Expanding or starting a food business in recessionary times is no easy feat but it has been achieved by all three speakers at the upcoming Network Mayo event on Tuesday 15 May in Rua, Castlebar. They are Colleen McMahon (Rua and Cafe Rua, Castlebar), Sean Kelly (Kelly’s Butchers, Newport) and Siobhan Stenson (Cherry Blossom Bakery, Ballyvary). The theme for the evening is “Hungry for Opportunity”.

There was a big turnout for the Ballina St Patrick's Day Parade Committee annual awards presentation ceremony in Paddy Jordan's public house. The Best Overall Winning Float award went to Hollister and other winners included Irene Hegarty whose Art School won the Creative Arts section; Kathleen Langan and staff of Katie's Corner who won the Commercial Retail Section award and Mareia Carr and staff at the Junction Restaurant winners of the Hospitality Section.

A plan to bring 21st century energy infrastructure to the West of Ireland has been launched by EirGrid at the National Museum of Ireland – Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar by An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD. By connecting the electricity generated by the region’s huge renewable energy resources, the Grid West project will facilitate significant job creation and investment as well as contributing to national recovery and growth.

Four Mayo winners have been selected in the JCI Mayo and Mayo Advertiser TOYP (The Outstanding Young Person) Awards in association with AIB Bank Claremorris, as follows - Aisling Neary, Dara Calleary TD, Darren Cawley and Olwen Dawe, who will now go forward to the national awards taking place in May. JCI Mayo and Mayo Advertiser TOYP in conjunction AIB serves to formally recognize young people who excel in their chosen fields and create positive change.

Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin is calling on the Board of An Post to publish its plan for the provision of postal services to rural areas, including the number of post offices it plans to take out of the network in the short to medium term.  Deputy Mulherin’s comments come after An Post CEO Donal Connell attended a joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications Energy and Natural Resources and gave no hope that he would re-consider his decision to close Knockmore PO.

It may sound like a cliché, but image matters and image sells – particularly corporate image. In today’s highly visual society we are conditioned to swiftly look, judge and categorise. The first 10 seconds are vital. A positive first impression really does count and can be lasting. With this in mind, Network Mayo have invited Frances Jones of Image Matters, a corporate and personal image consultancy, to address their next meeting on 25th April.

The Western Development Commission (WDC) has welcomed the launch of 4CNW (Creative Challenge Celtic Crescent North West), a new business support programme for creative businesses in the North West. The programme will strengthen linkages between businesses in the creative sector and other high performing sectors. On the creative side this includes design, digital media, broadcasting, publishing and software, while the region’s high growth sectors are life sciences, tourism, technology and agri-food.

The next Castlebar Chamber open forum will take place on April 26th at the Harlequin Hotel at 6.30pm. The guest speaker will be Seamus Granaghan, Castlebar Town Manager, who will address the forum about  the Town Council's work and its plans to develop and promote Mayo's county town. Members will also discuss the results of the survey for the last open forum, which is believed to contain some surprising findings.

A well-known Mayo law firm has been named as a finalist in the National Irish Bank Law Awards 2012.  P. O'Connor & Son Solicitors, Swinford, is up for an award in the Connacht Provincial Law Firm category at this year’s event. The Irish Law Awards has also announced a strategic partnership with National Irish Bank, who will become the official headline sponsor of the Irish Law Awards 2012.  The awards will honour innovative legal practice and excellence in Irish Law. 

Norma Smurfit, the founder and Chairperson of First-Step Microfinance, captivated her audience during a live interview by Caroline Gordon, President of Network Mayo. Norma Smurfit generously shared business insights and financial savvy gathered over 20 years of running First-Step. She is also very well known for her tireless charity work and philanthropy.