Wednesday, 01 September 2010 10:18

The National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough, Castlebar, welcomed its one-millionth on Thursday.
That visitor was Bernadette Ferreira, aged three years, from Derry, who was visiting with her parents, Bernadette and Libanio, and her brothers Jerome (4) and Dominic (13 months).
Museum staff were on hand to welcome the visitors and a presentation was made to Bernadette and her family to mark the occasion. The Minister for Tourism Culture and Sport, Mary Hanafin, congratulated all involved with the museum on reaching a significant milestone of one million visitors.

She said: "This is a huge success for the museum in Connaught. It is the only branch of NMI outside Dublin city and shows that having the right attractions in the most appropriate setting will prove hugely popular with tourists and Irish visitors alike.
"The museum provides a wonderful opportunity to step back in to the rural way of times gone past.
"Showcasing as it does the beautiful, traditional costumes of the islanders from our off shore islands on the most western part of Europe along with the primitive utensils used by farmers and farriers of the past, all combine to make a visit to the museum an educational must for people of all ages and traditions.

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 16:01

A number of Mayo people who have had potentially faulty hip replacements in the past six years are expected to be called in over the next month by hospitals all over the country.
Only a minority of those recalled, however, are likely to have to undergo surgery, according to the HSE.

Tuesday, 31 August 2010 15:31

Westport based hat-maker, and well-known milliner, Lina Stein, will have some of her amazing creations featured on Nationwide on RTÉ One this Friday evening, September 3.
A native of Sydney, Australia, Lina has been based in Rosmoney, Westport, for many years and is honored to feature on national television.
For the past two decades she has been creating amazing hats and is recognised as one of the brightest lights in the world of Irish millinery, through her flamboyant and extravagant hats that signal her presence and individual creativity.
She has exhibited from Stuttgart to Los Angeles. Her pieces are always a sensation at race meetings and special events both in Ireland and abroad, seducing the crowds with their exotic elegance, style and wit.
Lina's background in classic theatrical millinery has provided her with the unique expertise to unite traditional hat-making know-how with modern design, creating

Thursday, 26 August 2010 18:53

A blast from a shotgun discharged near an illegal Traveller halting site triggered a major dawn operation by gardaí in Ballyhaunis on Wednesday last.
Members of the armed regional support unit, as well as uniformed gardaí, swooped on the encampment at 7.30 a.m. They were backed up by a helicopter from the Garda Air Support Unit.
According to Superintendent Ronan Galligan, no firearms were found in the three-hour search of cars, jeeps, caravans and the surrounding countryside.