Snippets from Mayo, Ireland
23 October 1996
The accolade was confirmation that Ashford castle was a world class product, according to
Tourism and Trade Minister Enda Kenny.
Minister Kenny said: " This is an award given by the prestigious world magazine Car De Nast
which applies to American Express gold cardholders.
"These card holders vote themselves in the magazine for resort hotels of their choice. They have
just voted Ashford Castle as being number 12 in the world.
"It is a great tribute to Rory Murphy and his staff at Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo to have
achieved this unique record. This is a world class product and I am very proud of it."
The one-hundred bedroom facility will be located on a twelve
acre site at Knockranny Hill, overlooking the town of Westport,
Croagh Patrick and Clew Bay.
Phase one of "Knockranny House Hotel" is scheduled to open in
May 1997 and will include fifty luxury bedrooms, lounge,
reception area, fitness rooms and sauna.
The second phase will include an additional fifty bedrooms and
an ultra modern leisure complex with swimming pool and tennis
courts. Work on phase two will be completed in 1998.
"Knockranny House Hotel" is being developed by Geraldine and
Adrian Noonan.
Geraldine is daughter of Mary and Peter Corcoran, owners of The
Castlecourt Hotel, Castlebar Street, Westport.
According to Geraldine the new venture has the full support of
her parents.
The construction is being carried out by Tuam-based company,
Rhatigan & Co. The engineer for the facility is Dave O'Malley,
Castlebar.
The late Mr Jimmy Mee, lived at 108 McHale Road, Castlebar until his death in 1971 at
the age of 73.
But on October 9 a letter from An Post arrived to his son Johnny Mee, a member of Mayo
County Council, in relation to the house which has been unoccupied by the Mee family for
the past ten years.
It contained a statutory declaration form the Head Postmaster at Castlebar Post Office,
Mr Gerard Hughes seeking details under the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1926.
Mr Mee said: "My father would have seen the funny side to all of this. But I can well
understand how someone else might have been greatly offended
Those to benefit from the grants are; An Sportlann, Ballinrobe (£15,000); Balla School sports
hall (£6,000); Ballinrobe GAA Club (£5,000); Ballinrobe town band (£2,000); Ballyglass
Community Centre (£4,000); Borders Ramblers Athletic Club 9£2,000); Castlebar Racquetball
Club (£8,000); Castlebar Tennis Club (£4,000); Charlestown Bellaghy Community Centre
(£15,000); Hollymount GAA Club (£5,000) and Newport Handball Club (£3,000).
Tourism and Trade Minister Enda Kenny, Government Chief Whip Jim Higgins and Dail Deputy
Michael Ring have welcomed the announcements.
They were Mayo AbbeyResources Development Centre and An tInneal Organach, each of which
will receive £250.
It will be addressed by Mr Brian Quinn of Mayo Naturally and Mr Gerry O'Neill of the South
Mayo Leader Company.
The meeting is open to anyone who is interested in opening, improving or developing the B&B
business and the session is being promoted by the Ballinrobe and District Tourism Council.
Gardai countrywide are mounting random checkpoints in a bid to alert owners to the dangers of
driving on tyres with insufficient thread.
As this is Tyre Safety Week motorists are advised to thread carefully.
They were selected out of over 100 entries at the Connaught Finals in a competition run by the
Irish Master Butchers. Congratulations are extended to Tom Dempsey on the achievement
ASHFORD CASTLE 12th BEST IN THE WORLD
Cong's luxurious Ashford Castle has been selected as the 12th best in the world by
American Express Gold Cardholders.
WORK STARTS ON NEW WESTPORT HOTEL
By DEIRDRE KELLY
Work has started on the construction of a new multi-million
pound four-star hotel in Westport.
TV LICENCE SOUGHT FROM
MAN DEAD FOR 25-YEARS
An Post has demanded a television licence to be taken out by a man who has been dead for
the past TWENTY-FIVE years.
£69,000 IN SPORTS GRANTS
ELEVEN Mayo projects have been grant aided under the Recreational Facilities Scheme to the
tune of £69,000.
CPI BALLA QUIZ
THE Mayo Branch of CPI will hold a simultaneous table quiz in the Shebeen and the Olde
Woods, Balla in conjunctions with the town's mini festival on tomorrow (Thursday) night at
9.30 pm. There will be lots of prizes and spot prizes on offer and entry fee if £3 per person.
ENVIRONMENT
AWARENESS
AWARDS
TWO Mayo projects were among the 69 to receive the 1996 NGO Environment Awareness
Awards Scheme, the results of which have been announced by the minister for the Environment,
Brendan Howlin.
B&B INDUSTRY
WESTPORT MEETING
A MEETING will be held in the Old Railway Hotel, Westport on Wednesday next (11 am) to
discuss develop and improve the B&B industry.
TYRE CHECKS
WARNING
Motorists are being advised as part of a national campaign to have their tyres checked to ensure
that they are up to standard.
TOM'S TOP PUDDINGS
Dempsey Meat Products of the Barcastle Industrial Estate, Castlebar have qualifies to have their
black and white puddings in the All-Ireland Puddings and Sausages Final in Dublin in January.
PRESIDENT TO OPEN
CLARE ISLAND MYSTERY
President Mary Robinson will officially open the Mise Freisin, "The Clare Island Mystery", an
interactive theatre for people with disabilities at St. Mary's Hospital, Castlebar on Saturday at
11.45 am
Comments, news, letters? E-mail conntel@iol.ie
Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996
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