Ballyhaunis Blog

The Summer holiday season will soon be here - and with the bad weather we are having it will be nice to get away to somewhere warm.
Knock Airport is so handy for people living in the West of Ireland - and there are plenty of package holiday deals departing from Knock.
You can book holidays with flights departing from Knock - going to Portugal , Canaries and Spain.

Sunworld do holidays in the Algarve, Portugal. You can stay at resorts such as Praia Da Rocha or Albufeira , Praia Da Oura , Praia Do Vau , Vilamoura , Lagos . Self Catering or B&B.
Flights with Sunworls normally departs Knock Airport on Thursdays at 16:30 returning from Faro Thursdays at 12:30

See all the availability at Sunworld

You can now fly from Knock Airport to Edinburgh in Scotland.
Check out the exact times and prices here at the FlyBe Website.

Flights from Ireland West Airport Knock to Edinburgh Airport will depart on Tuesdays and Thursdays with additional Friday and Monday flights during July and August.

Edinburgh is the second largest city in Scotland and the city attracts 1 million overseas visitors a year, making it the second most visited tourist destination in the United Kingdom, after London.

This is the full text of the speech made by Enda Kenny to welcome Barack Obama and his wife to Ireland. Made on May 23rd 2011 in Dublin

“IF THERE’S anyone out there who still doubts that Ireland is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our ancestors is alive in our time; who still questions our capacity to restore ourselves, to reinvent ourselves and to prosper. Well, today is your answer.
Because today, on this day, the President of the United States, Barack Obama and his first lady, Michelle Obama, come to visit.
To show that he believes in Ireland. To make that precious connection with his Irish family, his Irish roots, as thousands before him have done.
Today, the 44th American president comes home.
When Fulmouth Kearney started out on the long Atlantic crossing, he might have dreamed, but hardly imagined, that one day his great-great-great grandson would return as the President of the United States.
That boy said goodbye to a ravaged island. Millions had died or were leaving, packing their hopes and their dreams in beside the remnants of a life. Stepping onto ships which, for some, was like stepping into space.
Every one of them, and all their people, are our people: ár muintir féin.
Their past is our past.
Their story is our story.
This evening, my call is directly to those 40-million Irish-Americans. Whether you’re listening or watching in New York or New Haven, or in San Diego or St Louis. And whether you’re Irish by blood, or by marriage, or by desire. We, your family, your Irish family, are right here to welcome you. To follow your president home.
Last week, Queen Elizabeth came to our shores and bowed to our dead. The Irish harp glittered above the heart of the English Queen. With pride and happiness, and two words of Irish, we closed a circle of our history.
A cháirde
Today, with President Obama, we draw another circle – one in which we tell the world of our unique, untouchable wealth. Wealth that can not be accumulated in banks, or measured by the markets or traded on the stock exchange.
Because it remains intact and alive, deep inside our people.
In the heart-stopping beauty of our country and in the transforming currency of the Irish heart, imagination and soul.
It’s like the spirit of Leinster last Saturday in Cardiff. Never give up. Never give up and never say die.
This is what we call our Uaisleacht. It has sustained us over the centuries. We pass from mother to daughter, father to son – in our dreams and in our imagining, in our love for our country – our pride in who we are. Long into what must be, and will be, a brighter and more prosperous future .
The president and his first lady are an extraordinary couple.
President Obama is part of that proud past and part of that prouder future.
In 1963, the 35nd President of the United States stirred our hearts. In 1995 the 42nd president lifted our country’s spirits.
But the 44th president is different. Because ladies and gentlemen, he doesn’t just speak about the American dream. He is the American dream. And that is the American dream, come home.
So ladies and gentlemen, let your voices be heard around the globe as I’m honoured to introduce the President of the United States, Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama.
Let’s hear it.”

Bridgestock - based in Ballyhaunis are Ireland’s biggest private sector operator of asylum seeker accommodation . They had pretax profits of €1.67 million in the 18 months to the end of 2009, recently filed accounts show.

This compares to profits of just €268,466 in the preceding 12-month accounting period.

During the period to December 31st, 2009, €500,000 was paid in dividends to Bridgestock’s shareholders, Séamus and Kathleen Gillen of Tullamore, Co Offaly.

The average number of people employed by the business rose to 177 from 163.

Bridgestock operates accommodation centres in Ballyhaunis , Galway, Sligo and Athlone. Previously it ran a self-catering centre in Co Roscommon, but this closed during 2010. The company also provides ancillary services such as catering and security, and has also started operating “Texas” retail outlets.

The provision of asylum seeker and refugee hostel accommodation has proved a cash cow for private businesses. Since 2001, the Government has spent in excess of €750 million housing asylum seekers through its direct provision system, with private firms winning most of the contracts.

In Bridgestock’s directors’ report, the Gillens said they considered the results for the period to be “satisfactory”. They believe there will be no growth in their provision of accommodation for asylum seekers but expect continued growth in their other activities. They noted the company operates in an industry affected by factors beyond its control, such as the Government’s immigration policy.

2010 is coming to an end - se we are dishing out some awards for the year.

Award for thick neck of the year (that’s polite) goes to MEP Jim Higgins - who when asked about his trip to Madeira - said “That’s all shite … that’s all shite if you don’t mind me saying so.” He claimed the three-day stay in a five-star hotel on the island represented value for money because of the “important work” taking place. “I haven’t a clue what star it is. All I know is that it’s a very good hotel, the accommodation is wonderful, the food is lovely. For people who work so hard, we’re entitled to that. You don’t expect us to stay in B&Bs, do you?”

Award for Good Timing goes to Mayo County Council who threw a few tonnes of gravel onto the pavements in Ballyhaunis on the day the snow melted. Now we have loose chippings all over the footpaths.

The award for dedication to duty - goes to the school bus drivers . One bit of frost - and they take a day off.
A close second were the school teachers - who somehow can’t manage to get into work in snow when the rest of the working population manage.

here is the latest list of school closures in the region….

Mayo won the All Ireland in 1950

Retro GAA have some replica GAA shirts from that period - which would make a great Christmas gift idea.

Shirts from all 32 counties are available - prices are €40 and delivery to the USA or UK is available too.

Visit Retro GAA Here

Here is a map showing the possible locations of speed cameras in County Mayo.
The roads that will be monitored by the GoSafe camera vans are marked in red.
It looks like Kiltimagh will be seeing speed camera vans in the future - as well as roads around Ballina, Westport and Castlebar.
Slow down where ever you are


View Larger Map

Balyhaunis Fine Gael MEP is in the news because of his 3 day “study trip” to the sunny island of Madeira - all paid for by taxpayers.

It appears that the three-day break has nothing directly to do with Irish affairs or the constituents of Jim Higgins in Connacht-Ulster.

When contacted by the Irish Independent about the trip - Jim Higgins is reported as saying

“That’s all shite … that’s all shite if you don’t mind me saying so. That’s typical media bluster, you know. I don’t share that at all,” he told the Irish Independent.

Higgins claimed the three-day stay in a five-star hotel on the island represented value for money because of the “important work” taking place.
He said “I haven’t a clue what star it is. All I know is that it’s a very good hotel, the accommodation is wonderful, the food is lovely. For people who work so hard, we’re entitled to that. You don’t expect us to stay in B&Bs, do you?”

Mr Higgins’ ministerial pension is €5,952, and his Dail pension is €54,890. This is on top of his MEP salary of €91,984.
That’s about €152,000 in total .

All four Fine Gael MEPs, who are part of the European People’s Party (EPP), were entitled to attend this week’s “study break”. - but Mr Higgins was the only one of them to attend the conference, which kicked-off on Tuesday. The trip is being paid for by the European taxpayer. Gay Mitchell, Mairead McGuinness and Sean Kelly declined the invitation.
About 250 MEPs, 80 parliamentary assistants and 70 civil servants working for EPP went on the trip

According to the Independent - Higgins said that Madeira was chosen as a destination because of the catastrophic floods in 2009. MEPs were due to assess the damage yesterday afternoon, having discussed funds for global disasters, compensation and insurance in such situations. MEPS have also been dealing with the issues of internet access, search engines and social networks, he said.

Jim Higgins has his own Facebook page - so you can make friends with him there and tell him what you think. http://www.facebook.com/higginsmep
He has his own website too - so you can get in touch with Jim there too http://www.jimhiggins.ie/ep/contact
I wonder - would there be as many people on the trip if it was in a cold damp place ?

Ballyhaunis have won the Mayo County Senior Hurling Championship Final this afternoon with a 0-14 to 0-11 win over local rivals Tooreen.

Three-in-a-row champions Ballyhaunis left it late to see off local rivals Tooreen

Tooreen went three points ahead as they dominated the opening quarter but were gradually reeled in, Ballyhaunis holding a one-point lead at half time 0-7 to 0-6.

Tooreen led by a point entering the final quarter thanks to freetaker Cathal Freeman, but Donal O’Brien’s point for Ballyhaunis made it 0-10 each with about 10 minutes left on the clock.

Two scores from Stephan Hoban for Ballyhaunis followed by a point from Tooreen’s Stephen Hunt made it a one point difference with just three minutes remaining.

Substitute Keith Higgins scored an important point followed by another from the Niall Murphy - which sealed victory for Ballyhaunis.

Scorers — Ballyhaunis: S Hoban 0-7 (0-5f), N Murphy 0-3, D O’Brien 0-2, C McCrudden, K Higgins 0-1 each. Tooreen: C Freeman 0-8 (0-5f), K Feeney, S Markham and S Hunt 0-1 each.

Ballyhaunis — M Walsh; A Brennan, P Healy, D Keadin; P McConn, D McConn, H McKermitt; P Higgins, N Murphy; C McCrudden, L McDermott, T Buckley; B Hunt, D O’Brien, S Hoban. Subs: K Higgins for McDermott (39), J Swords for McCrudden (54).

Tooreen — A Hession; P Hunt, S Morley, S Ganley; C Mitchell, G Henry, M Morley; S Markham, P Freyne; C Charlton, A Freeman, K Feeney; C Freeman, S Hunt, M Martin. Subs: K Robinson for Freyne (18), G Nolan for Martin (40), P Delaney for Charlton (55).