Tesco's plans to build a new superstore in Ballina and create 100 new jobs cleared its first hurdle at Ballina Town Council meeting Wednesday night when councillors agreed to sell 2.35 acres of land at Pearse Street/Humbert Street for the new store.

Ronan Cusack reports that Lough Mask got off to a flying start to the 2012 fishing season. Water levels are still fairly high but this did not discourage plenty of anglers from venturing out. Conditions on Wednesday were perfect with mild temperatures and a soft westerly breeze.  Ballinrobe Anglers chairman, Tommy Foley, and boat partner, Paul Loscher, had 7 good fish on opening day, all too various wet flies.

The Parke Arts and Drama Group, winners of the Mayo County Council Drama Award 2011 for its production of ‘Cupid Wore Skirts’ in 2011, returns to the stage this March with its 2012 production – 'Fortunes and Misfortunes', a side-splitting 3-Act comedy by Westmeath playwright, Jimmy Keary.

A survey is being carried out in Swinford this week to discover what local people think about the area and the organisers, Swinford Community Futures Group, is also interested in hearing from residents about the changes they would like to see in the East Mayo town.

Moy Valley Resources is hosting a free business clinic for new or expanding businesses or anybody thinking of starting a new business in 2012. The Business Clinic which is the first of its kind in North Mayo will be held on February 28th from 3:00pm till 6:30pm in the Greenhills Enterprise Centre Ballina.

North Mayo’s youngest entrepreneurs were celebrating as the winners of the north Mayo Regional Student Enterprise Awards were announced at the showcase event in the Kennedy Glasgow House on the 10th of February. In all, 25 student enterprises participated with 12 taking centre stage at the North Mayo Final, which is organised by Moy Valley Resources and Mayo County Enterprise Board.

Ballina Stephenites Shave or Dye 2012 on Friday night was a huge success. Over 30 people volunteered to have their heads shaved and dyed for the cause and helped to raise over €5,000 (and still counting) for the Irish Cancer Society. From players to officers to family members and supporters, everyone got involved on the night.

Ballina Trades Council has expressed "its immense relief that after prolonged negotiation 12 hospital beds that had been due to close on Friday February 17th will now remain open". The Trades Council had initially documented its concern that Ballina's 62 bed local hospital had been under threat of a drastic loss of beds in January and started a campaign to highlight local concerns and that of members of our community.