A new initiative to give communities throughout Mayo the tools and supports they need to deal with drug and alcohol misuse in a way that is right for them will be launched on Friday, February 10th.

Ten 16-year-olds from all over Ireland, including Alice Dever from Achill,  are set to battle it out to become the Ultimate Street Challenge Champion in a new six part television series to be broadcast by RTÉ this December.

Members of the newly-formed band “The Country Cats” comprising Sadhbh Thomas from Tonragee, Achill, and Bernadette Ruddy, Foxford, met up with country singing legend, Big Tom, in Salthill.

Dipping and dosing, shearing and shepherds and plenty of Mayo rams and winning rosettes will feature this coming Thursday, October 20th on ‘Out and About in Ireland’ the Irish TV produced weekly show broadcast on SKY TV channel 201 at 9pm. This insightful and intriguing programme from Achill Island shines a spotlight on one of Ireland’s oldest and most traditional agricultural sheep shows. 

A sad and controversial period in the history of Achill island will be recalled at a Memorial and Healing Service at St Thomas’s, Dugort, at 2pm, on September 24, when Achill’s Catholic and Church of Ireland people will begin the marking of 19th century Achill Mission graves in the four churchyards and graveyards of the old Mission.

Chairperson of Achill Young Fine Gael, Tommy English, has welcomed the announcement of €106,925 for a multi-use sports area at Polranny as part of a €516,977 initiative throughout Mayo to get more people involved in sport.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport Michael Ring TD has officially opened a new state-of-the-art facility for Achill Coast Guard Unit, and announced a €200,000 grant for a new Coast Guard boat. The Minister also presented long-service medals.

After last year’s sell out success the ROAR Adventure Race is coming back to Achill this September. This event in 2009 was the first of Ireland’s one day adventure races to offer the option of an entry level to sports and the more extreme challenge of the expert course. The expert course is either a 1000m swim or 3000m kayak in Keel Lough followed by a 15km beach and mountain run taking in the summit of Minaun (662m) and then a 45km cycle including the famous Atlantic Drive costal route.