North Mayo mourns tragic death of Collette Sweeney

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

The people of Glencastle and the Belmullet area of north Mayo are shocked and saddened following the death of a local mother of two who was knocked down while out walking.

Energy efficiency housing programme significantly cut in Mayo

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

The amount allocated for energy efficiency works in the county has been slashed in this year’s housing capital programme for the county, with funding cut from €400,00 to €190,000. According to Padraic Flanagan, senior executive officer with Mayo County Council, at a Housing SPC meeting on Thursday, the scheme in mind for completion this year with this funding is 20 units in Springfield, Bangor Erris. Initial survey work and electrical inspections on these units have already been carried out and Mr Flanagan said that more than likely basic work will be carried out on these houses, unlike the extensive work which was completed in houses in Newport, Castlebar, and Ballycastle under this programme last year.

Calleary criticises ‘discriminatory’ changes to student grants

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

Mayo Fianna Fáil Deputy Dara Calleary has said any changes to the assessment for third level grants must not discriminate against farming families and self-employed workers. Dep Calleary said the conflicting reports from ministers about plans to include capital assets in the means-testing for student grants are causing great distress among farming and self-employed families.

Fine for man asleep on the side of road

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

A Dunmore man with a number of previous public order convictions was fined €100 in Ballyhaunis District Court this week in his absence for being intoxicated in a public place. Garda Alan Ryan told the court that on August 29 2012 at 3.20pm the gardai got a report of a man lying at the side of the road at Cherryfield, Ballyhaunis. He went to investigate and recognise the man as James Mullarkey, Cloonkeen, Dunmore, Co Galway. Mullarkey was in a highly intoxicated state and Garda Ryan brought him home and released him to the custody of his sister. Judge Devins convicted and fined Mullarkey €100.

Numbers rising for Westport’s Join Spar and Ray for 5k

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

Plans are well under way and entry numbers are steadily rising for Westport’s Join Spar and Ray for 5k which takes place on March 27.

Operation Cycle Lane launched in Mayo

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

There will be more cyclists on Irish roads this summer enjoying the warmer weather with the success of the bike to work scheme, an extending cycle network, and a growing interest in people to keep fit.

Photographic exhibition for Cancer Care West

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

Tom Lohan, a budding local photographer, will hold his first photographic exhibition in The Tavern pub in Cloghanover, outside Headford, this Sunday, Mother’s Day.

Win the gift of Gaeilge at Mayo’s Seachtain na Gaeilge

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

Gnó Mhaigh Eo in conjunction with Oifig Gaeilge Mhaigh Eo is celebrating Seachtain na Gaeilge 2013 with a Bronntanas na Gaeilge (Give the Gift of Gaeilge) campaign. A toy, book, or gift will be available to win each day for the duration of Seachtain na Gaeilge (March 4-17) on the Gaeilge Mhaigh Eo and Gnó Mhaigh Eo Facebook pages and on Twitter, as well as spot prizes at some of the Seachtain na Gaeilge events.

Many of us have seen Bábóg Baby and Scrabble through Irish but did you know that there are many Irish language products that are made in Mayo? It was two Mayo publishers who published two of the best selling Irish language books in the last year. The publishing company Evertype, based outside Westport, recently published an Irish version of The Hobbit, the English version of the book celebrated its 75th year last year. An Hobad features the original pictures and maps by JRR Tolkien. Cló Mhaigh Eo also added to its series of graphic novels with An Béal Bocht, one of the most popular books in Irish based on the original novel by Flann O’Brien/Myles na gCopaleen.

Communities could suffer alienation if Hogan makes radical changes to LEADER

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

Major changes which risk the total upheaval of the current LEADER local development model are being considered by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan. In response to these negative proposals this week, rural citizens and community groups along with board members of South West Mayo Development Co are taking action to demand that they do not get cut off at grassroot level.

Shell to Sea call for abolition of Garda Ombudsman and new body to be established

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

In a report submitted to the UN Human Right Council on Monday, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Margaret Sekaggya, called on the Irish Government to “investigate all allegation and reports of intimidation, harassment and surveillance in the context of the Corrib Gas dispute in a prompt and impartial manner”.

€2,500 fine for man caught with green diesel in pick up

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

A Ballyhaunis man who pleaded guilty to using green diesel in his pick-up truck was given a €2,500 fine which was mitigated down from the maximum possible fine of €5,000 at Ballyhaunis District Court this week

Vehicle record case adjourned for RSA to inspect new system

Fri, Mar 08, 2013

The case against Western Brand Chicken, Knock Road, Ballyhaunis for two offences, one for a driver not taking adequate rest breaks and the second for not having the vehicle records for four different trucks available to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) for inspection, was adjourned until June 4 at Ballyhaunis District Court this week. Judge Mary Devins adjourned the case against the company until June 4, so that the RSA can confirm that a new monitoring system that the company has put in place, where it can monitor each truck in real time and that all records available in real time are running and up to the satisfaction of the RSA.

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