Merry Christmas to one and all!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas! Stay safe!

My Resolution passed by Westport Town Council

Westport Town Council has called on the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD to protect the Cregganbaun and Doolough region from mining.

A motion proposed by Labour's Cllr Keith Martin and supported by Sinn Fein's Cllr Dave Keating was adopted unanimously by the council at this week's December meeting of Westport Town Council.

In the resolution the area is described as one of "great national and international significance as an environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area" and highlighted the intrinsic value of the area as a tourism feature.

The resolution also lends its support to the concerns of local groups opposed to the Mining.

Speaking on the motion Cllr Martin said that the motion spoke for itself adding that he believed that the proposed for a small scale "seven dwarf type mine" was a front for the introduction of whole scale mining in the area. Cllr Dave Keating said that the proposal by the mining company was for a tourism mine which he described as an Oxymoron.

At the request of Cllr Martin a copy of the resolution is being sent by Westport's Town Clerk to Minister Ryan.

a) That this Council, whilst welcoming sustainable and environmentally friendly development, industry and the harnessing of natural resources, which leads to job creation and investment in and around Westport, shares the concerns of the interested parties such as Mayo Environmental Group and Westport Tourism Organisation in relation to the proposal to mine for gold in the Cregganbaun and Doolough region and calls upon the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Eamon Ryan TD to protect this area of great national and international significance as an environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area with a massive intrinsic tourism value.

Invite to Join The Party

Its that time of the year! Party time, not political party but just party.The Westport Branch of the Party is inviting all its members, friends and supporters (that's you) to our Christmas Party in Henehan's Bar Bridge Street on Friday December 14th at 8pm.

Last year's party was great fun and the special attraction was the recognition of the decades of work by Labour Party stallwart Michael Joe Lavelle. An inscribed crystal bowl was presented to Michael Joe on behalf of the branch by Emmet Stagg TD who also presented Michael Joe with a letter of appreciation from Party Leader Pat Rabbitte.

This year there will be food, music, a raffle and maybe even a spot of Karaoke. All are welcome so please come along and join the party!

Weasel Words from Mayo's Gold Limited

Councillor Keith Martin of Westport Town Council has accused Mayo's Gold Limited, the company behind the proposed Gold Mine at Creggaunbaun, near Louisburgh, of being deliberately misleading as to the size and scale of the proposed mine.

Cllr Martin says that when the mine was first mooted by Mayo’s Gold Limited it was described by the company as ‘seven dwarf type tourist operation’ and as a “tourism product based around a show mine, producing a small amount of gold. The company went on to state categorically that “This is not a commercial venture.”

The company also claimed that they would be seeking ‘international geopark status’ for the region, which would brand it as a geological area of international significance.

According to the Labour Party councillor these are nothing but “weasel words” designed to “soften opposition to the project which is to be used as the thin end of a wedge to establish a full size mining operation close to Croagh Patrick.”

Cllr Martin says “In the local media Mayo’s Gold Limited is talking about the seven dwarfs and a tourism mine while in the national papers they are talking about raising €25 million to set it up. That’s some seven dwarf mine that costs €25 million! When you then hear that they are exploring an area the size of 135 townlands in Louisburgh and expect to find a possible yield of €3.4 billion you know that this is a serious operation designed to bring in whole-scale Gold mining by the back door into a environmentally sensitive, culturally and religiously important area with a massive tourism value as it is.

“This company must think the people of West Mayo don’t read the national newspapers! This isn’t Killinaskully and the people of the area won’t be fooled by weasel words or the promises of the company. The people say no to Gold mining in Mayo and no to Mayo’s Gold Limited. They said it twenty years ago when mining was first proposed and they are saying it again.”

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

 

Dear Editor,

 

The proposal by Mayo's Gold to mine in and around the area of Croagh Patrick sends a shiver down my spine.

 

There can be no doubt that the current proposal for a a niche tourism gold mine in Cregganbaun, and an interpretative visitor centre in Louisburgh is just the thin edge of the wedge when it comes to wholescale gold mining in the area. 

 

The area concerned is a site of great natural beauty and is in the environs of the mountain of Croagh Patrick which is a tourist attraction and the location of the famous annual pilgrimage of Reek Sunday.  The areas applied for also include a dedicated Special Area of Conservation.

 

Mining of any form is an intrusive procedure which always produces noise pollution, dust pollution and visual pollution while causing habitat destruction and destruction or disturbance of ecosystems.

 

In the interest of preserving the area's natural integrity, of preserving it as a tourist feature and a place of religious significance I have objected to this licence with the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources and called on the Minister to reject this application and protect and preserve the area for all time.

 

May I strongly urge all your readers to do the same.

 

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

_____________

Keith Martin

Councillor

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Mayo

 086 0691182

 

 

Westport supports Shell to Sea

At the 2007 Labour Party Conference in Wexford the Westport Branch of the Labour Party voted in support of a motion, moved by UCD and Dublin South branches calling for the Shell project to be moved off shore and for the terms of the agreement, whereby the state makes nothing in revenue and does not receive a discounted price on the gas to be re-negotiated.
The motion noted that the land of local residents had been handed over to Shell by compulsory purchasing orders to procure the pipeline's construction. It went on to list negative aspects of the project, and noted that governments led by Fianna Fáil had given corporations involved up to 100 per cent tax write-off.
Labour energy spokeswoman Liz McManus agreed that issues of exploration and royalties were important, but she warned delegates that accepting the motion, as it was drafted, would leave the State open to the risk of paying enormous compensation to a private oil company.
Ms McManus then suggested that a working party be set up to consider all the issues involved, including the impact on local communities. Ms McManus's proposal was carried by 99 votes to 73 on a show of hands.

