Mayo schools celebrate striding this Walk to School Week

Fri, May 12, 2017

Mayo schools will take part in Green-Schools’ National Walk to School Week 2017, the ninth annual celebration of walking to school, which takes place from Monday, May 15 to  Friday, May 19 in schools across the country. Schools hope to encourage students, families and teachers to enjoy walking to school and to focus on continuing to journey to school on foot into the summer months – and all year round.

How Mayo prepared for D-Day

Fri, May 12, 2017

Following the painful birth of the Irish Free State and the semi-severing of political ties with London, British currency remained the economic elephant in the proudly independent room. Though apparently ideologically irreconcilable, the Free State retained the use of Britain’s sterling until 1928 when the Saorstát pound (punt) was introduced on a one to one ratio value with sterling. This attachment to the British pound continued after the introduction of the Irish punt in 1938.

Mayo to receive €257k in sports funding — An Taoiseach

Fri, May 12, 2017

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, has welcomed news that Mayo will benefit from €257,076 in funding for Local Sports Partnerships this year. This investment will support the core work of the LSP Network here in Mayo including the delivery of national programmes, education and training initiatives, strategic development, community sports development officers, the Sports Inclusion Disability programme, and general participation programmes.

€8,250 will be specifically allocated to the local Women in Sport programme. This will fund sport and physical activity programmes for female target groups including women with a disability, women in disadvantaged communities, older women and teenage girls.

Committee thanks all involved for little Louis raffle

Fri, May 12, 2017

Little Louis Walsh who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy is from Rowan Drive in Castlebar. His parents Padraig and Ann Marie along with fundraising committee members thank all the volunteer ticket sellers and the public who recently bought tickets for a fundraising raffle that was held for Louis. They also wish to offer a very special thanks to all the businesses and individuals who sponsored prizes for their generous donations, such as Bar One, Heverin Photography, All in Design and Print, SuperValu, Cannons Convenience Store, First Choice Credit Union, and the Parish Centre Castlebar.

One in a million lobster finds a new home in Achill

Fri, May 12, 2017

The Achill Experience, aquarium and visitor centre on Achill Island has checked in a new and very rare guest – a white lobster. The Marine Institute said such a specimen is extremely rare and very unusual to Irish waters. A genetic mismatch means that the lobster is not the traditional dark blue colour.

Calleary calls for co-ordinated approach to develop full potential of the Moy

Fri, May 12, 2017

Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo Dara Calleary is calling for enhanced co-ordination of organisations like Inland Fisheries Ireland, Tourism and Fáilte Ireland, the OPW, and angling and fishing groups in Northern Ireland to support, educate, and enhance fishing communities across the country. Deputy Calleary wants to see the fish stocks in our rivers and seas replenished to levels which would have been commonplace in previous decades and wants Minister Michael Creed to engage with the IFI to find out what resources it needs to function more proactively.

Mayo young people win silver and bronze at Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards

Fri, May 12, 2017

The Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards took place in Citywest Hotel and Conference Centre recently where some 2,300 young people from throughout Ireland showcased their work in the community. Two hundred and four groups took part in the awards with projects covering topics such as equality; homelessness; mental health; and culture.

Ardagh Foróige Club won a silver star award for their project helping the local hospital; and Mayo Comhairle na nÓg won a bronze star award for making a website to connect young people with potential employers.

Mayo young people win silver and bronze at Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards

Fri, May 12, 2017

The Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards took place in Citywest Hotel and Conference Centre recently where some 2,300 young people from throughout Ireland showcased their work in the community. Two hundred and four groups took part in the awards with projects covering topics such as equality; homelessness; mental health; and culture.

Opportunity for two Mayo teachers to work in the North American Gaeltacht

Fri, May 12, 2017

Mayo County Council and Gaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir (The North American Gaeltacht) are giving an opportunity to two Gaeilgeoirí from or living in Mayo to work in Canada as a teacher for a week as part of a summer course from August 13 to 20, with their travel and accommodation provided.

Gaeltacht Thuaisceart an Oileáin Úir is situated in Tamworth/Erinsville Ontario, it opened on June 16 2007, when a group of people with a great fondness for the language and culture decided to buy a plot of land to create the first Gaeltacht outside Ireland. Their aim is to have an area where Irish is spoken as a community language and to provide an opportunity for people to immerse themselves in all aspects of Irish culture.

Local company on countdown to National Enterprise Awards final

Fri, May 12, 2017

Monaghan Bros Bar Furniture Manufacturers Ltd from Mayo Abbey in Mayo, has been officially announced by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’ Connor, as a finalist in this year’s National Enterprise Awards.

Historic Aer Lingus charter to New York takes to the skies from Ireland West Airport

Fri, May 12, 2017

Monday was a remarkable day for the people of Knock and the Irish diaspora in New York as Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and rector of Knock Shrine, led a group out from Ireland West Airport to New York on Aer Lingus, in glorious sunshine.

Just one week to go for two Mayo schools ahead of Student Theatre Awards decisions

Fri, May 12, 2017

The wait is almost over for the two Mayo schools who have been nominated for the Bord Gáis Energy Student Theatre Awards, which will take place on Wednesday next, May 17 in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

The schools from Mayo nominated for the awards are Manulla National School and St Joseph's Primary School in Ballinrobe. Manulla National School was shortlisted in the 'Best Set' category for its set creation in the production of Hoodwinked by fourth, fifth, and sixth class students. Judges commented that they “loved the way that all the students came together to create a beautifully vivid and realistic set”. Fifth class student Ally Nestor from St Joseph’s Primary School in Ballinrobe has been shortlisted in the Best Female Performance in a Leading Role category for her performance as The News Reporter in the production The Peace Child. Judges noted Ally “was larger than life and made the top character totally believable and real”.

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