1) 0ms,border-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-1sgza6o:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-1sgza6o:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-1sgza6o.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 1) 0ms;color:#1976d2;padding:0px;min-width:0;}.css-w5p45x::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{pointer-events:none;cursor:default;}@media print{.css-w5p45x{-webkit-print-color-adjust:exact;color-adjust:exact;}}.css-w5p45x:hover{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;background-color:rgba(25 0.04);}@media (hover: none){.css-w5p45x:hover{background-color:transparent;}}.css-w5p45x.Mui-disabled{color:rgba(0 0.26);}PrintShareSaveThe death has occurred of The death has occurred of Grazvydas Artiomovas better known as Graz Loving son of Sandra and adored brother of Amelia He will be sadly missed by his heartbroken mother Graz was well known and well liked in Westport having worked in “Cosy Joes” and “ The Porter House” Mass will take place in the Church of the Holy Rosary The Mass will be live-streamed on www.churchtv.ie/castlebar or can be listened to in Castlebar on the Castlebar Parish Radio 105.3fm You are invited to leave a message of sympathy for the family on the condolence link below or you can write to the family c/o Kilcoyne Funeral Directors All enquiries to Kilcoyne’s Funeral Home, Thomas Street, Castlebar 0872648869 www.kilcoynefuneralhome.com Cremation / Burial.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism The funeral details have been confirmed in the wake of the passing of a 16-year-old student and Westport minor GAA player in Mayo University Hospital who was a Transition Year student in Rice College in Westport fell ill and was taken to the hospital for treatment READ MORE: Mayo town in shock as GAA player (16) passes away with the town of Westport and the wider community in shock Reposing at McGing’s Funeral Home on Friday with the public queue for entry into the funeral home coming from the Shop Street direction The funeral Mass will take place at 11am on Saturday with burial afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery READ MORE: Mayo GAA club pay heartfelt tribute after sad passing of young player The family home is strictly private at this time A tribute has also being paid to Christopher by Rice College: "A light went out in Rice College as we lost a wonderful transition year student Christopher (Chris) Gavin passed away at the youthful age of 16 years old The school community of Rice College are struggling after hearing of his passing at Mayo University Hospital We extend our sympathies to Chris’s parents Michael and Karen " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news ALERT: Irish homeowners warned renovation jobs could lead to €10,000 fine or jail Graduates of ATU and its legacy campuses can benefit from the Alumni Scholarship offering a 20% reduction on Masters course fees Minster Alan Dillon at the opening of the new offices The role offers an attractive package for the right candidate Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie The funeral of Co Mayo teenager Christopher Gavin has heard he was “a light” in his family’s household died suddenly earlier this week at Mayo University Hospital he played for their local club Westport GAA At the beginning his funeral mass held in St Mary’s Church in Westport on Saturday morning hundreds of people came through the church to pay their respects to the Gavin family Mourners were told of Christopher’s passion for sport and his special bond with his twin brother Items brought to the altar as symbols of Christopher’s life included a pair of football boots representing “his love for the game and the joy it brought him over the years playing alongside Michael and all of their friends” His brother brought up a drawing of their family love and unbreakable bond they shared throughout his life” Christopher’s number 15 Westport GAA jersey was brought up which he wore in a winning effort during a match played last Tuesday The jersey has been signed by all of his teammates and coaches and symbolised “how important and special being part of that team was to him” Westport GAA announced earlier this week the number 15 jersey will not be worn for the remainder of this season as a mark of respect to Christopher and his family a bodhrán crafted by Christopher with his transition year classmates at Rice College in Westport was brought up as a symbol of “his creativity and the fun times he shared with his friends during his school days” On behalf of the Gavin and Donoghue families Christopher’s father Michael thanked the staff at Mayo University Hospital for the care they gave his son in his final few days He also thanked the family’s neighbours and his own circle of close friends for their support but deadly funny in the right company,” Mr Gavin said in a tribute to his son "Michael is a name that enters my head every time I speak about Chris People have said to me over the last few days that you never see one without the other whether it’s walking the dogs or heading to the pitch with their mates but especially Michael knows that Christopher lives on in all of us I couldn’t have asked for any better and I was lucky to have three other great kids and a lovely grandson Christopher’s aunt Gail read out the poem When Tomorrow Starts Without Me by David Romano A guard of honour was formed for Christopher outside St Mary’s Church at the conclusion of the service with a funeral at Aughavale Cemetery to follow As the mass concluded and mourners left the church there was a rendition of the song You’ll Never Walk Alone Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel TRIBUTES have been paid following the untimely death of a teenage GAA star who was "true friend to so many" died on Wednesday in Mayo General Hospital Gavin represented Westport GAA with acclaim and was a member of the club's minor team alongside twin brother Michael The club paid an emotional tribute to Gavin describing him as a "dedicated teammate and a true friend to so many" A statement on the club's Facebook page read: "All of our thoughts prayers and deepest sympathies are with the Gavin family at this tragic time we are utterly lost for words to express how sad our whole GAA community is feeling right now for this immense loss "Chris lined out with his team against Achill last week, where he played with the number 15 jersey. "Chris’ team came away with a win that day, and it is nice to know that his last game representing his club was a happy memory for him. "As a mark of respect to Chris and his family, that winning number 15 jersey of Chris’ will be retired for the rest of our season, ensuring Chris will be remembered as part of our squad at every game by his team and club. and how we pick each other up and go again "Chris’ teammates and our GAA community now take up that same challenge by supporting the Gavin family during these very sad days "The devastating loss of such a great son friend and teammate will need us all to surround Chris' family with our support and love in the weeks and months ahead." Similarly devastated was his school - Rice College in Westport - where he was a transition year student the school mourned: "A light went out in Rice College Westport today as we lost a wonderful Transition Year student "Christopher (Chris) Gavin passed away at the youthful age of 16 years old The school community of Rice College are struggling after hearing of his passing in Mayo General Hospital "We extend our sympathies to Chris’s parents Michael and Karen "May his gentle soul rest in peace" These were two of innumerable tributes paid to the young man Westport Rugby Club said: "Sincere condolences & heartfelt sympathies to the Gavin Family on the very sudden passing of Christopher his friends & team mates we extend our thoughts & prayers" Lahardane McHales GAA Club said: "Sincere condolences on the heartbreaking passing of Christopher Gavin sisters Cathy & Emma and all the extended Gavin & Donoghue families and to all his friends schoolmates and Clubmates at Westport G.A.A And Scoil Phadraig posted: "All of us in Scoil Phádraig are so sad to hear this news today his twin brother Michael and his older sisters Cathy and Emma were all part of our Scoil Phádraig community and we have fond memories of the times we shared together "We extend our deepest sympathy to Chris's parents grandparents and extended family at this sad time." Christopher Gavin will be reposing at McGing's Funeral Home on Friday from 5pm to 7pm Requiem mass will take place at 11am on Saturday in St Mary's Church in Westport with funeral proceeding to Aughavale Cemetery The funeral mass will be available to stream while it will also be broadcasted on 104.8FM (Westport Radio) Ballintubber's Stephen O’Malley and Westport's Alan Kennedy tussle for possession in a rain soaked Clogher on Saturday evening. Picture: Tom Quinn A late rally from Westport saw them overturn a seven-point deficit to rescue a share of the spoils against Ballintubber on Saturday evening at Ray Prendergast Memorial Park. The hosts led by five at the break with wing-back Michael Plunkett stealing the show, scoring three times from outside the arc in the opening half. Cillian O’Connor gave Ballintubber the lead after 45 seconds and Stephen O’Malley then scored from play. Plunkett hit the first of his trifecta to put Ballintubber four up with just two minutes played. Westport will have been grateful for Killian Kilkelly bringing his shooting boots to Clogher as he effectively kept them in the game in the first half, scoring his opener after four minutes. Plunkett struck again, a carbon copy of his earlier effort before O’Connor scored from play to make it 0-7 to 0-1. Kilkelly scored a free and then set up Luke Tunney for another point. O’Connor scored another free before Westport began to make inroads. Alan Kennedy scored on the 20-minute mark before Kilkelly hit back-to-back scores, one from play and another from a free to cut the gap to two points. Plunkett found space from range again and struck his third two-pointer of the half. Kilkelly responded before O’Connor’s free from well outside the arc made it a five-point game at half time. Westport came out with a bit more edge and within 15 seconds of the restart, had forced Padraic O’Connor into making the save at point blank range. The shooter, Killian