€4 Billion underspend is repugnant!

Labour’s Cllr Keith Martin denounced the Government’s €4,000,000,000 under-spend in the Boarder Midland and West (BMW) Region from the podium of the 2007 Labour Party Conference which took place last weekend in Wexford.

Cllr Martin was proposing a motion from the Westport Branch, for adoption by the Party, condemning the billions of euros that have been unspent by the Government in the BMW. Addressing the conference delegates Cllr Martin said “in bad times the West suffered because there was no money. It is repugnant that in this time of prosperity that we suffer still” adding that “the figures concerned speak louder than words.”

Cllr Martin concluded that the it was deplorable that billions of euro of funding was being returned unspent while “vital West of Ireland infrastructural projected directly affecting jobs, capital investment and quality of life were being left on the drawing boards.”

Cllr Martin was one of the group of Mayo delegates attending the Labour Party’s annual conference.

The Westport Branch’s motion was part of the composite motion on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs which was adopted by the Labour Party. The motion dealt with the government’s failure to redress the continuing decline of rural communities, especially on the Western seaboard, its failure to invest in the BMW and committed the Labour Party to developing a comprehensive rural policy which would ensure that the Party shook off its ‘urban only’ perception and reaffirmed its relevance in rural life and politics.

The motion was proposed by Cllr Keith Martin on behalf of the Westport Branch and Seconded by the Glenties Branch in Donegal South West.

While at the conference Cllr Martin met with Deputy Jack Wall, Labour’s Spokeperson on Community and Rural Affairs, to discuss the issue of the €4 Billion underpsend as well as community and rural affairs in the Westport area. Cllr Martin will be meeting with Deputy Wall in the New Year to discuss Labour’s policies and initiatives concerning farming, rural communities and investment in the West.

Cllr Martin also met with fellow Mayo man and Labour Party Chief Whip Deputy Emmet Stagg to discuss the Westport Branch’s development and the promtion of the Labour Party in Mayo. Deputy Stagg and Cllr Martin also discussed the local elections which will take place in a little over 18 months time.

During the conference Cllr Martin took part in the AGM of the National Association of Labour Councillors which was addressed by Sentor White and Deputy Ciaran Lynch Spokesperson on Local Government.

The Mayo Delegates also took place in the elections for the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee which oversees, directs and co-ordinates the policies, organisation and affairs and activities of the Party.

Up at the Labour Party Conference in Wexford. I read the Westport Motion to conference which was adopted by the delegates. It was a motion condemning the four billion euro under spend in the Boarder Midland and Western Region and was part of a larger motion on Community and Rural affairs. We are also up here from the Westport Branch to push for a Labour Party National Conference in Mayo to be held in Castlebar hosted by the Westport and Castlebar Branch. As i am posting this entry from the conference hall i must sign off now. I will post a proper report later on. Slan for now.

Fair play, Fair pay, Fair Trade- Westport as a Fairtrade Town

The Fairtrade market in Ireland is now worth over €11.6million yearly and supermarkets are continuously changing to meet these needs. Marks and Spencer’s sells only Fairtrade tea and coffee, SuperQuinn sells only Fairtrade bananas, Tesco has up to 70 Fairtrade products available, Robert Roberts are changing all their tea and coffee to Fairtrade, Lidl have their own Fairtrade brand and the list goes on.

But it’s not just the big chains who are doing their bit. From 2005 shops in Westport have begun stocking Fairtrade Products as part of their support for the Fairtrade Town Project for Westport. In fact if it wasn't for the support of shops like Sean O'Connor's Supervalu, Ylang Ylang, Hoban's Centra Stores, Nicola's Food Emporium, Country Fresh and many, many more, Westport would not have achieve Fairtrade Status earlier this year.

Many more towns are now working to achieve Fairtrade status and with the increased awareness and increased demand for Fairtrade products we are guaranteeing a fair deal for more third world producers.

Recently members of the Westport Fairtrade Steering committee attended the annual Fairtrade Workshop in Dublin Castle. There they heard Sergio Allard Director of Los Robles Fairtrade Wine speak of the benefits Fairtrade had on his community and on his business. Sales have doubled since Los Robles achieved Fairtrade status, which more importantly has improved the quality of life for all the people of Curico, not just the employees. Los Robles have set up a bus service for all the local children to attend school as before the might not be picked up by the public bus service as their fare was not as high as an adults fare. Scholarships are been offered to children who can’t afford further education, these children often become graduates and return to Curico and provide healthcare and other facilities that would not have bee n possible without the premium that Fairtrade guarantees. Poverty in Chile has reduced from 39-13% in the last 10 years and with the help of Fairtrade Sergio hopes this can be reduced even further. Today Fairtrade wines can be bought in a number of outlets in Westport including Dunnes, Supervalu, and Jim McLoughlins.

Westport will be renewing their Fairtrade status this December and according to Edel Hackett the Westport Fairtrade Committee would like to thank everyone for their help so far but also encourage more to get involved.

According to Cllr Keith Martin of the Westport Fairtrade Committee "the possibilities are endless and so simple. Next time you eat a banana, drink tea, eat rice, ask yourself where did it come from. By choosing Fairtrade you are not only helping Third world producers but you are also helping yourself as less fertilizers and sprays are used on Fairtrade products making it safer for you, your family and the producers family."

