It’s too early to lose faith in our hospital

Fri, Mar 27, 2009

People around Mayo were gripped in a hysterical frenzy during the week when it emerged that Mayo General Hospital performed the worst out of 29 hospitals surveyed under a new HSE monitoring system. Outrage was the order of the day. They were ringing local radio with horror stories of relatives waiting hours on trolleys.

The Pope on condoms

Fri, Mar 20, 2009

The Pope talking about condoms. It’s always a recipe for disaster. In fairness to the man, he’s the head of the Catholic Church and he’s never going to condone contraception. But he might be better staying clear of the subject altogether. Comments made by the Pope this week have caused outrage. But was what Pope Benedict said taken out of context and was the Church head misquoted?

I’ve got a secret to share Brian

Fri, Mar 13, 2009

I’ve figured out how Brian Cowen is going to sort out this economic mess. Exercise. It’s proven to relieve stress and help participants maintain focus and lets face it the government could do with some focus at the moment. With an emergency or supplementary budget due on April 7 I propose that Brian and Ireland’s 166 TDs start pounding the streets of Dublin in search of some inspiration.

Proud to be Irish?

Fri, Mar 06, 2009

With the preparations commencing for our national feast day, gearing up to celebrate this day seems in a time when feelings of anger, cynicism, and deep resentment are resonating though society, is far from a plausible notion, with even the most patriotic among us questioning the notion of being proud to be Irish. As we haplessly watch the country crumble around us, the fact that the world will be focusing their attention on our little land on St Patrick’s Day to laud praise upon us seems all the more iniquitous.

Love them or hate them, windmills are back

Fri, Feb 27, 2009

In the midst of this depressing time in Irish history, there was one good news story this week. The announcement that farmers and householders who generate their own electricity can now sell it back to the national grid is a welcome development.

We were once rich in heart and mind

Fri, Feb 20, 2009

It’s a poor indictment on the Government when a group of parents have to come together to raise funds to open a special school. However that’s the situation for a group of people from Mayo who began the Seven Day in a Row Croagh Patrick Challenge.

Take one for the road

Fri, Feb 06, 2009

Yesterday (Thursday) we saw our first real fall of snow in Mayo this year which brought cheer and fun to many a heart before the sun returned and melted it all away. But with low temperatures promised for this weekend drivers have been encouraged to exercise extreme caution on the roads.

Tractor driver disqualified for forcing 20 cars to crawl behind him

Fri, Feb 06, 2009

A Newport man on his way home from the mart, who according to Judge Mary Devins was only concerned with his own business on the roads rather than anybody else’s, was disqualified from driving after he caused a tail back of up to 20 cars behind the tractor he was driving.

Restriction on salmon angling at Pontoon Bridge extended

Fri, Feb 06, 2009

A bye-law which defers the opening of the salmon angling season at Pontoon Bridge until June 1 has been renewed by the Minister for State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Sean Power TD.

Campaign to reduce the voting age to 16

Fri, Jan 30, 2009

With the local and European elections on the horizon teenagers in Ireland will be watching proceedings from the outside, wondering why their voices can't be heard. A campaign is mounting to allow 16 and 17-year-olds vote, and it’s one which the Mayo Advertiser supports. At the ages of 16 and 17 you can pay taxes, get married, work full-time, leave school, or be detained at a detention centre, so why not have the right to vote?

Where’s our dreamer?

Fri, Jan 23, 2009

It’s amazing how the hopes and dreams of millions, and probably billions, are at the feet of one man. Barack Obama is perched on a pedestal that is hovering high, with the citizens of diverse and far flung nations all holding their breath in anticipation of how this “saviour” will bring peace and harmony to the world.

Keep Mayo open for business — shop local

Fri, Jan 16, 2009

Chambers of Commerce in Mayo were urging consumers to shop local in the run up to Christmas. But now, more than ever, that message has a greater urgency. The message is clear: To protect jobs in Mayo shoppers must continue to spend their money in Mayo. In the Erris region alone a minimum of 371 people are employed in the retail sector. That’s according to the findings of a survey conducted by Erris Chamber of Commerce. Chamber president Derek Reilly has reiterated the shop local message and pointed out its aptness at any time of the year. Those jobs could be in jeopardy if local people choose to shop elsewhere, Mr Reilly has warned.

E-paper

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