“Blood money” will divide communities, council warned
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
There were clear dividing lines drawn in the Mayo County Council on Monday afternoon when a controversial draft policy on ‘Community Benefit Contributions for Certain Major Developments’ was passed, by a vote of 26-6. Excepting Fine Gael where all councillors support the motion, the two other political parties in the council split on the vote, with Sinn Féin’s Rose Conway-Walsh, Fianna Fáil trio of Al McDonnell, Blackie Gavin, and Damien Ryan, and Independent councillors Michael Kilcoyne, Richard Finn, and Michael Holmes all voting for it. Voting against the motion were Fianna Fáil’s Margaret Adams, Jimmy Maloney, and Annie May Reape alongside Sinn Féin’s Gerry Murray and independents Gerry Ginty and Seamus Weir. Cllr Frank Durcan was absent from the meeting. Both Cllr Murray and Cllr Weir led the charge against the proposals at the meeting and both councillors ended up in heated side-debates with other councillors while the topic was being discussed.
Read more ...Idyllic seaside cottage and Swinford pub for next Allsops auction
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
The latest batch of Mayo properties to go under the hammer at an Allsops Space auction on May 2 include a Swinford pub, an idyllic seaside cottage in Achill, and a tract of land just a few kilometres away from Ireland West Airport Knock.
Read more ...Cattle worrying case adjourned until September
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
The case against a Knock man who pleaded guilty to his dog’s worrying a neighbour’s cattle on two occasions last summer was adjourned until September by Judge Mary Devins. However she allowed the gardai liberty to re-enter the case on 48-hours notice if another incident occurred between now and then.
Read more ...News Briefs
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Pirate queen festival announced
Details have been announced for the second annual Pirate Queen Festival which includes a host of events in Westport, Clare Island, Louisburgh, and Newport.
‘Wonderful exhibition’ of rural life at Mayo Ploughing Championships
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
One of the most highly anticipated events in the local agricultural calendar is taking place this Sunday with the Mayo County Ploughing Championships.
Read more ...Baby Ella fundraiser in Castlebar this Sunday
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
A fundraiser for a Ballyglass girl born with an extremely rare brain disorder is taking place on Sunday night (April 20) in the Failte Suite at the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar.
Read more ...Mayo farmer awarded Nuffield Scholarship
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Mayo farmer Sean Coughlan has been awarded a prestigious Nuffield Scholarship. The internationally-acclaimed scholarship, which is sponsored by Aurivo, was awarded by the Nuffield Ireland Farming Scholarship Trust.
Read more ...Davitt College student honoured at first ever Student Theatre Awards
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Matthew Fahey from Davitt College, Castlebar, has been named the winner of the Honourable Judges Mention Category at the Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards.
Read more ...Sunk ship idea floated again
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Plans to sink a warship in Killala Bay to develop a top-class diving attraction have been floated again.
The Ships 2 Reef project was first mooted almost a decade ago. It involved sinking a warship to create a man-made reef and underwater wreck to attract scuba diving tourism to the region.
Read more ...Phone ‘befriending’ can ease loneliness for older people
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Figures released earlier this year by a national telephone service - Senior Help Line - made for some heartbreaking reading.
Read more ...Mayo man elected as chairperson of Foróige
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Michael Lynskey from Tooreen has been elected as the national chairman of the youth organisation Foróige.
Read more ...St Mary’s Ballina shortlisted for All Ireland title
Fri, Apr 18, 2014
Students from St Mary’s Secondary School in Ballina have been shortlisted for the Young Social Innovators of the Year award.
Read more ...