Taoiseach congratulates Craggagh NS on award nomination for Blue Star Project work

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has congratulated the staff and students of Craggagh National School on the school's recent nomination for an Eircom Junior Spiders award, based on its online project work and blog posts relating to the Blue Star Programme. These annual awards honour outstanding achievement online and celebrate the successes of the Irish internet and digital media.

Mulherin secures meeting with GPs and Minister of State

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Deputy Michelle Mulherin confirmed she has secured a meeting with Minister of State Alex White for Mayo GPs who have expressed concerns in relation to the terms of proposed contract to realise the Government's plan for the provision of a free GP service to all children aged under six years in the country.

SWMDC wins national rural award

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) has won the National Rural Award 2014 for its work in sustaining rural communities in south and west Mayo. The National Rural Awards are in their ninth year and are organised by Irish Rural Link, the national group campaigning for sustainable rural communities. These awards recognise the hard work and dedication of community groups in improving and developing rural communities around the country.

Immigrant stories find a home at Mayo County Library

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Advocates for the immigrant community gathered in Castlebar recently to celebrate the Mayo Intercultural Action Oral History Project. The project, which was supported by South West Mayo Development Company, saw immigrants from different countries come together to record audio accounts of their lives and migration to county Mayo. Project participants included people from as far afield as Latvia, Poland, Russia, Nigeria, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Burma/Myanmar.

Mayo newborn is 100,000th baby to be screened for hearing impairments

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

James Michael Murphy from Westport was the 100,000th baby in Ireland to be screened for hearing impairments, under the HSE’s universal new-born hearing screening programme, provided by Northgate Public Services, which is available at hospitals throughout Ireland. James, who was born at Mayo General Hospital in February, and mum Elizabeth were delighted to have clear responses from the hearing screen delivered by screener, Sinead Courtney.

Approximately 75,000 babies a year in Ireland are now undergoing hearing screening at all maternity units. In Ireland, one to two babies in every 1,000 are born with a hearing loss in one or both ears. On average 6,000 babies are screened each month; of these 180 babies (three per cent) are referred to the HSE Audiology Service for further hearing diagnostic assessments; and approximately nine babies are identified with a permanent childhood hearing loss. Some 90 per cent of these babies are born into families with no experience, or history, of childhood deafness.

Mayo Naturalists’ Field Club launched

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

An exciting and diverse programme of events for the newly launched Mayo Naturalists’ Field Club has been planned for 2014. At the launch, ecologist Cillian Roden gave a fascinating illustrated talk on the wonderful and diverse natural heritage of Mayo, which is unrivalled in any other county. During 2014, the club has planned outings to some of the most interesting natural habitats to be found in Mayo, including peatlands, sand dunes, lake shores, limestone pavement, and woodland. The first outing for 2014 will take place tomorrow Saturday, April 5, on the southwest shores of Lough Mask. Geologist Ronan Hennessy will introduce the story of how this internationally-recognised south Mayo landscape came into being at a location with wonderful panoramic views of mountainous terrain, limestone lakelands with volcanic lavas, boulder beds, and ice moulded rocks.

Fifteen thousand new tourists to flock through Knock

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

More than 15,000 new tourists are expected for the west and northwest as Ryanair launches three new services from Glasgow, Eindhoven, and Kaunas to Ireland West Airport Knock this week. The launch represents yet another significant milestone for the airport and western region as it provides the first scheduled direct air access to the Dutch and Lithuanian market. It also opens up access to the Benelux region of Europe, which has a population of some 28m people with the new Eindhoven service providing convenient access to Belgium and Luxembourg.

New look for Kavanagh’s SuperValu Castlebar

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Kavanagh’s SuperValu Castlebar has announced the opening of its newly revamped 15,000sq ft store. The store opens following a substantial investment of €500,000, helping to sustain employment of 80 staff members from the local community.

Goal to work scheme coming to Swinford

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Are you unemployed? Do you want to achieve a coaching qualification in GAA, rugby, and soccer so that you can work as a coach? Goal to Work multi agency committee invites applications for this sports coach training programme. Participation on this course will not affect a social welfare payment and there are no course fees.

Trainee coaches must be unemployed or working part time and in receipt of a social welfare payment or previously self employed, have an interest in GAA, soccer, and rugby, and be willing to participate in a 12 week training programme for approximately three days each week, 9.30am to 4.30pm.

Minister Ring presented with Mike Butt award

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring has been awarded the Irish Tourism Industry Restaurants Association of Ireland Mike Butt Award 2014 in honour of his contribution to the tourism industry.

St Pat’s, Castlebar becomes a Digital School of Distinction

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

St Patrick’s De La Salle BNS Castlebar has become one of the first schools in Ireland to be named a Digital School of Distinction, joining a growing group of primary schools nationwide to receive the prestigious award. An Taoiseach Enda Kenny presented the award to teachers and pupils at the school today. Supported by HP and Microsoft and launched in September last year, Digital Schools of Distinction is a flagship award programme which promotes, recognises, and encourages best practice use of technology in primary schools.

€100k in funding for Mayo heritage projects

Fri, Apr 04, 2014

Nine Mayo heritage projects were approved for funding this week by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan under the Gaeltacht Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014. The total value of the nine projects in Mayo is €103,000. The successful projects were St Michael’s Church, Ballina: €7,000; Enniscoe House, Castlehill: €14,519; Killala Bathing House, Killala: €6,478; Lavelle’s Pharmacy, Killala: €7,100; Thomond House, Westport: €7,920; Holy Trinity Church, Westport: €14,983; Owenmore House, Correens:  €15,000; Bridge House, Westport: €15,000; and Ballinafad House, Ballinafad: €15,000.

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