Foróige targets Ballina for pilot digital hub in Mayo

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

A digital hub designed to give young people access to technology and online activities that would include everything from entertainment, music production, setting up in business and creating their own apps, has been put forward as a pilot project proposition for Ballina that could then be rolled out in towns across Mayo - by the youth organisation Foróige.

In a presentation to Ballina MD this week, Megan Depinna, Youth Officer with the Tomar Digital Youth Work Programme and her colleague Ruairi Kelly, outlined to members at the meeting held in the Foróige headquarters on Pearse St, that Ballina would be a pilot and the first such digital hub in Mayo, where the main focus would be to ensure all youth can access technology and avail of learning and training in the evolving digital world. To realise the dream, a dedicated space in the town would be needed, such as the Military Barracks, where plans were already afoot to develop an enterprise centre, she said.

Council called on to stop acting as refugee housing agent

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Although it was not listed as an item for discussion on the agenda of the Ballina MD meeting on Wednesday last, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly advised management that talk of 200 male refugees being placed in an industrial unit in Moyvalley Retail Park in the town, would be raised by councillors in the course of proceedings.

Progress being made on Castlebar Tourism Projects

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

A number of tourism projects being managed by Mayo County Council are being progressed in the Castlebar Municipal District, according to the Tourism, Recreation & Amenity Section of the council, which has provided the following Tourism Update which will form part of the agenda of the Castlebar MD area meeting on Wednesday July 26 next.

Climbing Wall

Preparations in place for MUH Winter Plan

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Saolta Chief Tony Canavan has offered assurances that plans are being put in place to cope with anticipated public demand throughout the winter season.

A Motley Gathering of Sycophants

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Castlebar got a new Town Hall on 6 June 1894. The Linen Hall, built in 1790, was given a new purpose. In 1986, the Education Centre in John Wesley's Methodist Church on the Green relocated to the Town Hall. When the Arts Council came on board in 1990, the Linen Hall Arts Centre was born, and the 'Linen Hall' had a new purpose.

Ring calls on Council to complete Ballycroy Graveyard extension

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michael Ring has called on Mayo County Council to urgently complete the extension to Ballycroy Graveyard.

Deputy Ring stated: “The matter of the extension to Ballycroy Graveyard has been ongoing for a number of years. This situation is becoming increasingly more urgent. The present graveyard is close to reaching capacity

Baby Swifts Hatch at The Linenhall

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

The Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar is pleased to disclose a very special update on its longstanding, swift nesting project in conjunction with Swift Conservation Mayo: - the arrival of twin baby swifts in nest boxes located on the exterior wall of the historic Linenhall building.

Councillors say tourists prefer Ballina over Westport

Thu, Jul 20, 2023

With Ballina riding high as it reaches the half way point of its 300th year celebrations, following a succession of events including the annual festival on the Moy, the Connacht Fleadh, the Mini Marathon, not to mention the visit by US President Joe Biden - and now this week - further celebrations following a series of Grade A marks in an assessment of the town by Irish Business Against Litter, Ballina has become the place to be for tourists in Mayo - according to local councillors.

Mayo TD on the frontline in RTE/Tubridy hearing

Fri, Jul 14, 2023

AS RTE presenter and broadcaster Ryan Tubridy voluntarily attended as a witness at the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee from 11am-2pm on Tuesday July 11 last, and subsequently as a witness at the Joint Committee of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media meeting from 3pm-6pm, a Mayo TD was also thrown into the spotlight.

Mayo representative appeals to Dail committee to help Mica homeowners

Fri, Jul 14, 2023

A representative from the North Mayo Mica Action Group made an impassioned plea to a Dail committee this week asking that affected home owners be placed 'front and centre' and looked after properly under the proposed defective block redress scheme.

The Road

Fri, Jul 14, 2023

In the summer of 1831, famine returned to County Mayo, and the starving took to the roads in search of food. Travellers on the roads witnessed and recorded many desperate people in the fields feeding on mustard, cress, and other herbage. Convoys of horses and carts carrying food also plied the roads, and it was not long before the starving turned their attention to them. The carts had meal and flour imported through Westport, destined for markets, big houses, and famine relief depots. The authorities responded by assigning armed escorts, but hunger had disarmed people of their fear of armed soldiers and constables.

“We’re burning down our children’s home”

Fri, Jul 14, 2023

“We’re burning down our children’s home”, Chair of the Elders and former president of Ireland Mary Robinson, told delegates to the inaugural Mary Robinson Climate Conference, themed “Communities Creating Change”, which took place in Ballina last week, adding: "but young people should not despair, but instead should be 'prisoners of hope'.

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