Kilkelly, had another bite and popped the ball over the bar this time. Noel Geraghty responded before Pat Lambert popped over a point and goalkeeper Paddy O’Malley hit a 45 sweetly between the posts. Ballintubber looked well in the driving seat when they scored the next four points. Geraghty hit two more from play and then O’Connor added his sixth point of the game, a free kick. Stephen O’Malley’s second point of the evening made it a seven-point game coming into the final quarter. Westport dug deep, however, and Luke Tunney sparked them into life with a massive, two-point effort that seemed to light a fire up under the Coveys. Colm Moran and Joe Grady cut the gap to just three points with further scores. In the 57th minute substitute John Grady, who had emerged from the bench just three minutes prior, put the ball in the net and it was a tie game. Then Conor Calvey scored in the 59th minute, putting Westport in front for the first time all evening and suddenly Ballintubber were left to chase the game. They did find an equaliser through a Ciaran Gavin free as the game ticked over into injury-time but the result will have come as a disappointment to Ballintubber considering the advantageous position they had been in with 15 minutes to play. Western news delivered directly to your inbox To join the Mayo Day 2025 celebrations the theme of “Many Places Westport Town Hall are delighted to host Jay Ryan (Pignut Productions) to deliver three spectacular Children’s Events on Saturday 3rd May At 6pm a talk from Biographer Anne Chambers and the remarkable story of Howe Peter Browne “From Westport to the West Indies – The Story of  Peter Howe Browne” The talk will take place for appox 45 minutes followed by a short Question & Answer session in the Seán Staunton Room Booking for all of the above FREE EVENTS is ESSENTIAL and can be done through Westport Town hall www.westportheatre.ie or by phoning 098 28459 Westport GAA Club has this evening released a statement revealing the heartbreak among its members at the sudden passing of 16-year-old Christopher Gavin The student at Rice College in Westport was a member of the minor team at the west Mayo club He took ill last week and was admitted to Mayo University Hospital but sadly passed away on Tuesday night Westport GAA has said this evening in a statement on social media: “The town of Westport its schools and our GAA community woke today to the heartbreaking news that Christopher Gavin a dedicated teammate and a true friend to so many had passed away while in Mayo University Hospital early this morning “Chris’s twin brother Michael is also a member of our minor squad with both players committed to their teams and teammates over their many years at our club The late Christopher Gavin pictured proudly displaying the Westport GAA colours.  We extend to Chris’ parents Karen and Mike his sisters Cathy and Emma and his inseparable twin brother Michael our heartfelt condolences as you and our community try to come to terms with this sudden and tragic news “Chris lined out with his team against Achill last week and it is nice to know that his last game representing his club was a happy memory for him As a mark of respect to Chris and his family that winning number 15 jersey of Chris’ will be retired for the rest of our season ensuring Chris will be remembered as part of our squad at every game by his team and club “We have had opportunities in the past to discuss with Chris’ teammates about getting over the loss of a game Chris’ teammates and our GAA community now take up that same challenge by supporting the Gavin family during these very sad days friend and teammate will need us all to surround Chris' family with our support and love in the weeks and months ahead The powerful statement was attributed to Westport GAA The funeral arrangements after the passing of Christopher Gavin have yet to be announced The death has occurred of Christopher Gavin Predeceased by his grandfather Sean Donoghue Christopher will be greatly missed by his heartbroken family his parents Michael & Karen (née Donoghue late of Killala) classmates & staff in Rice College & his Westport GAA family Reposing at McGing's Funeral Home (F28 RX58) on Friday (May 02nd) from 5:00pm until 7:00pm THE PUBLIC QUEUE FOR ENTRY INTO THE FUNERAL HOME WILL NOW BE FROM THE SHOP STREET DIRECTION Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am on Saturday (May 03rd) in St Westport with funeral proceeding to Aughavale Cemetery Christopher’s Funeral Mass can be viewed on https://www.churchtv.ie/Westport or listened to on radio at 104.8FM (Westport Radio). You are invited to leave your message of sympathy for the family on the Condolence book link below. Funeral Service.css-h76uj{display:inherit;margin-right:-4px;margin-left:8px;}Date Published: CondolencesDonate to CharityWould you like to mark a birthday, memorial mass or anniversary for a Loved One?You can now create a family notice on RIP.ie to remember your loved one. Rip.ie, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2, Ireland The Grace Westport Estate - Entrance View. The Grace is inspired by two iconic women connected to Mayo, Grace O’Malley, the 16th-century Pirate Queen, and Hollywood icon Grace Kelly, and draws on their shared spirit of bold elegance and independence. Set just moments from the 300-year-old Westport House within Westport Estate’s 430-acre grounds, the hotel will offer an atmosphere of slow luxury, a place to unwind in style and enjoy moments of stillness and renewal. Dining at The Grace, Westport Estate, will spotlight seasonal produce and local flavours, crafted in partnership with regional producers who know the land best. Meanwhile, The Grace Spa & Wellness will offer tailored treatments in a calming setting, encouraging guests to pause, reset, and experience the restorative power of place. For those celebrating life’s special moments, weddings at The Grace will be intimate and thoughtful, drawing on the estate’s historic charm and natural beauty. Whether exchanging vows beneath ancient trees or gathering for an elegant evening reception, guests will experience moments that feel both special and uniquely their own. Located on The Wild Atlantic Way, close to Croagh Patrick, Clew Bay, and on the doorstep of the culturally vibrant Westport Town, the hotel will offer guests an ideal base to explore both the storied grounds of the estate and richness of the West of Ireland. Whether spending the day discovering the West, exploring the estate, or simply unwinding within the hotel, guests can return to a place designed to feel both refined and restorative. Ciaran Reidy, General Manager of The Grace, Westport Estate, commented: “When we open in Spring 2026, our focus will be on creating an authentic Irish experience, blending luxury at ease with a genuine sense of place. Everything from the design to the hospitality reflects the estate’s unique character and the spirit of the West.”  Barry O’Connor, CEO of Westport Estate, added: “The Grace plays a central role in how we’re reimagining Westport Estate. This is a special part of the world, and our goal is to create a space where guests feel the richness of Mayo’s culture, landscape, and people.” Cathal J Hughes, Director of Westport Estate, said: “As the hotel becomes a reality, we're mindful of the role it plays not just in welcoming visitors, but in supporting the community here in Mayo. This project will bring meaningful employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy in a sustainable way. It’s a chance to grow something lasting and positive for the region, with a deep respect for its history and people.”  The Grace is designed by Mayo-based Taylor McCarney, with interiors by GW Design. The hotel will create up to 170 jobs, with further opportunities emerging as Westport Estate continues to evolve. The Grace, Westport Estate, will offer a gentle space to pause and take in the beauty of the West. Whether drawn by the landscape, the stories, or simply the sense of stillness, guests will find space to reconnect in their own way and inspired to return again and again. The town of Westport is in shock this afternoon after the sudden passing of a young Transition Year student who was a student at Rice College in Westport and also a minor footballer with Westport GAA Club passed away in Mayo University Hospital over night.  Chris fell ill on Thursday evening last and was taken to Mayo University Hospital Chris was previously a student at Scoil Phádraig in Westport extended family and a wide circle of friends No funeral arrangements are available at this time.  A new hotel set to open in Westport next spring has its sights firmly set on a five-star rating whose name is inspired by pirate queen Grace O’Malley and Hollywood icon Grace Kelly is a cornerstone of a €75-€85 million development transforming the 430-acre Westport Estate Some of the participants from a previous Westportif Westport is gearing up for the Westportif cycle challenge which will take place on Saturday, May 17. Established in 2012, the event continues to grow each year as cyclists from all over Ireland travel West to Mayo to participate in the cycle but also to enjoy the post event hospitality in the beautiful town of Westport.  The event starts and finishes in the stunning parklands of Westport House estate Participants of the cycling event can choose from two route distances The 75km route incorporates a northward journey to the breathtaking Seven arch bridge in Newport before cyclists will glide through Glenhest and Keenagh where spectacular views of the Nephin Mountain will impress all The return trip to Newport via the Nephin drive is glorious as the beauty of Wild Nephin national park along with the views of Clew Bay are taken in Cyclists will return to Westport house where they will be welcomed by a party atmosphere along with food drink and entertainment at Gracy’s pizzeria and bistro Organisers say the 75km cycle route is accessible to leisure cyclists of all abilities.  The 150km route is for those who enjoy an even bigger challenge the longer journey pushes further north after Keenagh offering jaw-dropping views of the Nephin mountain range as you cross the rugged barony of Erris You’ll cycle through some of the most remote landscapes in the world but equally you will be in awe.  