It has been a glorious two weeks for the lucky schoolchildren who are enjoying their Easter holidays.
It evokes memories of getting up at the crack of dawn and leaving home to meet with friends and cousins and not returning till evening time. Those innocent days were spent in tree houses, fairy forts, playing basketball and rounders, and we were happy. Hopefully today’s children are just as happy and their childhoods just as innocent.
It has been a peculiar week though for the working public, stuck between two bank holidays, everyone in holiday mode and working at a gear slower as the sun changes our mindset into the summer way of thinking and we start planning excursions and dreamy days with friends and family.
There is a lot happening this weekend. The annual Pink Ribbon charity cycle for breast cancer takes place on Saturday. The second west of Ireland mini marathon takes place on Sunday. In Achill the Heinrich Boll Memorial Weekend kicks off this weekend as well as the Achill 10km early on Saturday.
In Cong they are getting ready to greet visitors for the Cong Lakes Walk, and that is just a snippet of what’s going on.
If you are taking part in one of these events, the best of luck. If not, please support the competitors and cheer them on. Most of them will have trained extensively for these events and will be doing them to raise vital funds for local and national charities.
There’s a great buzz in the Mayo Advertiser office this week as our classifieds manager Caroline Staunton prepares to take to the stage in the Rose of Tralee selection night. We are ever grateful to our loyal advertisers who have come on board to prepare Caroline for Sunday night’s event and we wish her and all the competitors the very best of luck.
It’s not easy to allow yourself go forward in an event of this kind and all the women should be applauded for their willingness and enthusiasm. Sunday night promises to be a great night of entertainment at the TF Royal Hotel, and whoever takes the title could join the ranks of Aoibheann Ni Shuilleabhain, Marita Staunton, and Mindy O’Sullivan, three fabulous women who all won the coveted Rose of Tralee title.
Wherever the bank holiday takes you, please be careful. Penalty points have been dished out to more than 1,300 Mayo drivers already this year for driving while talking on their mobile phones. It’s not your just own safety that’s at risk, but that of your passengers and other road users. Mulranny was plunged into tragedy last weekend when two young girls were hit by a car. Thankfully both are out of danger now, but we don’t want a repeat or, even worse, any road deaths in our county this weekend.
It’s that time of year when water safety becomes a hot topic. Many drownings are preventable tragedies and inside this week’s paper we have some top tips for water safety.
Don’t let the weekend pass without doing some form of exercise or outdoor activity. If you’re not into working yourself into a sweaty frenzy, a brisk walk or stroll up a country lane will do. Just get out and inhale the wonderful fresh air of the west of Ireland.
And if it’s weddings you’re into then enjoy the wedding of the decade which takes place today. An audience of two and a half billion are expected to tune in to see William and Kate’s nuptuals. Whether you’re a fan of the royal family or not it is hard not to be intrigued by this massive event and all the pomp and ceremony it attracts. I know a few people who will be getting in the sausage rolls in anticipation of sharing the magic moment. Enjoy it girls.
