Belmullet is to host Mayo Day following budget talks

Mayo Day 2024 is set to take place in Belmullet.

Bemullet is to host the county’s yearly event as part of the town’s bicentenary celebrations.

The news emerged at Mayo County Council’s annual budget meeting.

Funding for next year’s Mayo Day has doubled to €50,000 on the basis that Belmullet will be the host.

Fianna Fáil councillor Sean Carey has raised the issue on a regular basis at monthly meetings of the local authority with the budget negotiations now finally paving the way for Belmullet and Mayo Day.

Councillors approved a €201m budget last Monday week.

Amendment to the budget included addition spending on Belmullet swimming pool (€25,000), unfinished estates (€25,000), an animal welfare officer (€15,000) and the Michael Davitt Museum (€25,000).

A total of €10,000 was allocated respectively to Mayo Dark Skies, Unesco Joyce County Geopark, Swinford Siamsa Sráide, Louisburgh Cottages and a memorial to Private Billy Kedian in Ballyhaunis, and €5,000 for the Admiral Brown Centre in Foxford.

The extra spending will be partly paid for by €170,000 in additional savings from reduced energy costs from new public lighting and generate €100,000 extra annually from rents from new social houses.

Meanwhile, there were some terse exchanges between Cllr Paul McNamara and Chief Executive of Mayo County Council, Kevin Kelly during the meeting.

Cllr McNamara said he believes rural part of the county are losing out when it comes to how money is spent in the county. 

He said millions being generated from rates and Local Property Tax is not filtering down to rural areas.

"We are getting nothing back from it," said the Achill councillor.

Mr Kelly said the county benefits as a whole even if money is not being spent on a councillor's doorstep. 

Cllr McNamara accused Mr Kelly of drirecting a 'shot across the bows' towards him.