TELEGRAPH DIGEST 5 June 1996
Co Mayo, Ireland
LADY DI CHEQUE FOR CAT SCAN
Lady Di has made a "substantial" contribution towards the fund to provide a £450,000 CAT Scan machine at the Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar.The four-figure sum arrived by way of cheque to the committee who are fund raising for the machine.
The Princess connections with the Castlebar area extend back to her grand-parents and the Spencer and Lucan families.
At the moment patients up to 600 patients annually from Mayo must travel to either Galway or Dublin for diagnosis facilities.
BELMULLET LIFEBOAT MAN HONOURED
SONGWRITER Phil Coulter presented the annual awards to twenty-two lifeboat volunteers in Dublin in recognition of outstanding service to the RNLI.The Derry-born composer whose song "Home From The Sea" was dedicated to lifeboat crews is predident of his local RNLI branch. Among the recipients was Michael Lavelle from Aughlean, Blacksod, who has been chairman of the Belmullet Branch for twenty years.
Michael, who is now involved with the running of the Ballyglass station was awarded the silver badge of the Institution for his long and outstanding service.
KILLASSER MAN FOUND DROWNED
Mr. Michael Durkin (78) of Graffy, Killasser Swinford was found drowned in a nearby lake on Saturday. The deceased had returned from England a few years ago to reside with his sister.He is survived by his sons Bernie and Tommie, sister Mary and brother Tom.
His remains were removed to St. Thomas's Church, Callow and burial took place today in Craggagh cemetery (Wednesday) after Requiem Mass.
HOSPICE BOOST
At a recent Irish night, held in the "Wishing Well, Ballyvary a total of £305 was raised by the Keelogues/Ballyvary support group of the Mayo/Roscommon Hospice. A sincere thanks to John and Ann O'Connor, those who provided entertainment and the sponsors of prizesSWINFORD PROCESSION
The annual Swinford Corpus Christi procession will take place on this Sunday evening at 7p.m. and not after 12 noon Mass as stated in last Week's Swinford Notes.NETWORK MEETING
The chief executive of the Employment Equality Agency, Ms. Carmel Foley will be the guest speaker at the monthly Network (the organisation for women in business) meeting on June 11 when she will cover such topics as "equality in employment", "access to credit facilities" and acceptable interviews when employing staff".DISABLED DEMAND PERSONAL ASSISTANTS
People with disabilities from Co. Mayo, as part of a national campaign, have lobbied their local Dail Deputies to demand that secure funding is provided for personal assistants who would make an enormous difference to their lives, allow them to live as equals. The provision of an Independent Living Fund would allow them would provide access for people with disabilities to personal assistants."QUIET MAN" CENTRE OPENING
A £250,000 "Quiet Man" Heritage project project and housing project will be
officially opened at Cong by the Minister for Tourism Enda Kenny on Saturday
week at 3p.m. It is developed around the film blockbuster "The Quiet Man"
starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara which was filmed at locations around
Cong in the 1950's.
The centre is a reconstruction of the collage used in the film. The downstairs floor is an exact replica of the set in Hollywood where all the interior shorts were filmed.
The centre is located at Circular Road, Cong near the river and close to outdoor locations used in the film.
The promoters of the project are Gerry and Margaret Collins of Lisloughrey, Cong.
NEPHIN PARK ANNOUNCEMENT EMINENT
Details of the development of a national Park in Mayo, the biggest in Ireland, are to be announced shortly.Located in the Nephin area it has been suggested that the facility would be named in memory of Land League Founder Michael Davitt.
The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr. Michael D. Higgins, was to have announced details of the plan yesterday (Tuesday) but because of other commitments was unable to do so.
The Minister said a study on the Park was ready to be launched which would invite public opinion on the management proposals regarding the park
The Minister said: "This is huge by any comparison and I think it will be a very complimentary development with the Ceide Fields".
THE LATE MRS. BESSIE PARSONS, CASTLEBAR
The death has taken place at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar of Mrs. Bessie Parsons (nee Caulfield) of Pontoon Drive, Castlebar, one of the most outstanding business women in the West of Ireland in recent times.Along with her late husband Martin they developed Parsons of Castlebar into one of the best known drapery and footwear establishments in the country and a landmark in Castlebar.
Aged 80-years, Mrs. Parsons was a hardworking businesswoman who continued to develop the family business after the death of her husband, concerns which are now being run by members of her family.
A hard working woman, the deceased was a highly respected members of the business sector of the county town and was involved in many organisations during the years.
She was a long time member of Castlebar Golf Club and regularly enjoyed a game. She was one of the most popular members of the club.
Her remains were removed to the Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar last evening (Tuesday) and interment will take place in the old cemetery following Requiem Mass today (Wednesday) at noon.
The deceased is survived by her sons Michael, Eddie, James, John, Brendan, daughters Kathryn (O'Connor, Perth) and Elizabeth and her sisters Anne and Carmel to whom deepest sympathy is extended on their great loss.
NURSING SISTERS
Congratulations are extended to sisters Margaret and Patricia Walsh of Glasgort, Clogher, Claremorris who recently qualified as midwives at the Combe Woman's Hospital, Dublin. They are daughters of Martin and Mary Walsh and they are wished many years of success in their nursing careers.GARDA OPEN A SUCCESS
There was a huge turnout of the public for the opening evening at the divisional headquarters of the Castlebar Garda Station on Friday. Members of the force gave conducted tours of the complex for three hours. Chief Supt. Johnny Carey and Supt. Joe Staunton were among members to greet the visitors.Connaught Telegraph - News - June 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - June 1996
