Local Link have been urged to restore the 981 bus route to its original route as soon as possible. The service runs from Coolaney to Sligo town, and passes through Collooney and Ballisodare, but recent roadworks mean that the bus currently avoids going into Collooney village altogether. Passengers now have to walk out of Collooney to the bus stop a…

Calls have been made for a much stronger clampdown on rural crime. Donegal Fianna Fáil Senator, and European election candidate, Niall Blaney, says there needs to be an "all-out" action plan to decrease crime levels in rural areas. He feels that stronger penalties needs to be imposed, and feels that the Garda commissioner needs to take more respons…

The St Vincent De Paul shop on Harmony Hill in Sligo will close its doors today for the final time. This is another hit to services in the local community, following the recent closure of the North West Simon Community's premises. It's confirmed that the shop fails to make the surplus required in order to maintain its operation. Mairead McGurren, t…

There's disappointment regarding the lack of tourism resources allocated towards Rosses Point over the next few years. Rosses Point is a popular location among locals and tourists, but it is claimed that it may be a victim of its own success. Sligo-Drumcliffe Fianna Fáil Cllr Dónal Gilroy raised the issue at the meeting of the county's development …

The Final Whistle gives you a flavour of Thursday night’s Champions Dinner at Co Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point, celebrating the past winners of golf’s West of Ireland Championship over the last century.

Proposals to turn the Art Deco building in Ballymote into a library have been met with stern opposition. An announcement was made this week by the Department of Rural and Community Development that 1.3m euro would be allocated to develop the library in the current cultural facility. The announcement appears to have come as a complete surprise, with…

Questions have been asked in the Dáil regarding the science used in the defective block scheme. The issue was raised by Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle, who urged the Government to use the most up to date science available. Deputy Pringle's query came after the National Standards Authority of Ireland said that there is no evidence that pyrrho…

A young Donegal fisherwoman's visit to the European Parliament has shone a light on the plight of fishing communities in the North West. That's according to Sinn Fein MEP Chris MacManus, who speaking after Muireann Kavanagh took her fight for fishing communities to Strasbourg this week. The 14 year old has been outlining her anger at “demeaning and…

Customers could be in line for a reduction in electricity prices, after it was revealed that wholesale energy costs have dropped significantly. The predicted cuts are expected to be between 10% and 20%, with recent CSO figures recording a drop of 40% in the last year. A number of energy providers have reduced their prices of late, with new company …

Today is the official opening of Ballyshannon Community Hospital. The new facility cost €36.7m, and is currently opening on a phased basis, to be fully operational by December, with 52 long-stay beds and 20 short-stay beds. The care provided includes convalescence, rehabilitation, respite, and palliative care, along with services such as Speech and…

Paddy McGill logs on with Stephen Griffin (St Naul's) and Owenie McGarvey (Naomh Mhuire) to discuss parenthood....and Donegal v Tyrone this Sunday.

The Final Whistle gives you a flavour of Thursday night's Champions Dinner at Co Sligo Golf Club in Rosses Point, celebrating the past winners of golf's West of Ireland Championship over the last century.

Speaking in the Dáil today, the Minister for Agriculture has eased concerns over a fodder shortage by highlighting a current trading system that is keeping up with demand. Farmers have been worried across the country regarding the fodder supply as stocks were exhausted due to poor weather conditions at the start of this year. The Donegal-based Mini…

The need for tourism facilities in Easkey has received new hope as a proposal is in place which aims to alleviate the persistent issue. A submission was raised at the recent Sligo County Development Plan meeting, which highlighted the current situation and lack of supports in place. Ballymote-Tubbercurry Cllr Michael Clarke gave his full support at…

Tensions spilled over in the Dáil this afternoon regarding the issue of fishing stocks once again. Donegal Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty highlighted the case of Arranmore teenager, Muireann Kavanagh, who made the trip to the European Parliament this week to make a case to fish pollock within her own community. Deputy Doherty made his points to fellow…

Donegal County Council are hosting an information session in conjunction with the Credit Union regarding vacant and derelict properties in the county. It will be held between 11am and 2pm in the library in Bundoran at 2pm on Friday, April 26th. The aim of the session is to give people more information on how they can avail of the various schemes re…

A former Leitrim vice-principal says the current Religion teacher shortage is due to decisions made years ago. Along with the decline in numbers, a new study has found younger teachers in Catholic schools are less likely to believe in God. This study comes amid calls for a discussion on whether religious education should be part of the school curri…

