A number of local environmental groups staged a protest in Cavan at the weekend to voice their concerns about gold mining in Ireland.

The protest was held at a black-tie golfing event, as members from Love Leitrim and Treasure Leitrim aired their grievances about the potential damages mining may have in rural areas.

While groups from Leitrim were in attendance, activists from areas such as Tyrone and Clare also made their presence felt at the event.

Speaking to Ocean FM News, Manorhamilton Independent councillor, James Gilmartin, said that it was made clear by the groups on the night that gold mining would not have the support of the public:

There's renewed concern over the speed some motorists are travelling past schools in County Sligo.

It comes as a number of drivers were reportedly speeding by some local schools last week, particularly during drop off times.

Sinn Fein Cllr Thomas Healy says that this type of behaviour should not be tolerated.

He feels that while traffic calming measures are in place, other options need to be explored:

Further criticism has been levelled at Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, following comments he made about teachers at the weekend.

O'Leary said he wouldn't employ teachers to "go out and get things done".

The businessman was speaking at a campaign event for Fine Gael candidate, Peter Burke, over the weekend.

INTO General Secretary and Donegal native John Boyle says that a number of teachers are annoyed about the comments, and that Fine Gael's election prospects may take a hit as as result.

Fine Gaels Helen McEntee is adamant that her party made the right call in running one candidate in the Sligo/Leitrim constituency in the upcoming General Election.

The party has over 60 new candidates right across the country but decided on a sole candidate for Sligo/Leitrim - outgoing TD Frank Feighan.

The move has led to questions in some quarters, with Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein both running two candidates in the constituency.

The outgoing Justice Minister was in Sligo today as part of the campaign trial and spoke to Ocean FM news:

Fianna Fail councillor, Edel McSharry, has said it's disappointing that a number of her election campaign posters have been vandalised.

Both Councillor McSharry and outgoing Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny saw a number of their posters defaced in Leitrim over the weekend.

It's understood the posters were vandalised within 15 minutes of being put up.

Speaking to Ocean FM News, Councillor McSharry says that she will be left counting the cost of the defaced posters.

44 years ago today, three Sligo men lost their lives in a fishing tragedy in Killala Bay, including a father and son and family friend.

It's regarded as the most tragic drowning incident that has ever happened among the Sligo fishing community.

Sean Foy, his son Declan and their family friend Michael McLoughlin all drowned after their 60-foot boat went down close to Killala.

The remains of 20 year old Declan wouldn't be found some 6 years later, while the body of Michael McLoughlin was never recovered.

John Foy lost his father and brother in the tragedy.

Catherine Gaffney has been speaking to John ahead of the anniversary, he believes that so many questions are left unanswered over what actually happened that night:

There are renewed calls for a major deer cull to take place in the North West.

It's after a number of weekend crashes involving deer locally - one in Barnesmore Gap and another in Creeslough Gap.

Local Independent Cllr Michael McClafferty has previously called for reinforcements to be brought in to deal with the issue.

He feels that at this stage there should be a sense of urgency among the relevant authorities:

Residents in south west Donegal are said to feel left behind over a lack of a local Garda presence.

People living in certain communities are being directed to different Garda stations, in some cases an hour away, after ringing their local station in the first instance.

Independent General Election candidate Thomas Pringle says with the Donegal population increasing in recent years, he feels that it's high time to have these rural Garda stations manned once more:

Many streets in Sligo have been deemed unfit for purpose.

Some have been described as a major health and safety hazard while others are said to be not user friendly.

There are a number of projects in the pipeline but are said to be painstakingly slow.

Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says work has already taken place in a number of areas of the town which have proven to be a huge success.

He feels that's there's a real urgency now to make improvements elsewhere:

The ongoing housing crisis is said to be the main talking point on doors in Sligo and Leitrim.

That's according to Independent General Election Candidate Marian Harkin, who has been out canvassing across the region this weekend.

250 new jobs were announced in Leitrim last week, after Freudenberg Medical confirmed they are to expand their operations in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Speaking to Ocean FM from the Science Fair at ATU Sligo this afternoon, the outgoing Deputy says while is great news, the big question is where these people are going to live: