Comhaltas Ceolteoirí ÉireannTHE outstanding work of Comhaltas Ceolteoirí Éireann over the past 60 years has been acknowledged by Mayo County Council.

The organisation, which has 16 branches throughout the county, is preparing to host the Connaught Fleadh in Castlebar in 2014.

Máirtín Ó Maicín, who gave a detailed presentation at a meeting of the authority, spoke about the potential of promoting Mayo as a centre of cultural and musical excellence.

He explained there were 400 branches of Comhaltas worldwide and the easy access to Mayo through Ireland West Airport Knock represented a golden opportunity to establish the county as the global centre of traditional Irish music.

The Hardy BucksTHE Hardy Bucks, having put Swinford on the map, are about to hit the capital, where they’re hotly tipped to pick up an award at the Irish television Oscars.

The series has been short-listed for an Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA), which take place on Saturday, February 11, at the Convention Centre, Dublin.

Hardy Bucks is nominated in the best entertainment programme category, which also features MasterChef Ireland, Mrs. Brown’s Boys and The Savage Eye.

The Bucks are taking it all in their stride, posting on their Facebook page about their latest success: “Apparently some suits up in the big shmoke think our show is class… dangling glittering trophies to lure us up to Dublin for the big event.”

There’s no word about whether they’re getting suited and booted up for their walk down the red carpet, though there may well be some shifting for the cameras.

A clip from the series will be shown at the awards ceremony, and fans’ suggestions of which one it should be are rolling in.

Other IFTA nominees on the night include actors Ciaran Hinds, Brendan Gleeson, Michael Fassbender, Martin Sheen, Saoirse Ronan, Glenn Close, Liam Cunningham and Chris O’Dowd.

The Military Barracks in Castlebar which is being shut down and sold by the governmentMAYO Deputy Dara Calleary has claimed the closure of the military barracks in Castlebar will prove ‘a costly mistake.’

The Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Justice, Equality and Defence claimed Minister Alan Shatter is starting a damaging agenda to shut down a number of key army and garda facilities across the country.

He argued: “This strategy is without cause and without benefit. In fact, the cost to the exchequer and to the communities affected will be far greater than any savings made.

“It is up to the Fine Gael TDs in Mayo to fight for their communities as they promised they would do before the last general election.

“Their voters did not elect them to be silent in Government and stand idly by while Minister Alan Shatter pursues an agenda that has such an enormous local cost attached.”

Mayo County Council OfficesTHE 31 elected members of Mayo County Council are bracing themselves for a major shake-up that will put their political careers firmly on the line.

They will be told in advance of the next local elections in 2014 the number of seats on the authority will be slashed by at least six and possibly as many as eight.

While a number of retirements are imminent, the pressure on those intent on seeking re-election will be greater than ever before.