Council had applied many times for funding for Bachelors Walk work in Ballina

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

Mayo County Council had made numerous applications to the Office of Public Works for funding under a minor works scheme to make improvements to the Bachelors Walk area of the town, which has had a history of flooding and came under threat of flooding again recently, but had been turned down by the OPW on each of its previous applications. The council has a fresh application for funding under this scheme and this time around is hopeful of getting funding.

Tommy Griffith and Heros for Hospice win Muintir Mhaigh Eo awards

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

The winners of the annual Munitir Mhaigh Eo Mayo Person of the Year and the Meitheal award were announced last night at The Odeon in Harcourt Street in Dublin. The winner of Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year is Tommy Griffith, entrepreneur and CEO of PEL, while the recipient of the 2015 Mayo Meitheal Award is the Heroes for Hospice Ballina group who put on the Beyond the Barricades musical tour last year to raise money for hospice.

Housing crisis is not confined to Dublin — Conway-Walsh

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

The housing crisis is not confined to Dublin and the east of the Country according to Mayo Sinn Féin general election candidate Rose Conway-Walsh. She said this week: "There are families in Mayo who are living in cramped unsuitable conditions because the maximum rent limits for the housing assistance payment which replaced the rent allowance is capped at €375 monthly for a single person, or €390 for a couple or €500 for a couple with three children. In essence what this means is that tenants who are unable to secure properties for those amounts or less are not legally eligible for housing assistance."

No movement of A&E patients says hospital

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

Fianna Fáil general election candidate Cllr Lisa Chambers claimed last weekend that "overflow from A&E and patients on trolleys were moved to the Medical Assessment Unit and Day Services Unit to hide the true scale of the problem from the eyes of An Taoiseach" when he was visiting the hospital last Friday to open a new cystic fibrosis unit.

Ballinrobe pharmacy awarded health literacy quality mark by MSD and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA)

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

Joanne Hynes totalhealth Pharmacy, Ballinrobe, has been awarded the Crystal Clear Mark, Ireland’s first health literacy quality mark. The programme recognises the critical role pharmacies play in helping patients understand their health issues and the steps they can take to improve their health. It has been developed by MSD and the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA).

Sport software company hiring after securing investment

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

A Mayo sports software company clinched a sizeable investment from private investors and Enterprise Ireland to roll out its software internationally. Sportlomo has developed a sports software platform for amateur sport. It is used largely by sports in Ireland but also has users in the UK, USA, and United Arab Emirates. The company is a spin-off of 21st Century Computers and Web Design in Castlebar which was established by Seamus Kyne and Vivienne Kyne in 1997 at Moneen in Castlebar.

Sportlomo has kept a low profile as it concentrated on ‘land-grabbing’ all the top sports in Ireland. It is better recognised in Ireland as Sports Manager. The Kynes have bootstrapped their company to this point, but now with this latest investment they intend to ramp up quickly and plan to grow staff numbers. Seamus Kyne says: “Our most immediate task is to take on software developers as soon as possible.” Software developers are not easily found in Mayo but this up-coming software company hopes to attract developers quickly.

Have your pooch pampered at Shampooch

Fri, Jan 22, 2016

Shampooch is a friendly, gentle, experienced professional dog grooming and home boarding service located at Derrada, Bekan (five minutes from Knock). It caters for all breeds of dog, large or small, and provides a full range of services from simple nail trimming or bath to a full groom with clipping, hand stripping, or scissor styling to suit.

Jordan and O'Malley selected as First Independent candidates

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

First Independent Mayo last night announced that George O'Malley from Newport and Peter Jordan from Ballina would be running on a joint ticket for the political grouping. The two candidates were launched last night at an event in the Twin Trees Hotel in Ballina.

The four central planks of the two candidates' campaign will be (1) A 10 point plan of capital and infrastructure projects that will grow Mayo's local economy and be a game changer for inward investment in the county. (2) Highlighting The Taoiseach's and Fine Gael's lack of credibility nationally and locally, and Fianna Fáil's dismal record for the west as well. (3) Emphasising that it is in the interests of Mayo people that we have a strong independent TD, working with other independents who may have the balance of power and who can end the two tier economy and ensure regional imbalances are addressed. The status quo is not in Mayo's interest. (4) The opportunity the Brexit debate can give us to effect positive reform that benefits Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Kenny to open the specialised cystic fibrosis respiratory unit

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, will this afternoon officially open the specialised cystic fibrosis respiratory unit on the grounds of Mayo University Hospital at 4.30pm.

Ballina man looking to get €2,400 returned from gardai

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

A Ballina man who had €2,400 cash seized by gardai as part of a criminal investigation into a robbery where €50,000 in cash was stolen in 2014 was in court this week looking to have the cash returned to him. Detective Garda Leo Heaney told the court in Ballina that on March 10 2014 the money was seized by Gardai at the man's home in Ballina following a search of his home on foot of a bench warrant issued by the court.

South Mayo still suffering from flood waters

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

The village of Cong in particular is still suffering because of the flooding that first occurred last December. At the January meeting of the Claremorris Municipal District of Mayo County Council, director of services Paddy Mahon outlined in a presentation the areas that have been affected and the efforts the council has made to keep things under control.

Man with suspended sentence sent back to Circuit Court

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

A man with 14 previous convictions and a suspended sentence from the Circuit Court was sent back to the Circuit Court after he pleaded guilty to two public order offences in Ballina District Court this week.

Superintendent Joe Doherty told the court that on October 26 at 2.29am gardai saw Jake Smyth with an address at Stonehall, Foxford, County Mayo, intoxicated and shouting in the middle of the road at Ridgepool Road in Ballina. Gardai approached him and directed him to leave the area but he became threatening and abusive to the gardai and he spat at the Garda patrol car and told them to "go and do innocent people for having no tax and insurance". He eventually left the area.

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