Stephen Kerr Independent

13/09/2026

Letter to the Editor of the Connaught Telegraph...

Great News But How Are The Houses Allocated?

Sir, the housing crisis has been a hot topic in the Connaught Telegraph recently, particularly with reference to Co. Mayo.

I give credit to Mayo Co. Council for the fine estates they have built in recent years, and the new estates coming to completion. However, along with all right-thinking people, I do wonder at the Council's allocation policy. Single people whose housing needs are met are allocated new three-bed houses, a single adult is allocated a two-bathroom bungalow while his neighbour with a teenage daughter is allocated a one-bath bungalow, people on the housing list have not shown up when invited to view new houses (is the housing list being updated?), and others have turned down a number of houses in the same estate until they were offered one that was to their taste.

But this misallocation is not a local authority problem alone. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth via specialized units like the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Accommodation Team (UCTAT), and the Department of Justice, which has now assumed the role of co-ordinating housing allocation for refugees, are also at fault.

For example, a single mother and her two autistic children are assigned a single room in a hotel. She has no facilities to cook, prepare school lunches and is forbidden (for health and safety reasons) to have a fridge to store her children's medicines. Across the road is a Ukrainian lady in a three-bed house on her own.

I am deeply concerned about one specific allocation; a Traveller family with a number of adult children with special needs who the Council housed 8 km from Castlebar in a tiny house. This house, at the end of three boreens, cannot be accessed by ambulances, fire-engines or oil lorries and has no eircode, making it almost impossible to find. I know because I worked in that house. The lady of the house sadly died in April last year from a cardiac event. The question arises: would she be alive today if that family had been housed more appropriately? I know the answer, and after three years it's time for Mayo Co. Council to prioritise that family.

Yours sincerely,

Stephen Blendell
Castlebar,
Co. Mayo

04/09/2026

Like everyone, I am very saddened and shocked at the news that a 12 year old boy has died following yesterday’s accident at a level crossing in Ballyhaunis. This is every parent’s worst nightmare. It is beyond comprehension to lose a child. I wish to extend deepest condolences to the family involved in this terrible tragedy, and I hope the boy’s father (who was injured) makes a full recovery.

My thoughts and prayers are also with the train driver and staff on that ill fated Westport train, as well as with the passengers who were travelling at the time of the incident, the community of Ballyhaunis and the friends of the young lad’s family. God help them, and may that little boy Rest In Peace.

03/09/2026

Bring the whole family along for a brilliant day in Castlebar!

, 𝐅𝐔𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘: 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐆𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞! 🎩✨🎨

Mise Éire isn’t just an event for adults it’s a family-friendly day out!

To make sure the little ones are fully entertained, we have top children's magician Colin Walker bringing his incredible magic show, alongside a fantastic local face painter to keep the kids smiling, transformed, and thoroughly entertained all afternoon.

🌟Children enter completely 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄

🪄Kids' Entertainment & Face Painting: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Bring the whole family along for a brilliant day in Castlebar!

(𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴/𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀.)

🌐 Learn more about Colin's magic: colinwalker.ie

Get your in-person tickets here https://miseeire.ie/

01/09/2026

Looking forward to Aisling FitzGibbon's talk at Mise Eire Festival...

31/08/2026

Today Pat Kearns declared himself homeless at Mayo County Council. And there will be many more in a similar position over the coming months. Homelessness is about to explode (as if it wasn't bad enough already). It's just not good enough that ordinary decent Irish people are being treated like this. Infuriating.

29/08/2026

Great to have Derek coming back to Castlebar!

27/08/2026

Jenn Ryan will be speaking at Mise Éire, alongside Laura Oestreich, and the title of their talk is... Timeless Medicine for the 21st Century - Returning to our Natural Way of Being.

26/08/2026

A very interesting man and so passionate about his country...

25/08/2026

Mise Éire Criticism Valid?

While we are slow to engage in what we see as drama, we have no choice but to clarify a few matters due to serious allegations regarding our motives and the cost of tickets to our event.

Please let us know your thoughts. If you don't agree, and you'd like to join us on the 19th of September in Castlebar for , you can get your tickets at the following link... https://miseeire.ie/

25/08/2026

For all ticket holders attending Mise Eire Festival...

We’ve just sent out a quick survey to everyone who has secured their spot for Mise Éire in Castlebar!

To help us make the day as seamless and comfortable as possible, from room allocations for popular speakers to footfall and our open trad sessions we need a tiny bit of feedback from you.