New ten year ‘vision’ proposed for Main Street

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

A Castlebar councillor wants to see the county town’s main thoroughfare transformed into a vibrant and hip boulevard, dotted with cafés, bars, attractive squares, cobbled laneways, and a lively night time economy under roofed sections.

Nominations open for Mayo Person of the Year and Meitheal award

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

The Mayo Association Dublin has opened up the submission process for the Mayo Person of the Year and its Meitheal awards. The Mayo Person of the Year has been awarded to a number of well known Mayo people over the years, including last year Ballina’s John Walkin, the well-known angling enthusiast, who played a major role in turning Ballina into the salmon capital of Ireland, and the year before Castlebar’s Michael Feeney, founder of the Mayo Peace Park.

Outwest helpline celebrates eleven years of service

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

Last month marked the 11th anniversary of the Outwest helpline operating in the western region. This friendly and confidential service emerged 11 years ago after the Outwest group recognised a need for a listening ear to assist the LGBT community of the greater western area with their fears and concerns surrounding their own sexuality. The helpline has also has become a source of comfort and reassurance for concerned friends and family of LGBT people in the west.

MEP wants childcare facilities to be exempt from rates

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands North West, Matt Carty, has this week called for the Government to change the legislation in order for childcare facilities to be exempt from commercial rates. Speaking this week Carthy said: “Commercial rates on community and private childcare facilities increase the costs on parents, many of whom are already struggling. Numerous childcare providers and anxious parents have been in contact with me in relation to their increased concern on this issue and many local authorities have supported Sinn Féin motions calling for the exemption of childcare facilities from commercial rates.

Thank you from Tommy O’Donnell’s parents

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

The parents of Tommy O’Donnell, a three-year-old boy from Belmullet who suffers with lissencephaly, which means that for his short life he will remain with the physical and mental ability of a five month old baby, have this week said thank you to everyone who has offered them support in recent times.

O’Mahony urges people to check the register

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

Mayo Fine Gael TD, John O’Mahony, is calling on people to ensure that they are included on the Register of Electors for Elections and Referendums. Deputy O’Mahony said that with the uncertainty surrounding the timing of the next General Election, it was vital that people made sure that they were included on the Register of Electors. “It’s possible to check if your name is on the Register by logging on to www.checktheregister.ie  and if it’s not there then you have until November 25 to ensure that it is included.

Second meeting planned on petrol stretching scam

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

A number of groups, which have sprung up across the region in response to a major petrol stretching scam, may be joining forces in an effort to get answers and action on the issue.

Local choristers get a Handel on Messiah

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

The soaring and iconic ‘Hallelujah’ chorus of Handel’s Messiah is rumoured to have moved King George II so much at the London premiere of the work in March 1743, that the monarch jumped to his feet in admiration, compelling the rest of the audience to follow suit.

Sinn Féin councillors hit out at ‘politically motivated’ campaign

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

Two Mayo Sinn Féin representatives have hit out this week at what they described as a calculated campaign to use an alleged sexual abuse victim as a political pawn to stop the rise of their party.

Calleary hits out at Government inaction in Mayo

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary says he is extremely concerned about investment opportunities in the country following the release of IDA figures, which reveal there was only one site visit organised by the agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment in Mayo this year. The data has found that there have only been five site visits in Mayo since 2011, compared to more than 1,300 visits nationally.

Deputy Calleary commented: “This figures are further proof that job creation in Mayo is slipping further down the political agenda. In 2013, there were a mere three IDA sponsored site visits in the county, but to date this year there has only been one. Mayo is being left behind as the Government concentrates investment opportunities in Dublin, Leinster, and the cities. Rural areas are being overlooked. Reports of a recovery are not being felt here in Mayo. People here are the victims of the Government’s flawed economic strategy, which has led to the emergence of a two tier recovery. There were almost 11,000 people on the Live Register in Mayo last month but ministers are continuing to ignore the situation here, a fact which is reflected in the low number of IDA backed site visits.”

Ballina reports big increase in visitor numbers

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

The Wild Atlantic Way, a host of new festivals and events, and an ever growing cooperative community spirit, have all played a role in boosting visitor numbers to Ballina by a significant 12 per cent in the first nine months of the year.

OPW to host public consultation on Ballina flooding

Fri, Oct 24, 2014

The people of Ballina will get their chance to engage with the Office of Public Works when they host a public consultation day next month in Ballina in relation to a draft flood risk map for the town. The consultation day will take place on Tuesday November 11 at the civic offices in Ballina, where members of the public can meet with officials from the OPW and experts from the specialist consultant, JBA Consulting, who will also be in attendance.

Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin told the Mayo Advertiser this week: “In February of this year after the destruction caused by the river Moy bursting its banks I arranged for the former minister of state with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Brian Hayes MEP, to visit Ballina to view the damage caused by the flooding and to assure victims that the need for flood mitigation measures in Ballina was recognised and the town was included as a priority area. Since then the OPW has been working on this matter and has conducted a comprehensive scientific exercise to identify and determine all the factors leading to flooding hazard in areas of areas pursuant to the National Catchment -based Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme. This has resulted in a draft flooding map being prepared for Ballina and the River Moy which indicates the fluvial and coastal flood risk to the town.”

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