Search Results for 'Inishbiggle'

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage recently launched ‘Under Darkening Skies’ a public art commission by the visual artist Susan Mannion at the Ballycroy Visitor Centre at Wild Nephin National Park.

The ongoing battle to retain the name Ballycroy in regard to the National Park located in the village "isn't going to go away", the elected members of the Westport-Belmullet Municipal District were told on Monday.

Achill based Fianna Fáil councillor, Paul McNamara, this week highlighted what he said was the disparity in funding for projects and services in his area compared to larger towns in the county.

In the 1650s, Catholics were uprooted from their productive, arable, lands in several Irish counties by Oliver Cromwell’s Protestant army and forced at musket point to desolate, barren, Connacht. Their confiscated lands, the better holdings in Ireland, were distributed to Protestant settlers, Cromwell’s army as pay, and carved up to pay debts. Maps of Ireland, pre and post Cromwell, detailing the regression of the predominantly Catholic associated Irish language and customs point to a culture that was deliberately and officially forced to areas thought of as being so inhospitable they would not survive. County Mayo was included among these religious and cultural ghettoes. The living standards of the banished Catholics fell dangerously low and remained so for centuries. Christian duty led some within the Protestant clergy to later establish evangelical missions in the wild Irish west to give relief to the descendants of those very same Catholics. Salvation and, dishonourably, food were offered through conversion to Protestantism. Whereas 17th century Protestants believed it was God's will that godless Catholics be sent to suffer and perhaps perish in Mayo, 19th century Protestants believed it was His will that these (still godless) Catholics be reclaimed so that they might be saved. The Rev Edward Nangle's Achill Island Mission set out to do just that in 1831.

As part of National Heritage Week, why not go along to Ballycroy National Park tomorrow night and unlock the night at Ireland's first International Dark Sky park. This free outdoor event will let you listen for bats, trap moths, seek out nocturnal wildlife and learn more about the effects of light pollution on humans and wildlife. 

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring this week warmly welcomed the decision that funding for Westdoc in the Achill and Erris Area will be continued in 2014 from the Onerous Rota Fund to Achill and Erris GPs.

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.

A free traditional Irish music concert will take place at Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre on Sunday July 18 at 2pm.

Fine Gael TD Michael Ring has called on An Post and the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív TD to save the postal service on Inisbiggle. “An Post are getting rid of the rural post office by stealth, they are not paying people to make it a viable service. The post office on the island was ran by the O’Malley family for over 60 years and Bridget O’Malley, who was the person running it as an agency up to now, was getting only 36 cent per transaction,” he told the Mayo Advertiser this week.

There's so much more to yawl racing than meets the eye! That's the verdict of people here generally as the annual Cruinniu Badoiri Acla continues to thrill the local population and visitors alike. This weekend past was no exception for great yawl racing despite “feast to famine” weather conditions which ranged from raging storm to midge friendly calm. Saturday's race in Tonragee (which translates as “back to the wind” ) was cancelled due to too much wind.