Owl and Pussycat launch RoolaBoola

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

Two of the best known newlyweds in literature arrived in town to launch this year’s RoolaBoola children’s arts festival at the Linenhall Arts Centre last Friday evening. No strangers to launching things, the Owl and the Pussycat docked their beautiful pea-green boat in Castlebar after a monumental journey back from the land where the Bong-tree grows, stopping off in Australia, Sweden, New Zealand, USA, Italy, Spain and Achill — we know, we’ve seen the postcards they’ve been sending to the Linenhall over the past weeks.

Jail for ‘menace’ who drove while disqualified

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

A Polish man who drove around Mayo sightseeing, even though he was disqualified from driving, and was detected drink driving in Castlebar after attending a party, was sentenced to six months in prison by Judge Mary Devins at Castlebar District Court this week.

Sebastian Kasprzyk, 18 Dun Durrach, Dublin Road, Longford, was arrested by gardaí on August 10 at 1.55am on Main Street, Castlebar, for drink driving. A breath sample showed 84mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

New cycling and walking route to be developed in Westport

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

The Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, has announced that he is making €620,000 in the period 2009 to 2012 available to Westport Town Council to develop a new walking and cycling greenway in Westport town, linking Westport Quay to Knockranny. The project will be largely based on an existing network of disused railway lines and will create new cycling and walking links between Westport’s urban areas, residential areas, and schools. The new greenway aims to encourage a shift to cycling and walking over short urban journeys. The overall cost of the scheme is €1.04m, with Westport Town Council funding the remaining €420,000.

Balla Mart report

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

On Saturday October 3 Balla Mart held its usual cattle sale. There were 1,000 cattle on offer in three rings. Trading prices were good and were on average similar to last week, with more farmers buying and the quality lots were improved.

Man testing kegs convicted for drink driving

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

A 51-year-old Castlebar man who while setting up some kegs for his sister’s party, tried them out to make sure that they were in working order, was convicted of drink driving at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.

Judge accepts facts of case but dismisses green diesel charge

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

Judge Mary Devins this week dismissed a charge of using green diesel in a truck while accepting the facts in the interests of natural justice. The court was told by customs officer Sean Fitzgerald that he was operating a roadside checkpoint for marked gas oil on August 6 2008 at 12.30pm in Cloonfad, along with his colleague Carmel Godwin, when they stopped Thomas Shannon, Lavellyrow, Ballyhaunis, and carried out a roadside test for green diesel. The test proved positive for green diesel and he took three samples from the truck. He said that Shannon told him he had no idea how it had got in there. Fitzgerald told the court that on September 18 he handed custody of the samples over to Godwin to be tested with the next batch of tests. Godwin told the court that she sent the sample off to be tested on October 1 and then received the results back on December 9 which showed a proof of marked gas oil in the sample at 21 per cent.

Young adults encouraged to take part in EU Night Without Accident

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) will be holding the third European Night Without Accident on Saturday October 17 as part of Irish Road Safety Week. The initiative is aimed at promoting responsible behaviour behind the wheel among young adults.

€200 million in redundancy payments paid out by Enterprise Department

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

The Department of Enterprise, Trade, and Employment has paid put €206.5 million to more than 32,000 applicants in redundancy claims according to information provided to Fine Gael Mayo deputy John O’Mahony.

Pink Ribbon Turlough

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness month there will be a coffee morning in the Bay Leaf Restaurant at Horkan’s Garden Centre, Turlough on October 14 from 10am to 12 noon. All are welcome to attend what promises to be a pleasant and enjoyable morning.

All proceeds will go to Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society, which provides free advice, support and information on all aspects of breast health and breast cancer.

A blooming success for Westport

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

Westport achieved the maximum five blooms at the international Communities in Bloom competition held in Canada last weekend. The awards honour municipalities from Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Japan which foster civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national programme, with focus on the promotion of green spaces in urban settings.

Judge disqualifies man who drove up street in the wrong lane

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

A 19-year-old man who drove up the wrong side of the road before going around a junction, still on the wrong side, in Ballyhaunis was convicted of dangerous driving in Ballyhaunis District Court this week. Prior to convicting Trevor Boyle, Larganboy, Ballyhaunis, Judge Mary Devins told the court, “I’m fascinated, I don’t think he realises what he did was dangerous driving”.

Gun club member held shotgun to taxi driver’s neck

Fri, Oct 09, 2009

A man who refused to pay a taxi fare and then held a shotgun to the neck of the taxi driver and threatened to kill him, after the driver went to his house to look for the fare, was before Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.

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