Local Notes: Claremorris hotel staff receive multiple awards
Staff at the four-star McWilliam Park Hotel celebrate four national awards. The hotel won the Georgina Campbell Award for Family Friendly Hotel of the Year at the recent Irish Hotel Awards, The McWilliam Park Hotel was also the winner of the Business Hotel of the Year, Ann Marie Mee was the overall winner in the Duty Manager of the Year, and Boris Dungandzic won the Connacht section of the Bar Manager of the Year.
There is widespread disappointment in the Ballindine, Irishtown and surrounding areas at the cessation of the Kilvine Community Meals project, which ran three days a week, for 16 years. The service, which provided 27 hot nutritional meals daily to residents in the Kilvine, Garrymore and Hollymount communities, was staffed by South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) under the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). The meals were freshly prepared in the kitchen of Ballindine Community Centre, which was subject to regular inspections by health officers of the HSE.
Problems first surfaced earlier in the year when RSS members were means tested and two of the meals’ staff were over the income threshold to remain on the scheme. The supervisor of the scheme filled in part-time, as replacement workers were sought, but this situation was unsustainable on an ongoing basis, and when new participants couldn’t be found, the service closed.
SWMDC, which has 240 places available across its coverage area, has been unable to fill these and other vacancies in recent years. Participants on the RSS must meet qualifying eligibility criteria to get on the scheme, including access to a herd number. They are paid a top-up of €27.50 on their qualifying social welfare payment, for a nineteen-and-a-half-hour working week.
Along with the provision of hot meals, the service provided important contact with its users – many of whom live alone and don’t go out that much. The delivery of the meals, in conjunction with other initiatives, helped people remain in their own homes for longer, easing the burden on nursing homes and hospitals. The meals were subsidised by HSE grants. It’s a shame that the service had to close.
Claremorris Tidy Towns Committee is making good progress in the annual competition. This year's total of 324 points is an increase of 14 points on last year’s score. The committee received very positive feedback from the adjudicators.
“We really appreciate all the great work that you do and the effort you put in, year on year,” the adjudicators said. “This year you put a lot of effort into your entry which was so well thought out.”
The report noted that a lot of colour had been added to the streets of Claremorris, which the adjudicators said was “super to see". The project that the committee had identified for particular effort this year was the ‘Heart of the West’ sculpture outside the old post office.
“This is a super idea and looks so well,” the report noted. “This is a charming and literally unique piece of sculpture. You have been involved with Tidy Towns for many years and the benefits of this are to be seen across your projects and town.
"We need no further evidence for proof of your work with schools, as it is there for all to see on the streets. We particularly commend you for your inclusivity – such an important quality for all Irish towns.”
The committee had submitted bright and colourful photographs of some of the town’s shopfronts, with its application.
“You are rightly proud of these,” the report said. “On the day of the inspection, numerous shopfronts caught the eye. Redz, The Food Store and Philips' Menswear are just a few examples. The outdoor seating area at McHugh’s Café looks very well. The Credit Union was well presented and Ward’s Pub looked lovely. Heaney’s Hardware has a great shopfront and PJ Byrne’s Pub with its outdoor seating area looked great.
"The Clár IRD building features nice colours and the Hospice Shop was bright and cheery. The AIB bank is a nice premises. The Bank of Ireland branch is missing a bit of the ‘k’ on its sign. The Fire Station looked well and the Garda Station is of an eye-catching design.
"The former Eircom building is not appealing. Dereliction is a problem for just about every rural town and it’s good to read that Mayo County Council is tackling this head-on in Claremorris.”
The report noted that quite a few empty and derelict premises appear to have been sold, which, it said, was a good sign for the future.
“New benches are a great addition to your streetscape but they are just one of several really useful projects that you present. The town playground is getting a serious makeover with lots of new kit – brilliant! St Colman’s RC Church is an impressive building and is very nice inside too. Very unusual altar pieces were admired here as well as the Harry Clarke windows.
“The St John’s Church of Ireland restoration project is a big one. We applaud your conservation work here that is being carried out as part of a Conservation Management Plan. This is as much a biodiversity project as it is about our cultural heritage. To that end, it was great to see that you organised a specific biodiversity workshop for town and village graveyards. New projects for you in this category were the planting of many hundreds of Whitethorns and some Birch, Dogweed and Hazels a new mural, and new planting at Ballindine Road and Kilcolman Road – very good. You also intend to install an information board at Clare Lake. A great idea. We look forward to seeing this on our next visit.