Deirdre Clarke, event organiser for the Wesportif says plans are in full motion for this year’s event which is taking shape to be the biggest yet. Registrations are open at www.westportif.ie and it’s encouraged that interested cyclists to sign up as soon as possible to avoid missing out Clarke also added a mention of thanks to the main event sponsor All participants will receive a Westportif branded water bottle along with a fabulous event medal The Westportif is a joint venture between Westport Covey and Western Lakes cycling clubs as its an important fundraiser for both clubs along with their nominated charity partner This year’s chosen charity is Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation which provides free charge palliative care services to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families enabling patients to live out the remainder of their lives in comfort and dignity READ MORE: Mayo secondary school delay controversial move to temporary site until March 2026 Dáithí Ó Sé from the Today Show will be live from the Westport Estate on Tuesday afternoon RTÉ's flagship afternoon programme The Today Show is coming to Mayo tomorrow Host Dáithí Ó Sé will be coming live from the Westport Estate from 3.30pm to 5pm and has a busy line-up of guests to keep the large TV audience entertained The show is set to broadcast a number of segments during the show which will be live on RTÉ One from 3.30pm to 5pm on Tuesday afternoon READ MORE: Mayo people invited to get hiking in aid of children’s cancer care A number of contributors are lined-up to speak to Dáithí live on location in front of Westport House including Siobhán O’Sullivan (Westport Estate); Catherine O’Grady Power (Glen Keen Farm) and Aidan O’Sullivan (Westport Wolfhounds) There will also be a live cooking demo with Castlebar chef and author Sarah Butler and RTÉ will also broadcast a pre-recorded segment from the Great Western Greenway during the show.Fionnan Nestor of from Fáilte Ireland said: “It should be an exciting few hours at Westport Estate and will be a great plug not only for the estate but for the town of Westport and the Clew Bay area as we head into the summer season.” Sacred Heart Secondary School were due to temporarily move into the old Scoil Phádraig school on Altamont Street The controversial proposed temporary move by a Westport secondary school into the old Scoil Phadraig building has been pushed back until the spring of 2026 The staff and pupils of Sacred Heart Secondary School in Westport had been due to move into the old Scoil Phadraig National School building on Altamont Street for the start of the new school year in September but that date has been pushed back An update on the new school building was sent to parents and guardians of school students on Thursday by Kevin Malone Acting Principal of the all girls secondary school Mr Malone outlined that the temporary move to the 'refurbished Scoil Phadraig site' will now take place in March/April 2026 instead of the previously indicated date of September 2025 “This change is due to the size and scope of the overall project and the future proofing design currently underway to ensure a smooth transition to Holy Trinity School,” the letter wrote “Sacred Heart School will vacate the Altamont St site when the 1st phase of our new school is complete on our current site.” READ: ‘No evidence of voter fraud’ - Mayo County Council Sacred Heart School is an all-girls school that is currently using modular accommodation on its grounds due to insufficient capacity in the school building The old Scoil Phadraig building was earmarked as the location of the new Holy Trinity National School but those plans were controversially put on hold when the Department of Education outlined their intention to use the building as 'urgent temporary accommodation' for the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Westport This angered many people associated with Holy Trinity NS whose current schoolhouse is located on the Newport Road but is over 200 years old and is not fit for modern teaching The site of the old Scoil Phádraig NS on Altamont Street was identified as a prospective location and the site was eventually purchased from the Sisters of Mercy with the hope of starting work on a new school in 2018 Plans were further delayed in 2020 following a proposal by the Department of Education to move the proposed new Westport Educate Together NS alongside the new Holy Trinity NS on the Altamont Street site These proposals were rejected but the latest developments puts further uncertainty on when the Church of Ireland school will move into the Scoil Phadraig site Mr Malone stated that the appointment of the Integrated Project Team who will be responsible for the design of the new building is 'expected shortly and we await it with anticipation' “While timelines are always subject to review the project remains on track and the Department has advised that completion is currently targeted for 2030,” he concluded The front of the old Scoil Phadraig National School building is currently boarded up with hoardings up to ten feet high and a new vehicular entrance made close to the pedestrian crossing Last month, Mayo County Council issued a 'warning letter' to the Department of Education regarding this work stating that the 'alleged unauthorised development' consists of 'unauthorised widening of entrance and ancillary works' and 'unauthorised erection of hoarding fence' St Patrick's Church in Aughagower (Pic: Mick Reynolds) and Mark Carney in the inset (Pic: Flickr) Mayo people especially in the village of Aughagower will have eagerly checked the international news this morning Mark Carney from the Liberal Party in Canada has indeed won the general election and will stay on as Prime Minister after his appointment in March Mr Carney has three grandparents from the area and is a first cousin of Pat Carney who operates Carney’s Quarry in Aughagower.  The Mayo News reported previously that there are plans afoot to issue a formal invitation through the Canadian Embassy in Ireland for the  Prime Minister to visit the village.  READ: Mayo woman (65) facing eviction says her life is 'in limbo' One in three rental propeties in Westport are listed on Airbnb The concentration of Airbnb listings in Westport is among the highest in Ireland with one in three private rented properties in the west Mayo town listed on the popular homesharing platform A study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) into Airbnb usage across Ireland found that outside of Dublin, the largest numbers of Airbnb listings are found in coastal areas chiefly in or near to key tourist hotspots along the west coast there were 1,096 entire units in 2023 listed on Airbnb which is an increase of 42.2 percent on the figure since 2019 The report found that there is no correlation between increases in Airbnb activity and falls in new tenancies between 2019-2023 at the Local Electoral Area level READ: Mayo Senator advised to install CCTV at home “This does not mean that Airbnb activity has not had a detrimental impact on the PRS [Private Rental Sector] in specific local markets but it does not appear to be the root cause of the observed falls in available PRS accommodation nationwide,” the report read When comparing the ratio of Airbnb listings to private rental properties the study found that in the Belmullet Local Electoral Area there is approximately one Airbnb listing for every 1.5 private rentals The study also found that although the highest relative incidence of Airbnb listings is generally found in non Rent Pressure Zone areas Westport has been a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) area since 2023 and according to the study there is approximately one Airbnb listing for every three private rental properties in Westport The ERSI stated in the report that to be designated an RPZ private rental inflation for new tenancies has to be persistently high and rent levels have to be above a reference rate “While it is not possible to ascertain from our analysis whether the short-term let markets in these areas had an impact on their designation as RPZs any reduction in properties available for the PRS [Private Rental Sector] would likely have contributed to higher PRS rental inflation “We also cannot rule out impacts in localised parts of urban areas with sizeable Airbnb markets given the increased crossover between the STL [Short Term Let] and PRS markets in urban areas,” the report read The number of properties in Mayo which are being let for short-term tourism has been criticised in recent weeks with the homeless charity Threshold claiming that these houses should be brought back to the long-term market Castlebar-based Independent councillor Harry Barrett claims that young people are being priced out of the rental market due to the number of homes listed on Airbnb but Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell defended people who avail of it to make money. “In my area a lot of people are into Airbnb and they think they are getting a lot of negative press about the situation There are no hotels back our side and they are providing a service for tourism and a place to stay All they are doing is trying to make a living and provide a service but they seem to be getting bad press and they are not too happy about it,” said Cllr Maxwell A total of 5 homes consisting of three bed units within a development of new social housing units are being made available for sale by Mayo County Council in the Golf Course Road Co Mayo under the Affordable Purchase Arrangement as set out in the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and the associated Housing Regulations legislation The three bed homes will generally be available only for first-time buyers who do not own a home (although a small number of exceptions apply) *Income will be assessed as per Mayo County Council’s Income Assessment Policy for Affordable Housing. Details are available on Housing Section of Mayo County Council’s website www.mayo.ie To apply and subsequently purchase one of these homes an applicant must satisfy the following eligibility criteria of the scheme.  