You can help by buying Fairtrade products, asking your local shopkeeper to stock more Fairtrade products, making your organization a Fairtrade orgnisation, serve Fairtrade Tea and coffee, organising information nights, joining your local Fairtrade group.”

For information on Westport’s Fairtrade group contact ehackett@eircom.net or visit www.fairtradewestport.netfirms.com

Faulty Street Light?

If you have a faulty street light in Westport please report it immediately.

You can do so by calling 1850 372 772; by texting 087 9283534; by email to publiclight@mayococo.ie

You can also notify the council in writing by writing to

Public Lighting Section
Mayo County Council
Aras an Chontae
The Mall
Castlebar
Mayo

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE

The Labour Party Conference is this weekend in Wexford. The Westport Branch are
sending three voting delegates to vote on motions and to elect the NEC for the
coming two years.

Westport's Carers need to be cared for by Government

Caring for a relative can be a stressful and traumatic experience. The Government should do its best to help. I am upset at how many people are left caring for others and are given no support due to a means test. Anyone who cares deserves the backup of a Carer's allowance.

How many of these allowances could be paid out of Bertie Ahern's self granted pay rise?


Who deserves the money more? Bertie Ahern? or the carers in Westport?


For more information on applying for a Carer's allowance click here you can also contact me and I will be happy to help.





This is a press relase on the issue I am sending out today.


News


Councillor Keith Martin says that the predicament of carers in Westport and across the country needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Cllr Martin says that in order to do so the Government must scrap the means test for carers' allowance.
"According to official statistics there are over 160,000 people in Ireland providing unpaid help for a family member or friend with a disability or health problem. The person being cared for could be a child with a physical or mental disability, a stroke victim or an incapacitated elderly relative.
"In many cases this unpaid care is being provided 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. In some cases a person may be caring for more than one dependent. They have only one guarantee this Christmas and that it is that they will be working Christmas Day. There are 208 carers in the Westport area saving vast amounts of money for the State and once again the vital role they play in local community health care has yet to be fully recognised. CSO figures released last week showed that of the two hundred and eight carers in the Westport area, sixty six of them work for more than forty three hours per week
"The abolition of the means test is not the only step to improve the lives of carers, who provide such an important service to families and communities throughout Ireland. The Government must develop a comprehensive Carers Strategy, and develop a consistent and comprehensive system of needs assessment.
"Carers are saving the state huge costs that would arise if those being cared for had to seek residential care, but they get little or no recognition from the state. I believe that it is time to end the shameful neglect of the country's carers."

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

The proposal by the British Government to end the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK marks a low point in our relations with our neighbour.  It is a step backwards, politically, diplomatically and historically.

Like many I have family in the UK and have always valued the fact that there was no need for passports between our countries, even at the height of the IRA Terror campaign on the UK mainland.  Now in times of peace and in light of the huge progress made in the North I think this change is a slight to the good relations between our nations.  We should not forget that Ireland and the UK have more in common with each other than we do with any other nation on earth.  

It is more than ironic that as the European Union seeks to build a closer knit Europe, with freedom of travel for all, that the UK is now to place a new obstacle between our two nations.

It is a shame to see this change in our relationship which will do nothing but place a barrier and new bureaucracy between the peoples of these islands.

Yours sincerely

Keith Martin
Councillor WTC

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

086 0691182

Submissions on Town Plan

There is a little time left to make submissions on the upcoming Westport Town Development Plan. The deadline for this is the 1st October. I have sent the following Press Release into the local media on the issue and I hope this will trigger a good public interaction on the issue. There are plenty of issues like the Bank of Ireland Garden and Skateboard parks and the conservation of the history of our town to be dealt with and I want everyone to have their say.

I was checking on other towns and it seems that Longford and other towns actually hold meetings on this issue. I have always proposed public meetings on this time of issue. It is too late for Westport but we should definately look at it for the next town plan.

Controversial issues like the use of the Bank of Ireland Garden as a town park, the provision of land for skateboard parks and community facilities and the return of the Point as a swimming area are all issues that Labour’s Keith Martin has raised in his submission on the new Westport Town Plan which will be drawn up over the next couple of months.
Cllr Martin has warned that the citizens of Westport only have until the 1st October to make a submission on the new Town Plan which will be drawn up over the next couple of months.
Cllr Martin says “This is the time for the people of Westport to have their say in how they want their town developed. The Town Plan affects everything from traffic and shopping to land zoning and use.”
Cllr Martin has himself made a detailed submission calling for the redevelopment of the Quay as a swimming area and for the zoning of the Bank of Ireland Garden as a recreational area.
“I have also called for an end to one and two bedroom houses and apartments in favour of family friendly units of 3 and 4 bedrooms and that a suitable area of land be identified for zoning for community facilities and a community building and park area be put in place for the Quay area along the lines of the Golf Course Road scheme.
The Planning and Development Act, 2000, states that each Planning Authority is obliged to prepare a Development Plan for its functional area every six years.
The aim of the Plan is to set out a framework for the sustainable physical development of the Town, while ensuring the conservation and protection of the built and natural environment. It also aims to carefully consider the needs of all groups and individuals within the Town and to promote equal opportunities.
The October 1st deadline marks the end of the first round of consultation and is the basis for the Draft Development Plan which will be drawn up as a response to the submissions made before October 1st.
Cllr Martin concludes “The Town Plan is the single most important document in the town’s management and the people of Westport should be very involved in the process. The Westport Branch of the Labour Party have also made a submission and I would urge individuals and groups to have their say. Like voting, your voice won’t be heard unless you use it. If people are concerned about things like the Bank of Ireland Garden and recreational land and facilities for our children then now is the time to make your voice heard.”
Submissions must be submitted to Ann Moore, Town Clerk, Westport Town Council or e-mailed to amoore@mayococo.ie before the deadline.

