Mayo schools excel in Green Flag awards

Fri, May 20, 2011

Forty two schools from across Mayo will be awarded the coveted Green Flag at an awards ceremony in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, on Monday next May 23.

Paolo Tullio’s ‘Taste of Ireland’ is wowed by Mill Times Hotel

Fri, May 20, 2011

Visits from food critics can be nerve-wracking experiences but Temptations Restaurant at The Mill Times Hotel, Westport, can hold its head high after a surprise visit by Paolo Tullio’s ‘Taste of Ireland’ reviewer. “The food at Temptations at the Mill Times is some of the finest I have ever eaten,” was the impressive conclusion. The Mill Times Hotel is a lively boutique style hotel in the town centre, formerly known as the Westport Inn.

Where will be crowned Ireland’s town of excellence?

Fri, May 20, 2011

Mastermind of RTÉ’s Retail Therapy series and recently re-elected Senator Feargal Quinn has launched Towns of Excellence in Customer Service - a new national initiative which encourages small businesses to boost trade by treating clients and customers like royalty with excellence in customer service. The initiative has been set up to research, recognise, and reward towns and businesses for achieving excellence in a variety of business disciplines including customer service. The Towns of Excellence Institute is committed to help raise the bar for business standards in towns throughout Ireland. The process for registering is as simple as logging on to www.townsofexcellence.com

Westport council achieves financial surplus

Fri, May 20, 2011

The annual financial statement of Westport Town Council, for the year ended 2010, shows a surplus of €3,788. Senior executive officer Martin Keating said that this is “quite a great achievement” given the year that was and this was achieved through controlling expenditure and monitoring income.

The total accumulated surplus of €22,350 has now been used to fund deficits in the budget following the rejection of implementing on street car parking charges in Westport. The figure of €147,350 was needed to balance the books for 2011 and this was achieved from using this surplus amount and in cutting other areas in the budget.

Outdoor staff praised

Fri, May 20, 2011

Mr Keating commended the outdoor staff, particularly those in the area of street cleaning, who in 2010 took time off in lieu instead of being paid overtime. Mr Keating said that this a “good example” of outside staff willing to work outside the Croke Park Agreement in order to “provide an essential service”, without incurring any “premium payment”.

Supplementary Development Contribution Scheme

Fri, May 20, 2011

The Supplementary Development Contribution Scheme will come into effect. This means that new developments in the Westport area will face a levy per unit for water services. The draft scheme went on public display and the town councillors were informed that no submissions were made.

Legal conference welcomed

Fri, May 20, 2011

Cllr Myles Staunton welcomed the US/Ireland Legal Symposium conference which took place in Westport during the week.

Gaelforce Festival

Fri, May 20, 2011

Cllr Michael McLaughlin asked that the town council should this year put up some banners and generate an atmosphere in the town during the final of the Gaelforce Festival. This is an important event in the town given the large crowds which attend this popular festival.

Tochar Phádraig pilgrim walk

Fri, May 20, 2011

A unique pilgrim journey with a difference will take place on Saturday May 28 at 8.30am departing Ballintubber Abbey.

Castlebar woman is one of 5 In a Bed at Galway Shopping Centre

Fri, May 20, 2011

A Castlebar woman is one of five radio fans who have taken up the challenge of living in one bed with four others for seven days, all to win €5,000 worth of prizes. Claire Burke from Castlebar is taking part in i102-104’s 5 In A Bed at Galway Shopping Centre where they have been living in a shop window for the last week.

Twenty-year lease approved for Charlestown community childcare facility

Fri, May 20, 2011

Approval was given this week for a 20-year lease on the old Charlestown Health Clinic to Charlestown Community Childcare Ltd.

Paul Benson from Mayo County Council told the members of the Swinford Electoral Area committee that the premises had been leased to Charlestown Community Childcare Ltd four years ago on a short-term lease of four years and nine months and the lease was due to run out in the near future. He went on to tell the meeting that the new lease would be for a period of 20 years and would be for a nominal fee of €100 per year. Mr Benson also went on to state that the lease ensured that the building would be used for childcare only and if this clause was broken the building would revert back to the control of the council immediately.