Applications will be accepted via an online application portal which will open on Friday 17th January 2025 at 9.30 am on consult.mayo.ie/en/applications Applications will be accepted between 17th January 2025 to 7th February 2025 (12pm) Applications cannot be accepted after the portal closes on 7th February 2025 If you have any queries during the online application process, please contact affordablehousing@mayoco.ie. Further information on this scheme is available from the Housing Section of Mayo County Council’s website at www.mayo.ie A view of the entrance to the Grace Hotel in Westport Westport is in line for a huge jobs boost with the fast-approaching opening of the Grace Hotel in the spring of 2026 The previous hotel in the same venue attracted acclaim around the country as a popular wedding venue READ MORE: NTA have thrown Mayo County Council 'under the bus' – Mulroy will be hoping that their newest venture will be the jewel in the crown of the service industry on the Wild Atlantic Way The hotel on the doorstep of Westport will boast 129 rooms and plenty of space to relax and unwind in the middle of the sprawling 430-acre Estate expressed his excitement at what he believes will be a welcome addition to the county’s booming hospitality industry “The Grace plays a central role in how we’re reimagining Westport Estate,” he stated and our goal is to create a space where guests feel the richness of Mayo’s culture Ciaran Reidy, General Manager of The Grace our focus will be on creating an authentic Irish experience blending luxury at ease with a genuine sense of place Everything from the design to the hospitality reflects the estate’s unique character and the spirit of the West.” Cathal J Hughes, Director of Westport Estate, said: “As the hotel becomes a reality we're mindful of the role it plays not just in welcoming visitors but in supporting the community here in Mayo This project will bring meaningful employment opportunities and contribute to the local economy in a sustainable way It’s a chance to grow something lasting and positive for the region with a deep respect for its history and people.” For more information, visit www.thegrace.ie " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g, ' To continue reading this article, please subscribe and support local journalism! 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You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie. Competitors cross the line at the start of the 10k race held as part of the Westport Marathon. The event featured three race distances: a full marathon (42.2 km), a half marathon (21.1 km) and a 10k run. It is now the largest running event in the West, attracting participants from all over Ireland and afar. Indeed this year saw huge growth in international competitors with runners travelling from Switzerland, France, Denmark, Belgium, Austria, the United States and even Australia to take part in the event. Medal winners after taking part in the full Westport Marathon were Pat Walsh (3rd), Sean Hehir (1st) and Sean McLoughlin (2nd).Winner of the full marathon was Sean Hehir from Gorey who finished in a course record time of 2:33:22. The first female over the line was Ellen Marie Curley from Clifden who came home in 3:21:21. Taking the number one spot in the men’s half marathon in 1:15:40 was Dublin man James Moran. Leah Lawler, a native from Carlow, took first prize in the women’s half. Westport man Bryan Renton raced across the finish line in 34:56 to win the men’s 10k while the first lady was Maria Byrne from Dublin who took the top prize with a time of 41:28. Mayo Athletic Club was one of several local clubs represented on the day. Tadgh Hanrahan ran 2:57.01 to finish ninth overall in the marathon and third in the M40 category. Jessie Kennedy from Westport enjoying the sun and the scenery wile running the full marathon in Westport.In the half-marathon, the Mayo AC finishers were: Michael Rocke 1:23.11, Gerry Kirrane 1:25.38, Colette Tuohy 1:31.20 (sixth woman overall and first O50), Damien Finnegan 1:31:24, Una Mayock 1:36.00, Tony Hegarty 1:42.49, Lucy Tuohy 1:44.53, Thomas O’Brien 1:47.42, Michelle McAlpine 1:49.12 and new member Ryan O’Sullivan 1:57.01. Eimear Fitzmaurice finished third woman overall in the 10k and first over-40 while the other Mayo AC 10k runners were Lisa Lally (46:51) and Jimmy Feeney (48:12), who was the first masters athlete over-70. Western Alzheimers is this year’s charity partner of the Westport Marathon. It provides a complete range of care and support services to individuals and families affected by Alzheimers/Dementia in the West of Ireland. You can donate at www.westernalzheimers.ie. Serving the best in South Cork News ProudToBeLocal SearchLucy Griffin Appointed Head of People & Culture at Westport Estate Online Journalist5 days ago1 min read  Crosshaven's Lucy Griffin was announced as Head of People & Culture of the prestigious  Westport Estate With over a decade of international experience in HR Griffin will play a pivotal role in driving the estate’s ongoing transformation Griffin served as Head of HR for Oceania at Hillebrand Gori where she led HR operations across Australia and New Zealand through integration She has also held senior roles in Australia with brands including TravelEdge and Wesley College successfully guiding large-scale restructures empowered team is vital to our vision,” said Lucy Griffin Head of People & Culture at Westport Estate creating a workplace culture where employees are consistently learning and developing to ensure guests enjoy exceptional experiences.” “Lucy’s expertise in shaping resilient teams and cultivating a culture of excellence will help drive our mission,” said Barry O’Connor “Her leadership will strengthen our commitment to delivering world-class hospitality as we continue our multi-year redevelopment.” This transformation includes The Grace at Westport Estate a luxury flagship hotel opening in Spring 2026 the rejuvenation of Westport House and its grounds and the introduction of immersive visitor experiences For more see the next edition of The Carrigdhoun Ireland  A green area dug up by cars parked there during the Westport Marathon A complaint has been filed to Mayo County Council after the parking of numerous cars in driveways and on green areas caused disruption to residents in local estates Photos posted on social media also showed marks left on grassy areas by cars which parked in nearby estates during the Westport Marathon, which drew thousands of people to the west Mayo town. the Fairways and along the Golf Course Road which are located near the race starting point at Westport House At least one resident has made a formal complaint over the matter to Mayo County Council The resident did not wish to be named or comment when contacted by The Mayo News  Chairperson of the Páirc na Coille Residents’ Association told The Mayo News that residents experienced delays in entering and exiting the estate due to the volume of cars parked there over the weekend As cars were parked on both sides of the road only one car could pass through at any given time “It was a disaster to get out of our estate,” said Ms Claxton Designated parking zones for full marathon runners were put in place at the Quay School and Westport Woods Hotel Those partaking in the half marathon were allocated parking in Gaelscoil na Cruaiche Mayo College of Further Education’s Westport campus Those participating in the 10-kilometre run could also park at Gaelscoil na Cruacihe A shuttle bus for competitors ran from Portwest warehouse to the start line every 20 minutes from 7.30 am on the day of the race Over 4,000 people took part in the third annual Westport Marathon which has become one of the largest running events in the west of Ireland Mayo County Council is inviting businesses in the Westport area to register for the Green Hubs Programme Green Hubs supports businesses in improving their waste management and cutting down on waste disposal costs This will be done through free mentoring and practical supports for your businesses including the provision of bin signage and posters from mywaste.ie to help you and your staff improve waste segregation Over 70% of the waste found in commercial waste bins could be recycled or placed in food waste bin This is having significant cost and environmental impacts Register your interest by completing this short survey below before February 26th and we will be in touch with further details. For further information email: environment@mayococo.ie or call 0949064217 Supports climate action in the community: This initiative supports a circular economy which reduces the carbon footprint of any business Free resources and support available: MyWaste.ie is making free signage available to separate waste to General Waste Mayo County Council will further support business with waste audits and provide any necessary advice/guidance Free positive promotion: Green Hubs Window Stickers for participating businesses and promotion of Green Hub Businesses on MCC website and social media More about Clubs & Facilities More about Coaches & Officials More about Get Involved More about High Performance closeMenu() { this.menuOpen = false; this.searchOpen = false; this.enableBodyScroll(); } this.menuOpen; this.searchOpen = false; this.menuOpen this.disableBodyScroll() : this.enableBodyScroll(); } this.searchOpen; this.menuOpen = false; this.searchOpen disableBodyScroll() { document.body.classList.add(...this.menuOpenClasses); } enableBodyScroll() { document.body.classList.remove(...this.menuOpenClasses); } Abaas Adam Edris (Castlegar AC) and Helena Butterly (Clonliffe Harriers AC) produced classy performances this afternoon (February 9th) to secure the Intermediate titles at a thrilling edition of the 123.ie National Intermediate Masters and Juvenile B Cross Country Championships held at Westport House in Co Edris was a decisive winner of the men’s race over 8,000m with the Galway athlete crossing the line in a time of 26:16 Ennis Track AC duo Barry Conway and Jamie Kelly followed Edris home to complete the podium Dylan Casey (5th) and Padraig Nugent (12th) backed their clubmates performances up to ensure a comfortable team gold medal for the Clare quartet The women’s race followed a similar pattern with Butterly (Clonliffe Harriers AC) winning the title over 5000m in 19:44 ahead of her clubmate Niamh Kelly Jools Hughes (5th) and Julie Larkin (9th) also scored for the Dublin club Abbeyleix and District AC) rounded off the podium The master’s races also provided plenty of drama in the tough conditions Olympian Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC) was a popular winner of the women’s race over 4,000m (14:29) Lee’s clubmate Sharon Rynne wasn’t too far behind