Here is a press release I am sending out on the Quay Hill Pavement which is being repaired.  I can only say how delighted I am that all my work on the issue has paid off.  I was criticised by others for making a fuss in the local and national media (I was on the Matt Cooper Show) over the state of the path and the very long time it took to repair it but I have been vindicated in the end. The Path is repaired at last.

 

Thanks to all who offered their support and to those who offered to help me with the cement and the work.  Cheers!

 

Welcome for Quay Hill Pavement Repairs

 

Repairs are underway on Westport's street of shame, as the Quay Hill Pavement was dubbed by Cllr Keith Martin earlier in the year and they have been very warmly welcomed by the Labour councillor who dramatically championed the issue of repairs to the pavement.

 

Cllr Martin made the state of the pavement a major issue of the summer when he submitted to Mayo County Council Officials 18 photographs of 18 separate potholes on the pavement and threatened to repair the street himself if Mayo County Council did not take action.  At the time Cllr Martin threatened to "mix the cement myself and fill in the holes" adding that he intended to shame the council into action or to carry out the works myself."

 

At the time Cllr Martin claimed, "Whole sections of the concrete pavement had sunk down up to three inches and elsewhere along the path the curbing has crumbled away. The tarmacadam covered section of the path has actually been worn away down to the stone chips underneath."

 

According to Cllr Keith Martin "Mayo County Council staff began work on the pavements this week and are making excellent progress.  The Quay Hill Pavement is one of the most important pedestrian links in the town and is vital in connecting the Town with the Quay.  This has been a major issue for the town for too long and I am glad to see it come to a very satisfactory conclusion."

This is a copy of a press release I have just sent out to the Mayo media.  It relates to John Gormley's proposals to reform Local Government.  I think it is important that everyone in Mayo, indeed Ireland, express an opinion on how they want their Local Authorities to be run. 

 

Mayo must call for Local Government reforms

 

Cllr Keith Martin is encouraging the citizens of Mayo to take part in the review of Local Government, which was launched recently by the Minister of the Environment John Gormley TD.

 

The reform programme is already underway with the Minister requesting submissions from the general public and interested bodies, which will feed into a Green Paper on local government reform, to be published in the next six months. That Green Paper will outline the various reform options to be considered on how local authorities operate.

 

The Labour Party councillor has already made a submission to the Dept of Environment and is urging the voters of Mayo to do the same.  "I believe that the best government is the government which takes place at the lowest possible and realistic level.  I believe reform of local government is vital and the people of Mayo have got to make their voice heard in this issue.  Stronger local government will mean more services are delivered locally and not as hand-outs from Dublin.  I believe it is time to end Local Administration and time to begin real Local Government where the people pick their decision makers and those decision makers are answerable to the public."

 

In his submission to Minister Gormley's Office Cllr Martin is calling for abolition of the County/City/Town Manager position and its replacement by Chief Executive who would advise the council and execute the council's policy.

 

Cllr Martin's submission also goes to call for the introduction of Directly-elected Mayors for all local authorities.  This office would carry with it responsibility for most decisions in association with a small cabinet of councillors.

 

According to Cllr Martin "We must also strengthen the role of the elected council, in order to provide the citizen with accountable public services. Councillors must the have power to seek accountability from any agency, whether public or private, which is providing public services in their area.

 

"The benefits of a directly-elected mayor at town/city/county level are many such as visible and accountable leadership and are likely to be powerful leaders by nature.  Directly elected Mayors also open up politics to civic leaders and business people and will wield 'clout' on behalf of their authority with national government and other public and private bodies.  Finally transparency of election and high visibility of the directly-elected Mayor would lead to less corruption, not more."

 

Cllr Martin concludes his submission by saying "we need to give authorities directly elected mayors with a mandate and vision for their town's future,  we need to give councillors more powers to effect change and policy and remove the role of officials from policy and let mayors make the day to day decisions based on advice from their officials."

 

According to Minister Gormley "Local councils have traditionally provided the public with key basic services, from roads and water to housing and waste management. Their role has expanded in recent years to cover a huge range of functions to proactively build communities, promote tourism, drive economic development and pursue social inclusion. I want to hear from the citizen, the customer of the local council, on how they think the local government service can be improved."

 

Submissions should be sent to Eoin Corrigan at the Local Government Project Development , Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Custom House, Dublin 1 or by email to eoin_corrigan@environ.ie

 

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Labyrinth proposal for Arts Festival

 

Written by Cllr Keith Martin for Westport Town Council

What is required for a Westport Labyrinth?

1.     A green space or car park space large enough for the labyrinth

2.     Bark, stones, whitewash, paint or even potatoes for marking out the Labyrinth

3.     Artist’s fee and expenses

 

What is required from Westport Town Council is items 1 and 2 with the Arts Festival meeting the Artist’s fees and expenses.

 

The Labyrinth is a community project, which would invite all residents and visitors to take part in walking the Labyrinth.  It is envisioned to have the Labyrinth available in the town for the week of the Arts Festival for the public to view and use and for a special labyrinth day to be held during the festival, which would involve a large body of people in using and walking the Labyrinth.

