Fake €20 Notes
January 15, 2020
Garda are warning that fake €20 notes are in circulation in the Claremorris and Ballinrobe area. They all have the same serial number so check before accepting cash. XA3486356955
Mayo Business Awards 2019
September 4, 2019
Mayo Chambers and local organisations, in association with Mayo.ie and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Mayo, are delighted to announce that the prestigious Mayo Business Awards will take place on Friday November 15th 2019.
The Mayo Business Awards look to recognise businesses across Mayo who have excelled or achieved success in the last year. Mayo has a very diverse business mix with many different businesses located throughout the county. The 2019 Mayo Business Awards will give local businesses the opportunity to be recognised for their dedication, investment and hard work across a number of categories.
There are twelve categories which businesses can enter for the 2019 Awards with no limit to the amount of categories that your business can enter as long as it meets the criteria for each award.
Entries are now open and are free and can be made online at: www.mayobusinessawards.com
Closing date is September 30th, 2019.
A shortlist of potential winners for each award will be released prior to the Awards Ceremony with the winners being announced at a Gala Awards Night at the Mc William Park Hotel, Claremorris on Friday November 15th.Tickets for the event are available now and cost €60 per person. This includes a four course dinner with prosecco reception and guest speakers from the business world on the night, followed by entertainment into the early hours. It promises, as always, to be a high calibre and prestigious event and will provide a unique environment for business networking opportunities.
The Mayo Business Awards are a cross community initiative with the backing of the Local Enterprise Office. It is supported by the local Chambers (Ballina, Ballyhaunis, Castlebar, Claremorris, Erris and Westport) and other business organisations. Good luck to all entrants!
Tom Waldron 5K – August 13th 2019
July 29, 2019
Tom
Waldron 5K Run/Walk in Claremorris in
aid of Protect the Children of the World
Tuesday August 13th 2019
Claremorris Athletics
TrackRegister from 6:30pmRun Starts at 7:30
The annual Tom Waldron 5K run/walk in aid of Claremorris based
group ‘Protect the Children of the World” will take place on Tuesday 13th August
2109 at the Claremorris Athletics Track. Registration will start at 6:30 with
the run / walk starting at 7:30
After the highly successful event last year we are continuing
with of our 5k run/walk in honour of Tom Waldron to raise funds to remove
children from forced labour and back into education.
RACE INFO
Entry Fee: Adults €10, Families €20,
Students €5 and donations will be very welcome.
This event is supported by Mayo AC,
Claremorris Athletic Club and is coordinated by Protect Children of the World
Organisation in Claremorris.
AAI measured and permitted course race is
Claremorris track start/finish nearby same as recent 5k series
Refreshments/Prize giving there
afterwards
About
Tom Waldron
Tom Waldron was a well known road runner who
could list among his many achievements being a finisher in nine Dublin City
Marathons between 1982 and 2013. Tom’s last two marathons were completed after
having major surgery during his battle with cancer in 2010. Tom was a member of
Mayo Athletic Club and won a number of medals while wearing the green and red
including gold in the Men’s Over 70 National Half Marathon Championships on
Sunday 6th of September 2009, a few days after his 70th birthday. Tom made his
International debut representing Ireland in the Men’s Over 75 Masters team
competing in the Home Countries Cross Country Championships in Nottingham in
November 2014. Tom always took pride in being a runner well into his 70’s,
during races he would always be on the look out to see if there was anyone more
“senior” than him taking part! Tom was never too interested in racing against
the clock, for him running was about enjoying the outdoors, participation,
meeting people old and young and challenging himself. Tom believed that a
healthy body and a healthy mind were inextricably linked. It is fitting that the
Protect the Children of The World Charity have dedicated their fund raising race
to Tom Waldron’s name since it was the last race that he took part in before he
passed away suddenly in October 2015. Tom was a big supporter of the charity and
was involved in many of the charities other fund raising
activities.
Protect
Background
Since 2012 Kitui Development Centre, a
non-profit organisation based in Kitui Kenya, has opened its Rescue Centre to
cater for children removed from the worst forms of child labour.
