Donegal has recorded one the highest number of seal deaths in the country in 2023.

The Journal Investigates is reporting that the number of dead seals washing up along Irish coasts more than doubled between 2020 and 2023.

More frequent, severe weather as well as human disturbance are said to be impacting the protected species in Ireland.

Journalist Patricia Devlin carried out the investigation and has been speaking to Ocean FM news:

The appearance of Donegal in last month’s All Ireland final may have led to a boost in consumer spending

AIB say the hosting of two men's All Ireland Finals in July led to an increase in consumer spending according to AIB.

Its latest Spend Trend shows a 9 per cent increase in spending on the same month last year with 78 million card transactions made during July.

It’s claimed that spending by consumers in the counties of All Ireland football finalists Donegal and eventual champions Kerry increased ahead of the final.

However, the tourism industry took a bit of a hit with a 9 per cent decrease in spending in pubs last month.

Adrian Moynihan from AIB says overall it was a mixed month for hospitality:

The Tánaiste has welcomed an appeal into the sentences received by people involved in the attack which killed a Donegal UN Peacekeeper.

Simon Harris wrote to the Lebanese Government following the trial to express his disappointment at the leniency shown to some of the defendants found guilty in the murder of Private Sean Rooney who was originally from Newtowncunningham.

The main defendant at the military tribunal in Beirut last month was sentenced to death but others received short prison sentences or fines.

Prosecutors have now formally lodged an appeal to the military Cassation Court.

The Tanaiste says those sentences did not fit with the nature of what happened to the UN peacekeeper:

The Minister for Public Expenditure is facing pressure to sanction more funding for a number of key local projects.

Minister Jack Chambers visited west and south Sligo yesterday, with stops in Waterpoint in Ennisrone and the Ballymote Community Park.

Some funding has already been secured for upgraded works on both amenities but more money is said to be needed.

Fianna Fail Deputy Eamon Scanlon believes that the Minister took the concerns on board and is hopeful he will deliver:

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With just days to go before Oasis play two sold out gigs in Croke Park, attentions are now turning to whether they will visit this part of the world.

The Gallagher brothers have strong connections to Charlestown and the pair have holidayed in the area down through the years.

Both Liam and Noel have previously flown into Ireland West Airport.

Head of Marketing at the Airport Donal Healy says there's great excitement locally and it's hoped that they might make an appearance in County Mayo:

The North West is set for some warm weather.

Temperatures are set to stay high for the rest of the week and the first heatwave in three years could be recorded.

A heatwave in Ireland is classified as five days in a row where temperatures are above 25 degrees.

Kenneth Conlon from the Donegal Weather Channel says while Thursday might be a bit cooler, things will take a turn for the better again on Friday:

It's been claimed that a number of vehicles have been damaged in County Sligo due to overgrown hedges.

Broken wing mirrors and windows, paint scratches and roads too narrow for multiple vehicles to safely pass are said to be just some of the issues.

It has led to calls on the Department of the Environment seeking flexibility on the hedge cutting season amid what's been described as serious road safety concerns.

Fine Gael Cllr Dara Mulvey says he has been inundated with calls from people who have been impacted:

With the new academic year fast approaching for third level students warning are being sounded in relation to various property scams targeting those attending third level institutions locally and across the country.

One of the latest scams to materialise is when students looking to secure viewings on potential properties are being charged a fee for doing so.

Sligo Independent Councillor Marie Casselry says such requests are not genuine and she has heard of cases where students from Sligo attending third level college in Galway were targeted by such scams.

Councillor Casselry says it's vital that students and their parents are mindful of such scams in operation.

A Sligo Leitrim TD claims that an extra hour of pre-school childcare would be a huge bonus for parents when it comes to helping the back to school costs family families in the North West are currently experiencing.

Children's Minister Norma Foley is exploring plans to extend the Early Childhood Care and Education scheme from three hours a day to four.

The estimated cost of the measure would be 38 million euro and 70 per cent of low income families could benefit from the move.

Sligo Leitrim Deputy Frank Feighan says it's a step towards tackling rising back to school costs

A Sligo/Leitirm TD has welcomed moves from the HSE to provide funding which will enable to €4 charge for the use of Day Service transportation to be removed in the Northwest.

Fianna Fáil elected representative, Eamon Scanlon was informed by the Department that the HSE is providing funding of €250,000 for the rest of this year to support transportation for Day Service users who have until now been charged €4.

Deputy Scanlon the move will bring this region in line with other users in other regions of the country.

The Fianna Fail TD says he has also been informed that from the 1st of January 2026, there will be Core funding allocated to address the €4 service charge.