 

Ideally the council would make available a green area such as the Fairgreen or the Park to the rear of Westport Leisure Park and the Labyrinth can be marked out by removing the turf to a depth of an inch or two and filling in this space with bark.  This is totally reversible and or can be left in place on a permanent basis. 

 

Second option is to provide a hard surface such as a car park space at the Quay Pond or Point and allow the Labyrinth to be marked out in whitewash.
Introduction to Labyrinths
A labyrinth is an ancient, sacred, archetypal pattern that has been found throughout the world in many forms and sizes.  Labyrinths have a single path to and from the centre.  Labyrinths are one of the few archetypal patterns that we can physically interact with.  Labyrinths are enjoying resurgence in popularity as tools for meditation and healing.  The process of walking the labyrinth helps many people become more centred and balanced.

Labyrinths are different from mazes. Labyrinths are unicursal, which means that they have one well-defined path that leads us into the centre and back out again. There are no dead ends or paths that divide.  A maze on the other hand is a puzzle to be solved: a left-brain task that requires an active mind, logic, analytical skills, and problem solving abilities.  A labyrinth is a right brain task involving intuition imagery and creativity.  With a labyrinth there is only one choice: the choice to enter or not.

History of Labyrinths
Labyrinths have been found in almost every part of the world and used in many cultures over the past 5,000 years.  Their origin is a mystery.  The oldest labyrinths in the world are difficult to date because they are carved into rocks mainly around the Mediterranean area and in particular Gallicia in Northern Spain and Val Camonica in Italy.  One of the oldest dateable labyrinth, found inscribed on a clay tablet from Pylos, Greece, dates back to 1200 BCE.  This labyrinth was of the seven circuit classical design, one of the two main labyrinth designs along with the Chartres labyrinth.

Irish Labyrinths
One of the oldest and most well known is the 'Hollywood Stone', which was found lying face down in a grassy lane near the village of Hollywood in County Wicklow, by some local men hunting ferrets.

Dating from around the sixth century CE, the Hollywood Stone most likely has some direct connection with the ancient pilgrimages to the monastic settlement at Glendalough.

Since December 2005, the Hollywood Stone is once again on public view in the Visitors Centre at Glendalough, after lying in storage in the National Museum in Dublin for almost twenty years

The only known non-modern medieval style labyrinth in Ireland is now mounted on the wall at the Church of St Laurence in Rathmore, County Meath.  The design of this labyrinth is similar to labyrinths found in churches around Europe.
 
Another classical design was found in the cobbled stone floor in Bridgetown House in Castletownroche, County Cork.  Unfortunately, this labyrinth is no longer
visible; essential repairs involved it being preserved underneath a new floor.

A more modern labyrinth was found in the Church of St Regnus, Burt, County Donegal.  Curious about these three seven circuit classical labyrinths in Ireland is that they are all right handed labyrinths as opposed to the more common nowadays left handed labyrinth.

Walking the Labyrinth:
People walk the labyrinth for many different reasons: For balance; to centre themselves; to increase their awareness; to connect to their higher selves; to balance their chakras, for grounding, and to bring peace.  It is usually helpful to have an intention before you walk the labyrinth.  Your intention can be looking for an answer to a question, or just seeking a way to find balance or improvement in some area of your life.  The experience of walking the labyrinth is different for everyone, and differerent each time you walk one.


Construction of a Labyrinth

They can be constructed in a number of ways.

• By cutting turf out of a grass area
• By inserting of stone slabs into grass
• By marking it with stones
• By marking it with candles
• By marking it with potatoes
• By marking it with whitewash on the grass
• By marking it with paint on stone, concrete or tarmacadam
  
  

 

FW: The Labyrinth Project

This is the press release for the Labyrinth project.  I have been involved in getting the project going and in getting the necessary support and permission from Westport Town Council for Mayo's first Labyrinth.  You can read that proposal in the post below.

Westport Arts Festival's Labyrinth Project

The Festival was establised in 1976, has been hosting and bringing to Westport some of the finest local, national and international musicians and artists. The festival is run by volunteers passionate about the arts and life.

One of the more exciting exhibitions is the Labyrinth Project by local artist Hagar which is taking place at Poll na gCapall (next to Westport Leisure Park) this Sunday at 2pm.

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol usually circular in shape that contains one path leading from the outside to the centre.  When placed on the ground the labyrinth can be used as a walking meditation. Labyrinths are a symbol of wholeness.  They can be used as a tool for self discovery, for healing, and for accessing your inner wisdom.  Unlike a maze which is designed to get you lost, a labyrinth helps you to find yourself.

The Labyrinth Project is a hands-on community project initiated by local artist Hagar to run in conjunction with Westport Arts Festival. It is the largest single artwork in the history of the Westport Arts Festival and takes up hundreds of square feet of ground to the rear of Westport Leisure Park on James Street.

According to the artist Hagar "A Labyrinth is not a maze. There are no dead ends or false paths You don't lose yourself in a Labyrinth, you find yourself! The labyrinth represents our journey to our centre and back out again."

The Labyrinth is already marked out on the field and it will be dug out before Sunday. As it is a community project everyone is welcome to help out on the Labyrinth Day (this Sunday September 2 at 2pm) to fill the Labyrinth with the bark chippings and the artist also needs wheel barrows and rakes if possible. The work is suitable for all ages to take part in or just watch the Labyrinth being marked out.

Hagar says "This is a communtiy fun day, so bring your drums, instruments, whistles, pots and pans and kids to make a lot of noise to wake the Labyrinth. But most of all bring a positive attitude and a smile. This is for you – please support it!"

