Council management asked to respond to Sunday newspaper story

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Chief executive of Mayo County Council, Peter Hynes, responded to a query from Sinn Féin councillor Rose Conway-Walsh about claims made of planning irregularities in an unnamed county in the Sunday Independent last week. Mr Hynes responded to the councillors query saying: “I am aware of the coverage in a national newspaper at the weekend. You will be aware that no county was named in that and it appears that it might refer to Mayo, but as of now, we have had no communication from any agency or authority. If we are communicated with, as always we will co-operate fully with any investigation that takes place to its conclusion.” He concluded by saying that he couldn’t comment any further.

Remembering the remarkable Achill men who fought fascism

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

The extraordinary stories of two Achill men, Pat Burke and Tommy Patten, who volunteered to join the fight against fascism in the Spanish Civil War, are to be remembered in two seperate ceremonies on the island on Sunday.

Big Brothers are urgently needed

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Do you like to play sports or keep fit? Do you have any special skills, talents, or interests that you could share with a young person? Could you be a positive role model and support to a young person in the community?

If so, the Big Brother, Big Sister Youth Mentoring Programme is looking for you and people like you. At present the programme is making a special appeal for male volunteers living in Castlebar, Westport, Claremorris, and Ballinrobe. Volunteers are required to share just one hour a week and make a difference in the life of a child. Contact the BBBS Foroige Office (094) 9060417 for an application form.

Army could help break-up petrol stretching operation — Mulherin

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

The assets of the organised criminal gangs behind the petrol stretching scam need to be seized and put into a fund to compensate motorists whose engines have been wrecked by adulterated fuel.

National Citizens Movement hold Ballina meeting

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

The Mayo branch of the National Citizens Movement will host a public meeting in The Dock Bar, Ballina, tomorrow night, November 15 at 8pm. The meeting will see the founders of the National Citizens Movement in attendance. Jamie Rooney, PRO of the Mayo Branch of the NCM, which organised the anti-water charges protest in Ballina at the start of the month, said in advance of the meeting: “The aim of the meeting is to deliver information and advice to the public on the divisive issue of water charges and to increase the education and awareness of rights of citizens [and non-nationals] in Mayo.”

Budding movie moguls scoop national honours

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

A group of Mayo’s budding young movie moguls have been honoured for their excellence in filmmaking at a colourful awards ceremony in The Helix, Dublin.

Local good causes share community fund

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Eighteen good causes across the county collected cheques from their local Tesco stores this week as part of the Tesco Community Fund initiative.

Council’s gang of four to meet department planning officials

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

The four person delegation selected by the members of Mayo County Council to meet officials from the Department of Environment over the logjam between both parties on the proposed county development plan, will sit down with the officials on Monday November 24.

The four councillors in the delegation are Cathaoirleach Damien Ryan, councillors Al McDonnell (FF), Fine Gael Cllr Gerry Coyle (FG), and Richard Finn (Ind). Cllr McDonnell, speaking at last Monday’s meeting of Mayo County Council, said he expected nothing but 100 per cent support from all those from Mayo County Council for their proposals, and included officials from the county. Council chief executive Peter Hynes said the council officials who would be in attendance were required by law to offer the best of objective and legal advice. Cllr McDonnell responded: “We don’t need advice, we need defence of the document we agreed and passed here, the advice is that you should support us.”

Group water scheme members need to be consulted — Murray

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Claremorris Municipal District Sinn Fein councillor Gerry Murray has said that many group water scheme members feel that they have being abandoned by the Government and left to the mercy of the Irish Water. Speaking this week Cllr Murray said it was to be regretted that neither Fianna Fail nor Fine Gael consulted with the group water sector before agreeing to the establishment of Irish Water.

Council budget meeting set for second round

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

Despite starting their annual budget meeting at 10am last Monday morning and running until late on Monday evening the elected members of Mayo County Council will return next Monday to finalise their budget for next year. The proposed draft budget put forward by the council executive is looking for a reduction of more than seven per cent on the budget for 2014.

Children’s ward in MGH receives early Christmas gift

Fri, Nov 14, 2014

The children’s ward in Mayo General Hospital received some Christmas magic early this year, with the arrival of 480 Folens Christmas annuals this week as a part of the national donation to Children in Hospital Ireland.

Suspicious device removed from Castlebar

Thu, Nov 13, 2014

Gardai in Castlebar have this afternoon (Thursday, November 13) confirmed that explosive experts from the army removed a suspicious device from a patch of waste ground near An Sportlann. Gardai had sealed off a large area of ground around An Sportlann in Castlebar after a suspicious device was found in the morning. The device was found on waste ground at the rear of the driving test centre which is located beside An Sportlann. A number of buildings in the area were evacuated as a precaution after 11am yesterday morning. The army explosives experts arrived around lunch time and by 2pm they had removed the device and brought it with them for further investigation and the cordon was lifted by the Gardai.

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