A young life remembered at memorial Mass for David Gavin

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

The Church of the Holy Rosary in Castlebar was packed to capacity on Wednesday for a special Mass of remembrance for David Gavin, the 26-year-old Breaffy footballer who lost his life in a swimming accident in Canada on June 30. The memorial Mass saw prayers offered for David's family and friends and for finding his body so he can be laid to rest at home.

Clew Bay Trail funding will provide boost to local tourism — Ring

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

On Monday, Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring announced he has allocated €984,000 under the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Programme to develop phase one of the Clew Bay Trail in Mayo. The funding will be used to build 8km of walking and cycling trails at Louisburgh, Old Head, Murrisk and Bertra.

Phase two of Monasteries of the Moy opened

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

Celebrations were taking place in Killala recently following the official opening of the second phase of the Monasteries of the Moy Greenway by Minister for Community and Rural Affairs Michael Ring.

Go on, go on — take a break when driving

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

Bank holiday weekends are always busy on Ireland's roads because people want to go home or get away, and it is also a very busy weekend in sport with all GAA fans travelling to Dublin. As always, members of An Garda Síochána will be out in force as they do their very best to keep our roads as safe as possible but this year they have an extra helper getting the road safety message out there.

Ballinrobe set for 'Dunk Tank' challenge

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

The people of south Mayo will have an unusual opportunity to 'dunk' their friends in the name of charity. A number of events will be held in Ballinrobe on Friday next, August 11, to raise funds for the LauraLynn Foundation. Stephen Cummins, who is originally from Caherlisterane but now living in Ballinrobe, came up with the idea having seen an item on television about the work the foundation do for young children with cancer.

Mayo Pride Parade is another important step in our history

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

I was very disappointed to have missed the first Mayo Pride Parade in Castlebar on Saturday July22. I was out of the country but as soon as I got back I read the local papers' reports and contacted Mick Baynes, one of the event organisers, to get another view of what by all accounts was a well-attended day of good spirited solidarity. It is not that long ago when even the thought of such a colourful Pride parade through the county capital's streets would have met weighty and vociferous opposition. 

Ballina gears up for a weekend of food and more

Fri, Aug 04, 2017

The Food Fleadh Ballina makes a welcome return to the North Mayo capital from August 25 to 27 and over the weekend, visitors can enjoy a number of great family-friendly events including family foraging, food demonstrations, a ‘Ready Steady Cook’ competition, children’s cookery classes, the inaugural ‘Yeast Meets West’ Craft Brew fest, cocktail-making demonstrations by award-winning mixologists, featuring the finest spirits from Ballina’s Connacht Distillery - all while enjoying the finest of North Mayo food.

A history of Reek Sunday

Fri, Jul 28, 2017

In 1432, Pope Eugene IV issued a document that lay in obscurity deep within the Vatican vaults for centuries. When the doors of the archives and library of the Holy See were thrown open during the papacy of Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903), the British government sent a team of historians to transcribe everything they could find relating to Ireland. As a result of that investigative trawl, the well-known historian William Henry Grattan Flood presented Dr John Healy, Archbishop of Tuam, with a medieval document that detailed Rome’s official 15th century stance regarding the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage. The document, dated 27 September 1432, states, “Pope Eugene IV grants to the Archbishop of Tuam [at the time Seán Mac Feorais, aka John de Bermingham] an indulgence of two years and two quarantines [one quarantine was a penance of 40 days], on the usual conditions, for those penitents who visit and give alms toward the repair of the fabric of the chapel of St Patrick on the mountain which is called Croagh Patrick: this indulgence to be gained on the Sunday preceding the Feast of St Peter’s Chains [August 1]: because on that day a great multitude resorts thither to venerate St Patrick in the said chapel.” Archbishop Healy revived the old tradition of pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick and built the present church on its summit in 1905. But the history of the pilgrimage goes back further than the 1400s.

Westport gears up for influx of Reek Sunday pilgrims

Fri, Jul 28, 2017

The annual influx of thousands of pilgrims to Mayo for Reek Sunday takes place this weekend - as the annual pilgrimage of Ireland's holy mountain (Croagh Patrick) takes place. Upwards of 25,000 are expected to climb the mountain, many of them travelling from locations all over the country.

Number of families living in Mayo increased by 468 according to Census

Fri, Jul 28, 2017

The census that was carried out last year found that there are 33,628 families in Mayo, an increase of 468 (1.4 per cent) on the 2011 figure, according to the latest release of data collected.

Lack of footpath and lighting to Behy NS raised

Fri, Jul 28, 2017

The cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District has described the lack of a footpath and public lighting on the road leading to Behy National School as appalling and in urgent need of attention.

Lack of hedge cutting raises its head again

Fri, Jul 28, 2017

The need for Mayo County Council to cut back hedges and to trim verges along the main, non national roads in the Ballina Municipal District was highlighted by a number of councillors at a recent meeting of the municipal district.

E-paper

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