Westport is ready to roll for Rolling Sun Book Festival

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

The Rolling Sun Book Festival, set in Westport, County Mayo, is a quirky boutique festival that indulges bookworms and connoisseurs of music, song, and poetry. Set in the shadow of the ancient spiritual mountain, Croagh Patrick, it evokes the many layers of Irish culture in the best bardic and poetic traditions. The festival kicked off last night, Thursday November 3, with poet Ger Reidy launching Lady Cassie Peregrina a poetry collection by Terry McDonagh in the Custom House Studio and will continue with a jam packed number of days until it finishes on Sunday November 6.

Mayo co-operative creameries, the original cash cow

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

Irish farmers learned a long time ago that, in certain circumstances, working in co-operation could lead to real progress and maximised profit for each individual. The meitheal system, whereby a farmer would assist a neighbouring farmer, who would in turn reciprocate that help when needed, was a well established tradition in rural Ireland. The spirit of the meitheal was evident in the beginnings of the Irish co-operative movement. Co-operatives were operating since the 1880s and the concept of voluntary association among farmers went through strong periods as well as years of slow development.

Following a decade of war, the young Irish Free State strove to prove it was capable of going it alone and the co-operative movement was again encouraged. A kick-start event in the rejuvenation of co-operative creameries in Mayo was a meeting of the board of management of Mayo Co-operative Creameries held in 1930. At the meeting, contracts were signed for the erection of three creameries in Westport, Castlebar, and a central creamery at Balla. The investment of £6,000 was a major show of confidence in the viability of Mayo dairy farming. The low price of butter on the market did in some respects force farmers to participate but they were equally mindful that butter was a very solid industry with a ready market. The creameries' early years were hampered from outside and also sadly from within. Externally, trade depression continued to keep prices down. Internally, Castlebar and Westport farmers were falling well short of the necessary milk supply levels and their committees were effectively non-existent. Reasons given for the shortfall in milk production were the inaction of local TDs and senators (some were members of the creameries) and the growth of parochial factions and petty spites among farmers. Balla was gathering more than three times the amount of milk as Castlebar and Westport combined. The dire figures aside, membership of the creameries remained at over 900 members and organisers remained confident that the daily requirement of 240 gallons of milk from each district was achievable. It was estimated at the time that 85 good cows could produce that daily requirement.

Age Action needs you to keep the lights on in Mayo

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

Age Action has launched a new fundraising campaign to support its 'Care and Repair' service for older people, which last year carried out more than 1,300 jobs in Mayo. Justin Moran, head of advocacy and communications at Age Action, said: “Our Care and Repair service carries out tens of thousands of DIY jobs in the home for older people around Ireland every year. Our volunteers help with the small jobs around the house that, as people get older, they might struggle to do. This can be as simple as changing a light-bulb, installing a lock, clearing a drain or tacking down a loose floorboard, but we urgently need your help to keep this service going.”

Age Action’s Care and Repair service is delivered in partnership with four community groups in Mayo, which are Clar ICH in Claremorris (094) 9371830, Belmullet Men's Community Initiative (097) 81079, Westport Family and Community Resource Centre (098) 24419, and South West Mayo Development Company. (098) 41950. These groups are trained and supported by Age Action and coordinate groups of local volunteers who help older people in their locality.

St Colman's gearing up for major fundraiser

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

On Saturday November 12, St Colman’s College, Claremorris, brings the hugely popular '20K Drop' to Claremorris in the McWilliam Park Hotel. This show has attracted large audiences all over Ireland for the past 11 years and is fast becoming one of the most popular sources of fund-raising for schools and clubs throughout the country. Contestants are drawn from ticket sales and each contestant will have a chance to win up to €2,500 on the night.

