West needs to develop network of cycle trails to boost local economy

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

“The west needs to wake up before their thunder is stolen,” says John Mulligan, who is one of a number of people who are interested in creating a national network of cycling and walking trails.

Knockmore and Conn Rangers stars to do battle for charity

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

In June 2012, PJ Loftus lost his battle with bowel cancer. PJ was an extremely popular and valued member of the Knockmore community and had been a dedicated servant to Knockmore and Mayo GAA for many years. To pay tribute to his father's memory and raise much needed funds for the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice, PJ’s son Alan has organised a charity match between the Knockmore senior GAA team and their soccer counterparts from Conn Rangers. The game will take place on St Stephen's Day at 1pm at the Knockmore GAA pitch. The Knockmore team will feature county stars Kevin McLoughlin and Shane McHale, alongside Alan himself, Aidan Kilcoyne, John Brogan, Declan Sweeney and the returning pair of Trevor Howley and Niall Canavan amongst others. The Conn Rangers senior soccer team who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Super League this year will be represented by Owen McNamara and Brian Hughes (who both featured on the Mayo Premier A league team of the year), along with Noel Butler, Darren Coleman and Joe Faughnan.

VEC members voice concerns over raising of pupil teacher ratios for PLC courses

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

At the December meeting of the Mayo Vocational Education Committee this week a number of the members raised their concerns about the raising of the pupil to teacher ratios for PLC courses as part of this year’s Budget. Dr Katie Sweeney CEO of Mayo VEC told that under the new budget proposals one of the most worrying items was the increase in pupil teacher ratios for PLC course from 17 to one, to 19 to one. She read out a letter from the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) that has been sent to the Minister for Education Ruari Quinn objecting to the increase and the outcomes.

Farming cuts meeting in Shrule tonight

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

A campaign led by the Fianna Fáil Agriculture Spokesperson Éamon Ó Cuív against any reduction in CAP funding and against cuts to lower and middle income farmers continues this week, with a public meeting scheduled in Mayo to take place tonight (December 14) at Craddocks in Shrule at 8pm.

Tourism Town Award for Westport

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Westport made national headlines again last Friday at Fáilte Ireland’s inaugural Tourism Towns Award presentation in The Gibson Hotel, Dublin. The town was shortlisted with nine others for the final adjudication which was held in October – the other towns in the final shake down were Ballyvaughan, Clonakilty, Dundalk, Ennis, Kilkenny, Killarney, Letterkenny, Trim, and Portmagee, which won the overall title.

Castlebar parental survey results show support for diversity of school type

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Educate Together has welcomed the release of the results of the parental survey of primary school preference in Castlebar. Results show positive levels of support from Castlebar parents on having the choice of an Educate Together school in their community. In addition to Castlebar the pilot survey was also conducted in Whitehall (Dublin), Trim, Tramore, and Arklow during October and November.

Mayo Youth Orchestra to play at EU Presidency event

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Mayo Youth Orchestra has been selected to play at the 18th Festival of Youth Orchestras at the National Concert Hall, Dublin in February. This special festival is being honoured by inclusion in the official cultural programme of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. At the festival, run by the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras, there will also be a combined string orchestra of more than 60 players from orchestras in Dublin, Denmark and Norway. The festival will take place on Saturday February 9.

The Mayo group will join seven other orchestras with more than 500 young musicians from around Ireland and abroad who will perform a variety of original works and arrangements for orchestra including ‘The Sleeping Beauty Waltz’ by Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi’s ‘Concerto for Four Violins’, arrangements of ‘Born This Way’ and ‘Edge of Glory’ by Lady Gaga and Britten’s ‘Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra’ with narrator, RTÉ’s Seán Rocks. This is a great chance to introduce young children to the wonders of orchestra, as both performances are family friendly.

Castlebar train station celebrates its 150th anniversary

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Castlebar train station celebrates its 150th anniversary on Sunday December 16 with celebrations planned in Castlebar on that day.

Taoiseach welcomes approval in principle for acquisition of new Mayo VEC premises

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has welcomed approval in principle from the Minister of Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, for Mayo VEC to acquire a premises in Castlebar to be used for adult and further education. This will allow Mayo VEC to vacate three premises currently being rented.