Door-to-door fundraising starts to rebuild Ballinrobe Town Hall

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Householders in Ballinrobe are asked to give generously as a door-to-door collection gets under way in the campaign to rebuild Ballinrobe Town Hall. A target of €400,000 in business and private contributions has been set as Ballinrobe aims to restore the old hall, which closed in 1996. A team of approximately 40 collectors will visit every house in the parish to seek support through a variety of suitable fundraising options.

“We estimate that we will receive between €800,000 and €900,000 in local and central Government and agency funding, which will require Ballinrobe to come up with approximately €400,000 to fund the project. The overall cost has been independently costed at just short of €1.3m,” said Michael Sweeney, chairman, Ballinrobe Civic, Arts and Amenity Co Ltd, at the launch.

Mayo North tourism expo hailed as a great success

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

MayoNorth.ie along with Ballina Chamber and Tourist Office held its first tourism expo, entitled ‘Meet Mayo North’, last week in the Ballina Manor Hotel. The expo was designed to give businesses and community tourism groups operating in the north Mayo/west Sligo region an opportunity to showcase their business to the public, and to network with other tourism operators. The event was a big success, with more than 50 exhibitors taking a stand in the stunning Ridgepool Room to showcase their tourism offering, as well as representatives from Failte Ireland, Mayo.ie, Gnó Mhaigh Eo, Mayo Paradise Possible, and Mayo Chamber in attendance.

Transition year students Awaken at special concert

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

More than 380 transition year students from all over the west including students from Balla, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Louisburgh, and Westport recently took to the stage in Breaffy House Resort a part of the Awakening concert. The event was a celebration of both modern church and contemporary music that had been described by many as Glee meets the X-Factor meets church music.

Tacú Family Resource Centre in Ballinrobe goes from strength to strength

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

"Volunteers aren't paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless," were the words of thanks given to the hard working volunteers of Tacú Family Resource Centre by Mary Jackson, project coordinator at Tacú's well-attended AGM last week. The chairperson Patsy Shaughnessy and Mary Jackson outlined how the FRC has supported hundreds of local people during 2015. Tacú also runs the youth booth which provides invaluable support to young people in south Mayo providing structured programmes as well as drop in support options and work with schools. Tacú also runs Little Stars After School programme.

The chairperson commended the staff, those on work schemes, volunteers, students, and interns of the FRC for providing such a wealth of support for the local community, ranging from in-home family support service, meals on wheels, and supports for older people, to providing computer time and supporting people with CVs in the busy project. Some of the community education courses available in Tacú are adult yoga classes, drumming workshops, hip hop workshops, photography workshops, and mindfulness for young people. Other activities going on in Tacú are mother and baby group, parent and toddler social drop-in service, Aware depression support group, and Friends of Tacú Friday morning drop-in group.

€54,750 funding for structures at risk in Mayo

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring has today announced funding of €54,750 to three heritage projects under the Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) for 2016. The scheme provides funding for protected buildings in private and public ownership.

The projects receiving funding in Mayo are Ballinafad House which will get €8,000, Ballinrobe House, High Street, Ballinrobe will get €20,000, and Ballysakeery Glebe House in Mullafarry will get €26,750. Minister Ring said, “The Structures at Risk Fund was first introduced in 2011, and since then it has made an invaluable contribution to the preservation and protection of our built heritage. This year, 57 projects across 27 local authority areas will benefit from direct funding from my Department. Heritage projects in every region across the country are set to benefit under this scheme.

3,400 students begin state exams today

Wed, Jun 08, 2016

The morning that 3,400 secondary school students across Mayo have been waiting for has arrived this morning with the start of the Junior and Leaving Cert exams. Over 120,000 studetns will sit the two state exams across the country this month with the exmas coming to a conclusion on Friday, June 24  for Leaving Cert and Thursday, June 23 for Junior Cert students.

