Holy Door opens at Knock Shrine for Pope Francis’ call for year of mercy

Fri, Dec 18, 2015

Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary has opened a ‘Holy Door’ at Knock Shrine as Catholics across the world have started to observe and celebrate Pope Francis’ historic ‘Year of Mercy’. The world’s media and tens of thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Basilica on December 8 to watch Pope Francis open the Holy Door in Rome, a tradition that dates back to the 1400s.

In the days that have followed, Holy Doors, like the one at Knock, have been opening for the first time in cathedrals and important pilgrimage sites all over the world. Pope Francis has called the Holy Year – also known as a Jubilee – to encourage Catholics worldwide to be more merciful and practice forgiveness, compassion and good deeds. A Holy Year is one of the most important events in the Catholic Church and usually takes place just once every 25 years. It is a unique time when the faithful are called to refocus on prayer and good works, seek pardon for their sins and gain special indulgences.

Army on standby to assist in south Mayo

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

After making a passionate plea on Wednesday afternoon that the army be dispatched to help in areas of south Mayo which he described as "an absloute disaster zone" and where he said "people are living in fear." Cllr Damien Ryan confirmed to the Mayo Advertiser yesterday that he had been told by management in Mayo County Council "the army have been contacted and are mobilised and are ready to go and will be here in an hour if we need them."

OPW failure on river maintenance leaves towns and land across Mayo under water — Calleary

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has slammed the Office of Public Works for failing to maintain rivers in the county. Deputy Calleary said: “Flooding in Mayo is now becoming a regular occurrence. People across the country are talking about the floods of 2009, but the fact of the matter is that it is only three weeks since Crossmolina was under water. People there barely had enough time to clean up their homes and businesses before Storm Desmond hit. On Saturday water levels were so high that it reached the shoulders of the volunteers and workers who were on the ground.

Saturday Forum debates the other side of Christmas on CRC FM

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

This week’s edition of the CRC 102.9fm current affairs programme Saturday Forum, which will be broadcast tomorrow December 12, will feature a debate on a side of Christmas which most of us, fortunately, never experience. For many people Christmas is a time of plenty, a time of joy and happiness, a time to celebrate and share gifts and glad tidings with our loved ones. But there are others for whom Christmas is a time of great worry and stress, a time when concerns about money and the basic necessities of life come to the fore.

Music Generation Song Sparks project to perform in Ballina

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Music Generation Mayo, in partnership with The Arts Council of Ireland and Songbirds Ireland, has been working with young musicians and singers in Mayo aged 13 to 18 years, collectively known as ‘Song Sparks’, in an exciting music project to develop their songwriting and musical skills. The project has been taking place at the Youth Music Hub in Ballina since September this year and will culminate in a live performance of new works at Ballina Arts Centre tomorrow Saturday at 7pm.

Special clinic today to help Crossmolina applications for Humanitarian Assistance Scheme

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin confirmed that a special clinic will take place in Crossmolina today to help with applications under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme. "I am pleased to advise that the Department of Social Protection has agreed to my request and will operate a clinic at the Health Centre on the Erris Road on Friday from 10.30am to 12.30pm to help with applications under the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme which is designed to provide financial assistance in the case of flooding where homes are damaged," she said.

"Also one of the community welfare officers has already been making visits to some affected homes in Crossmolina and has been liaising with the Gardai and the public health nurse. This is very welcome and will save people who are affected, many of whom are elderly, from having to travel into the Intreo office in Ballina. In the meantime people affected can pick up an application form for the scheme at the Local Enterprise Centre and anyone with queries can contact the Intreo office, Ballina, at (096) 80567. Also details of the criteria for the €5m fund to aid small businesses which have suffered damage to their property in the current flooding are currently been worked out and will be concluded in the coming days. The fund will be administered on behalf of the Government by the Red Cross."

History of Bellacorick power station to be launched in Crossmolina

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Powering the West - a History of Bord na Móna and ESB in North Mayo will be launched in the Town Hall, Crossmolina, this Friday evening (7pm) by retired UCD professor of archaeology Dr Seamus Caulfield. The 400 page, coffee-table style hard cover publication is a fascinating mix of personal stories and wonderful images of Erris. It is a history of the pioneering spirit of men who tamed and brought under control the “unmanageable” bogs of Erris and gave rise to huge employment in an immigration and unemployment blackspot.

Community spirit praised in the face of flooding

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Crossmolina butcher Nigel Tolan whose business backs on to the Deel River spoke to the Mayo Advertiser about the major battle he had to keep his business from getting totally wiped out last Saturday. "We were very badly affected here, we spend day and night here, it was constant. It came in about two feet I'd say, the display cabinet was up near the roof floating on it, we nearly ran out of ceiling space because it was up so high.

The Breadski Brothers packaging wins IDI Design Award

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Castlebar bakery, The Breadski Brothers, have won an IDI Design Award for their packaging, which was designed by Sarah Maguire from True Story. Judges commented: “From the use of illustration, typefaces, materials and format, the Breadski Brothers’ packaging sets a new level in its category on supermarket shelves. From a technical point of view, the hierarchy of information, colour coding to ease navigation of the range and layout of information was superb. Beyond this, the brand is a delight to interact with in its personality and tone of voice.”

The Institute of Designers in Ireland announced the winners of its annual awards at a gala ceremony in The Marker Hotel at the end of November, ahead of the release of a report which shows a significant increase in optimism and confidence within the Irish design sector. Now in its 17th year, the annual IDI Design Awards recognise outstanding work across a broad range of design disciplines, with categories including Making Spaces (interior architecture and special design), Visual Communication (graphic design), Making Things (product design), and Clothing and Covering (fashion, accessories, and textiles).

Crossmolina businesses count the cost, but are fighting back

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

On Monday afternoon the residents and business people of Crossmolina were still dealing with the after effects of the flooding that saw the town submerged on Saturday after Storm Desmond brought a torrent of rainfall that saw business people and residents in the town scrambling all day to save their properties. The streets of the town were littered with remnants of sandbags that had been bundled up in front of the doors of shops as owners tried to keep the waters, which reached over three feet, at bay.

Mayo Leisure Point reopens after renovations

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

At the end of November Mayo Leisure Point celebrated its post renovations grand opening and 22nd birthday in style with a day of fun for all the family. It was honoured to have Special Olympics bronze medal winner Martina Walsh officially open the new look bowling alley.

Mulranny improvement works opened

Fri, Dec 11, 2015

Michael Ring, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and Cllr Michael Holmes, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, officially opened the new Mulranny footpath and village enhancement scheme last Friday morning. The multi-million euro development consisted of 1.8 kilometres of improvements to the N59 comprising new footpaths, traffic calming, pavements, a viewing promenade, bicycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, picnic tables, and benches.

Minister Ring said at the opening: "I was delighted to officially open these improvements on Friday morning with Cllr Michael Holmes, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council. The completed promenade has been finished to a high standard and I believe it has transformed the village. It is wonderful to see families and children enjoying the pedestrian-friendly space, taking a break or having a picnic while admiring the spectacular views of Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick.

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