Budget week and EU warnings make life outside of Ireland worth considering for many

Fri, Dec 09, 2011

Things are heating up - not necessarily in terms of the upcoming festive season - or indeed in regard to outside temperatures, but just in a general sense. After the historic events of the week - the lacklustre Taoiseach State-of-the-nation address on Sunday followed by the half-and-half ‘slash and burn’ budget over Monday and Tuesday, a new force is building. It is not a positive force. The momentous proceedings of the past week put paid to any chance of positive people-power being harnessed. If anything, the spirit is sapped.

New fibre optic network confirms light at end of every tunnel

Fri, Dec 02, 2011

Like the man-flu that exists in the minds of men only (or does it?), it is perhaps possible to live in denial of the economic hell breaking around on all sides of us now, simply by switching off the radio and refusing to tune into news of any kind. Unfortunately, such an approach is not only unrealistic, it is flawed. Whether we like it or not, nothing can be resolved until tackled head on. While confrontation is something most of us avoid, in cases of crisis such as now, it is unavoidable. We must face facts. The so-called Irish recession is not in the past tense. We are heading not only towards a new recession, but a likely depression.

Ability to think straight is now the greatest commodity

Thu, Nov 24, 2011

Information overload appears to be the biggest trend of the moment with revelations regarding the upcoming Budget and behind-the-scenes workings of government at home and in Europe hijacking our attention spans at every turn. Instead of having to complain about being kept in the dark anymore, most of us are finding it difficult to keep on top of all the news happening around us, not only because of the sheer volume of same, but mainly because most of the news is not only bad, it is personal.

Hands off our business community for the sake of all our jobs

Fri, Nov 18, 2011

For fear it might sound like the business community is continually harping on about how difficult their lot genuinely is, it might be worth pointing out this week exactly what it means to be a person in business – particularly running your own business – in this day and age. The best way to present the case for the business community is to compare and contrast it with that of the employee. Let's start with the employee.

Play your part to help family businesses survive

Fri, Nov 11, 2011

After so many years of no-can-do, it is heartening this week to learn that there is actually something we can do about the many current issues affecting us, if we simply put our minds to it. One major asset at stake here is family businesses, or more pertinently, the future of family businesses, which according to one third-generation businessman in Castlebar is now in serious jeopardy.

State largesse welcome in Mayo but private sector growth still essential

Fri, Nov 04, 2011

When Enda Kenny became Taoiseach last March of a country facing economic ruin, talk was that the little largesse available to him would barely register on the home front. In contrast to the Fianna Fail-led governments that allowed party members such as Padraig Flynn gain the 'Pee Flynn Ring Road' moniker, those whose political persuasion matched that of our current homegrown Taoiseach were not expected to garner much in the way of spoils, given that so few were actually available for divvying out.

Presidential welcome as drawn out campaign ends for Halloween

Fri, Oct 28, 2011

The sense of relief is palpable this week as the October Bank Holiday rolls in and finally, the 2011 Irish presidential election campaign comes to a close. For better or worse we have now elected our new president and whatever political elections, by-elections, local or national arise in the next seven years, all going well, we won't have to worry about who will occupy the Áras for that period at least.

Be informed and make your vote count

Fri, Oct 21, 2011

By the time the next edition of the Mayo Advertiser hits the shelves, voting in the Presidential election will be complete and the votes will be in the process of being tallied.

TY is the link between education and grown up thinking

Fri, Oct 07, 2011

To cut the transition year programme from the school curriculum would be to deny secondary school students the opportunity of gaining a truly holistic education which will stay with them throughout their lives.

What do we want in our president anyway?

Fri, Sep 30, 2011

The first question we need to ask ourselves before we hit the polling booths on October 27 is, what do we want from our president?

The armchair view

Fri, Sep 23, 2011

I felt like a bit of a voyeur last weekend as I enjoyed a mini break in Killarney with my husband before the impending arrival of our second baby.

Time for the 9/11 widows and families to grieve in private

Fri, Sep 09, 2011

This week you could not avoid the extensive television coverage that has been given to the weekend’s anniversary of the devastating September 11 2001 attack on New York’s Twin Towers.

E-paper

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