Serious concern is being raised over the level of communication between Leitrim County Council and local Gardai when a disturbance happens in a local authority home.

It's been claimed that there have been several such incidents in Kinlough recently, with some residents said to be living in fear over the issue.

Local Fianna Fail Cllr Justin Warnock feels that more can to be done to combat an emerging trend of antisocial behaviour in the area.

He also has reservations over whether the local authority is fully aware of what is happening on the ground:

A Sligo man has been chosen as a new International Officer for Fianna Fail following the party’s National Youth Conference over the weekend.

Padraig Cawley was selected by a vote of 104 to 41.

He now wants to use this position to highlight important issues in the North West such as the N17, the Western Rail Corridor, and third level fees.

Mr Cawley says he hopes to encourage more young people to get involved with politics:

The Irish independent are reporting that that the new Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter operator has been banned from transporting patients on stretchers in their newly leased aircraft as they are not compliant with safety regulations.

Air crews have been told that casualties can only be carried if they are placed sitting up and secured in one of the passenger seats on the new AW189 helicopter flown by Bristow Ireland.

These new helicopters are replacing the Sikorsky S-92s used by CHC Ireland, the previous operator of the coast guard’s air search and rescue contract.

As a result of the decision by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA new stretchers will have to be acquired and certified for the helicopters.

The directive was issued to Bristow Ireland (BIL) from the IAA, and affects flights in the new AW189 helicopter.

Bristow Ireland has four AW189s currently based in Ireland as it undertakes a transition from outgoing operator CHC Ireland at the four Irish Coast Guard helicopter bases — Shannon, Dublin, Sligo and Waterford.

The new helicopter currently only operates out of Shannon, but will be phased in at other bases over the next 10 months.

Bristow Ireland was awarded the new 10-year €800m aviation contract for the Irish Coast Guard to provide 24-hour search-and-rescue cover from four helicopter bases in August 2023.

Bristow was scheduled to move into the second of four bases at Sligo on February 14th

However, under a new agreement drawn up with CHC Ireland and the Department of Transport/Irish Coast Guard, the sequence has been changed, to December 16

A petition, calling for the Strandhill Market to reopen, has already garnered thousands of signatures.

The campaign itself is also gaining momentum with many traders voicing their concern over being effectively displaced.

The market is usually held in hangar one at Sligo Airport but the amenity has been reassigned, with the market now on hold.

Tony Osborne - painter and one of the traders has been speaking to reporter David O'Connor in Strandhill this afternoon:

It's claimed that a significant number of break-ins in County Sligo go underreported.

It comes as new statistics show that nationally, just over 3 thousand burglaries took place in the winter - which is a 19 percent drop on the same period 12 months ago.

However, it's fallen from over 12 thousand in 2015, which was when Operation Thor launched.

Cllr Michael Clarke is concerned that while the data seems positive, it could be used to further reduce the number of Gardai stationed in rural areas:

It's claimed that there's a cohort in Collooney abusing the local playground.

A clean-up of the area took place over the weekend, and the level of dog mess both on the grass and in the bins was said to be unprecedented.

One of the volunteers and local Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says it's a huge health and safety hazard, especially for young children who use the facility.

He has hit out at those responsible and urged them to have more respect for the community:

Disappointment has been expressed locally over the exclusion of the Collooney to Claremorris rail line in the revised National Planning Framework up to 2040.

The revision was recently welcomed by Minister Sean Canney TD who highlighted the importance of planned improvements to the Atlantic Economic Corridor.

However, the route from Galway was only extending as far as Claremorris, with North West focus on connecting Sligo to Donegal.

Local Fianna Fail Cllr Paul Taylor says the situation is disappointing:

In March of 2024, former Sligo Rovers player and Sligo senior gaelic footballer Sean Flannery suffered a stroke at the age of 44.

He lost his speech, swallow, balance and co-ordination among other functions - but 12 months on, he has made a full recovery.

Sean spoke to Ocean FM Sport's Austin O'Callaghan at his SFX gym in north Sligo, where he works as a sports & fitness instructor.

There are calls in Sligo for the right to housing to be enshrined in the constitution.

This is amid a worsening housing and homelessness crisis across the country.

Recent figures published by the Department of Housing, showed there 158 adults accessing emergency accommodation across the North West last month.

Local Sinn Fein Cllr Arthur Gibbons says housing is a moral human right:

The public are being invited to celebrate the Leitrim Gathering.

Taking place from May 23rd to 25th, it will celebrate Leitrim's culture, natural beauty and community.

It is aimed at connecting people with roots in County Leitrim through a series of cultural, musical and community events.

Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Paddy O'Rourke says it will connect Leitrim people both at home and abroad.