From Castlebar - County Mayo -
Mayo News 10 Dec 2003
By NB
14, Dec 2003 - 16:19
Three from the Mayo News:
Gardaí and nightclub owners in stand-off
A STAND-off has developed between the operators of teenage discos in Mayo and local Gardaí who are intent on implementing what many regard as draconian legislation introduced by Minister for Justice, Mr. Michael McDowell, earlier this year. The Mayo News has learned that a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to the running of alcohol-free teenage discos at one of Mayo’s best-known nightclubs, the N-17 in Kiltimagh. The breaches relate to the presence of underage persons on the premises after 9 p.m. It is also understood that the Gardaí are considering instituting legal proceedings against the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar for similar breaches.
Carty bows out as Ring prepares for battle
DEPUTY John Carty’s short sojourn in the chamber of Mayo Co. Council came to an end last Monday evening when his brother, Knock-based publican, Michael Carty, was nominated to succeed him as Fianna Fáil representative for the Claremorris Electoral Area. Deputy Carty, who was elected to the Council in the most recent Local Elections in 1999, has become the latest ‘victim’ of his own Government’s ban on Oireachtas members running for seats on local authorities.
Red letter day for the Black Triangle
AFTER years of waiting in vain for jobs that never came it was to be expected that the people of East and South Mayo were a little shocked when Minister for Finance, Mr. Charlie McCreevy announced last week that an area christened "The Black Triangle" was about to reap the benefits of the Government’s decentralisa-tion proposals. A total of 290 jobs have been earmarked for Knock Airport and Claremorris in what will be one of the largest population injections in the recent history of this neglected area of Mayo. In particular, the decentralising of the entire Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to Knock Airport is a major coup for airport authorities who have been campaigning to develop the infrastructure at the airport. A total of 140 jobs will be provided in Knock with a further 150 staff from the Office of Public Works moving to Claremorris. Sites have been acquired in both places and local community activists are confident that the decentralisation process will be completed within three to five years.
So the idea that some leniency had been allowed for the alcohol-free underage discos is not correct? Did we not hear from local TDs that this was ‘sorted’. So it’s back to the streets for the youngsters?
John Carty replaced by his brother Michael Carty in the ongoing dual mandate replacement of TDs on Mayo County Council. Michael Ring is taking a court case and Beverley is refusing to budge until the end of her term of office.
The decentralisation issue is well-covered in all the papers this week. It sounds like there was a right old row at the council meeting immediately following the budget when Charlie McCreevy announced 10,300 civil servants in virtually half the government’s department together with their respective ministers to be relocated ‘down the country’. Knock gets Department of the Gaeltacht and the OPW goes to Claremorris. Strange that despite the Spatial Strategy no additional jobs to Castlebar or Ballina but then the cynics have pointed out that there is an election in the offing.
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