A Sligo man has cycled over 2000 kilometers to get to Glastonbury.


Ollie White began the cycle from Madrid to the festival on the 29th of May, and landed at the Pyramid Stage this morning.

The 25-year-old says he was craving a new challenge:

The backlog problems facing the dermatology service in Sligo University Hospital has been highlighted on the floor of the Dail.

The current consultant dermatologist is taking leave next month, with no temporary solution put in place.

As it stands, the current waiting list for the service has thousands of patients waiting to be seen.

Speaking this afternoon, Sinn Fein Deputy Martin Kenny says the North West has been left behind yet again:

North West farmers are expected to benefit on European pressure to prevent vegetarian and vegan products using traditional food terms.

A ban is being sought on such products using terms like sausage or burger.

It's been argued that corporations are taking advantage of the rich history of meat and dairy products, and are trying to smuggle their own items past the public.

President of the ICMSA, Denis Drennan, says the hijacking of the names needs to stop:

The government has come under fire for halting its plan for social homes locally.

The Journal are reporting that a stalled housing project of almost 500 social homes, which included sites in Sligo twice passed government financial appraisals.

It’s understood that Housing Minister James Brown abandoned plans over multi-million-euro costs for the project.

The social housing developments were understood to be near shovel-ready and were to be delivered under a public private partnership scheme across six sites.

Speaking in the Dáil, Social Democrats Dublin North-West Deputy Rory Hearne says the move, by the Minister, has undone what would have had many benefits at a local level.

The newly elected Chair of the Regional Health Forum West wants a surgical hub to be considered for Donegal.

A business case has previously been submitted by the HSE for the hub to be located in Sligo, with a greenfield site also identified as a potential location for the facility.

However, more than 170 doctors based in Donegal have requested that Letterkenny be chosen as the location for the hub.

Donegal Cllr Gerry McMonagle says both counties are in need of the hub:

The recently-elected Cathaoirleach of the Ballinamore MD says he's hopeful that previous meetings with the Minister for Forestry will result in better outcomes for the county.

Councillor Gary Prior, who took up the role on Monday, was part of a delegation that met with Minister Michael Healy Rae at Leinster following Storm Éowyn.

Many elected representatives had expressed frustration with the Minister over his perceived lack of action in the aftermath of the storm.

The Minister has yet to visit the county, despite having promised to do so in April.

Councillor Prior says the people of the county deserve answers:

A Donegal TD has supported calls which would allow people in Northern Ireland to vote in Irish Presidential elections.

Sinn Féin Deputy, Padraig Mac Lochlainn, speaking in the Dáil yesterday evening, said people in the North have been contributing to achievements in Irish sport for years, and yet cannot vote for President.

He backed calls for legislation be introduced which would allow them to do so adding that such a move  would help strengthen the relationship between those living in the North and South of the country

The HSE will not be pursuing the re-opening of the hydrotherapy pool at the former Cregg House premises in Sligo.

Reasons have been cited for the decision, focusing on the substantial financial resources that would be required to bring the pool up to an acceptable standard.

The hydrotherapy pool at Our Lady's Hospital Manorhamilton is now the only facility in the region that provides the service.

Independent Cllr Marie Casserly says this news is disappointed and that other options need to be explored:

Concern has been expressed locally over a recent Teagasc warning that 'there will be lots of farms where there won't be a successor take over its running.'

Ballymote-Tubbercurry elected representative, Michael Clarke has been reacting to the report, which warned that generational renewal is a “very challenging” issue.

The newly launched National Farm Survey, states that half of cattle farms have an off-farm income, while 36pc of all farm households are in receipt of a pension - a stat which shows the ageing farming population in the country.

The Independent Councillor says greater support is needed to assist farm succession.

The HSE have come under fire their current approach to monthly meeting of the Health Forum West.

Each month, 3 elected representatives from the respective local authorities in Connacht as well as Donegal, Clare, north Tipperary and Limerick gather to raise motions about health care in their area.

Manorhamilton-based Councillor Felim Gurn is one of the Leitrim Councillors, who are members of the forum.

At the latest meeting, he raised a matter concerning HIQAs inspection of state-owned nursing homes, to which he feels, he didn't receive an adequate reply.

Speaking to Ocean FM, Cllr Gurn says questions remain over the forum's purpose and ability to respond to health queries in the region.