There’s great pride in Knockmore, Ballina ahead of tomorrow’s inauguration of the 46^th President of the USA, Joe Biden.

Members of the Knockmore based, Blewitt family, in different circumstances, would certainly be in Washington tomorrow to be with their cousin for the big occasion.

The Blewitt family link is through the incoming President’s mother, Jean. Her grandfather Edward Blewitt’s parents had travelled from Ballina to the United States during the Great Famine in the 1800s.

Joe Biden visited with his Knockmore cousins when he travelled to Mayo as US Vice President in 2016.

The following year he officially turned the sod on the new Mayo Roscommon Hospice facility in Castlebar.

But Joe Biden’s cousins will have to watch tomorrow’s ceremony from their own Mayo homes due to the worldwide Covid 19 pandemic.

The inauguration of the incoming US President is always a big formal celebration in Washington and attracts international guests and supporters, but tomorrow’s Presidential inauguration is happening under very different circumstances and will be a much more low keyevent.

The Covid 19 pandemic is described as out of control in the country at present, and there is widespread fear of violence in light of the recent assault on the Capitol Building by supporters of Donald Trump. Thousands of state troopers are on the streets of the US capital and tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony is set to be very different from ever before.

Today is Donald Trump's final full day in office and he has refused to attend the inauguration of his successor.

One person who would love to be in Washington tomorrow is Laurita Blewitt from Knockmore. She was in Nevada this time last year on the Joe Biden’s Presidential campaign. He introduced her on stage as his Irish cousin.

With just over 24 hours to go to the ceremony, Laurita spoke to Midwest News about how she and her family in Mayo are feeling ahead of the proud occasion.

Americans are voting for their next US President today.

Current President Donald Trump is currently trailing Democratic rival Joe Biden by over 8 percent on average in the polls nationwide. But of course, the polls are not always accurate or right.

Nearly 99 million people have voted early, which is over 70 percent of the total votes cast in 2016.

The Blewitt family in Knockmore have an added interest in the race, as Joe Biden is a relative. The Blewitt family link came through his mother,Jean. Her grandfather Edward Blewitt’s parents had travelled from Ballina to the United States during the Great Famine in the 1800s.

Joe Biden visited with his Knockmore cousins when he travelled to Mayo as US Vice President in 2016.

The following year he officially turned the sod on the new Mayo Roscommon Hospice facility in Castlebar.

Laurita Blewitt was in Nevada earlier this year on the Joe Biden Presidential campaign and the former Vice President introduced her on stage as his Irish cousin. She is not in the US now due to Covid 19 Restrictions on travel, but she is busy as part of the very successful podcast team of Tommy Tiernan, Hector and herself.

Laurita spoke to Midwest News today about the excitement in the family home in Knockmore as polling day is now underway.

She described Joe Biden “as a safe pair of hands” to take the helm in a country where at present there is a lot of fear.

Knockmore Showjumper Michael Duffy has been selected as part of the Irish Show Jumping squad for this weekend’s Longines FEI Nations Cup World Final in Barcelona.

Also named on the team are Shane Breen from Tipperary, Waterford’s Anthony Condon, Offaly’s Darragh Kenny and Billy Twomey from Cork.

The competition, which carries a total prize fund of €1.7 million, begins on Friday, following which the top eight teams will qualify for the final on Sunday.

The remaining seven teams will compete in Saturday’s Challenge Cup Final.

Knockmore's Hugh Armstrong is aiming to represent Ireland at the next years Tokyo Olympics.

He has also run the fastest marathon ever run by a Mayo man.

