News from
Mayo
1st December
2000
Ballycastle woman awarded MBE
A Ballycastle woman with a lifetime in nursing and fundraising for hospital care has received a Member of the British Empire (MBE) Award from Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. Mrs Kathleen Hammond (nee Morris), a native of Clydagh, emigrated to England in the 1950s to become a nurse in Guildford 39 years ago. No longer nursing, she has been chairman of the League of Friends of Guildford Hospital for the past eight years, having previously served as vice-chairman.
The League of Friends has raised well over stg £1m in the past 10 years. One of her greatest achievements was to raise stg £250,000 in 1994 for equipment for the intensive care unit of the Royal Surrey, which was dedicated to the memory of the former mayor of Guildford, John Boyce, a founder member of the League of Friends who was of Irish descent. "I was thrilled to bits when I heard the news of the award," said Mrs Hammond who stressed it was as much an award for the League of Friends as for herself.
"It was altogether magic and truly memorable," she said of the honour.
Mayo County Secretary set to retire
MR Padraig Hughes, who has been Mayo County Secretary for almost ten years, has confirmed recent reports that he is to retire from his post at the end of the year. It is understood that Mr Hughes has conveyed his decision to the County Manager Mr Des Mahon this week.
Mr Hughes is aged 52 and joined the Public Service in 1966 with Dublin Corporation. He later joined the administrative staff of Aer Lingus before returning to Mayo in 1967 to the post of clerical officer with the county council. He was appointed Town Clerk to Cashel Urban District Council in 1971 and spent almost two years there before moving as Town Clerk to Wicklow urban district council.
After two years in that position he returned to Mayo County Council where he took up the position of Staff Officer in the Housing and Sanitary Services Department. A year later he was promoted to administrative officer with particular responsibility for housing, a position he held for many years. He acted as County Secretary for a number of years and was appointed permanently to the position ten years ago, on the promotion of Mr Paddy Fahy as Deputy County Manager.
For the past number of years, in addition to his role as County Secretary, he has held the position of Manager of Westport Urban Council.
Dublin woman rescued from Ballycastle pub inferno
It must have seemed like a nightmare when the people of Ballycastle village woke in the early hours of Friday morning to the sounds of shouts, screams and breaking glass, but it was a very frightening and horrific reality. A fire had broken out in Casey Mac's pub on Main St. at 5 a.m. on last Friday, but thanks to the prompt efforts of local Fire Officers and neighbours, Dublin girl, Jacqueline Mills, who was working in the bar that night, was rescued.
The quick-thinking Dublin girl smashed the bedroom window and began to throw items out onto the street in the hope of attracting someone's attention. She threw the T.V., the video and a mirror but the noise failed to rouse any of her neighbours. Eventually, Jacqueline succeeded in contacting her boss, Martin McAndrew, who rang the emergency services and was put through to local Fire Station Officer, Cecil Jackson.
Without a minute to spare, Cecil and his son, Derek were on their way and another local fire officer, Michael Kelly, succeeded in rescuing Jacqueline from the second floor window. The pub was entirely gutted and Jacqueline sustained a number of minor injuries. She was taken to hospital where she stayed overnight and has now made a full recovery.
Claremorris U-12 swimmers take gold and silver
Claremorris Boys National School and Claremorris Convent of Mercy N.S. competed in the All-Ireland Minor Schools swimming finals in Dublin last week. The boys U-12 team took gold in the medley relay event and second in the freestyle relay. The members of the team were Simon Heffernan, Edward McLoughlin, Darren Mulligan and Liam Feeley.
The girls U-12 teams also performed brilliantly and took gold and silver in the medley and freestyle respectively. The team members were Sharon McLoughlin, Sarah Heffernan, Rachel Breslin, Tanya Sarsfield and Megan Higgins.
John Nolan from the Boys National School won a bronze medal in the U-9 breaststroke. Simon Heffernan won bronze in both the U-11 100m I.M. event and in the 50m backstroke. Edward McLoughlin won a silver medal in the 50m-breaststroke and Tanya Sarsfield won a silver medal in the U-11 50m girls backstroke event. Edel Nolan and Ricky O'Neill achieved personal best times in their events. All the above are members of the Claremorris Swimming Club.
For more news check out the Western People
County Mayo News 1st December 2000 for County Mayo, Ireland