her in second with last year’s champion Kate Purcell (Raheny Shamrock AC) having to settle for bronze this year Last year’s silver medallist Colm Rooney (Clonliffe Harriers) upgraded his medal this year as he won the men’s race over the 7,000m distance with Conan McCaughey (North Belfast Harriers) finishing third Rooney’s gold-medal winning run saw his Clonliffe Harriers team claim victory with their four scorers inside the top twenty Away from the senior races there were impressive performances in the Juvenile B races Anna Leigh McKenna (Keep ‘Er Lit AC) and Conor Martin (Derg AC) picked up gold in the U15 races while the U17 titles went the way of Kirsten Kenny (Killarney Valley AC) and Seamus Burke (Lake District AC) respectively Sign-up for the Athletics Ireland E-Zine with exclusive interviews This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below The cookies that are categorised as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you These cookies will only be stored in your browser with your prior consent You can choose to enable or disable some or all of these cookies but disabling some of them may affect your browsing experience Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors A total of 5 homes consisting of three bed units are being made available for sale by Mayo County Council in the Golf Course Road In order to be eligible to apply and subsequently purchase one of these homes an applicant must satisfy the eligibility criteria of the scheme Further information on this scheme, including the Scheme of Priority, the documents required to be submitted with the application form and how to make an application, are available from the Housing Section of Mayo County Council’s website Drop in - In conjunction with Westport Credit Union Mayo County Council Affordable Housing Office are hosting a drop-in morning where interested applicants are invited to drop-in to the Westport Credit Union to meet with staff who will be on hand to answer any questions you have about the 5 affordable units in Westport. Date of the drop-in: Thursday 12th of December from 11 to 2 pm Please note applications are currently not open for these units. Interested and eligible parties are being advised to prepare for making an application. Applications will open in early 2025 and will be accepted via an online application portal, all details will be advertised in advance of the applications being open. Town2 Gill’s Cottages, The Quay, Westport, Co Mayo€375,000, Sherry FitzGerald CrowleyThis architecturally-designed double-height detached two-bedroom house is sequestered up a lane the harbourside of this bustling heritage town It is far from the crowds in high summer and within a few minutes’ walk of the harbour and the grounds of Westport House the property opens into a large open-plan kitchen-cum-livingroom The first of its two bedrooms is at ground floor Up the stairs is a glassed-in space that comprises the second bedroom Extending to 70sq m (753sq feet) with an A2 Ber its features include aluminium triple-glazed windows an air-to-water heat-pump system and underfloor heating Facebook pageTwitter feed© 2025 The Irish Times DAC Mayo County Council is hosting a free business breakfast as part of their programme of events for Local Enterprise Week 2025.  Local businesses are encouraged to attend the event which will take place in the Leeson Enterprise Centre on Altamont Street The Breakfast morning has been organised by the Environment Office of Mayo County Council with the support of Westport Chamber of Commerce The aim of the event is to offer businesses the opportunity to learn more about the Westport Green Hubs Programme and to learn about the wider supports available to businesses through the Local Enterprise Office to help them on their sustainability journey Environment Awareness Officer with Mayo County Council will be one of two speakers at the event ‘We are excited to bring this event to Westport and want to thank Westport Chamber of Commerce for their support.  We are launching a new programme on the day called Westport Green Hubs which aims to help businesses manage their waste better and it will be a great opportunity for businesses to learn more about how they can get involved’ is Derek Hannick of Lean Green Management Services who will talk about sustainability opportunities for businesses and the supports available to help businesses on their sustainability journey Head of Enterprise with Mayo County Council “For small businesses in any sector it has never been easier to begin your green journey.  At LEO Mayo we have the expertise and supports to help you go green and become more sustainable and the best thing about implementing these changes is that they will improve the business and help in saving time The event will commence at 8am with some lovely breakfast choices on offer for participating businesses.  Businesses are encouraged to register by March 4th to secure their place by emailing scameron@mayococo.ie or calling 0949064217 Further information on the supports available to help businesses manage waste are available at mywaste.ie/dispose-waste/in-your-workplace/ Full programme of events in Mayo for Local Enterprise Week is available on Local Enterprise Week Mayo Events - Local Enterprise Office - Mayo nearly 4,000 participants undertook the third Westport Marathon last Saturday morning One of the most scenic routes in the world the Westport Marathon welcomed both seasoned and first-time marathoners with a challenging yet rewarding experience amidst the breathtaking landscapes of Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way and the backdrop of Croagh Patrick Westport Marathon is a premier running event in Ireland featuring three race distances: a full marathon (42.2 km) it is now the largest running event in the West attracting participants from all over Ireland and afar This year has seen a huge growth in International Competitors with runners travelling from Switzerland the United States and even Australia to take part in the event Winner of the Full Marathon was Sean Hehir from Gorey in Wexford who finished in a record breaking time of 2:33:22 1st female over the line was Ellen Marie Curley from Clifden Taking the number one spot in the Men's Half Marathon in a time of 1:15:40 was Dublin man James Moran a native from Carlow took 1st prize in the Women's Half Marathon Our 10k competitors didn’t waste time with Westport man Bryan Renton racing across the finish line in a time of at 00:34:56 and 1st lady Maria Byrne from Dublin took the top prize with a time of 41:28 Westport Marathon is delighted to announce Western Alzheimers as their charity partner this year This amazing charity provides a complete range of care and support services to families affected by Alzheimers/Dementia in the West of Ireland Western Alzheimers was set up in 1996 as a direct response to the lack of support and services available to people living with dementia in the west of Ireland Full race results are available on www.westportmarathon.ie  The owners of Westport House in Co Mayo are set to spend up to €40m to create a world-class visitor attraction This follows the operator of Westport House seeking parties to express interest in tendering for the estimated €40m project that aims to combine cultural heritage and family activities in a sensitive and complementary way the house was bought by the well-known local Hughes family of Portwest and The Hughes Group The tender related document states that the scheme will include a visitor centre in the coach house conservation and refurbishment of the existing coach house along with a new extension The work will also include the restoration conservation and refurbishment works to Westport House and the surrounding gardens The tender states that the scheme will involve the development of three wild realms “which will provide a unique Irish landscape experience” “Included within the three realms are landscaping elements of restoration work to existing buildings a new treetop walkway and ancillary infrastructure,” it states the operators of Westport House will draw up a short-list of firms who will then be invited to submit tenders for the project The planned €40m scheme follows on from Fáilte Ireland in 2021 awarding Westport Estate a ‘platforms for growth’ grant for heritage and cultural attractions The €20.2m funding was to be part of an ambitious ongoing masterplan that seeks to transform Westport Estate into a world-class tourism destination and visitor attraction The overall vision of the Hughes family is to reimagine the entire offering within the 433-acre grounds as part of a €75m master plan which also includes the redevelopment of Hotel Westport At the time of the 2021 grant announcement it was projected that Westport Estate will attract over 277,000 visitors to the key attractions supported by Fáilte Ireland by 2033 generating a huge economic and tourism boost for the entire north-west region The most recent accounts for Inishoo Management Ltd show that it had a shareholder deficit of €521,953 at the end of 2023 made up of accumulated losses of €10.94m offset by a capital contribution of €10.4m Works are underway to refurbish the former Scoil Phádraig on Westport's Altamount Street as temporary accomodation for Sacred Heart Secondary School (Pic: The Mayo News) Renovation work has started on a Westport school building that has been at the centre of public controversy for several years Contractors have begun works and erected hoarding around the former Scoil Phádraig building on Altamount Street. The derelict building had been earmarked for rehousing Holy Trinity NS before being allocated to Sacred Heart Secondary School (SHS) to address their ‘urgent’ temporary accommodation needs. the site had been proposed to co-locate Holy Trinity NS and Westport Educate Together National School [ETNS] The plan was scrapped following public opposition In October, hundreds of people attended a public demonstration outside Scoil Phádraig calling for the Department of Education to allocate the building to Holy Trinity NS as originally intended. “The works that have recently commenced at the former Scoil Phádraig building at Altamont Street Westport are preliminary works to facilitate the temporary accommodation of the Sacred Heart School at that location pending the completion of permanent accommodation for the school a Department spokesperson told The Mayo News.  “These works are also serving as an early phase of the project to fully refurbish the building to accommodate Holy Trinity NS The project for Holy Trinity NS is continuing to advance through the planning stages and the Department is working to ensure that all the relevant projects progress as quickly as possible Good progress is already being made in this regard “These significant projects will transform this area of Westport town with modern school accommodation for circa 800 students in total and support good linkages with the local community.” The Protestant school received the site from the Sisters of Mercy on the understanding that it would be used ‘to enable diverse provision of education in Westport’ Holy Trinity NS is currently housed in Newport Road premises that dates back to the 19th century and that has long been deemed not fit for purpose which is the only Protestant school in Westport and serves an area roughly the size of Co Louth signed the Scoil Phádraig site over to the Department of Education to allow refurbishment works to proceed the school received a letter from the department informing it that the building would instead be allocated to SHS as temporary accommodation SHS is an all-girls school that is currently using modular accommodation on its grounds due to insufficient capacity in the school building Contractors who visited the site last November were asked not to tender for the project by Eoin Holmes, chairperson of the Holy Trinity NS Building Committee, and Lesley Emerson, who have both opposed the school being used by SHS. The Department previously stated that ‘the use of the Scoil Phádraig building on a temporary basis by the Sacred Heart School together with the delivery of significant permanent school building projects for Holy Trinity NS represents the best overall solution for the children of Westport’ The Department said that the continued safe operation of schools was ‘of paramount importance to the department’ “The department also remains committed to the Holy Trinity NS project and getting it delivered as quickly as possible,” they said where a hair salon had its glass front broken by a car which collided with a concrete block CAR parking charges in Westport will be suspended from Monday unless a programme of works is put in place at a car park where a business premises was badly damaged Cllr Peter Flynn has said local representatives will suspend car parking charges in the town unless maintenance works take place at Mill Street car park Staff at LS Hair Westport on Upper Mill Street were left ‘traumatised’ after a car hit a concrete block, which smashed into the glass front of their salon. Eight people were on the premises at the time said that the concrete lego block landed within ‘inches’ of a client during the incident Ms McNally said that she and her staff are ‘refusing’ to come back to work since the incident but six of them are at the window…there was eight people in the salon at the time if there was any other day there could have been 20 people in-house,” she said it took us five months of crying out to the council to get something in so finally they put in some concrete lego blocks which shouldn’t have taken five months to put in “I can’t believe we’ve fallen on deaf ears with the town council We’ve expressed that we don’t feel safe in the building there’s a hill leading down into the front of our salon Now they would lose ten car parking spaces there but the car park can continue to operate and generate €84,000 a year without that hill in use Emergency services attended the scene following the incident and a large section of the car park was closed off “We were lucky in some ways that nobody was badly injured Thirteen people are out of jobs today because of the situation,” Cllr Peter Flynn said on Midwest Radio this afternoon (Friday) The Fine Gael councillor demanded a programme of works that will address long-standing issues with the council-operated Mill Street and James Street Car parks Local representatives have lamented the state of the local authority car parks on several occasions Councillors were told that funding had been allocated for so-called ‘essential maintenance’ work on Mill Street car park The matter will be discussed at this Monday’s meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District Council “If we don’t have a programme or works both for that [Mill Street] car park and the James Street car park by the close of business on Monday we will be suspending all car parking [charges] across Westport,” said Cllr Flynn but we cannot tolerate this any longer…I met with Linda [McNally] and her staff yesterday This is the third time that we’ve had an incident with cars going into a premises at the back of Mill Street Cllr Flynn called for the car parking spaces on the hill at the end of the car park to be closed and for bollards to be erected to prevent a similar incident from occurring “We need to move in terms of putting in a programme to completely resurface the car parks sort out the flooding issues on the James Street car park sort out the entrance and exit at the James Street car park and Mill Street car park and ensure that we don’t have a repeat of what happened yesterday and move forward,” he added WESTPORT — The final round of finalist interviews for the next superintendent of Westport Community Schools resulted in Dr currently a professor at Stonehill College The interviews and selection occurred at the April 30 School Committee meeting where Roy shared some insight about herself and what she hopes to bring to Westport schools "When I look at the alignment between what I value and the work I was trying to do and the work that you've begun around those core tenants I saw an opportunity here," Roy said of her pursuit of the Westport job "I would hope to be able to continue to contribute to that work to expand on that work and in essence what that work needs to be in service of real outcomes for kids and families." While School Committee members expressed being impressed with the other finalist to be interviewed that evening, Maine Indian Educational District Superintendent Dr Catch up: Westport school superintendent search down to 2 finalists, as Aubin readies to retire "I think they both bring a wide range of experience which is good and I really like not only Mr Nameen's story but some of the challenges that he's had to deal with and overcome," said School Committee member Jason Pacheco during brief discussion leading up to the vote Roy assuming the superintendent role is now contingent upon successful contract negotiations Roy's experienceRoy's 30 years in education began as a secondary math teacher in multiple states including Massachusetts After completing a degree in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in math education Roy then worked at University of Rhode Island where she said she "very quickly realized how much I missed public schools." From there Roy went on to become assistant superintendent and chief academic officer for Fall River Public Schools "which was very special to me given that I'm a Fall River kid Roy's next career move was her appointment by the Mass. Department of Secondary and Elementary Education (DESE) to be the on-site state receiver of Parker Elementary School in New Bedford Read the latest local news: Lawsuit: New Bedford fire chief's widow claims Fairhaven bar overserved before shooting "I was still an administrator but I was grounded in the schools and I have to say I learned a tremendous amount by being grounded in the schools for the past seven years," she said Her current job is as a professor of practice in education and field experience coordinator at Stonehill College in Easton Mayo County Council with the support of Westport Chamber of Commerce and the One Westport group is proud to announce that the Westport Green Business Hub was launched by the Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council John O’Hara at the Business Breakfast event on March 7th in the Leeson Enterprise Centre Westport The Business Breakfast was organised by the Environment Climate Change and Agriculture Section of Mayo County Council as part of the programme of events for Mayo Local Enterprise Week and to support businesses in managing their businesses sustainably The morning ended with the launch of the Westport Green Business Hub Programme a project which aims to foster local action on the circular economy and help businesses manage their waste correctly and run their businesses more sustainably CEO of Westport Chamber of Commerce welcomed the many businesses that attended “On my behalf and on behalf of the President of Westport Chamber Dermott Langan we are delighted to host this business breakfast and support the Westport Green Business Hub Initiative It is great to see Westport being one of the earlier adopters of the programme and it fits very well with the ethos of Westport as a town that cares for the environment” Environment Awareness Officer with Mayo County Council explained the benefits of the Green Hubs initiative to the businesses attending and encouraged participation in the programme ‘A recent study by the EPA highlighted that 70% of the waste going in the commercial general waste bin could be diverted to the recycling and food waste bin The Green Business Hub initiative will primarily provide resources and support to local businesses looking to adopt more sustainable waste management practices particularly waste prevention strategies and improve waste separation within the 3-bin waste system” This will include promotion of the suite of free materials The www.mywaste.ie/business toolkit is a very clear versatile resource which will assist the business community to standardise their waste bin labelling both within the premises and at the back door the campaign will publicly recognise businesses that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through a campaign of promotion and displaying of Westport Green Business Hub sticker Businesses are invited to book a one-to-one session with Mayo County Council Environment Awareness Officer who will visit individual business premises to help identify simple changes to improve waste reduction, segregation and recycling. Email scameron@mayococo.ie or telephone 0949064217 New hoarding has been erected at the front of old Scoil Phádraig school on Altamount Street WESTPORT