County Prosecutor, Leo Mulrooney, was at t…

A meeting is being arranged in the wake of the controversial motorbike ban on the Diamond in Donegal Town. Donegal County Council has made the request for all road users to use nearby car parks instead as the new-look Diamond is now a pedestrianised area. The move has since caused uproar in the town, with some businesses claiming revenue will be lo…

A number of questions still need to be answered as it relates to the chronic pain unit at Sligo University Hospital. That's according to Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy, who raised the matter at the latest sitting of Sligo County Council. It was revealed in recent weeks that the unit was set to close due to the departure of two consultants. When asked …

There is serious concern in north Leitrim area as regards increased ambulance response times. These concerns increased during the past month where it emerged that the base in Manorhamilton is not always staffed appropriately. This, in turn has led to Donegal Town being the next available service which increases the response time for those in need. …

Paddy McGill is joined by Roscommon senior football manager Davy Burke and Cahair O' Kane of the Irish News to look ahead to this Sunday's All-Ireland Semi-Final clash with Galway

Sligo County Council have been asked to write to Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman in relation to redress for Mother and Baby Home survivors. To date, around 3,600 applications have been made, 316 of which have been deemed eligible, but only 55 payments have been made so far. No response has been issued by Minister O’Gorman to similar request…

There was tension at today’s meeting of Sligo County Council after a motion on reinstating the eviction ban was brought forward. The motion was proposed by Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons, but was opposed by various council members. It was put to a vote and ultimately defeated by 12 votes to 5, with one abstaining. Cllr Gibbons was disappointed that …

Roderic O’Gorman has been elected as the new leader of the Green Party. The Minister for Integration narrowly defeated Senator Pippa Hackett in the race to replace Eamon Ryan, on a margin of just 72 votes. There was a little over 55 per cent turnout, with 52 per cent of those voting for Minister O’Gorman. The new Green leader said he wants to see a…

It's been claimed that speeding and dangerous driving continue to be major issues in the north Leitrim area. Dromahair and Manorhamilton are said to be just two of many areas that are seeing excess of speeds of motorists on a daily basis. Residents are said to be deeply concerned that someone may be seriously injured if action isn't taken. Local In…

Fianna Fail Cllr Michael Naughton has confirmed that he has put his name forward for the party's General Election selection convention in the Donegal constituency. The south Donegal Councillor topped the poll in the Donegal LEA in last month's local elections. It's not yet known when Fianna Fail will hold their convention but gave party members onl…

It’s thought that there are some positives to be taken from a new housing report, despite prices continuing to increase across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal. According to the latest property price report from MyHome.ie, prices have gone up in Donegal by over 5,000 euro, in Leitrim by 6,000, and in Sligo by 2,000. The median price of property in all th…