What it Says in the Castlebar and Mayo Papers

March 7th, 2001

Connaught Telegraph

The Mayo News

The Western People

Knock: You're clear for take-off The Connaught Telegraph this week.

Ryanair, the low fares airline, is set to double the number of daily flights between Knock Airport and Stanstead in London. From next month there will be two flights in and out of Knock each day with a capacity for 380 seats each way. The move will dramatically increase passenger traffic through Knock and will open up the region to a huge tourism market. The announcement from Ryanair comes on the heels of the daily Aer Arann early bird 7 a.m. service between Knock and Dublin Airport which is proving to be a success. Commenting on the increased frequency, Mr. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair chief executive, stated "We are delighted to announce a second daily flight from Knock to London Stanstead. This additional schedule service is a major benefit to the people of the Northwest and the region in general, with increases in tourism and business passengers. Our second daily flight commences on April 12th and with increased capacity we will continue to offer even more seats at the lowest fares to London and from London to the West of Ireland." He said that the Knock-Stanstead flights would depart at 09:15 and 10:35 and at 17:50 and 19:10 every day. According to Knock Board chairman, Mr. Cathal Duffy, the fares structure will be highly competitive with Ryanair hoping to sell 760 seats on the route each day.

Moffatt reacts to Independent threat The Connaught Telegraph this week.

Junior Health Minister Dr. Tom Moffatt has reacted pragmatically to claims that he is to be opposed by an independent candidate in the next general election. The promoters of the Ballina Sports Complex have indicated that they will be putting forward a high-profile personality to fight for the completion of the facility, a move which could put Dr. Moffatt's seat in jeopardy. The Fianna Fail deputy said he would not be standing in the way of anybody who wanted to put their name on the ballot sheet. He stated "That's not the first time this proposal was mooted. Former Mayo footballer Liam McHale was mentioned as a potential candidate before the election in 1997 but his candidacy did not materialise. I accept that different groups have different ways of getting things done, but I don't think my track record in regard to the complex can be challenged. I have done my bit to date to help bring the project to fruition. Not so long ago, a sum of £400,000 allocated for the complex was lost and I managed to get it back. The reality is that the cost of the complex has escalated out of all proportion since it started. The plans have been changed over the years. When it started the cost was £600,000. Then it went to £800,000. Now it's gone to £1.2m."

Mayo's pub industry faces total shutdown if foot-and-mouth confirmed here The Connaught Telegraph this week.

Mayo's 600 publicans are watching developments in the foot-and-mouth drama unfold with bated breath as a confirmed outbreak of the disease would almost certainly mean a complete shutdown of the industry. Marty O'Hara, Chairman of the Mayo Vintners' Federation (VFI), pointed out last night that the health of the pub sector in the county was inextricably linked to agriculture as the economy of the region was almost overwhelmingly land based. "Business has slowed down in recent weeks and if there is a confirmed outbreak of foot and mouth anywhere in the Republic it will have a devastating impact on the pub trade in rural areas", Mr. O'Hara predicted. In line with advice from the VFI, most publicans are placing disinfectant mats in their doorways as the period of high alert continues. Pubs in isolated areas are reported to be "ghost venues" even at weekends as the farming community elects to stay at home rather than risk spreading or bringing the dreaded livestock disease home by socialising.

£40 million Castlebar Sewerage Scheme will cater for population of 45,000 The Mayo News this week.

Castlebar Sewerage Scheme is to be upgraded to cater for a population of 35,000 within the next three years. The scheme will additionally be expanded to cater for 45,000 residents in a phase II improvement which will commence after 2004. The works are to be completed at a cost £40 million. The information was provided during a presentation on the Castlebar Sewerage Network and Treatment Plant made to Castlebar U.D.C. last week. Members are assured that Castlebar will be provided with a state-of-the-art sewerage and water treatment scheme which will be second to none in the country. The water will be practically good enough to drink after treatment in the new works. Full tertiary filtration with the existing phosphorous removal system , will be incorporated. Sludge hub centres will be situated in Castlebar and Ballina and will remove all sludge from the county of Mayo

Mayo 'shutdown' over Foot and Mouth Disease The Mayo News.