“Well done for getting expert advice as well as involving other community groups. We hope that your planned Native Woodland Scheme project goes well at the lovely Mayfield Lake. The Land of the Giants seems to be a project that can just get better and better. There is a lovely organic look to these sculptures and we are sure that these are a hit with children. There is gorgeous landscape planting in front of Supervalu and also in the flowerbeds opposite, outside the St Vincent de Paul shop – wow.
"The planting outside the library (what a lovely location) was also admired. The green areas and benches here looked great.”
The report commented on the town’s Spring Clean campaign which helped Ukrainian guests to integrate into Claremorris. It also noted the local committee’s anti-dog litter efforts and the Tidy Tuesdays.
The report said that on the day of the inspection, Claremorris was not litter-free.
“However, it wasn’t far off it either. With a lot of footfall and commercial activity, there was actually relatively little litter, so well done you all.”
The report described the mini-library, in conjunction with Iarnrod Eireann, as an excellent idea.
“How nice for people who may have forgotten a book on their way to the station or have alighted with a recently finished novel to share! Your new benches are made from recycled materials which is great. You maintain a community composter and you intend to install a number of bicycle stands in the near future.”
The adjudicators were delighted with the residential estates competition.
“We are very pleased to see that SuperValu are supporting this.”
The report also commended the footpaths, bike lanes and active travel of Claremorris, in particular the links to the schools.
“We must make active travel as safe and as easy as possible for our young people but also for we older folk who still like to bike and walk.”
The report noted that the street name signs are getting a bit faded, and suggested making this a project and looking for a new design for the signs, in conjunction with the Municipal District.
“It was great to see a handball club,” the report said. “The square was spotless on adjudication day! This is a lovely space with nice tree-planting. This was a really interesting and enjoyable visit. You are doing great work and it’s super to see the community taking such positive action in your town. You are really making a difference.”
The local committee thanked all their volunteers for giving their time throughout the year, and also the funding support they received from various businesses and community groups and well-wishers. The local committee also congratulated Westport Tidy Towns on their great result in the competition.
Every time you go through Ballindine it looks better than the previous time, so it was no surprise to learn that Ballindine’s score had increased in the annual Tidy Towns competition. The score of 319 points is up ten on the 2023 mark.
The adjudicators noted that it was great to see volunteers and participants right across the age range involved in the town’s entry.
“We can really see that you are involved with community life in your parish and wider community,” the adjudicator’s report said. “It is super to see that young and old are so active and participating in community actions. We note your inclusivity with admiration.”
The specific project that the local committee had identified for particular effort this year is The Forge and the area around it.
“It’s great that you got one craftsman to help you commemorate another traditional craft,” the adjudicators said.
The report highlighted the Tennis Court, the little park, the new mural, nearby flagpoles and The Health Centre, saying they looked well.
“The Davitts' GAA Clubhouse looks very well-kept,” the report noted. “The Maxol Station and other premises here were very well presented. The church grounds are just gorgeous. Beautifully neat and so well-kept. The Marian shrine at the front has lovely seasonal planting. Both Jackie’s and Clarke’s public houses looked well. We read that the former now houses some of our Ukrainian guests, which is great.
"The hanging baskets are effective. The Garda Station looked freshly-painted and had a window-box – a simple but very nice addition. There is an opportunity for some impactful planting at the HSE building (at the front of same). The Community Centre and Montessori looked in good order. Ballindine National School looks very well with its unusual and striking sculpture on its impressive approach.”
The adjudicators advised to watch out for herbicide use where it’s not really needed, and that a tree at the front of the school is dead. The school could replace this and also make a bit of an event.
They suggested that some tree-planting at the Old Forge might be considered as it would add more greenery and give this space a vertical aspect too.
“The Community Pollinator Garden and the ‘Mini’ Pollinator Garden are super amenities for Ballindine and its wildlife. We were so impressed with the Community Garden – such a gem for the village. Wow!
"It’s one thing having a park like this but keeping it so well is a long-term commitment to which you are rising admirably. There are so many plants for pollinators here, making this certainly the best site for pollinators that this adjudicator has seen this year. It was so nice to see the memorial bench too.”
The adjudicators were very impressed with the efforts made with hanging baskets and planters, noting that just about everywhere they looked had been adorned in some way.