Kitui, in Eastern Kenya, has the second
highest rate of child labour in the country. Between 2011 and Feb 2013 KDC with
the assistance of International Labour Organisation (ILO) removed 800 children
from child labour and assisted with providing them with 3 months Vocational
Training. However this proved inadequate for the children who had very low self
esteem and extremely low levels of literacy and numeracy.
This gave rise for Protect start to deliver
numeracy, literacy and Life Skills programmes to children together with
counselling and psycho-social support. Presently we are working with 11 rescued
children and during the next two years, we will support them in Vocational
Training. The average cost of non residential Apprenticeship per year is €200
and residential Vocational Training €450.
Child labour is derived from poverty where
67% of the people in the Kitui District live below the poverty line. Coupled
with this is HIV/AIDS prevalence, the rate stands at 4.8% and accounts for about
19,496 infections each year leaving very many orphans and vulnerable children
heading households and needing assistance.
Areas where children are involved in child
labour include farm work, herding cattle and goats, cleaning , laundering and
domestic work, sand harvesting, stone crushing, brick making, water vending,
charcoal burning, bodaboda(motorcycles offering public transport) and
hawking.
Our experience is that children withdrawn
from child labour suffer psychologically, emotionally and spiritually and it is
necessary to work closely with them before placing them in training for work.
It is also very necessary to work with the families assisting them with Income
Generating Activities, an understanding of the consequences of child labour and
a change in some cultural beliefs.
Information
from Janet Hinchion 087 268 3327
IWT freight trains from Ballina to increase by 30%
May 2, 2019
Multimodal News – April 30 2019
Dublin based logistics company International Warehousing and Transport (IWT) have announced that they are increasing rail services between Dublin Port and Ballina, Co. Mayo by 30% from mid-May
The trains are operated in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) and the increase brings the number operated up to nine per week in each direction. IWT commenced using rail for containers between Dublin Port and Ballina in August 2009 with just two services per week each way, mainly to serve the soft drinks factory located near Ballina. The supply of concentrate to the factory is still the mainstay of the operation. However, additional new business has been added from the medical, retail and brewing industries in the area. Irish Rail is now to spend €1m on upgrading the Ballina terminal.
IWT use the Ballina rail freight terminal as a railhead for the West and North West of Ireland and make regular deliveries to Westport, Letterkennny, Tuam and Castlebar from their adjacent storage yard. This is used to ‘buffer stock’ allowing their customers to store product close to production facilities, reducing lead time and eliminating storage charges at Dublin Port.
The increase in rail traffic is due to several reasons, primarily the steadily increasing costs of road haulage making rail more cost effective. The rising cost of fuel and HGV driver wages over the last 12 – 18 months have resulted in more freight being transferred to rail which has been less susceptible to the increases. Additionally, increased shipping through Dublin Port has resulted in queues for terminals and increased congestion by HGVs. Transferring freight to rail is helping to alleviate the traffic congestion around the port and reducing the terminal queueing times.
Services operating from Dublin Port have experienced a 99% load factor whilst those from Ballina are also well loaded. Rail traffic carried by IWT has been increasing by 5% year on year. The lower carbon footprint of rail transport is also encouraging movement from the roads.
IWT was founded in 1981 and is a wholly Irish owned company with offices in Dublin and Rotterdam. In 2003 the then directors successfully launched a management buyout and have operated successfully since then.
Western Rail Corridor on course for over 420,000 journeys this year.
April 23, 2019
Iarnród Éireann said today that the Limerick to Galway line’s status as the fastest growing route on the network looks set to continue in 2019, as over 91,000 journeys were recorded on the line in the year to 24th March.
This compares with 74,000 journeys for the same period last year. Allowing for seasonal factors, and the impact of flooding in Ballycar in early 2018, the company predicted that journeys on the line will reach 420,000 this year as a result.
This will continue the significant growth recorded in recent years. As recently as 2014, full year journeys on the route totalled just over 225,000.
| YEAR | PASSENGER JOURNEYS |
| 2010 | 185,254 |
| 2011 | 224,166 |
| 2012 | 235,555 |
| 2013 | 219,209 |
| 2014 | 225,116 |
| 2015 | 278,532 |
| 2016 | 289,323 |
| 2017 | 352,706 |
| 2018 | 387,408 |
| 2019 (forecast) | 420,000 (est) |
A range of measures to boost demand included
– Introduction of Intercity railcars on key services
– Free car parking at WRC stations
– Additional marketing of Taxsaver tickets and student travel
– In 2013, Oranmore Station opened, and online ticket sales introduced for route, heavy discounts implemented
The growth is being experienced across the route, with city to city journeys surging, with a particularly strong student demand. In addition, Athenry to Galway commuter services – incorporating Oranmore Station – and Limerick to Ennis have strong patronage.
