Sports Supremo In Strong PD Link
The Connaught Telegraph this week.
The Progressive Democrats have confirmed that they approached Mayo broadcaster and columnist, Mr. Willie McNeela, about the prospect of him running as a PD candidate in the next general election. Mr. John Higgins, general secretary, said that Mr. McNeela held talks with a number of party officials and displayed a keen interest in running in the election and also added that he believed that Mr. McNeela had a strong chance of taking the first ever seat for the party in Mayo. A private poll is now being conducted throughout the constituency to establish voting trends in the area and Mr. McNeela's name is listed as a candidate for the PDs. When the poll is completed the party will be looking for a firm commitment from Mr. McNeela.
Mr. McNeela said he was keeping his options open for the time being, but confirmed that the PDs made an attractive offer to him. It has been reported that Mr. McNeela had also been approached by two major parties and had been recognised as a possible independent candidate, but Mr. McNeela refused to comment saying only that change is needed and that the issue of the Government's failure to deliver on a promise to retain Mayo General Hospital's cancer screening facilities for women was of grave concern to him.
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Supermarket Eye Up Castlebar Move
The Connaught Telegraph this week.
Castlebar may yet again get a new supermarket as Lidl, a well-known competitive supermarket chain, has expressed interest in the county town. Their interest coincides with a new planning application lodged with Mayo County Council by Kelem Properties to construct a discount food store on the Breaffy Road. There is already planning permission in place for industrial units on the site in question.
Meanwhile, Lidl is also on the verge of moving to Ballina where a staff recruitment campaign is already taking place.
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Major Emigrant Project For Mayo
The Connaught Telegraph this week.
The Mayo Emigrant liaison committee has organised a major emigrant event, "Project Ireland 2001", from the 15th to 22nd September. One hundred emigrants plus organisers and friends will spend a week in Mayo courtesy of the committee. Groups will come from Leeds, Birmingham, Coventry, Luton and London.
Among the events being held over the week The Birmingham Pipe and Drum Band will play and the highlight of the event will be a visit from President Mary McAleese who will formally inaugurate a seminar for returning and returned emigrants on Tuesday, September 18th.
This is the first event of its kind ever organised in Ireland and Mr. Dermot Aherne, T.D., Minister for Social Family and Community Affairs, showed his support by approving a grant of £12,000.
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Legal Action Not Ruled Out In Castlebar Market Square Row
The Mayo News this week.
After a meeting last Thursday between Urban District Councillors, the Council executive and the Market Square traders, it was agreed that the executive would draw up a plan which would be shown to the traders as a means of resolving the ongoing dispute about the new face of the Market Square.
The traders have not ruled out legal action, but Councillor Aidan Crowley said that he believed the matter was not one that should go to the courts. Though he agreed that material changes had to be made, he believed that the development, which cost over £1 million, should not be lifted as it would be a dreadful waste of taxpayer's money.
Ray Norton, Council Engineer, and Padraig Flanagan, Council Executive, are currently putting together a revised plan to show to the traders who will then come to a conclusion on whether the matter can be resolved satisfactorily or not.
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German Youths Rescued From Tragedy On Lough Corrib
The Mayo News this week.
Fourteen German youths, aged between 15 and 19 years of age, were rescued from Lough Corrib on Monday. The teenagers from Cologne and Dusseldorf in Germany were rowing towards the Island of Cleenillium when their crafts capsized in the icy waters. Luckily, they were all wearing life jackets and were able to stay afloat until Mr. Tony Alton, a resident of a 32-foot pleasure cruiser who was out on the lake at the time, came upon the teenagers in difficulty. He managed to pull the youths from the choppy waters, which he described as being treacherous at the time. Mr. Alton said that the conditions on the lake that day were similar to the sea on a rough day and that it was most probably the high waves that caused the vessels to capsize.
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Lough Mask Water Project
The Mayo News this week.
Senator Frank Chambers was informed this week by Mr. Noel Dempsey, Minister for the Environment and Local Government, that he has approved funding for the Lough Mask Regional Water Supply Scheme. Mayo County Council had proposed the Water Conservation Project and Senator Chambers stated that this approval will help the Council ensure that any water losses are at a minimum and that the best value is obtained from the water produced.
Senator Chambers added that the estimated cost of the project was £1.2 million and will greatly improve the County's water supply.
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Mayo Property Price Boom Is Still Booming!
The Mayo News this week.
Two auctions last week proved that there is tremendous interest and money in properties in County Mayo.
A record was made when a two-bedroomed, 80-year-old cottage, fetched £211,000 at an auction held in The Bartra House Hotel, Ballina. People came from far and wide to place their bids for the cottage, but in the end it was a local man who succeeded in buying the Castle-Lacken cottage. Mr. Paul Leonard, Manager of Mayo/Sligo Property Sales Ltd., told the Western People that he was not surprised that the cottage had generated so much interest as it is located in an extremely scenic area and that there is a big demand for property there.
Another auction held in Cill Aodain Hotel, Kiltimagh, saw a property reach £143,000. The property is located one mile from Kiltimagh and was divided up into three lots when auctioned. Frank O'Reilly, the auctioneer, said that there was great interest in the land, which was reflected in the prices paid for the lots and in the large number of people who attended the auction.
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"James Bond" Weds In Cong
The Mayo News this week.
Tight security will be put in place this Saturday (4th) as 007 actor Pierce Brosnan will marry Keely Shaye Smith in Cong. Stars will mingle with family members afterwards at the reception in Ashford Castle. The couple were to be married in Ballintubber Abbey last year but the wedding was postponed because Mr. Brosnan's son was ill.
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Big Game Bonanza For Castlebar
The Mayo News this week.
Thirty-five thousand people are expected to attend the quarter-final match between Galway and Roscommon this Saturday (4th) in Castlebar. The game has generated huge interest in both counties as the Connaught champions Roscommon meet their first-round victims Galway. Many people in Galway believed that their team did not perform to the best of their ability in the championship and are looking forward to the outcome of the match.
The game will not only be a great boost for McHale Park which has undergone significant developments in the past few years, but it will also be good for the town's local pub and restaurant business.
All of Castlebar's accommodation is booked out for the weekend and Gardai have appealed to drivers to drive carefully as heavy traffic is expected.
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