Mayo students in bid to become Ireland’s Top Young Problem Solvers at DCU

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

Two Mayo students, Sofia Ferdini and Ruth O’Connor of Mount St Michael, have taken part in the All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad finals, the search to find Ireland’s top young decoders at Dublin City University. The best performers at the national finals in DCU will be selected to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in Manchester in July 2013.

Connacht success for St Gerald’s

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, entered three teams into the regional competition (north-west) for applied mathematics.

Councillor queries if debt collectors are being used

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh this week queried if the council was employing external debt collectors in an effort to recover money that is owed to it. Peter Duggan, head of finance for Mayo County Council, informed the councillor at Monday’s April meeting of the council, that the council has not engaged an external debt collector, but is looking at a possible shared service option by a number of councils for the future in this area.

Staffing levels and cash flow worry Flynn

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn at Monday’s April meeting of Mayo County Council, during an item discussing the financial review of the first three months of the year, raised a number of issues that are of serious concern to him. Speaking in the council chamber he said: “The current capital expenditure is quite worrying, it’s about €5 million this year. Five years ago this would have been €40 million, this is a really serious issue. It also raises serious questions as to what are people doing [council staff]. We have also three town councils to take in and services are gone to the Road Safety Authority [RSA].”

Mayo Pink Ribbon organisers urge participants to register in advance

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

With just weeks to go, entries for the Mayo Pink Ribbon Cycle on Bank Holiday Saturday, May 4, are well up on last year already. Entries are via the website (www.mayopinkribbon.ie) and the organisers are encouraging everyone to register in advance to avoid delays on the day.

Breaffy House Resort to host Alcoholics Anonymous convention 2013

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

The 56th all Ireland convention of Alcoholics Anonymous returns to the west of Ireland after a four year absence and will be held in the Breaffy House Resort, Castlebar, Co Mayo from Thursday 11 to Sunday 14 April 2013.

Love Castlebar initiative attracts An Taoiseach’s seal of approval

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in his home town of Castlebar last Saturday to launch Love Castlebar, a civic pride initiative which promises to bestow Ireland’s warmest welcome upon visitors to the Mayo town, and in this year of The Gathering 2013 will ensure that those making the trip to Castlebar will enjoy an unforgettable experience.

Councillors want to see Community Gain Investment Fund area expanded

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

A number of councillors have called for the €8.5 million Community Gain Investment Fund that has been put up by the developers of the Corrib Gas project as part of their planning permission to have a wider geographic reach. Cllr Rose Conway Walsh, speaking at the April meeting of the Belmullet electoral area committee, said: “I do want to see it extended to areas like Ballycastle, it’s very unfair that it’s not included.” The idea of seeing it extended was supported by other councillors including Cllr Michael Holmes and Cllr Michael McNamara. At present the fund is confined to the Cill Chomain area. While asking for the geographic remit of the fund to be expanded, Cllr Conway Walsh hit out at the small nature of the fund compared to the overall profits that the project developers will make, saying: “Overall we need to look at this fund being from our own natural resources, not the developers” and “it’s a lot less than the people deserve”.

Cllr Gerry Coyle said that he would like to see one major project come about from this money that will have a major lasting impact on the Erris area in general. “I’d like to see a third level institution, linked up with other third level colleges developed in the area, or we do something like linking up the existing greenway all the way though Ballycroy and its national park and right up into Belmullet and beyond for tourism.”

Glaoch an Cheoil – a new series for TG4

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

Imagine an Ireland where everyone in the country has the chance to learn to play a musical instrument, from the fiddle to the guitar, the drums or even the saxophone. This is the driving ambition of Glaoch an Cheoil, a new series for TG4 produced by Mind the Gap Films. The show aims to unite unused or discarded musical instruments with people who have always wanted to learn to play, but never had the opportunity. Four music hubs are being established (one in each of the provinces) – and the Connacht centre will be in Áras Inis Gluaire, Belmullet, Co Mayo.

Incorrect signs on Swinford bypass

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

Cllr Joe Mellett told the April meeting of Mayo County Council, “There are 21 incorrect signs, either in the wrong place, with the wrong names on them or are just wrong on the Swinford bypass. That’s a stretch of road that’s no more than four miles.” He asked the council to get someone from the National Roads Authority (NRA) to address them on this and other signage issues. Cllr Frank Durcan told the meeting that when a car exits Ireland West Airport Knock, they are greeted with a sign at the end of the access road to the airport that has directions to Galway and Sligo on it, but no directions to any town in Mayo. Cllr Durcan demanded that the NRA take action on it.

Mulherin welcomes good news for renewable energy projects in Mayo

Fri, Apr 12, 2013

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, Michelle Mulherin, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte, of the extension of the REFIT scheme designed to boost the development of wind farms, biomass, and other renewable energy resources providing green energy to the Irish National Electricity Grid. This will give investors until 2017 to assist in achieving renewable energy targets. The previous deadline had been 2015. REFIT is the primary scheme supporting Ireland’s legally binding energy commitments.