Rape accused sent forward to Central Criminal Court

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

A man was sent forward this week, at Ballina District Court, to the current sitting of the Central Criminal Court.

Two week theatre taster course starting tomorrow

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

Give your child a confidence boost in 2014. The two week taster sessions at Stagecoach Mayo for the spring term start this Saturday January 18. Stagecoach Mayo, part of the world's largest theatre school network, has announced a two week taster session for new children this Saturday at 10am in Sacred Heart School, Westport. The schools, which are complementary, yet independent of normal academic study, train children and teenagers in quality classes each week in dance, drama, and singing.

Higgins meets with EU Commissioner over funding

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

Mayo based North-west MEP Jim Higgins this week met with EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn to discuss Ireland accessing funding from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to help with the clean-up following the recent storms. The cost of clean-up and restoration in Mayo alone has been projected to be at least €4.5 million by the local authority here. Speaking after his meeting with Commissioner Hahn, Higgins said: “If ever a country deserved solidarity funding, Ireland does. Commissioner Hahn controls the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF), a fund which I believe we can access to secure, badly needed, funding to build adequate flood defences and rebuild our destroyed infrastructure."

Sumo in Kiltimagh

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

Kiltimagh locals are getting to grips with the Japenese sport of sumo wrestling for a novel fundraiser.

Gridwest row continues to rumble on

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

The ongoing row over the Gridwest project continued to make waves this week. Early in the week Eirgrid announced it was opening two new information centres on the Gridwest project, one on Bury Street in Ballina and another at the Square in Ballaghaderreen. The Ballina information centre will be open to members of the public from 10am to 6pm every Monday and Tuesday, and the Ballaghaderreen information centre from 10am to 6pm every Wednesday and Thursday. The existing Grid West information centre at Linenhall Street in Castlebar will remain open to members of the public team by appointment only.

Castlebar Town Council drops rates by two per cent in its final budget

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

The final budget meeting of Castlebar Town Council saw the elected members vote to drop the commercial rates in the town by two per cent for the year ahead. The members voted to cut the rateable valuation from 70.23 to 68.76 on foot of a proposal from Sinn Féin councillor Therese Ruane.

Mellet to seek nomination

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

Current Fine Gael Mayo County Council whip Joe Mellett will be putting his name forward to run for the county council this summer. There was some speculation that the councillor who was first elected in 1999 would be standing aside, but after consulting with his family and supporters he has decided to let his name go forward for selection at the upcoming selection convention on January 25 in Hotel Ballina. The Swinford based councillor will be looking to take a seat in the newly enlarged Ballina municipal district if his nomination is successful.

Mulranny doctor says no ambulance service in Mayo last night

Fri, Jan 17, 2014

Prominent Mulranny GP Dr Jerry Cowley has released a statement to media this morning (Friday) saying there was no ambulance cover in Mayo last night.

Mayor rejects claim Castlebar is Ireland’s most littered town

Fri, Jan 10, 2014

The Mayor of Castlebar has rejected survey results released this week which named the county town as one of the most littered spots in Ireland.

Island family see life’s work undone on vital mainland link

Fri, Jan 10, 2014

A tiny island community is this week coming to terms with the violent undoing of years of hard work on their coastal barriers.

Ballina urged to vote for town based candidates at local elections

Fri, Jan 10, 2014

Vote local was the call from a number of members of Ballina Town Council this week as the council prepared its final budget before the dissolution of town councils in the summer.

Investigation under way into potential irregularity in council contract

Fri, Jan 10, 2014

At Monday’s annual budget meeting of Mayo County Council, county manager, Peter Hynes responded to an allegation from Independent councillor Frank Durcan in relation to a potential irregularity in payments on contract awarded by Mayo County Council. Speaking at the end of the meeting, Mr Hynes told the meeting that, following an internal check a number of years ago a possible contract payment irregularity was uncovered and reported to the councils auditors and to Gardai immediately. He went on to say that “There were comments made to a specific incident and I’m not referring to that specific incident, and I’m specifically not identifying that incident.”

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