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.

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 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.

Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, cut the ribbon on Ballina St Vincent de Paul's newly-refurbished Home Management Centre on Friday 17th February. Classes have being ongoing there for the past 15 years to teach participants cookery, nutrition and budgeting skills. It was decided to refurbish the centre in order for students to have a more “hands on” role and to have a better working environment.

Mayo Community Platform (MCP), working in partnership with Public Interest Law Alliance (PILA), hosted an innovative free Legal Education event on in Castlebar. The event was organised to build the capacity of organisations working with people experiencing poverty and social exclusion to use the legal system. 

Ten couples from the Kiltimagh area and from Western Care Services are in intensive training at present in preparation for a spectacular Gala Night in the Park Hotel, Kiltimagh on Saturday, March 10th where the glitz and glamour of the Strictly Come Dancing TV show will be recreated.  Competition between the couples is intense with everybody putting their best feet forward to win the overall prize! 

The Achill Ballycroy, Mulranny Primary Care Team, in association with the Irish Haemochromatosis Association, is holding a public information evening at Ostan Ghob a Choire (Connaughtons) Achill Sound on Wednesday, 29th February, at 7 p.m.  The guest speaker on the evening is Dr. Luke O’Donnell, Consultant Physician, Mayo General Hospital. 

“You’re not alone” in dealing with drug and alcohol misuse was the message to Mayo towns and communities at the launch of the new Community Harm Reduction Initiative and advice website – Supportme.ie. Instead of wondering what to do when confronted with a problem like underage drinking or weekend recreational drug use, communities now have a  definite “go to” for help, guidance and experience. 

Ballina Arts Centre visual art programme continues to provide exhibition opportunities for local based artists in February with Pareidolia, the debut solo show by Ballina-based painter and photographer Caroline Casey attracting lots of attention as was evidenced by the big turnout for her opening night.