Local Notes: All the latest news from Ballyhaunis
A bat walk led by Sheila Murphy, biodiversity officer at Mayo Co Council, in the Friary grounds in Ballyhaunis allowed locals observe bats in evening flight. The event was organised with Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns as part of Heritage Week.
An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused planning permission for a mobile phone mast in Ballyhaunis, overturning an earlier decision by Mayo County Council to grant permission.
As reported in this column in February, Towercom Ltd - a company building communications towers around Ireland - had proposed to construct a 24-metre monopole in Beech Park, Ballyhaunis in place of a 20-metre lattice tower which had been granted full planning in 2022.
“This [20-metre] facility was not constructed as it was found to be inadequate to deliver the required level of reception quality,” Towercom stated.
An Coimisiún Pleanála’s refusal of permission follows an appeal against the tower brought by the Friends of the Irish Environment, which has taken actions against similar proposed masts across the country.
In its report explaining its decision, An Coimisiún Pleanála noted the “height and scale [of the mast] would be out of character with residential setting in the vicinity and would have an over bearing effect on residential properties in close proximity”. The mast would “seriously injure the residential amenities in the area contrary to zoning objectives for the site and would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area".
The planning body also noted that the mast developer hadn’t provided sufficient technical detail in respect of alternative sites or on why a co-location option is not available. There was no evidence of “consultations with other operators” on sharing of sites, noted An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Towercom claimed the new mast would improve mobile phone coverage and would “additionally be available for use by the emergency services”. The company did not respond to questions as to whether or not it would appeal the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
Well done to Brickens man Kevin Devine whose heifer Ruby was chosen as the senior commercial champion at Tullamore Show. Ruby took similar honours at a string of agricultural shows this summer.
The Abbey Pattern Committee has confirmed that this year’s Abbey Pattern will take place on Sunday, August 31st, starting at 2pm in the Friary Field at St Mary’s Augustinian Abbey. Preparations are underway and the committee is currently looking for volunteers willing to help organise the event – and help on the day itself.
A note from the organisers states: “If you or your group would like to help in this year’s Abbey Pattern, please contact the Ballyhaunis Sports Hub Coordinator Tracy Cunnane from the Family Resource Centre - on 086-0618126 - who is coordinating this year event."
The committee would like to remember the late Stephen Grogan who was the Abbey Pattern chairperson over the years.
The Abbey Pattern will start with the egg and spoon, sack and three-legged races before beginning the running competitions. The entry fee for the Pattern is €10 per family and €5 per adult. Children attending must be accompanied by an adult. The committee is very grateful to all its sponsors and invites our long-standing helpers for their assistance on the day.”
The term Pattern traditionally refers to the devotions which take place within a parish on the feast day of the patron saint of the parish, on that date, called a Pattern day, or the nearest Sunday, called Pattern Sunday.
The Ballyhaunis Abbey Pattern takes place on the last day of August to mark the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo, founder of the Order of Saint Augustine, which established the Friary in 1348.
The bat population in Ballyhaunis appears lively judging by a walk through the Friary grounds on a warm night in mid-August.
“Mild, calm weather brings out bats because their food sources are also out,” explained Sheila Murphy, biodiversity officer of Mayo County Council, who led the group along the Dalgan River, running through the Friary grounds where in the twilight several bats were seen silently swooping over the river, a favourite congregation point for midges, moths and other insects foraged by bats.
Participants in the walk used small, handheld monitors which allowed them track bats via the signal emitted by the flying creatures. While the old term ‘blind as a bat’ is technically incorrect – bats have good eyesight – the winged insect eaters uniquely navigate at night by emitting echoes that allow them identify and dodge obstacles like trees, explained Murphy.
Different types of bats emit different frequencies of signal, allowing sub-species of bat to be identified. A bat detector converts their echolocation ultrasound signals, as they are emitted by the bats, to audible frequencies, usually about 120Hz to 15kHz.
Thus participants on the walk turned the dial of the tracker to different frequencies, with the Daubenton bat’s signal being picked up at 70 to 80kHz and the horseshoe bat being tracked at 45kHz, the bats’ presence being announced by rapid clicking sound from the handheld monitors.
Bats hibernate in the winter, dwelling communally in what’s termed a roost. They frequently roost in crevices under slate roofs, while some have also taken up residence in bat boxes funded under farm environmental schemes. The crevices in a stone arched bridge are also popular with bats, explained Ms Murphy.
Minister for Social Protection as well as Rural and Community Development Dara Calleary will perform the official opening of the Aghamore GAA Club extension on August 31st at 3pm.
In a statement, the club said: "This modern expansion offers upgraded facilities in the form of a state-of-the-art gym, new dressing rooms, showers and a physio room. The club is delighted to welcome Dara Calleary to perform the opening ceremony.
"As part of the day’s activities, a family fun sports day will take place from 1 to 3pm and will include fun races for all ages, novelty events, penalty shoot-outs and a five-a-side blitz. A tug of war competition for adult teams promises to be highly competitive!
"In addition, there will be refreshments, face-painting, an ice-cream van, a gate prize and some fun competitions to enjoy. So, don your red and white and get ready for a great day of celebration and family fun as we proudly open our new facility."
An Historical Walking Tour of Ballyhaunis town will take place on Sunday next, August 24th, led by local historian, Paul Waldron. Assemble at The Friary at 3pm. The tour should take no longer than an hour and a half and is free to attend. Wear sensible footwear.
The day when every house had at least one 'High Nelly' bicycle and a gate crafted by the local blacksmith will be recalled on Saturday, August 23rd, during a special Heritage Week event organised by Ballyhaunis Community Council.
The Community Hall will host an audio-visual presentation on the rise and fall of the 'High Nelly' and recent efforts to revive the iconic bicycle. Several High Nellies refurbished by Ballyhaunis Bike Repair Clinic will also be presented on the night and advice given on anyone seeking to refurbish their own vintage bike.
Wrought iron gates, forged by blacksmiths who put their own distinctive patterns and style on gates of wrought iron riveted together, will be the subject of another presentation that will explain the origins and craft behind these lovely old gates, many of which disappeared as farm entrances were enlarged and mass-produced galvanise dipped gates became available. Several examples of local blacksmith’s styles and motifs will be displayed and explained.
Local efforts to contain and reduce the waves of plastic waste entering household bins – and some local hedges through fly-tipping – were dealt a blow by the collapse last week of three years of talks chaired by the United Nations (UN) to get an agreement on limiting plastic waste by cutting production.
The US government – Washington was previously a positive force for a deal - joined oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia in blocking any agreement that limits production of plastic and called for more efforts to recycle the current plastic waste, only 10% of which is currently recycled. Retailers, in particular, have embraced disposable plastic as a means of selling perishable foods in convenient, take-away formats. A majority of UN member states want a deal that limits plastic production as many poorer countries, with weak collection and recycling systems, suffer the effects of plastic pollution.
Locals are invited to the Community Hall (also known as the Parochial Hall) on Sunday, August 24th, for social dancing with Harmony, the popular local duo of Anne Marie Foody and David Godfrey. Dancing from 3pm to 5pm with tea and coffee served and a raffle included in the €8 entry fee.
Congratulations to Martin Lyons from Brickens, who won €1,000 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on August 10th, on an envelope sold in Curley's.
