Local Councillor urges caution as flash flooding hits the North West

Flash flooding has been reported on a number of roads in Ballyshannon following heavy rainfall, with Upper Main Street and the Mall Corner on the Rossnowlagh Road among the worst affected. Donegal County Council and the fire service are responding to the flooding, while motorists are being urged …

Drumkeerin Councillor elected as new Leitrim Cathaoirleach

Drumkeerin Fianna Fáil Councillor Mary Bohan has been confirmed as the new Cathaoirleach Leitrim County Council.   She succeeded outgoing Cathaoirleachm Paddy Farrell at today's Annual General Meeting in Carrick-on-Shannon.     Mary Bohan was first to the Local Authority in 1979, and is now en…

Taoiseach to consider support for North West festivals after Tickets.ie collapse

The Taoiseach has given a commitment to consider providing support to the Rory Gallagher and Cowboys and heroes' Festivals in Ballyshannon and Ballinamroe. Fianna Fáil TD Eamon Scanlon has directly raised the collapse of Tickets.ie in the Dáil. The Tickets.ie collapse has caused severe financia…

Local Minister welcomes funding boost for North West libraries

North West libraries have been allocated €179,835 in new funding, with €95,277 for Donegal, €52,179 for Leitrim and €32,379 for Sligo.   A €3 million national package will support public libraries through sensory equipment, accessibility upgrades, ICT and broadband improvements, and new furniture…

Local Cllr calls to tackle closed care beds in the North West

Many community care beds across the North West remain closed or unavailable, with staffing shortages cited as the main reason.   The HSE says recruitment is ongoing, with 11 short-stay beds at St John's Hospital expected to open by August and six beds at St Patrick's Hospital, Carrick-on-Shannon,…

Leas Cathaoirleach Thomas Walsh hopes to prioritise Sligo infrastructure projects

Newly elected Leas Cathaoirleach Thomas Walsh says speeding up major infrastructure projects across Sligo will be a key priority over the next 12 months.   Councillor Walsh also wants to see increased investment in local roads, public transport infrastructure and housing adaptation grants.   He…

RNLI Issues Water Safety Warning As Temperatures Soar in the North West

With more people expected to hit the beaches in the North West today the RNLI is urging people heading to waterways today to be extra cautious. Today is set to be the hottest day of the year - and potentially the hottest day ever in Ireland. Met Eireann is predicting temperatures of up to 31 de…

Calls continue for free shingles vaccine as HSE negotiations with manufacturers remain ongoing

Efforts are continuing to have the shingles vaccine included in the National Immunisation Programme and made available free of charge to people over 65.   The HSE is currently in negotiations with vaccine manufacturers after a 2024 assessment found the vaccine was not cost-effective at its existi…

Leitrim TD hopes new forestry bill will avoid long power outages

It's hoped that new legislation aimed at reducing power outages caused by fallen trees will be introduced shortly   The Forestry (Critical Infrastructure) Amendment Bill 2026 proposes wider buffer zones between forestry plantations and key infrastructure including power lines, water mains and gas…

Sligo TD call for ‘practical intervention’ to address staffing pressures at Calry School

The Dáil has heard calls for a practical intervention to address what is being described as an exceptional staffing pressures at St Patrick's National School in Calry, County Sligo   With 45 applications for Junior Infants and only 28 places available, families face uncertainty ahead of the new s…