Doocastle man elected Ireland’s Students’ Union president

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

A law and philosophy graduate from Doocastle has been elected to the most prominent role in student politics in Ireland.

More than five hundred applications for social housing in West Mayo district

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

There are more than 500 applications on file in the West Mayo District for social housing, it was revealed this week. The March meeting of the local authority was told there were 503 applications on file in the region by director of services for the district, Martin Keating. He further broke down the figures outlining that in the Westport town area there were 198 applications, in the Westport rural area there were 97, in Belmullet there were 52, in the Ballycroy and Mulranny area there were 20 applications, and in the Achill area there were 33 applications.

Sinn Fein councillor Rose Conway Walsh told the meeting: “The major problem, and it is getting worse, is the issue of the cap on the rent allowance for the housing. People are trying to prevent themselves from becoming homeless, people are trying to make up the shortfall on the rent allowance, and what they have to pay for rent is too great. It is really pushing families into poverty because they cannot meet the gap there, and I do think this needs to be seriously looked at as it is at the moment. I know the Minister indicated there would be some flexibility around it but there hasn’t been any in individual cases, and that needs to be examined or we’re going to end up with a lot more people who are homeless here, and it is the Government’s responsibility to ensure that people have adequate housing in the area.”

Castlebar economists for Draghi meeting

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

Four students from St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, have lined up a meeting with the European Central Bank president Mario Draghi.

€30 million housing allocation will get Tubber Hill project going

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The announcement on Wednesday of a €30,265,764 allocation for local authority housing needs in Mayo will see the new 20 unit project in Tubber Hill get started. Minister of State Michael Ring said after the announcement of the funding: “In Westport, 20 new housing units will be built and this will go a long way towards reducing the housing list in Westport. In Mayo, €30,265,764 has been allocated to the county council for local authority housing. It is estimated that this funding will meet 38 per cent of the housing need in Mayo. This is not even including the Housing Assistance Payment which will help to further reduce demand on our housing waiting list.”

Concerns for the future of Croagh Patrick raised again

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The condition of the pathway up Croagh Patrick, and ensuring that it is made safe, was raised again this week at the West Mayo Municipal District’s monthly meeting.

Councillors give go ahead for new car park at Bartraw beach

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The elected members of the West Mayo Municipal District gave their approval for Mayo County Council to proceed with its plans for the development of a new car park along with drainage and ancillary works for Bartraw Beach, Thornhill, Murrisk, at their March meeting this week. The item was proposed by Cllr Christy Hyland and seconded by Cllr Brendan Mulroy.

Michael Davitt’s Glasgow Celtic links celebrated in Straide

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

A new exhibition celebrating the historic links between one of Mayo’s greatest patriots, Michael Davitt, and the Scottish football club, Glasgow Celtic, was officially opened at the Michael Davitt Museum in Straide last Friday.

Ballycroy National Park is open for the new season Young Luke

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

Ballycroy National Park visitor centre reopens for the 2015 season today, Good Friday, with a series of special events for all ages. Ballycroy National Park covers 11,000 hectares in area and comprises the Nephin Beg Mountain Range and the Owenduff Bog, the largest intact active blanket bog in Ireland.

The visitor centre houses an interactive exhibition on the special landscape, habitats, and species of the national park. There is a short nature trail (Tóchar Daithí Bán) with a viewing point which offers stunning panoramic views of Achill Island to the west and the Nephin Beg mountain range to the east.

Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath gearing up for birthday

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath has announced that plans are afoot to mark its 110th anniversary by having its ten year publication ready for release to its diaspora world-wide in October 2015.

Government TDs welcome Leader funding for projects

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

The announcement by Minister for Environment, Alan Kelly that he has sanctioned Mayo North East Leader Partnership to approve funding for four projects in the area, was welcomed by Government TDs this week. The three projects are: €301,499 to Comharchumann Forbartha Ionad Deirbhile Eachleim Teoranta to renovate Naomh Bhreandain Community Hall in Eachleim, Blacksod. €177,350 for the development of a commuity centre in Attymass. €167,635 for the completion of phase two of the Bonniconlon Community Centre, and €150,334 for the Swinford community recreation centre.

Abolition of milk quotas will benefit farmers in Mayo – O’Mahony

Fri, Apr 03, 2015

“The abolition of milk quotas will be of huge benefit to dairy farmers in Mayo,” said Mayo Fine Gael Deputy John O’Mahony Fine. Deputy O’Mahony was speaking on Wednesday as the first day of April marked the ending of milk quotas across the European Union.

He went on to say: “Today is a huge day for Irish agriculture as it brings to an end the 31 year quota that had applied to milk production. There is a real opportunity now for Mayo dairy farmers to increase production and export worldwide. The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, pointed out that Ireland’s dairy production [at approximately 5.4 billion litres in 2013] is roughly the same as it was back in 1984. Over the same time period, production in New Zealand, where they have a grass-based system similar to Ireland’s, has increased from 7.6 billion litres to about 19 billion litres. It is now time for Ireland’s dairy production to grow, and the Minister has been preparing well for the abolition of the quota by exploring new global markets for Irish dairy products. There is huge opportunity in third country markets, with China a great example.”

Party headquarters will listen to grassroots, says Mayo FF chairperson

Fri, Mar 27, 2015

The chairperson of Fianna Fáil in Mayo says he believes there will be no overruling decree from headquarters in Dublin on who the local party should send forward for the next General Election.

E-paper

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