An Post has confirmed a number of changes taking place at post offices across Co Mayo - as part of the transformation of the national post office network.

This includes the opening of a new post office in Belmullet next Monday.

 A number of post offices are on the move across Co Mayo, as An Post continues its plan of closing some offices and moving them into nearby business premises.

A new post office will open in Belmullet next Monday 25th February.

The new office will be co-located in the Centra store on Main Street - a short distance from the old post office - and the postmaster is Joseph Cuffe - proprietor of the Centra store.

On the same day, 5 postal staff in Belmullet, 3 in Glenamoy and one each in Geesala, Carrowteigue and Bangor Erris will relocate to Barnatra, where they will operate from a new mail hub for the area.

An Post says this will not affect local mail services.

Also, in the coming months, the post office in Swinford is to be located at Kennedy's Spar, while in Kiltimagh, the post office will co-locate with Londis on Main Street.

And in Ballyhaunis, An Post has readvertised the contract to provide post office services.

Midwest News understands a local business has turned down the opportunity, and it's now open for applications.

The company says the Ballyhaunis Post Office will remain at its current location until that process is complete.

Co Mayo could benefit from an increase of over €70 million in single-farm payments between now and 2026, if the European Parliament passes an amendment, which was adopted recently by the AGRI committee.

The amendment, tabled by Midlands-Northwest MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, calls for 100% convergence of payments, as opposed to the 75% convergence proposed by the Commission, which means all farmers would be paid the same per hectare.

Luke Flanagan's amendment passed by 23 votes to 21 recently, and he says Mayo is the county that stands to benefit the most, if this gets through Parliament.

Senior 

Gardaí are investigating the death of a 25 year old man found on Quay Road, Newport, Co.Mayo in the early hours of this morning Tuesday, 25th December, 2018.

Gardaí were called to the scene when the body of the man was discovered.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  His body was removed to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar where a post mortem took place this afternoon by Dr. Curtis.

There is increasing concern among passengers who regularly use Route 52 Bus Eireann service that connects Ballina to Galway city that the service is now under threat.

People in the areas of Swinford and Kiltimagh look set to be directly affected but so too will patients from north Mayo trying to attend hospital appointments in Galway.

Bus Eireann is remaining tight lipped over its plans for the route.

Listeners to Midwest News first expressed concerns about the service two months ago, and Midwest News contacted Bus Eireann who responded at that time, stating that the route is under review.

Following further concerns about its future expressed by Midwest News listeners this week, we again sought a response from Bus Eireann.

The brief response again reads:

 Bus Éireann has received a revised licence for Route 52 from the National Transport Authority (NTA), which it is currently reviewing.

The company is working with the NTA – who have responsibility for the public transport network – on other proposals, to ensure connectivity remains in place.

We have asked Bus Eireann when the review will be completed and we are awaiting a response.

The officers of Mayo GAA have today been informed by Stephen Rochford that he is stepping down as manager of the Mayo Senior Football team.

Statement by Mike Connolly, Cathaoirleach, Coiste Chontae Mhaigh Eo

We sincerely thank Stephen Rochford for all the hard work and commitment he has given to Mayo GAA since he was appointed in 2015. Stephen has given an enormous amount of service to Mayo and has given us as supporters many great days on the pitch.

Since he become senior team manager he has been involved in three great years for Mayo GAA. He has brought Mayo to two All Ireland finals, losing both by the narrowest of margins. We wish him and his family all the best for the future and thank him for all he has done for Mayo GAA.

The €10m Mayo Roscommon Hospice facility in Castlebar hopes to take in patients by Spring 2020.

The Minister for Health Simon Harris officially opened the facility this afternoon in front of a crowd of around 1000 people.

The Department of Health has secured funding for the running costs of the new facility in Budget 2020.

Recruitment for the new Pallative Care Centre in Mayo is now underway.

The state of the art unit was completed in 18 months and boasts 14 specialist palliative care bedrooms, a day care department and family accommodation.

