Search Results for 'Jim Mitchell'

It was all about by-elections last weekend - two Dáil by-elections being watched closely with a view to gauging the mood music of the electorate; a Seanad by-election generating an inordinate amount of interest as the Government inflicted an unnecessary wound on itself; and two parliamentary by-elections in England which may yet prove to be of some interest this side of the Irish Sea.

Growing up in Castlebar in the 1950s and the 1960s Ernie Sweeney encountered a number of health problems which meant he missed periods of school over the years. This resulted in him falling behind and he had great difficulties with reading and writing. Being a member of a large class as was fairly normal in those days, he had little chance of getting any extra attention for his difficulties. Those were the days also prior to the presence of special needs teachers in schools. People like Ernie were often treated as being stupid and as result there was a huge stigma attached to the inability to be able to read.

From last April until now seems like the blink of an eye, but in that time a major brand new musical has been honed, cast, marketed and brought to the stage in the west of Ireland. Yes, the much-heralded dramatic musical in two acts, On a Wing and Prayer launched boldly into the public sphere for three nights last night Thursday, November 25 and will run until tomorrow Saturday November 27, at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar. And all in aid of a great cause, the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation, and specifically for the Foundation’s Palliative Care Service.

In 2004 Fine Gael won four out the six county council seats on offer in the Ballina electoral area.