Council recommends €10k community investment per megawatt of power for wind farm

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Mayo County Council has put forward a recommendation that the operators of a proposed wind farm contribute €10,000 per megawatt of power created to a community investment fund. However all Mayo County Council can do is make a propsal on the figure as the final decision on the ammount will be made by An Bord Planala. The proposed joint venture between ESB Wind Development and Bord na Mona at Owenwinny, Bellacorick is expected to cost in the region of €600 million to construct.

Mayo County Council had prepared a report on the project for the members to be discussed at Monday’s meeting. In the report Mayo County Council suggests a payment of €2,500 per megawatt, while the ESB and Bord na Mona had originally suggested a payment of around €1,000 megawatt. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne proposed that the council ask for the €10,000 per megawatt payment and it should be used to benefit all the county. He also said that because the final decision is down to An Bord Pleanala to make, the council should aim high.

Back to the ‘80s with Mayo Carers Association

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Get your glad rags out and your dancing shoes on! The Mayo Carers Association is hosting a fundraising ‘Back to the ‘80s’ night in conjunction with Westport Radio WRFM 98.2.

Console Memorial Walk in Mayo this weekend

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Next Sunday, September 15, hundreds of people will take to the streets of Ballina for the Console suicide prevention and postvention memorial walk which will be started by “Martin Lavin” (Eddie Durkin of The Hardy Bucks) along with his friends.

Erris Enterprise Week suspended following Corrib fatality

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Erris Enterprise Week, which was scheduled to take place this week, was postponed as a mark of respect for the employee of German subcontractor Herrenknecht AG, who was fatally injured in the Corrib tunnel at Aughoose last Sunday.

Rocking to the summit for LARCC

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

We’ve all heard of charity runs and cycles. But how about a charity run, cycle, climb, and obstacle course?

Relocation of tourist office is ‘bad news for Westport’

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Councillor Keith Martin has called on the OPW and Fáilte Ireland to meet with Westport Town Council to discuss the future of Westport’s Tourist Office.

New Stagecoach school arrives in Mayo

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Stagecoach, the world's largest part-time theatre school network for children, this year celebrates its 25th anniversary— a clear indication of its popularity in Ireland with seven successful centres in Dublin, Belfast, Galway, and Clare, training children in professional dance, drama, and singing classes each Saturday. The eighth and latest will open on Saturday September 21 at the Sacred Heart School, Westport.

Westport area councillors ask that overgrowth on roads be trimmed

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

Westport electoral area councillors stated at their meeting on Monday that the weeds, bushes, and hedge growth which is on the verge of roads need to be dealt with immediately as it is making driving on roads dangerous.

Mayo groups should apply for Go for Life grants

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

The Go for Life Small Grant Scheme is now open. The scheme is aimed at encouraging older people to get involved and is used by groups to buy equipment, run sports events, or try new activities. Last year 51 groups and clubs from Mayo received Go For Life small grants.

National newborn hearing screening programme at MGH

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

The national newborn hearing screening programme has been introduced at Mayo General Hospital. Newborn hearing screening has been part of the service at the hospital for a number of years and in 2011 the HSE contracted Northgate Information Solutions to roll out a national screening programme at all maternity hospitals in the country.

County Council meeting descends into farce

Fri, Sep 13, 2013

The spectacle of local government in operation descended into farce at last Monday’s meeting of Mayo County Council, which saw one councillor stand on his feet and continue to talk over the other members as the Cathaoirleach tried to get on with the business of the meeting.