There's said to be a notable increase in dumping and littering in the wider Donegal Town area. In one recent case, two bags of dirty nappies were found dumped at the Gap while boxes of bottles and cans were discovered near the Tullyearl roundabout. Major clean-up operations have been carried out by the local community and Tidy Towns Committees and …

Farmers in Leitrim are said to be frustrated over additional paperwork with the new Sheep Welfare Scheme. The scheme offers a financial incentive to sheep farmers who carry out a number of measures like the sheering or plunge dipping of ewes. When combined with payments under the Sheep Improvement Scheme, sheep farmers will be eligible for a paymen…

The long-standing issue of water discolouration in the Carney area looks set to be resolved. Uisce Éireann have confirmed they will place an automatic scour valve on the line, which will see maintenance carried out remotely on the recently laid PVC pipes. Water discolouration has been a problem for homes in the Finnid area of Carney in particular, …

A new Government loan scheme to retrofit homes has been welcomed locally. 500 million euro has been put towards the new scheme, which will see homeowners who receive home energy upgrade grants to cover the rest of the costs with low-interest loans. Loans of up to 75,000 euro will be made available at significantly lower rates in order for homeowner…

Chronic overcrowding and violence are the key issues set to be discussed at the Prison Officers Association conference in Sligo later today. The conference, which is getting underway in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Rosses Point, is also set to talk about the stark increase of assaults on prison staff across the country. The Association has been callin…

Bundoran RNLI rescued a fisherman after his 6 metre open top fishing boat sustained engine failure approximately half a mile from the pier at the lifeboat station. The alarm was raised just before 11am this morning after the casualty raised the alarm when the boat's engine failed close to rocks. Arriving on scene, the crew observed that the fisherm…

The impact of the proposed Gambling Bill on clubs and organisations in the north west has been brought before the floor of the Dáil. The Bill aims to bring about regulations in different aspects, including gambling licenses, sponsorships, and advertisements. This includes charities and sports clubs, who will not be permitted to advertise their draw…

A Sligo-Leitrim TD spoke out on the motion of support for carers in the Dáil today, backing to abolish the carers allowance means test. There are calls for all-party support, to provide financial stability and recognition to family carers across the country. It is estimated that family carers in Sligo save the state around €260m every year, Leitrim…

The Taoiseach has defended Government investment in County Sligo. Simon Harris was responding to questions from Independent Sligo Leitrim TD Marian Harkin over a lack of housing in Sligo and the North West. Deputy Harkin claimed that the region was only getting 'bits and bobs' when it comes to major funding and urged the Taoiseach to get on with bu…

An investigation is continuing into a major overnight gorse fire in west Sligo. The blaze broke out close to the Lough Easkey road last night and ravaged through the local countryside. Extensive damage has been caused to vast amounts of land as a result. The cause of the fire is not yet known. Local Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey has been praising the …

Every effort must be made to retain services at St Michaels Family Life Centre in Sligo. That's according to Independent TD Marc MacSharry, who was reacting to revelations that centre is to close at the end of the year. The building, located on Church Hill in the town, houses a range of vital community services such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcoti…

A family in county Donegal has been forced to abandon their mica-affected home as it has now become inhabitable. Paddy Diver and his family are one of a number of a number across the county confronted by the crisis. He and his wife Amanda moved into the home 12 years ago. A vocal campaigner, Mr. Diver said the situation had deteriorated to such an …

A group of basking sharks have been spotted off the north Sligo coast. The massive creatures have been spotted feeding at Mullaghmore in recent days. Basking sharks are the second-largest living fish and are known for their gentle nature and are most frequently sighted in the north Atlantic coast from April to September, particularly in pleasant we…

It looks like the childcare issue in North Leitrim is going to be sorted. Gaelscoil Chluainín in Manorhamilton has confirmed that it will provide childcare facilities for up to 20 children. Places will be available from the new academic year. It follows concerns by the local community over a severe lack of childcare places in the area. Local Indepe…

Funding of up to 1.3m has been allocated for a new library in Ballymote. The library will aim to serve the majority of the South Sligo region. It's the second injection of cash for community facilities in Ballymote, after 2.65m was allocated for the development of a community centre over the weekend. Sligo Leitrim TD, Fine Gael's Frank Feighan, say…

A submission for the rezoning of lands for housing and community facilities in Hazelwood and Ballinode has been welcomed by a local councillor. The proposal includes social housing, student accommodation, and affordable and private housing. Sligo-Drumcliffe Fine Gael Cllr Tom Fox highlighted the importance of matching community demands with the inc…

A 14 year old Irish fisherwoman is at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today - campaigning for fair treatment for fishing communities back at home. Muireann Kavanagh from Arranmorae Island off the west coast of County Donegal, is the guest of Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North West, Chris MacManus. The MEP says Muireann's own experience of being…