“We would not recommend planting at the base of trees though. It rarely helps the trees, nor the plants either in the long run. Used tyres often don’t look good after a while so maybe consider upcycled wood instead?” the report said. “The Community Centre would be a great site for Swift nesting boxes. The ‘Birds of Ballindine’ mural is beautiful – well done to the artist and all who made this happen.”
The adjudicators were impressed with Ballindine’s litter-picks, which have been a way for new residents of the town to get to know their neighbours, and said that the involvement of young people is so important for all of our futures. They also applauded Supermac’s for supporting the Ballindine Tidy Towns committee, as well as for their own efforts to contribute to the anti-litter and tidiness effort.
The report advised to watch out for grimy commercial signage here and there. It said bottle banks were neat-and-tidy on the day of inspection.
The adjudicators were delighted to learn that Ballindine has the only manufacturer of solar compacting litter bins and that it was great to hear how much the manufacturing company has supported the Tidy Towns' effort.
The local committee has made representations for the repainting of the accordion sculpture and the adjudicators wondered if cleaning of the sculpture would be adequate for now. They were also impressed with some absolutely beautiful dwellings in the town, including some cut-stone cottages.
The local committee hopes to have bilingual signs visible at the entrances of all housing estates in the future and one such is already in place at Cruach na Greine. The adjudicators advised to go for consistency of design for these signs.
The adjudicators were impressed with the presentation of the approach roads and main thoroughfare. The paved island to the south of the village looked good with its small Plane trees and nice perennial planting at the base of these. At the junction (opposite Supermac’s and Texaco) a bench with planters was admired for its upkeep. Nearby the sculpture, a bench that is designed with wheelchair users in mind is appropriately located.
In its concluding remarks, the adjudicators’ report said it was great to see lots of really lovely work that has been created by and for the community of Ballindine, and that it is also heartening to learn of local businesses assisting with this work. They were so impressed with the standard of maintenance and really do appreciate the work that has to go into this.
Would you like to go for a run in a non-competitive atmosphere? If you would, social running might just be for you. You can meet like-minded individuals every Tuesday and Thursday at Claremorris Athletic Track.
The run lasts around 60 minutes, at your own pace, with friends to chat with along the way. You don't need to be any 'type' of runner to join in, just know you're welcome. The run starts at 7.30pm.
A 'Remember Me' Around the Lakes 5Km Run/Walk will be held around Facefield on November 24th, commencing at 2pm at Facefield National School. A €10 entry fee, payable on the day, will apply for walkers and runners. Registration opens from 1pm.
A wreath-laying ceremony will take place and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny will switch on the Christmas lights. There will be a Kiddies Disco, with DJ Elf, at 3pm. And the good news is that Santa arrives at 4pm. All proceeds in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
Congratulations to La Casa Tapas and Wine who won the Best Emerging Business Award and PEL Waste Reduction Equipment, Ballindine who won the Sustainability and Initiative Award at the Mayo Business Awards last week.
A six-week class on Tai Chi will commence today, Tuesday, November 12th, from 10am to 11am. Tai Chi is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise where participants perform a series of deliberate, flowing motions while focusing on deep, slow breaths.
Tai Chi is beneficial for overall muscle strength, joint health, flexibility, and improves balance and coordination. The cost of the classes is €60 and bookings can be made by contacting 094-936 2096.
Congratulations are extended to Kate Morley from Cloonfaughna, who achieved an incredible eight distinctions in her Junior Cycle exams.
Kate is a pupil at Mount St Michael Secondary School, and recently starred in the TY musical ‘Matilda'.
Kate is also a rising star on the football field and a dedicated community member, recently leading a successful school fundraising effort.
Paul McGuinness was the winner of last week’s Claremorris GAA 50/50 draw. Paul’s online ticket won him €901. The draw continues weekly, with tickets on sale in pubs and at retail outlets around the town.
Claremorris Colts' men’s senior team suffered a heavy defeat away to Loughrea last week, going down 31-10.
Colts: Cathal Heaney, Adrian Conway, Daniel Noone, Dwayne Campbell, Liam Heaney, Oisin O’Connor, Kevin Sheridan, Luke Colleran, Marcus Cosgrave, Shane Meehan, Simon O'Farrell, Cathal McHugh, Conor Prendergast, Jason Kelly, Matthew Macken.
Subs: Adrian Maye, Jack Colleran, Sean Murphy, Sean Colgan, Ethan Henry, Liam Murphy, Joe Prendergast, Thomas Kean.