councillors have demanded answers as to what is happening with the old Scoil Phádraig building after the Department of Education were accused of not submitting a plan for renovation work The front of the old Scoil Phádraig National School building on Altamount Street in Westport is currently boarded up with hoardings up to ten feet high and a new vehicular entrance made close to the pedestrian crossing Complaints were lodged with the planning enforcement office of Mayo County Council after claims the development was unauthorised Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn raised the matter at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District where he demanded questions as to why complaints about the hoardings were not followed up by the planning enforcement office READ: Mayo TDs called to act as multiple ambulances queue outside Mayo University Hospital  “We have a situation where there is no planning file in the system and where hoardings have gone up which are over ten feet high and a pedestrian entrance gate has been removed You now have vehicular access to and from a very busy street to a regional road “I made a complaint a number of weeks ago on behalf of a constituent who came to me and I know of other constituents who have made a complaint I received a response approximately two weeks ago to say the case has been closed Planning enforcement in this county normally takes three to four years before anything happens and yet in this one it can be turned around in the space of three to four weeks,” he said before demanding that Director of Services Catherine McConnell attend their next meeting to explain the reasons for closing the enforcement case The old Scoil Phádraig building was earmarked for the location of the new Holy Trinity National School but those plans were controversially put on hold when the Department of Education outlined their intention to use the building as 'urgent temporary accommodation' for the Sacred Heart Secondary School in Westport This decision has angered local councillors who have accused the Department of discrimination against the Church of Ireland school “If there is ever a case to be taken for discrimination that is one there,” commented Cllr Brendan Mulroy “Every single religious group in Westport is fully supportive of Holy Trinity who are an integral part of this town and have been for years and years They are part of our society and our friends and neighbours “I firmly believe that if that was a Catholic school that would not be happening to them I firmly believe that and it is wrong and will never be right It is time for the Department of Education to step up to the mark and solve this problem once and for all.” Independent councillor John O'Malley said that Holy Trinity were given the site by the Sisters of Mercy for their new school and accused the Department of Education of reneging on every promise made to Holy Trinity “The mistake they made was to hand it over to the Department of Education When the Department of Education got a hold of that building they reneged on everything Holy Trinity looked for “Everything has been worked against Holy Trinity and like a conspiracy or discrimination If Holy Trinity was allowed to build their school in the beginning we wouldn't be having any of these problems now It is a pure mess now and it is nobody else but the Department of Education who caused this and it is up to the department to rectify it,” Cllr O'Malley said Cllr Flynn also told the meeting that the preliminary enrollment figures of the secondary schools based in Westport show that there were only 33 females enrolled to enter the Sacred Heart School in September “The reality is another year like that and the Sacred Heart will be closing and I take no satisfaction in saying that But if you have another situation where only 10 percent of the total student population is going into a particular secondary school “Yet we continue to have this unauthorised development going on down here where no doubt millions are being spent on refurbishing a building which probably will never be used for the purpose that they are carrying out the work and it seems to be facilitated by Mayo County Council,” he said Head of the Municipal District told the meeting that the matter was referred to the planning enforcement department of the council who conduct their own infornation into the matter Predeceased by his parents Joseph and Sarah daughter-in-law Jacqueline and son-in-law Steven Chan Sadly missed and deeply mourned by his wife Kathleen Westport on Wednesday 9th April from 5pm to 6:30pm with removal thereafter to St Requiem Mass will take place at 11am on Thursday 10th April with burial afterwards in Aughavale Cemetery Christy's Funeral Mass will be live streamed on www.churchtv.ie/westport Please use the online Condolence book below as an option to offer your sympathies. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles! Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day. Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism! Mark Moran of Westport in possession against Claremorris during their Mayo Senior Football League Division 1A clash in Westport Pic: The Mayo News A draw was a fair result in a game where both teams created, converted and spurned roughly the same number of chances.  Claremorris were the better team in the first half and were well-deserving of their five-point half-time lead.  The south Mayo men outworked their hosts and had better shooting efficiency in the first half. This allowed them to overcome a ninth-minute setback when Colm Moran stuck home the first of his and Westport’s first two goals.  A two-pointer from Mark Maloney, followed by efforts from Dara Hurley and Conor Óg Dennedy, had Claremorris in front in the 16th minute, where they remained until Westport levelled in the 51st minute. A late fisted goal from the impressive David O’Reilly had given Claremorris a 1-8 1-3 lead at the end of a half where Westport wasted several chances.  The south Mayo men remained steady throughout the second half before Westport brought it back to three points with Colm Moran’s second goal.  Full-forward Matthew McCormack struck Claremorris’s last point of the game as the west Mayo men hit four without reply in the last quarter to level the game through Colm Moran.  A scoreless last ten minutes saw both teams leave with a point apiece from a highly competitive league encounter.  A full report, plus reaction from Westport’s Niall McManamon, will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.  Pictured at the launch of Relay for Life in Westport were Aidan O'Shea, Nicola O'Malley, Kathryn Sullivan, Aoife Geraghty, Saoirse Lally, Sherin El- Massry, Keira Keogh TD and Michael Ring. Picture: Frank Dolan The third Relay for Life event in Mayo will take place on May 17 and 18 at The Fairgreen, Westport. Delicious refreshments and great live entertainment will boost participants and contribute to a festive atmosphere throughout the weekend, while a myriad of activities and games will combine to ensure a fun family day out. This is a perfect opportunity to bring colleagues, teams, friends and communities together to support a great cause. The first two years have focussed on locations around Westport but this year organisers are encouraging families, community groups or work colleagues from all over Mayo to take part. There are so many ways to be part of this event - participate, be a volunteer on the day, join a team, be part of the committee or simply provide moral support for the teams on the day. There will also be local fundraising prior to the event, fundraising stalls at the event as well as donation buckets. Last year’s event raised over €80,000 which helped fund critical services like night nursing, volunteer driver service and counselling sessions in Mayo. For more information, contact Charlotte Murray (087-3631938), Peter Flynn (087-6624898) or via social media channels or email westportrelayforlife@gmail.com Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open You are visiting us because we have something you value Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. THE OWNERS OF Westport House are set to spend up to €40m on restoring and renewing the popular Co Mayo attraction heritage and family activities in a ‘sensitive and complementary’ way The plans include creating a new treetop walkway and refurbishing the existing Coach House is seeking parties to express interest in tendering for the estimated €40m project A document related to the tender states that the scheme will include a Coach House Visitor Centre conservation and refurbishment of the existing Coach House and a new extension conservation and refurbishment works to Westport House and surrounding gardens The tender states that the scheme will involve the development of three wild realms “which will provide a unique Irish landscape experience” The tender documentation states that “included within the three realms are landscaping a new treetop walkway and ancillary infrastructure” The planned €40m scheme follows on from Failte Ireland in 2021 awarding the Westport Estate a Platforms for Growth grant for Heritage and Cultural Attractions The €20.2m funding was to be part of an ongoing ambitious masterplan that plans to transform Westport Estate into a world-class tourism destination and visitor attraction and benefit the overall region the house was bought by the well-known local family Hughes family of Portwest and The Hughes Group The overall vision of the Hughes Family is to reimagine the entire offering within the 433-acre grounds as part of a €75m master plan At the time of the 2021 grant announcement is expected that Westport Estate will attract over 277,000 visitors to the key attractions supported by Failte Ireland by 2033 generating a huge economic and tourism boost for the entire northwest region The most recent accounts for Inishoo Management Ltd show that it had shareholder deficit of €521,953 made up of accumulated losses of €10.94m offset by a capital contribution of €10.4m The company incurred a loss of €1.8m for 2023 and this follows a loss of €2.33m for 2022 Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user Create an email alert based on the current article Connacht Schools Junior “B” Cup Final Rice College ​​​26 Presentation Athenry â€‹â€‹10 A fast start that featured two tries from team captain Felix