What it Says in the Castlebar and Mayo Papers

June 13th, 2001

Connaught Telegraph

The Mayo News

The Western People

Burial ground bombshell The Connaught Telegraph this week.

The enforcement by Mayo County Council of Burial Ground Regulations will mean that the written permission of the authority will have to be erected in graveyards. Sketch plans of the proposed structures will have to be furnished and applicants will have to accept liability for any damage done to adjoining graves. A height restriction of 1.4 metres, including plinth, is being imposed and even the weight of the headstone will have to be specified.

Mr. Michael Ring TD said he did not mind having a set of guidelines but the clause compelling the families of deceased loved ones having to seek written permission was 'nonsense'. "There is already a huge backlog in planning applications which is causing long delays. The system is being clogged up. I don't think it is necessary to go this far. There is nothing wrong with guidelines. There is no way people should have to make applications to erect headstones on the graves of their dear departed. If they have to wait for a Council decision it could take months ifin the present state of the planning process is in at the moment".

The Council's regulations state: "Any person wishing to erect a headstone or monument must apply in writing to the council for permission to do so, enclosing with such application a plan or sketch of the headstone and the foundation, and an undertaking accepting liability for any damage caused to adjoining graves. No work can commence until the approval of the council has been obtained in writing".

Pitch bosses get yellow card over paint job The Connaught Telegraph this week.

Patrons at McHale Park in Castlebar for Sunday's Connaught semi-final clash were not just seeing red after the game - but yellow as well.

For dozens who were seated in the stand discovered to their horror that their clothes had been destroyed with red and yellow paint from the seating in the Gerry McDonnell Memorial Stand. Now the GAA is expected to be facing hefty claims, amounting to several thousands of pounds, following a litany of complaints over destroyed clothing from stand-ticket holders.

Connaught Council secretary, Mr. John Prenty confirmed yesterday (Tuesday) that up to forty people had contacted him and he expected a number of claims would be made for damaged clothing. Among those who were affected were Chief Supt. Johnny Carey, a former Mayo team captain and former E.U. Commissioner Padraig Flynn, but it is understood that neither will be seeking compensation.

A spokesman for Castlebar Mitchels said they were deeply apologetic for what had happened but denied suggestions that the seats had been only painted two days before. "The seats were painted over nine days ago and we were fully satisfied that they were dried out".

Funds sought to train midwife in Loolera village by Fr. Padraig Standun The Connaught Telegraph this week.

Tourmakeady's partnership village of Loolera regularly sends back reports on the good use being made of the money raised to help the Masai people of the area to help themselves. Local funding is done by a regular monthly draw in which over two hundred participate and contribute a pound a month. This is added to from time to time by special fundraising efforts. All funding is channelled through the Medical Missionaries of Mary who work in the area.

One of those missionaries has now made a special request in an effort to have a local girl trained as a midwife/tutor when the Order will no longer have their personnel to continue this work. As this is a once-off education fund, it does not come under the present monthly collection and we are inviting contributions from the wider community towards the training of the tutor who will of course help to train others. An account has been opened in the AIB, Ballinrobe to accept donations. The Deposit account number is 18562865.

The girl selected for the course is described by the present tutor Sr. Corona O'Brien: "A local girl by name, Miss Suzanne Adriano has done grade A nursing/midwifery and would seem suitable to become a tutor. She is very enthusiastic. However, she will have to study science subjects to gain entrance to the University for tutorship. Suzanne needs to do Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. If successful she would be ready to start in the University of Muhimbili (Dar Es Salaam) in September 2002. She is the only candidate we have with Grade A in the hospital. We are aware of the risk of her not getting her subjects but we believe she has the potential to do well".

Sr. Corona gives her own reasons for seeking this help: "I will be 65 in May 2001. The retiring age for tutors in Tanzania is 60. While the Ministry realise that we are trying to negotiate training personnel and commend us for doing so, they have no tutor to send us. It would be a tragedy if we had to close down the school".

They have 66 nurses in training, 18 in Midwifery. The overall cost has been calculated at £3,675 sterling, the best part of £5,000 punts by the time it is collected. If you would like to help with a contribution, large or small, it would be greatly appreciated if lodged in the account number above. A receipt will be issued for all donations received.

Delta Dental set for major expansion in Claremorris The Mayo News this week.