Issued by:
Corporate Communications,
Iarnród Éireann,
Connolly Station,
Dublin 1.
Land of the GIANTS Duathlon 2018 Launched!
December 7, 2018
7th edition of Land of the Giants Christmas Duathlon to take place on 28th December 2018!
The Land of the Giants Duathlon is just around the corner. The first round of the Ireland West Duathlon series is sure to be another sell out event with participants from all over the country converge on Claremorris for the December 28th run bike run event. Whether it is to kick off the season or to burn off some of those Christmas calories, it’s promised to be a most enjoyable event and a chance to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
Past participants have often echoed that their run around Mc Mahon park and Clare lake goes like Fee-fi-fo-fum from the horrors of over indulging.
Event organiser, Padraig Marrey of Raceface Events has said numbers are increasing every year and even the cold weather of last year still doesn’t deter entrants. The event is sure to be a sell out with over 400 participants.
At McMahon Park Claremorris , was the launch of The Land of the Giants Duathlon which will take place in Claremorris on Fri Dec 28th. Pictured were Paul Dixon and Sean Dever of Dixon & Dever, Project Development Services Ltd. (Claremorris) who are main sponsors. Also pictured was Darragh Delaney(Annagh Wheelers).
Pic:Trish Forde.
Marrey puts the successful entry figures down to early promotion and great support from local traders, especially Claremorris Chamber of Commerce.
Dixon & Dever Quantity Surveyors and Project Management Services are the main sponsor. The Claremorris Company has been a key supporter of the event since its inception back in 2011.
“We are delighted to be main sponsor as it’s a great event for the town; I have taken part myself a few times and love the atmosphere it brings,” said Paul Dixon of Dixon & Dever.
Sean Dever said ” I am really looking forward to the relay section as I will partner my wife by doing the cycle leg, I ‘am sure we will have loads cheering us on around the course and especially at the finish line”
The event starts in the heart of Claremorris town with a 5k run that takes participants out to McMahon Park where they run around in the safe environment of the beautiful Land of the Giants Greenway.
Stage two is an 18k cycle taking on the undulating roads of Mayfields and Carramore, before returning via the Ballinrobe road.
The final stage is a 2k run around Clare Lake, then back to the finish line at the Square.
Sign on (number collection) is from the Mc William Park Hotel on Thursday, December 27 from 6pm to 8pm and Friday morning from 7:30am to 9:45am.
At McMahon Park Claremorris, the entrance to The land of the Giants Greenway, pictured at the launch of The Land of the Giants Duathlon to be held on Fri Dec 28th in Claremorris, were Sponsors with:Left to right: Sean Heneghan and Michael Brennan(Clare Lake Committee), Colm Byrne(Hegarty’s Centra Manager:Refreshments Sponsor), Paul Dixon and Sean Dever(Dixon & Dever: Project Development Ltd:Main Sponsors), Gemma Jordan(The McWilliam Park Hotel), Colette Jordan (Colette Jordan & Associates-Architectural Engineering and Energy), Colin Davitt(Bridge Signs), Padraig Marrey (Raceface :Organizer). Pic:Trish Forde.
The Race briefing takes place at 10:15am at Market Square and the event starts at 10:30am sharp.
Support sponsors The Mc William Park Hotel who will supply the post race refreshments.
Hegarty’s Centra, Ballinrobe rd, Claremorris will provide all the finish nourishment.
Flynn’s Pharmacy and Colette Jordan Associates Architectural Engineering & Energy Consulting are long serving sponsors
Claremorris Leisure Centre will provide shower facilities for participants after the event. Prize giving takes place at 12:45pm at the Mc William Park Hotel.
Mr. Marrey thanked the sponsors and said the event would not be possible without the continued support of the main sponsor, Claremorris Chamber of Commerce, Mc Mahon Park committee, Mayo County Council, the Road Safety Authority, Claremorris Men’s Shed group and The Red Cross.
