Protestors disrupt County Registrar's Court

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

A group of protestors disrupted a sitting of the County Registrar's Court in Castlebar on Wednesday morning. A number of the activists read the 1916 Proclamation and refused requests from the County Registrar, Mr Fintan Murphy, to stop and let the court continue. After the court rose and resumed and the protests continued, a number of them were removed from the court.

Later on in the day a large number of the protestors who had gathered at the court staged a march where they walked through the town, stopping at the local Garda station and the constituency office on An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Sinn Féin hit back at Fianna Fáil over cuts to home help hours

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Sinn Féin councillor and general election candidate Cllr Rose Conway Walsh said this week that Fianna Fáil's protesting at cuts in home help hours "run hollow" as they themselves slashed home help hours during their last term in government. Cllr Conway Walsh said this week: "Fianna Fail's protestations over the 9,000 hours cut from home help hours in Mayo since 2012 by Fine Gael run hollow when they themselves cut 32,000 hours of home help in the county in just one year period from August 21 2009 to August 31 2010.

Foxford's new waste water treatment plant will be flood protected

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin said this week that she has received an assurance from Irish Water that the proposed new waste water treatment plant in Foxford will be flood protected. Deputy Mulherin has welcomed the decision by Irish Water to review its flood design assumptions for the new plant in light of the recent flooding that put the current sewerage plant in Foxford out of operation.

Date set for Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath awards

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Muintir Mhaigh Eo Atha Cliath has announced that the 2016 recipients of the Virginia Gallagher Mayo Person of the Year and Meitheal community achievement awards will be honoured at a gala banquet at Citywest Hotel, Saggart, Co Dublin, on Saturday February 13.

The banquet will feature a splendid four course meal, and musical entertainment on the night will be provided by the Brose Walsh band ensuring all those in attendance can mingle and dance until the early hours of the morning. A bumper raffle of over 50 prizes, received from businesses in Mayo, will also be held and funds raised from the raffle will be donated to charities in the county.

€480,000 in flood relief works being sought for Ballina

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has said this week that €480,000 funding is being sought to build a flood barrier at Bachelors Walk in Ballina to prevent flooding from the River Moy. The news comes following a meeting of Deputy Mulherin, Junior Minister with Special responsibility for the OPW Simon Harris, and Mayo County Council officials.

She said earlier this week: “Mayo County Council is submitting an application for the funding to the OPW under the Minor Flood Relief Scheme for Bachelor's Walk. This would see a new wall built as a barrier to mitigate against the very real risk of flooding at times of heavy rain and high tides in this area and would cost in the region of €480,000

€480,000 in flood relief works being sought for Ballina

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has said this week that €480,000 funding is being sought to build a flood barrier at Bachelors Walk in Ballina to prevent flooding from the River Moy. The news comes following a meeting of Deputy Mulherin, Junior Minister with Special responsibility for the OPW Simon Harris, and Mayo County Council officials.

Operation Transformation — don’t be dim

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

As you know, pedestrian safety is an issue that affects all of us. Whether it is a stroll around the corner, to a friend's house or work, or simply as exercise to clear the mind after a long day indoors – Irish people love to walk. Walking is not just an exercise, it affects our health, it is good for the environment, it improves our quality of life.

Mayo County Council road safety officer, Noel Gibbons is advising people: "We are all pedestrians at some time of day. Yet, this simplest of life's pleasures sometimes comes with a terrible cost. With Operation Transformation fever taking Ireland by storm, road safety advice is being issued to its participants. It is great to see so many people replacing the sofa with fresh air walks, people are reminded dark coloured clothing and coats may look chic, but at night or on cloudy days, they can make pedestrians almost invisible. Every year in Ireland, the majority of pedestrian fatalities occur at night or in low-light hours. There were 32 pedestrians killed on Irish roads in 2015, so just by making yourself visible to other road users we could reduce the number of fatalities and serious injuries.

More needs to be done for dementia supports — Chambers

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Fianna Fáil General Election candidate in Mayo Cllr Lisa Chambers says this Government has failed to deliver on sufficient supports for dementia care over the past five years. Despite committing to a new dementia strategy, very little has been done to support families and carers of people with dementia.

Calleary hits out at Fine Gael over IWAK

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary has hit out at Fine Gael for refusing to commit to a long term financial programme for Ireland West Airport Knock. Despite local Government TDs consistently patting themselves on the back, the fact of the matter is Fine Gael has done nothing to secure the long term security of the airport said Calleary.

Ó'Cuív to open Ballinrobe office next week

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

With the general election on the horizon, Fianna Fáil TD for Galway West Éamon Ó'Cuív will open a new constituency office in Ballinrobe next week. The newly expanded Galway West constituency will take in a large chunk of south Mayo after the changes to constituency boundaries since the last general election in 2011.

Taoiseach reports progress on Sacred Heart project

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has said that the tenders for the new Sacred Heart Hospital are progressing. Speaking this week the Taoiseach said: "The €11.5 million reconstruction of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar is progressing with tenders closing at the end of this month on January 28. The HSE will seek clarifications and then consider the tenders received during February. I expect the HSE to recommend a preferred contractor in very early March and contracts to then be signed. I would hope to see work commence on site at the Sacred Heart Hospital in early May."

Fundraising drive to be launched for Ballinrobe Town Hall

Fri, Jan 15, 2016

There was good news in Ballinrobe last Friday when Mayo County Council granted planning permission for the rebuilding of Ballinrobe Town Hall. It is full steam ahead now for the project with a major focus on securing public, private, and community funding to make the hall a reality. The old hall was knocked in 1999 for safety reasons.

At this juncture it looks as if €400,000 will need to be raised from private and community sources to complement public funding. A fundraising plan will shortly be announced. “This is a major milestone – we will now be rallying public and private support so that Ballinrobe can once again have a town hall capable of hosting a wide variety of local events,” said committee chairperson Michael Sweeney.

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