Local Notes: Launch of Slaintecare Health Community 2025 calendar in Belmullet.
Sláintecare Healthy Communities recently launched their 2025 Calendar in the Civic Centre in Belmullet with Councillors Gerry Coyle and Sean Carey with Paul Gillen, Co-Ordinator HSE Sláintecare Health Communities and others.
Sláintecare Health Community’s recently launched their 2025 calendar in the Civic Centre in Belmullet. There were about 150 entries which were judged by professional photographers and the photos featured in this edition are of excellent quality by local amateur photographers. The calendar is available in Careys Newsagents and Sláintecare clinics.
There are four positions available on the Kilmore Rural Social Scheme and they include: Position 1: Participant to join the team working in the Cross Graveyards. (New Cross and Old Belderra); Position 2 Cleaner required as a participant to join the team in Kilmore Community Sports Grounds Clubhouse, Drum; Position 3 Participant working as programme assistant to join the team in IWA, Belmullet; and Position 4 Participant working as maintenance for the assisted living houses, IWA, Belmullet. All of the above positions are for 19.5hrs per week. The applicant must be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Employment and Social Protection (JA, DA, OPF, FA) and have a herd number or Fisheries Licence. If interested in the position email b.macsuibhne@udaras.ie or phone Brían (Breann) MacSuibhne on 087 9583140 for more information. Closing date for applications is Febuary 7, at 5pm. The Rural Social Scheme is administered by Údarás Na Gaeltachta and funded by the Department of Social Protection.
The Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has confirmed to Dara Calleary that approval to move to construction stage has been granted to Scoil Bhreandàin Èachlèim. Having secured this investment in Q4 of 2024, Dara Calleary said ‘I am pleased that the project can now advance to construction and look forward to the two classroom extension being completed. I am pleased with this development and offer my congratulations to Mr O'Mongàin and his Board of Management’.
Mayo North East Partnership is holding clinics in North Mayo, Castlebar and Westport by appointment to assist homeowners with the DCB Grant scheme and application. All enquiries/appointment contact: Caroline on 087 482 8261 / email: carolinewilson@mayonortheast.com.
MyMind provide mental health professional therapy with free appointments for homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks and €30 appointments for full-time third level students, the unemployed, retirees, and anyone making under €25,000 per year. They are based in a new location in Mayo North East Office, Kevin St, Ballina. For registration and appointment contact; www.mymind.org or call 0818 500 800.
The draw was held on January 12, and the numbers drawn were; 11, 12, 19 and 32 with no winner for a jackpot €9,100. The house prize €100 winner was Nigel Sanders, Dereens and the €30 offline winners were McGuire Girls, Barnatra and Martina Sheeran, Glengad. The €30 online winners were Shona Coultry, Belderrig and Geraldine Mason, Pullathomas. The jackpot in the latest draw which was held in McGuire’s, Pullathomas on January 19, was €9,200.
Results of the game which was held on January 7, last was: 1st: John and Jean Beard; 2nd Deirdre Fitzpatrick and John McDermott; 3rd Mary Maughan and Kay Keoghan.
Beginners Bridge lessons will be starting on Sunday, February 2, for four weeks, in the Broadhaven Bay Hotel, Belmullet. Learn to play this great card game. Text or phone enquiries/registration to Jean Beard 087 2398919 or email: belmulletbridgeclub@gmail.com.
This Driver Theory test preparation course where you can study the Rules of the Road in a small group setting for one hour per week, will be facilitated by Erris Workability (Mayo North East) and delivered by MSLETB (Belmullet Campus). It will run for up to 10 weeks. Starting date to be confirmed. Employment status and other eligibility criteria apply. To find out more or express your interest, contact Siobhán at 087 499 6605 or email siobhanscanlon@mayonortheastldc.com.
Would you like to complete a one-day First Aid Awareness Course? This workshop will be facilitated by Erris Workability (Mayo North East) and it will take place in Belmullet on Wednesday, February 5. Employment status and other eligibility criteria apply. To find out more or express your interest, contact Siobhán at 087 499 6605 or email siobhanscanlon@mayonortheastldc.com.
It is hoped to re-establish Erris Special Olympics. To gauge interest and potential of a club in Erris, they are asking anyone interested, to contact EYDN on any of the following; email errisyouthdisabilitynetwork@gmail.com, phone Mary at 085 7410528 or Eithne on 086 0681418.
If sufficient interest is expressed, Special Olympics Ireland will hold a meeting in Erris to re-establish the club. Please respond by January 26, 2025.
This week’s revelation that Mayo homeowners pay the third highest level of home insurance just behind Leitrim and Roscommon is shocking and completely unjustified according to Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh.
Deputy Conway-Walsh said: “For almost three years now I have been raising the escalating cost of home insurance with Minister Pascal Donoghue. In 2022 constituents here in Mayo started to contact me about the huge increases they were experiencing while having made no claims whatsoever. The Minister’s response was that the Action Plan for Insurance reform would impact positively on the affordability and availability of insurance for all groups. He went on to note the rebuild and repair cost increases.
“This makes no sense on a number of fronts. Firstly, how can a home valued over €1 million in Dalkey have an average insurance cost of €537 while a €275,000 home in Mayo be charged €694. Surely, replacing the Dalkey home would cost more than the Mayo Home.
“Secondly, insurance companies continue to announce massive increases in their profit margins. The promised reform is of no use to policy holders unless their insurance costs are reduced. The purpose of any reform in the insurance sector should be to reduce costs for consumers, not to bolster the profits of the insurance industry. Sinn Féin’s Judicial Council (Amendment) Bill would hold the industry to account and put pressure on insurers to lower prices by requiring them to disclose how they have or have not passed on the savings made by the personal injuries guidelines to their customers – euro for euro.
“Insurance Ireland and the insurance companies must now come before the Finance Oireachtas Committee to explain the discrepancies between counties as well as the overall cost of home insurance. The raw data the insurance companies are using to demand extortionate prices from home owners must be made available and must be explained.
“It is wholly unacceptable that while Mayo homeowners and indeed business owners and drivers struggle with the crippling cost of living they are also faced with unfair an inexplicably high insurance costs. The government must step in and ensure that long promised reforms produce the proper outcomes and the insurance rip-off is halted once and for all.”
Tickets are available for the Tullaghan Bay Rowing Club dinner dance which will be held at the Erris Coast Hotel on Sunday, February 2. The tickets for adults cost €40 and U12s €20. There will be a 4 course dinner, complimentary raffle, music by Michael S and Clodagh and a disco to follow. Tickets are available at the Erris Coast Hotel and all are welcome.
The proposed extension to Cill Ghallagáin graveyard involved various preliminary works including ecological, geophysical and archaeological surveys which have now been completed. The next step in the process will be followed early this year. Glacann muid buíochas le chuile dhuine agus eagras a chuidigh chun an togra seo a bhogadh ar aghaidh. Beidh tuilleadh faoin ábhar seo sa chéad eagrán eile de Nuachtlitir Chill Chomáin.
It is nice to see the return of the Pete Carey Memorial Competition in the Castle Inn, Glencastle on Saturday, February 1. Names will be taken from 6pm and games will commence at 7pm. There will be a raffle on the night in aid of Glencastle NS. Please share and support.
Applications are now open for the Department of Rural and Community Development Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025, which will provide small scale capital funding to support community groups across Ireland.
There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce on-going costs. Closing date for applications is Thursday, February 6.
Congratulations to Ronan Gaughan who was crowned Golfer of the Year for 2024 at Carne Golf Club. Ronan with a total score of 61pts edged out gallant runner up John Lennon. Well done to Ronan who wins the Golfer of the Year title for the first time.
Huge thanks to the many generous sponsors who supported the Golfer of the Year competitions throughout the year. Thanks also to John Hanley for updating the standings after each week, Kevin Donnelly for maintaining the Twos competition and finally competition secretary James McGuire for his work throughout the year.
