Seosamh Mac Gabhann Summer School heritage tour

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

As part of the Seosamh Mac Gabhann Summer School, which will run from July 3 to 8), a heritage tour will take place on Sunday, July 3. The tour, which is open to the public and free to attend, will commence at the ‘Cois Tine’ Heritage Centre in Kilmovee at 2pm. This year’s tour will focus on events in East Mayo pre and post 1916 with their tour guide - local historian James Reddiough. The author of seven books, James wrote The History of the East Mayo Brigade in 2005. As part of his research, he spoke to people in Kilmovee who recalled activities post 1916 in the Kilmovee area and participants will visit sites impacted during those troubled times.

€10,000 raised for Western Care in Westport House open day

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

A fortnight ago, Westport House's annual open day in aid of and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Western Care Association was held and it was a massive success. They were blessed with great weather, a great turnout, great atmosphere, great entertainment, great craic and a really great charity. Westport House was delighted to announce that €10,000 was raised through the event for Western Care. Both Western Care and Westport House would like to thank all of the people who gave generously to all the bucket shakers and in the raffle - instead of paying for admission to Westport House on the day.

Local Diaspora Engagement Fund allocations for Mayo

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Minister of State for Regional Economic Development Michael Ring has welcomed the announcement that €28,000 in funding has been awarded to Mayo under the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund 2016. This funding is part of an overall funding of €350,000 which has been allocated to 105 local and community organisations around the country for projects and initiatives under the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund (LDEF) 2016.

Get painting 'En plein air' this June

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Listed in The Irish Times as number eight in its list of 50 Things To Do in Ireland This Summer, a free open-air painting/sketching event for adults takes place in Castlebar on Saturday June 18 from 11am to 5pm.

Emma was the brightest at Bloom

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

On Sunday last at the Solus Garden at Bloom in the Phoenix Park, Emma O'Shea (8) from Ballinrobe was chosen as the Brightest at Bloom on the yellow carpet from 10 finalists. Solus Brightest at Bloom is a nod to Ladies' Day but all-inclusive, open to ladies, gentlemen, children and all sunny dispositions young and not so young. It is not just about fashion but more about luminosity, brightness, and light.

Motor insurance costs need to be tackled — Calleary

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Fianna Fáil has brought forward a Dáil motion this week which aims to drive down the cost of motor insurance. Over the past two years motorists have seen their premiums rise by a massive 60 per cent — placing a huge burden on family budgets.

Mayo TD Dara Calleary commented: “Motor insurance is one of the fastest rising costs being experienced by personal and business customers alike. And because it is a compulsory cost for motorists, they are bearing the brunt of these extortionate price hikes. I am hearing stories every day from people who are seeing their premiums jumping by hundreds of euros and they are extremely worried about being able to afford the cost.

Taoiseach welcomes funding for works in Mayo schools

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, that 18 Mayo schools will to receive funding for Additional Accommodation and Emergency Works. "Fourteen schools have been approved for funding under the Emergency Works Scheme, which will allow them to carry out works on roof repairs, accessibility of the school and structural repairs," the Taoiseach said.

The schools to receive funding for emergency works are: St Joseph's CC, Charlestown; Geesala NS; Rice College, Westport; Scoil Phadraig, Market Square, Ballina; Scoil Iosa, Convent Hill, Ballina; Scoil Cholmcille, Breaffy, Ballina; Gortjordan National School; Culmore National School; Sacred Heart School, Westport; St Joseph's Community College, Charlestown; Behymore National School; St Colman's College, Claremorris; and Ballinrobe Community School.

Poetry award for Westport students

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Five children from the Quay School in Westport have been named among the winners in this year's annual Cavan Crystal Poetry Competition. This national competition is open to children throughout the island of Ireland and while the Quay School has been among the winners in the past, it was extraordinary that five pupils from fifth and sixth classes were listed among this year's award recipients.

Door-to-door fundraising starts to rebuild Ballinrobe Town Hall

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

Householders in Ballinrobe are asked to give generously as a door-to-door collection gets under way in the campaign to rebuild Ballinrobe Town Hall. A target of €400,000 in business and private contributions has been set as Ballinrobe aims to restore the old hall, which closed in 1996. A team of approximately 40 collectors will visit every house in the parish to seek support through a variety of suitable fundraising options.

“We estimate that we will receive between €800,000 and €900,000 in local and central Government and agency funding, which will require Ballinrobe to come up with approximately €400,000 to fund the project. The overall cost has been independently costed at just short of €1.3m,” said Michael Sweeney, chairman, Ballinrobe Civic, Arts and Amenity Co Ltd, at the launch.

Mayo North tourism expo hailed as a great success

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

MayoNorth.ie along with Ballina Chamber and Tourist Office held its first tourism expo, entitled ‘Meet Mayo North’, last week in the Ballina Manor Hotel. The expo was designed to give businesses and community tourism groups operating in the north Mayo/west Sligo region an opportunity to showcase their business to the public, and to network with other tourism operators. The event was a big success, with more than 50 exhibitors taking a stand in the stunning Ridgepool Room to showcase their tourism offering, as well as representatives from Failte Ireland, Mayo.ie, Gnó Mhaigh Eo, Mayo Paradise Possible, and Mayo Chamber in attendance.

Transition year students Awaken at special concert

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

More than 380 transition year students from all over the west including students from Balla, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Louisburgh, and Westport recently took to the stage in Breaffy House Resort a part of the Awakening concert. The event was a celebration of both modern church and contemporary music that had been described by many as Glee meets the X-Factor meets church music.

Tacú Family Resource Centre in Ballinrobe goes from strength to strength

Fri, Jun 10, 2016

"Volunteers aren't paid because they are worthless, but because they are priceless," were the words of thanks given to the hard working volunteers of Tacú Family Resource Centre by Mary Jackson, project coordinator at Tacú's well-attended AGM last week. The chairperson Patsy Shaughnessy and Mary Jackson outlined how the FRC has supported hundreds of local people during 2015. Tacú also runs the youth booth which provides invaluable support to young people in south Mayo providing structured programmes as well as drop in support options and work with schools. Tacú also runs Little Stars After School programme.

The chairperson commended the staff, those on work schemes, volunteers, students, and interns of the FRC for providing such a wealth of support for the local community, ranging from in-home family support service, meals on wheels, and supports for older people, to providing computer time and supporting people with CVs in the busy project. Some of the community education courses available in Tacú are adult yoga classes, drumming workshops, hip hop workshops, photography workshops, and mindfulness for young people. Other activities going on in Tacú are mother and baby group, parent and toddler social drop-in service, Aware depression support group, and Friends of Tacú Friday morning drop-in group.

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