6 August 1997
The news that Castlebar is on the shortlist of four for designation as Telecom's Information Age Town has been warmly and enthusiastically welcomed by the community at large.
But who were the people working behind the scenes in bringing Castlebar to such heights in one of the most prestigious competitions ever run in the country.
The following is a Who's Who of the local Community Task Force involved in compiling Castlebar's application for information age town status.
- Richard Wynne
Committee chairman. Aged 30, he is a self-employed newsagent and member of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce. Richard is a sergeant in the F.C.A. and hold a NCEA Certificate in Commercial Appliances.
- Richard Thorn
Head of Centre, Castlebar Campus of Galway RTC. He is a postgraduate external examiner in Queen's University, Belfast, Dublin City University and Trinity College, Dublin. He graduated from Trinity College in 1978 and has worked in both the private and public sector.
- Regina McGarrigle
Set up Mayo Editorial Services in 1992 with the advent of electronic publishing with financial backing from the EU Leader programme. Regina worked as a tutor/demonstrator in the Department of Biochemistry, University College Dublin, for three years.
- Tony Mannion
Head of Information Systems Development at Baxter Healthcare. Has 16 years experience in computers across the full spectrum.
- Finian Joyce
Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Mayo, he was actively involved in the negotiations to secure the Computer Aided Mobilisation Project (CAMP) for Castlebar. Finian is a coach and player with Castlebar Mitchels.
- Pat Jennings
Hotelier. He is vice-president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce, secretary of Mayo Vintners Federation, Founder Director of Castlebar Blues festival and Director of Minotels Ireland Limited.
- Frank Greene
Manager of Allied Irish Banks, Castlebar, the first of its kind to put up a web site in 1995. He is the president of Castlebar Chamber of Commerce and a director of Castlebar Community Radio and Castlebar IRD.
- Michael Gavin
A key account manager with PVL Communications in Dublin. He is a Bachelor of Theology and has a Diploma in Pastoral Education. He was a human resources manager in the Philippines in conjunction with pastoral studies.
- Eoin Garavan
A barrister, he is former chairman of Castlebar Urban Council. He is a member of several local organisations, including Castlebar Tennis Club. A son of Judge John and Ann Garavan.
- Alec Fleming
Assistant County Manager for Mayo. He previously worked in various administrative levels in Kilkenny County Council and Galway County Council where he was awarded a B.A. degree in Public Administration. He is a former county secretary in Tipperary South.
- Ann Crowley
Co-ordinator for the EU funded New Opportunities for Women (NOW) Project which is providing media and computer training. Former lecturer in adult education at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. She is involved in the promotion of a new multimedia industry for Mayo and the development of teleservices, telesales and call answering services.
- Mark Coyne
A student attending St. Gerald's College, Castlebar, he participates actively in basketball and football. Mark is a member of Mayo Youth Orchestra and Castlebar Concert Band. A keen computer and Internet enthusiast, he numbers web page designing among his many accomplishments.
- Rory Casey
European Sales Director with Volex Limited, Castlebar, which makes cable assembles at their Castlebar plant. A graduate in mechanical engineering, he is a qualified rugby coach.
- John Condon
Town Clerk in Castlebar since 1984. Prior to that he worked in Dublin Corporation, Kildare County Council and Athy Urban Council.
