Council lays out terms of 1.5 acre €500,000 land deal

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Following on from the chaotic scenes that played out at the September meeting of Mayo County Council, where Independent councillor Frank Durcan stayed on his feet and continued to talk over other councillors as the Cathaoirleach tried to get on with the order of business, Mayo County Council has this week responded to one of the issues Cllr Durcan raised about the purchase of lands outside Castlebar, through a statment issued by county secrectary John Condaon.

Irish language record attempt in Castlebar

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Comhrá 24/7 will be the longest continuous conversation in the Irish language ever held, running from September 29 to October 6, in a bid to create a conversational world record as part of Bliain na Gaeilge 2013.

Redrawing of EU elections map leaves Mayo in fifteen county constituency

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

The announcement this week of the redrafting of the EU constituencies for next year’s European Parliament elections has seen Mayo included in the new Midlands, North and West four seat constituency which stretches all the way from the Atlantic coast to the Irish Sea. Ireland has lost one seat in the parliament thanks to the accession of Croatia to the European Union, which has led to the redrawing of the boundaries and a reduction in a number of constituencies from four to three.

RTÉ Big Music Week is coming to Mayo

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

RTÉ Big Music Week is a week-long celebration of the best of Irish music beginning next Monday September 30. For the fourth year running, RTÉ Big Music Week celebrates the very best of home-grown musical talent by bringing live performance to audiences across Ireland and all over the world; on radio, on television, online, and on mobile. This year, in partnership with Irish Rail, Big Music Week is covering the breadth of the country on a bespoke music train.

Two major tourist awards for Mayo

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Mayo was one of the major winners as the AA announced its Hospitality Award winners at a ceremony in Dublin on Wednesday. The good news has come in the form of two very prestigious awards for hospitality for the county. Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar presented the award for AA Courtesy and Care to Hotel Westport, while the title of AA Bean an Tí of The Year went to Dolores Jordan of the Red River Lodge in Ballina.

Appeal for clothing for Syrian refugees

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Mustapha Aoubi and family at The Olive Tree restaurant, in Newtown Street, Castlebar, have organised local support for the Human Appeal International aid to Syria, by opening a collection depot in Newtown Street, Castlebar, for the collection of used and new clothing, footwear, and blankets for the Syrian refugees before the winter sets in.

Local housing group scoop prestigious Governing Board Award

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Ballycastle and District Voluntary Housing Association scooped a major award to honour their governing board at an awards ceremony held at the ICSH National Social Housing Conference in Wexford last week.

Kitesurfing festival in Achill

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Sun, sand, kites, surf-boards and great tunes are the order of the day when Achill Island plays host to the finale of the Irish Kitesurfing Tour Competition at this year’s Battle for the Lake Music and Kite Festival on September 28 and 29.

New flights from IWAK to Birmingham

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Flybe has announced it is to operate a new service from Ireland West Airport Knock to Birmingham starting next month.

Barrett welcomes assurances on Kamer estates

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

Cllr Harry Barrett has commended the town manager Seamus Granahan for his efforts in progressing a deal with the receiver appointed to deal with outstanding works on Kamer estates in Castlebar and Balla. Cllr Barrett said that he had been assured that a deal was imminent and that there would be sufficient money to finish outstanding works on all estates, that would allow the council to proceed to estate take-over.

He said last week: "It is expected that a contract with the receiver will be signed today, Friday, that will see a financial settlement put in place that will cover the outstanding works on all seven Kamer estates within the Castlebar area.” He also said: ”I believe a report will be issued to councillors next week and that a priority action plan will be drawn up to deal with the more pressing health and safety concerns in certain estates.”

Castlebar’s last mayor meets four hundred year old counterpart

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

The first charter granted to Castlebar by King James I 400 years ago has been translated in full into English for the first time. The task of translating the 1613 grant of incorporation was undertaken as part of a body of research by Noel Campbell for his forthcoming book on local government in Castlebar 1613-2014.

Taxi driver used fatal shooting to abuse garda

Fri, Sep 27, 2013

A district court judge has described as “outrageous” the words used by an irate taxi driver who after being told to move on from an illegal parking space shouted at a garda that it was a pity more officers were not shot in an incident, only three days earlier, when a Garda sergeant was murdered in Dundalk.

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