Local Notes: Ballyhaunis children receive reading certificates
Children from Ballyhaunis and the surrounding area who received their Summer Stars certificates, medals and goodie bags from local councillor Alma Gallagher accompanied by Eleanor Freyne, Ballyhaunis Librarian. Picture: Glynn's Photography
Two new train services have lifted the number of passengers using Ballyhaunis train station.
In the year to date, 48,813 journeys were recorded to and from Ballyhaunis station, up from 43,065 journeys recorded in the whole of 2023, according to Irish Rail data provided to this column last year.
“This is a significant uplift in passenger journeys for this station and demonstrates the fact that the extra services have been a success and that more people than ever are travelling with us,” said an Irish Rail spokesperson.
Irish Rail added a new Westport-bound morning service in 2023 and earlier this year added a new Westport-Dublin service calling at Ballyhaunis in the late afternoon.
Staff at the station have indicated that take up of the new services has been strong, with commuters travelling to work embracing the new timetable.
Local rendering plant Western Proteins is investing in what the company describes as “an upgrade of proven steam boiler technology” which will see the plant burn meat and bone meal (MBM) produced on site.
“This site investment once completed will significantly decrease carbon and sulphur dioxide emissions, enhance the circular economy, and ultimately eliminate fossil fuel consumption on site,” a spokesperson for Dawn Meats, which owns Western Proteins, told this column.
A review of the license granted to the plant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was the subject of an article in last week. The review centres on a discrepancy that arose in documentation over levels of sulphur dioxide likely to be emitted from the incinerator.
Western Proteins turns by-products from meat processing plants into meat and bonemeal as well as tallow, a valuable liquid fat.
“Currently, meat and bonemeal is transported to the UK for electrical power production, with some energy re-exported back to Ireland,” explained Dawn Meats. “Alongside reduced emissions, the investment will also reduce traffic to and from the site and improve thermal efficiency through heat recovery. This substantial investment contributes to the €100 million pledged by Dawn Meats for decarbonisation under its sustainability strategy, Plan Four Zero, announced in November 2022,” added the statement.
In the wake of the BSE crisis two decades ago, rendering plants in Ireland were banned from selling meat and bonemeal as a feed ingredient but new rules post-Brexit has required Irish rendering plants to stop exporting meat and bonemeal to the UK.
Speaking in regard to the EPA review, local councillor Alma Gallagher said: “In light of the recent examination by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the potential emissions from the proposed incinerator at Dawn Meats in Ballyhaunis, I want to emphasise the paramount importance of public health and safe environmental practices in any economic development.
"Economic development should never come at the expense of the well-being of the residents of Ballyhaunis. It is crucial that we prioritise safe, sustainable practices that protect our air quality and overall health.
"I trust that the EPA will conduct a thorough review of the licence terms for disposing of animal waste and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place. An equitable solution must be reached that balances economic growth with the health and safety for the people of Ballyhaunis.”
An Post is selling the former post office building on Bridge Street for €100,000 through Dublin-based real estate agency Cushman Wakefield.
The guide price of €100,000 is low, according to local estate agent Kevin Kirrane, who expects it probably will be purchased for conversion to residential accommodation.
“I think that’s a listed building which might make it less attractive [to buyers]. If we get really good quality 'A' rated energy efficient apartments then it’s a plus for the town.”
Kirrane believes the trend to residential over commercial floorspace in Ballyhaunis is likely to continue due to changing work trends.
“Yes, I would like to see more commercial use in the town but everyone wants to work from home now,” he said.
One of the better-known commercial premises to close recently was the discount store Sparkys, which closed in late August after the operator ceased trading after over 20 years in Ballyhaunis.
Sized at 2,573 square feet, the old post office building is described by Cushman Wakefield as an end-of-terrace two-storey building.
“There is a small flat-roofed extension to the rear of the building and a small walled yard area to the rear of the building with access via gates from Clare Street," says the company in its promotional literature.
Vacant for a number of years, the property internally “comprises the former post office and sorting office on the ground floor with several individual rooms at the first-floor level".
