Local News from the Mayo Advertiser

Mayo 2-13

1.Aidan O'Shea is playing the football of his life:

James Horan couldn't but have enjoyed what he saw in front of him in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon. It was one of those days when everything fell into place, where all his decisions and ideas about how his team should and could play came to fruition. He was in flying form in the post game press conference to, but still with his eyes firmly fixed on what's coming up next over the horizon for Mayo in three weeks time. Asked about his first impressions of the game, the Ballintubber man said, “We're delighted with that performance, we're delighted to play like that in an important game. A lot of the stuff we've worked on our skills, our tackling and our movement, really a lot of the basics of the game that we put an awful lot of effort came through today. We'll take that win and prepare for the Tyrone challenge.” With Donegal weakened and not going at the same tilt as last year it was up to Mayo to exploit that he believed, which the did ruthlessly over the 70 minutes. “Donegal had a lot injuries, they had a lot of tough games but it was up to us to exploit that and to use our power and pace to maybe show up that if there was an issue today, but look we did that and I'm delighted.”

Mayo 4-17

A bleak atmosphere hung over Westport this week after the bodies of two missing children from Carlow were found in the boot of a car which was driven by their father Sanjeev Chada who has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has welcomed the announcement by Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, that Ballina regional water supply scheme is to be extended to Bonniconlon, bringing a high quality and secure water supply to the village and the surrounding group schemes.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny has unveiled a memorial plaque on the site of the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar in memory of the people who lived and now rest on the site of the hospital. The dedicated plaque has been erected in honour of the people who were laid to rest on the site from the time of the Famine up to as recently as the 1950s.

The lyrics of “That bonny spot called Keel” should be altered this year to “that Sunny spot called Keel”. On August 31, Keel will claim another adjective. If the Agricultural Show Committee members have their way, busy will be another word to describe the capital of Achill. The committee are currently organising the revival of the old black faced mountain sheep show of the eighties.

Mayo entries are being sought for the 2013 Hidden Hearing Heroes Awards. This is the third year of the awards, a joint initiative between Ireland’s premier hearing healthcare provider Hidden Hearing and the Irish Deaf Society. The awards honour those who are deaf or hard of hearing and who make a significant contribution to society, their community, workplace, or through sporting excellence.

Waddell Media is producing a new historical road show for TG4 called Seoidíní Staire. Members of the public are being asked to rummage through their attics and cupboards for objects and artefacts of local historical interest to be displayed at a one day only pop-up exhibition in their area.

Mayo’s ground-breaking and innovative TV channel MayoTV.ie has teamed up with RTÉ this week ahead of a very special broadcast from the county on the national broadcaster’s flagship regional programme Nationwide.

Castlebar town councillor Harry Barrett has welcomed the progress being made on the newly developed town park, located at Springfield, Castlebar. Work on the site has moved on at a rapid pace over the last few weeks, with the completion of the central path allowing a full view of the new amenities on offer.

BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme is inviting women aged 50 to 64 living in Ballina, Swinford, Belmullet, Ballycastle, Crossmolina, Lacken, and surrounding areas for a free mammogram (x-ray) in the BreastCheck mobile digital screening unit located at the back of Cathedral car park, Cathedral Road, Ballina, Co Mayo.

Mayo and Donegal football managers have kick-started a campaign to encourage motorists to watch their speed and be aware of driver fatigue. The football managers took time out from preparation for Sunday's big game to show their support for Mayo and Donegal county councils’ You Snooze You Lose campaign, which aims to bring down traffic speeds on our roads and make motorists aware of driver fatigue, as the big game takes place over one of the busiest bank holiday weekends on the roads.

Councillor Harry Barrett has urged members of the public to check the register of electors in order to ensure that they are able to vote in the upcoming referenda on the Court of Appeal and the abolition of Seanad Eireann.

Sinn Féin county councillor Gerry Murray has expressed serious concerns about a number of proposals by various companies to build wind farms in high amenity areas of Mayo. Cllr Murray said the size and the scale of some of these proposals would seriously threaten the natural amenity of Mayo and would have serious consequences for tourism in the county in general. One such proposal in North Mayo is for 450 wind turbines with 90 acres required for each turbine.

A film produced by a Mayo-based organisation on the impact of domestic abuse on children was launched last week in Dublin Castle, by Emily Logan, ombudsman for children. The film, from MCI Ireland, highlights issues that arise for children in the context of domestic abuse after a couple separates. Children’s Ombudsman Emily Logan stressed “the importance of services that not only invest in children and families but that also hear directly from children”, adding that this was the only way “we can get a true understanding of how issues such as domestic violence impact upon them”.

A lucky couple from Mayo collected a cheque for €350,000 from the National Lottery last week. The delighted couple, who wish to remain private, won their prize in the Lotto Plus 1 draw on May 18.

As we head into the busiest holiday weekend of the year, Michael Gavin, Mayo County Council’s water safety officer is advising everyone to take personal responsibility for their own safety while in or near water.

Fine Gael councillor Gerry Coyle has welcomed the latest official data on overseas travel from the Central Statistics Office, which has reported an increase of overseas visitor numbers to Ireland, up 5.4 per cent for first half of this year, the year of The Gathering.