Ronan Cusack reports that Mask remained in top form again this week with some excellent bags reported, auguring for a great fishing season ahead on the Mayo lake. Water levels and weather conditions were very unsettled mid-week, with huge downpours at night and high winds during daylight hours.  Local Tourmakeady anglers Liam Conroy and Peter Gossan fished on Wednesday last and they had 3 fish for their day (best fish 1.5lbs).

Tracey Rooney has presented a cheque for €5,255 to the End of Life Care Committee of Mayo General Hospital.  At the age of 16, Tracey came up with the idea of a fundraiser for Cancer services at the hospital, as both her parents had died from cancer nine months apart.

Following complaints from a number of Castlebar residents, Sinn Féin Councillor, Thérèse Ruane, has raised concerns about the destruction of habitats and wildlife at Lough Lannagh as a result of the ongoing works at the lake. She welcomes the development of the lake as a public amenity but insists that this can be developed in an environmentally sensitive way which protects wildlife, habitats and its biodiversity. 

A Ballyhaunis petrol station with a convenience store and off-licence has been sold at auction in Galway for €840,000.

An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD visited Road Safety Authoirty (RSA)  headquarters in Ballina, Monday for a ceremony to mark the awarding of Quality, Environmental, and Health and Safety Management System certification to the RSA. The Taoiseach was greeted by Gay Byrne, Chairman, RSA, Noel Brett, Chief Executive, RSA and Maurice Buckley, CEO, NSAI.

South West Mayo Development Company business grant aid and support information evenings prove a great success, signalling developing interest in business start-up and expansion in the region February saw South West Mayo Development Company take to the road, offering information evenings on business grant aid and supports, around South and West Mayo.

Barnacarroll NS were the winners of the category B section (U-13) of Claremorris Credit Union Schools Quiz held at St Colman's college on February 5th.

For the second time in three years, Ballina native Martin Conroy has hooked and landed the first fresh run salmon of the season on the Moy system. This is the earliest date the ‘first fish’ has been reported for a long number of years. The fish was caught today at approximately 9.30am just upstream of the newly refurbished Salmon Weirs, in the Ballina Salmon Anglers water.

Musically talented students from Institutes of Technology around the country are to gather in Castlebar next Tuesday, 6 March, for the national finals of the popular IT Factor Song Contest. Hosted this year by GMIT Castlebar, the finals take place in the Royal Theatre opposite the GMIT campus (Westport Road), Castlebar, from 8pm.

The Emergency Department at Mayo General Hospital has been extremely busy this week, with a high number of patients requiring admission, according to a HSE statement.  The Castlebar hospital continues to be very busy today, and all beds are in use in the hospital at present.