Sligo communities are encouraged to apply to the county council over securing playground insurance.

It's understood that local groups had to secure between €1,200 and €1,600 for the insurance, but they can now apply to the local authority instead, if the criteria is met.

However, funding will still have to be raised for the development and maintenance of the amenity.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says it's good news but it should have been more known before:

An investigation is continuing after a young boy died after getting into difficulty in the water at Lissadell Beach yesterday afternoon.

A multiagency operation was launched, including the Sligo Bay RNLI and Rescue 118.

The boy was taken from the water and airlifted to Sligo University Hospital in a serious condition but has since passed away.

Local Cllr Donal Gilroy has been praising the swift response of the emergency services and says the community are totally shocked what has happened.

He also says the beach in question is regarded as a remarkably safe bathing area:

A former Chief Medical Officer says Dr. Mike Ryan will be an enormous loss to the World Health Organization.

The Sligo native has not been included on the latest executive team.

He served as executive director of the WHO's Health Emergencies Programme since 2019.

The organisation is facing a financial crunch after losing funding from the United States - a shortfall estimated at over one billion dollars.

Dr. Tony Holohan says Dr. Ryan had many strengths in his role:

A Relove Paint Scheme that operates in other counties may be introduced in Sligo.

The scheme offers eligible community groups to apply for unused and old paint to decorate premises and walls.

The recycling of the paint would be environmentally friendly as large portions are dumped every year, while also saving community groups funding.

Ballymote-Tubbercurry Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey says there is a huge demand locally for the service:

The possibility of a Westlife Museum will be explored as part of a County Museum in Sligo.

The Museum and Library will centre on the historical, cultural, landscape and literary strengths of Sligo.

It's thought that a part of the centre should be dedicated to Westlife due to their international record-breaking success.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says it would be a huge boost to tourism, as well as recognition for what the band has achieved:

A regular tourist bus route has been proposed that would visit key sites across Sligo.

It would run from May to September during the peak tourism season, and would provide a link between popular areas such as Carrowmore Tombs and the grave of WB Yeats.

The Local Link bus service will be approached over the idea along with private providers.

Labour Cllr Ann Higgins highlights this would encourage more visitors to the area from abroad as it would provide transport to more rural areas:

A town-twinning initiative has been suggested between Sligo and Spain, to further deepen the historical ties.

It's hoped that the move would strengthen the shared heritage, with reference to the Spanish Armada Disaster of September 1588 at Streedagh, where over 1,000 lives were lost.

The town of Mataro, the capital of the Maresme county in Catalonia has been identified as a suitable twinning opportunity.

Local Fianna Fail Cllr Donal Gilroy says this would be a huge opportunity in both tourism and culture:

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There are questions over who’s responsible for the maintenance of a number of boundary walls around estates in Sligo.

Select fences have fallen into a state of disrepair and pose a major safety hazard to residents of the estates.

It’s understood that the local authority are not receiving enough money from the government to address the issue.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says ownership needs to be taken over the problem:

It's emerged that Ukrainian refugees are set to leave Clarion Village in Sligo.

165 people who have been housed there since the war broke out in Ukraine, are to vacate in July.

Questions are now turning to whether Clarion Village - which is privately owned - will be returned to much needed student accommodation.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says that there's a big desire locally for the accommodation to reopen to students:

Irish Water has come under fire over leaving a number of areas in south west Donegal with supply issues.

Teelin and Glencolmcille are said to be continuously experiencing outages due to pipes which have been deemed unfit for purpose.

Independent Cllr Jimmy Brogan believes that the work required is minimal but that its currently causing major problems for a lot of residents.

He feels that Irish Water really needs to get its act together:

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