Snippets - 22 January 1997



Connaught Telegraph 15 January 1997


RTC OPEN DAY

There will be an opening afternoon and evening at the Castlebar campus of the RTC today. Leaving Certificate students will be accommodated between 2 and 4 pm while all are welcome between the hours of 6.30 and 9 pm

This will give second level students and their parents the opportunity of viewing the facilities and talking to academic staff about courses at the Campus.

CROI MAYO LAUNCH

Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation, will officially launch Croí Mayo at a function in Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar on Thursday evening January 30.

The organisation has set up voluntary fund raising committees throughout the county.

MWR SPORTS TEAMS OF THE YEAR EVENT

Six teams will be honoured in the inaugural MWR Supermacs Sports Teams of the Year Awards at the Welcome Inn Hotel, Castlebar on Friday night. The Mayo senior team, the Ballina Basketball squad, the Knockmore senior team and the Galway senior camogie team have been nominated for the top award.

Teams in five other categories -- top underage, top ladies, top GAA, top soccer and top team in a sport other than GAA or soccer -- will also be honoured.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on MWR from 10 to 11 pm

WORLD CONVENTION

Representatives of the twenty-three world wide Mayo Associations will be in attendance at the Mayo World Convention in Ballina from April 4 to 6.

All groups travelling to the event should advise the Dublin Association of approximate numbers travelling. Tickets for the Friday night (April 4) dinner and the black tie convention ball on Saturday (April 5) are limited to 450 so early booking is essential.

For further information contact Paddy Moran, chairman, Mayo World Convention sub-committee on 01-8317100 or FAX: 01-8317353

TUI STRIKE THREAT

VEC members of the Teachers Union of Ireland in Mayo are to ballot on industrial action in pursuit of their demand for the permanent appointment of teachers to VEC schools in the county.

The union maintains that over the past number of years, teacher positions which should have been permanent, have been filled on the basis of annual contracts.

This according to the TUI, has led to a situation in some Mayo schools where more than half the teaching staff are not in secure employment.

A spokesman for the TUI said this has resulted in low staff morale, stemming from insecurity of position, high staff turnover, lack of continuity of staff in the classroom and even to a situation in some schools where promotional positions cannot be filled for want of permanently employed staff.

The TUI has called on the Department of Education to re-examine its staffing policy. It is also drawing up an action plan which will be instigated if its demands are not met.

COLLEGE ENTRY PROGRAMME

A special programme on third level college entry will be broadcast on CRCfm on Saturday morning from 11.30 to 12.30. It will cover all aspects of college entry including the most appropriate subjects, dealing with the different admission requirements of individual colleges, grants, scholarships and methods of funding, third level study, selecting student accommodation and examining the issues involved for third level students.

Eamon P. O'Boyle, nationally recognised career guidance expert and author of CAO/CAS College Guide 1997 will be in studio with Pat Stanton to answer listeners questions which can be forwarded to CRC at New Antrim Street, Castlebar or phoned in during the programme to 094-25555.

ANIMAL WELFARE MEETING

The next meeting of Mayo Animal Welfare will be held on Tuesday next at 8 pm in the Sunflower lounge, Castlebar. All members are asked to attend and new members are welcome.

The group is presently looking for good homes for Rosie, an adult female tortoiseshell cat, spayed, tame and housetrained; two male kittens, three months old, vaccinated, tame and housetrained.

For details contact 098-27752 after 7 pm

CASTLEBAR MAN HAD SUFFICIENT CANNABIS TO MAKE 46 CIGARETTE

S A young Castlebar man who was found by Gardai with sufficient cannabis resin to roll forty-six cigarettes was fined £75 by Judge Dan Shields at Castlebar District Court. Twenty-two years old unemployed Jarlath Kenny, 94 Riverdale Court, Castlebar pleaded guilty to two charges of possession of a controlled substance on June 10th and September 16th last.

Detective Raymond Lawlor, giving evidence of the June 10th offence, said he was on duty at Knockthomas when he arrested Kenny on suspicion that he was in possession of a controlled substance.

On the way to the Garda station Kenny dropped two items which were recovered and found to contain cannabis resin. Kenny said the cannabis was for his own use. Tests on the contents of the two packages showed that there was sufficient cannabis to roll 46 cigarettes.

Garda T. Hennelly said he was on duty at the Mall, Castlebar on Sept. 16th when he searched the defendant and found a quantity of a brown resinous material. Kenny admitted it was cannabis and said it was for his personal use.

Supt. Joe Staunton said the Gardai had not yet received word back on the amount of cannabis relating to the second offence.

Mr. Kevin Bourke, solr. for Kenny, said his client had broken the habit and was seeking work. Cannabis was at the lower end of the scale as far as dangerous drugs were concerned.

Judge Shields said he was concerned at the amount of cannabis found on the defendant. It was of such quantity that it amounted to the possibility it could be for supply. He imposed a fine of £75 on the first charge and adjourned a decision in relation to the September offence to await the outcome of the Garda tests on the substance.



Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - January 1997