Two Dublin-based property developers are both converting former commercial premises to residential use in Ballyhaunis: Keenan Property Management has purchased the former Epic niteclub on Main Street while Ballsbridge-based Sayvale is developing the former Bank of Ireland building on the square into six apartments.
Aontú Cllr Paul Lawless has called for lower VAT rate for hospitality businesses based on their revenue. He believes this would give breathing space to cafes in towns like Ballyhaunis which have faced higher costs in recent years.
Energy, insurance, labour, material costs etc have all skyrocketed in recent years, said Cllr Lawless, though inflation has fallen back from 2022 highs to pre-Covid levels.
“Businesses I have spoken to have stated they have seen a 50-60% rise in certain raw materials since 2021,” he said.
Lawless stated that businesses cannot increase the cost to the consumer for competitive reasons, though various locations have increased their prices.
A Ballyhaunis retailer of food and fuel told this column he will be lifting the price of coffee and breakfast rolls again in the spring to compensate for the 80 cent rise in the minimum wage due in January.
“People don’t see that coming or don’t understand it... Margins are being squeezed for retailers. We are a few percent off the earnings we had budgeted for.”
Lawless wants what he sees as tax incentives handed to the multinational sector also extended to rural businesses.
"Surely it’s better for these businesses to stay open, pay rates, and provide employment, rather than closing down."
Ballyhaunis Community Council will host its final monthly social night of the year on Saturday, October 26th, from 8pm at the Community Hall with music by local musicians, an open mic session and some dancing.
A weaker British economy and tighter supply of tourist accommodation have squeezed the inflow of international tourist visitors to Knock, according to Martin Waldron, owner of the West Craft store in the village.
"The British economy is not in a good place and we have seen fewer British visitors coming through, with a reduced spend when they do visit Knock," he told this column.
Waldron also pointed to the conversion of local tourist accommodation for housing asylum seekers and refugees as a further “continuing constraint on tourist bed nights, and ancillary tourism spend in the area".
Business has nonetheless remained steady at West Craft, said Waldron, who is happy that visitors to Knock Shrine have become key, and repeat, customers of West Craft.
With the tourist season winding down, Waldron is busy building up stocks, and custom, for the Christmas season. West Craft Knock, which stocks goods from 42 small-scale craftspeople, will trade seven days a week right up to Christmas, said Waldron.
Being honoured at the recent Blas na hÉireann national food awards is valuable recognition of product development at local chicken processor Westen Brand, according to Thomas Kirrane, account manager at the firm. The company took a silver award for its 300 gramme free range chicken breast fillet, supplied to major international retailers like Tesco.
Tesco has commended the company on the award, said Kirrane.
“For the likes of Tesco it’s great for them to see their supplier winning this prestigious award,” explained Kirrane.
The award is also a great help for the company to develop its relationship with other major retail clients, he added.
Western Brand is developing new products “all the time,” said Kirrane, and hopes to launch new products in Dunnes and Lidl later this Autumn.
Best of luck to local boxer Carlagh Peake who’s travelled to Montenegro as part of a squad of Irish boxers for the IBA Youth World Boxing Championship taking place in Budva, Montenegro from October 20th to November 5th.
A Tuesday night pub quiz in October 1984 has continued on a weekly basis ever since. Spells bar in Ballaghaderreen will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the bar’s weekly pub quiz on October 22nd. Spells will host a special anniversary quiz and reunion on the night. Stories and memories from 8pm and anniversary quiz at 9pm.
The quiz runs all year round on a Tuesday night and the role of quiz master is rotated between quiz goers weekly.
Congratulations to Alexandre Pena, Knock winner of €570 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on October 13th on an envelope sold through the club's online app.
Caoimhe Feeney has been added to the list of performers coming to Ballyhaunis for the Melodies of Hope, a concert in support of Mayo Roscommon Hospice and organised by Aisling Lyons King and Cathy Lyons with a group of their very talented friends on Friday, October 25, at 8pm.
