Congregation 2.0 returns to Cong next week

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

Cong Village in County Mayo will host the second Congregation Social and Digital Media Un-conference (www.congregation.ie) that takes place on Saturday November 29. Based on a model of peer sharing, more than 50 Irish and international social media thinkers will descend on the village to discuss digital media and its impact on life and work.

Council want rates equalisation over short period

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

The newly adopted Mayo County Council commercial rate of €68.76 is here to stay for the next few years at least. At this week’s reconvened budget meeting of the council, the members voted in favour of maintaining the rate at what it was last year. With the abolishment of the three town councils in the county earlier this year, the county council is now the only rating authority in the county. However, despite the abolishment of the town councils, rate payers in both Westport and Ballina will continue to pay a lower rate than the rest of the county for at least next year as part of an equalisation process. The rate in Castlebar was already the same as the county council one, while Westport had the lowest commercial rate of €63.23, and Ballina’s rate was €64.52.

Ballina prepares for 2015 tourism season

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

The Mayo North Promotions Office, which promotes tourism in Ballina and the north Mayo region, is already planning ahead with strong ambitions to further build on the tourism growth the area experienced in 2014.

Land League group to protest in Castlebar on Monday

Fri, Nov 21, 2014

Land League West, a group formed to oppose the repossession of family homes and farms and to support individuals facing the loss of their home, is to stage a demonstration outside Castlebar Courthouse on Monday.

EPA warning on high radon cancer risk

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

A shocking one in six homes in Mayo have unsafe levels of radon, making the county one of the worst blackspots in the country for the deadly gas linked to 250 lung cancer cases each year.

Roadblock cleared on €l60 million infrastructure project

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

A major roadblock, which had threatened to delay and complicate the planned €160 million N5 Turlough to Westport project, has been removed.

Suspicious device removed from Castlebar

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Gardai in Castlebar yesterday afternoon (Thursday) confirmed that explosive experts from the Army removed a suspicious device from a patch of waste ground near An Sportlann in Castlebar.

Anger flares in council chamber during water debate

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

There were angry scenes in the Mayo County Council chamber on Monday, when Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle and Sinn Féin councillor Gerry Murray got involved in a heated side battle with each other during a debate on a motion from Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh which was calling for water charges to be scrapped.

Bookish festival gets rolling in Westport

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

There is a swirl of wonderful wordiness and lively debate in Westport today and continuing all weekend for the fifth annual Rolling Sun Book Festival.

Public urged to be vigilant over phone book delivery

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

The chairman of Castlebar Tidy Towns Ger Deere has warned local residents to be vigilant as the annual phone books are being delivered. Mr Deere said this week: “I am asking that local residents may keep an eye out to see if their neighbours’ phone books have been taken in and if not, that they may take them in on their behalf. Some houses where the phone book is left outside too long may fall victim to burglars. Furthermore, considering the strong rain and wind experienced recently, they may become wet and end up being blown around the local area causing serious litter problems.”

Council to investigate broadcasting meetings

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Mayo County Council has said it would look into the possibility of broadcasting its meetings online following a notice of motion from Fianna Fáil councillor Lisa Chambers.