The organisers would like to thank Cllr Keith Martin, Simon Wall and Eamon O'Malley from Westport Town Council for their help in faciliating the exhibition.

Finally an exhibition of works by Hagar entitled "Second Sight" is running in Westport Library in conjunction with the labyrinth project and its subject is the archetype of mandila of the collective subconiousness.

 

HAGAR 086 2620572

 

Councillor Keith Martin 086 0691182

 

Here is an upcoming Press Release on the Golf Course Road Park.   I have already made my submission to the council and want to make sure everyone has their say.  You can read my original submission here.

 

Cllr Keith Martin says persons who wish to make an observation or suggestion about Westport Town Council's plans for a park on the Golf Course Road have until Friday 14th September to make a submission to the Town Clerk.

 

Cllr Martin, who is himself a resident of the Golf Course Road, has submitted a detailed submission of his own on the plan, which was put on public display last month and proposes a playing pitch, two play areas, a large walkway and two Basketball/Volleyball courts and an informal park area.

Among Cllr Martin's suggestions are that a full traffic plan be implemented for the Fairways and school entrance and that this plan be circulated to the residents and school management.  He has asked that bollards be fitted to the Fairways pavements to prevent parking.

 

The local councillor is also calling for the park, playing courts and play areas to be lit up at night to maximise playing time and availability and to combat possible antisocial behaviour in these areas and that flood lighting be provided for the playing pitch to maximise playing time and availability.

According to Cllr Martin it is also important "That a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing be placed across the Golf Course Road to enable safe and easy access to the park from Michael Davitt Park and Parnell Court.  I have also asked that a wooden fence or boundary be erected to the rear of those houses on the bottom of Pairc na Coille to provide them with privacy from the park.

 

"Overall I am very excited and happy with what is proposed and the park with the Gaelscoil will be a fantastic asset to the Golf Course Road.  This park is a long time coming but it fulfills a commitment from the councillors to the residents of the area that I promised to keep when I was elected.

"Anyone wanting to make a submission on the proposed park should send it in writing to the Town Clerk, care of Westport Town Council or e-mail it to amooore@mayococo.ie to arrive before or on Friday 14th September."

 

 

Westport CCTV fait accompli?

 

I was surprised to see an article in the Mayo News recently about installing a CCTV system in the town,  Very surprised in fact because this was the first I was told about any such move.

 

I think this is an insult to my position as a councillor and an attempt to present CCTV as a fait accompli.  I think CCTV is over hyped as a solution to crime in particular to anti social crimes and I don't think articles should be appearing in the paper without the council having debated the issue first.

 

Here is a copy of the letter I have sent to the Mayo News.  I will be on Midwest Radio tommorrow to discuss this issue with Tommy Marren after 10am.  Tune in if you get a chance.

 

Dear Madam,

 

I am writing to you in relation to an article, which appeared in your paper (Mayo News, August 15,Westport organisations to look for 2008 funding for CCTV ) announcing the intention of the certain bodies in the town to apply for a CCTV system.

 

I would like to point out, as an elected representative for the town that I have not been consulted at any stage about such a scheme and can confirm also that the issue of CCTV has not been discussed or debated at any stage by Westport Town Council since I was elected.

 

I think the issue should be debated properly in the council chamber before the issue proceeds any further. 

 

Also some important issues to be remembered in relation to CCTV are

·        The average citizen in the UK is caught on CCTV cameras 300 times a day.

·        A report by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (Nacro) which was based on Home Office research, revealed that of 24 studies carried out in city centres, only 13 showed crime had fallen since CCTV cameras were installed.

·        The Scottish Centre for Criminology concluded in 1999 that the powers of the cameras had been "over-hyped as a "magic bullet cure".

·         In 2005 the UK’s Home Office Report on CCTV (Home Office Research Study 292) found that “increased street-lighting was significantly more effective than CCTV in cutting crime, as well as being considerably cheaper in both capital and income terms.”

 

I have already asked Westport Town Council officials to install extra lighting at trouble spots such as the Clock and more recently Church Lane to examine its effectiveness as a deterrent. 

 

I really believe that there is no deterrent to crime better than the Guard on the street.  The ridiculous situation is that we actually have less Gardai now in Mayo than we did ten years ago.  There has been a drop of two Gardaí in Mayo since 1997 despite a massive increase in population in Mayo.  257 Gardaí were employed in the county in 1997, while 255 are currently on duty in Mayo. 

 

The Government have never delivered on its 2002 promise of 2,000 extra Gardai and are instead trying to fob us off with ineffective measures such as CCTV schemes when what we need are Gardai on the streets of Westport tackling the thugs who are ruining the quality of life in our town.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Keith Martin

Councillor

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Mayo

086 0691182

 

 

 

Tom Chamber's new website

I would urge you all to visit Tom Chamber's new website and link to him. Tom works hard highlighting access and other issues relating to disability in Mayo.

His Website is http://thomaschambers.blogspot.com/

The Bureaucrats and the Serfs

I am dismayed at how much control over our lives is been taken away from us on a regular basis. The government has removed from control so much power from local government, health services, roads and many other aspects of our lives that we are becoming Serfs at the mercy of faceless overseers with power over our towns, roads and health.

Ireland's democracy is being curtailed on a massive basis and no-one seems to care. I have written the following letter to the local papers to highlight my concerns.


