Death of local democracy at crux of development plan issue

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

The five-member delegation from Mayo County Council which met with the Oireachtas Committee for Environment, Heritage and Local Government left Government buildings on Tuesday night happy that they had put forward their best case for the retention of the new Mayo County Development Plan. The issue of the plan has rumbled on since it was adopted in April unanimously by the 31 elected members of Mayo County Council, with a number of submissions and changes put forward by the Minister for Environment, John Gormley, and his department and issued on his behalf by County Manager Des Mahon.

Death of popular Castlebar Order of Malta officer

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Castlebar was saddened during the week when the death was announced of popular Castlebar man John Cunningham, Breaffy Road, Castlebar. Mr Cunningham was a leading figure in the Order of Malta in the town for the past four decades and held the position of officer in charge as well as the captain of the Castlebar unit.

Knock man smoked heroin in vicinity of petrol station

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

A 31-year-old man from Knock who was caught smoking heroin outside a filling station in Castlebar pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday.

Mayo class sizes biggest in country

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Fine Gael Mayo Deputy John O’Mahony has found out through a parliamentary question that 2007/2008 school year figures show two classes in Mayo of 40 pupils or over and 2,065 with between 30 and 39 pupils. Since this is the situation before Fianna Fáil’s budget cutbacks come into effect, Deputy O’Mahony said the future for Mayo schools looked very bleak.

Couple who were racing each other convicted for dangerous driving

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Two Polish nationals who while racing each other along the road from Ballinrobe to Partry overtook on continuous white lines and on blind bends were convicted, fined and disqualified from driving at Ballinrobe District Court on Tuesday.

Mayo people spent €60,929 on Trocaire Christmas gifts last year

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

people place gifts for the developing world at the top of their Christmas shopping lists, spending €60,929 on Trocaire’s Christmas gifts last year.

Five- month jail sentence after Ballinrobe man assaulted at his home

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

A 36-year-old who was found trespassing on a Ballinrobe man’s property and subsequently assaulted him was sentenced to five months in prison at this week’s sitting of Ballinrobe District Court.

Catholic church were not strong enough in endorsing Lisbon Treaty — Flynn

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

The pastoral reflection from the Catholic Bishops of Ireland in advance of the Lisbon Referendum Treaty in June did not go far enough and left an element of doubt in the minds of many Catholic voters.

Mayo bartender to compete in Irish cocktail finals

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Mayo mixologist Owen Hughes has his cocktail shakers at the ready for the Irish final of the Finlandia Vodka Cup in Dublin this November. Owen was awarded first place at the Galway heat of the competition, after an expert panel of judges decided that his cocktail was a cut above the rest. Owen has been wowing costumers in the Knockranny House Hotel in Westport for a while now, so this is his chance to show off his talents on a national scale.

The talented mixologist has won a highly coveted place at the Irish final of the Finlandia Vodka Cup, where he will compete against reigning Finlandia Vodka Cup Cocktail champion, Romain Mellerein. Four additional finalists selected from heats taking place in Dublin and Cork will join Owen in the Irish final. The winner from the Irish final will get to fly the flag for Ireland in the international cocktail competition in the famous snow village of Kittila, located in the Arctic region of Northern Finland, and stay in the magical surrounds of a Lappish ice hotel. Competitors will experience the trip of a lifetime as they get to attend a vodka masterclass and experience some unique Finnish activities including husky dog sledding, ice fishing and sauna sessions.

Second Town of Tomorrow competition launched

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Participants in this year’s Town of Tomorrow schools’ competition have an additional area on which to set their imaginations loose – the vast Westport convent site, which was recently acquired by Mayo County Council and Westport Town Council.

Sewage overflow and open manholes at Castlebar bakery led to hygiene fines

Fri, Nov 07, 2008

Two Polish men, one being the business operator of a bakery in Castlebar, along with his employee, were convicted and fined at Castlebar District Court on Wednesday after the Health Service Executive summonsed them for not keeping the premises in good repair and condition, giving a statement to an environmental food officer which was false and misleading, and for failing to wear appropriate clothing while in the vicinity of food products.