Mayo is changing, gone are the small diverse farms, the hay and straw stacks, the small gardens where turnips, potatoes, cabbage, carrots and may be some sweet pea, were sown. After the harvest when there was enough taken out for the house the remainder was sold on or given to neighbours in good will.



What has emerged out of this is a very different Mayo where broad band is available freely. And Mayo people are taking this in their stride adapting to this new life. Where else would you get Goats soap ( I kid you not?..sorry could not resist) There are lots of these industries scattered throughout Mayo.

In almost every town there is a country market. These are well worth a visit, home made jam, cakes, bread, hand crafts and a lot more. The one in my town is held in the town hall in Westport on Thursday morning. One piece of advice is to get there early. For Westport anyway there is not much left by 10 or 11 Oclock. Other towns in Mayo with similar markets include Achill, Ballina, Ballinrobe, Belmullet, Claremorris, Kiltimagh and Swinford. The best way to go about this is

to enquire locally as to times etc. These markets have become a great place to meet up for locals.

What Mayo has to offer is freedom, yes the pace of life may not be as laid back as it used to but all said it wont burn you out. With the internet you can do most things you do in the city and with infrastructure improving all the time ? ?the Charlestown by-Pass for example, Knock airport increasing their destinations all the time. Mayo has quality of life written all over it.. With so much talk now of work life balance Mayo is looking good!

With names like Coca Cola in Ballina Co Mayo; Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ltd in Westport, Baxter in Castlebar, Tesco, Dunnes

Stores, Next, Lifestyle sports, Aldi, to name a few and many more on the way it looks like Mayo is attracting the best.

Farming is still holding its own with smaller farms contracting out work allowing contractors to invest in the best machinery. Judging by the amount of new tractors for sale out side there seems to be plenty of activity in this side of things.

McHale machinery founded by a Mayo man, in Ballinrobe means there is a never ending supply of up to date equipment for the various jobs that need to be done. Milking cows is no longer viable for smaller farms, a lot of these operations have sold their milk quotas to bigger farms in Ireland and their equipment has been sent to newer E.U. countries. Raising cattle

for the beef trade is quite popular. Specialising in one rather than having a variety is normal now. Fair Days are small now but still a part of the smaller towns calendar . Towns like Erris, Ballycastle, Newport, Ballycroy, Belmullet, Killala, Belcarra, Balla and Louisburgh these towns in Mayo would be good places to find these type of days going on.

Knock, Newport, Claremorris, Belmullet have had new Hotels added recently. These are really great value because they are keen to impress. These towns may not look like there is much going on as you drive through but as you will find if you take a closer look its much the same as anywhere else except on a smaller scale.