The Government has nominated a Mayo-born solicitor for appointment by the President to the District Court.

The retail trade in Ballina got a big boost on Wednesday when Boots The Chemist opened their new store on Pearse Street, creating 16 jobs in the town. The new store is the 72nd Boots Ireland store in the republic and the third outlet to open in Mayo in recent years. There was a big turnout of well-wishers for the official opening and tape-cutting and Ballina Mayor, Cllr Peter Clarke, wished the management and staff of Boots a long and prosperous future in Ballina.

Patricia Maloney, who 22 years ago founded the first private college to provide a repeat Leaving Certificate programme in the west of Ireland, has teamed up with a leading career training company to establish its first Galway city office. Patricia will operate the Galway office Sli Nua Careers at Drum East, Bushy Park.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD has opened a new bakery in Castlebar that will create 15 jobs. The award-winning Cherry Blossom Bakery, which started just two short years ago in Ballyvary, has opened a state-of-the art premises on the Breaffy Industrial Park in Castlebar.

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.

The Government decision to shut down the decentralised offices of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is to give Ballina a welcome economic boost. Staff from the Department of the Environment Community and Local Government in Tubbercurry, will be retained in the short-term, but the Government plans to maximise the number of staff moving to Ballina, over time.

Over 30 organisations, including recruitment and employment agencies, will take part in the annual Graduate Careers Fair in GMIT Castlebar next Friday, 10 February. Organisations such as the Construction Industry Federation (CIF), Chartered Accountants Ireland, Lionbridge Technologies and Ballina Beverages.

The National Museum of Ireland (NMI) invites applications for an internship within the Education & Outreach Department.  This placement is for 6 – 12 months duration and will be based at National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar.

Are you unemployed? If yes Mayo Jobs Club is on in Ballina Family Resource Centre Abbey Street Ardnaree from 10am - 1pm.

Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland has announced that the company will invest $350 million in its Westport site to expand both development and manufacturing capacity. The investment will lead directly to the creation of 200 jobs and another 250 jobs during construction of the new facility. The investment will primarily enable Allergan to expand the manufacturing capability for BOTOX (botulinum toxin type A) and to develop a manufacturing base for the next generation of biologic products currently in the Allergan pipeline.