Ballyhaunis Blog

A Ballyhaunis University of Limerick journalism student has won the inaugural ‘Vincent Doyle Award for Investigative Journalism’, which was presented today at the University of Limerick.

Craig Hughes won the Award for an investigation into how coroners are recording suicide verdicts throughout the country.

He uncovered evidence that suicide verdicts are being under-recorded by a reluctance of some coroners to return such verdicts. The story was originally published in the Sunday Independent.

The‘Vincent Doyle Award for Investigative Journalism’ has been inaugurated to honour the memory of the late Irish Independent editor Vinny Doyle. It recognises a young journalism graduate who has achieved excellence in the field of investigative journalism.

Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring today extended his congratulations to fellow Mayo man Craig Hughes on his winning of the ‘Vincent Doyle Award for Investigative Journalism’

“I would like to congratulate Craig Hughes on winning this prestigious award. Vincent Doyle set the highest of standards for journalism, and Craig can be justifiably proud for taking home the very first ‘Vincent Doyle Award for Investigative Journalism’.

“I would also like to congratulate Craig for choosing such an important and challenging topic. As a rural politician, I am all too familiar with the effect of suicide in our society and its impact on communities. Craig took an unflinching look at how suicide verdicts have been reported in various parts of the country.”

“I am always proud to see a local Mayo man doing well, and I would like to wish Craig the very best in what promises to be a successful career,” concluded Minister Ring

Judge Mary Devins ordered a community service assessment for a Ballyhaunis man who pleaded guilty to a number public order offences in Ballyhaunis District Court this week. Bernie McDonagh of 48 The Maples, Ballyhaunis was arrested by gardai on December 18 2011 at 1.20am following a disturbance at his mother-in-law’s house in Ballyhaunis.

Garda Kieran McNicholas told the court that he and other gardai arrived on the scene following a call from the house. McDonagh was outside the house and shouting in at another man who, it transpired, was his brother-in-law. He was in a very intoxicated state. Gardai ordered him to leave the scene which he refused to do and then the other man he was arguing with came out of the house and both men began to get into a fight and the gardai were forced to use pepper spray to separate the men. The court was told that McDonagh had a number of previous convictions for public order offences in the past. Judge Mary Devins adjourned sentencing on McDonagh until June 6 to allow a community service assessment be carried out on McDonagh, where if suitable she will impose a 100-hour community service order on him in lieu of three months in prison.

There’s good news today for Ballyhaunis, with a Government grant of over €350,000 announced for upgrading the local swimming pool.

Minister of State for Tourism & Sport Michael Ring has approved funding of €352,800 for refurbishment works at the swimming pool, under the Green Swimming Pool initiative, which he says will modernize the pool.

Mayo County Council will also provide €40,000 towards the upgrade of the pool.

It’s hoped work will start in mid-summer, so the pool may not be open to the public this Summer.

Meanwhile, Minister Ring has also announced €25,000 for the Ballyhaunis Boxing Club.

The members currently train in Bekan, but local councillor John Cribben says it’s hoped to upgrade facilities at the former Scouts Den in Ballyhaunis to accommodate the club.

A sad story in the Irish Times of a Dublin based Ballyhaunis native who is trying to make it to payday - he is a journalist (sometimes anyway)

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0124/1224310667976.html

SuperValu have announced a decision today to install a dedicated OAP chat zone at the entrance to all of it’s 182 stores nationwide.

The zone will be located both inside and outside the entrance door and can only be used by the over 65′s who wish to chat about the weather , death notices , bunions and other such important issues.

CEO said the decision came after numerous written complaints were sent in from elderly men and women over the past few years: “The main problem we found was that people entering the shop with their trolleys were disturbing the old people chatting at the entrance area.

“Some were even asked to ‘move out of the way’ to let the would-be shopper into the store.

“It must be very frustrating. Especially when you’re having such a good chat”

The supermarket chain has also allocated a five minute ‘stop and chat with the cashier rule‘ with all of it’s check-out operators.

“We think it is very important for our cashiers to relate to our customers on a personal level. Five minutes is perfect.”

Seventy three year old Peggy Murphy praised the shop for its OAP friendly atmosphere and said she cannot wait to be able to stand and chat in peace without some younger person nervously fidgeting behind her.

“It’s about time! There’s nothing worse than been hurried up by some impatient whippersnapper.”

TENS of confused people in Ballyhaunis were said to be ‘relieved’ after an elderly woman confirmed there was ‘miserable weather outside’ while waiting in a queue for the post office earlier this week.

Sources say many customers were disorientated when they initially entered the building, not knowing what the hell was happening outside.

One man said: “I remember having my umbrella up as I was walking down the main Street - tThen when I got into the post office I didn’t need it anymore for some reason.”

“I must have been standing there for ten minutes just wondering what had happened. Then Mrs O’Brien said it was ‘miserable auld weather outside’ to one of the post office clerks.

“Nearly everyone took a sigh of relief.”

“Only for her we’d all have been still standing there scratching our heads and wondering why we were soaking wet.” he added.

Mrs. O’Brien said she came into the Post Office to collect her pension before heading off for some messages: “I usually get my money on a Friday and then head up to SuperValu to chat to my friends and block the entrance there.

“When I was in the Post Office I could feel the anxiety in the air. Sure I just had to tell them what was going on outside.” said the 76-year-old.

Since this revelation - dozens more people have come forward with the news of the miserable weather outside.

Business owners across the town have said many customers are now confirming how wet and windy it is when you’re not inside a building.

“Only for people like that we wouldn’t have a clue how horrible it is out there. At least now I know to wear a rain jacket before venturing anywhere without a roof.” said pub owner George Delaney.