Zaray set Rice College on the road to Junior ‘B’ Cup honours this afternoon in Ballina RFC their first Cup success at this level since they completed two-in-a-row in the Junior ‘A’ Cup 12 years ago Head Coach Hugh Ryan said after his side’s victory that the school’s ambition is to bring this group through to compete at the top grade at senior level and based on the solid foundation offered by their strong and capable pack not to mention the defensive soundness and accurate kicking game of a back division that was ably led by inside centre Cian Silke the raw material seems to be there for the Westport school to fulfil that ambition Fortune favoured Rice College in the early exchanges as they used the tricky diagonal breeze to set up camp inside the Presentation Athenry half with the Galway side further hampered by an early temporary injury to team captain and talisman Enda Colleran Killian Keane came close to forcing his way through in the left corner in the first play after Colleran was withdrawn only to be forced out over the sideline by strong Presentation defence Rice were delayed rather than denied their breakthrough however as they pressured the Presentation lineout won a scrum and then drove for the line through Dylan Hughes The big back row brought play up to within a couple of metres of the Presentation line and Zaray had the power and the timing to do the rest off the next phase With Rice consistently forcing Presentation backwards in the scrum Michael Cohen and in particular Éanna Maher to try and run the ball out of trouble for the Athenry school They gained some traction through this approach but without the ability to gain a lot of ground through use of the boot pressure mounted and Zaray soon touched down for his second exploiting quick and slick delivery from Liam Cadden The crucial phase of the game was just before half-time when consecutive yellow cards for Hughes and Cadden left Rice with a numerical disadvantage Just when it looked as if ÉannaMaher had broken through at the end of a mercurial a last-ditch tackle from Cian Silke kept the Rice line intact Within 60 seconds they had spread the ball wide and Finn McHale was able to finish from 60 metres out just about outpacing Diarmuid Collins in a straight foot race Silke’s strength in the tackle was undeniable throughout the contest and early in the second half his thunderous hit on Darragh Fitzpatrick once again put Presentation College under pressure in their own half The Rice front row won the scrum against the head and Liam Cadden celebrated his return to the pitch by dancing through three tackles and touching down for the fourth Rice College try The quality of the Presentation College runners was undeniable and the second half scores they secured through Enda Colleran and Éanna Maher were the least that they deserved but with the gap reduced to 16 points with ten minutes to play Rice College put up the shutters once again and without ever really threatening a fifth try of their own they kept their opponents at bay to ensure that their unbeaten season was crowned with Cup silver RICE COLLEGE: Robbie Murphy; Anselme Bouquet Replacements: Kevin Hastings for O’Donnell (48) PRESENTATION ATHENRY: Seán Deely; Diarmuid Collins Gallery: Senior Boys Development Schools Cup Final U14 Girls and Senior Development Boys Schools Finals Preview Privacy Policy Manage My Data The RTÉ Today Show will be broadcasting live from Westport Estate this afternoon.  Host Dáithí O'Sé will be joined by a number of local contributors to talk all about Westport and showcase what Clew Bay and County Mayo has to offer visitors this summer.  Local chef Sarah Butler will also be doing a live cooking demonstration using local produce during the show.  The show will be live from Westport Estate at 3.30pm. Tune in on RTÉ One. get ready to move your feet and feel the beat because the unmistakable rhythm of ska is about to take over the Town Hall Theatre the stage will be set ablaze by none other than Rude Boy Revolution an electrifying 8-piece ska band bringing you a full-force blast of brass Rude Boy Revolution are a good time Ska tribute big band featuring the finest of players and most decent of souls based in Donegal This eclectic band are known for their tight arrangements This isn't just a gig - it’s a full-blown ska revival that pays homage to the genre’s golden years Expect a high-octane setlist packed with iconic hits from the 1980s and ’90s Whether you're a lifelong fan of 2 Tone or just discovering the upbeat charm of ska READ MORE: Tochar Phadraig Fundraising Walk celebrates fifteenth anniversary in Mayo These ska aficionados also dip into the deeper roots of Jamaican music giving a respectful nod to the original sounds of those ’60s classics tracing ska’s evolution from its Caribbean beginnings to its British punk-infused heyda; Delivered with passion and a horn section that will blow you away known for its intimate vibe and superb acoustics is the perfect venue for this musical explosion Prepare for a night of non-stop feel-good energy and community spirit that only ska can bring Whether you're dusting off your Doc Martens or rocking up for your first ska show Tickets are selling fast, so grab yours now and join the revolution. Let Rude Roy Revolution transport you to a time when the rhythms were bold, the crowds were wild, and the music spoke to your soul. One night. One band. One unstoppable ska party. Tickets available on www.westporttheatre.com or phone 098 28459 Junior members of the Westport Athletic Club pictured at last year's St Patrick's Day Parade in Westport The organisers of the St Patrick’s Day Parade in Westport are busy putting together this year’s festivities for our national holiday This year's parade theme is 'Community Connections' allowing community groups to come out to showcase and celebrate their endeavours in the locality All voluntary groups are encouraged to bring plenty of colour to celebrate Westport’s vibrant community spirit.With community spirit at the heart of the parade Westport native and someone who is the embodiment of community connections Michael Ring will lead the St Patrick’s Day Parade as Grand Marshall this year The Parade will commence at 12 noon on Distillery Road and all participants are asked to be in the Sacred Heart School Carpark from 11.30am the parade will continue up Distillery Road across the Mall and will then make its way up James Street past the viewing stand on the Octagon at the Town Hall It will continue over Shop Street and Mill Street and will finish this year at the Paddington Statue at the end of Mill Street where the Town Band will play at the end READ: He's back: Mayo's Paddington Bear returns home Speaking to The Mayo News parade committee chairperson Dermott Langan praised the efforts and support from Community Groups who have come forward to take part in the parade He also thanked Westport Men's Shed who will once again act as Parade Stewards on the day alongside An Garda Síochána He also was high in praise for the efforts of the small committee that has organised this year’s event: “There’s only five of us; Elsie Higgins Rosaleen Heraty and myself – so we do our best with small resources trying to keep the tradition of honouring St Patrick in the shadow of his pilgrimage mountain.”It would not be possible to run Westport's St Patrick's Day Parade without the financial support of our local businesses Westport Vintners and our locally elected representatives by way of their discretionary GMA funding The committee will also run a church gate collection on the weekend of the March 8 and 9 For further information or to register your group or organisation to partake in this year's parade please email gatheringforpatrick@gmail.com Women’s masters and Men o65 ran 4,000 at 13:30 Mayo AC at Westport House – ready for action Mayo AC F50 team medal winning smiles: l-r Mary Browne (gold F65) Breege Blehein Colette Tuohy (bronze F55) Angela O’Connor Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email Mayo AC finishers in Westport Half-marathon: l-r Una Mayock A sign outside Páirc na Coille in Westport where several houses have been contaminated with pyrite Pic: The Mayo News SEVEN pyrite-affected households in Westport’s Páirc na Coille that could avail of a top-up to their pyrite redress grant are still awaiting payments due to the delay in establishing Dáil committees Under proposed amendments to the pyrite redress scheme eligible applicants will be entitled to a one-off retrospective payment to reflect the increase in the rates of payment under the Defective Concrete Block Redress Scheme The government agreed to a ten percent increase in the rates last October these increases are still yet to be enacted in legislation The formation of legislation has been slowed by the delay in establishing Oireachtas committees This was caused by the saga over the amount of Dáil speaking time afforded to opposition TDs who are supporting the government which led to heated exchanges in the lower house The various Oireachtas committees - whose function is to debate and scrutinise legislation - will not take place for another five weeks The level of compensation under the pyrite redress scheme is calculated based on the square footage of liveable space in the house rather than the total rebuild cost certain homeowners will see their rate of payment rise from €2,045 per square metre to €2,224 per square metre The maximum grant for rebuilding a pyrite- or mica-contaminated house will increase to €460,000 The proposed retrospective payment has been described as ‘a once-off transitional measure’ for affected homeowners who qualified for the scheme under the old rates said that homeowners in the estate - where over 30 houses have tested positive for pyrite - were ‘getting nowhere’ despite making several representations to elected representatives Many homeowners in the estate who qualified for the pyrite redress scheme under the old rates were left with significant out-of-pocket costs to rebuild their homes. That would be a huge help to me,” Ms Claxton told The Mayo News Several houses in Páirc na Coille, including Ms Claxton’s have had to be demolished and rebuilt due to pyrite contamination Mayo County Council has received over 400 applications to the pyrite redress scheme 61 properties have been rebuilt with funding from the scheme Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.