People Before Profit have confirmed their three candidates to run in June's local and European election. Sitting councillor, Gino O'Boyle, will seek re-election in the Sligo Strandhill Municipal District, while Emma Hendrick is going to run in the Ballymote Tubbercurry Municipal District. As previously confirmed, Dr Brian O'Boyle will be the party'…

Concerns that were raised over a Ballisodare planning site have been dismissed by a local councillor. The site is aimed for a housing project, but it was remarked that the area is unsuitable for the endeavour due to its lack of accessibility. Sligo Sinn Féin Cllr Arthur Gibbons highlighted that he tries to back any proposal that attempts to tackle …

There is a call build a memorial garden on the site of the Cresslough tragedy. Families of the 10 victims who lost their lives in the explosion in Donegal have expressed their disappointment over plans to rebuild a petrol station and shop on the site. They feel they haven't been listened to in relation to the development. Donna Harper's daughter Le…

It's been claimed that Manorhamilton Garda Station isn't open on a full time basis. On several occasions, it's reported that a notice has appeared on the front door of the station advising people to make contact with Carrick-on- Shannon Garda Station with their issues. Local Fine Gael Cllr Sean McDermott says Manorhamilton Garda Station is a very i…

A record amount of funding has been announced today for the Local Improvement Scheme. Up to 40m has been allocated nationwide by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The North West will be huge beneficiaries of today's announcement, with 4.7m euro heading for the region. Donegal will receive the biggest share, with just over 2.58m. Th…

Plans which would see a new accelerated process for seeking international protection will be brought to Cabinet this morning. Justice Minister Helen McEntee will introduce further measures to stem the flow of people seeking international protection. It will see International Protection applicants from the country which has the highest number of peo…

It's expected that the disabled toilet at Rosses Point will reopen later this week. Members of the community were voicing their concern in recent days, with many wanting to use the facility over the weekend, only to find it cordoned off. Work began on Monday, including repairing the door - which was damaged by recent storms - and resurfacing the fl…

The European Commission may have more power to decide how many refugees Ireland takes in going forward. That's if the Government decides to opt in to certain parts of the EU Migration pact. Ireland may also be fined if it doesn't take in the intended amount of refugees. TDs are set to discuss the pact at an Oireachtas Justice Committee. Sligo Leitr…

The GRA conference gets underway in County Mayo today without a Garda Commissioner or Justice Minister in attendance. In a statement last night, Commissioner Drew Harris said he had been looking forward to engaging with delegates on important matters for all Gardaí - IF he had been invited. That invitation was not forthcoming - and Justice Minister…

The Health Minister has come in for criticism over not attending the planned official opening of the new Ballyshannon Community Hospital. The new state of the art facility will officially open its doors this Friday with Minister of State Mary Butler set to cut the ribbon. It has however brought into question why Minister Stephen Donnelly won't be i…

New figures have revealed that there were a total of 8,690 hospital cancellations across Sligo and Letterkenny University Hospitals last year. The finger of blame is being pointed at the Government, with Sinn Fein claiming that it was shifting the problem from emergency departments to waiting lists. This is ultimately said to be leaving patients wa…

The Sligo Palestine Solidarity Campaign is set to hold another demonstration later today. It's getting underway outside the AXA offices at Hyde Bridge and centred around the company's alleged investments in Israeli companies that have been linked with the occupation of Palestinian territories. The peaceful protest begins at 1pm with members of the …

Concerns were raised today in the Sligo County Council over the high levels of land being zoned for development in the near future. The draft for the Sligo County Development plan was completed today, with housing being a primary issue. The proposed plan will soon be handed over to the public for four weeks, to see if there are any objections or re…

There are further calls on the Justice Minister to reverse her decision to not attend this week's Garda Representative Association Conference. The association, representing rank-and-file members of the force, is holding its annual conference this week. However, Commissioner Drew Harris hasn't been invited, prompting Justice Minister Helen McEntee t…

The disregard of diabetes services at Letterkenny University Hospital continues to impact those affected by condition in the county. It now takes over three years to get a type one diabetes appointment at the facility. Earlier this month, the chair of the Donegal branch of Diabetes Ireland wrote to the Taoiseach in relation the current situation. I…

A Donegal man has been appointed as the President of the Douzelage European Town Twinning organisation. Bundoran's Shane Smyth will be President of the organisation until 2027, and becomes the Douzelage's 6th President in doing so. Douzelage has a partner town in every country in the European Union and the United Kingdom. Speaking to Ocean FM News,…