Process to get proper figure on housing need under way in the county

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

Mayo County Council has begun a process to try and establish the exact housing need in the county. They have written to everyone who is currently on the housing list in the county to establish if all of those on the list are still in need of social housing, with a return deadline of September 21 this year.

Social Democrats come west

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

The Social Democrats will host the last in their series of regional events focusing on the Connacht region which will take place today, Friday, at 6.30pm in The Galway Bay Hotel in Galway.

Call for Fianna Fáil Dáil deputies to block closure of Áras Attracta

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

A Sinn Féin county councillor has called on the two Fianna Fáil TDs from the constituency to block any moves to close down the Áras Attracta facility in Swinford that currently is home to more than 90 residents. Sinn Féin's Gerry Murray made the call at the July meeting of Mayo County Council's Housing Strategic Policy Committee.

Road and roundabout to IWAK to be named after Monsignors

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

The approach road to Ireland West Airport could be named after the late Monsignor Horan following a proposal at the Claremorris Municipal District's monthly meeting this week. At the meeting Fine Gael councillor John Cribben put forward a motion at the meeting to call the R376 road which links up to the airport the Monsignor Horan Road. He also put forward a second motion calling for the roundabout at the entrance to the airport to be named the Monsignor Dominic Grealy Roundabout. Both of his motions received full backing from the elected members in the Municipal District.

Belmullet's Michaela shortlisted for Headline Award for Student Journalism

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

Michaela Deane, a University of Limerick student from Belmullet, was a runner up of the Headline Award for Student Journalism 2016. Her article ‘Mental health not just confined to anxiety and depression’, which was published online by The Irish Times, was one of five shortlisted entries from journalism students across the country. The competition was judged by the education editor of The Irish Times, Carl O’Brien.

Speaking about Ms Deane’s entry, he said: “Michaela’s article is an excellent first-person exploration of what we talk about when we talk about mental illness. Rather than simply anxiety or depression, she makes the point that there are far more complex forms of illness such as personality disorders, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.” He continued, “She makes a strong case for the fact that these illnesses still suffer from stigma and are frequently misunderstood. The article is engaging, enlightening and highly accessible: the hallmarks of good journalism.”

Davitt Museum achieves accreditation award in The Heritage Council’s Museum Standards Programme

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

The Michael Davitt Museum, dedicated to the founder of the Land League, and based in his home village of Straide, has been awarded Interim Accreditation in the Museum Standards Programme of Ireland (MSPI), which is run by the Heritage Council. The awards’ adjudication was announced at a ceremony in the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin this week by the chairman of the Heritage Council, Conor Newman.

Mayo Peace Park Somme commemoration event

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

The Mayo Peace Park committee is hosting a National Day of Commemoration ceremony for the Mayo area, at 12 noon on Sunday July 10 in the Mayo Peace Park in Castlebar.

Local emergency charity responds to medical emergencies

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

The Mayo branch of Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR) has announced that quarter two of this year has been quite a busy period for its volunteer doctor. In the second quarter of 2016 Mayo ICRR has responded to a total of 37 calls for assistance from the HSE National Ambulance Service. This included five road traffic accidents, six cardiac arrests, and two sick children as well as other critically ill and injured patients.

The organisation's volunteer doctor responds to an average of three calls per week. In many cases, interventions were performed on-scene that otherwise would not have been done until after the patient arrived in hospital. In one particularly busy weekend the volunteer doctor attended two cardiac arrests and a serious road traffic collision. The doctor accompanied a patient to hospital on board the Irish Coast Guard Rescue 118 aircraft. This work was done in his free time and without financial support from the HSE.

Ireland West Airport welcomes its ten millionth passenger

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

Ireland West Airport was delighted to announce that last Friday, it welcomed the 10 millionth passenger to use the airport since it officially opened in 1986. Lorna Conway from Athlone, who was travelling to Edinburgh with Flybe for a wedding with her parents, was the lucky 10 millionth passenger and on checking in for her flight today was greeted with champagne, a specially designed Lily O'Brien gift hamper, and a pair of return flights to Edinburgh, to mark the occasion.

Mayo Sports Partnership distributes grants to sports and community groups

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

At a recent Mayo Sports Partnership Board meeting €19,500 was allocated to 46 clubs/organisations in Mayo through the Partnership's 2016 Special Participation Grant Scheme. Special guest at the presentation event, Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring, paid tribute to volunteers involved in sport at all levels throughout the county. “Without volunteers sport in Mayo like every other county would not happen. Its so important that we recognise the hard work of volunteers through initiatives such as the Mayo Sports Partnerships annual small grant scheme,” Minister Ring said.

The aim of the Sports Partnership is to increase participation in sport/physical activity and it is envisaged that all projects will help to do just that particularly in specific target groups of our population. This year the scheme has funded initiatives including the set up of a new Mayo Orienteering Club, the new development of a senior basketball club in Westport, walking football initiatives in Ballinrobe, Kilmovee, and Achill, community participation initiative in Tourmakeady, mothers and others ladies' GAA programmes in Crossmolina and Westport, and cricket in Ballinrobe. Programmes in the Travelling community and the Special Olympics were also supported under the initiative.

New route map for the Reek launched

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

Following the formation of the Croagh Patrick stakeholders group late last year which includes all the mountains stakeholders such as the church, Murrisk community, Mayo County Council, South West Mayo Development Company, Mayo Mountain Rescue, Croagh Patrick Archaeological Society, and the tourism and adventure sectors, the group has launched a a new map/information leaflet and signage for Croagh Patrick. The map is the first time that the route is clearly marked out on one ordnance survey sheet and will greatly assist users in navigating the route.

There are also important messages from the stakeholders like Mayo Mountain Rescue, and the leave no trace message together with information on the pilgrimage, history and archaeology, and Murrisk community. Also being installed is new and complementary signage in the car park and at the statue on the climb which be of benefit to climbers. The safety advice of Mayo Mountain Rescue has been confirmed as the most appropriate and is now referenced on all Croagh Patrick related websites.

Will you be the Last One Standing?

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

Do you love a competitive run? Are you a challenge junkie? Do you strive to do better by the minute? Then challenge yourself, become Ireland’s Last One Standing on Saturday July 23 in Westport. Runners will be running to beat the clock in completing a 3.8km loop in 30 minutes, easy! Can you complete it in 29 minutes, 28 minutes? Men and women will not compete against each other, only the last male and the last female will be rewarded for being the Last One Standing.

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