Mayo University Hospital part of first Irish survey on pregnancy and depression

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

One in six pregnant women or 16 per cent of pregnant women attending maternity services across Ireland are at probable risk of depression during their pregnancy, according to a new survey launched this week by a Trinity College Dublin research team and the Irish Obstetric Services. Mayo Univesity Hospital, Castlebar, was one of the maternity sites involved in this first comprehensive incidence survey. More than 5,000 women at all stages of pregnancy were questioned for the study in Castlebar and at The National Maternity Hospital, Cork University Hospital, University Hospital Limerick, and community antenatal clinics in Tallaght.

Introducing The Core

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

Do you play a musical instrument or sing? Are you curious about music production in the studio or in a live setting?Maybe you have a band or perhaps you would like to start or join one. Do you want to meet like minded creative people and make music in a positive and supportive environment? No matter what your musical style and taste is, The Core would love to hear from you. It will be holding an information evening on Monday November 7 in the Ballina Arts Centre at 6pm. Admission is free and it is for people aged between 12 and 18 years of age. Parents/guardians/families welcome.

The late Paddy Philips named as Mayo Carer of the Year

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

The 2016 Mayo Carer of the Year has been awarded to the late Paddy Philips from Orlar, Kilkelly. Mr Philips was nominated by his family in acknowledgement of the love and care he provided to his mother who was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago. Sadly Paddy passed away earlier this year, on April 13. Paddy’s sister Aine and brother Tomas accepted the award on his behalf last Tuesday.

Claremorris Expo to showcase all that is good in the town

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

The Claremorris Business and Community Expo 2016 takes place in the Claremorris Town Hall on Friday next, November 11, from 4pm to 9pm and will showcase all that is good in the town. The expo is free to attend and will provide invaluable opportunities for the leading vendors and service providers in the town and their customers to meet and network under one roof.

Get Daylighted, urges road safety officer

Fri, Nov 04, 2016

If all drivers in Ireland used their dipped headlights when driving during the day we could reduce the number of collisions on Irish roads by 20 per cent, according to Mayo County Council's road safety officer, Noel Gibbons. This is why Mayo County Council, An Garda Siochána, and the HSE in Mayo have started the 'Daylighted' campaign. The campaign aims to promote the use of dipped headlights when driving during daylight hours. These organisations are encouraging their staff to 'light up' and improve their own safety on the road and that of other road users.

A spokesperson for the group said: “For most staff working in our organisations a road collision is perhaps one of the biggest health and safety risks they face. Most drive to and from work and a significant number drive as part of their job. As employers Mayo County Council and the HSE in Mayo feel that this is an important health and safety initiative. From what we know about daytime road collisions half of them happen because drivers do not see other cars quickly enough. Turning your lights on makes it easier for other road users to see your car too. They see you more quickly so they can react faster. They are also less likely to take risks on the road as they can judge speed and distance more accurately."

Parish Priest tells of saddness in Irishtown following death of "Pillars of the Community"

Wed, Nov 02, 2016

Local Parish Priest, Fr Martin O'Connor this morning spoke of the sadness and shock in the small village of Irishtown following the death of local couple Tom and Kitty Fitzgerald from Knockadoon yesterday afternoon.

Two bodies discovered in Irishtown

Tue, Nov 01, 2016

Gardaí are investigating all the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the bodies of a man, late 70’s and a woman, mid 60’s at a house in Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo this afternoon, Tuesday, November 1 shortly after 3pm.

Westport follows Foxford in being too costly for flood defence works

Fri, Oct 28, 2016

Following the news last week that Foxford had been deemed as being 'not cost beneficial' to have flood prevention works carried out on it as part of the Western Catchement Flood Risk Assessment and Manangment (CFRAM) scheme, Westport fell to a similar fate this week. And like the response from local representatives in Foxford last week, there was disappointment and bemusement from the elected members of the West Mayo District at this news.

The members were told by the OPW, which is responsible for the scheme, that if a one in 1,000 year flood occurred on the Carrowbeg River in the heart of the town, the estimated damage it would cause would be in the region of €620,000; however following investigations as part of the programme it was found that it would cost in the region of €1 million to put in improvement works to stop such an event happening, therefore it was deemed not to be cost beneficial to carry out such works.

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