Swinford solicitors to challenge criteria for closure of local courthouse

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

All of the Swinford solicitors and their staff are challenging the evaluation criteria set out by the Courts Service in an effort to have at least one court in operation for east Mayo. At present, based on the flawed criteria and a lack of meaningful engagement with the local community, the closure is likely. It also comes at a time when Swinford Garda Station has been downgraded and the closure of the local Teagasc office is imminent.

Garda crime prevention advice for Christmas

Fri, Dec 21, 2012

With the busiest shopping period of the year upon us, especially online, the public and retailers alike should take steps to protect themselves from fraud.

Intensive revision over Christmas for Leaving and Junior Cert Students

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

The Galway Study Centre will be offering one week of intensive revision classes during the Christmas holiday period. Classes will start on Monday December 31, and apart from New Year’s Day, will continue until Saturday January 5.

Mayo students graduate with Accounting Technicians Ireland

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Accounting Technicians Ireland, the leading professional body for accounting technicians in Ireland, has conferred certificates of membership to newly qualifying graduates Fiona Ginty from Swinford, Seamus O’Neill from Crossmolina, and Angela Ring from Claremorris. They recently completed her final year examinations and work experience requirements and graduated among an overall class of over 300 new members. They received their certificates from Accounting Technicians Ireland President Eithne O’Sullivan FIATI at a special ceremony in Galway.

EHL and A: teaching the teachers

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

With concerns growing in Ireland about the physical health of the nation there is an increasing demand to ensure that health and leisure professionals are kept fully up to date with the changing needs and developments of the health and leisure industry. EHL and A Fitness has been teaching the teachers for over 14 years with a client success rate of 98.5 per cent. From January 2013 the company will again be offering ITEC internationally accredited personal training, exercise to music, aquatics and gym instruction courses.

Growth of project management certification and education

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

The growing demand for project management has spawned a great increase in the need for project management education, certification and training.

Westport man challenging Household Charge

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

A Westport man is challenging the constitutionality of the Household Charge.

Mayo judge calls woman ‘tinker’ after assault in Midlands nightclub

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Westport judge Seamus Hughes called a woman a “tinker” when told she smashed another woman in the face with a pint glass.

Decrease in the number of break-ins in Westport town

Fri, Dec 14, 2012

Superintendent of Westport Aiden Foley stated at the town’s JPC meeting on Monday that there has not been an increase of break-ins in Westport town during 2012; in fact the number of break-ins in the town is down on the number of burglaries in 2011. The superintendent did, however, clarify that there has been a marginal increase in burglaries in the Westport district.

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.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.