Martina Jennings CEO of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice says the new facility is a tribute to the people of both represented counties.

She acknowledged that the construction of the Castlebar Pallative Care Centre was only made possible through donations by people in Mayo and Roscommon.

Chairperson of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Joanne Hynes was delighted to see the fruits of their twenty five years of fundraising efforts.

She paid homage to generous sponsor over the years to get them to the important €10m threshold.

She told Midwest news that she was delighted to see the culmination of the Hospice's fundraising efforts.

Former CEO of the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Cynthia Clampett described the opening of the new unit as magical.

She praised the work of her former colleagues in getting the Unit finished ahead of schedule and under budget.

The HSE decision to restrict access to the pain patch Versatismust be reviewed and the patches reinstated until such time as the concerns regarding its withdrawal are addressed.  That’s according to Mayo Sinn Fein Senator Rose Conway Walsh.

She is encouraging  all Oireachtas members to use their political influence to ensure that the decision to withdraw Versatis from the medical card scheme and the Drugs payment Scheme- impacting on up to 25,000 patients is reviewed.  

The Senator hosted a briefing in Leinster House today where representatives of Arthritis Ireland, Chronic Pain Ireland and patients currently using the drug addressed the meeting.

The Senator told Midwest News this evening that the Minister will address the seanad on the matter on Wednesday afternoon next.

Mayo will look to get back to winning ways when they host neighbours Galway tomorrow night in Elverys MacHale Park.

Defeat last weekend to Dublin means a win is vital if Mayo want to progress to a league final. Following that defeat James Horan again continues his rotation policy as he makes 6 changes to his starting team. Out go Rob Hennelly, Ger Cafferkey, Paddy Durcan, Ciaran Treacy, Andy Moran & Brian Reape with David Clarke, Chris Barrett, Stephen Coen, Diarmuid O'Connor, James Durcan & Darren Coen all getting the nod to start. Despite making 4 championship appearances in 2018 it's a first taste of league action for James Durcan tomorow night. Diarmuid O'Connor captains the team.

1. David Clarke - Ballina Stephenites
2. Chris Barrett - Belmullet
3. Brendan Harrison - Aghamore
4. Keith Higgins - Ballyhaunis
5. Lee Keegan - Westport
6. Colm Boyle - Davitts
7. Stephen Coen - Hollymount/Carramore
8. Matthew Ruane - Breaffy
9. Donal Vaughan - Castlebar Mitchels
10. Fionn McDonagh - Westport
11. Aidan O’Shea - Breaffy
12. Diarmuid O'Connor - Ballintubber(C)
13. James Durcan - Castlebar Mitchels
14. Darren Coen - Hollymount/Carramore
15. Jason Doherty - Burrishoole

Mayo get their 2019 campaign up & running on Sunday when new manager James Horan takes his team to Carrick on Shannon to face Leitrim in the FBD league opener.

The team named shows a mix of youth & experience as Mayo look to start their season with a win. There are three All Stars in defence(Ger Cafferkey, Brendan Harrison & Lee Keegan) mixed with exciting new faces such as James McCormack, Fionn McDonagh, Colm Moran & Brian Reape.

The following players have not been considered due to injury, Cillian O'Connor, Cian Hanley, Ryan O'Donoghue & Tom Parsons. Throw in on Sunday is 1.30pm.

1. Rob Hennelly - Breaffy
   2. Eoin O'Donoghue - Belmullet
   3. Ger Cafferkey - Ballina Stephenites
   4. Brendan Harrison - Aghamore
   5. Lee Keegan - Westport
   6. James McCormack - Claremorris
   7. Donal Vaughan - Castlebar Mitchels
   8. Seamie O'Shea - Breaffy
   9. Stephen Coen - Hollymount/Carramore
   10. Fionn McDonagh - Westport
   11. Jason Doherty- Burrishoole(C)
   12. Fergal Boland - Aghamore
   13. Colm Moran - Westport
   14. Brian Reape - Bohola Moy Davitts
   15. Evan Regan - Ballina Stephenites.

