Ballyhaunis ready for Operation Transformation to paint the town

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

Over the past number of weeks the business people, voluntary groups, and clubs of Ballyhaunis have gathered together to form Ballyhaunis/GoBallyhaunis. Like every other rural town which has been affected by the economic downturn and the scars that it has left behind, the organising committee is eager to promote all that is good about Ballyhaunis. The first step was to create an umbrella brand under which they could organise themselves. They have done this with a very simple variation of the name Ballyhaunis incorporating the town colours red and black and a heart.

The grouping immediately arranged via social media to promote the Ballyhaunis brand and in the process support each other in business, sport, and voluntary causes. There has been an enormously positive uptake in the town to the project and there is a new found sense of identity. The group has more than 50 businesses and town groupings row in behind the brand and participated by having pictures taken supporting the project. The brand has been seen in Times Square, New York, at Sydney Harbour Bridge, and at the World Cup of Racing in Dubai. Irish TV has been to town to film the project in operation. Members of the Ballyhaunis diaspora in America have reached out and we are expecting the project to be mentioned in an interview with a Ballyhaunis ex-pat in The New York Times shortly.

Martin Sheridan Bursary awards handed out

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

The 2015 Martin Sheridan Bursary awards were presented by the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Cllr Michael Holmes, to the recipients recently at the Martin Sheridan Memorial Community Centre. Now in its third year, the awards are for sports people who have excellent potential, outstanding ability, and the desire to perform at the highest level possible in their chosen sport and have the potential to bring recognition and success at national and international level to Mayo. The awards are designed to assist in the cost of education, training, travel, and equipment.

Anne Marie Gibbons to perform in Knock

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

Mezzo Soprano Anne Marie Gibbons, who is originally from Louisburgh will perform alongside the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the 120 member Peace Choir, on May 14 at 8pm in Knock Basilica. The performance will include the well known aria Vida Cor Meum as a duet with Tenor Owen Gilhooly.

The concert in Knock is one her many planned concert appearances in the months ahead which include Suziki (Madam Butterfly) at The National Concert Hall with the RTE Concert Orchestra, Mahler's 8th Symphony with the Norwich Philharmonic Orchestra and Prokofiev's Alexander Nevesky with RTE National Symphony Orchestra. Future operatic engagements include Camila in Thomas Ades' The Exterminating Angel and Auntie in Peter Grimes both for The Royal Orchestra in Convent Garden.

Katie Moore Clarke 1916 exhibition to open in Ballina

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

Mayo County Council Arts Office, Library Service, and the Jackie Clarke Collection in Ballina are delighted to announce the official launch of the artistic outcomes of the Artist in Residence to commemorate 1916. The official launch will take place on Saturday May 7 at 3pm at Ballina Civic Offices Exhibition Space.

GMIT to host international outdoors conference

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

To celebrate 20 years of the Outdoor Education Programme, GMIT Mayo is holding an international conference titled “Learning Outdoors in Ireland – Looking to the Future’ in St Mary’s Hall on campus, Castlebar, on Friday April 22.

Clare Island to showcase unique wildlife in June

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

The National Biodiversity Data Centre and The Heritage Council launched Ireland’s first Wildlife Weekend recently. The weekend will take place from June 9 to 12 this year, showcasing the unique wildlife and heritage of five of the country’s offshore islands including Mayo's own Clare Island. Supported by the Heritage Council and organised by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, the weekend aims to introduce people to the special world of wildlife in five unique settings: Cape Clear, Inis Mór, Clare Island, Tory Island, and Bere Island.

Community Diary

Fri, Apr 29, 2016

International Walk Day
Castlebar ICA guild are hosting their walk this evening, Friday, April29 at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar at 8pm, refreshments will be served afterwards in Lough Lannagh Holiday Village.

Castlebar ICA guild are hosting their walk this evening, Friday, April29 at Lough Lannagh, Castlebar at 8pm, refreshments will be served afterwards in Lough Lannagh Holiday Village.

Swanick and Conway Walsh take Seanad seats

Tue, Apr 26, 2016

UPDATE 12.50pm
Conway Walsh tops Agricultural Panel

Mayo now has three Senators in new Seanad

Tue, Apr 26, 2016

Mayo's representation in the Oireachtas now totals seven with the election of three Mayo politicians to the 25th Seanad to go with the four TDs returned to the Dáil. The first of those elected to the upper house was Belmullet based Fianna Fáil candidate Keith Swanick who picked up a seat on the Cultural and Educational panel.

Ballyglass RNLI in 10 hour call out to assist three fishermen

Mon, Apr 25, 2016

Ballyglass RNLI has rescued three fishermen off the Mayo coast this morning, following a ten hour call out. The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 7.45pm yesterday evening (Sunday, April 24) after a member of the public who was standing on the shore saw a vessel drifting and raised the alarm.

Castlebar comes to a standstill as Ben Garrett is laid to rest

Fri, Apr 22, 2016

Castlebar came to a standstill on Wednesday afternoon and the business community shut their doors as the funeral of Private Ben Garrett, Kilnock, Breaffy, Castlebar, passed through the streets of the town in a military cortege before his burial in the New Cemetery in Castlebar. Private Garrett's body was found last Sunday in Galway following an 18 day search that saw hundreds of people scour the city and its surrounds on a daily basis looking for him after he was reported missing.

€760k for safety funding for IWAK

Fri, Apr 22, 2016

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring this week welcomed the announcement of funding in the amount of €760,500 from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport for Ireland West Airport Knock under Funding for Safety and Security Projects at Regional Airports 2015-2019. Minister Ring stated: “This funding is in respect of safety and security projects and are as follows additional fire tender (€535,500), fire station extension (€175,500), and airfield inspection and control vehicle (€49,500).

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