Congratulations to Ballyhaunis schoolgirl Olwyn Murray - who won last night’s All Ireland Talent Show heat - and is now through to the semi final. The judges put her in joint third place but the public vote was enough to give her the the win. A good performance - but she will probably have to do even better to win the contest. See Olwyn singing live on the show here (22 minutes in) (only viewable until Feb 14th) See more about Olwyn Murray here... Similar posts

Ballyhaunis Leaving Cert student - 16 year old Olwyn Murray is through to the next round of the RTE All Ireland Talent Show on 24th January 2010 at 6.30pm . The show will be coming LIVE from Dublin . Find details here of how to vote (available from Sunday at 6pm ) It is probably too late - but anyone can apply for free audience tickets by calling 01 4480500 or email audience@tyrone-productions.ie Olwyn is one of 8 contestants left in from the West - and the only one from Co Mayo. She doesn’t seem to have got the online publicity going - not like some of the other contestants. The Leaving Cert is probably taking priority. Hopefully the publicity in the local papers and radio stations will work just as well for Olwyn. She is up against a “novelty” gay band fronted... Similar posts

Batt O’Keefe has seen sense at last and reversed his instruction to keep all schools closed until Thursday. He has said today that schools can now open if local management think it is safe to do so. http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/okeeffe-to-allow-schools-to-reopen-tomorrow-441478.html The majority of roads around here are safe - some are still icy but passable. It will be interesting to see if Ballyhaunis Community School will decide to open - hopefully they will? Over in the UK - conditions are worse and some schools are closed - but the UK Education Secretary Ed Balls is encouraging schools to open and not focus on the negatives. He said schools need to “take a balanced view and not to overstate risks like slipping in the playground, or having slightly less... Similar posts

Most - if not all the schools in the Ballyhaunis area were due to open on January 7th - but are now all remaining closed until at least Thursday January 14th by order of the Dept. of Education. All schools in Ireland have been instructed to close next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. While it is clear that some people in isolated houses will have problems getting out and about - this enforced schools closure is totally over the top . No other workplaces have been shut down - hospitals , shops , factories are all open - so why shut the schools? Dangergous playgrounds could be fixed by having a few parents in to grit and remove the snow/ice. I am sure most parents would rather have their children in school than at home. What about families where both parents work - what will they do? What... Similar posts

Back in the summer of 2009 Ken Ring - the long term weather forecaster was doing the rounds on radio stations. His predictions for Winter 2009 / 2010 were pretty specific - but did he predict this long long cold spell? This is some of what Ken Ring said back in September 2009 on local station Mid West Radio … From 23rd nov - 26th nov it will be cold with frost and possibly snow. There wil be a dry period from 9th to 23rd December with a cold spell around December 11th . January 2010 will bring heavy rain from 14th-18th and a dry cold spell between January 20th and 31st 2010 . Ken Ring said that he expected early February 2010 to be also be very cold . He predicted snow on March 2nd 2010 and even as late as April 14th. He said warm weather will be back from late May early June... Similar posts

What kind of a country are we living in - a bit of cold weather and many roads become death traps and go un-gritted for a week. The slip road up to Knock Airport from the N17 has been in a bad state for 2 days now - and no sign of any gritting. The car park at the airpot at Knock is in a terrible state - ice everywhere and very hard to drive on. Why no gritting ? Where the hell does all our €10 Euro “development fee” go. If Knock Airport thinks they are a major airport - then they need to get their act together and sort out that car park. There were Power Cuts in the Ballyhaunis area on Dec 30th - just what we needed in the coldest weather for years. There are also some problems with phone lines in the area that have been out since Christmas and still no sign of Eircom... Similar posts

Wishing all of you a happy Christmas. It’s looking like a cold one anyway - time to snuggle up by the fire and pour a small whiskey before going to bed. Tomorrow will be over soon enough - plenty of money spent on rubbish and gadgets that will be unused in a few months. Kids lied to about Santa - why should they trust what an adult ever tells them again? Birthday of Jesus - or just another fairy tale to keep us interested. Get them young is what the chuch says - in more ways than one it seems. 2010 is on the way and Ireland is in a bad state. Thousands on the dole - and some loving it. Others bleed the coffers dry and waste money like FAS and HSE and TDs. As Shane Macgowan said - Happy Christmas me Arse... Similar posts

No wonder Ireland has a reputation al over the world for being heavy drinking , foul mouthed fighters. We had a Budget in the middle of the worst financial crisis the country has seen - millions of Euros in cuts to wages and cuts to welfare benefits. Petrol prices rose - but the price of booze was cut by as much as €2.80 for a bottle of spirits . Sure - we can all get drunk and to hell with it. Maybe that is what Brian Cowen wants? Then today we get a Green TD - (Member of Parliament to all you non Irish ) - Paul Gogarty - who uses foul abusive language in a Dail debate about the cuts . He said to a Labour member - F**K YOU - loud and clear , twice. It was going out live on TV too . What a fine example for a member of the government to set to the people of Ireland. Then again - look... Similar posts

Would you believe this man? This is one of the two men who claim to have had visions of the Virgin Mary. Keith Henderson - is pictured below. I know what I’d think if this man told me he was seeing things. He probably needs medical help. Picture taken from http://www.irishtimes.com/indepth/slideshows/knock-apparition-virgin-mary/ where you can see more of the activity at knock on 31st October 2009. Nothing happened apart from a few thousand crazy people running around and looking at the sun. I looked at the sun for no more than 2 seconds that day - and I could see loads of circles ringed in blue for minutes afterwards. It was no miracle - just my eyes being nearly blinded by looking at the bloody sun. Read an eye wittness report from Knock here... Similar posts

Sales Representative (Meat Products) required to establish a new customer base and sell meat products in UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. This position may require the applicant to travel to these destinations, however the main base for the applicant will be Ballyhaunis. Is is preferable that the successful candidate should have a Degree in one of the following disciplines : Business Management, Business Studies, Accounting or Marketing. Hours per week: 40 Start date: Nov 2009 Experience Required: Some Experience. Minimum Salary : 9.00ph Euro Maximum Salary: + Commission Euro Other Benefits: Commission will be minimum double the salary figure. Location : Ballyhaunis Closing Date 12/11/2009 To apply please contact : Hazim on 094 96 30647 Employer: Iman Casing &... Similar posts

Another non event today at Knock apparently. Expecting an apparition promised by a self proclaimed “visionary” - thousands of people turned up in Knock - many in camper vans and transit vans . According to reports on the local radio station today - the main basilica was full with people and the doors were closed to prevent overcrowding. Joe Coleman and a couple of “followers” started off praying the Rosary around 2.30. At around 3.20 the reporter said he heard aloud noise (like thunder) - and everyone ran outside - some climbing over seats to get out. He said it was dangerous behaviour and it was lucky no one was hurt. Joe Coleman stayed inside while the people wer looking at the sun (again). The reporter said there were some “strange activities ” in... Similar posts

This is a video of what really happened in Knock on October 11th. Apparition , Sun Dancing , Visions ? Nothing happened. Expect more of the same today. Nothing Happened Great news for the local hotels and B&Bs - not a vacancy within 30 miles of Knock tonight. I wonder if Joseph Coleman has any relatives in the B&B trade? The stalls selling cheap made in China tat will do a roaring trade. Expect a few fireworks too...... Similar posts

What a day - the wind must be 100mph over here. We had a power cut earlier - and the power kept gong on and off all the time. Took the opportunity to go to Claremorris for a swim and a bite to eat. I like power cuts sometimes - it gives me an excuse to leave the housework - because there isn’t a lot you can do without electricity is there? Went to Aghnas in Claremorris after a swim - and had some nice pumpkin soup and brown bread (nice staff there too). Quick shop in Tescos - and by the time we got back the power was back on. The wind is getting stronger - so I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more power cuts tonight. Better get the candles...... Similar posts

A man who claims to be a clairvoyant and healer (apparently charging €60 a sitting) has forecast that the Virgin Mary will appear in Knock this Sunday at 3pm. Ballyfermot man - Joe Coleman is also linked to alleged visions in Donegal near Dungloe . (latest supposedly on the eve of the Lisbon referendum) He has a website that lists testimonials about these Dungloe visions - at the moment there is a grand total of 1 testimonial from a 10 year old boy! . (Hardly a reliable source?) The only named witness to the latest Dungloe vision is this boys father (quoted in the Irish Independent) . The Dungloe parish priest, Father Seamus Meehan, was quoted as saying “But I would be kind of sceptical about it myself” Many people will probably flock to Knock when they hear this rumour... Similar posts

The newly built swimming pool and gym is almost ready in Claremorris. It is expected to open on September 1st - if all goes to plan. Membership details and prices are still not available - but there should be details available soon. The leisure centre is only a 15 minute drive from Ballyhaunis and means there are now 2 in Claremorris (one at the McWilliam Park hotel). Whilst it is a pity there are no such facilities in Ballyhaunis yet - at least we don’t have to travel too far to have an indoor swim or use a gym. With the proposed new cinema in Claremorris and the Lidl , Tesco ,Smyths and Elvery’s stores - there will probably be more people making the journey to Claremorris instead of...... Similar posts