Floods, floods, and fear of more floods

Fri, Dec 18, 2015

Well there is really only one topic in Athlone at the moment, and that is the floods.

Government decision due on 235 houses in Mayo without group water schemes – Mulherin

Fri, Dec 18, 2015

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin has confirmed that an announcement will be made in the coming weeks regarding 235 rural homes in Mayo which are without group water schemes. The residents of these homes have found themselves ineligible for funding for water infrastructure as a result of a change in funding guidelines and have been without a regular water supply for several years. This week Deputy Mulherin met with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin after having raised the issue again most recently in Dail Eireann last week with the Minister for Rural Affairs, Ann Phelan.

Mayo students pick up People of the Year Award

Fri, Dec 18, 2015

Aoibheann Mangan and Padraic Godwin from Hollymount who are primary school students in Cloghan’s Hill National School were both honoured for their efforts in raising awareness in farm safety for children and adults at the 41st People of the Year Awards on Saturday evening last where they were announced as the as joint winners of the Young Person of the Year Award.

Holy Door opens at Knock Shrine for Pope Francis’ call for year of mercy

Fri, Dec 18, 2015

Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary has opened a ‘Holy Door’ at Knock Shrine as Catholics across the world have started to observe and celebrate Pope Francis’ historic ‘Year of Mercy’. The world’s media and tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Basilica on December 8 to watch Pope Francis open the Holy Door in Rome, a tradition that dates back to the 1400s.

In the days that have followed, Holy Doors, like the one at Knock, have been opening for the first time in cathedrals and important pilgrimage sites all over the world. Pope Francis has called the Holy Year – also known as a Jubilee – to encourage Catholics worldwide to be more merciful and practice forgiveness, compassion and good deeds. A Holy Year is one of the most important events in the Catholic Church and usually takes place just once every 25 years. It is a unique time when the faithful are called to refocus on prayer and good works, seek pardon for their sins and gain special indulgences.

Army on standby to assist in south Mayo

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

After making a passionate plea on Wednesday afternoon that the army be dispatched to help in areas of south Mayo which he described as "an absloute disaster zone" and where he said "people are living in fear." Cllr Damien Ryan confirmed to the Mayo Advertiser yesterday that he had been told by management in Mayo County Council "the army have been contacted and are mobilised and are ready to go and will be here in an hour if we need them."

OPW failure on river maintenance leaves towns and land across Mayo under water — Calleary

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has slammed the Office of Public Works for failing to maintain rivers in the county. Deputy Calleary said: “Flooding in Mayo is now becoming a regular occurrence. People across the country are talking about the floods of 2009, but the fact of the matter is that it is only three weeks since Crossmolina was under water. People there barely had enough time to clean up their homes and businesses before Storm Desmond hit. On Saturday water levels were so high that it reached the shoulders of the volunteers and workers who were on the ground.

“The scale of these floods is frightening, yet for the past five years the Government has sat on its hands and done nothing to address it," Dep Calleary added. "Information received by Fianna Fáil reveals that the Government is actually running a €14.5m underspend on flood relief schemes this year. Why is the OPW refusing to sanction essential works? We are all awaiting major capital projects but simple jobs such as cleaning rivers and lifting debris from them are not being done. It seems the OPW attaches more importance to pearl mussels, or other forms of marine life and animals, than to people. This has to change.

Saturday Forum debates the other side of Christmas on CRC FM

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

This week’s edition of the CRC 102.9fm current affairs programme Saturday Forum, which will be broadcast tomorrow December 12, will feature a debate on a side of Christmas which most of us, fortunately, never experience. For many people Christmas is a time of plenty, a time of joy and happiness, a time to celebrate and share gifts and glad tidings with our loved ones. But there are others for whom Christmas is a time of great worry and stress, a time when concerns about money and the basic necessities of life come to the fore.

The current economic downturn and worldwide credit crunch have had a devastating impact on all sections of society but the disadvantaged have suffered more than most. To help deal with these issues, and more, organisations that are devoted to offering advice and practical support are represented on the show.

Music Generation Song Sparks project to perform in Ballina

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Music Generation Mayo, in partnership with The Arts Council of Ireland and Songbirds Ireland, has been working with young musicians and singers in Mayo aged 13 to 18 years, collectively known as ‘Song Sparks’, in an exciting music project to develop their songwriting and musical skills. The project has been taking place at the Youth Music Hub in Ballina since September this year and will culminate in a live performance of new works at Ballina Arts Centre tomorrow Saturday at 7pm.

Special clinic today to help Crossmolina applications for Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin confirmed that a special clinic will take place in Crossmolina today to help with applications under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. "I am pleased to advise that the Department of Social Protection has agreed to my request and will operate a clinic at the Health Centre on the Erris Road on Friday from 10.30am to 12.30pm to help with applications under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme which is designed to provide financial assistance in the case of flooding where homes are damaged," she said.

History of Bellacorick power station to be launched in Crossmolina

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Powering the West - a History of Bord na Móna and ESB in North Mayo will be launched in the Town Hall, Crossmolina, this Friday evening (7pm) by retired UCD professor of archaeology Dr Seamus Caulfield. The 400 page, coffee-table style hard cover publication is a fascinating mix of personal stories and wonderful images of Erris. It is a history of the pioneering spirit of men who tamed and brought under control the “unmanageable” bogs of Erris and gave rise to huge employment in an immigration and unemployment blackspot.

Community spirit praised in the face of flooding

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Crossmolina butcher Nigel Tolan whose business backs on to the Deel River spoke to the Mayo Advertiser about the major battle he had to keep his business from getting totally wiped out last Saturday. "We were very badly affected here, we spend day and night here, it was constant. It came in about two feet I'd say, the display cabinet was up near the roof floating on it, we nearly ran out of ceiling space because it was up so high.

The Breadski Brothers packaging wins IDI Design Award

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Castlebar bakery, The Breadski Brothers, have won an IDI Design Award for their packaging, which was designed by Sarah Maguire from True Story. Judges commented: “From the use of illustration, typefaces, materials and format, the Breadski Brothers’ packaging sets a new level in its category on supermarket shelves. From a technical point of view, the hierarchy of information, colour coding to ease navigation of the range and layout of information was superb. Beyond this, the brand is a delight to interact with in its personality and tone of voice.”

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