Hundreds of sporting, social, commercial and community activities were cancelled throughout Mayo over the weekend as a precautionary measures to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease. On Monday evening, 308 sheep were slaughtered on a farm at Maltpool, Claremorris in what was described as a 'purely precautionary measure.' The sheep were reported to have been imported from Northern Ireland two weeks earlier. The flock was valued at over £20,000. It is likely that there will be even more cancellations of events in what many regard as an essential "shutdown" of the county to prevent the disease spreading. All sporting codes cancelled matches, social gatherings were cancelled on a massive scale, a number of St. Patrick's Day parades have already been cancelled and even meetings of local bodies were postponed indefinitely. Mayo TDs, Senators and local authority leaders joined forces in asking the general public to use care and vigilance in their day-to-day activities and to refrain from travelling if at all possible.

Ambitious proposals for Westport Harbour The Mayo News this week.

A proposal to develop Westport Harbour into one of the finest Marine Leisure Centres along the Western Coastline, has been unanimously backed by parties involved in commercial, tourism and leisure activities in Clew Bay. Specifically suggested is the construction of a small boat berthing facility and the completion of dredging work which would result in deep water access to the harbour at all times. Government funding of up to £6 million is also deemed to be available for a proper Integrated Development Plan for the harbour area. The findings are the conclusion of a round of consultative talks which were held recently between Mr. Michael Moran, Secretary of the Westport Harbour Board, in association with Mr. Pat O'Donnell, Mayo County Engineer and Independent Consultant, Mr. Raymond Bourke. This deputation met with several different interest groups including Fishing and Sea-Angling representatives, tourism operators in the Westport Quay area and the heritage body, Duchas.

£1m. to set up Call Centre in Belmullet The Western People this week.

Belmullet is poised to become the Call Centre of the West following the approval by Udaras na Gaeltachta for funding of £1m. to equip and provide a centre with 50 places. The idea is to put the area on a footing to be in a position to immediately accept any company wishing to use it for IT services. Training is to be provided so that a work force will be available for any international or other company making enquiries. The new Centre will be in a 600 sq. m segment of the Warners industry centre in the town. Cllr. Tim Quinn, who is a member of Udaras, said he is delighted at the development as it will give Belmullet and the Erris Region an advantage in the effort to attract long-term jobs. "There will be about fifty places involved and about £0.25m. will be spent on the area to be taken over in Warners and to equip it," he said. He added that the hope is that a company like Aer Arann, Aer Lingus or some international company, would avail of the service that the centre will be able to provide to a very high standard. Cllr. Quinn said the technology links to the area would have to be upgraded and guaranteed in terms of quality and reliability and it was vitally important that broad band was brought to the area.

Achill Island and Erris declare independence in face of threat The Western People this Tuesday.

The Achill and Erris region of Mayo has been declared an independent republic for the duration of the foot and mouth scare. The area has been sealed off by placing disinfected mats on the three major bridges connecting the area with the rest of the county. Behind the unilateral declaration of ' independence' was Irish Farmers' Association activist and well-known sheep farmer Michael Holmes. With the help of the IFA and GAA and local authority officials the bridges at Burrishoole, Bellacorick and at the Ceide Fields were " sealed off " on Monday by the provision of the specially treated mats. " There is no foot and mouth in Mayo and this is just an added precaution. Even if it does come to Mayo then we have added barriers in the Achill and Erris areas which are major sheep rearing regions" said Mr. Holmes.

Integrated Services Centre for Achill The Western People this week.

The first week in March will see the start, on site, of a new and innovative project which will provide an Integrated Services Centre, at Achill Sound. The new centre will include a Health Centre for the Western Health Board, a Library and Information Office for Mayo County Council and Office and Workshop Accommodation for Udaras na Gaeltachta. This partnership project is being constructed on a site provided by Mayo County Council, as part of a redevelopment plan, initiated some three years ago. The first phase of this plan, a nineteen-unit housing scheme, was completed last year and the final stage will include a Fire Station and an Emergency Rescue Centre. The Integrated Services Centre, a curving modern building, drawing on the traditions on the Island, has been designed by Mayo County Council Architects' Department. The overall cost of the project is £1.5m; construction is being undertaken by Western Asphalt Ltd. and funding has been provided by each of the three partners involved. It is anticipated that the building will be complete and operational by Spring 2002.

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