Castlebar is ready for Wild Atlantic Words

Fri, Oct 07, 2016

Young writers, sport, history, poetry, long-due recognition and song are all part of Castlebar's first literary festival which takes place this weekend.

Carbon monoxide awareness must be 365 days a year — Swanick

Fri, Oct 07, 2016

Fianna Fáil Seanad spokesperson on Health and Mental Health, Dr Keith Swanick, has called on the leader of the house to arrange a debate on carbon monoxide and related matters where proposals can be examined which would place a much greater onus on landlords and others to ensure safety standards are maintained.

“The State, through the 31 local authorities, is the largest landlord in the country," Senator Swanick said in the Seanad. "It is crucial that each local authority is meeting their legal and regulatory obligations in terms of ensuring that all domestic boilers are serviced annually.

RSC's King Lear to be broadcast live to Mayo Movie World

Fri, Oct 07, 2016

King Lear will be broadcast live from the RSC Stratford Upon Avon on October 12 at 7pm.

Burke calls for action on hedge cutting rules

Fri, Oct 07, 2016

Senator Paddy Burke is urging Minister Heather Humphreys to progress hedge-cutting legislation, which will bring forward the cutting start date to August, in order to make rural roads safer.

Lucan and the Charge of the Light Brigade

Fri, Oct 07, 2016

It was the action that went down in military history as much for its commanders’ incompetence as for its soldiers’ perceived heroism.

Almost fifty complaints from Mayo to Ombudsman for Children

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

On Wednesday the Ombudsman for Children, Dr Niall Muldoon, published his annual report for 2015, outlining the impact the office has had in dealing with 1,639 complaints made by, or on behalf of, children across every sector.

Mayo student awarded €20,000 scholarship by The Naughton Foundation

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

Since its establishment in 2008 Naughton Foundation scholarships worth more than €2 million have been presented to 135 remarkable young people in the fields of science, engineering, and technology in publicly funded third level institutions in Ireland, North and South. On Saturday September 24 last, 35 new scholars joined this illustrious and celebrated list as the Naughton Foundation honoured a further 35 exceptional Irish students by awarding them third level scholarships towards their studies in the areas of engineering, science, and technology.

Ring to turn sod in Tubberhill today

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

Minister of State for Regional Economic Development at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Michael Ring, will officially turn the sod of the Tubberhill Housing Development Phase Two in Westport at 11am this morning, September 30.

Phase two of the Tubberhill housing development will see 21 social housing units on lands in Tubberhill. The cost of the scheme including land, fees, etc, is €5.5 million. Phase one of the development consisted of 43 units constructed in 2008 and occupied from 2009 onwards. Remaining lands at this location are being used for the provision of a primary care centre by the HSE. In phase two of the Tubberhill Housing Development there will be 14 houses (three four-beds and 11 three-beds) and apartments (five two-beds and two one-beds). “I am delighted to officially turn the sod for Phase 2 of this development today. I understand from preliminary figures that Westport like other areas has a need for social housing, and hopefully this development will go some way towards meeting this demand,” said Minister Ring.

Mayo towns achieve good returns at Tidy Towns awards

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

Westport came close to once again scooping the top prize for the fourth time at the national Tidy Towns awards, which were announced on Monday, but it missed out on the title coming in just two points behind the overall winner Skerries. Westport finished up with 325 marks, an increase of three on the number it got in 2015, but the north Dublin town ended up with 327 marks.

The Big Sing: Choirs invited to take part in spectacular Knock Basilica concert

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

Choirs from all over the west of Ireland are being invited to join a universal choir of love as part of The Story of Love concert taking place in Knock Basilica on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16.

Harping around in Achill next month

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

Achill Island will be alive and buzzing with the rich and vibrant sounds of harps from around the world over the October Bank Holiday weekend. The inaugural Achill International Harp Festival aligns itself with ancient harping traditions by gathering harpers at Samhain to explore, develop, and perhaps challenge this beautiful musical form. The festival is not only celebrating the harp as our national instrument, and our national emblem, it is showcasing the instrument in its international context, with harpers from other parts of Europe and South America.

Nightly concerts during the festival will give audiences an opportunity to hear some of the finest international exponents of the harp and other traditional instruments, with Ismael Ledesma (Paraguay), Rodrigo Romani (Galicia), Mary MacMaster (Scotland), Laoise Kelly (Mayo), and Gráinne Hambly (Mayo). For the opening concert on Friday October 28 Scottish music legend, Allan MacDonald, will premiere his specially commissioned "Sraith Oileán Acla - Achill Island Suite", an exciting new music commission for harp, pipes, and traditional ensemble, the first to incorporate the vibrant indigenous piping tradition of Achill. The combination of these two iconic instruments is rarely heard.

Foxy Jack takes to the stage in Westport

Fri, Sep 30, 2016

The world premiere of a newly written play about Major John MacBride Foxy Jack – Giolla Éireann was staged on Wednesday night in the Town Hall Theatre in Westport as part of this year's Westport Arts Festival. The show will also take to the stage again on Sunday night, October 2.

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