Hotel Westport takes home the gold

Fri, Oct 03, 2014

Hotel Westport has been awarded, by public vote, this year’s Best Family Friendly Hotel in the Hotel and Catering Review Gold Medal Awards. The awards recognise and reward excellence in hotels, guest-houses, restaurants, spas, clubs, and catering operations across the island of Ireland. The awards were presented at a gala ceremony in the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, (formerly the Burlington Hotel), last week. The finalists were judged by a panel of industry experts, who carried out rigorous site inspections at each premises to determine the winners.

The awards, managed by Ashville Media Group, has grown considerably with a 31 per cent increase in entries since last year. This year’s awards were made up of 25 categories and many high profile premises across Ireland made the shortlist. In a two step process, namely where properties were visited by judges from a pre-selected panel who assessed premises under a number of criteria. Successful properties were then shortlisted as a finalist in their category, as was The Hotel Westport. The second phase, as in The Hotel Westport category, included a public vote to select the winner.

New ITV series to showcase Mayo to millions in the UK

Fri, Oct 03, 2014

Tourism Ireland has teamed up with ITV and Northern Ireland-born television presenter and celebrity, Christine Bleakley, for a new, six-part, television series highlighting the Wild Atlantic Way.

Drugs seizure in Ballina

Fri, Oct 03, 2014

Two people were arrested in Ballina on Tuesday following the search of a house in the Bunree Road area.

The Mayo Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the Regional Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit, carried out the search, which uncovered drugs with an estimated street value of €6,000.

Kavanagh Group raises more than €100k for hospice

Fri, Oct 03, 2014

Staff of the Kavanagh Group recently celebrated the huge feat of raising over €100,000 as a part of their Help Us Help Others campaign for the purchase of the site for new hospice facility in Castlebar. The funds were presented to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice at a special event in The Wyatt Hotel. The money was collected through the tireless efforts of the management, staff and communities of Kavanagh’s SuperValu Westport, Castlebar, Claremorris and Kiltimagh. The significant donation will fund the purchase of the site for the new hospice care facility in Castlebar.

Mayo man learns from the Domestic Divas

Fri, Oct 03, 2014

Mayo man Liam Heffernan features in the final episode of Domestic Divas on Tuesday next October 7. Domestic Divas is a six part series on RTÉ One. In the episode presenters Aisli Madden and Cat Lawlor get their hands on single guy Liam Heffernan from near Castlebar. He is looking for help with getting fit, making delicious protein rich vegetarian food, and maybe even finding love.

One person dead following crash in the early hours

Sat, Sep 27, 2014

Gardaí in Westport are investigating a single vehicle collision at Cartoon, Newport, Co Mayo which happened shortly before 1.30am on Saturday morning.

Mayo Day to be launched in the US this weekend

Fri, Sep 26, 2014

The estimated 3.5 million people worldwide who have Mayo roots will get their own day to celebrate their Mayo heritage from next year on with the launch of the first ever Mayo Day.

A delegation from Mayo County Council including the Cathaoirleach of the council, Cllr Damien Ryan, and the chief executive of the council Peter Hynes, along with representatives from other bodies in the county, are in Cleveland this weekend attending the Mayo World Convention in the Cleveland Convention Centre. At this convention tourism, industry, and business opportunities will be discussed and a new idea, Mayo Day, will be launched.

Lusty deer pose a danger as evenings get shorter

Fri, Sep 26, 2014

If you are a deer, it all kicks off at this time of the year.

Cannonball spectacle attracted twenty thousand

Fri, Sep 26, 2014

Some 20,000 people converged at the Quay Village and lined the streets and approach roads in Ballina to witness the recent Cannonball spectacle.

Hard-hitting play tackles dark world of sex slavery

Fri, Sep 26, 2014

A controversial and hard-hitting play examining the dark world of human trafficking and sex slavery in Ireland is coming to the Linenhall Arts Centre on Monday October 6, at 8 pm.

Action not empty promises needed to secure future of Ireland West Airport – Calleary

Fri, Sep 26, 2014

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary says the Taoiseach must sideline the spin and honour the commitments he made about Ireland West Airport Knock.  Enda Kenny made a promise before the 2011 General Election that he would ‘do whatever he needed for Knock’ if he became Taoiseach. Deputy Calleary commented this week: “The time for talking is long gone and what we need to see from the Taoiseach is action, and a follow through on the commitments he gave to airport officials before he assumed office.  Ireland West Airport Knock needs a cash injection in the upcoming Budget in order to secure its survival and it is up to the Taoiseach and Minister Paschal Donohoe to deliver on pre-election promises. This airport proves its worth on a daily basis.  It employs over 100 people and has seen more than 700,000 passengers pass through its doors this year alone. It brings millions of euro into the local economy and its benefits are felt right across the west and north west. It is a vital part of the tourism infrastructure in the region and its future must be secured.”

The Ballina based former minister of state went on to say that: “This Government needs to ensure that a funding allocation is announced for Ireland West Airport Knock in the Budget. There is considerable scope within EU state aid guidelines to allow for finance to be made available, and it is essential to the viability of the airport that both a capital fund and an operational fund are established and maintained.”

Claremorris to rock to the ‘Rhythm of Life’

Fri, Sep 26, 2014

Musical season is officially open in Claremorris.
The award winning Claremorris Musical Society officially launched its ninth annual production last week, and members are all set to bring the toe tapping show Sweet Charity to the newly renovated town hall in January 2015.

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