A number of Mayo individuals and groups have been nominated for the 2018 All Ireland Community & Council Awards.

The awards are hosted annually by the Local Authority Members Association and IPB Insurance, and the winners will be announced at a gala ceremony in Croke Park Stadium this evening ( Saturday).

Flying the flag for Co Mayo at this evening’s awards ceremony are the Westport 250 festival and Crossmolina St Patrick’s Day Committeee for the St Patrick’s night festival – they’re both shortlisted in the Best Arts & Culture Initiative.

In the Best Community-Based Initiative, Mayo Community Futures and the School Warden Lollicops scheme in Mayo and Kildare are shortlisted.

“Its for Girls” Mayo is nominated in the category of Best Community Health Initiative.

John Cooney and Seamus Jordan of the Crossmolina Festival committee are nominated for the Community Volunteer of the Year award, and in the Best Tourism Initiative category, Wild Mayo Development & Promotional campaign has been nominated.

RTE’s Marty Morrissey will present the awards to the winners in the Croke Park Stadium later this evening.

A public meeting will take place this evening (Friday) in Breaffy to look at the options that TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland) is offering the community in terms of its long campaign to have the speed limit through the village which is located along the N60, reduced from 100 to 60 km per hour.

This evening’s meeting, being organised by the Breaffy Road Safety Group, takes place at 8pm in the hall of St John’s School.

Earlier this week, Castlebar District councillors said they had exhausted all avenues open to them to impress on the TII the need to reduce the speed limit at Breaffy- the scene of many collisions and a number of fatalities, and so they said they were supporting a public protest on the road after 11.30 Mass this Sunday.

But now it appears that the local campaign group- Breaffy  Road Safety Group, has not organised any such protest and are looking at a new offer on the table from the TII.

Tonight’s meeting will outline what’s on offer to the community and from there they will decide what , if any action they may now take.

John Fahy is a member of the Breaffy Road Safety Group and he told Midwest News this morning that their group had not been in contact with local councillors for some months and that the Breaffy Road Safety Group  is not planning a protest this Sunday.

People are being urged to make sure all the alcohol is out of their system before they drive today.

Almost one thousand people were arrested on suspicion of drink driving over the Christmas period last year.

Gardai say 11 per cent of fatal road crashes involving drink happen the morning after a night out.

Liz O'Donnell from the Road Safety Authority is advising motorists to be careful if they were out last night.

The 27^th Annual Mayo People of the Year Awards will be officially launched this evening in the Breaffy House Resort Hotel in Castlebar.

Again this year the awards are sponsored by The Connaught Telegraph, Mayo Rehab and Mayo County Council.

Any person or group that voluntarily makes a difference to the lives of others in county Mayo, or county Mayo people making a significant contribution to the quality of lives in any national or international community can be nominated for an award.

The application forms for nominations are available at the offices of the Connaught Telegraph, Mayo County Council or Rehab Care.

Entries for this year’s awards close on Friday October 11^th.

Bernard Hughes is the Commercial Managaer of the Connaught Telegraph and he’s been giving Midwest News more details about tonight’s launch of the 2019 awards.

Sometime in October, Westport based global enterprise Portwest is hoping to secure the green light from West Mayo Municipal District councillors to allow the development of its 10 million euro world headquarters at a site at the harbour in Westport town.

The decision is in the hands of the local councillors who must vote on a change of planning designation at the harbour side site, as a material convention of Mayo County Development Plan is needed to allow the building to go ahead.

Portwest had originally planned to locate its global HQ at a site adjacent to Allergan, however, Allergan has sought additional space to expand its enterprise, and so the Hughes family have opted to locate at a site they own at the harbour.

One of the Directors of Portwest Owen Hughes told Midwest News today that they hope to get the project underway by October.