Dear Sir/Madam,

We are living in the age of the bureaucrat and the 21st Century Serf. Once we fought for our liberty and right to self determination. Now we sit back and allow ourselves to be dictated to by bureaucrats.

Only two weeks ago Mayo’s only Fianna Fail (and thus our government TD) Dara Calleary wrote in the Sunday Tribune newspaper of his frustration at trying to ask questions of the Health Minister about the HSE in the Dail.

The Minister for Health has no direct control over the HSE because Section 6 of the Health Act 2004 states that the Health Services Executive is a corporate body. So Deputy Calleary’s questions go unanswered in our national parliament.

The NRA tell us when are where our roads are going to go and when we are going to get them. The HSE tells us which Health services we will get in our area when and if it decides to supply them and it makes cut backs when and where it likes without consultation with communities or patients.

In our local government system Town, City and County Managers run our areas on a day to day basis exercising executive powers over a huge range of local authority functions.

All of these bureaucrats wield enormous power over our lives and our quality of life yet they are totally unanswerable to us as individuals or as communities.

They are appointed by central government and are answerable only to them and not to the Dail or local council.

The definition of Democracy is “Of the people, for the people, by the people” but can we apply this to life in Mayo today? Are we citizens or consumers; or worse again are we 21st century Serfs awaiting the decisions of our (government appointed) masters?


Yours sincerely

_____________
Keith Martin
Councillor

Tribute to Pat Rabbitte

Cllr Keith Martin has paid tribute to the Party’s former leader, Pat Rabbitte TD, following the Mayo man’s decision to step down as party leader.

“Pat Rabbitte has provided a steady, open and modern approach in leading the Labour Party.  At all times his honesty and integrity has shone through to make him one of the most universally respected political leaders in recent years.  I was saddened at his decision to depart the leadership, as I would have supported him for another term. 

“Deputy Rabbitte still has a lot to offer the party and the people of Ireland and I look forward to him tackling the government benches on issues such as Breast check, Broadband and the neglect of the west by this government over the last decade."

According to the Westport councillor the Westport Branch will be discussing the leadership at the upcoming September meeting where the Branch members will assess the declared candidates for the leadership. 

Cllr Martin concluded “The recently expanded Westport Branch of the Labour Party constitutes approximately 1.5% of the vote for the leadership and we will be corresponding with all declared candidates to see what there positions are on vital issues to the west of Ireland are.”

 

Yours sincerely

Councillor Keith Martin

Westport Town Council

Phone/Fax 098 24852

Mobile 086 0691182

Website www.VoteKeithMartin.com

Goodbye Pat!

Who will lead us now? Goodbye and thank you Pat for your work for the cause.

A senior Labour Party source has confirmed to ireland.com that party leader Pat Rabbitte is to resign as leader this afternoon.
The Labour Party press office announced earlier today that Mr Rabbitte would make a major announcement at a 3pm press conference.

FW: Government to blame for Mayo's Broadband woes

Government to blame for Mayo's Broadband woes

Broadband in Mayo is available at an appallingly low level and there is no-one to blame but the government who privatised Eircom says Cllr Keith Martin of Westport Town Council.

The Labour councillor says the lack of availability of broadband was laid bare by the Central Statistics Office report that access to a broadband internet connection in Mayo is only available to one in ten households.

“The importance of available broadband to the economy has been highlighted by the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland who are on record as stating that ‘affordable broadband is the key to combating questions of physical remoteness’

According to Cllr Martin “the government did not take any measures to ensure that Eircom’s new owners would ensure a steady roll out of Broadband, instead the government took the money and ran and the new owner’s stripped the company of any available asset to make their profit on the sale.  The government profited, the new owners of Eircom profited but the people in rural Ireland paid for these profits.”

Cllr Martin says that the government has refused to tackle the issue of broadband availability in rural areas such as Mayo and has instead preferred to allow market forces deal with broadband rollout. 

“This confirms what EU studies have consistently shown; that Ireland is languishing at the bottom of the European broadband league.  We only have to look at the North of Ireland, which has 100% availability of Broadband and the last international benchmarking of broadband end user figures released by the OECD ranks Ireland in 24th place out of 30 states.”

According to Cllr Martin the government must create a Universal Service Obligation (USO) for broadband.  This would mean accessibility to broadband networks will assume the same character as the presently understood expectation of universal access to the postal service or telephone network. The development of mechanisms for ensuring that a broadband USO is in place creates considerable potential for ensuring a widespread and universally accessible broadband network.

Cllr Martin concluded “I have written to the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Eamon Ryan TD to highlight the disgraceful situation in Mayo and called upon him to implement a USO immediately.”

 

Quay Hill Path-why are we still waiting

Quay Hill path, despite promises there still has been no work done on the path. I will be following up on this issue with Mayo County Council this week. I will post their replies here for you to read. I have more protests planned on this issue.

FW: Bog Field Park submission

I have also made a detailed submission to the council on the new proposed Golf Course Road Park which is currently out for public submissions.

 

Here is a copy of my submission.

 

Bog Field Park submission

 

That provision be made to light up the park and the playing courts and playground to maximize playing time and availability and to combat possible antisocial behaviour in these areas.

 

That flood lighting be provided for the playing pitch to maximize playing time and availability.

 

That a light controlled pedestrian crossing be placed across the Golf Course Road.

 

That bollards be fitted on the Fairways pavements to prevent parking.

 

That the wall separating the park from Fairways be

• Removed
• Reduced in height by 1' 6" to allow passing motorists to see into the park and thus improve public scrutiny of the park and the activities to prevent anti-social behaviour as at present the wall is too high to allow motorists to see into the area.