Event results will be supplied by Core Timing.
The event was launched at Mc Mahon park.
To find out more details on how to entry go to www.raceface.ie
At the McMahon Park, the entrance to the Land of the Giants Greenway, pictured at the launch of The Land of the Giants Duathlon, to be held on Fri Dec 28th in Claremorris, were representitives of Sponsor The McWilliam Park Hotel, Gemma Jordan(General Manager), and Anne Bomser(Sales and Marketing) with Raceface, organizer Padraig Marrey.
Pic:Trish Forde.
At the launch of the Land of the Giants Duathlon, which takes place on Fri Dec 28th, pictrued were Colm Byrne (Hegarty’s Centra Manager Claremorris:Refreshments Sponsors) and Padraig Marrey, Raceface, Organizer(right). Pic:Trish Forde
At McMahon Park Claremorris, the entrance to The Land of the Giants Greenway, pictured was the launch of the Land of the Giants Duathlon, which takes place on Fri 28th in Claremorris:Left to right:Paul Dixon(Dixon & Dever, Project Development ServicesLts:Main Sponsors), McWilliam Park Hotel , Sponors,representitives Anne Bomser and Gemma Jordan(General amnager), Raceface, Organiser, Colette Jordan(Colette Jordan & Associates -Architectural Engineering and Energy:Sponsor), Sean Dever(Dixon & Dever:Project Development Services Ltd: Main Sponsors), Sean Heneghan(Clare Lake Committee), Colm(Hergarty’s Centra Manager:Refreshments Sponsors), Darragh Delaney(Annagh Wheelers), Colin Davitt(Bridge Signs), Michael Brennan(Clare Lake Committee). Pic:Trish Forde.
At the launch of The Land of the Giants Duathlon which takes place in Claremorris on Fri Dec 28th , pictured at McMahon Park Claremorris, were Clare Lake Committee members Sean Heneghan and Michael Brennan.
Pic:Trish Forde.
At the launch of The Land of the Giants Duathlon, which will take place in Claremorris on Dec 28th, pictured were Padraig Marrey, Raceface, Organizer, with Sponsor Colette Jordan of Colette Jordan and Associates, Architectural Engineering and Energy(Claremorris).
Pic:Trish Forde.
Canney Welcomes Progress with The Western Rail Corridor – 17 Aug 2018
August 17, 2018
Deputy Seán Canney has received confirmation that the Western Rail Corridor Phase 2&3 review is progressing.
‘This review is part of the Programme for Government and is also part of the National Development Plan. I understand that the Minister for Transport Shane Ross has commenced the review. The review will entail an examination of the cost of the project coupled with the potential for development opportunities for the West.
Phase 2 and Phase 3 includes the extension northwards of the Western Rail Corridor from Athenry to Tuam and onto Claremorris.
The review will carry out the appraisal of the missing link in Ireland’s Rail infrastructure and the benefits this project can deliver.
‘I further understand that the review will be vetted independently by consultants who will be appointed by the Department of Transport. Iarnród Éireann will prepare the financial and economic appraisal on the proposal. They will conduct a broad consultation with key stakeholders. The Department will engage appropriate transport and economic expertise to review the appraisal’
The Programme for Government commits to having an Independent review and the National Development Plan commits to moving on this work immediately.
As stated in the National Development Plan the findings of the review will be brought to Government for approval and if approved the project will be prioritised under the National Development Plan.
‘I have received written confirmation from the Taoiseach of his commitment to have the independent review undertaken and that if the findings of the review are approved by Government the project will be prioritised and advanced. The Taoiseach has also highlighted that the Western Rail Corridor Phase 2 from Athenry to Tuam and Phase 3 to Claremorris could play an important role in the Atlantic Economic Corridor.
The project has been described by the Chair of the Atlantic Economic Corridor task force subcommittee on infrastructure as a ‘No Brainer’.
The recent developments on Brexit have also created an additional consideration that needs close examination.
The review will consider potential rail business for commuters, freight and tourism. It will also look at the positive impact of Rail on carbon savings.
