Windy and bendy gap a death trap

Fri, May 01, 2009

The road from Castlebar to Lahardane at the Windy Gap is a death trap according to Mayo County Council and Castlebar Town Council election candidate Cllr Blackie Gavin.

Harrington accused of dangerous driving while following Shell worker’s vehicle

Fri, May 01, 2009

Maura Harrington, Doohoma, faced two charges of dangerous driving at Ballina District Court on Tuesday after she was observed driving erratically — while she pursued a white transit van carrying 16 IRMS security workers who are employed on Shell’s Glengad site — through the townlands of Annaghmore and Ballinglen, Ballycastle.

Garda Adrian Kearins told the court that on July 3 2008 he received a report from gardaí in Ballina about a silver Bora being driven dangerously behind a white transit van in the Ballycastle area. Garda Kearins, who was accompanied in the Garda car by Garda Caroline Taaffe, came across both vehicles and followed them. Garda Kearins noticed that the Bora — driven by Harrington, accompanied by her husband Naoise Ó Mongain — was very close behind the van. Near the Garda station in Ballycastle the white van stopped, as did the car. The garda spoke with the driver of the van, Mark O’Se, who said he was concerned for the safety of his passengers due to the erratic driving of the Bora. The garda signalled for the van to carry on, but the Bora also followed. Garda Kearins followed the Bora and activated the lights and siren on the car, however the car failed to stop and prevented the Garda car from passing it by driving on the wrong side of the road over continuous white and broken lines. According to Garda Kearins on two occasions the Bora “swerved” in to avoid colliding with two oncoming vehicles.

Ballina councillors question work on disability plan

Fri, May 01, 2009

While welcoming a report on the disability strategic plan for Mayo County Council at their monthly meeting last week, a number of Ballina councillors raised concerns about the work being done outside public buildings in relation to disability issues in the town.

Ministers due to meet Erris community groups last night

Fri, May 01, 2009

Last night (Thursday) an open meeting was due to take place between Government Ministers Eamon Ryan and Eamon Ó Cuív with community groups Pobal Chill Chomáin, Pobal Le Chéile, Rossport Solidarity Camp, Shell To Sea (Mayo), and members of the Erris community at Inver Community Hall.

Stone lobbed through family home

Fri, May 01, 2009

A part-time fisherman from Ballina, who fired a stone threw the window of a family home, as he believed that he was having an affair with their daughter, appeared before Ballina District Court on Tuesday for criminal damage charges.

All exam pressure supplements on special offer at McKane’s

Fri, May 01, 2009

You or a member of your family may have to face exams soon. At McKane's Pharmacy, Ballina, staff would like to share a few tips on how to cope with exam pressure. Some you will have heard before, but if even one of them helps you through the difficult exam period, they will be delighted.

Ballina road funding to be cut by almost 40 per cent

Fri, May 01, 2009

There was disappointment among the members of Ballina Town Council when town engineer Michael O’Grady revealed that the Department of Transport had cut the grant for the town from €287,000, as was announced in February, to €177,000 due to national budgetary cutbacks.

Garda update

Fri, May 01, 2009

Burglary in Claremorris
A private house was broken into on Wednesday in Claremorris between 5.30pm and 11pm. The burglar entered via the rear of the house where a number of items were stolen.

Castlebar man disqualified and fined for parking in disabled spot

Fri, May 01, 2009

A Castlebar man who parked in a disabled space while he went to visit relatives was disqualified from driving for six months and convicted and fined €500 at Ballina District Court on Tuesday.

Convictions for those who contributed to twenty two tonnes of litter in Bonniconlon

Fri, May 01, 2009

Four defendants were convicted of illegally disposing of their litter at Ballina District Court on Tuesday after an environmental enforcement officer from Mayo County Council was alerted to 22 and a half tonnes of litter strewn in Bonniconlon, which cost the county council €7,749 to clean up.

Almost half of those living with arthritis in the west are ‘too sore to socialise’

Fri, May 01, 2009

The first nationwide survey on patient wellbeing and relationships, conducted by Arthritis Ireland and sponsored by Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals (Ireland), shows almost one in two (45.8 per cent) people with arthritis can no longer participate in social activities they used to enjoy, while one in three (31.3 per cent) are worried about how their condition has affected their appearance. The survey, which was conducted among 128 people with arthritis in seven rheumatology clinics around the country throughout 2008, shows the debilitating effect of arthritis on people as everyday life becomes difficult or impossible to maintain.

Free coffee for Bank Holiday motorists

Fri, May 01, 2009

The Road Safety Authority is highlighting the dangers of driver fatigue in the run up to the Bank Holiday weekend after RSA research showed that one in seven (14 per cent) of Irish drivers admitted to nodding off while driving.

E-paper

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