Calls are being made on Irish Rail to invest in extra carriages and upgrade railway infrastructure rather than cutting services to speed up travel times to Dublin.

There is also strong support for an earlier morning train to Sligo for workers and people attending hospital appointments.

Councillor Irene Guckian Rabbitte warns that bypassing smaller stations like Drumod would have a serious impact on communities that have already lost bus services.

Speaking to Ocean FM News, Cllr Irene Guckin Rabbitte says improving the rail service is vital for rural communities

Gardai are warning that many routes across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal are in a dangerous condition today with black ice.

It's reported that there were a number of minor crashes this morning in the south Donegal area along with a few pedestrian falls.

Motorists are being urged to assume no road is ice free and to watch out for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists and allow extra space.

Temperatures are expected to remain low throughout the day.

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Cllr Jimmy Brogan says while gritters were out this morning, more routes should be included in the programme:

A Sligo Councillor and member of the Regional Health Forum West has received communication from the HSE which claims the new Surgical Hub at Sligo University Hospital could take four years to construct.

Councillor Edel McSharry says the delay will lead to continued overcrowding at S. U. H.

The Fianna Fáil Councillor has also described recent comments from the Health Minister in relation to hospital overcrowding as ‘very simplistic’.

Jenifer Carroll McNeill claims some Hospitals are not discharging enough patients to free up beds and that this is leading to overcrowding.

Cllr McSharry says there are many issues including lack of capacity and the availability of stepdown and respite care

Large numbers of farmers from the North West are expected to descend on Athlone on Saturday next for the big Mercosur protest which is scheduled to take place on Saturday next.

Farmers from all over the Country had the opportunity to voice their concern over the deal which would allow grater quantities of South American Beef to be sold in Europe.

Concern has been raised on the impact that this will have on Irish farmers while fears are also being expressed over possible health concerns for those consuming beef which does not have to go through the same rigorous health check as Irish beef.

Leitrim farmer and representative for the Irish Beef and Lamb association says this mercussor deal hs the potetial to destroy irish farming

It's been confirmed that almost 30 cars were damaged by a pothole in Ballisodare last month.

The pothole emerged after the road close to Supervalu was dug up by Uisce Eireann to repair water leaks.

The alarm was raised after several drivers suffered punctures and other damage to their vehicles and emergency repairs works were carried out by Sligo County Council.

Similar works are scheduled for Collooney shortly and there are fears that the same could happen again.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says every effort must be made to ensure the condition of the road surface is kept to an acceptable standard:

A North West Junior Minster has responded angrily to claims by Sinn Fein that the government were considering selling out Irish farmers by supporting the Mercosur Deal.

Minister of State Marian Harkin made the comments after the Taoiseach yesterday confirmed that the government could not support the deal due to concerns over Irish farmers being placed under pressure in the event of it going through.

Minister Harkin says her opposition to the deal has been placed on the public record for a considerable period of time.

The Sligo TD has expressed concern that the deal is likely to be passed in Europe with Italian support over the weekend.

She says claims by local opposition TD's that the government were going to betray Irish farmers and vote in favour of Mercosur have angered her.

The first Final Whistle of 2026 examines Easkey's road to Croke Park for Saturday's All-Ireland junior club hurling final - with contributions from Rory McHugh, Andy Kilcullen, Padraig Mannion - and the 'Feed the lads' crew.

Plus - Tom Parsons of the Gaelic Players Associaiton talks sport, resilience and mental health - as part of a new series on Ocean FM Sport.

Student accommodation in the North West needs to be first and foremost affordable.

That's according to local Fianna Fail Cllr Edel MacSharry, who has been responding to comments from the Minister for Higher Education, who described having an ensuite in student accommodation as 'wasteful'.

In an interview with the Irish Times, James Lawless says they are moving towards more communal space for college accommodation.

He says the Government is trying to produce more rooms for the same floor place, under new building standards for student housing.

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Cllr MacSharry thinks its a good idea:

Vandalism has forced the closure of a section of the promenade walk in Bundoran since before Christmas.

The timber walkway was set on fire, prompting a response from the local fire brigade.

Local residents and tourists, including wheelchair users and parents with prams, have been affected.

Speaking to Ocean Fm News Cllr Michael McMahon says repairs are underway and hopes the scenic walk will reopen in the upcoming weeks.

West Donegal is said to be totally overrun with deer.

It's emerged that there were a number of crashes involving deer in the area in recent weeks, with a number of near misses also reported.

The issue is set to be raised at the next sitting of the Glenties MD, with one Cllr looking for increased signage to alert motorists to possible danger on the roads.

Meanwhile a deer management strategy for Donegal is currently being worked on.

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Cathoirleach of the Glenties MD Cllr Michael McClafferty previously called for army snipers to be drafted in to deal with the issue once and for all.

He isn't sure if the measures currently on the table will go far enough: