Local Papers Commentary
The Mayo News - 30 October 2002
By Castlebar Observer
Oct 30, 2002, 13:37

Top Bravery award for Westport life-savers

Three young Westport women who jumped into the sea to save a young mother and her two children from drowning have won the National Courage Award, promoted by the Irish Security Association. Helen Mulhall (Carrowkennedy), Mary Gill (Carrowholly) and Ann Heraty (Drummin) were nominated by the local Town Council and by the local Garda Station. The Gardai also nominated Mr. John Walsh, a plumber from Belclare, Westport who was working on his boat at Westport Quay at the time and who assisted in the rescue. On their way home from training with Westport United F.C. at The Point, Westport, the girls saw that a local mother, Mary Collins of Golf Course Road, her 3 year-old daughter Teresa, and 1 year-old son Liam, had fallen into the water, with the two children in a buggy at the time. The three young women succeeded with assistance from Mr. Walsh and members of the public who had assembled at the quayside, in rescuing all three with the aid of a life buoy and rope which they found nearby. Garda Superintendent Pat Doyle said that the Gardai were delighted to support the nomination and added that "A tragedy that would undoubtedly have resulted in serious loss of life was averted by their very courageous action". The award is due to be formally presented to the three heroes at a ceremony in Dublin in a few weeks time.

Castlebar Site fetches € EUR 2.6m in public auction

The continuing upward slope in property prices was shown recently in Castlebar when a 17-acre prime development site on the Newport Road was sold for € EUR 2.6m. The lands which had been the property of the late Mr. Stephen Daly, were purchased by the well-known local property development company, Kamer Construction. The site is located in an area zoned for residential development although there is as yet no planning permission for the site. The bidding for the land opened at € EUR 1m. and after a series of 32 bids the property was sold to Kamer, who have been involved in the construction of several large projects in counties Mayo, Galway and Clare.

Ballindine celebrates success of native son

Two of the country's three main political parties are now under the stewardship of Mayo men following the election of Mr. Pat Rabbitte, a Ballindine native to the leadership of the Labour Party. The 53-year-old Dublin-based T.D. was elected with a comfortable margin in the vote which was conducted amongst paid-up members of the Labour Party. Over the past weekend speculation was rife that one of Mr. Rabbitte's first moves as Labour Party leader might be to enter into negotiations with Fine Gael about a possible merger. However, the prospects of this occurring at this stage are remote and the new leader looks likely to concentrate his energies on building up membership of the party in time for the local elections in 2004.

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