Northwest Express10TH FEBRUARY 2011

10 - 24 Feb 2011 Issue 3 - Volume 12 CEMETERY SERVICES & MAINTENANCE

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Many denied access to dental treatment

By Linda Sherlock

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EOPLE in the Northwest have been hit hard by job losses, pay freezes, cuts in social welfare and tax hikes and as a result innumerable people are not able to afford private healthcare for this reason many are entitled to medical cards. This medical card is supposed to entitle the holder to free dental care, but due to changes imposed by the government in April of last year, this, in reality, is not the case.

Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny pictured entering a public town hall meeting in the Bush Hotel in Carrick on Shannon on Tuesday night. See page two for more. Photo: Liam Sweeney - 087-9089872

Under the new measures introduced in 2010 the range of treatments available are being prioritised in accordance with how necessary they are deemed to be. These measures are intended to protect access to emergency dental care and safeguard services to children and special needs groups, according to the Department of Health and Children. What the measures have actually done, say the Irish Dentists Association (IDA) is to actively undermine the provision of care to those who can least afford it.

According to the HSE Dental Treatment Service, since the restrictions have come in to place, people with a medical card are entitled to one oral examination, two fillings and no limit on extractions per year. This is supposedly the case but some dentists have their own limits. Continued on Page 2

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Many denied access to dental treatment

Continued from front page

Bloggers on Sligo’s Boards.ie, an internet forum where ordinary people discuss different issues, highlighted the fact that there was no dentist in Sligo that was willing to see or treat medical card holders, and this seems to still be the case. A spokesperson from Markievicz House, Sligo, which is run by the HSE, said that they will take medical cards for an emergency only but did name four dental surgeries in Sligo who accept medical cards. However a private dental Surgery in Sligo said that they and no other surgeries in Sligo accept medical cards.

This is not the choice of the dentists themselves; in fact this gravely affects their business. Prior to these measures, some dentists were dependent on medical card holders for up to 90 per cent of their income.

One commenter on Boards.ie said the government see these measures as a way of saving money and have made it impossible for dentists to work and provide treatments on the medical card scheme.

According to the Chief Executive of the IDA, Fintan Hourihan, the govern-

ment decided in 2010 to leave spending on the medical card for dental work at the same level as 2008, not taking in to account that there are 350,000 more people on the medical card now than there were in 2008, bringing the number of holders now to around 1.6 million.

“Now there is only a limited emergency treatment service which is being stretched beyond breaking point. 2008 funding cannot provide any semblance of a dental service for 1.6 million medical card holders, with the result that hundreds of thousands of people will be denied a range of treatments” This radical cost cutting move by the HSE has meant that countless people have and will continue to put painful and necessary dental treatments to the back burner because they cannot afford them, although this applies to non medical card holders too.

This problem seems to be worse in Sligo than in other parts of the Northwest, as two surgeries in Donegal said that medical card holding patients will be taken in for one check-up and two fillings a year, if necessary, and there is

no limit on extractions. The secretary in a leading Carrick-on-Shannon Dental Centre concurred with this.

For people in Sligo and other parts of the Northwest, where access to free dental care has been severely cut back, it will mean more money flowing across the border in to Northern Ireland where dental care can be considerably cheaper.

Bad news for local businesses. The government cuts back the entitlements of the ordinary person, and this in turn effects others’ livelihoods. “Dental Tourism”, that is people who opt to travel for treatment, has increased significantly in recent times and as one commenter on the Sligo Boards put it: “More trips to Enniskillen so..”

People who have paid tax all their working life, and have fallen on hard times and are not in a position to pay for expensive treatments, are now unable to get treatments on their medical cards. Agonizing dental problems cannot be left untreated but this is increasingly the case. This cost-cutting measure has turned an accessible system in to an extremely limited one, affecting the most vulnerable of patients.

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Enda Kenny gets rough ride in Leitrim FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny managed to avoid Vincent Browne this week - but he was subjected to a tirade of abuse at a town hall meeting.

Mr Kenny said he couldn't attend this week's TV3 debate because he had a rally in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, but chaos erupted when an un-

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employed man shouted at Mr Kenny for five minutes.

Bobby Channels (33), a former road sweeper from Finglas in Dublin, asked Mr Kenny how he would create jobs.

But he told Mr Kenny he could "smell it" off him as the FG leader replied. "That was a very vague answer you gave me," Mr Channels said. "I told you I was a road sweeper. You weren't listening to it. I can smell it, I can smell it from here, Enda."

Mr Channels also used extremely strong language and criticised Mr Kenny for not debating Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin -- who he described as "a watery rat" -- and Labour's Eamon Gilmore, who he said was a "waffler".

He also claimed Mr Kenny was "cardboard" and said he had taken everyone for fools.

And Mr Kenny's handlers tried to suggest he was a brother of Sinn Fein TD Aengus O'Snodaigh -- a false claim.

Mr Channels travelled to Leitrim for the event with his brother in law, FG party member Terry Ghusto, who took to the stage and apologised on behalf of Mr Channels.

Mr Ghusto said Mr Channels had just lost his job; his sister had emigrated and his father was unwell. He told the crowd Mr Kenny would make a great Taoiseach.

If you have a story that you want covered in the Northwest Express our editorial team would like to hear from you.

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Roscommon Actor to feature at American WESTERN MOBILITY Film Fest 0311

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A Roscommon actor,Tony Murphy, is currently starring in the first Irish feature film to be accepted for a nomination at the prestigious South by Southwest Film Festival in America. Charlie Casanova is the story of a sociopath who knocks down a working class girl in a hit-and-run and uses a deck of playing cards to determine his fate.

The independent film has made waves since its conception on social networking site Facebook, when Writer-Director Terry McMahon appealed for cast, equipment and locations. It has since received rave reviews from the American Movie world.

South by Southwest 2011 takes place in Austin, Texas from March 10 to 19 and premiers alongside Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson’s anticipated movie, The Beaver and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Source Code.

Tony and the rest of the cast have been invited to attend the ceremony. He also stars in three other films which will be shown in America this year: Death or Canada,The Line and Paladin.

Funding withdrawn from Galway airport THE future of Galway’s airport suffered a serious blow this week as Noel Dempsey, Minister of Transport, announced that the Public Service Obligation Funding is to be withdrawn from the Galway to Dublin Aer Arann Service. Of the eight to ten flights that depart Galway daily, three fly direct to Dublin.

The removal of this essential funding, in excess of 960,000, is expected to have a devastating impact on Galway’s economy.

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technological and scientific sectors.

These sectors are heavily reliant on the airport, flying over 20,000 executives on this route annually. The airport is also a vital means of communication for international markets.

In proposals by the Department of Transport, the airport is also expected to suffer the loss of 1.3 million under the Value for Money Operational Subvention.

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Despite insistence from the Government that the new improved M6 will sufficiently connect Galway and Dublin, in the absence of the flight, Mr Michael Coyle CEO of the Galway chamber of Commerce has admitted “Without government support we won’t have an airport in Galway”.

Westport Company to Puppies dumped down charity chute Amazingly, the dogs, believed to be ten create 20 new jobs to twelve week old terrier cross pup,

Allergan Inc., a multi speciality health care company, has recently announced that it will locate the manufacture of its newest medical technology at it manufacturing facility in Westport.

The Technology, Seriscaffold, is a silk based surgical scaffold for use in tissue generation in therapeutic areas, including breast reduction.

Preparation for the transfer of the manufacturing process will commence in 2011 and represents $10 million investment at the Westport site. Full commercial production will relocate to Ireland from Boston in 2013, creating approximately 20 new jobs in the Mayo facility. Allergan is one of the world’s leading companies in medical aesthetics and currently employs around 860 people.

THE Galway Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) have hit out at cowardly brutes who left two puppies for dead after dumping them down a St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) bag chute in Galway city.

were not injured after falling about ten feet down the chute used for donating clothes and other items to the SVP outside normal hours.

When SVP volunteers arrived and found the terrified pups it was discovered they had not even been put in a box or given a blanket to break their fall.

The GSPCA were contacted and have since found foster homes for the pups.

The organisation suspected that the dogs were dumped by irresponsible owners who took the lazy way to getting rid of them. Although this was the organisations first instance of finding animals being dumped down a chute, they are all too familiar with unwanted puppies and kittens being abandoned on the side of the road or in the country.

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Official Opening of the Hamilton Gallery SLIGO’S cultural infrastructure received a timely boost on February 3rd last, with the official opening of the Hamilton Gallery on Castle Street, Sligo.The Gallery intends to portray new works by upcoming and existing artists.

Ruairi O Cuiv, independent and Public Arts Manager with Dublin City Council, opened the gallery with the initial exhibition displaying “Ummeryroe” as part of the collection of paintings by Artist John O’ Connor.

Ummeryroe was the artist’s mother’s birthplace in County Sligo.

Recent visits to the site evoked memories of halfburied experiences and attachments, obliging the artist to retrace his steps on several levels. O’ Connors strong personal bond with Sligo is evident through his art, particulary in this, his first solo exhibition.

Highly successful voting registration day IN an attempt to increase the number of students who will vote in the 2011 Election on February 25, the Union of Students in Ireland and the Sligo IT Students Union organised a registration day which encouraged students to get on the regsiter of electors.

Such events were organised in almost all the Universities and Institutes of Technology around the country during the last week and almost three hundred Sligo students registered on the day.

Student Union President of Sligo IT, Breffni Gorman, welcomes the addition of names to the register “today we have seen how strongly they feel about their own future”, he remarked.

Toastmasters Open Night IN an attempt to increase the number of students who will vote in the 2011 Election on February 25, the Union of Students in Ireland and the Sligo IT Students Union organised a registration day which encouraged students to get on the regsiter of electors.

Such events were organised in almost all the Universities and Institutes of Technology around the country during the last week and almost three hundred Sligo students registered on the day.

Student Union President of Sligo IT, Breffni Gorman, welcomes the addition of names to the register “today we have seen how strongly they feel about their own future”, he remarked.

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Donegal’s Seamus Coleman is Player of the Year DONEGAL man Seamus Coleman, who performed impressively for Ireland in their 3-0 win over Wales this week was recently honoured at the 21st annual FAI International Football Awards which took place in Dublin.

The Everton and Republic of Ireland player was crowned the U21 Player of the Year at the prestigious event, an honour he also took in 2009.

The rising football star from Killybegs has continued to shine in recent times when he signed a four and a half year deal with Everton in January of this year.

Also honoured at the ceremony were the Republic of Ireland’s women’s U17 squad, which included Sligo town native Emme Hansbury. The team were awarded the Special Merit Award for their successful FIFA Women’s World Cup Campaign, as they came close to glory in Trinidad and Tobago last September, until their eventual defeat by Japan.

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Up to 50 jobs may be saved at Gallaghers A deal has been done to save up to 50 jobs at Gallagher’s Bakery in Ardara, according to Donegal South West Fianna Fail candidate Brian O Domhnaill. The Senator confirmed that the Swiss parent company, IAWS, has accepted a bid for the fresh food part of the bakery.

Senator Ó Domhnaill explained, “A group of senior employees at Gallaghers submitted an offer to IAWS to take over the fresh food part of the bakery in a bid to save between 40 and 50 jobs. Management have now accepted this, and the process is underway to transfer this section of the business to its new owners.

This is a huge relief for Ardara, following last month’s news that the entire bakery was set to close with the loss of all 189 jobs.”

Up until recently the family owned Gallaghers operated 24 hours a day, producing bread, cakes and pastries for markets throughout Ireland and in the UK. IAWS have been resolute in their decision to transfer the frozen production part of Gallaghers, the Cuisine de France range, to its existing facility in Dublin, which will mean a loss of around 140 jobs, a huge blow for the local community, but the saving of the fresh food part of the company will be a relief for some workers.

Lissadell family renews battle as they face 6m costs

THE owners of Lissadell House in Sligo are appealing last month’s High Court rejection of their claim that there were no rights of way through the estate.

Last week the costs of the case, an estimated 6m, were awarded to Sligo County Council against the owners, barristers Constance Cassidy and Edward

Walsh. Judge Bryan McMahon put a stay on the costs order on the basis the couple’s lawyers would seek a hearing of their appeal to the High Court as soon as possible.

Senior counsel for the couple Brian Murray, said although it was taking up to three years for the Supreme Court to hear appeals, he hoped this one could be heard within a year, not because the owners wanted it heard as soon as possible but also because it was a matter that related to rights of way “throughout the country generally”.