 

That the walk area be concreted or covered in tarmacadam to allow for walking and pushchairs/wheelchairs.  This surface will ensure that the walkway is suitable for use all year round.

 

That a wooden fence or boundary be erected to the rear of those houses on the bottom of Pairc na Coille to provide them with privacy from the school and vice versa.

 

That the existing ESB pole currently located in the Garden of Mr Ryce Kelly's home be undergrounded as part of the school and Park project.

 

That a full traffic plan be implemented for the Fairways and school entrance and that this plan be circulated to the residents and school management.

 

Cllr Keith Martin

 

Receipt of 3 No. Submissions.

Also received the following acknowledgement from Westport Town Council in relation to my submissions on traffic in the town, the new park and the upcoming new town plan.

 

Have you had your say on these issues too?  If not now is the time!

---

From: Melvin Ann
Sent: Wed 15/08/2007 14:50
To: Cllr Keith Martin (Westport)
Subject: Receipt of 3 No. Submissions.

Cllr. Keith Martin.

 

On behalf of Ms. Ann Moore, Town Clerk, I wish to acknowledge receipt of the following submissions;

 

• Traffic Workshop Submission
• Bog Field Park Submission, and
• Town Development Plan Submission.

 

Regards.

 

Ann Melvin.

Local Government Reform Submission

**********************************************************************
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Deimhnítear leis an bhfo-nóta seo freisin go bhfuil an teachtaireacht ríomhphoist seo scuabtha le bogearraí frithvíorais chun víorais ríomhaire a aimsiú.

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager.

This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept by anti-virus software for the presence of computer viruses.
**********************************************************************

Received an acknowledgement today from the Dept of the Environment that my submission on Local Government reform would be considered in Minister John Gormley's Green Paper.

 

Have you had your say yet? 

 

From: Eoin Corrigan [mailto:Eoin_Corrigan@environ.ie]
Sent: Wed 15/08/2007 15:58
To: Cllr Keith Martin (Westport)
Cc: Feargal O'Coigligh
Subject: Re: Local Government Reform Submission

Dear Cllr Martin,

Many thanks for your views concerning the reform of local government.

l will ensure that your views are given consideration and thereby
contribute to the development of the Green Paper on local government
reform.

Regards,

Eoin Corrigan
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government




>>> "Cllr Keith Martin (Westport)" <kmartin@cllr.westporttc.ie>
11/08/2007 15:43:35 >>>
Submission on local government reform

By Cllr Keith Martin, Westport Town Council.

33 Pairc na Coille

Westport

Mayo



Ireland has one of the weakest forms of local government in Europe.  It
is essentially a form of central government dominated local
administration, more appropriate to a colony than an independent modern
European country.



It is appalling that we have centrally appointed managers making
executive decis ties and towns instead of the
people's representatives.  This lack of accountability results in the
unelected management of local authorities being too powerful when they
really should have no power at all.  Management should be there to
manage and advise not to set policy or take decisions.



Unlike Europe local authorities in Ireland have no real say in issues
such as education, health, policing, transport and traffic which are all
vital issues which impact on everyone's day to day life.



I believe that the best government is the government which takes place
at the lowest possible and realistic level.  I believe reform of local
government is vital.



I propose the following measures as vital to any real reform

*       The position of County/City/Town Manager must be abolished and
replaced by a Chief Executive of the Council. Chief Executives will
exercise a limi nctions, similar to those which
were originally intended in the City and County Management Acts. Chief
Executives will have no policy making functions other than to assist and
advise the elected Council in the making of policy.

*       Each Local Authority must have a directly elected mayor for the
five year term of the Council with executive powers.  It is no good
directly electing a mayor who has no powers over the executive staff.
The powers of the Mayor could be tempered by the councillors.  This
office would carry with it responsibility for most decisions in
association with a small cabinet of councillors.

*       We must strengthen the role of the elected council, in order to
provide the citizen with accountable public services. Councillors will
have power to seek accountability from any agency, whether public or
private, which is providing public services in the ill have power to seek reports from service providers and to question,
in public, the appropriate managers on aspects of their service.

*       Councils should have a consumer protection role in relation to
private sector services. Private refuse collectors, telecoms, private
schools, local rail and airline services, local banks and cable TV
providers will be amenable to public questioning by the elected
representatives of the people, on their public service remit.

*       Town councils should be expanded to take in greater areas of
newly expanded housing.

*       Local government needs to be funded directly, independent of
central government with central government providing money for devolved
powers such as schools, policing, health and traffic management.



The benefits of a directly elected mayor at town and city/county level
are m nbsp;     1.      Visible and accountable leadership.
        2.      Likely to be powerful leaders by nature.
        3.      Open up politics to civic leaders and business people.
        4.      Will wield "clout" on behalf of their authority with
national government and other public and private bodies.
        5.      Transparency of the directly elected Mayor would lead to
less corruption, not more.



The current system of local government doesn't work.  It is distant,
unresponsive and unanswerable to the citizens it is supposed to serve.



We need to give authorities directly elected mayors with a mandate and
vision for their town's future, giv to effect
change and policy and remove the role of officials from policy and let
mayors make the day to day decisions based on advice from their
officials.





<mailto:eoin_corrigan@environ.ie>

Yours sincerely
Councillor Keith Martin
Westport Town Council
Phone/Fax 098 24852
Mobile 086 0691182
Website www.VoteKeithMartin.com