Oscail an Doras launched in Castlebar

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh, a man known in every household as the voice of GAA and admired for his renowned ability to retain the most miniscule and abstract detail relating to imreoirí and bainisteoirí alike, arrived in Caisleán an Bharraigh last week to launch the Irish language scheme Oscail an Doras.

Has our best summer month just left us?

Fri, Jul 08, 2016

In terms of Irish summer months, June was very good to us. June does make a case for being Ireland’s best summer month. The highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3°C at Kilkenny Castle in June 1887. One of the highest temperatures recorded in Mayo since the early 1940s was 30.5°C, recorded at Claremorris in June 1983. What is in store for us weather-wise in the coming months? There are alternative forecasts to RTÉ’s nightly offering which often seems to hedge its bets and contradict itself by the end of the broadcast. Long before Evelyn Cusack appeared on television, local folklore determined what weather may be expected.

Being a largely rural county, it was commercially important for Mayo farmers to be able to predict the weather prior to the rise in popularity of radio announcements in the late 1920s. Our agricultural calendar is affected by the whims of an erratic Atlantic Ocean which often throws up four seasons in one day. It was important farmers had their own forecasting methods to fall back on. In 1949, a Mayo journalist thoughtfully shared these methods of local forecasting with his readership.

Community Diary

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

Breaffy walking group
Mayo Sports Partnership in conjunction with Breaffy GAA is organising a Breaffy walking group for beginners and advanced walkers of all ages, for men and women. Go along to information/registration evening on Wednesday July 6 at 8pm in Breaffy GAA clubhouse.

First part of local authority funding for IWAK to be paid over

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

The first portion of the €7.3 million investment by seven local authorities from the region into Ireland West Airport Knock as part of a proposal spearheaded by Mayo County Council will be paid over to the airport in coming weeks. The initiative, which was first mooted in late 2014, will see county councils in Mayo, Galway, Roscommon, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, and Galway City Council purchase a 17.5 per cent stake in the airport, which celebrated its 30th birthday this year.

McDonnell becomes county's first citizen

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

Fianna Fáil councillor Al McDonnell was elected as the new Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council for the next 12 months on Monday morning this week at the council's annual general meeting. This is the second time that Cllr McDonnell has been elected as Cathoirleach, having previously worn the chain of office in 1998. The Ballyglass based councillor first became a councillor in 1987 when he replaced former minister and European commissioner Padráig Flynn on the council, and he has been elected to the council in each of the subsequent local elections since.

Oh the Green and Red of Iceland!

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

No sooner had Ireland’s impressive Euro 2016 campaign come to an end in sweltering Lyon, but I was looking for another bandwagon to hop on. Iceland’s plucky unbeaten run through the group stage had already caught my eye and after their deserved win against England on Monday night it was decided, the Nordic republic would have my full support.

Bikers Run raises €5,000 for children's autism services

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

The third Annual Bikers Run for Western Care Association Children's Autism Services took place on Saturday June 4 last. Organised by Ann and Tom Burns and their friends, more than 50 bikers travelled around all the major towns of west and south Mayo on a beautiful sunny day. Bucket collections were taken up in the towns en-route with a total of €5,000 raised through the event for the Association’s Children’s Autism Services.

Rose of Tralee escort search is on for Westportif

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

Did you miss out on becoming an escort at the Rose of Tralee. The search is on for the Westportif Mayo Rose of Tralee escort. You must have your own bike and be able to do an 80km leisure cycle escorting the beautiful Mayo Rose on the route on July 16, are you up for the challenge?

Crossmolina centenary parade puts out call families of veterans

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

The organisers of the Crossmolina 1916 centenary parade have put a call out to all family members of 1916- 1921 volunteers, past and current serving members of An Garda Síochana, Prision Officers, Army, Navy, and Air Corps from the north Mayo area to come along and parade in their uniform in their celebration.

Drivers urged to slow down as July is a killer month on the roads

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

Road Safety professionals are warning road users that July is the most lethal month of the year in which to use Ireland's roads.

Noel Gibbons, road safety officer, said: "My heart goes out to all those touched by the fatalities and injuries over the past six months and we in no way want to diminish their pain, but we are seeing a trend. The seasonal increase in fatalities during the month of July is a clear warning to us all that we cannot afford to be complacent. So I would appeal to all road users to take personal responsibility for their actions and to make this July the safest one yet. The holiday season brings a lot of people on to unfamiliar roads, and motorists should take extra caution and adapt their driving style according to the road and weather conditions. I appeal to community alert committees to raise the danger of using the rural roads at this time of year with their members."

JCI Mayo is looking for Friendly Businesses

Fri, Jul 01, 2016

Ireland is famous all over the world for its one hundred thousand welcomes (céad míle fáilte) and now JCI Mayo is on the hunt for Mayo’s Friendliest Business. Do you know a business that makes you smile every time you use its service? If you do, don’t keep it a secret, nominate it for the JCI Mayo Friendly Business Awards Competition. We all need to support local businesses to ensure they have a future.

The JCI Mayo Friendly Business Awards seeks to recognise the important role played by small businesses in the continuous development and improvement of our economy and local communities. The competition aims to award businesses that go the extra mile and provide an outstanding service to their customers and their community at large. It is particularly important in this economic environment to highlight businesses that don't allow their standards to slip and continue to provide quality services.