Hike to freedom this Easter Sunday

Fri, Mar 18, 2016

This Easter Monday at 10am the Nephin Beggars Hill Walking group and the Wild Nephin Mountains Group will be taking a trip back in time to May 1921 to the aftermath of the Kilmeanna ambush where Michael Kilroy's West Mayo flying column retreated to the safety of the Nephin mountains after an attack on a large force of British soldiers.

Pádraig Pearse Award nomination divides the chamber

Mon, Mar 14, 2016

The seemingly innocuous matter of Mayo County Council nominating someone for the Pádraig Pearse Award took a long time to get sorted out over the course of two meetings of the local authority this month. The item initially came up for decision at the March meeting of the council which was held last Monday week, March 7 but was adjourned after both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil had nominated An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Dep Éamon Ó Cuív  respectively.

When the council met again this Monday, March 14 at a special meeting which was called to fill the seat vacated by the departing newly elected TD Dep Lisa Chambers, the item was tagged on to the end of the agenda at this special meeting. In the week between the meetings, Fine Gael had decided to withdraw their nomination of Enda Kenny for the award, but Fianna Fáil held fast in their nomination of Éamon Ó Cuív for the award.

McLoughlin to be co-opted to Mayo County Council

Sat, Mar 12, 2016

A selection convention held on Saturday evening saw Martin McLoughlin selected as Fianna Fáil’s choice to replace the newly elected TD, Deputy Lisa Chambers on Mayo County Council.

McLoughlin who was a key player in Dep Lisa Chambers election team in last months general election and he led off the challenge of David Gallagher from Castlebar and Marty O’Hora from Kiltimagh to win the co-option battle.

Mulroy takes the Leas Cathaoirleach seat

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Westport based Fianna Fáil councillor Brendan Mulroy has taken over the role of Leas Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council. The first term member of the council was elected to the role from newly elected Fianna Fáil TD Lisa Chambers who had to vacate her council seat following her election to the Dáil at the end of February.

FF to hold convention on Saturday to select Chambers replacement

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Fianna Fáil will hold a selection convention in Castlebar on Saturday night to fill the seat vacated on Mayo County Council following the election of Lisa Chambers to the Dáil in the recent general election.

Pay-by-weight issue to become bigger than Irish Water

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

The imminent introduction of pay-by-weight charging for the collection of domestic waste is leading to an increase in the number of people illegally disposing of waste, a number of members of Mayo County Council said this week. The issue regarding the changes in how people will be charged for their waste disposal will become a very big issue in the coming months before its introduction in July of this year, according to a number of councillors, with the Cathaoirelach, Cllr Michael Holmes, saying: "It will become a much bigger issue than Irish Water was."

Investigation under way into group water scheme slurry contamination

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

The contamination of some of the houses on the Nephin Valley Group Water Scheme (NVGWS) was brought up at Monday's meeting of Mayo County Council. The contamination first arose on Friday February 26. One resident who contacted the Mayo Advertiser said: "Basically on Friday, February 26, my mother noticed some dirty coloured water coming from the kitchen sink tap." She went on to say they contacted those charged with the management of the scheme and the next day "some operatives from NVGWS came to the house and witnessed the very dirty water with a smell of cattle slurry off it coming through our drinking water taps. At this stage the water had contaminated the dishwasher, internal heating system, and washing machines."

Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne raised the issue at Monday's meeting of the council, saying: "There is a lot of frustration in relation to the Nephin Valley Group Water Scheme, where I understand that slurry got into the group water scheme and is coming out through the taps. This is a very serious matter where at least seven houses, as I understand, have slurry coming out through the taps from the pipes and it's not good enough. I understand it's being dealt with by the group water scheme section of the council, I want to know what's happening. The people went to the EPA and they were told nothing to do with us. If this isn't their area what is?"

Are you ready to run the runway?

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

At the end of May runners and walkers are being offered a chance to dash off down the runway of Ireland West Airport Knock for the first time ever and challenge themselves on a 5km course. Saturday May 28 at 7pm will see the inaugural Bank of Ireland sponsored Runway Run-Walk taking place.

Mayo Rape Crisis Centre women's day event

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Mayo RCC in collabaration with Soroptomists International Castlebar are holding a celebration of International Women's Day on Sunday, March 13 in the MacHalla Hall in Lough Lannagh Holiday Village at 12.30pm.

There will be a meet and greet the nominees for Mayo's Inspirational Woman 2015: Fiona Neary, Elaine Griffin and Carmel Bourke and Mayo's current holder of the title of Inspirational Woman of the Year: Margaret Leahy.

Mayo's Kathleen Lynn to feature in 1916 commemoration by Bus Éireann

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

Bus Éireann and the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) have launched a collaborative campaign to commemorate leading female participants in the 1916 Rising. The campaign features a specially wrapped double decker commuter bus, and posters illustrating the stories of six women who featured prominently in the Easter Rising, on 650 buses nationwide. Bus Éireann travel centres across the country, as well as bus bays, some bus shelters, and Busaras in Dublin, will also feature billboards and a short digital video for the campaign. The figures will be profiled on board buses in the regions where they are most associated, with Mayo native Kathleen Lynn the figurehead for the west of Ireland

Ballinrobe Town Hall project is looking for local support

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

A target of €400,000 in business and private contributions has been set by the campaign to rebuild Ballinrobe Town Hall. Locals have been urged to support the effort to build a town hall on the site where the previous one existed from 1886 to 1996. A variety of support options was outlined at the campaign’s fund-raising launch in Flannery’s Bar and Restaurant this week.

“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, speaking at the launch.

Booming US marketplace open for Mayo companies

Fri, Mar 11, 2016

With a population of over 300 million - which is expected to rise to 336 million by 2020 - America is the largest developed market place in the world. The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy, with a per capita GDP of $46,900. Mayo County Council is leading a regional initiative to establish the Ireland West International Trade Centre located in Providence, Rhode Island.

E-paper

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