27 August 1997
Challenge top darts star at Castlebar library
Darts fans have a unique opportunity to pit their skills against one of the country's top players at Castlebar library.
Dick Staunton has achieved the rare distinction of being chosen for the Irish International darts team. Now you can challenge him at the local library over the next ten days and help raise funds for Rehab. Members of the public are invited to try and beat Dick's score in a round of darts.
For a £1 entry fee you get three throws (nine darts) to try and get a higher score than Dick. Ten prizes of £10 each for the top ten scores that beat Dick's score have been sponsored by O'Mahony's Booksellers in Limerick.
Dart players and those who don't play darts are invited to take part in the challenge. The rules are the same for everyone - three practise throws and then three throws. This is a great opportunity to play against one of Ireland's leading sportsmen and to raise funds for a worthy cause.
The challenge continues during normal library opening hours until September 6. The championship dart board being used for the challenge was supplied courtesy of Vinnie O'Donnell and the Welcome Inn Hotel.
Clocks go back for Heritage Day
Castlebar turns back the clock on September 14 when the annual Heritage Day takes place.
The Castlebar Heritage Committee have launched an appeal for people interested in heritage to participate in the event. They are looking for people to give displays of old crafts or skills and exhibit antiques and memorabilia from days past.
Heritage Day is a fun event for all the family. Plans for this year's event include storytellers, poetry, drama, music and song displays, portrayals of Percy French or other famous people, farm machinery or anything related to times past.
Anyone interested in helping out or with something to display should contact Anto Heneghan at 094-22429 (work) or 094-24385 (home) or Castlebar Tourism at 094-26727.
Neighbourhood Youth Project launch
A new initiative will be launched next month to provide a range of day activities, fun and educational, for young people.
A joint venture between Foroige and the Western Health Board, Castlebar Neighbourhood Youth Project will be launched in Castlebar Boxing Club, The Mall, on Friday September 12.
A community-based resource providing a range of day-care activities and programmes, the project is aimed at people aged between 10 and 18 years.
Incorporating constructive and educational activities, the project will include photography, co-operative education groups, pottery, discussion based groups, hill walking, and open house/drop-in facilities.
Castlebar Neighbourhood Youth Project aims to provide direct intervention for young people to enable them grow and develop to their full potential.
It will also expand and develop a range of voluntary based youth groups and clubs for young people and provide complementary youth work services to the community generally.
Camera club go high in the sky
Castlebar Camera Club members travelled to Abbeyshrule in County Longford for the 26th annual air show, along with members of Swinford and Ballina camera clubs.
Highlights of the outing to Abbeyshrule airfield included the US army's medevac UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters fresh from service in Bosnia and the world's largest single engine biplane, the Russian Antonov AN-2, used by parachute display teams at the show.
The Irish Air Corps celebrate their 75th anniversary this year and they staged a display by one of their Fouga Super Magister Jets and later a Marchetti aircraft.
Members from the camera club were allowed visit the area where the planes were parked, meet with the pilots and get many more photo opportunities.
The camera clubs involved plan to exhibit the photographs at Castlebar Club in September. Details of the showing will be included in the new season's programme commencing on September 4.
The club also plan a trip to the European Surfing Championships in Bundoran next month. Members will receive further information as it becomes available.
Residents Association concerned with Newtown traffic lights
Members of the Marian Row / St Bridget's Crescent / Riverside Residents Association are considering taking further action to highlight their concerns over the traffic lights at Newtown.
They say they have not received a reply to a letter sent toMayo County Council calling for a pedestrian button at the traffic lights at the junction.
Plans to arrange a delegation, together with Castlebar-based members of the authority, are now being considered to highlight concerns. The July meeting of the residents association also heard of further improvements being carried out to the local environment.
Weekly clean ups continue every Wednesday evening at 7p.m. However there has been a shortage of litter bins and the association will shortly launch a campaign to raise funds for this area. The stream has also been targeted with stones and weeds removed and the surrounding roads and footpaths swept to keep the green area litter free.
Protective stakes and chain link fencing has been placed around the young trees planted within the last eighteen months. This move was taken due to vandalism shortly after the planting took place. Ground covers have also been put down around the trees and covered with sand. Twelve hanging baskets have been put in place and a word of thanks goes to the residents responsible for watering the plants.
The walls surrounding the old playground at St. Bridget's Crescent have been given a facelift by residents who painted it. The urban council also played a part by repairing a broken part of the wall. The association have expressed their thanks to town clerk, John Condon, and the council staff for their work.
A considerable amount of money has been spent on improvement works in the area over the past fifteen months. A letter will be circulated to all residents in the near future by the association's secretary to keep them informed of fund raising, together with the treasurer's report.
Sympathy
Also at the July meeting, members passed a vote of sympathy to the relatives of Annie Flannelly, 5 Marian Row.
Sympathy was also expressed to Pat Ludden, St. Bridget's Crescent, on the death of his sister, Mary Richardson, Galway.
Town Centre residents knock dawn chorus
Town Centre residents in Castlebar are up in arms over nightly disturbances which are being caused by late night revellers. Now they want to hear from other groups whop have to put up with similar hassle and they blame this on the lack of action by the local authority.
The chairman of the Town Centre Residence Association, Richard Wynne said they had noted with interest the number of articles appearing the Connaught Telegraph related to public disorder and the unfair price of this disturbance usually paid by residential groups in town centres throughout the county.
This did not apply alone to Castlebar but similar problems were being experienced in Westport and Ballina. Mr. Wynne said: "A lot of these problems have developed over time, principally due to lack of action by public authorities.
"The unregulated operation of hackney/taxi and even buses on our doorsteps until dawn, the revellers who leave the discos for the takeaways and are allowed to cause disturbance on our streets until the early hours are just the tip of the iceberg.
"Our residents recently expressed great despair at the general deterioration in the quality of their lives in the town centre of Castlebar, principally due to these neglected circumstances.
"We are determined to assert ourselves, and seek to pledge support from our public representatives and the Gardai as a matter of urgency."
Mr. Wynne added: "Anyone interested in finding out a little more about the issues of principal concern to us should contact us."
Happy 40th birthdays
Congratulations are extended to Gerry Hughes, Creggannavar, Breaffy and John McTigue, Ballysean, Breaffy who both recently celebrated their 40th birthdays with surprise parties in Castlebar Airport.
Fianna Fail apology sought
The Castlebar branch of Fine Gael has called on Fianna fail to publicly apologise to Enda Kenny TD for statements that appeared on election material with regard to the Mayo General Hospital, APC and Knock Airport.
The statements cast doubt on the proposals which Mr. Kenny had worked on so tirelessly during his term as Minister.
A spokesman for Fine Gael said the proof was now there for everyone to see. APC had commenced operations, the green light had been given for phase 2 of the hospital and the much published Knock Airport development was on stream.
"Deputy Kenny deserves full credit for his efforts in regard to these developments and we now hope Fianna Fail will apologise to Mr. Kenny."
