Fish farm awaits vital test results
A devastating disease has been detected at a fish farm in Clew Bay, which could force the closure of the industry for up to 6 months. The Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus (ISAV) was discovered in rainbow trout on the fish farm earlier this month. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources emphasised that there is no evidence of a clinical outbreak to date. Precautionary measures are put in place. The owners of Seastream Ltd. have been asked to accelerate harvesting by a few weeks. Results of the tests are awaited from the International Reference Laboratory in Oslo. However, a day after the tests were carried out over 100 fish escaped from the farm into local wild fishing grounds. Many of these have been recaptured but it has caused serious concern for fishery owners in the area. If the disease is confirmed it will be its first appearance in Ireland.

Seamus Swift – Record Breaker!
Thousands of friends and colleagues gathered in the Welcome Inn at the retirement function of Seamus Swift who was an engineering services’ attendant at Mayo General Hospital for almost 50 years. He joined the hospital in 1953 as a teenager, working alongside his father Jimmy, then in charge of equipment at the hospital. He was popular with all levels of staff and his contribution to Mayo General Hospital over the years is incalculable. His record of service is unlikely to be matched in the future. Warm wishes are extended to him for the years ahead.

Trampling on a dream
Every emigrant dreams of returning some day to raise their family in the town or village of their ancestors. James Laffey spoke to Gerry Bourke, a returned emigrant, whose dream has turned into a nightmare. Gerry, a carpenter by trade, returned from England in 1997 with his wife and young son to his home place in Aughoose. Gerry planned to build a house on a site he inherited from his parents so that his children could grow up in the countryside. His dreams were burst when Mayo County Council refused to give him planning permission because there was no percolation on his site. Gerry was determined to build in Aughoose so he said he would get a system from Puraflo or Bord na Mona to sort out the percolation problem but the Council still disagreed.