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Bishop clarifies his stance on "House of Prayer" delegation By Tom Shiel A PUBLIC meeting is to be held on Achill Island on Saturday to discuss the alleged refusal of the Archbishop of Tuam, Dr. Michael Neary to meet a local delegation and discuss restrictions which have been imposed on the "House of Prayer". According to the organisers of the meeting, Dr. Neary has refused to meet a seven person delegation, representative of the Achill community and pilgrims, who want to outline their concerns. Since January 1st, pilgrims have been unable to get Confessions or to hear a sermon. Now, Sunday Masses are to be discontinued. Through his Secretary, Fr. Brendan Kilcoyne yesterday (Tuesday), the Archbishop said the delegation which had requested a meeting was composed of different elements, business people as well as some more closely linked with the House of Prayer. Fr. Kilcoyne said Dr. Neary was willing to meet the delegation providing it was comprised solely of representatives of the business community . The Archbishop did not consider it appropriate to meet the named delegation as he was involved in ongoing discussions with Mrs. Christina Gallagher, Fr. Kilcoyne said. Next Saturday's public meeting will be held in the Achill Sound Hotel at 5 p.m. Council 'block' Kilkelly project By Tom Shiel WORK on a huge blockmaking plant near Kilkelly has been halted because the developer, Mr. Frank Harrington did not have planning permission for the building. Officials from Mayo County Council visited the site at Cloughvalley, Kilkelly late last week and informed Mr. Harrington that the building was in contravention of the planning laws. Work on the site ceased immediately and it is not known when, or if, it can recommence. The huge structure, if had been completed, would have been one of the biggest buildings in the east Mayo region. Mr. Harrington's Concrete Products Company, with a branch at Ballisodare in Sligo, is a major employer. It's head office is located at Cloughvalley, about a mile from Kilkelly, where the controversial blockmaking plant is located. Ordained to the priesthood THE PARISH of Castlebar celebrated over the weekend the ordination to the priesthood of Charlie McDonnell of New Antrim Street. Son of Carmel and the late Mr. Michael McDonnell, Charlie was ordained at Tuam Cathedral on Sunday by fellow Castlebar man, Dr. Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam. Fr. Charlie celebrated his first Mass to a packed Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar on Monday. Afterwards a celebration was held in the Welcome Inn Hotel, just doors from Fr. Charlie's home on New Antrim Street. Newly ordained Fr. Charlie is pictured above by Tom Campbell with former archbishop Joseph Cassidy and the Archbishop of Tuam Dr. Michael Neary. Destruction of Swinford trees deplored THE felling of trees in Swinford which date back to pre -1798 French invasion times has caused a conservation outcry in the area. Mr. Joe Mellett, a member of the Swinford Development Association has deplored the destruction of ancient trees in the past week at historic Brabazon Park and in the grounds of Aras Attracta. "These trees were absolutely splendid, a relict from our past", Mr. Mellett said. "They were a landmark around the town and should have been preserved if at all possible". When Mr. Mellett protested to workers about the knocking down of beech trees at Arás Attracta, he was told they were being removed as a safety measure. Mr. Mellett says he will now be calling on the Minister for the Environment to insist that planning permission should have to be obtained before trees, especially those with a heritage value, are removed.
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