A Leitrim Councillor has backed the moves by the Tánaiste which urged the EU's trade commissioner to exempt sectors key to the Irish economy, such as the production of whiskey from any tariffs the EU could impose on a range of US products should the current trade negotiations fail.

The comments from Councillor Enda McGloin come as Simon Harris sets out the Government’s position with the deadline for a potential escalation of the trade war between President Trump and the European Union looming large.

The Fine Gael Councillor says it’s vital that spirits are exempt from any trade wars in order for local distillers such as Drumshanbo Gun Power Gin to prosper and continue to provide vital local employment.

A Leitrim Councillor and member of the Regional Health Forum West says the fact less people are able to afford private health insurance will increase the pressure on already over-stretched Hospitals.

The number of people buying health insurance has dropped significantly, according to the Health Insurance Authority.

Its latest market bulletin found the number of new policies bought dropped from over 13 thousand in mid-2024 to just over 7 thousand in the first three months of the year.

The cost of a health insurance premium continues to rise and now stands at nearly 2 thousand euro.

Leitrim Councillor Paddy Farrell is a member of the Regional Health Forum West.

 He says with less and less people being able to afford private cover pressure is sure to increase on public health services.

There's a call for a halt to what's been described as a political row over the surgical hub plans for the North West.

A surgical hub for Sligo was mentioned in the HSE Capital Plan a year ago with Sligo put forward as the proposed location as part of a HSE business case.

Meanwhile, Donegal GPS and consultants are due to meet with the Health Minister next week and they will be providing data to show that the hub should be situated in Letterkenny.

But Minister of State Marian Harkin is warning that nothing should interfere with the case that's currently on the table.

Speaking to Ocean FM news, Minister Harkin says what's been happening in recent weeks is hugely disappointing:

€300,000 in graveyard maintenance is to be allocated across twenty cemeteries in Sligo this year.

A priority list of graveyards had been drawn up following a review process of all burial grounds earlier in 2025, and those selected will now receive funding for works.

There will be varying levels of developments carried out at each site, depending on requirements.

Ballymote-Tubbercurry Fianna Fail Cllr Liam Brennan praised the efforts of volunteers who tend to the cemeteries year-round:

A swan has been severely injured by a fishing hook in Doorly Park in Sligo.

The alarm was raised by several members of the public yesterday morning who noticed that the swan had a fishing hook lodged in under her wing and was bleeding profusely

Wildlife West Rescue attended the scene and it took two men to hold the swan steady so that the hook could be removed.

The swan was treated for her injuries and eventually returned to the water.

This is the second call-out the rescue group has had for a swan injured by a fish hook in the last few weeks.

Alex Muschketat, zoologist and ecologist with Wildlife West Rescue

There shouldn't be a surgical hub competition between Sligo and Letterkenny.

That's according to Donegal Sinn Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn who feels that a unique case needs to be made for this region.

It comes as the Health Minister is due to meet with Donegal GPS and consultants next week as the North West surgical hub debacle continues.

A key meeting between Minister Jennifer Carrol MacNeill and Donegal TDs took place last night, where the case was put to the Minister that a standalone hub for Letterkenny is crucial.

Sligo has been identified as the preferred location as a part of a HSE business case.

Deputy MacLochlainn believes a Sligo versus Letterkenny situation won't serve anyone:

Tanaiste Simon Harris has said that renters across the North West will benefit from the latest measures introduced by the government.

This follows comments from Donegal TD Pearse Doherty that renters have been “thrown to the wolves”.

In a major change to how renting works in the country - every single tenancy will be in a Rent Pressure Zone, which means yearly rent increases will be capped at 2 per cent or linked to inflation - whichever is lower.

Speaking in the Dail this afternoon, the Tanaiste says this will give protections to renters:

The Leitrim PPN, the Women’s Collective Ireland, See Her Elected are holding a half day event in Carrick on Shannon entitled Connecting Women to Local Decision Making in Leitrim.

The event will take place tomorrow and will run from 10am until 12:30 in the Carrick-on-Shannon Business Campus.

The keynote speaker at the event is Senator Nikki Bradley, from Donegal.

Senator Bradley ran for General Election in 2024 but was unsuccessful.

She was subsequently nominated to the Seanad by the then Taoiseach, Simon Harris.

Other contributors will include Dr Michelle Maher, Programme Manager of See Her Elected.

She says there are opportunities for getting involved in decision-making through the structures of Leitrim’s Public Participation Network.

A Sligo Senator has raised in the Seanad the case of an asylum seeker currently living in the  Abbey Hotel in Dromahair.

Olesgun Ifade,is due to be relocated to Athlone tomorrow.

It's understood that local elected representatives have been lobbying to stall the move so as his son can complete the current school year in the local national school.

Speaking in the Seanad Senator Cosgrove called for common sense to prevail and for the Nigerian national to be allowed to remain in Dromahair where she claims he has made a valuable contribution to the local community.

The second public consultation on the Barnesmore Gap Greenway is taking place today.

It's phase three of the preferred route consultation.

It follows what's been described as a well-attended event in Donegal Town yesterday.

Donegal County Council, with the support of the TII, is progressing the development of the proposed provision of a Greenway between the towns of Donegal Town and Ballybofey/Stranorlar.

The second one is getting underway in Jackson's Hotel, Ballybofey today.

Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan if anyone locally has concerns surrounding the project, now is the time to speak out: