News from
Mayo
9th February
2001
Kenny in high stakes battle for FG top post
LONG serving Castlebar based Deputy Enda Kenny is this week engaged in a high stakes battle for the political prize of a lifetime. If successful in his campaign to take over at the helm of Fine Gael he would be well placed to become the country's next Taoiseach. Kenny, who is 50 years old and has 25 years experience in the Dáil behind him, became a contender for the highest prize Fine Gael has to offer in the immediate aftermath of the no confidence motion in deposed leader John Bruton.
The former national school teacher led the defence of Bruton's leadership last week but, despite what all of his colleagues described as a "brilliant performance," he was unable to stave off the twin-pronged challenge to Bruton launched by Limerick Deputy Michael Noonan and Dublin's Jim Mitchell. The prospect of a bloodless handover of the leadership to the Noonan/Mitchell axis was immediately dashed as Kenny declared that he would be in the contest. It was seen by many observers as a bombshell announcement, as most of the talk before the no confidence motion centred on Ivan Yeats as the most likely "Bruton Camp" candidate.
However in the days leading up to the heave, Kenny had come under pressure to allow his name into the contest and had been approached by a number of deputies who urged him to allow his name forward.
"It may have been a surprise to people on the outside and to the media commentators but my declaration that I would be a candidate did not come as a surprise to very many of my colleagues," said Deputy Kenny yesterday. "I have the backing of a committed group of Oireachtas members who strongly believe I can give the party the direction, leadership and change of style that will bring Fine Gael back into government.
New Chief Executive at Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited
Mr Padraig Mallon, Head of Advertising, has been appointed Chief Executive Designate at Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited. He replaces Mr. Alan Crosbie, who has indicated his wish to relinquish the position in early May. Mr. Anthony Dinan, Managing Director, Thomas Crosbie Holdings Limited, to whom Mr. Mallon will report, announced the appointment. He said that Mr. Mallon's energy, drive and success will ensure the further growth of the company and the group.
Mr Mallon attended St. Colman's College, Claremorris. He is 39.
Mr. Mallon began his working life with the Galway Advertiser newspaper before moving to the Golden Pages where he held positions in sales and Sales Management. He moved to Australia in 1991 where he worked with Reed Business Publishing, Peter Isaacson Publications, The Melbourne Age and Australian Provincial Newspaper (APN).
Mr. Mallon joined Examiner Publications in 1996 as Classified Advertising Manager. He has been Head of Advertising since 1997. In that time, Padraig has presided over spectacular growth in the company's advertising revenues. The annual rates of growth have far outstripped the national average. Mr. Mallon is married with two sons and lives in Crosshaven, Co. Cork.
The Thomas Crosbie Holdings Group comprises The Irish Examiner and Evening Echo, which are printed and published by Examiner Publications (Cork) Limited; The Sligo Weekender, The Western People, The Down Democrat, The Newry Democrat, The Waterford News and Star and The Kingdom newspapers.
N5 to Westport to cost £45 million
THE final design for the extension to the N5 from Castlebar to Westport has moved a step closer with a further presentation of the design in both towns as part of the public consultation process last weekend. The new design shows a number of amendments from the original preferred option to take account of the concerns, reservations and recommendations from members of the public following the initial consultation process some months ago.A total of 502 people attended the public consultation process and the council had received 152 written responses.
The option now being pursued will see the road commence at a new roundabout on the Castlebar Ring Road, between the Texaco Filling station and the Halting Site, proceed, for the most part, to the north of the existing road, through Islandeady village, before turning south across the existing road and finishing on the Westport side of Sheeaun hill. The new road will be 15km long, will involve negotiations with more than sixty-four landowners, will involve a major bridge design to cross Lough Lannagh (from Pheasanthill to Annagh), will have two roundabout junctions, two grade separated junctions, three underbridge/overbridge junctions and will carry a price tag of £45 millions.
Mr Seamus Granahan senior executive engineer, Regional Design Office, said he hoped that the preparatory work in relation to the CPO could be completed by Sept/Oct of this year. The detailed design will be done during 2002 and they would hope to commence construction work in 2003. The construction would then take two and a half to three years.
Snooker sponsorship 'a public scandal' says Mayo Arthritis sufferer
The Department of Health's £600,000 sponsorship the Irish Masters Snooker Tournament has been described as "a public scandal that defies comprehension".
Mrs Mary Healy, Chairperson of the Mayo Branch of the Arthritis Foundation of Ireland, who also suffers from the condition, said the news "made her blood boil" in light of the suffering and harship Mayo sufferers have to put up with by having to make the long journey to Galway for treatment.
Said Mrs Healy: "As you may have seen on Primetime on Wednesday night there are currently 700 people on the waiting list to be seen by the Rheumatologist in Merlin Park Regional Hospital in Galway &emdash; and the list is growing all the time. The average waiting time to be seen for a consultation is three years and that time is also getting longer.
"It made my blood boil when I read in yesterday's Irish Independent that the Department of Health is sponsoring the Irish Masters Snooker Tournament to the tune of £600,000 when people in Mayo are suffering pain and harship by having to make the long journey to Galway to be treated for their condition and a blind eye is being turned to their dilemma. It is a public scandal that defies comprehension. The appointment of a Rheumatologist to the Western health Board would alleviate this problem and people with arthritis in Mayo could be treated in their own General Hospital.
"As the appointment of a Rheumatologist is a political decision, I am calling on all of our public representatives to row behind our campaign for the appointment of a Rheumatologist to the Western Health Board and bring an end to the pain and hardship being endured by their constituents who have put them into positions of power", Mrs Healy added.
For more news check out the Western People
County Mayo News 9th February 2001 for County Mayo, Ireland
