NIFTY 250: April 9: State of Play tipped for Grand National; Castlebar council pay tribute; Dempsey to open Westport Greenway

Duffy goes for State of Play in Grand National

THE Mayo News Racing Correspondent, Michael Duffy, thinks the Evan Williams trained State of Play will win this year’s Aintree Grand National, which takes place tomorrow.
“As usual, it’s a wide open race and a lot of luck will be needed but State of Play jumps out at the weights. He actually finished fourth in the race last year but now carries 5lbs less. His reappearance run, when he pulled up in the Hennessy, is a worry but he has always run well fresh and has been laid out for the race. He has a great chance at 18/1.”

Castlebar Town Council pay tribute to ‘unsung hero’

CASTLEBAR Town Council last night adjourned their monthly meeting as a mark of respect to former Castlebar Town Clerk, Sean Smyth. Tributes were paid to Mr Smyth, of Newport Road, Castlebar, by all of the elected representatives present and by Castlebar Town Manager, Seamus Granahan, who described Mr Smyth as an ‘unsung hero’.

Minister Dempsey to open Westport ‘Greenway’ next week

WESTPORT Town Council has confirmed that Minister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, will open the town’s new Greenway walking and cycle route on next Friday afternoon at 1.15pm. The route, which runs from Altamount Street all the way to the Quay, has been used by hundreds of locals since it was opened last month. Minister Dempsey will also open the new Railway Walk between Mulranny and Newport on Friday morning at 10.30am.