House broken into in Ballyvary

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

A house in the Ballyvary area was broken into at 4.40am on Wednesday January 6 where a small amount of cash was stolen.

Westport town manager wants to reduce town’s rates

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Town manager of Westport Peter Hynes has recommended in his Manager’s Report and draft budget for 2010 that members of Westport Town Council adopt a proposal for a a reduction in the rates on commercial and industrial property, setting it at 66.42, a reduction of 0.08 on the current rate of 66.50.

Judge adjourns case of social welfare fraud to see if payments are made

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Judge Mary Devins adjourned the case against a Cloonfad man who had defrauded the state of €22,027 over the course of four years. Eamon Ruane, 5 Westview, Cloonfad, Ballyhaunis, pleaded guilty in court to the charges of falsely declaring his income from 2004 to 2007 and not informing the State that he was working. Ruane was in receipt of the farm assistance payment and working part time as a labourer, but never filled out on the form for the farm assistance grant that he was working at all.

Ballina and Castlebar score well as litter free towns in latest IBAL league

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Ballina and Castlebar have been deemed litter free towns as they feature in the top 39 out of 60 towns and cities according to the Irish Business Against Litter 2009 survey which was released this week.

MGH to receive €1 million funding for good performance

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Mayo General Hospital is one of five hospitals commended for its performance during 2008/2009, with the hospital to receive €1 million extra funding during the year under the Health Service Executive’s casemix system — where inefficient hospitals are penalised and money is redirected to more efficient ones.

Swinford priest who was chaplain in San Quentin State Prison passes away

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Fr Denis McManus from Swinford died peacefully on Christmas Day 2009 at the Spiritan (Holy Ghost) nursing home in Kimmage Manor, Dublin.

National Famine Memorial Day to be held in Murrisk

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Éamon Ó Cuív, TD, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has announced that the National Famine Memorial Day 2010 will take place on May 16 in Murrisk, which is home to the National Famine Monument.

Mayo continues to battle the chill

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

The county continues to cope with dealing with the severe cold snap — many householders continue to remain isolated; without water as pipes have burst, and struggle to get to work as roads remain hazardous. The forecast for the rest of the week predicts further prolonged cold spells, with road temperatures below zero, snow, ice, and wintry showers — making it the most prolonged cold spell in Ireland since 1963.

Mayo mountaineers warned about Alpine conditions

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Mountaineering Ireland, Ireland’s National Governing Body for hill-walkers and climbers, is urging all people who engage in hillwalking and climbing in Mayo to be extremely cautious during the current severe weather conditions.

Car scrappage scheme now in operation

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Mayo people wishing to buy a new car this year may be eligible to participate in the State Car Scrappage Scheme, according local Fianna Fáil TD Beverley Flynn.

Call for deer cull as spiralling numbers threaten farmlands

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

Deer numbers have soared thanks to a series of mild winters, tree planting schemes, and an absence of natural predators. They are thought to be at their highest level for years. But farmers have warned that they are wreaking havoc in many areas, especially in the Partry and Tourmakeady areas, destroying woodland, crops, even gardens, and also causing a danger to motorists on the roads. Despite more than 20,000 deer being legally hunted each year, experts believe there could be five times as many around the country.

Councillor calls for volunteer database to assist those in need

Fri, Jan 08, 2010

While Mayo County Council is dealing with emergency situations there are still people who are in need of assistance, particularly those who need a supply of heating oil, according to Fine Gael councillor Joe Mellett

Cllr Mellett said that in the Swinford electoral area he knows situations where the oil delivery truck could not gain access because of the state of the road leading to the house. “The only solution to this problem is to arrange for a 50 gallon drum to be delivered in a smaller vehicle such as a four wheel drive jeep or tractor,” he said. “This is where neighbourly help is required. The problem here is that such is the remoteness of some houses that they have no neighbours, and in any event the neighbour might not have a suitable vehicle. Also in a changing Ireland there are people who do not have any contact with their neighbours”.

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