Castlebar woman successful in Assembly elections

A CASTLEBAR woman was a successful candidate for Sinn Féin in last week’s assembly election held in Northern Ireland. Caitriona Ruane is a native of Derryharriff, Castlebar and her grandfather Charlie Gilmartin from Kiltimagh was a member in the past of Mayo County Council. Ms. Ruane secured a massive 5,118 first preferences, making her the flagship candidate for Gerry Adams’ party in the six seater Down constituency. Caitriona is well known in tennis circles in Castlebar and her mother Nuala still resides in the town.

Castlebar taxi drivers facing public backlash

By Stephen O’Grady and Elisha Commins

TAXI drivers in Castlebar are set to face a backlash from an irate public over increases in fares and an alleged failure to use their meters. A plethora of complaints against taxi drivers in the county town has prompted the formation of the new Association of Castlebar Taxi Drivers (A.C.T.). Although no formal complaints have been made to the Public Service Vehicle Inspector at Castlebar Garda Station the Mayo News understands that there is considerable anger in Castlebar over the non-use of taxi meters.

De Facto - By Liamy MacNally

Christmas Stocking Fillers - Golden Eggs
‘Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat’ is one of the lines of a famous seasonal rhyme. Today we are more concerned about the ‘golden eggs’ rather than the goose. Christmas is a time of great expenditure as the marketing executives drool over the clanging cash registers and the sales figures hit heavenwards. While some will rejoice as the cash flows turn into cash torrents there are others for whom the whole season is a trying time. Ask any member of St. Vincent de Paul. Many of them braved the coldness of last Saturday and Sunday to stand and be counted as they collected on behalf of people less fortunate.

I’m sure most people were surprised to see Caitriona Ruane’s name popping up again in the context of the Northern Elections. She did receive quite a bit of publicity over the past year in the light of her connection with the Columbia Sinn Fein case and her fame as a tennis player in these parts of course is still remembered along Pavilion Road. I’m certain that she will serve her constituents well.

Anyone reading the Castlebar Bulletin Board will know that taxi drivers not turning on their meters is a bone of contention at the moment. Many if not most of our taxi drivers are decent skins. I’ve heard of drivers in Castlebar giving a discount off the meter reading at the end of journey.

Liamy is right – don’t forget the less well off this Christmas as the economic situation means tighter fists on that wad of cash or on that dreaded plastic card. And don’t be afraid to stand up to the kids’ demands for playstations and X-boxes or other expensive exotica. I like the somewhat strange idea too of buying something useful for a third world community as a surrogate gift for a family member or friend here in Ireland and marking this gift with a token. A good idea especially for the person who has everything and causes you terrible headaches trying to decide what to buy - get them a water pump or a goat.