Search Results for 'Austin Francis'

The curtain finally came down on the local and European election count in the Royal Theatre in Castlebar in the early hours of Thursday after a mammoth almost five days of counting of votes, when Marian Harkin held off the challenge of Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher to win the last seat in the Midlands North West European constituency.

There’s no area in Mayo that can be easily called as to where the seats will be divided out in next week’s local elections, but the new West Mayo area is probably the hardest. The re-drawing of the boundaries last year has seen the old Westport and Belmullet areas thrown together into one giant swathe of land that stretches right from the northern tip of the county right down the west coast to the Galway border. Currently there are eight councillors sitting in the two areas and this time out there are only seven seats up for grabs in the new giant district.

Nominations for the Local Elections on May 23 closed on Saturday.

Westport electoral area councillors stated at their meeting on Monday that the weeds, bushes, and hedge growth which is on the verge of roads need to be dealt with immediately as it is making driving on roads dangerous.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring has today been informed by Minister of State for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley that he has approved funding for roads on Clare Island and on Inishbiggle. In relation to Inishbiggle, funding is being provided for 75 per cent of the overall cost of the roads with €45,000 being allocated. In relation to Clare Island, again 75 per cent is being approved for the overall cost of the work and they will be receiving €60,750.

New Cathaoirleach

Developments at Rosmoney pier have been completed and the newly constructed pontoon was finally commissioned for public use on Wednesday last.

Two members of the HSE West regional forum were unsuccessful in their calls for an independent public inquiry into the tragic death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway in October at a meeting of the forum this week. The motion was tabled by Clare county councillor Brian Meaney and seconded by Galway city councillor Catherine Connolly.

As May came close so to did the end of a very successful Bealtaine 2012 programme for Mayo County Council Arts Office. This was the 17th year of Ireland’s national celebration of creativity as we age. Bealtaine aims to involve older people in the arts, through expression and active participation. It also encourages older people to engage as an experienced audience for all art forms. During May 2012 Mayo County Council Arts Office worked with active retirement associations throughout Mayo as well as some of the community nursing units in the county.

Westport area councillors welcomed the news that breakwater type pontoons are to be installed at Rosmoney Pier. The pontoons will be installed off the northwest corner of the existing pier at Rosmoney and will be held in place by steel circular hollow section piles and accessed from the pier by means of an access walkway.