Westport sculpture nominated in Irish Architecture Awards

Fri, Jun 03, 2016

The public realm space The Sentinel sculpture in Westport, is among 50 projects shortlisted for this year’s RIAI Irish Architecture Awards, which were announced by The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI). The Sentinal sculpture which was created by Ronan Halpin was commissioned by Westport Town Council in 2013 following the town winning the award for the ‘Best Place to Live in Ireland’.

Local group disappointed as Ross Beach loses Blue Flag

Fri, Jun 03, 2016

The Killala Chamber and Development Association is deeply disappointed that Ross Beach did not retain its very valuable Blue Flag, which is an internationally recognised symbol of excellence regarding bathing water and other relevant facilities. In a statement this week they said, "We understand that this was not due to any deterioration of the quality of the water, its sewerage facility or clearly displayed information. Ross Beach with its Blue Flag status was a huge tourist attraction for the area and large crowds visit the beach during the summer. Mayo County Council has over the years carried out excellent improvement works providing enhanced parking and other facilities." The chairman of the group, Tony McGarry, appealed to Mayo County Council to urgently take the necessary steps to ensure that Ross Beach will have its Blue Flag reinstated immediately.

Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly has questioned the loss of a Blue Flag at Ross Beach. Killala based councillor Munnelly said he was very annoyed to learn of the loss of Blue Flag status for the 2016 season for reasons that are not fully clear. Although the bathing water quality and services provided at Ross during 2015 were all up to standard, due to issues with lifeguard cover, Ross has lost its Blue Flag for 2016.

Proposed downsizing of school buses the brainchild of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael — Conway-Walsh

Fri, Jun 03, 2016

Sinn Féin senator Rose Conway-Walsh has said the feigned protests of Fianna Fáil following the revelation this week that Fine Gael plans to downsize school buses rings hollow with the people of Mayo and the west.

Senator Conway-Walsh said: “Current school transport policy was planned and introduced by Fianna Fail in their 2011 budget. The changes for the primary school transport system including the introduction of the annual charge, the removal of eligibility under the closed school rules for certain children living less than 3.2km from the school, and the minimum of 10 eligible children required to retain a transport service rest squarely on the shoulders of Fianna Fáil.

Roll out the Barrel, it's The Grainne Ale Festival

Fri, Jun 03, 2016

The June Bank Holiday Weekend sees the return of The Grainne Ale Festival at Gracy's Bar and Café on the grounds of Westport House tomorrow June 4 and Sunday June 5. Now in it's third year the event goes from strength to strength bringing the very best of craft beers, gourmet pizza, and an amazing variety music.

Wellness in Your Sport seminar next week

Fri, Jun 03, 2016

Wellness in Your Sport is an evening of short talks by three experts, Caroline Brosnihan (nutritionist to the Mayo senior team), Andrew O'Brien (physiotherapist and keen runner), and the keynote speaker will be consultant orthopaedic and trauma surgeon, Paul O'Grady, on Wednesday June 8 at 7.30pm in the Tennis Club in Castlebar.

Admission is €10 and tickets are avilable at the door. Topics covered will include, training and diet and maximising performance, running form and technique, and drills to maximise efficiency and prevent injury, and common sports injuries, their treatment and prevention. The event is part of The Longest Day challenge fundraising efforts by a group who have taken on the challenge to cycle to and climb the three mountains of Mayo, Mweelrea, Nephin, and Croagh Patrick. All exercise enthusiasts welcome, tickets on the door. See The Longest Day Challenge on Facebook for more information.

Maria Walsh takes JCI national title

Fri, Jun 03, 2016

Young people from all over the country gathered in Clontarf Castle for the ‘Ten Outstanding Young Person’ (TOYP) Awards. The TOYP Awards ceremony is a global initiative of Junior Chamber International which concentrates on formally recognising young people who are making giant strides in their chosen fields and creating positive impact on other people, their community, and society at large. The awards were the result of a nationwide campaign launched by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny early in 2016. JCI Ireland received record numbers of nominations this year, on the back of Joanne O'Riordain being listed as one of the TOYP in the World at the 2015 World Congress in Japan.

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