The couple had claimed four routes through the 410-acre estate were not subject to any public rights of way but the judge upheld the council’s arguments that they were.

When the case came back before the judge yesterday, he awarded the council the full costs of the case.

Mr. Murray sought a stay on the costs order which was granted by Judge McMahon on the basis that the owners would seek an expedited hearing from the Supreme Court.

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THE search is on to find the 2011 Roses from counties in the Northwest, who will compete at local levels in the hope of going forward to compete at the 50th Rose of Tralee in August. Winners of local heats will get a chance to compete at regional heats in July, with the eventual winner in August will taking home a 25,000 travel prize, the use of a brand new car for a year and a complete collection of Newbridge Silver home ware and jewellery products.

Local heats will take place in counties around the Northwest including Sligo, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and businesses, sports and groups who would like to nominate a candidate are being invited to do so.

Organisers are seeking women between the ages of 18 and 28 years old, of Irish heritage and with ambition and aspirations to get involved.

Anyone who would like to enter can download a form from the festival website.

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Politician talk

by Seamus Casey

Model Andrea Roche to choose Miss Universe hopeful

QUAYSIDE Shopping Centre Sligo is the host and main sponsor of the most spectacular fashion and beauty extravaganza ever held in Sligo, where the modelling world’s next big star may

be discovered. Hosting the fashion extravaganza, due to take place on Fenruary 19 and 20, is Former Ms. Ireland Andrea Roche, who recently set up her own model agency. On her books are famous models such as Rosanna Davison, Pippa O’Connor and Rozanna Purcell.

Andrea will personally manage the show for the weekend along with her expert team.

The first event of the weekend takes place on Saturday February 19 and invites the local community to participate by taking part in family fashion shows. All those taking park will receive a complimentary Quayside gift for their efforts.

On Sunday February 20, Andrea will host the first Miss Universe Ireland Sligo Pageant where local ladies will showcase a taste of the Spring/Summer collections from selected retailers. In the course of this event, one model will be chosen to represent Sligo in the grand final of the Miss Universe Ireland Competition in Dublin in May. The winner will be crowned

by Andrea at 4.15 pm on the Sunday.

Catherine Mullaney, Centre Manager, Quayside Shopping Centre Sligo said “This promises

Castlebar woman crowned ‘Curvette of the Year’

CASTLEBAR woman Edel Moran has been awarded the title of Curvette of the Year in a competition run by women’s fitness and exercise club, Curves.

The competition, now in its fourth year, was judged on the basis of weight loss and overall positive life changes since joining Curves. The adjudicators included Brendan Courtney of RTE’s Off The Rails and fashion blogger and presenter Lorna Weightman.

Edel, 24, lost an impressive three stone and dropped four dress sizes in eight months as a result of the Curves programme. The judges selected a fi-

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nalist from each province as well as two wild cards, all of whom got the model treatment for a day when they were styled for their own professional photo shoot. Edel says she is grateful to Curves for the encouragement she has received, “Curves has changed my life, I feel so much healthier and my fitness levels are so much better than this time last year.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Curves.” She has been presented with a two year membership for Curves Ireland, a dream holiday from Sunway Travel and a voucher from Debenhams.

THE

to be an absolutely fabulous fashion weekend and we are delighted that Andrea Roche is hosting the two day event for us and that local families and aspiring models get the chance to participate in the extravaganza”.

Quayside Shops will have great offers during the Fashion Extravaganza weekend and there will be a prize draw for charity on both days.

0810

SINCE musical drama show Glee hit our screens in 2009 many people throughout the Northwest have been affected by what has been termed ‘Gleemania’.

The upbeat show has captured the hearts of music lovers and now the people of Longford are getting in on the fun too since a local lady has been inspired to set up her own Glee Club.

Lisa Fox of Edgeworthstown has a background in professional song and dance and drama and decided to put her credentials good use after becoming a fan of the show in the last couple of years. She now runs clubs throughout Longford and Roscommon which cater to primary school age children who take songs from the show and choreograph dance routines and drama scenes as well as some solo performances.

The clubs have so far been a huge hit with children and their parents alike. For further information contact Lisa Fox on 0877619605.

Historic Keash banner returns to Sligo SLIGO County Council last year purchased an Historic Sligo Banner from the late 19th century, and hope to eventually put it on display in Ballymote Library. The banner illustrates the crest of the Keash Branch of the United Irish League, a nationalist party launched in 1898 and with the Motto “The Land for the People”.

The banner was sold at Whyte’s Auction in December last year and was purchased by Sligo County Council for 7,700.

The banner, painted by Dublin artist Samuel Rowan Watson, would have been carried at all the large meetings and marches of the Home Rule campaign in Sligo in the early 1900s. The piece of history was recently brought out to Keash Hall to give locals a chance to view it up close.

The banner needs some restoration work but history enthusiasts and locals alike are all hoping it will eventually be displayed in Ballymote Library for all to see.

I wonder how many of the below will be trotted out over the next couople of weeks: He has a clear vision for our future.

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He's running a grassroots campaign.

He cares about children and families.

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'Sophisticated electorate' 'A man of the people', a la bertie "In the national interest" "the most vulnerable in society" I do not accept that .

I'm glad you asked me that Lets be quite clear about this Going forward Economic reality I get a real sense of That's not what I'm hearing What the people want Politics is about people What we're hearing on the doorsteps Political reform is needed Can I speak Vincent?

Sligo team feature in RTE science series A team of youngsters from Carraroe, Co. Sligo feature in a new science adventure programme called The Mountain, which begins on Friday February 11 at 5pm on RTE 2.

Colin Gilligan age twelve, Eoin Davey age 11 and Eania McGarry age 11 will compete against a team from Armagh in a series of science based challenges around an adventure style course.

For the show, teams of three young people aged between 10 and 12 must make use of scientific knowledge given to them to complete tasks in different rounds.

The 12 part series was filmed in May of last year at the Carlingford Adventure Centre and is presented by Sinead Ni Churnain.

Claremorris Radio Station receives top award A local radio station in Claremorris, Co. Mayo, has been honoured with the prestigious Mixcloud Internet Award, which has recognised the community station as one of the top Talk Cloudcasters of 2010.

Mixcloud are an internet initiative who stream radio stations, DJ mixes and pod casts to listeners across the world.

Station Manager at Claremorris Community Radio, Kevin Griffiths, says; “We are very pleased to have been placed in such high regard by the users of Mixcloud. It is due to the hard work of all involved at the station that we continue to grow and deliver programming that is not only appreciated locally but also by listeners across the globe.”

Some of the others that are also recognized in the awards are Guardian Music Weekly, Barack Obama's weekly address, London School of Economics and the BBC.The station has been completely operated by volunteers since 2004 and all programmes are broadcast on 94.6 fm as well as being streamed online.

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Terry Wogan documentary showcases the Northwest MILLIONS of people around the UK tuned in recently to see images of the Northwest and the rest of Ireland, on BBC’s Documentary, Terry Wogan’s Ireland.

For the two part series, the veteran broadcaster returned to Ireland for the first time in 40 years, stepping back in to his past to explore how the country helped shape him and what it means to be Irish in the 21st century.

The second episode of Wogan’s personal journey aired on BBC 1 is said to have attracted over eight million viewers. The documentary, filmed in July, featured beautiful aerial footage of the coast as well as Sligo’s Benbulben Mountain.

Tourism Ireland hope that a show like this will help to keep Ireland in mind with the British consumer.

Niall Gibbons,Tourism Ireland’s chief executive, said: “The publicity value of a programme like ‘Terry Wogan’s Ireland’ is incalculable; it really is an excellent way of showcasing Galway and the West of Ireland to a huge, nationwide audience of potential holidaymakers across Britain”

Acts confirmed for Ballymote music fest THE Temple House Music & Arts Festival, which was recently voted “Best New European” Festival at the European Festival Awards, has announced a great line up for this year’s event, and organisers hope to attract even more music revellers for their second year.

Acts confirmed include Something Happens, The Saw Doctors, Andrew Strong, The Walls, Interference and DJ Wool aka Glen Brady, who will all perform at this year’s three day music and arts extravaganza from 10-12 June along with more acts still to be announced.

Described by one of last year’s attendees as “A wonderful festival, like a smaller, friendlier Glastonbury”, the

Temple House Music & Arts Festival is a three day, multi-stage boutique music festival held in the picturesque grounds of the Temple House Estate near Ballymote in Sligo. The festival has a capacity of 5000 and promises to be a little bit different from other festivals, providing a chilled out atmosphere in idyllic surroundings.

Live music from over 80 acts will be complemented by a unique arts trail featuring individual and very distinctive installations in the Temple House woods as well as woodcrafts, archery and a range of children’s activities for the under twelves. Tired revellers will be able to chill out and experience holistic treatments in the Sanctuary.

Urgent appeal from Oxfam shops in the Northwest

THE Oxfam Castlebar shop and shops around the Northwest are urgently appealing for donations of saleable items because stock levels are critically low. The volume of donations of stock to Oxfam shops has fallen dramatically in the past couple of years and it has left stock at acutely low levels.

You can support the Oxfam Castlebar shop by donating anything you can spare: books, CDs, DVDs, shoes, belts, handbags, dresses, shirts, trousers, suits, wedding dresses, home wares or any items of good quality that you no longer need. The people of the Northwest have been generous in the past and Oxfam Ireland can raise, on average, around 35 from a donated bag of clothes in good condition and these donations of stock allow Oxfam to change many peoples’ lives.

The Oxfam Castlebar shop is located at Market Square, Link Road, Castlebar, if you are able to donate good quality saleable items shop manager Catherine Cunniffe and her team urgently need it. According to Catherine, “We have always received tremendous support from the people of Castlebar and County Mayo; in recent times we have found many more people are visiting our shop to buy items but unfortunately it has come at a time when people are less able to donate stock, so it has made the situation very difficult for us.”

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• The latest 2011 Motorbikes and Accessories • Giacomo Agostini - Show Opener - Grand Prix Racing Legend • Mai-Lin - Europe's Top Female Street Style Stunt Rider - Live in Action • Short Flat Track Races • Santa Pod Drag Bike Burnouts • Ireland's AMD International Custom Bike Competition • Evel Knievel - A once in a lifetime chance to see the Roadshow direct from the USA. • 'Nitro Girls' - Mad Max Inspired Stage show • 'Babe of the Year' Competition • Motorbike Lifestyle Fashion Shows • The Amazing Wall of Death • Meet Race Stars Jeremy McWilliams, Eugene Laverty, Steve Plater • Go Karts • Mini Motos • Race Bike Simulators • The Wheelie Bike • The Rodeo Bull We have teamed up with The Carole Nash Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show to offer 10 pairs of tickets to our readers! To be in with a chance of winning simply answer the follwing question.

Q: At the show you can meet Jeremy McWilliams, Eugene Laverty and which other race star?

Simply write your answer, along with your name, address and telephone number on the back of a postcard and send it in to: Irish Motorbike & Scooter Show Competition, IBS Publications, Unit 3 Riverview House, Barrett Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Closing Date for entries is Thursday 17th February.Terms and conditions apply.Winners will be notified by post and a list of winners will be published in the next edition of Northwest Express.

Rite Product - Rite Price Rite Choice!

RITE Price Kitchens is wholly owned by Cherrymore Wholesale Kitchens, who are long established suppliers of kitchens to the trade and retail markets throughout Ireland.

Being a family run business, we have acquired a reputation for supplying customers with their kitchen - how they want it, when they want it, and at the right price. We take great care with your order at every stage. From our helpful office staff who receive, check and process your order, to the individual production cell that has total accountability for constructing your kitchen, to the delivery crew who’ll ensure your kitchen makes it into your home in the same condition it left the factory, there is a dedicated team making sure the whole process goes smoothly. And many of our clients are returning customers, who also show their satisfaction with our products by recommending us to friends and family.

Our manufacturing business has been established for over 12 years. Our northwest based factories, which produce thousands of kitchen cabinets each week, are fitted with the latest computer controlled machinery, while our warehouses, covering hundreds of thousands of square feet, allow us to deliver our products direct from stock.

At Cherrymore Kitchens, we are constantly striving to provide the best service we possibly can, and as such, we welcome your comments. Feel free to contact us at any time with any questions you may have. Email: sales@ritepricekitchens.ie or Tel: 074-9722500

IT Sligo offers new ground breaking degree course IT Sligo announced last week that its Department of Environmental Science has been successful in gaining approval for a ground-breaking new degree in Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, which will commence in September.

