Mary Robinson’s memoirs are “beautifully written and brilliantly observed” according to An Taoiseach

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny launched the memoirs of Mary Robinson at Ballina Arts Centre this week where he praised the “extraordinary book” which is “beautifully written” by the former president of Ireland.

Democrats abroad to hold voter registration drive

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

Ahead of this year’s hotly contested US presidential election between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, the West of Ireland Chapter of Democrats Abroad Ireland will hold a non-partisan voter registration drive tomorrow, September 22, from 10am to 3pm on Shop Street adjacent to the outdoor market at St Nicholas Church. A table will be staffed by volunteers who will assist all American citizens in Galway and the west to vote in November’s election.

Larry Donnelly, legal counsel to Democrats Abroad Ireland and a law lecturer at NUI Galway, commented: “Because of the extraordinary and ongoing flow of emigration between Ireland and the US, there are tens of thousands of people in Ireland who hold US citizenship and are entitled to vote in US elections. It is important for them to know that US citizens never lose their right to vote, no matter how long they have been away and no matter where in the world they may currently live and work. In addition, we are keen to ensure that US citizens studying for the semester or the year at NUI Galway exercise their sacred right to vote in this November’s election.”

Local representatives welcome Saturday referendum

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has announced that the Children's Referendum will be held on Saturday November 10; only the second time that a referendum will be held on a Saturday, the other one was the second referendum on the Nice Treaty, which was held on Saturday October 19 2002.

Large volume of call-outs for Mayo Mountain Rescue Team in past few weeks

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

The last few weeks have been among the busiest in the history of Mayo Mountain Rescue Team. Team leader Mary Walsh noted that since Reek Sunday, at the end of July, to September 7, the team have responded to 14 call outs. “It is unprecedented in the history of the team that we have had such a concentration of call-outs in the last number of weeks,” she said. Similar sentiments were expressed by deputy team leader Declan Conway, who remarked that in all his years on the team, he had never seen such a demand for its services.

Mary Robinson visitor centre to be opened in Ballina

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

In an exciting new development for the west plans have been unveiled to establish a Mary Robinson centre in her home town of Ballina. The centre is to be established at Mary Robinson’s birthplace in Victoria House, on the banks of the River Moy, and will include both a visitor centre and an academic research centre, supported by NUI Galway and focused on scholarly research and education in the fields of human rights and women’s leadership.

A Mayo man in Mullingar hits for Croker on foot

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

Claremorris native Noel Joyce, who has lived in Mullingar for the past 15 years, set out on a long and arduous walk yesterday (Thursday) from Mullingar to Dublin in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Community fete and horse ride fundraiser in The Neale

Fri, Sep 21, 2012

A major fundraiser in aid of popular Neale man Tim Kelly will draw to a close with a community fete and charity horse ride in The Neale on Sunday October 7.

Barrett stands alone on county council abortion motion

Fri, Sep 14, 2012

Labour Party Castlebar town councillor Harry Barrett was the only member of either Mayo County Council or Castlebar Town Council to oppose a notice of motion in relation to abortion put before both councils this week. Independent Cllr Frank Durcan who sits on both of the local authorities put forward a notice of motion to both councils stating “that the members resolve, in keeping with the will of the Irish people as emphatically expressed in the referendum of 1983, to oppose any form of legalisation of abortion under any circumstances”.