Mayo coders are first to sign up to European Code Week

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

Two teams from Mayo are leading the way for Ireland this week having signed up to take part in the second ever European Code Week, which takes place from Saturday October 11 to Saturday October 18 all across Europe. The Charlestown and Castlebar Coderdojo clubs have both registered Code Week events.

The aim of the week is to connect individuals, groups and companies interested in coding in a fun and sociable way. Within Ireland, European Code Week is an opportunity to confirm Ireland’s position as the coding hub of Europe, thereby encouraging further creation of IT opportunities and careers for our young people.

Westport school hoists country’s first anti-bullying flag

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

A Westport Gaelscoil has become the first school in Ireland to fly the Blue Shield Flag for its robust anti-bullying policy.

Man claims previous convictions recorded against him are not his

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

A Kilkelly man who pleaded guilty in court this week to one charge of non-display of motor tax claimed that eight serious previous motoring convictions that were recorded on the Garda Pulse System against him were not his and it was an issue he has tried to have resolved for a number of years now.

Christopher Burke, with an address at Woodfield, Kilkelly, pleaded guilty in court to non-display of a tax disc on January 20 this year in Kilkelly after he produced relevant documentation to cover him for other motoring offences for which he had been summoned. However, when Judge Mary Devins asked how many previous convictions he had for motoring offences, she was read out a list of 16 previous convictions. Mr Burke then told the court that there were eight serious motoring offences that were read out that were not his, such as drink drinking and giving Gardai a wrong name. He said that he had spoken to two different Garda Superintendents about this issue and it still had not been sorted out. Judge Mary Devins said this was a very serious issue that was being raised and that she was sure Inspector Shane Cummins who was representing the State in the case, would help Mr Burke get it resolved. She adjourned the case until February 3, 2015 so that the issue could be investigated.

Castlebar group work with children of Chernobyl

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

On April 28, 1986, a team of workers at a Swedish power plant raised the alarm when they detected radioactive particles on their clothing.

British MP remembers Mayo Famine victims in song

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

A British MP has penned a song to remember the Mayo Famine victims, from Kiltimagh and Ballina in particular, who fled to the small town of Otley in Yorkshire in search of refuge during the Great Hunger in the mid 1800s.

Father who strangled young sons sentenced in Dublin

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

The father who brought the short lives of his two young sons to a desperately tragic end near Ballintubber on July 29, 2013, is to serve two life sentences for their murder.

Sanjeev Chada (44) of Ballinkillen, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, pleaded guilty to two murder counts at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on Tuesday, saying he was sorry for his actions, but offered little explanation for the bizarre and ultimately shocking circumstances surrounding his children’s deaths.

Ballina councillors outraged at OPW no show

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

At yesterday’s meeting of the Ballina Municipal District there was serious anger directed from the councillors at the Office of Public Works. At their previous meeting the councillors had requested that the OPW attended yesterday’s meeting to address their concerns over flood defences in the Ballina area.

Seven pups rescued after ‘cruel’ tail docking

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

A Mayo SPCA volunteer has warned dog owners and breeders that the practice of ‘tail docking’ is now illegal and the animal welfare charity will be reporting any incidents it comes across to the gardaí.

Councillors demand more discretionary funding

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

A battle is looming over the amount of money that Mayo County Council wants to allocate to the four municipal districts for discretionary spending by the councillors in these areas.

Body of missing man found

Fri, Oct 10, 2014

Efforts to locate missing Cong man Henry Byrne, who was last seen on September 29, came to a sad conclusion on Wednesday night.

Body of missing man found

Thu, Oct 09, 2014

Efforts to locate missing Cong man Henry Byrne, who was last seen on September 29, came to a sad conclusion on Wednesday night.

Asylum seekers plan march to Taoiseach's office

Mon, Oct 06, 2014

Residents of the Old Convent in Ballyhaunis, a direct provision accommodation centre for asylum seekers, are to stage a demonstration in Castlebar on Wednesday.

A group of protestors are to walk from Market Square at 1 pm to the constituency office of An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and submit a letter, calling for an immediate end to the direct provision system.

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