These are the songs to be sung on the X factor on Saturday October 22nd 2011

More details of TV3 X Factor Irish Voting Lines Here

Marcus Collins – Are You Gonna Go My Way
Misha B – Purple Rain
Craig Colton – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
Janet Devlin – Sweet Child Of Mine
Rhythmix – Tik Tok into Push It
Sami Brookes – Turn Back Time
The Risk – Crazy
Frankie Cocozza – Get Your Rocks Off
Johnny Robinson – I Believe In A Thing Called Love
Kitty Brucknell – Live And Let Die
Sophie Habibis – Living On A Prayer
Betting on Xfactor Here

SERIOUS concern is mounting in a Ballyhaunis family who have been searching for their missing television remote control since October 2nd

The 4-year-old Mitsubishi Black Diamond television remote has been missing since 1.40pm on Sunday afternoon, 2nd of October and is feared to have fallen down into one of the chairs after being sat on by a large family member who was visiting at the time.

The remote was last seen on the fireplace in the sitting room. A major search of the area, involving up to five family members and a friend, got under way on Sunday evening and has been continuing for the last week. The search also involved help from visiting relations, the local parish priest, and the familie’s dog who has been sniffing behind the curtains and in various other nooks and cranny’s.

Family members firdt became concerned when they sat down to watch Coronation street and realised the device was nowhere to be found.

Daniel Mangan, husband and father, said: “It’s totally out of character. That remote control would always get lost, but we’d always find it again. It would either be down the side of the couch, on the fireplace or someone would just be sitting on it. Everyone is mystified and we are growing anxious.

“I hope its not gone down into one of the chairs. Those chairs are antiques and i’m not going to break them. The sister in-law was over that day and she has an arse that would bury a small country, or suck one in whole. Jaysis I hope tis not gone there.”

The remote is described as 15cm (6in), of medium build, with short black buttons and a faded complexion.

The infra-red plastic cover is gone and the volume and programme + and – buttons are very worn. The remote was carrying one Duracell battery and one cheaper one which was bought in Lidl. Both batteries were kept in place with frayed black duct tape.

Anyone with details is asked to contact Ballyhaunis gardai . Contact can also be made via the facebook page ‘Where is the Mangans Remote gone?’.

While family members are retracing their steps this evening, a service of hope will be held in the local church for the Mangans.

Possibly a regular feature - Horoscopes For October 8th 2011

Aries March 21 – April 19

All meaning will disappear from your life this week when you realize that the hokey cokey isn’t what its all about.

Taurus April 20 – May 20

You can’t seem to make up your mind about some big project you’re working on – so do what you normally do, start it and leave it on the long finger for the next couple of years. You’ll soon forget about it, like you always do. You sad hopeless case .

Gemini May 21 – June 20

Your great social energy is perfect for work, its just a shame your strapped to the bed and confined to a padded cell for the next 37 years.

Cancer June 21 – July 22

Your friends conspire against you next week when they suddenly decide to get married and start families. Thus succeeding in their sick and evil plan to make you feel old and lonely.

Leo July 23 – August 22

You are thinking quite a bit about all you do for your friends and family — and what they may or may not do for you in return. But that’s just you isn’t it? Always thinking about yourself.

Virgo August 23 – September 22

Your lack of purpose in life prompts you to reactivate your facebook account, where you find the inspiration and strength you need to carry on.

Libra September 23 – October 22

Your social network provider will contradict your star sign this week when it suddenly asks you to ‘reach out’ to unwanted old school friends.

Scorpio October 23 – November 21

Unfortunately, you will leave a DNA sample inside a body this week.

Sagittarius November 22 – December 21

Your relationship with a friend gets even closer this week after a horrific car crash and a mislabeled body part.

Capricorn December 22 – January 19

Turn away from social chit-chat and see if you can probe life’s biggest mystery, your gender.

Aquarius January 20 – February 18

Your life will be thrown into chaos when forces beyond your control cancel your tracker mortgage.

Pisces February 19 – March 20

Your generosity is magnified quite a bit this week when you donate your body to a 6-year-old pit bull terrier.

A Ballyhaunis man remained on his couch in a critical condition today after a savage week-end on the piss with his mates.

The man is being treated for severe dehydration at his home .
A joint parent and girlfriend investigation is being carried out into the session, which is believed to have been “the best he’s had in years”.

Sources said that four of the friends who participated in this week-ends festivities were in a similar state. One of whom even rang in sick to work pretending he had gastroenteritis ‘or something like that’.

Girlfriend investigators are urging each other to find out what caused this sudden decadence so as they can ‘nip it in the bud‘ before it happens again.

Geraldine Byrne, current girlfriend and work colleague of the man in question said: “Sessions like this have a devastating impact “.

“He said he was going out on Friday to meet the lads after work. I rang his phone loads of times but just rang out. I then rang his friends and their phones rang out. Then all their phones were turned off. I knew there was something up when the other girlfriends started ringing me too.

“Critical me arse! He’ll be critical later when he comes around ’!” she added.

A Local publican - who wanted to remain anonymous - said he was “assured that the men were allowed out for the week-end and denies covering for them when one of the girls rang the bar looking for her boyfriend”.

He added: “I didn’t see the lads till after the call. Apparently, they were stuck down the corner watching the match. We were very busy here at the time. Very busy!”

In a brief statement one man said there could never be a guarantee that this would not happen again.

“Sure ya know yourself boy!

“These things happen. Everyone needs a good auld session now and again.

“You just have to decide if it’s worth the grief you’ll get off the lady when its all over.”

Sources close to the man on the couch say he is due to come round at 4pm: ‘Just in time for Deal or no deal on channel four‘.