‘I look forward to the review and I urge the Department to work with all haste to complete the review. We do not need any further delays if we are to achieve our goal in Government of balanced regional development’
END
West on Track Welcomes inclusion of Mayo-Galway rail link in Capital Programme
February 19, 2018
West on Track welcomes the inclusion by the Government in the Capital Plan announced Phases 2 and 3 of the Western Rail Corridor linking Galway and Mayo, and its specific acknowledgement that the railway could play an important role in the Atlantic Economic Corridor and could increase passenger, tourist and commercial use.
We are confident that the independent review of the potential of the railway in the context of the Atlantic Economic Corridor will confirm the major contribution that the railway can make in terms of regional connectivity, linking Galway city with its natural hinterland in line with the National Planning Framework, as well as opening up the southern ports directly to freight traffic from the west, an essential requirement in the context of Brexit.
Linking Westport, Ballina, Castlebar, Claremorris and Tuam by rail to Galway would have an enormous impact. It would also enable direct rail travel to and from Limerick and Cork offering tourists proper access to the west and north-west for the first time.
Text in Capital Programme: ‘The Western Rail Corridor Phase 2 from Athenry to Tuam and Phase 3 to Claremorris could play an important part in the Atlantic Economic Corridor. The extension of the WRC could increase passenger, tourist and commercial use. In line with the Programme for Government an independent review will be undertaken immediately. If the findings are approved by Government the project will be prioritised during this plan.’
ENDS
Kiltimagh Closures Suggest Loss of Banks Is A Killer Blow – Feb 2018
February 13, 2018
Towns in east and south Mayo are reporting mixed fortunes, with new businesses opening in Claremorris and Swinford, but with three closing in Kiltimagh.
The Paper Shop, which was in the centre of the town, shut its doors after years of serving the community, while Eden Flowers and Byrne’s Butchers also closed recently. The latter business shut its doors after the death of owner, Paddy Byrne.
Carroll’s Supermarket is the only grocery store left on Kiltimagh’s Main Street, with the Village News, Mulherin’s, and Gallagher’s, beside the local church all closed for a number of years. Supervalu is at the rear of the town.
But it’s a different tale in nearby Swinford, where Cllr Michael Smyth can list a plethora of new businesses, including a kitchen company, gym, accountants’ firm, and agricultural consultant.
“We’ve been lucky, because we have kept our banks. Kiltimagh and Charlestown have lost theirs and it has has an impact.” Claremorris pharmacist and chamber of commerce member, Jimmy Flynn, says the south Mayo town has not been as badly affected as others in the region.
“While we are still in the so-called storm, it has abated. At Christmas, people were more focused on leaving their money in the local town,” he said.
A number of businesses opened in Claremorris, before Christmas and another two are due to open shortly, with the town’s central location attracting people to live in the area to commute to jobs in Galway, Sligo, Castlebar, and Westport. Claremorris Chamber of Commerce is lobbying hard to have the Urban Renewal Scheme extended to towns like Claremorris, Ballinrobe, and Ballyhaunis, which would attract people to live in the town centres.
“The streets are ripe for regeneration, but it needs to be driven by local and central government,” said Mr Flynn. “There needs to be a concrete proposals to incentivise development, including tax breaks and a relaxing of the building regulations, introduced in 2011.”
by Marian Duggan – Western People
Growth of 22% on Galway – Limerick Rail Services in 2016
November 16, 2017
Patronage on the Galway Limerick Intercity rail line has soared 22% in 2016 pointing to annualized passenger numbers of 420,600.
The annual rail survey by the National Transport Authority finds that 1,402 people travelled Galway-Limerick on census day, 17 November 2016, an increase of 22% on 2015.
With rail passengers counted six days a week throughout the year, this would equate to 420,600 passengers in 2016. The Business Case for Galway-Limerick had projected 220,000 by 2020. In fact, patronage has almost doubled – fully three years earlier than projected. And while rail travel nationally is up 19% between 2012 and 2016, the increase for Galway-Limerick is 38%.
“Rail is enjoying a renaissance,” said a West on Track spokesman. “These figures confirm the findings of the Cicero report of 2015 and show this rail route is one of the fastest-growing links in the country. There is no justifiable reason for further delay in the reinstatement of train services between Galway and Mayo.”
West-on-Track,
Claremorris,
Co. Mayo.
Wednesday, 15 November 2017