The work force at Delta Dental in Claremorris is set to treble within the next two years. The company currently employs 120 people at its Claremorris base, but such is the rate of expansion envisaged for the company due to its acquisition of a share of the European Market that they could face a problem in finding staff to fill the jobs that are likely to be created. Mr. Michael Walsh, CEO and President of Delta Dental and Decare International, told a press conference at the Claremorris Headquarters of the company that everything was progressing even beyond expectations. "I can see our operations here in Claremorris grow dramatically in the near future - in fact our problem could be in finding the right staff for the job. Our new company DHI will enable us to explore untapped oral healthcare management opportunities all over the world", added Mr. Walsh who is a native of Ardroe within 800 metres of where Delta Dental is located.

Ballina 'pressure' campaign gets £400,000 for Leisure Centre The Mayo News.

A high-pressure campaign to secure funding to enable the Ballina Sports Conference and Leisure Centre to be completed has paid off to the tune of £400,000. At one stage, the committee had threatened to run a high-profile candidate in the next General Election if the Government didn't provide the funding to complete the complex. Now the Minister for Sports, Tourism and Recreation, Dr. Jim Mc Daid, has announced lottery funding under the Sports Capital Programme 2001 for the facility. The £400,000 allocated is the biggest sum allocated to a Mayo project in a 17-project scheme getting total grant-aid of £1,280,000. Local Government T.D. , Minister of State, Dr. Tom Moffatt, said he was always confident that Dr. Mc Daid would deliver to the Ballina complex to ensure its completion.

Gaelscoil na Cruaiche wins ESB Environment Award The Mayo News this week.

RTE presenter, Geri Maye, presented a plaque and cheque to teachers and pupils from Gaelscoil na Cruaiche, Westport, winners of the Connaught/Ulster Regional Final of the ESB Environmental Awareness Awards 2001 in the Corrib Great Southern Hotel, Galway, last week. For their project, the pupils and teachers from Gaelscoil na Cruaiche made a conscientious effort to improve the environment of their school with particular emphasis on recyclable material, health, vegetable/herb garden in which different classes had responsibility for their development and care. A major part of the project, which the pupils undertook, was designing a school crest, which was then incorporated into the design of the garden and a mural which they painted on a disused building at the entrance to the school. These inventive children also designed life-size chess/draughts games in the school yard where pieces were cut from wind damaged trees.

Go Slow Protest Targets 'No go N5 route' The Western People this week.

The Western Roads Action Committee (WRAC) is to stage a go-slow protest Rally in Ballaghaderreen to highlight the case for development of the N5 through Roscommon and into Mayo. The protest will take place on Sunday next (June 17th) with road users from Mayo being asked to converge on the Swinford by-pass at 12.30 for the drive to Ballaghaderreen. At the same time the Roscommon Roads Action Committee will assemble at Strokestown before converging on Ballaghaderreen in a cross-county bid to secure investment in the main road from Mayo to Dublin. At the present rate of progress, according to Mr Michael Homes, chairman of WRAC, it will take 20 years to have the N5 upgraded to the standard of other national primary routes. "Our campaign is designed to put pressure on the government, the Dept of the Environment, the NRA and the local authorities to cut through the red tape and complete the road by 2006," said Mr Holmes. "That is allowing five years to design the road, engage in the public consultation, acquire the necessary land and construct the road. " There is absolutely no reason why the target can't be met. The only ingredient that is missing is the political will to get the job done."

Helicopter medical service 'inevitable' as campaign hots upThe Western People this Tuesday.

Over 7,500 people and 350 GPs throughout the country have now signed a petition to the government calling for the establishment of a dedicated Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). The plan, which includes a base at Knock , has been promoted by Mulranny doctor Jerry Cowley. He claims that the case for a service is unquestionable and the service inevitable. "The provision of a HEMS is now inevitable," said Dr Cowley who recently addressed the annual conference of the Ambulance Association in Bundoran on the issue. "It is now a question of when the service will be provided rather than if the service will be provided. "It is well established that the first "golden" hour following a head or spinal injury is critical. Getting patients treated in a Centre of Excellence within that first hour is vital. It can decide whether a person lives or dies of whether they suffer permanent disabling injuries."

Mayo voters (who voted) said No to Nice The Western People this week.

In line with the rest of the country, those voters in Mayo who turned out to vote last Thursday, gave a resounding "no" to the Nice Treaty. A mere 30.10 per cent of the 90,335 people entitled to vote in Mayo actually bothered to go to a polling booth and say yea or nea. On the Treaty of Nice the total poll was 27,195 and there were 531 spoiled votes, leaving the total valid poll at 26,664. There were 11,799 or 44.25 per cent in favour and 14,865 or 55.76 per cent against. The percentage turnout all over the country was in the thirty per cent region with the Mayo one among the lowest ranking. The Mayo percentage, against the Nice Treaty, was slightly above the average of 53.87 for the entire country. Only two constituencies, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South, accepted the Treaty.

Go to Castlebar