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25 Jun 2026 latest
  1. planningRetention of new dining room window and rear home office/gym at Carrowkeel house
  2. planningRetaining existing domestic shed at Thornhill, Lecanvey
  3. planningRenovation and extension of house at Attireesh, Westport
  4. planningPlanning conditional: Planning Permission to retain existing sunroom to side of existing detached dwelling...
  5. planningPlanning application received: Change Of Use From Commercial Unit To Private Use And Short-Term Rental And...
  6. planningPlanning conditional: CONSTRUCT AN EXTENSION AND CARRY OUT RENOVATIONS TO EXISTING DWELLING HOUSE, TOGETHER...
  7. planningPlanning application received: Construction of a new permanent single-storey family dwelling house,...
  8. planningPlanning application received: Construction of agricultural shed and associated site works
  9. whats onAuthor Martina Devlin to speak at Westport Library on June 23rd
  10. planningPlanning application received: PLANNING NOTICE MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL Rosturk, Mulranny, Westport, Co. Mayo...
  11. planningSailing club upgrades boathouse with pontoon, storage area and improved slipway
  12. planningPlanning application received: The development will consist of the upgrade of the existing septic tank...

News

2 stories

Mayo County Council's Renewable Energy Strategy Faces Challenges

Mayo County Council is working to implement national renewable energy guidelines despite outdated local regulations and community concerns. Flooding risks and public consultation issues complicate the process.

2025 government renewable energy guidelines; community consultation needed; flooding risks in 2024-affected areas
16 Jun 2026 · midwest

Rural Schools Face Closure as INTO Highlights Widespread Issue

Eleven rural national schools in the West of Ireland face closure due to housing challenges, according to the INTO. The Canadian Prime Minister's visit to Mayo highlights local connections and community engagement.

Mark Carney, Catherine Connolly
14 Jun 2026 · shannonside

Crime & Courts

33 stories

‘I hold no ill will’: Daughter of Mayo woman killed by truck addresses driver

A delivery driver has been sentenced to five months in prison at Castlebar Circuit Court after pleading guilty to careless driving causing the death of a seventy-six-year-old woman in Westport. Maureen Hopkins died following a collision with a lorry in the car park of SuperValu on June 6, 2024. Mihail Tanasevici, aged forty-two, also pleaded guilty to a road traffic breach concerning windscreen obstruction. The…

Courts News Ireland report
05 Mar 2026 · Courts News Ireland
Also covered in: Castlebar

Man admits careless driving causing death of Mayo woman

A man has admitted careless driving causing the death of a woman in her 70s at a supermarket car park in County Mayo last year. The incident occurred on June 6, 2024, at Supervalu in Westport, when a lorry struck the pedestrian in the vehicle forecourt. Mihail Tanasevici, aged 41 and residing in Dublin, pleaded guilty to a single count of careless driving causing death at Castlebar Circuit Criminal Court. The court…

Courts News Ireland report
03 Nov 2025 · Courts News Ireland
Also covered in: Castlebar

Kilroy gets legal aid to fight conviction for murdering wife

James Kilroy, 51, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has been granted legal aid to appeal his murder conviction. He was unanimously convicted at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his wife in June 2019, following his third trial after two previous proceedings collapsed. The jury rejected Kilroy's insanity defence, which centred on cannabis-induced psychosis. During the trial, psychiatric experts disagreed…

Courts News Ireland report
25 Oct 2024 · Courts News Ireland

Murder trial jury may consider if cannabis-induced psychosis qualifies as mental disorder for insanity verdict

A jury at the Central Criminal Court is considering whether cannabis-induced psychosis constitutes a mental disorder that could support an insanity defence in the trial of James Kilroy, charged with the murder of his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, between 13th and 14th June 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt charged the jury following conflicting expert psychiatric…

Courts News Ireland report
25 Jul 2024 · Courts News Ireland

'Highly unlikely' that murder accused husband was intoxicated from cannabis, jury told

At the Central Criminal Court, two toxicologists have given evidence that it is "highly unlikely" a man accused of murdering his wife was intoxicated from cannabis at the time of the alleged killing. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, between 13th and 14th June 2019. Dr Johann Grundlingh, called by the…

Courts News Ireland report
23 Jul 2024 · Courts News Ireland

Man accused of murdering wife was suffering 'acute and transient psychotic disorder', jury told

A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a Westport man accused of killing his wife was experiencing acute and transient psychotic disorder at the time of the alleged killing. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13th and 14th, 2019. Defence psychiatric expert Dr Lisa Wootton testified…

Courts News Ireland report
22 Jul 2024 · Courts News Ireland

Drug-induced psychosis does not qualify for insanity verdict, ex-CMH director tells murder trial

A former clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital has told the Central Criminal Court that drug-induced psychosis does not constitute a mental disorder qualifying for an insanity verdict. Professor Harry Kennedy gave expert evidence in the trial of James Kilroy, aged 51, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife, Valerie French…

Courts News Ireland report
19 Jul 2024 · Courts News Ireland

Park ranger accused of murdering wife was not suffering from mental disorder, psychiatrist tells trial

A psychiatrist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Westport man accused of murdering his wife was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time of her death. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13 and 14, 2019. The court heard that the accused accepts responsibility for…

Courts News Ireland report
12 Jul 2024 · Courts News Ireland

Psychiatrists disagree on whether insanity verdict open to husband accused of murdering wife, jury hears

A Central Criminal Court jury has heard that psychiatric evidence is disputed in the trial of James Kilroy (51), charged with murdering his wife Valerie French Kilroy (41) at their rural home near Westport and Castlebar in County Mayo in June 2019. Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that the accused is expected to accept he caused his wife's death by blunt force trauma…

