Reape calls for traffic calming at Quay Lane in Ballina

Fri, Apr 24, 2015

Annie May Reape has called for some kind of traffic calming measures to be put in place at Quay Lane, Ballina. Cllr Reape put forward a motion at this week’s Ballina Municipal District Meeting, saying: “I do welcome the ongoing work at the junction at the top of the lane, but this is no longer a lane in my opinion, it’s more of a roadway. There are 33 to 34 houses and 20 children living there. It’s a de facto housing estate, houses on both sides of the road, and there is a lot of activity going on there. We need to have some way of making it safe for the residents who live there, so people can walk, drive, and children can play. Even signage would be appreciated. I’ve had a lot of representation from residents there. There was a time a number of years ago, there was four houses, now we’ve 30 or so.”

€20k needed to fund take-over road in Foxford

Fri, Apr 24, 2015

Independent Ballina Municipal District councillor, Seamus Weir this week proposed that Mayo County Council take in charge the L13161 at Corlummin, Foxford, which has 20 houses located on it, and also has a car-park at the end which gives access to fishing on the River Moy. Cllr Weir’s proposal got support from the other councillors however, Paul Dolan, senior engineer with Mayo County Council, told the meeting that funds would have to be found to complete the take-over. Mr Dolan told the meeting: “As you’re aware there are two criteria for taking in charge of a road, the first is that there are at least two houses and the second one is that it is in a condition of the road for take over. This road satisfies the criteria for houses, but the condition of the road is very bad. It’s estimated that to bring the first 200m of the road up to standard for take over it will cost €13,340, and to bring the full road as far as the car park the total will be €21,200. So that’s the challenge to find the money to get it taken in charge. Councillors’ notice of motion money could be used and it may satisfy the criteria for LIS funding also.”

Community Diary

Fri, Apr 24, 2015

Mayo Stroke Support Group
The Mayo Stroke Support Group in association with Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac Foundation, will be holding its next meeting on Thursday April 30 from 11.30 am to 1pm in the Newman Institute, Ballina. The topic is “Talking Around- Practical Information on dealing with emotions after stroke.” Admission is free and tea/coffee will be provided. New members are always welcome to attend. For further information call Alanna Ni Mhiochain on (094) 9042368 or Barbara Ginley on (096) 80497.

Transatlantic cable will make Mayo a prime location for major data centre investment

Tue, Apr 21, 2015

Construction on the fastest ever transatlantic internet cable, which is to land at Killala, is to start this summer.

No levies demanded by Irish Water from Mayo County Council

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

Mayo County Council has received no correspondence from Irish Water demanding the payment of levies collected by the council from developers as contributions towards water and sewerage works. Sinn Fein Cllr Gerry Murray raised the potential of the utility company demanding the levies at Monday’s meeting of the council, following a report in a national newspaper on Sunday. Cllr Murray asked what would be the financial consequences to the council if such levies were demanded by Irish Water.

Councillors approve purchase of stake in Ireland West Airport

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

The elected members of Mayo County Council approved the raising of a €7.3 million loan to fund the purchase of a 17.5 per cent stake in Ireland West Airport Knock by seven local authorities (Mayo County Council, Sligo County Council, Roscommon County Council, Donegal County Council, Leitrim County Council, Galway County Council, and Galway City Council) in the region at their meeting on Monday. The funding will be used to try to secure the future of the airport which saw more than 700,000 passengers use the airport last year.

Tractor driver banned from road for causing seven mile tailback

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

A tractor driver from Castlebar has been banned from driving and fined €300 after he caused a seven-mile tailback on the Westport Road last June.

US Ambassador remembers Westport grandparents during Mayo visit

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

Of all of the many hundreds of treasures and interesting artefacts on display in the Museum of Country Life, Turlough, it was a simple, scuffed, tin teapot that most enthralled the United States Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin F O’Malley, when he visited the museum on Monday.

Two men removed from council chamber

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

Two members of the public were removed from the council chamber in Mayo County Council on Monday before a Civic Reception was awarded to the US Ambassador to Ireland, Mr Kevin O’Malley.

Fast and Furious blamed for increase in illegal driving stunts

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

The latest installment of the high speed blockbuster franchise, The Fast and the Furious, has been blamed for an increasing number of illegal driving stunts by ‘boy racers’ in industrial estates and on rural raods across the county.

Newport’s Síochfreadh is crowned Mayo Rose

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

A research scientist from Newport has been crowned the 2015 Mayo Rose.

Sara wanted to change her life, says heartbroken father

Fri, Apr 17, 2015

The father of Sara Staunton, the 28-year-old mother who was killed in her home in Mayo Abbey in December 2013, said his daughter told him on the morning of her death that she wanted to turn her life around.

Ray Gralton (23), with an address at Mount Prospect, Roscommon, was sentenced on Monday to 10 years for killing Ms Staunton at Portagh, Mayo Abbey, on December 13 2013.

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