Snippets
27 January 1999
Fianna Fail councillor defends
Flynn
A Fianna Fail member of Castlebar
Urban Council has defended the record of under pressure E.U.
Commissioner Padraig Flynn.
Mr. Blackie Gavin said the people of Mayo and Castlebar,
in particular, owned a lot credit to Mr. Flynn.
He explained: "The town and county have grown
significantly because of the infrastructure he was
responsible for providing. What we need are more public
representatives like Padraig Flynn.
"He has served us very well and that should never be
forgotten. I extend my support to him in his present
difficulties."
File for DPP on Castlebar
daubings
A FILE is being prepared for the DPP on a spate of recent
serious daubings in Castlebar which included defacing of
walls at the local St. Patrick's Boys National School.
Anti-British Royal family slogans were also painted on
roadways at a number of locations including the entrance
area to McDonald's restaurant. Gardai say two men have been
questioned in connect with the matter and a file is being
prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Simon flies in for his
"21st"party
RISING Spurs football star Simon Webb from Ballyhaunis
celebrated his 21st birthday in his native town on Saturday
night having earlier scored the winning goal for his first
team reserves in London.
Simon flew home to be with his family for the important
celebration. You can read Michael Byrne's report and see
some photographs from the party in our "Ballyhaunis"page,
inside.
Song premiere for
Ballyhaunis
A SONG commissioned by Ballyhaunis Community School,
entitled "How to Grow Up', will receive its Choral Premiere
at the school tonight (Wednesday).
The song has been written by Maria Judge, composer in
residence to the classroom project which is running in
conjunction with Cork Choral Festival. The principal
performed at tonight's show will be local pianist Maria
McGarry who will perform works by Haydn, Franck, Chopin and
Liszt, amongst others.
£1 million hotel project
earmarked for Swinford
By Deirdre Kelly
PLANNING permission is being sought for a 17-bedroom
luxury hotel with a function room/theatre, located in what
was previously Lambe's public house premises on Main Street,
Swinford.
Behind the project is Westport
-based developer, Hugh Golden, who hopes to have the
hotel up and running by the summer, creating twelve
jobs.
According to Mr. Golden, work to renovate and extend the
existing building will begin immediately once planning
permission comes through, hopefully in a month's time. Phase
one of the overall development will then be completed by the
summer.
Mr. Golden purchased the premises last September and is
hoping to attract business from the area's valuable angling
sector.
The hotel plan includes on site car parking and delivery
bay and the construction of four apartments at Main Street /
Brookville Avenue. The function room will be used to cater
for events such as dinner dances, christenings and birthday
parties.
Mr. Golden interests in the construction industry are
mostly based in the Westport area and he is also a partner
with brother George and Mayo football manager, John Maughan,
in a pub in Westport.
Plan to honour town's former
Jewish community
Elaborate plans are in the pipeline to honour the former
Jewish community in Castlebar.
Castlebar Chamber of Commerce is considering erecting a
commemorative plaque at the old Hat Factory building,
Blackfort Road, in memory of the Jewish families who lived
in the town back in the forties, fifties and sixties.
They came to Castlebar to help set up the hat factory
with the support of the late Senator McEllin, Balla.
They had fled their native, Czechoslovakia, following the
emergence of the Nazi regime.
The idea to honour the Jewish settlers was mooted by Mr.
Ernie Sweeney, Boradruma, Castlebar, a former employee of
the hat factory.
"Their enormous contribution to Castlebar and its economy
deserves to be acknowledged in a permanent way. They
achieved great success in this town at a time when their own
race was being subjected to all kinds of atrocities back in
Germany.'
Mr. Sweeney said the Jewish success story in Castlebar
was one which deserved to be researched.
"It is part of the unique history of this town and it
should be stored for future generations.'
Mr. Sweeney has arranged a meeting with Mr. Guy Beiner,
cultural officer at the Israeli Embassy in Dublin, with a
view to getting the embassy involved in honouring
Castlebar's former Jewish community.
He explained: "When I contacted him some weeks back, he
was very excited about my idea. I am meeting him next
Monday, and I am confident something will come of it.'
Meanwhile, Mr. Sweeney, who has been nominated for the
'European Person of the Year' award, will also meet EU
Minister Mary Banotti in Dublin on Monday with a view to
getting her support for the inclusion of photographs on
ballot sheets in all elections held in European
countries.
Mr. Sweeney, a lifelong literacy campaigner, has already
succeeded in persuading the Irish Government to introduce
his idea following years of lobbying.
He has not ruled out the prospect of standing in next
June's local elections on the strength of the widespread
popularity he has won through his literacy crusade.
"I feel there is a lot more I can achieve on behalf of
the underprivileged in this town and county.'
Fans of the Discovery TV channel on satellite television
can look forward to seeing Ernie featuring in the Irish
episode of 'Trailblazers' which will be screened in February
or March.
Connaught Telegraph - News &
Sport - January 1999
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