Courts News Ireland report
10 Jul 2024 · Courts News Ireland
Also covered in: Castlebar

Date set for James Kilroy's third murder trial

A 50-year-old man from County Mayo will face trial for a third time in connection with the alleged murder of his wife. At the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, the defence team indicated they require a replacement expert witness following the collapse of the second trial last week. Justice Paul McDermott set the trial date for 29 May 2024. The previous proceedings had progressed for two weeks before halting due to…

Courts News Ireland report
28 Nov 2023 · Courts News Ireland

Valerie French Kilroy murder trial collapses for second time

The murder trial of James Kilroy, accused of killing his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has collapsed for a second time at the Central Criminal Court. The trial, which had been in progress since November 8th, was unable to continue after a key defence witness, psychiatrist Professor Keith Rix, became unavailable to complete his testimony. Mr Justice Paul McDermott…

Courts News Ireland report
20 Nov 2023 · Courts News Ireland

Murder accused was likely not under influence of cannabis - toxicologist

A clinical toxicologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court that a Westport man accused of murdering his wife was likely not under the influence of cannabis at the time of her death, despite a long history of drug use. James Kilroy, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between 13 and 14 June 2019. Dr Johann Grundlingh…

Courts News Ireland report
17 Nov 2023 · Courts News Ireland

+21 older crime & courts stories →

Planning

47 stories

Retaining existing domestic shed at Thornhill, Lecanvey

Thomas O'Malley is seeking permission to keep an existing domestic shed that's already on his property at Thornhill, Lecanvey, Westport. The shed is 4.81 metres high. This is a retention application, meaning the structure is already there and he's asking the council to formally approve it.

Thomas O'Malley
File ref: 2660364 · Mayo County Council
25 Jun 2026 · Mayo County Council (Planning)

Retention of new dining room window and rear home office/gym at Carrowkeel house

Aileen O'Toole is seeking permission to keep changes she's already made to her house in Carrowkeel, Murrisk near Westport. These include a new dining room window on the front of the house and a home office/gym she's built at the rear, along with associated site services. This is a retention application, meaning the work has already been done and she's now regularising it with the council.

Aileen O'Toole
File ref: 2660365 · Mayo County Council
25 Jun 2026 · Mayo County Council (Planning)

Renovation and extension of house at Attireesh, Westport

Padraig and Fiona Maguire want to renovate and extend their home at Attireesh in Westport. The work includes all the necessary site works to go with the renovation and extension project.

Padraig and Fiona Maguire
File ref: 2660366 · Mayo County Council
25 Jun 2026 · Mayo County Council (Planning)

Sailing club upgrades boathouse with pontoon, storage area and improved slipway

Mayo Sailing Club wants to upgrade its Westport waterfront facility with a hardstand area for storing boats, a floating pontoon connected to shore, and changes to the existing slipway to make it wider with a vertical wall. The club will also rehabilitate the site when they're done with the work.

Mayo Sailing Club
File ref: 2660341 · Mayo County Council
17 Jun 2026 · Mayo County Council (Planning)

+35 older planning stories →

Community

2 stories

Author Martina Devlin to speak at Westport Library on June 23rd

Local residents are invited to a literary event in Westport where author Martina Devlin will give a talk at Westport Library on Tuesday, June 23rd at 7 PM. The event is part of the Female Literary Giants series.

Martina Devlin
Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:00 PM, Westport Library
20 Jun 2026 · midwest

Court Reports

Cases and rulings mentioning Westport from local newspapers and Courts News Ireland.

Courts Reporting Scheme 2025-11-10 Courts News Ireland

Mayo man with gambling addiction stole over €34,000

A Castlebar man has pleaded guilty to three thefts totalling over €34,000 from a Lidl supermarket in Westport during the Christmas and New Year period of 2023. Mantas Kerusauska, aged 39, admitted to stealing €11,250 on Christmas Eve, €10,700 on December 29th, and €12,300 on...

Courts Reporting Scheme 2025-11-03 Courts News Ireland

Man admits careless driving causing death of Mayo woman

A man has admitted careless driving causing the death of a woman in her 70s at a supermarket car park in County Mayo last year. The incident occurred on June 6, 2024, at Supervalu in Westport, when a lorry struck the pedestrian in the vehicle forecourt. Mihail Tanasevici, aged...

Courts Reporting Scheme 2025-07-11 Courts News Ireland

Westport glass assault leaves victim with €11,000 dental bill

A Brazilian man has received a three-year suspended sentence following an assault outside a Westport nightclub that left his victim requiring extensive dental treatment. Joao Hermino Sousa Correia, aged 23, of Middletown, Manulla, Castlebar, pleaded guilty to assault causing...

Court of Appeal 2024-10-25 Courts News Ireland

Kilroy gets legal aid to fight conviction for murdering wife

James Kilroy, 51, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has been granted legal aid to appeal his murder conviction. He was unanimously convicted at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his wife in June 2019, following his third trial after two previous proceedings...

Central Criminal Court 2023-11-28 Courts News Ireland

Date set for James Kilroy's third murder trial

A 50-year-old man from County Mayo will face trial for a third time in connection with the alleged murder of his wife. At the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, the defence team indicated they require a replacement expert witness following the collapse of the second trial last...

Central Criminal Court 2023-11-20 Courts News Ireland

Valerie French Kilroy murder trial collapses for second time

The murder trial of James Kilroy, accused of killing his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has collapsed for a second time at the Central Criminal Court. The trial, which had been in progress since November 8th, was unable to continue...