NEWS ROUND-UP
Pizza is Sligo’s favourite takeaway again
A new study has found that pizza stands out as Sligo’s most popular takeaway of choice.
JustEat, an online food order and delivery company, found that pizza made up for 39 per cent of total orders made in 2020 alone.
The next most popular takeaway option was Chinese, followed by Turkish in third and Indian in fourth.
Kebabs, Irish, burgers, fish and chips and Asian make up the rest of the top 10 list for 2020.
Pizza has proven to be Sligo’s favourite takeaway choice well before 2020 as well, with JustEat’s data finding that it was the most ordered takeaway every year since at least 2010.
Lidl is stocking White Hag beer from Ballymote
Supermarket chain Lidl has partnered with a Sligo brewery as part of a move to double its range of local craft beers. Nationally Lidl has partnered with three specialist local Irish suppliers, including Ballymote-based the
White Hag Brewery, to expand its new, premium range of craft beers.
Speaking about supplying Lidl’s 168 stores across the country, Bob Coggins, who is commercial director at the White Hag Brewery, said: “We’re thrilled that our new partnership with Lidl allows us to bring our range of independent beers to the whole country.
“For the first time our core range of beers are now available through a national retailer, and we look forward to bringing a whole new audience into the world of great Irish craft beer.”
Sligo-based Westcare has created 70 jobs
Westcare Homecare has created 70 new regional jobs.
The company, which is based in Sligo town, is providing new opportunities in Roscommon and Galway over the next 12 months with the opening of two new offices. Director of Westcare Homecare Sharon Carter said: “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new Roscommon and Tuam offices.
“We look forward to recruiting our team from the local community to provide care to the elderly whilst helping them remain in their own home for as long as possible. We offer flexible and rewarding employment opportunities for healthcare staff and are delighted to announce our latest expansion plans.”
Also speaking on the Sligo company’s creation of new job opportunities, Minister for Employment Damien English said: “This is a good day for Roscommon and Tuam as Westcare Homecare expand their operations with the addition of 70 new jobs and two new offices in the region. “This significant, regional jobs announcement is a great boost for those who wish to work and develop a career in the growing home care sector in Ireland.”
Trade strong at Ballymote mart
Trade continued strong for all types of stock at last Thursday’s cattle sale at Ballymote, with good demand. Bullocks under 500kg were making from €400 to €800 over, eg CHx 485kg €1,285, eg LMx 450kg €1,240.
Lots over 500kg were making up to €900 over, eg CHx 750kg €1650, CHx 740kg €1,590, LMx 705kg €1,560.
Heifers under 500kg were making from €300 to €745 over, eg LMx 455kg €1,200 (for breeding), eg LMx 340kg €980, LMx 375kg €890, with heavier lots making up to €855 over, eg LMx 515kg €1,370, LMx 540kg €1,320, CHx 550kg €1,325. Sucklers were making from €1,200 to €1,960.
Dry cows were making from €350 to €950 over, eg CHx 890kg €1840, SIx 645kg €1480, LMx 695kg €1,340.
Weanling bulls were making from €300 to €610 over, eg LMx 290kg €900, CHx 295kg €880, BBx 310kg €910.
Weanling heifers making from €280 to €845 over, eg BBx 435kg €1280, LM 370kg €1,040, LMx 410kg €1,090.
Man fined and put off the road Woman, 32, was not insured
A Sligo resident has been fined and banned for a road traffic offence, at the district court.
Marcin Urbanak, 41, from Crozon Park, who was self-represented, pleaded guilty to charges of driving with no insurance or tax at Circular Road on July 3 last year. He had no previous convictions.
The defendant said he needed his car to drive to work but he had no car at present and had not been driving since.
Judge Kevin Kilrane fined him €250 and banned him from driving for 11 months on the no insurance charge and took the no tax charge into consideration. The charge of failing to produce insurance was struck out.
Fined for not having car tax
A Tullaghan resident has been fined €300 for having no tax on his car in Sligo.
Garda Martha Carter told the court that Patrick Branley, Carbury Coast, Tullaghan, had no tax on his vehicle at Sligo Train Station on July 11, 2019. She said gardaí got a call that the vehicle had been parked at the station and had no tax or no NCT. It was towed away.
The judge fined the defendant €300 on the no tax charge and struck out the no NCT charge.
22-year-old had cannabis
A Sligo man has been given the Probation Act for a drugs offence at the district Court. Jake Downey, 22, from Racecourse View, Cranmore, pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis at the back lane St Joseph’s Terrace on May 9 last year.
The defendant, who has no previous convictions and was represented by solicitor Gerry McGovern, was given the Probation Act.
A Sligo woman has been fined for driving with no insurance, at the district court. Clare Furey, 32, from Cartron Point, pleaded to guilty to the offence that happened last year on August 3 at Castle Street.
Defence solicitor Gerry McGovern said it was her boyfriend’s vehicle and she was not covered.
Judge Kevin Kilrane fined the defendant €250 with no ban in the circumstances.
Ballintrillick school funding
Funding has been allocated to St Aidan’s National School, Ballintrillick, to fund emergency repair works for the roof of the building.
The funding has been welcomed by local TD and Minister of State Frank Feighan, who said that as the concrete flat roof has an asphalt finish and is approximately 60 years old, there are cracks in the asphalt roof finish that are causing damage to ceilings and leaks in three rooms in the school.
He said that this funding will be welcomed by parents and staff alike.
Ballisodare actor Hilary in ‘Me, Mollser’
An actor from Ballisodare is starring in a new online drama for primary schools. Hilary Bowen-Walsh is appearing in ‘Me, Mollser’, part of a series of specially commissioned monologues that introduce classics of Irish theatre to younger audiences. Mollser, portrayed by Bowen-Walsh, is a teenager who featured in Sean O’Casey’s ‘The Plough and the Stars’. ‘Me, Mollser’ is aimed at fifth and sixth class pupils in primary schools, providing a compelling retelling of what life was like for a teen in Ireland a little over a century ago, growing up in a crowded tenament in Dublin during the Easter Rising, while also traversing life with consumption, or tuberculosis, which was a rampant illness. Originally a stage play, the story has been adapted for film with a new character, Nadia, who links Mollser’s life with contemporary Ireland. Each school can access an English, Irish version or ISL version. They will also receive the Mollser Parcel, a blended learning pack with resources and lesson plans that cover topics and issues raised in the film that link it to the History, English, Drama and SPHE curricula.
The play is available online until June 30.
Schools can register to set up a viewing for their primary school classes by visiting www.abbeytheatre.ie/ whats-on/me-mollser/.
Money for work on Coney Island
Money has been allocated for work on Coney Island as part of a national funding for a range of capital works on offshore islands.
Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys last week announced almost €1.1 million to support work by Cork, Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal County Councils on islands off their coast. Projects include the resurfacing of island roads, repair works to piers and slipways and works to combat coastal erosion. Each of the county councils provides co-funding for these works.
A total of €7,470 has been allocated for Coney Island, with €4,950 for resurfacing of rest area and €2,520 for repairs to the pointing on
50m of the causeway.