Local Notes: Ballyhaunis election hopeful warns of costs on business
Fianna Fáil candidate in the upcoming local elections Stephen Nolan (on the right) is pictured at the launch of his election campaign with, from left: Minister of State Dara Calleary, former Mayo GAA footballer Keith Higgins, Minister of State Jack Chambers.
Ballyhaunis-based local election candidate, Stephen Nolan, told this column of his “deep concern” about the future of small businesses in rural towns due to rising costs.
"Over the past few weeks of canvassing, huge concerns have been expressed to me by business owners regarding their rising costs. As a business owner in Ballyhaunis for the past 30 years and having employed more than 100 staff, I totally agree and I understand their concerns. Small businesses in this country employ the majority of the workforce and every decision taken by the Government must acknowledge this. Business closures and loss of services are a major concern for all.”
Mr Nolan explained that while he welcomed the Government’s ‘Increased Cost of Business Grant 2024’, more long-term solutions are necessary to ensure that businesses survive. He said those contemplating opening their own business “must have the assurance that the Government will support them at every stage.”
The Ballyhaunis Family and Community Resource Centre, which runs several services including a childcare centre, has had its funding raised to €160,000 per year by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
“This action has been long needed,” says Tzyy Wang, chairperson of the Ballyhaunis FCRC voluntary board of management. “Funding levels were cut in 2010 and management struggled to maintain the necessary level of service for many years while the cost of living has increased.
"Nominal amounts of additional funding were received but it was on an ad hoc basis, which meant we weren’t able to guarantee the continuation of popular and effective programmes. This is unsustainable and unfair for management to have to be selective in allocating resources.
“We welcome this news and appreciate knowing that our operating expenses can be covered. More importantly, we can provide the necessary resources for individuals and families who require community supports.”
Ms Wang explained the particular needs of Ballyhaunis, which has the highest proportion of non-Irish residents (37%) and one of the youngest populations in the country with an average age of 35.1 years - lower than the national average (38.8 years).
“The profile of Ballyhaunis town has changed since the centre was established 20 years ago. The new core funding level will allow us to continue the important work of delivering services tailored to our community.”
The Ballyhaunis centre manages the Community Preschool, hosts a community-based family support worker, while also hosting the Ballyhaunis Sports Hub coordinator on behalf of Mayo Sports Partnership.
In addition to directly employing 13 staff, the centre supports groups in the community including Men’s Shed, parenting courses in collaboration with home school liaison officers in the national school and community school, Le Cairde arts and music group, and a weekly crochet group.
Ballyhaunis is among four such centres in County Mayo to get their funding brought up to the €160,000 mark.
The newly announced Sinn Féin candidate for the Claremorris electoral district, Eamon Phelan, is the son of Ballyhaunis woman Josephine Johnston.
“My grandparents lived in Abbeyquarter,” explained Mr Phelan, who is also the campaign manager for the Swinford electoral area, directing the campaigns of Sinn Féin candidates Gerry Murray and John Sheahan. “My mother’s name was Josephine, known locally as Mary, she died in 2004."
Mr Phelan grew up in Glenamaddy where the family operated a pub and grocery store. The candidate is also a nephew of Fr Tony Johnston, well-known in the Ballyhaunis locality. The former family homestead is now the site of a social housing project near the town graveyard.
Mr Phelan works for Medtronic, a medical devices company in Galway. The Sinn Féin candidate said his priorities for the area include the completion of the primary health care centre in Ballyhaunis, a resolution to the pollution in Clare Lake in Claremorris, more social, affordable and private housing for all towns in the Claremorris Local Electoral Area (LEA). He also wants greater investment in critical infrastructure such as the Western Rail Corridor and a “new state of the art motorway from Sligo to Claremorris”, as well as supports for small and medium businesses.”
Local councillor John Cribbin has confirmed that approximately €200,000 earmarked for pedestrian works on the Devlis/Dublin Road approach to Ballyhaunis have now been withdrawn and further works await the drawing up of a traffic plan for the town in conjunction with the Town Centre First initiative, a Mayo County Council-led scheme that involves a Town Team of locals to identify the priorities for the town’s development.
As reported in last week’s edition, residents in the Devlis area have called for urgent improvements to footpaths and lighting to make the road safer for pedestrians. In order for works to proceed in Devlis, preparatory works must also be approved by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the public body ultimately responsible for all public roads. A spokesman for TII said issues around road alignment and boundaries were frequent in new footpath works but directed specific enquiries to Mayo County Council.
Over 30 locals marched through Ballyhaunis on Wednesday, May 1st, to call for the Irish government’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state.
Starting on the roadside near the Community School, the march proceeded to the town square, with chants along the way for a 'Free Palestine'. There was a large turnout from the local Muslim community with the Pakistani and Syrian populations in the town well represented.
Speaking at the Square at the end of the march, organiser Ruairi O’Broin said he planned another similar protest prior to the local and European elections next month.
Vandalism to a Mayo County Council-owned building recently refurbished as a community information hub will be fixed.
Onlookers watched as a man, covered in grey and white paint, repeatedly threw a brick through the newly-installed windows at the town’s new information hub (formerly home to the DH Burke’s supermarket) before proceeding down Main Street and engaging in verbal confrontations as he went. The man, who is from Mayo, also uprooted plants from the flower beds outside the Community Hall as he proceeded down Main Street before being arrested nearly an hour after the window-smashing incident.
Padraic Flanagan, manager of the Claremorris municipal district, told this column.
“We’re assessing the damage at the minute in consultation with the council’s insurers. We want to get the building repaired and up and running as soon as possible."
Connacht Pioneers are running a pilgrimage to Lourdes on July 18th from Knock for five nights full board. For further details, contact Fr Joe Delaney on 087-6660408.
The body of a former worker in Dawn Meats has made the long journey back to his home place in Southeast Asia.
Teotonio Gutteres Monteiro has been repatriated to East Timor after he died suddenly in Ballyhaunis after falling ill.
A group of East Timorese travelled to Ballyhaunis from Dungannon - where he’d previously worked – for Tetonio’s funeral mass on Thursday, May 2nd. Several members of management from Dawn Meats also attended the service before the hearse set out for Dublin Airport. Several locals, including undertaker Paul Donnellan and head of finance at Dawn Meats, John Collins, were given the ceremonial Tais scarf, given to elders out of respect in Timorese culture during ceremonial events at what was sombre event also attended by a large group of local parishioners.
Fr Stephen Farragher explained that Tetonio was one of a group of young men from East Timor working in Dawn Meats.
“East Timor is a very Catholic country, having been a Portuguese colony for many years. These young men regularly attended Sunday Mass. They lived near the church on Upper Main Street.
"Tetonio’s English vocabulary was limited. I’m not sure how long he has been in Ballyhaunis but I’d say over a year. Some of his mates who have been here much longer have better English. I spoke with a number of them after the Easter vigil on Holy Saturday night. He asked to have his photo taken with me. He posted that photo on his Facebook.
"Paul Donnellan, the undertaker who brought his remains to Castlebar on Sunday told me that Tetonio had that photo as a screensaver on his phone.”
A country of 1.5 million people, East Timor achieved independence in 2002 after a difficult history as a colony first of Portugal and then of Indonesia.
Congratulations to Keith Foody, Claremorris, winner of €480 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on April 28th on an envelope sold in Paddy's Bar.