Today he joined Michael D McAndrew on Sunday Sport.

https://soundcloud.com/user-962236350/hugh-armstrong

Senior Championship

Group A

Knockmore 1-07 Carnacon 3-20 played 3/7

Moy Davitts 4-14 Westport A 4-04

Group B

Burrishoole 1-06 Hollymount 1-06

Swinford Killasser 1-16 Louisburgh 2-12

Senior Championship Group A

[ ]         Pos       Team    Pld        W         D          L          PF         PA        PD        Pts

[ ]         1          Carnacon           2          2          0          0          61         16         45         6

[ ]         2          Bohola Moy Davitts          2          2          0          0          55         30         25         6

[ ]         3          Westport            2          0          0          2          25         58         -33       0

[ ]         4          Knockmore        2          0          0          2          21         58         -37       0

Senior Championship Group B

[ ]         Pos       Team    Pld        W         D          L          PF         PA        PD        Pts

[ ]         1          Burrishoole        2          1          1          0          22         14         8          4

[ ]         2          Hollymount        2          1          1          0          28         24         4          4

[ ]         3          Swinford Killasser           2          1          0          1          24         31         -7         3

[ ]         4          Louisburgh         2          0          0          2          33         38         -5         0

Intermediate Championship

Group A

Claremorris 2-07 Kilmoremoy 1-13

Cill Chomáin 3-18 St Brigid's 3-03

Group B

Charlestown 4-07 Castlebar Mitchels 1-07

Kilmovee Shamrocks bye

Intermediate Championship Group A

[ ]         Pos       Team    Pld        W         D          L          PF         PA        PD        Pts

[ ]         1          Kilmoremoy       2          2          0          0          57         23         34         6

[ ]         2          Claremorris       2          1          0          1          41         38         3          3

[ ]         3          Cill Chomain      2          1          0          1          49         40         9          3

[ ]         4          St Brigids           2          0          0          2          22         68         -46       0

Intermediate Championship Group B

[ ]         Pos       Team    Pld        W         D          L          PF         PA        PD        Pts

[ ]         1          Kilmovee Shamrocks       1          1          0          0          40         26         14         3

[ ]         2          Charlestown      1          1          0          0          19         10         9          3

[ ]         3          Castlebar Mitchels          2          0          0          2          36         59         -23       0

Junior Championship

Group A

Tuar Mhic Éadaigh 6-16 Parke KC 1-05

Davitts 6-10 Breaffy 2-11

Group B

Ballyhaunis 3-13 The Neale 8-04

CL MacHale Rovers 0-00 St Mary's CONC

Junior Championship Group A

[ ]         Pos       Team    Pld        W         D          L          PF         PA        PD        Pts

[ ]         1          Tuar Mhic Éadaigh          2          2          0          0          52         21         31         6

[ ]         2          Davitts   2          2          0          0          59         38         21         6

[ ]         3          Breaffy  2          0          0          2          30         46         -16       0

[ ]         4          Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin           2          0          0          2          29         65         -36       0

Junior Championship Group B

[ ]         Pos       Team    Pld        W         D          L          PF         PA        PD        Pts

[ ]         1          CL McHale Rovers          2          2          0          0          35         20         15         6

[ ]         2          Ballyhaunis        2          1          0          1          54         56         -2         3

[ ]         3          The Neale         2          1          0          1          48         57         -9         3

[ ]         4          St Marys 2          0          0          2          28         32         -4         0

Where is the long promised public sewerage treatment plant for Knockmore?, is the question being asked by a number of local residents in the north Mayo village who are listeners to Midwest News.

Listeners say they are concerned that a new local authority estate, with 12 housing units now at roof stage, are being built almost on the shore of Lough Conn and there is no sign of the building of a public sewerage treatment plant.

In 2008 the village of Knockmore was promised this vital piece of infrastructure, yet a decade later, they claim there is no sign of its delivery.

Listeners point out, that prior to the building of the new local authority estate, there was already severe pressure on sewerage disposal in the village coping with a major new community centre and developments in the GAA pitch, together with local pubs and a shop, together with other houses.

Local Fine Gael councillor Seamus Weir has continuously raised the need for a public sewerage treatment plant for Knockmore at meetings of Ballina Municipal District, but he told Midwest News that so far all his attempts have fallen on deaf ears.

He says a percolation system will be installed for the 12 house new development, but believes a public sewerage treatment plant is the only way forward. He says advanced plans for a treatment plant are in place since 2010 and a potential site has been identified, but to date no application has been submitted by Mayo county council to Irish Water for the development.