Kilcoyne alleges more than twenty five per cut in housing grants

Mon, Jun 21, 2010

Castlebar based independent county councillor Michael Kilcoyne this week alleged that the housing grants for the elderly scheme run by the council was cut by more than the 25 per cent that councillors thought they were voting for when they passed the proposal at the previous month’s meeting of the local authority. Cllr Kilcoyne told the monthly meeting of the council this week: “I believe that the housing improvement grant for the elderly has been cut from €10,500 to €6,500, this is more than the 25 per cent cut that was voted for by members last month. I urge you all to reconsider this cut, because I don’t believe that the members fully understood what they were voting for.” However the cuts in the grants to the elderly were strongly defended by a number of councillors as it was the only way to free up the grants and pay the largest number of people who were entitled to grant aid. Fine Gael councillor Eddie Staunton told the meeting: “The reason we brought this forward was so we could be fair to everyone and the cuts were 25 per cent all, around not 50 per cent as Cllr Kilcoyne is saying.” Fianna Fáil councillor Annie May Reape also backed the cuts, saying: “I make no apology for proposing this motion, you are scaremongering, Cllr Kilcoyne.”

Benefit concert in Castlebar for Haiti

Mon, Jun 21, 2010

A benefit concert in aid of a Castlebar nun for her work with the poor in Haiti is to take place in the Church of the Holy Rosary later this month.

Council approves next stage in Ballina Arts Centre funding

Mon, Jun 21, 2010

Mayo County Council took the next step in the realisation of the long awaited Ballina Arts Centre when the elected members of the council approved registering a charge of €1.2 million against the Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport this week.

Pay and display at McCormack Estate

Mon, Jun 21, 2010

Fine Gael Leader, Enda Kenny, TD, has received confirmation that pay and display parking charges will introduced in McCormack Estate. The estate is located just off Lower Charles Street and is very close to the town centre with free parking.

Mayo man praised for Alzheimer care model

Mon, Jun 21, 2010

A model of care for Alzheimer’s sufferers championed by a Mayo man has been commended as a progressive approach to positive ageing. John Grant of Western Alzheimer’s was singled out for mention at a health conference in Galway this month for promoting a ‘household’ system of care through residential homes catering to small numbers of patients at a time.

News briefs

Mon, Jun 21, 2010

Mystical poetry evening
An evening of mystical poetry, music, and inspiration with American poet Kim Rosenon will take place on June 24 at 8pm at the Wyatt Hotel, Westport. Enjoy the language of the soul as Rosenon interweaves spoken poems, insights, and music, and touches listeners with poetry's power to awaken, inspire, and heal. This is an evening to melt the heart, open the mind, and set the body dancing. Just show up on the night or to be safe reserve a seat by contacting Bettina 0860624634 ([email protected])

Celebrations as Kenny enjoys sweet taste of success

Fri, Jun 18, 2010

Enda Kenny managed to see off a challenge to his leadership of the Fine Gael party yesterday evening after a marathon meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party in Dublin. The result, which came in just before 5pm, was not revealed to the public, MEP Jim Higgins told the Mayo Advertiser after the vote.

Volunteers needed for Cove Cafe

Fri, Jun 18, 2010

The Cove Youth Cafe in Westport, is currently recruiting volunteers. All of the volunteers will be Garda vetted and given appropriate training including the Child 1st Certificate.

Nicotine Anonymous

Fri, Jun 18, 2010

Meetings of the Castlebar Nicotine Anonymous will take place on Thursdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm in the Social Services Centre, Castle Street Car Park, Castlebar.

Music course for teachers

Fri, Jun 18, 2010

The WhistleBlast Quartet will run a summer course for teachers in the first week of July in Scoil Raifteirí, Castlebar. If interested sign up now at the Mayo Education Centre. For more information visit the website www.whistleblastquartet.com

Summer Music Series

Fri, Jun 18, 2010

Mayo County Council's Summer Music Series will feature musical performances in Achill, Ballyhaunis, Belmullet, Westport, Ballina, Charlestown, and Louisburgh.