The initiative is unique in that it is the first Environmental Science course that embeds energy and energy management with other environmental disciplines into a science degree.

Course Co-ordinator and IT Sligo Science lecturer Declan Feeney said: “We feel that this whole area is going to rapidly expand, especially along the West and North West coast in terms of renewable energy from wind farms and ocean energy. IT Sligo will have the graduates to work with these technologies. It’s a very practical course with many practical elements to it.”

Typically graduates from this programme will find employment as environmental and energy officers in most types of industry, commercial organisations, public institutions, local authorities, energy and environment consultancy companies or in government bodies, A wind turbine which has recently been erected at IT Sligo which will be used in the course of this programme.

Sligo team feature in RTE science series A team of youngsters from Carraroe, Co. Sligo feature in a new science adventure programme called The Mountain, which begins on Friday February 11 at 5pm on RTE 2.

Colin Gilligan age twelve, Eoin Davey age 11 and Eania McGarry age 11 will compete against a team from Armagh in a series of science based challenges around an adventure style course.

For the show, teams of three young people aged between 10 and 12 must make use of scientific knowledge given to them to complete tasks in different rounds.

The 12 part series was filmed in May of last year at the Carlingford Adventure Centre and is presented by Sinead Ni Churnain.

We’re now bigger and better!

BASED in Leitrim village, but accessible to anybody throughout the North-west, Leitrim Indoor Shooting if rapidly becoming the “in place” for individuals or groups seeking a “fun” experience in a safe, welcoming environment.

When we called to the facility we were impressed by the welcoming atmosphere – the feeling we were not just visitors, but actually guests.

Anybody who calls in can be assured of VIP treatment from Jim, David, Finbar, Enda or Alan.You will not be disappointed and your experience will be something you will be happy to talk to friends about.

For those who have not yet had the experience it is worthwhile looking at just what’s on offer. The facility is a perfect add-on for Hen Parties, Stag Parties, Birthday Par-

ties, Corporate Events, Work Outings, Special Event, in addition to Christmas, Easter and seasonal celebrations. In fact, it is ideal for any event where people wish to have a fun time, in a safe, alcohol-free environment, indoors out of the Irish weather . . . and is suitable for all ages.

When you visit you will want to return. Our visit coincided with an outing arranged by a language school from Sligo. We understand many of these have returned for individual visits . . . and the feedback was tremendous. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer: AIRSOFT GUNS: The guns used are fully licensed replica Airsoft guns, consisting of hand-guns/pistols, machine guns and bolt-action rifles. Your experience will start with an introduction to gun safety and the guns. A range of targets, suitable for beginners and more advanced, is available in the sixteen-lane shooting range. Paper shapes, tin cans . . . and much more . . . to be targeted.

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Chatterbox Designs- Boyle’s treasure trove of jewellery and accessories CHATTERBOX Designs in the Arcade Boyle, has became the talk of the town and for a very good reason. This treasure trove is the ideal place to source exclu- sive and unique jewellery and accessories for any occasion.

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MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY “The toughest part of a diet isn't watching what you eat. It's watching what other people eat” Weeks 12 and 13

The last two weeks have seen me shed a further 3 pounds which I suppose is better than nothing at all. I can’t believe how great I feel now that it’s slowly coming off me.

Every evening for the last week at 5pm I do my 3 mile walk and I actually look forward to it. I put on my headphones and listen to some of my favourite tunes on my ipod and off I go pounding the streets. I find that it’s forty minutes that you can forget about work, the economy and the elections and get lost in your own world. Next week I will hopefully step it up to 4 miles.

I’m beginning to use the Nutron website (www.nutronadvanced.com) more often for ideas on different menus. It has any amount of delicious recipes that are healthy and you will find ones there for breakfast, dinner and supper. It is a great help to get some new ideas because the one thing that you can find is that you end up eating pretty much the same food every other day. Take for instance yesterday I began my day with bananas wrapped in bacon, Sounds like a strange combination but it works! The sweetness of the banana mixes with the savoury bacon. It helps to make the rashers as lean as possible by trimming as much of the fat as you can.

The following recipe is enough to serve four Ingredients • 4 bananas • 4 slices of lean rashers Method - 1. Peel the bananas – remove the stringy bits as they’re often bitter 2. Wrap each banana tightly with a slice of rasher, then wrap the lot in tin foil 3. Put a skewer lengthways through the banana 4. Cook on the grill for around 10 minutes until the rasher is cooked through Then for lunch I had a baked potatoe with some tuna.

For dinner I had a Spanish omlette. Omelettes can make a quick and filling meal, they are very healthy, especially if you take care to include lots of vegetables.

Why not try this variation on the traditional omelette?

Ingredients • 1 dessertspoon oil • 2 onions, chopped • 1 green pepper, cored and chopped • Black pepper • 4 eggs • 2 large potatoes chopped and boiled • 1 dessertspoon chopped parsley Instructions 1 Heat 1 dessertspoon of oil in a frying pan.

2 Add the onions and cook until soft.

3 Add the red pepper, cook for 5 minutes.

4 Beat the eggs in a bowl. Add pepper.

5 Stir the potatoes, parsley and fried vegetables into the egg mixture.

6 Pour the egg mixture into the heated frying pan and spread evenly to the edge.

7 Cook for 5 minutes until the egg mixture comes away from the side of the pan.

8 Place the pan under a pre-heated moderate grill for about 3 minutes to cook the top of the omelette.

There are loads of recipes like the above on the website and from now on I will be using it a lot more.

Week

Date

Current Pounds Weight -/+

-

12/11

22st 4lb

1

Total Lost

-

-

17/11 21st 10lb

-8lb

8lb

2

24/11

21st 3lb

-7lb

1st 1lb

3

1/12

21st 5lb

+2lb

13 lb

4

8/12

20st 14lb

-5lb

1st 4lb

5

15/12

20st 9lb

-5lb

1st 9lb

6

22/12 20st 11lb

+2lb

1st 7lb

7

29/12

21st 5lb

+8lb

13lb

8

5/01

21st 2lb

-3lb

1st 2lb

9

12/01 20st 10lb

-6lb

1st 8lb

10

19/01

20st 8lb

-2lb

1st 10lb

11

26/01

20st 4lb

-4lb

2st 0lb

12

02/02

20st 2lb

-2lb

2st 2lb

13

09/02

20st 1lb

-1lb

2st 3lb

“I don't really like the idea of putting my weight on here for everyone to see, but I think it is crucial to my success in this lifestyle change.

I need to learn that it doesn't matter what people may think of my weight.

I am trying to get healthier and happier and that's all that matters”

What is Nutron Advanced?

Nutron Advanced uses the Alcat test to identify reactions to over 200 foods, chemicals and other substances associated with inflammation that are linked to chronic health problems like migraines, aching joints, fatigue, gastrointestinal disorders, eczema, hyperactivity/ADD, asthma and even obesity.

Their goal is to provide clients with accurate, timely and dependable test results and nutritional support services.

It is not so much a diet but a list of foods that do and don’t agree with a person. To find out what foods do and don’t agree with you a simple blood test was carried out on me in their clinic in Castlebar.

After ten days I went back to Liz O Malley for the results and she had a chart which identified which foods I had a mild intolerance to, a moderate intolerance to and a severe intolerance to.Then there is a green list which is completely ok for me to stick to. See attached chart.The test also showed up that there was a Candida Albicans in my system.

So basically the whole idea is eat the food that agrees with your system and stay away from ones that can make you bloated and tired.

If you have any questions relating to NuTron Advanced please visit www.nutronadvanced.com or contact Kathryn on 091 797803 or 087 2219692

A First time voters take on politics

By Rachael Kelly

ON the 25th of February 2011, I will cast my first vote as an eighteen-year-old student.

As one of the most important elections our country has yet to experience approaches Ireland has been enveloped by a wave of political frenzy.

Smiling campaign posters dominate landscapes, hopeful politicians rush from door to door desperate for votes and the media is comprised almost solely of political debated and support polls I feel that today’s pressurised politicians have immensely overlooked the power of youth.

With almost 25% of today’s voters estimated to be under the age of thirty and an expected 2% still unregistered, although eligible to vote, we as the younger generation have immense influence on the outcome of this election.

However, few political campaigns or supposed policies are aimed to inform or impress younger voters. As Nelson Mandela quotes “Speak to a man in a foreign language, it goes to his head, speak to him in a language he understands it goes straight to his heart”.

While Harvard and Cambridge graduates may understand the meaning of “an autarky”, the average Irish youth will not.

This is not because we are less erudite or indeed less interested but solely because we receive inadequate political education.

While through Home-Economics we learn the importance of healthy eating, business teaches us the structure of an organisation and science instills in us an awareness of our surroundings, we are ignorant to our political rights and responsibilities, our political composition and the meaning of basic political terms.

As Mandela added “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” if we are to achieve a perfect democracy involving members of each socio-economic group, I think it is essential that from an early age we begin to realise our political system.

On a daily basis I hear people complaining about dramatically increasing immigration rates, sky-high unemployment and ever-rising mortgage rates as our idyllic island remains engulfed by a severe economic recession.

Yet, statistics show that less than 70% of eligible voters used their vote in the last election.

I struggle to comprehend why so many people who are obviously not impressed with the way our country is governed, ignore not only their right but also their responsibility to vote, when our ancestors fought and died in order to gain us the opportunity to do so.

Certainly, within the past few years, many politicians have abused their positions, racking up enormous expenses at the cost of the taxpayer.Yet, ultimately we, the people of Ireland, put them in the positions where they could do so. For too long, we have been willing to accept with questioning our Governments decisions.

As elected ministers, representing the people of Ireland, surely they should be welcoming interest and queries from the people voted them there.

If not, they don’t deserve and shouldn’t receive our support.

As a part-time worker I don’t want my hard earned tax providing weekly manicures for over-privileged ministers or petrol for the Taoiseach’s shiny new 2011 car, I want to know exactly where my money is been spent.

One of the major faults, I believe, in Irelands voting patterns is party loyalty. Even within my small, rural community in today’s 21st century society there are families who will only vote Fianna Fail and those who will only vote Fine Gael. Without even considering the proposed policies of a candidate decisions are made based solely on their backing party.

If we, the upcoming generation, are to elect the most capable individual we must look beyond family loyalties.

For the first time in my life, I will influence the Government of Ireland.

And I appeal to all my peers to vote. Ok,

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German Artist Builds Hotel Using Garbage from All Over Europe

science news & technology

Camera lets parents 'spy' on their teenage drivers A US company has developed a two-way camera designed to record the antics of teenage drivers at the wheel.

One lens is pointed at the driver, while the other looks out of the windscreen and captures the action on the road.

DriveCam, the San Diego-based firm that makes the camera, claims that it doesn't record every moment of travel. It documents the ten seconds before and after an irregular movement made by the driver.

The device also has a microphone to record the sound inside the car.

The technology has proved a big hit in the US, to the point that an insurance company - American Family Insurance - is giving the cameras away to its policy holders.

The idea is that parents can keep track of their teenage children who have recently started driving and may not be as experienced as the

Ha Schult, an artist from Germany, decided to create a temporary 5-room hotel from materials he was able to find in landfills, beaches and flea markets.

The materials rang from balloons to guitars and all of them were gathered in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The house was built in the center of the City of Madrid and was called the Beach Garbage Hotel.

It is worth mentioning that the building was erected to protest marine pollution, which leads to the damage of ecosystem around the globe.

One can find this hotel in Plaza de Callao.

The Beach Garbage Hotel will close on January 23rd. Amusingly enough, it opened the same day the annual International Tourism Fair did.

According to Schult, the goal was to show that today the oceans are being used as a huge garbage dump, reports EcoFriend.

World's First Skyscraper Was Erected in Britain, Not the United States UNTILL now two skyscrapers were involved in the competition for the first skyscraper ever built - the Home Insurance building, erected in 1885 in Chicago and Equitable Life Assurance Building, constructed in 1870 in New York.

Recently, however, it was unveiled that the earliest skyscraper was built in Britain by Charles Burton. His creation was a 1,000 foot (305 meters) high metal and glass structure, which was erected after he was called to redesign The Crystal Palace. The latter was a famous London exhibition building built 30-odd years before the American buildings.

It would be interesting to note that after the Great Exhibition that took place back in 1851 it was decided to move The Crystal Palace from Hyde Park.

Burton was the one who proposed stacking an iron frame 50 storeys high. Thus he was the first to suggest constructing a skyscraper.

The designs of the building were published in The Builder in 1851/2.

In the end, Sydenham in south east London became the place where the Palace was brought piece by piece. The building was renamed Crystal Palace. The fire of 1936 destroyed the building.

On January 19, the architectural plan of Charles Burton is going to be auctioned at the annual Bonhams Gentleman's Library Sale. It is expected to be purchased for between GBP800-1,000 ($1,200-1,600).

majority of road users.

A spokesman for American Family Insurance said: "The Teen Safe Driver Program reduces risky driver behaviour by 70 percent according to an independent review by the University of Iowa."

Footage is sent to analysts who watch the tapes and give feedback to the families. Parents are also prompted to talk to their children about the recordings.

At present, the scheme is only operating in the US, but if its success continues, then there's every chance that similar plans could be introduced in the UK.

Chernobyl to Be Opened for Tourists A little bit of history: on April 26, 1986, reactor No.4 in Chernobyl exploded, spreading radiation over a large part of northern Europe. Thousands of people from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus reported serious health problems.

After the explosions a highly contaminated region within a 30-mile radius of the reactor was closed and no one was allowed to go there. It was called the exclusion zone. Recently the Emergency Situations Ministry spokeswoman Yulia Yershova stated that specialists are working on travel routes around Chernobyl.

These routes, according to the Yershova, will be both medically safe and informative for all guests. Still, no information on the dates of the tours was given.

In addition, the ministry mentioned that it looks forward to finishing a new safety shell for the reactor. The new shell is expected to be ready by 2015. It will be used to cover the original iron-andconcrete shell that currently covers the reactor and which has been leaking radiation and cracking.

The shell will be large enough to cover the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York. Initially the cost of project was estimated at $505 million (euro380 million) but over the last several years it increased to over $1.15 billion (euro870 million). The main factor to influence the cost was stricter safety requirements, reports WashingtonPost.

Jumbo Hostel - Spend the Night in a Comfy Passenger Plane If you visit Stockholm you have the chance to spend some time onboard of a retired 747-200 plane, which has been transformed into a hostel.

In order to save the plane from being turned into junk, it was decided to turn it into a low-cost, fully-furnished hostel.

Dubbed Jumbo Hostel, the large passenger plane is located in the Stockholm-Arlanda airport. It boasts a long history of service, being initially constructed for the Singapore Airlines. It also made a few flights for Pan Am. The plane's last flight was made for

Transjet, a Swedish airline that went bankrupt. It is worth mentioning that the hostel include 25 six square-meter rooms, each having 3 bunk beds. The lucky ones may have the chance to spend the night in the cockpit.

Visitors will also have the possibility to see some original parts of the plane, including first class seats, lounge bar and even oxygen masks.

Several new rooms are to be built in the engine compartments. It would be interesting to note that in these rooms the original rotor blades will play the role of venetian blinds.

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Critics blast Royal Wedding condoms

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Man stabbed with knife, robbed at gunpoint, locked in taxi boot, and bitten by two snakes at same time struck by lightning while on phone!

A London-based company has been criticised for launching Prince William and Kate Middleton-themed condoms to celebrate the Royal Wedding.

Critics of the firm, Crown Jewels Condoms Of Distinction, say the move marks a new low for Royal Wedding memorabilia.

Majesty Magazine editor Ingrid Seward said: "This is completely tasteless and rather hurtful. Prince William has a great sense of humour but this is a step too far."

The Crown Jewels Condoms Of Distinction are sold in royal purple packs with an image of the Royal couple on the front.

The packaging instructs users to "lie back and think of England" and adds: "Like a Royal Wedding, intercourse with a loved one is an unforgettable occasion."

Company spokesman Hugh Pomfret says: "We set our craftsmen to create these heirloom quality love sheaths. In years to come they'll be a memento of a magical day."

Describing themselves as the world's leading supplier of heritage prophylactics, the company has already shifted more than 1,000 packs on their website. However, the condoms carry a disclaimer advising would-be lovers they are designed as a souvenir and are not suitable for contraception or to prevent STDs. "But since our prophylactics are designed as an heirloom product, we would encourage people to keep hold of them as a memento of a special national occasion," Mr Pomfret added.

The loneliness of the long distance trucker A fleet of long distance lorry drivers who miss their families are now taking them along for the ride - on the side of their trucks.

Four truckers have had enormous 13 metre long by two metre high photos of their families stuck on the entire side of the trailers so they can be with them wherever they travel.

The drivers, who work for Savage Haulage yard in March, Cambridgeshire, can often be on the road for five days a week, but now being apart from their loved ones is a little easier. Each lorry features an interior family shot on one side and an exterior photo on the other for the art project Take Me With You, which is exploring the theme of absence. .

Mother-of-five Lindsey Scott, 45, from Huntingdon, is one of four drivers who have the portraits on their lorries.

She said: "I find it hard being away from my family five days a week so I guess this is the next best thing."

John Wade Agan, titled the 'unluckiest man in the world', has been taken to hospital, AGAIN, after he was struck by lightning while using a landline telephone in his Florida home.

The 47-year-old was taken to Tampa General Hospital, and said he had woken up surrounded by paramedics with a hole burned in his sock.

The last thing he remembers is leaning over a metal sink, with a severe storm raging outside, speaking on the phone.

Agan has hit headlines in the past because of his extraordinary misfortune, which included an incident four years ago when he was robbed at gunpoint while driving his taxi and got locked in the boot.

He also suffered injuries after being stabbed in the chest with a butcher's knife in 2008, and, more recently in 2009, he claimed he was bitten by two snakes at the same time.

Although experts have questioned whether all

his injuries are genuine - especially the snake incident and now the lightning strike - he stands by his claims.

Some have suggested he is an attention seeker, or even self-harming (in the most bizarre ways possible) in order to receive pain medication.

But this time he also has the word of his daughter, Misty, to back him up as she was at home when he was apparently befallen by the freak bolt from the sky.

'I don't care what people say. Any day of the week, I'll go take a [lie detector] test,' Mr Agan told the St Petersburg Times.

Immigration officer put wife on terror list An immigration officer was so sick of his wife that he put her on a terrorist watch list so she couldn't get home from Pakistan.

The officer added her name to the register of people banned from flights into the UK while she was visiting family overseas, reports The Mirror.

When she went to the airport to get her return flight back, officials told her she could not board the plane and did not explain why.

She called her husband,

who promised to look into it - but left her stuck in Pakistan for three years while he had the "time of his life".

An immigration source said: "A lot of people may dislike their other halves but to do this takes it to the next level.

"Needless to say she was confused when she got to the airport as she had never been involved in anything criminal or terrorist related.

"She obviously thought her husband, being an immigration officer, would be able

to find out what was going on.

"Little did she know it was him who had put her on the list. By all accounts he then had the time of his life."

The officer was caught out when bosses vetted him after he went for a promotion that required him to have a higher level of security clearance.

They realised his wife was on the watch list and asked him for an explanation. He had no choice but to confess what he had done - and was fired.

Labradors can sniff out cancer LABRADOR retrievers can detect the early stages of bowel cancer with more than 90% accuracy, according to a new study.

Previous research has suggested certain breeds, usually labradors or Portuguese water dogs, can sniff out bladder, skin, lung, breast and ovarian cancers.

Trained dogs have also picked up melanomas by sniffing skin lesions, while even domestic pets have raised the alarm with agitated behaviour which led their owners to seek medical advice.

For bowel cancer, the current

NHS screening programme uses a test which detects minute amounts of blood in stool samples - but it detects only one in ten early cases.

The latest research, published in the journal Gut, found an astonishingly high success rate. Over several months, researchers used the labrador to carry out 74 sniff tests.

Each test group comprised one sample from a patient with bowel cancer, and four control samples from those who were clear. The samples were randomly placed into five boxes. The labrador's abil-

ity to detect cancer in breath samples was 95% accurate overall, and 98% accurate for stool samples.

"The accuracy was high even for early cancer," said the Japanese study. "These odour materials may become effective tools in screening."

They acknowledge that it might be difficult to use dogs in clinical practice owing to the expense and time it takes to train them.

But they hope that cancer-specific compounds detected by dogs could be incorporated into a new electronic sensor.

Another driver, Paul Stearman, 41, added: "I'm usually away from Sunday to Thursday

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naturalhealth

The information provided to you on this page is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice and it is important that you do not make medical decisions without first consulting your doctor or other healthcare professional.

Healthy Eating - Benefits by Colour Every minute of every day, the human body is making over 200 million new cells - and at the same time, the same number of worn out and redundant old cells will be dying off. To do this and stay healthy, the body needs over 70 nutrients.

Nobody has the time or even the inclination to sit down with this long list and work out what they should be giving their family to eat to keep them healthy but what you can do is learn a little about the more important foods and their health benefits and then make sure these are the ones making the more regular guest appearances at the dinner table and in the school lunch box.

The best way to get and keep younger kids interested in healthy food is to make it fun and look like you enjoy it too. In our household, for example, we use a Rainbow Food Chart to encourage all of us to eat more fruits and vegetables. See our Rainbow Recipes for some useful ideas.

It stays in the kitchen and works like a Star Chart for good behaviour, but with Power Animal stickers (see below). The idea is for each

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family member to aim for at least five portions or fruit and vegetables (combined) from the following foods each day. Charting the health benefits of different foods by their colour is not only fun for kids, it makes it easier for mums and dads to remember which nutrients each food provides.

Red Foods Tomatoes are rich in cancer-preventing lycopene, which becomes more bioavailable when the tomatoes have been cooked - making tomato ketchup a better source that a raw salad tomato. Red kidney beans are an excellent source of iron. Team with rice to provide a complete protein meal. In Chinese medicine, kidney beans are used to nurture the kidneys.

Strawberries are rich in vitamin C and fibre, and are also a fantastic source of ellagic acid - a powerful phytochemical that can block the action of cancer-causing agents in the food and environment. They contain pectin fibre and gram for gram, are an even better source of fibre than wholegrain breads.

Orange Foods A single carrot contains enough beta-carotene - the substance that the body converts to vitamin A - to provide enough of this important antioxidant for the day.

Vitamin A plays a key role in maintaining the health of the body's inner and outer membrane surfaces and so is useful in preventing respiratory and skin complaints. If you think carrots are good, take a look at the health benefits of pumpkins, which have FOUR TIMES more beta-carotene as a large carrot. Pumpkin seed oil, which you can now buy in supermarkets as well as health stores in the UK, is a fabulous source of zinc - low levels of which have been implicated in hyperactivity in kids and reproductive problems in adults. Most people only think of oranges as a source of immune-boosting vitamin C, but they also provide folacin or folic acid - which plays a role in the formation of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Oranges supply pectin; a soluble fibre which slows down food absorption after meals and which removes unwanted toxins.

Yellow Foods Sweetcorn is an excellent source of protein and vitamin B1, which works in the body to break down carbohydrates and convert them to that allimportant body fuel, glucose, for energy. Beware the tinned versions though - these contain five times more natural sugar than fresh corn and lots of unhealthy salt. Fresh corn was always traditionally cooked with lime to boost otherwise low niacin (vitamin B3) levels. Niacin is important for the synthesis of sex hormones and plays a key role in maintaining good moods. Lentils are rich in isoflavones - cancer-preventing phytochemicals that prevent the growth of oestrogendependent tumours. They are one of the best sources of genistein - the bestknown of the isoflavones, which has been shown to kill off leukaemia cells in mice. Lentils also provide both im-

portant types of fibre - soluble to slow down the passage of food through the gut and maximise absorption of nutrients, and insoluble or dietary fibre to help keep the colon cleansed. A member of the pea family, lentils are also rich in iron, potassium and copper.

Bananas strengthen the stomach lining and help lower blood cholesterol levels. They have a natural antibiotic action to help protect the body from infections and are an almost perfect 'fast food', providing a generous intake of potassium - which works to maintain a healthy heart. Bananas also provide vitamin B6, which helps regulate hormones and act as a natural probiotic in the body to build and support higher levels of the good bacteria that promote healthy digestion.

Green Foods If your kids eat no other vegetable all week, try and sneak broccoli onto their plates. It contains indoles, which can protect against cell damage and cancers; monoterpenes, which are antioxidants; and sulphoraphane, which supports the work of enzymes that stop carcinogens from damaging healthy cells. Broccoli helps the body make energy and is also an excellent source of vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and folic acid - which helps make red blood cells and DNA. Hard to believebut those dinky little Kiwi fruits actually contain more immune strengthening vitamin C than oranges. Low in calories - just 45 calories per fruit - Kiwi, which is also known as Chinese gooseberry, can also satisfy a sweet tooth without piling on the weight.

Blue, Purple & Black Foods Rich in the antioxidant monoterpenes that protect tissues from free radical damage, aubergines are member of the solanacae family, which includes peppers and tomatoes. What happens is that the active ingredients in the aubergine bind with cholesterol from the diet in the intestinal tract, thereby preventing it from entering the bloodstream. Black aduki beans are the quickest of all the beans to cook, the lowest in calories, and the highest in nutritional content. Like all beans, are a good source of folic acid, which is involved in making red blood cells.

Beans also provide zinc, which plays a key role in cell division and repair.

There's a good reason for taking purple grapes to people recovering in hospital - they have long been associated with convalescence and detoxification and can help relieve a wide range of ailments from teen skin disorders to urinary infections. They have a cleansing effect on all the body's systems and in test-tube studies have been shown to have both antiviral and antibacterial properties.

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Dealing with Stress STRESS in itself isn't necessarily harmful. Everyone needs goals and challenges. But too much can be damaging.

We explain how to spot when stress is becoming unmanageable and suggest ways to deal with it. Stress is a well-known trigger for depression and it can also affect your physical health.

So it's important to identify the causes of stress in your life and try to minimise them.

Any sort of loss, from bereavement, divorce and separation to a child leaving home, causes stress, as do long-term illness and disability. But things such as marriage, moving house, a new job and holidays have quite high stress ratings too. In work, worrying about deadlines or about not being up to the challenges of a particular task can cause stress.

Symptoms of stress • Increased irritability • Sensitivity to criticism • Signs of tension • Difficulty getting to sleep • Early morning waking • Drinking and smoking more • Indigestion • Loss of concentration Dealing with stress The secret of managing stress is to look after yourself and, where possible, to remove some of the causes of stress. If you start to feel things are getting on top of you, give yourself some breathing space.

Take a day off work, domestic chores, family and everything else that puts pressure on you.

Spend the day doing only relaxing things that make you feel good. It can make all the difference, reducing the threat to your wellbeing.

It's important to act to relieve damaging stress before it affects your physical or mental health Coping with stress • Accept offers of practical help • Do one thing at a time • Know your own limits • Talk to someone • Let off steam in a way that causes no harm (shout, scream or hit a pillow) • Avoid stressful situations • Try to spend time with people who are rewarding rather than critical and judgmental • Practise slow breathing using the lower part of the lungs • Use relaxation techniques Work-related stress Stress caused by work is the second biggest occupational health problem in the UK (after back problems). Because there's still a stigma attached to mental health problems, employees are often reluctant to seek help in case they're seen as unable to cope.

Many situations can lead to stress at work. These include: • Poor relationships with colleagues • an unsupportive boss • Lack of consultation and com-

munication • Too much interference with your private, social or family life • Too much or too little to do • Too much pressure, with unrealistic deadlines • Work that's too difficult or not demanding enough • Lack of control over the way the work is done • Poor working conditions • Being in the wrong job • Feeling undervalued • Insecurity and the threat of unemployment When people feel under impossible pressure at work, they tend to work harder and harder to try to close the gap between what they're achieving and what they think they should be achieving.

They stop taking breaks and lose touch with their own needs.

Tackling work stress There are general things you can do: • Talk to someone you trust - at work or outside - about the things that are upsetting you • Use whatever counselling or support is available • Work regular hours and take all the breaks and holidays you're entitled to.

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Galway races opens as summer festival

blast past from the

Looking back at the 50’s

All Ireland glory for Mayo and Galway

1959, The Galway Races begins as a summer festival, lasting three days in duration. In 1959, the three day sporting event becomes the highlight of the business year for most local people and businesses across Galway city. Crowds flocked from all over the world for the race meetings and the races as we know it today came into being. It was around that time that the people of the west realised that the pub underneath the Corrib Stand, now known as the Killanin Stand, which is located at the show grounds, was in fact the longest bar in the world. The pub retained the status for many years and was well known for its feat throughout County Galway.

1950 and 1951 proved to be golden years for the Mayo senior football team who grabbed All Ireland glory, beating Louth, when their own Sean Boyle had his kick-out charged down by Mayo's Mick Flanagan, who broke through with a freak winning goal. It was tight match, with Louth one point ahead, when

Mick Flanagan became Mayo's hero and brought the county its second All Ireland title! The score line at the end of the match was 2-5 (11) to 16 (9).

The following year, success came roaring back to Mayo, who were hungry yet again to keep Sam west side, against Meath. The win came

with three late points from Padraig Carney (known as the flying doctor because he had returned from the United States to play the game), giving Mayo a 2-8 (14) to 0-9 (9) win over the Royal County.

In 1956, the Sam McGuire cup passed the Shannon once again and found itself a home in County Gal-

way. The Joyce Country boys snatched the crown and glory from Cork with fabulous football from legendary Sean Purcell and Frank Stockwell in attack. The two men hailed as the 'terrible twins' were the winning formula against the 'Rebel boys', which brought Galway a 2-13 victory against Cork's 3-07.

Helsinki Olympics Glories to Zatopek

17 Year old ‘Little Mo’ wins Wimbledon 1952, Maureen Connolly, "Little Mo" to all her American fans, has won the Wimbledon singles title at her first attempt at the age of just 17 - the youngest All-England champion since the 15-year-old prodigy Lottie Dod last century.

The solid, unruffled strength and consistency of her ground strokes, her backhand in particular, have been well known to Americans for the past year. But Louise Brough, three times champion since the War and playing her fifth Wimbledon final, might have been expected to make her experience tell. She led 54 in the first set, and three deuces were called before the young Californian took the tenth game. Thereafter she gradually wore down the older player, and in the end won comfortably 7-5, 6-3.

1952, Helsinki's Olympic Games, held in the Finns' magnificent new stadium and opened with their greatest Olympian.

Paavo Nurmi, lighting the flame, will long be remembered by the British as the one in which they very nearly failed to win a single gold medal. It was not until a quarter of an hour before the closing ceremony, in the centre of the great stadium, that Colonel Harry Llewellyn and Foxhunter jumped a clear round to give Britain's showjumping team the Prix des Nations title.

One man, though, dominated the Games: Emil Zatopek. The 29 year-old Czech not only regained his 1948 title by winning the 10,000 metres, but also sprinted round four men on the final bend to win the 5,000 metres and then, three days later, attempted the first marathon of his life, and won it by a minute and a half. Asked what it was like, he said it was boring.

It was an unprecedented treble, with all three performances setting new Olympic records.

And if that wasn't enough, his wife Dana set an Oylmpic record for the javelin by 15 feet.

Word Puzzle!

Did you know?

Here is a game that you can play to test your skill. This game will present you with a matrix filled with letters. The objective is to form words by concatenating adjacent letters. Letters that are to the left, right, on top, bottom, or on a diagonal to each other are all acceptable.

Inventors of cash register did not cash in James Ritty owned the Pony House in Dayton, Ohio in the 1880s, where his customers included Buffalo Bill Cody, Jack Dempsey and John Dillinger. But the profits from Ritty’s saloon often went into his cashiers’ pockets instead of his own. In 1878, on a trip to Europe, he noticed a device on the ship that counted the propeller’s revolutions. It inspired Ritty to invent, with the help of his brother John, the cash register which they patented in 1879 as the “Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier.” They added a bell that rang when the register was opened, introducing the Cha Ching! sound all business owners love to hear often.

But they did not market the cash machine much and in 1884 sold the idea to James and Frank Patterson for $6,500.The Pattersons made good use of it at their company called National Cash Register Company, now known as NCR Corporation.

NCR was acquired by AT&T in 1991 for $7.4 billion.

SAMPLE PUZZLE Here are some words that can be found in this sample matrix: any chant panel path trench Here are some words that are not valid in this puzzle: chance - uses the 'c' twice chaps - 's' is not adjacent

1. Tricky mule icon. (anag.) One of the 32, the east of which forms part of the Golden Vale. (6,8) 8. Mischievous spirit in Leitrim procession. (3) 9. B.A. loves to confuse and forgive sins. (7) 12. Part of Castlecomer otherwise in decay. (3) 13. British Rail initially at unruly child. (4) 14. Southern vehicle will leave its mark. (4) 16. Pleasurable time had in Westport reattribution. (5) 18. The French lay out in the back lane. (5) 20. Wavy foreign dagger used in Limerick rising. (4) 22. " 'Tis distance lends enchantment to the ----," Thomas Campbell (4) 24. Criminal rev. (anag.) Longford town flower! (5,6) 26. Last word in Tuam enjoyment. (4) 27. South East no reversal for 2 down. (4) 28. Bottom line figure in potato tally. (5) 29. "Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to -----." Robert Southey. (5) 32. Stumble on day out. (4) 34. Or at odds with the duty list. (4) 36. "All moanday, tearsday, wailsday, thumpsday, frightday, shatterday till the fear of the ---" James Joyce (3) 37. Been far over to Offaly village near Clonmacnoise, founded in 492 by St. Gallen? (7) 38. Five take first class return by way of Rome. (3) 39. Let Con lose rent over capital thoroughfare. (8,6)

DOWN 1. Or cam cracks Sir. (anag) Old Monaghan town, world famous for lace. (14) 2. Is nut able to bring together bodies of soldiers? (5) 3. Irishman comes back to control the flow of liquid.

(3) 4. Rail about the teller of porkies. (4) 5. Doctor takes good man to the majority back in Tarbert sometimes. (4) 6. Portion of Adare lettuce patch is rented out again.

(5) 7. Town's water went turbulent in Tyrone angling centre at the confluence of the Strule and Glenelly. (14) 10. Tall C.O. by not being ruffled led us to east Cork resort with excellent sea fishing. (11)

The featured image, from NCR’s history pages, is Ritty’s first model of the cash register, on which the sales were displayed on a clock-like face. His later designs would include a cash drawer and paper roll for printing the registered cash exchanges.

11. "I can't talk religion to a man with bodily hunger in his ---s." G.B. Shaw. (3) 13. Pair will provide a tight support. (5) 15. Cis sang about the outer covers. (7) 17.Viol air to pasta dish. (7) 21. Anger evident when land is taken from this country! (3) 23. Hotel that is free for Yeats lake retreat? (3) 25. A malt brewed in the Mediterranean. (5) 30. Nothing very loud is just not on. (3) 31. I turn to Italian city shrouded in mystery. (5) 33. Soft boreen is flat. (5) 34. Tear around at speed in Connemara territory. (4) 35. Late ruffle of duck. (4) 38. Barrel causing nostalgia for turn-over tax! (3)

LAST ISSUE’S

ANSWERS

To be in with a chance of winning, fill out the crossword and your your name, telephone number and address and Competition, Northwest Express, Unit 3, Riverview House, Barret Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo. - Good Luck!!

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15. cobby 16. coble 17. coho 18. cop 19. ebb

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11. chop 12. cob 13. cobb 14. cobble

Name:   Address:      number: Telephone   

Social media is more popular than porn At around 500 BC Greek philosopher Hiraclitus wrote that “the only constant is change.” Not much has changed since.

Good prevails.

Movies with strong sexual or violence content usually bomb at the box office, as we pointed out in More Movies.

Even video games outsell porn videos (and, in fact, all videos/DVDs). And if you think that the words “sex” or “porn” are the most searched words on Google you are wrong. At an early stage of Google – and AltaVista, Northern Light and Yahoo! and the almost 2000 other search engines – “sex” briefly did become the most searched word but the word “God” has remained at the top of searches for many years. Until recently.

Search engines do not publish their most searched word but looking at the Google timeline for the most searched word it is clear that it changes all the time. The fastest rising searched word in 2009 was “michael Jackson” and in 2010 it was “chatrolette.” (In 2008 it was “sarah palin”.)

Let’s put this in perspective. Google, which commands some 70% of searches in most of the world, had indexed 1 trillion URLs (Uniform Resource Locater – web page addresses) by 2008 and has been adding millions by the day, handling more than a billion search queries per day. Although 1 trillion web URLs is thought to be only 20% of the total Internet – the World Wide Web being the public part of the whole Internet, the rest are company intranets or private web pages – the pubpost to Puzzle Time lic searches for the words “sex” or “porn” has remained at around 300 million per month, much less than some other words. Even at the world’s second most popular search engine, YouTube (a Google property – and a nice one at that) the most searched word in the world at this time is said to also be…

“Facebook.”

That should come as no surprise. After all, Facebook is the 2nd most popular social service in the world, trailing the Chinese IM QQ with only 150 million users (but Facebook is said to have more active users than QQ). Add other massive social net  working sites such as Orkut, Hi5, Mixi,Tagged,Twitter and many     others and it becomes clear that good does indeed prevail – porn networks lag them.

Socialization is here to stay, needless to say. It’s always been here.

Being social is part of our DNA. People love people. We communicate. It is a very kind thing to do. That is what makes the world go around.

Will Facebook – on any other web social network – always be here? Nothing is cast in stone. Every month more than two million new babies are born in India and China – English is not the most spoken language in the world and becoming less so. Facebook has some way to go to equal the domination that the likes of Microsoft Windows or Coca-Cola hold in their markets glob    ally. But social communication will stay. People will always look     for “sex” or “porn” or “God” – in whatever language.

6. bop 7. bub 8. bubo 9. buy 10. bye

ACROSS

WIN! 25

1. bebop 2. bel 3. bey 4. bleb 5. boho

PUZZLE TIME

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ZOE RAHMAN: TOP JAZZ AT THE LINENHALL

Jazz wunderkind pianist Zoe mesmerising pianist is aided and Rahman performs her trio and abetted by a top-notch rhythm brother Idris Rahman at the section featuring American Linenhall Arts Centre in Castle- drummer Gene Calderazzo and bar on Monday 14th February at British bass player Oli Hayhurst.

8.00pm as part of a Music Net- In the words of jazz reviewer work tour.

Chris Parker, brace yourself for Since winning Perrier Young “all the punch, pith and sheer Jazz Musician of the Year in 1999, verve of the Rahman live act.” pianist Zoe Rahman has quickly The Zoe Rahman Trio perestablished herself as one of the forms with Idris Rahman at the  brightest stars on the contem- Linenhall Arts Centre on Mon jazz scene. Her second day 14th February  porary at 8.00pm.   Booking  advised.  Tel: 094 album, “Melting Pot”, was nomi0910 nated in 2006 for the Mercury 9023733 Music Prize and more recently The Linenhall Arts Centre acshe achieved an achingly beautiful knowledges the financial support fusion of jazz, classical and Ben- of the Arts Council in making gali music in her highly-acclaimed this concert possible.

“Where Rivers Meet”. Zoe’s willingness to explore musical "Anyone who's seen Zoe Rahboundaries is matched by her man live will be aware of an extechnical brilliance. Noted for ceptional talent." - Mojo her inventiveness, explosive "Staggering….uplifting and ma technique and the tumbling cas- jestic….great to see music of in  cades of notes she often trades tegrity still  being made."    Blues and  Soul Magawith her brother, honey-toned Snowboy, clarinetist Idris Rahman, this zine=   0310

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THE cosmic post-rock band Mogwai were formed in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1996 by guitarist/vocalist Stuart Braithwaite, guitarist Dominic Aitchison, and drummer Martin Bulloch, longtime friends with the goal of creating "serious guitar music." Toward that end they added another guitarist, John Cummings, before debuting in March 1996 with the single "Tuner," a rarity in the Mogwai discography for its prominent vocals; the follow-up, a split single with Dweeb titled "Angels vs.

Aliens," landed in the Top Ten on the British indie charts. Following appearances on a series of compilations, Mogwai returned later in the year with the 7" "Summer"; after another early-1997 single, "New Paths to Helicon," they issued Ten Rapid, a collection of their earliest material.

Around the time that Mogwai recorded the superb 1997 EP 4 Satin, former Teenage Fanclub and Telstar Ponies member Brendan O'Hare joined the lineup in time for the recording of Mogwai's debut studio LP, Mogwai Young Team, exiting a short time later to return to his primary projects, Macrocosmica and Fiend.

Again a quartet, Mogwai next issued 1998's Kicking a Dead Pig, a two-disc remix collection; the No Education = No Future (Fuck the Curfew) EP appeared a few months later. In 1999, they released Come on Die Young. Rock Action arrived in early 2001. Late that year, Mogwai released the My Father, My King EP; two years later, they issued the ironically titled Happy Songs for Happy People. Government Commissions: BBC Sessions 1996-2004 arrived early in 2005.

Mr. Beast, which was released in 2006, found the band going in a softer, more reflective direction. Late that year, the band's collaboration with Clint Mansell on the soundtrack to The Fountain arrived; Mogwai also crafted the score for Douglas Gordon's Zidane:A 21st Century Portrait, which was released in the U.K. in 2006 and in the U.S. the following spring.The Batcat EP, which featured a collaboration with garage-psych legend Roky Erickson, arrived in late summer 2008, heralding the release of The Hawk Is Howling -- which reunited the band with producer Andy Miller for the first time in a decade -- that fall. In 2010, Mogwai released their first live album, Special Moves, as a package with the Vincent Moon-directed concert film Burning.

Mogwai will be playing the Roisin Dubh in Galway on 14 February. check out www.roisindubh.net for more details

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4* COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL   CONNEMARA, CO. GALWAY CANDLELIGHT, TURF FIRES AND MUCH MORE TEL: 095-31001  www.cashel-house-hotel.com  0209 0209          

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GRUMPY OLD WOMEN!

CHIN-UP recession Ireland,The Grumpies Fight Back!

Three of Ireland’s Top Grumps bring their brand new show to The Royal Theatre on 27th February 2011 After 4 sell-out UK tours and also tours of Australia, New Zealand and loads of other places too damn hot to

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DAVID MUNNELLY: TOP TRAD AT THE LINENHALL

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BALLET Theatre UK's New Production of the classic ballet Cinderella tells everyone's favourite rages to riches story.

Cinderella is tormented by her spiteful stepsisters and would do anything to attend the Price's glamerous ball. Rejected upset and alone, Cinderella's Fairy God  intervenes  mother and transforms   her into a glittering Princess who    go to the ball. shall   Join Cinderella on her adventure  of daring magic, hansom   princes, 

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Catered for You

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CARNIVAL   MARQUEES 

Niall on 086-1595093  contact        

          

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John Barrett Mobile: 087-9827298 Email: jjbarrett50ie@yahoo.ie   www.cateredforyou.net  

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Dance Floors - Bar Units - Toilets - Lighting - Tables & Chairs - Catering

glass slippers, and see if she can find her "happy ever after"....

Prokofiev'ss uplifting  score  to-   gether with sumptous costumes     and sets conjure up the magical fan  perfectly.  tasy world of Cinderella Ballet Theatre UK promises to enchant you with  this fairytale  pro duction of breath taking beauty    and   delight, showcasing of   a company    young and talented international  dancers. Tickets  are on Sale now      18.00 - 20.00 on www.ticketmaster.ie.      

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Full Packages available, see Website for details

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THEATRE PROUDLY   PRESENTS CINDERELLA 

ONE of the hottest bands on the Traditional music scene, the David Munnelly Band performs at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Tuesday 22nd February at 8.00pm.

Established in 2000 by Belmullet-born button accordion wizard David Munnelly, this exciting sextet combines button accordion, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, piano, bodhrán and flute for a high-spirited instrumental sound coloured witha  bit of jazz and ragtime and extraordinary percussive dancing topped with the singing of All-  Ireland champion Shauna Mullin. "The Irish band  to see" (according to The Irish Voice) has won   special acclaim for incorporating the sound of   the 1920s and 1930s and such bands as the  Band  Flanagan Brothers. The David Munnelly performs at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Tuesday 22nd February at 8.00pm. Booking advised.   Tel: 094 9023733 The Linenhall Arts Centre ac-   knowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this concert possible.

“The E Street Band of Irish Traditional Music” - Siobhan Long, Irish Times “Munnelly is arguably the best button box player in the world...This is a uniquely gifted group of musicians playing unexcelled Trad music.

These guys are the best." - Irish-American News

Pool Tables Video Jukeboxes Coin & Note Operated Machines

Ballina, Co. Mayo

Crawford O’Brien (whose collective age is frankly unprintable), will host an orgy of middle aged mayhem in this 90 minutes of theatrical HRT, with not a thong in sight! “Grumpy Old Women” is the biggest Grump-Fest ever held in Ireland and if you enjoyed “Menopause The Musical”, you will love this too!

Expect ninety minutes of advanced Grumping - plus vital tips on getting through these gloomy gloomy days the Grumpy Irish way!

“A slickly scripted evening of comedy” Dominic Maxwell, The Times “The perfect ticket … more uplifting than a reinforced Wonderbra.” **** Bruce Dessau, Evening Standard The rampaging, rumbustious show is tailor-made for women.”***** Robert Gore-Langton, Daily Mail visit at this stage of your life… “Grumpy Tickets are on Sale 23rd December Old Women” comes to Ireland!   on www.ticketmaster.ie Have you reached that certain age?  39.20 - 44.20  The Royal Box Officeon Are you more likely to be shakingyour as well as from 0818 300 rolling pin than shaking your booty?   000. For further information please check the Royal Theatre & Event Are you a little bit hot?  Centre   website  on: www.theroyal.ie or Are you a little bit hairy?    Adele King, Flo Mc Sweeney and Una www.ticketmaster.ie

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Dr. Jerry Cowley Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children - 5 Children, 3 Boys + 2 Girls Q3. Occupation - General Practitioner + Barrister Q4.Type of car that you drive - Opel Omega Q5. Favourite food - Vegetable Balti Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Glass of Red Wine Q7. Favourite TV program - (no current affairs) Natural World Q8. Favourite actress - Julia Roberts Q9. Favourite actor - Hugh Grant Q10. Favourite singer/band - The Beatles Q11.What music are you currently listening to Walsh in the afternoon - Mid West Radio Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Never rented a movie Q13.What book are you currently reading - Nothing at the moment Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Colm McManamon, Burrishoole Football Club Trainer Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Eamonn Gilmore, Michael Davitt, Barack Obama, Dr. Noel Brownm Lorna Siggins

Michael Kilcoyne

Independent

Mayo

Candidates 2011

Rose Conway-Walsh

Q1. Maritial status - Separated Q2. How many children - Two Q3. Occupation - Siptu Official Q4.Type of car that you drive - Ford Focus Q5. Favourite food - Fish Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Ginger Ale Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Wildlife Q8. Favourite actress - Julia Roberts Q9. Favourite actor - Robert DeNero Q10. Favourite singer/band - Andrea Bocelli Q11.What music are you currently listening to The Best of Andrea Bocelli Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out Escape from Alcatraz Q13.What book are you currently reading - Dreams from my father by Barrack Obama and JFK in Ireland Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be My mother , my daughter, my son, Julia, Roberts and of course my significant other.

Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2.How many children - 2 Q3.Occupation - Community Development Manager & County Councillor Q4.Type of car that you drive - Toyota Avensis Q5.Favourite food - Fish Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Vodka and Tonic Q7.Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - RAW Q8.Favourite actress - Helen Mirren Q9.Favourite actor - Liam Neelson Q10.Favourite singer/band - Bryan Adams Q11.What music are you currently listening to Matt Cardle – When we collide Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Can’t remember Q13.What book are you currently reading - Lorna Siggins – Once Upon a Time in the West Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Katie Rowland Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Nelson Mandella, Mother Teresa, Ghandi, Regina Mc Nulty, Rachel Monaghan

Thérese Ruane

Michelle Mulherin

Q1. Maritial status - Single Q2.How many children - none but lots of nieces and nephews!

Q3.Occupation -Enterprise Development Officer supporting women entrepreneurs to set up businesses Q4.Type of car that you drive - Suzuki Swift Q5.Favourite food -Thai food; lots of fruit, Spanish omelette, Roast chicken Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Guinness Q7.Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Raw Q8.Favourite actress - Cate Blanchett/Juliette Binoche Q9.Favourite actor - Cillian Murphy Daniel Day Lewis Q10.Favourite singer/band - Kila, Coldplay Mercedes Sosa - Esta Es Mi Historia Q11.What music are you currently listening to - Tom Waits Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Catfish Q13.What book are you currently reading - Sky Burial Q14 Sports star you admire the most - Katie Taylor / Katie Rowland / Rafael Nadal Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5?

Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson, Rosa Parks, my Aunty Rita, Che Guevara

Q1.Maritial status - Single Q2.How many children - None Q3.Occupation - Solicitor Q4.Type of car that you drive - Golf Q5.Favourite food - Vindaloo Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Merlot Q7.Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Special Victims Unit Q8.Favourite actress - Anne Hathaway Q9.Favourite actor - Colin Firth Q10.Favourite singer/band - Sawdoctors Q11. What music are you currently listening to Unfortunately none Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Can't remember, it's been so long Q13. What book are you currently reading - I'm hoping to read Brick Lane but it will have to wait until after the election Q14 Sports star you admire the most - Sonia O'Sullivan, she showed fantastic grit and determination, what we need now as a country. Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be - Aung San Suu Kyi would get my undivided attention

Dara Calleary

John O'Mahony

Q1.Maritial status - Single Q2.How many children - None Q3.Occupation - Full-time Public Representative Q4.Type of car that you drive - Audi A4 Q5.Favourite food - Steak Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Guinness Q7.Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Raw Q8.Favourite actress - Julia Roberts Q9. Favourite actor - Brendan Gleeson Q10. Favourite singer/band - Damien Dempsey Q11.What music are you currently listening to - Mumford and Sons Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - The Hangover Q13.What book are you currently reading - Tony Blair Q14. Sports star you admire the most -Gavin Duffy Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Nelson Mandela, John F Kennedy, Kenny Dalgish, Eamon De Valera, Paul McGrath

Q1. Maritial status Married to - Gerardine Q2.How many children - Five Q3.Occupation - TD Q4.Type of car that you drive - Toyota Avensis Q5.Favourite food - Chicken Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - A glass of red wine Q7.Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - operation transformation Q8. Favourite actress - MerylStreep Q9. Favourite actor -Liam Neeson Q10.Favourite singer/band - Van Morrison Q11 What music are you currently listening to - My ipod is on shuffle at the moment!

Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges Q13 What book are you currently reading - The Club by Christy O'Connor Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Sonia O'Sullivan Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your5be Jose Mourinho, Sam Maguire, Mary Davis, John Hume, Nelson Mandela

Sligo & North Leitrim

Candidates 2011

Alwyn Love

Independent

Michael Colreavy Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children - 8 adult children; 5 grandchildren Q3. Occupation - Fulltime public representative (Formerly IT Project Manager) Q4.Type of car that you drive -06 Toyota Avensis Q5. Favourite food - Irish Fry Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Guinness Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Shameless Q8. Favourite actress - Sinéad Cusack Q9. Favourite actor - Richard Harris RIP Q10. Favourite singer/band - Dervish Q11.What music are you currently listening to - John Carty & Brian Rooney: Meadbh – The Crimson Path Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Hunger Q13.What book are you currently reading - Much Obliged Jeeves –PG Wodehouse Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Donal Og Cusack Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Jesus; Seán MacDiarmada; Che Guevara; Countess Markievicz; Spike Milligan

Gabriel Mc Sharry

Independent

Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children -3 Q3.Occupation- Electrican Q4.Type of car that you drive-Mazda 323 Q5.Favourite food- Steak & Chips Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Ballygowan Q7.Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Any Sports program Q8.Favourite actress- Maureen O'Hara Q9.Favourite actor- John Wayne Q10.Favourite singer/band-Leonard Cohen Q11.What music are you currently listening to - Whatever the kids have on the radio!

Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out- I Dont rent movies, watching fairytales on current affairs programs for the last number of weeks.

Q13.What book are you currently reading- How to win friends and influence people Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Sonia O'Sullivan Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be - My Family

Q1. Maritial status - Married to Rita.

Q2. How many children - 4 Childern, One deceased- John.

Q3. Occupation - Lecturer Culinary Art. Q4.Type of car that you drive -Kubi Star.

Q5. Favourite food – Fruit, Meat, Chicken.

Q6. Favourite drink when socialising Glencar Sparkling water.

Q7. Favourite TV program - All Sports programmes.

Q8. Favourite actress - Nicole Kidmann.

Q9. Favourite actor - Mel Gibson.

Q10. Favourite singer/band - U2 Q11.What music are you currently listening to - Classical.

Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Avitar Q13.What book are you currently reading - Gardening To Day. Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Mohammed ALI Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be – Jesus Christ, Mohammed Ali, Elvis, Madonna and Ghandi.

Michael Clarke

Johnny Gogan

Independent

Q2. How many children three sons Q3.Occupation -Politician, Farmer & Publican Q4.Type of car that you drive - A Silver Saloon Car Q5. Favourite food - Cabbage and Bacon Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Diet 7up Q7.Favourite TV program ? realing back the years Q8. Favourite actress - Angelina Jolie Q9. Favourite actor - George Clooney and George Freeman Q10. Favourite singer/band - West Life Q11. What music are you currently listening to -Irish Music Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Man about Dog Q13. What book are you currently reading - Linda Kearins a Revolutionary Irish Woman Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Easten harps Ross Donavan Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Gandhi,. Mother Theresa, Gerry Ryan, John Hume and Pat Short

Q1. Maritial status - Couple Cohabiting Q2. How many children - 2 Q3. Occupation - writer/film-maker Q4.Type of car that you drive - Toyota Corolla Estate (reg 1998) Q5. Favourite food - Falafel Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Stout Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - House Q8. Favourite actress Helen Mirren Q9. Favourite actor Johnny Depp Q10. Favourite singer/band Cathal Coughlan Q11.What music are you currently listening to? - Anything

by CALEXICO Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out? District 9 Q13.What book are you currently reading? Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor Q14. Sports star you admire the most Shay Given Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be?

Nelson Mandela, Phil Lynnot, Albert Einstein, Mary Robinson, John McGahern.

Veronica Cawley

Dick Cahill

Independent Labour

Q1. Maritial status - Married to John Q2. How many children - 5 Q3. Occupation - Administration IT Sligo Q4.Type of car that you drive - Mazda Q5. Favourite food - Chocolate Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Coors Light Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) Fair City Q8. Favourite actress - Pauline McGlynn Q9. Favourite actor - Gabriel Byrne Q10. Favourite singer/band - Crystal Swing Q11.What music are you currently listening to - Hard Times Tommy Fleming Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out Calendar Girls Q13 What book are you currently reading “All Politics is Local” Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Mary Cullen Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be President Obama, Mary McAleese, John Crown, Nelson Mandela, Billy Connolly

Independent

Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children - 3 adult kids Q3.Occupation -Retired Inspector - Civil Servant Q4.Type of car that you drive - Ford Mondeo Q5. Favourite food - Steak and Onion Q6.Favourite drink when socialising - Paddy and Red Q7.Favourite TV program - Downton Abbey Q8. Favourite actress - Jennifer Aniston Q9. Favourite actor - Ralph Fiennes Q10. Favourite singer/band - Pavarotti Q11. What music are you currently listening to - Lyric FM Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Kings Speech Q13. What book are you currently reading - Born Fighting Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Henry Shefflin Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be My Wife, John Thune, Barack Obama, Ian Paisley, Eamon Dunphy

Roscommon / South Leitrim Candidates 2011

Ivan Connaughton

John Kelly

Q1. Maritial status - Single Q2. How many children - None Q3. Occupation - Auctioneer Q4. Type of car that you drive - Hyundai Santa Fe Q5. Favourite food - Chicken Curry Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Guinness Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Match of the Day Q8. Favourite actress Cameron Diaz Q9. Favourite actor Morgan Freeman Q10. Favourite singer/band Red Hot Chili peppers Q11.What music are you currently listening to - No time during the election campaign Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Invictus Q13. What book are you currently reading - Barack Obama Q14 Sports star you admire the most - Padraig Harrington Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Nelson Mandela, Eamon de Valera, Paidi O'Se, Michael O' Muircheartaigh, Sean Quinn

Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children - 3 Q3. Occupation - Public Representative Q4. Type of car that you drive - Passat Q5. Favourite food - Spagetti Bolonais Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Smithwicks Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Match of the Day Q8. Favourite actress - Jennifer Aniston Q9. Favourite actor - Bruce Willis Q10. Favourite singer/band - Smokie Q11.What music are you currently listening to - none Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - My cousin Vinny Q13. What book are you currently reading -Out of the flames by Philip Coogan Q14. Sports star you admire the most - Eric Cantona Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be -Eamon Gilmore,Pat Rabbitte,Pat Gallagher, Comedian Noel D Walsh Northern Sound radio and my wife Brid

Denis Naughten

Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan

Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children 3 – Liam, Ava & Eoin Q3. Occupation - Full-time politician Q4. Type of car that you drive - Family friendly Toyota Corolla Verso Q5. Favourite food - My mother’s Sunday dinner Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Guinness Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) -CSI/Criminal Minds Q8. Favourite actress - Saoirse Ronan Q9. Favourite actor -Liam Neeson Q10. Favourite singer/band - Phil Collins Q11. What music are you currently listening to - The Script Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Toy Story 3 Q13. What book are you currently reading -The Lost Symbol Q14. Sports star you admire the most - The late Dermot Earley, my childhood hero Q15. If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be Dermot Earley, Nelson Mandela, Nevin Maguire (to do the cooking), Jackie Charlton & Mary Robinson

Independent

Independent

Q1 Maritial status - Married Q2 How many children - 2 Q3 Occupation - Full time politicain Q4 Type of car that you drive - 99 Nisaan Almera Q5 Favourite food - Butter and spuds Q6 Favourite drink when socialising - The Galway Hooker American pale ale brewed in Roscommon town Q7 Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - The Sunday Game_ Q8 Favourite actress - Maureen O’ Sullivan Q9 Favourite actor - Max Von Sydow Q10 Favourite singer/band - The republic of loose Q11 What music are you currently listening to - Everything and anything Q12 What was the last movie that you rented out - The social network Q13 What book are you currently reading - Enough is enough by Fintan O’Toole Q14 Sports star you admire the most - Derval O’ Rourke Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be FR. Michael O’ Flanagan (turf Cutter) Noel Browne, Alex Higgins, My Father and Dermot Earley

Donegal South West Candidates

Brian O’Domhnaill

Pearse Doherty

Q1. Maritial status - Single Q2. How many children - None Q3. Occupation - Public representative Q4. Type of car that you drive - Audi Q5. Favourite food - Pasta or Indian Food Q6. Favourite drink when socialising Cranberry Juice or Guinness Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) -Match of the Day or Sunday Game Q8. Favourite actress Q9. Favourite actor - Morgan Freeman Q10. Favourite singer/band - U2 Q11. What music are you currently listening to - None!

Q12 What was the last movie that you rented out - None!

Q13 What book are you currently reading - None!

Q14 Sports star you admire the most - Roy Keane & Robbie Heffernan Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your 5 be? Not answered!

Q1. Maritial status - Married Q2. How many children - 3 Q3. Occupation -Public Representative Q4.Type of car that you drive - VW Passat Q5. Favourite food - Steak & Chips Q6. Favourite drink when socialising - Bottle of Bud Q7. Favourite TV program (no current affairs) - Two and a Half Men Q8. Favourite actress - Sandra Bullock Q9. Favourite actor- Robin Williams Q10. Favourite singer/band - Tommy Fleming Q11. What music are you currently listening to - Crann Óg Q12.What was the last movie that you rented out - Toy Story 3 for the kids!

Q13. What book are you currently reading - Open Dissent by Mike Soden Q14 Sports star you admire the most - Muhammad Ali Q15 If you could have dinner with five people who are either dead or alive who would your be Jesus, Nelson Mandela, Pádraig Pearse, Des Bishop,Tommy Tiernan

Countdown to Election 2011 Marc Mac Sharry Campaign Launch Speech

Send a demand for reform to Dublin

MARC began by saying “firstly can I thank you all for coming here tonight for my launch. It means an awful lot to me. As you know politics is in my blood, and since the age of 14 or so I dreamt of having the opportunity to represent the people of Sligo North Leitrim in the Dáil”.

Then he carried on to say “however to be elected to the Dail I will need the help of everyone in this room, and many more of your family and friends.

Before I ask you, to ask others, to vote for me let me explain what I stand for.”

Marc then explained why he thinks people should vote for him. He said “the opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives is my passion. It is something that makes me want to get out of bed every day, even in these challenging times.

As my experience in life, business and politics has grown so has my belief that this part of Ireland has been overlooked for the past twenty years by successive Governments - of all parties. In contrast the East coast agenda has grown stronger and stronger.

I want to bring A new approach to politics.

What I want, is no different I expect, from what you want. Simply I want my children to be given a good education here, to have good recreation facilities to play in, they need to have a good medical service, and after they grow up to be able to get a good job here if they want to. I don’t want them to be forced away to Dublin, London or further afield”.

Marc also included his intention to develop new policies, “as part of my new approach I intend to develop policies that suit us here in Sligo Leitrim, as well as the rest of the country. Most importantly, I intend to ensure that these policies are strongly communicated and are implemented by Government.

As you know, people don’t want the old style of politics anymore. It’s not about talk or writing letters anymore, it’s about getting things done”.

He carried on “when the World Rally Championship idea was first discussed in 2004 people laughed and said that it would never happen.Yet I never lost heart and raised it with the highest decision makers in politics and sport around the world.

I am very proud to have been part of that winning team that delivered…. 800 million TV viewers around the world, 50 million in economic benefit and entertainment for 250,000 spectators here in the North West.

On the 25th February, we have an opportunity to take control of our future and the future of our children and grandchildren, an opportunity to begin reform.

We must grasp this opportunity to embed reform, not just for the next 5 years but for generations to come.

We have learned to our cost what acceptance of the status quo and light touch regulation by our politicians has led to.

Just as we need reform of a banking system that is driven by short term profit, we need reform of a political system that is driven by power at any cost.

Never again can government policy be driven by vested interests. Never again can we allow opposition parties to be complicit by their failure to warn and protect us.

Reform is needed. If from our present plight we are to find new hope, we need genuine people, people with the courage to promote this new vision, people with the courage to look outside the norm of politics as it has always been done. By standing together for reform, our shared ambition can begin to renew our country, a country that we and future generations will take pride in, a country where our children will find work and happiness.

By having a shared vision, we can improve the lives of all our people, through our education, our community spirit, our work ethic, our volunteerism and our entrepreneurial spirit. Everyone has a role to play.

Our vote and democracy are precious, because our vote can change our future; though it may only seem a possibility, we can make it happen.

I have a long history of calling for reform, and a vote for me is the real alternative to parties and individuals that talk about change but have failed to deliver.

I ask you to give me your No 1 vote.

Alwyn Love - Independent Reform Candidate

Michael Clarke Sets out his stall Farmers have to be protected. We are the people that the Celtic tiger passed by but were first to pay the price when the downturn came. On top of the 1% income levy, 1,000 was taken from the direct payment by the stoke of a pen.

When I started farming after leaving agricultural college in 1978, a factory lamb made 65 and with the price of 60 lambs you could buy a new Ford Orion family car. In today’s terms a farmer would need to get 420 for each lamb to have the same standard of living. I will certainly defend farmer’s income. Elect a farmer. I am the only candidate who depends on agriculture for my income.

It is of the utmost importance that the cancer services are retained in Sligo General Hospital because if they are lost it will be the start of the downgrading of the hospital. It was inexcusable that Dr Jimmy Devins did not attend the meeting between Tim O’Halloran, Professor Keane and Minister Mary Harney. How would he be able to represent the medical view on a political context when was not there to hear first hand what transpired. A centre of excellence must be developed in Sligo.

Tourism is the way forward Luke 'Ming' Flanagan SOUTH Leitrim/Roscommon has massive potential to increase it s share of tourism revenue from what is now an estimated  52 million/ per year. While this might sound like an impressive figure it pales into insignificance when compared to the  430 million that Galway earns. It would be naïve to think that one could match that figure locally but what it does show is the potential for an area if it develops its tourism industry correctly.

We have the ingredients for massive growth in this sector. When it comes to access we have two train lines and we are also only a short distance from Knock airport. We have any amount of properties to let for accommodation. We have a willing and able work force only delighted to service tourism. Most importantly, WE DO have a product. We have the longest border with the Shannon. We have the Shannon Erne waterway. We have umpteen lakes suitable for fishing, shooting, boating, kayaking and swimming. We have eight golf courses. We have numerous walking & cycling routes. When it comes to archaeology and historical tourism there is no where else in the country with such potential.

Every  30,000 of extra revenue earned by the industry creates one new job directly.

If this area was to reach one third the capacity of the Galway tourism market then we would be looking at increase revenue to the area of over  90 million. This translates into increased employment of circa 3000 people. This will not be an easy task but it can be achieved if a well thought out strategy is devised. We have the right ingredients.

Now let’s make it work.

On Sunday I launched my Tourism policy on the river Shannon which straddles the towns of Carrick on Shannon and Cortober. I spent the weekend in the area and stayed at the Landmark Hotel and I have to say I was highly impressed with the level of tourism activity which was going on. It is proof that tourism can thrive in this region and that if more was done to promote this sector then there is phenomenal growth potential which can be realised.

One thing that the next government must do is to remove all Airport charges and Taxes as they are self defeating. If we want to get money from tourists then one is better to get them into the country first. Then we can start earning some real money from them. We get nothing from them if we scare them away before they even book their flights.

Thar am’ ag Enda Kenny athmhacnamh a dhéanamh ar a pholasaí don Ghaeilge - Calleary

by Dara Calleary Tá sé thar am ag Enda Kenny éisteacht le na saineolaithe agus an pobal agus athmhacnamh a dhéanamh ar a pholasaí míthuisceanach maidir le deireadh a chur le múineadh na Gaeilge mar chroí-ábhar don Ardteist, dar le urlabhraí Fiontraíochta, Fostaíochta agus Nuálaíochta Fhianna Fáil, Dara Calleary.

‘Titim tubaisteach ar líon na ndaoine a dhéanann staidéar ar theangacha anbhíonn mar thoradh ar iad a dhéanamh roghnach. Dhéanfadh aon iarracht deireadh a chur le riachtanas na Gaeilge san Ardteist dochar mór do stádas na Gaeilge go náisiúnta agus sa Ghaeltacht. ‘Ní raibh daoine riamh chomh dearfach faoin nGaeilge is atá i láthair na huaire. Caithfear tógáil ar an dea-thoil sin agus athruithe a chur i bhfeidhm ar an slí a mhúintear an Ghaeilge agus an slí a chuirtear an Ghaeilge chun cinn mar atá leagtha amach in ár Straitéis Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge.

Céim ar gcúl a bheadh in aon iarracht baint de stádas na Gaeilge sa chóras oideachais.

Ba cheart go mbeadh an Ghaeilge i gcroílár an oideachais a chuirtear ar fáil do dhaoine óga. Anseo i Maigh Eo, bheadh impleachtaí ar athrú stádas na Gaeilge don Ard teist do inmharthanacht na gColáistí Samhraidh ata chomh tábhachtach sin do gheilleagar na Gaeltachta agus fás na teanga.

Countdown to Election 2011 Michael Colreavy’s Manifesto Our country needs change. Ireland and Sligo\North Leitrim deserve good government and an effective opposition. We need representatives who provide leadership with integrity and fight for the interests of people rather than subsidising a small golden circle. We need a society where the very wealthy pay their share and where efficient, effective public services are valued instead of vilified.

Jobs for Sligo & Leitrim Michael Colreavy and Sinn Féin have a vision for job creation in Sligo and Leitrim.

At a time of unprecedented unemployment and emigration, he will seek to: • Implement Sinn Féin's proposal for a 7 billion job creation and stimulus programme; • Target inward investment in sectors such as IT, Agri-food and tourism; • Establish a local enterprise fund to support new employment; • Ensure that publicly funded contracts are accessible to local businesses; • Reverse cuts to the Disadvantaged Area Scheme, the Early Retirement Scheme and ensure that those with the lowest farm incomes benefit proportionally more from schemes.

• Cancer Services & Sligo General Hospital • Commercial Rates, Jobs & More Jobs • P.A.Y.E. Workers • Infrastructure • Water Charges & Domestic Meter Charges • Banks & Bankers • Home Owners in Negative Equity • Closing our Airports while exporting our People • Respect for our Senior Citizens • Garda Stations

Public Investment in Our Community Public funding in Sligo & Leitrim has been decimated. Michael Colreavy will seek to: • Reverse the downgrading of Sligo General Hospital, including the reinstatement of full cancer and orthopaedic services; • Provide high quality community health services by enhancing the role of GPs, community hospitals and other health professionals; • Undo the cutbacks to our education services affecting special needs assistants, teacherpupil ratios and capital building programmes.

Infrastructure Provision of modern road, technological and essential living services is vital if the northwest is to compete on an equal basis. Michael Colreavy will prioritise: • The Cloonamahon\Castlebaldwin section of the N4, the N16 Sligo to Enniskillen, the R280 from Tullaghan to Carrick and the entire N59 to Ballina; • Providing social and affordable homes by utilising vacant NAMA owned properties; • Upgrading water and sewage treatment plants, eliminating water leaks and ensuring a continual supply in all weather conditions; • Creating a nationwide next-generation broadband system for business, schools and homes.

Insufficient funding allocation for Newport flood works not acceptable - Ring Fine Gael Spokesperson on Social Protection, Deputy Michael Ring, has criticised the Government for only awarding half the funding required for the flooding alleviation works in Newport. Deputy Michael Ring stated: “Yet again, this is a case of only doing half a job”.

Deputy Michael Ring continued: “I contacted both Mayo County Council and the Office of Public Works (OPW) in relation to funding for Newport. Mayo County Council have informed me that they have received funding of 180,000 from the OPW. They stated that to me that this “will allow limited improvements to be made to the Newport drainage system. The first phase of this work, which replaces a section of the culvert on Quay Road, has been completed. Further works will be carried out later this year”.

Deputy Michael Ring stated: “I am now calling on the Local Engineer and Mayo County Council to arrange for full completion of the works. This simply is no way for a Local Authority to operate or indeed the OPW to be only carrying out half the required works.You cannot half the flooding problem which exists”.

“There is huge concern amongst the local residents and business people regarding this problem. Properties have been flooded on numerous occasions and it cannot be allowed to continue. Mayo County Council are only carrying partial works which is not acceptable treatment of people” concluded Deputy Michael Ring.

FG’s political reform will give emigrants a voice in the political process – O’Mahony FG will slash number of Oireachtas members by one-third Fine Gael’s New Politics ‘is the most radical plan for political reform in the history of the State. A smaller, more nimble government will place the concerns of the citizen and not the insiders at the heart of the decision-making process,’ according to Mayo Fine Gael TD John O’Mahony.

Deputy O’Mahony stated that “eligible citizens living abroad will be given the right to vote at Irish embassies in the Presidential election. As we have seen in recent years the scourge of emigration has returned to Ireland with 1,000 people a week leaving our shores.

Our emigrants care deeply about Ireland and we want to give them a real voice in the political system. If this experiment proves successful we will extend the practice to general elections.

“Fine Gael’s Five Point Plan is about changing our country and getting Ireland working.

But we believe that reform must start at the top. The political system cannot ask others to change and make sacrifices if it is not prepared to do the same. That is why we will slash the number of politicians by 35% by holding a referendum to abolish the Seanad and by cutting the number of TDs by 20. We will also replace state cars for current and former officials with a car pool system. All of these initiatives will save taxpayers millions every year.

“As well as saving money Fine Gael wants to make the political system more transparent and more accountable to the public. A Fine Gael Government will significantly strengthen Freedom of Information; establish a ‘whistleblowers charter’; register all lobbyists; and create a new Electoral Commission.

“We believe that the Irish people must be consulted on and involved in the process of political reform. We will establish a Citizens Assembly, composed of 100 members of the public, to make recommendations on electoral reform and how we should increase the number of women in politics. We will also introduce a petitions system for the Dáil so that citizens can raise their issues and concerns in the Oireachtas, and reduce the voting age to 17 to help harness the enthusiasm of our youth.”

Pearse Doherty, from Gweedore, is the Sinn Féin TD for Donegal South West and a member of the party's Ard Chomhairle.

Pearse Doherty TD is the Oireachtas party spokesperson on Finance.

A civil engineer technician by profession, Pearse is a strong supporter of the Irish Language and an avid GAA supporter. A member of Sinn Féin since 1996 he has served on the national executive of Ógra Shinn Féin.

He is an outspoken critic of the failure of successive governments to invest in the infrastructure of Donegal, something which is leading to job losses. He is involved in many campaigns to end the marginalisation of Donegal and to bring forward innovative proposals to develop the North West as a whole.

Tá Piaras, atá cáilithe mar innealtóir sibhialta, ina bhall de Sinn Féin ó 1996. Bhí sé ar dhuine de chomhbhunaitheoirí Ógra Shinn Féin, áit a raibh freagrachtaí aige mar oifigeach feachtais agus slógaidh ar an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin ó 1998 go 2001.

A new voice for Roscommon-South Leitrim Ivan Connaughton I am a 28 year old Auctioneer from Athleague Village, Co. Roscommon. I am a first time candidate with excellent business experience. The Fianna Fail party needs new faces to ensure it survives into the future. I believe I can make an excellent contribution in the next Dail and to do this I need the support of the voters in Roscommon- South Leitrim on February 25th.

Politics needs young intelligent, energetic and enthusiastic T.D's, especially in these challenging times. By working together we can make our nation prosper once again. In the next few weeks, I look forward to meeting with you, listening to what you say and spelling out what I want to do for you and our community.