Local Papers Commentary
The Mayo News - 20 November 2002
By Peter Jordan
Nov 21, 2002, 15:26

Triangle of Mayo development announced by IDA
A significant property development programme for Castlebar, Ballina and Westport has been announced by the Industrial Development Authority. Planning is at an advanced stage to locate quality business and Technology Parks in the three towns. Work has already begun on a 20-acre IDA site in Castlebar and a planning application was lodged 2 weeks ago for development of a 40-acre site in Gortroe in Westport whilst a 30-acre site in Ballina is in the process of being acquired.

Emergency planning in Castlebar questioned by Mee
Councillor Johnny Mee has raised questions about Castlebar’s readiness to handle emergencies, arising out of the chaos caused by a fire at a garage in the town last week. Cllr. Mee’s comments came during a discussion of the draft town plan in which he also claimed that council members opinions had been contested throughout and that the plan would be rejected if there was a true democratic vote.

From Illiteracy to GMIT student
Well-known Castlebar campaigner Ernie Sweeney features in an extensive interview with Sean Rice in which he talks about a road that has taken him back to being a full-time student in the GMIT Castlebar campus, 40 years after leaving primary school as an illiterate youngster to take up work as a messenger boy in the Bacon Factory. Ernie reveals the embarrassment caused by not being able to read something as vital as a map for hill-walking or a ballot paper, the latter of which led him on a successful campaign to have pictures of candidates included on local, national and EU election ballot papers.

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