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Second big Lotto win of the week as Galway player scoops €250k

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Galway Daily news Galway Lotto player scoops €54,583 in midweek madness

Just days after a fantastic EuroMillions win, Galway is once again in the spotlight as a Lotto Plus 2 player has scooped a life-enhancing €250,000 prize in last night’s draw.

The Lotto player purchased their winning Quick Pick ticket on Sunday, 13th July, from Circle K Newcastle in Galway City.

The winning numbers in last night’s Lotto Plus 2 (16th July) draw were: 3, 11, 12, 19, 26, 37 and the Bonus was 46.

While there was no winner of the Lotto jackpot worth €11,351,777, in total, over 83,000 players won prizes in the Lotto & Lotto Plus draws, including the Lotto Plus 2 winner.

Emma Monaghan, spokesperson for the National Lottery said, “Galway strikes again! For the second time this week, a player has scooped a fantastic prize, taking home a life-enhancing windfall of €250,000.”

“We’re now urging all of our players to check their tickets carefully – you could be holding a winning ticket!”

The winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket and to keep it safe.

They should make contact with our prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie, and arrangements will be made for them to collect their life-changing prize in Lottery HQ.

Swimming ban at Ballyloughane beach due to bacteria levels

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Galway Daily news Swimming ban at Ballyloughane Beach due to E. Coli

A short term swimming ban has been put in place for Ballyloughane Beach by Galway City Council due to elevated bacteria levels detected.

Elevated levels of Intestinal Enterococci were detected in water samples taken from Ballyloughane Beach on Monday, July 14.

As a result of this, a swimming ban has been issued by the city council, which is currently expected to last for 2 – 4 days.

Further samples were taken on Wednesday, July 16, the results of which will be delivered on Friday.

The contamination is suspected to be from urban runoff, which Ballyloughane Beach is known to be susceptible to.

Community Raises Over €195,000 for Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool

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The community of Banagher has reached a major fundraising milestone, raising over €195,000 towards the creation of a state-of-the-art outdoor swimming facility at Shannon Bank Park, Esker, Banagher.

Launched by the Shannon Bank Park Development Group at the Crank House on February 2 this year, the campaign has exceeded expectations in a town of just 1,907 residents.

The money raised will support an €850,000 project, including the new pool and significant site development works, which also benefits from €616,000 in funding through the Fáilte Ireland EU Just Transition Fund.

The new Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool will include wheelchair access, improved seating, wider pontoons, and a dedicated kayak and paddleboard launch, all situated in the River Shannon at Shannon Bank Park.

Construction by Inland and Coastal Marina Systems is already underway, with pool sections currently being fabricated off-site in preparation for installation.

The fundraising efforts have been wide-ranging and imaginative: from the River Shannon Challenge (a 3.5km swim held on June 28) and the Carrauntoohil Challenge (May 10), to nine-year-old Conor Horn’s ‘May the Fourth Mountain March’, a pony trek, the ‘Last Ever ‘80s Nostalgia Night’ at Melba’s nightclub in Birr, a monster auction at Corrigan’s Corner House, a tractor run, and several school-led events.

Significant supporters also include the local ‘Beat on the Street’ Festival and the ‘Runners V Riders’ fundraising group. Sponsored nameplates, an online iDonate page and a tap-to-donate machine in the park also played their part.

“When the Just Transition funding came in, it made the project a possibility — but for us, the work only really started then,” said Johnny Butler of the Shannon Bank Park Development Group.

“€172,000 is an awful lot of money, and people said we were mad. That this was just another pipe dream that looked good on paper.”

“But from the very start, we were met with nothing but positivity. Everywhere we turned for help or support, we didn’t have to ask twice.”

“I checked the platform we used for online donations recently. There are 2,658 individual contributions there alone. That doesn’t include all the physical fundraising that went on.”

The project will be delivered in two phases. Phase 1 will see the removal of the existing pool and the installation of the new facility before the end of August.

The pool will be closed for a maximum of two weeks during the transition. Groundworks and the construction of a new wheelchair ramp and improved access points will commence at the same time.

Phase 2 will follow in 2026, focusing on landscaping and the completion of groundworks to integrate the new facility into the park.

“It really shows the kind of community that exists here in Banagher — and not just here, but across West Offaly, East Galway, and North Tipperary too,” Johnny Butler added.

“Part of the appeal is that the project ticks so many boxes: it’s about health, it’s about access, it’s free, and it’s something that benefits both local people and visitors who already travel long distances to use the current pool.”

“Hopefully, it will inspire similar regeneration projects elsewhere — both locally and nationally.”

Teenager critically injured in Tuam car crash dies in hospital

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Galway Daily news

A teenager critically injured in a car crash in Tuam on Sunday evening has since died, it has been confirmed today.

Gardaí are continuing to investigate a two car crash which occurred at Ballygaddy Road, Tuam, at approximately 6:05pm on Sunday, and have reiterated an appeal for witnesses.

The driver of one of the cars, a female in her late teens, was conveyed to University Hospital Galway, where she has since passed away.

The driver and passenger of the second car (a male in his 20s and a female in her 30s) were treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward.

Any persons who were in the Ballygaddy Road area between 5:50pm and 6:15pm and who may have witnessed the incident should contact investigating Gardaí.

Any road users who were travelling in this vicinity at the time, and who may have camera footage including dash cam, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Gardaí can be contacted at the Tuam Garda Station on 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Galway Euromillions player wins amazing €625,081 prize

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Galway Daily news Galway player wins over €600k lotto prize.

A EuroMillions player in Galway is celebrating a life-enhancing midweek windfall of €625,081 in last night’s draw.

The lucky player matched five numbers and one Lucky Star in Tuesday night’s draw.

The Galway player purchased their winning Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw from Eurospar in Carraroe, Co. Galway.

Remarkably, this store is no stranger to big wins – it also sold a €7 million Lotto jackpot ticket last November.

Adding to the excitement, a second Irish player in Louth matched five numbers to win a handsome €14,609.

Their Quick Pick ticket was bought at Dunnes Stores, Dundalk, Ard Easmuinn, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

The winning numbers in last night’s EuroMillions (15th July) draw were: 24, 38, 41, 45, 49 and the Lucky Stars were 1 and 6.

While there was no winner of the EuroMillions jackpot worth €96,858,365. In total, over 40,000 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games, including our two winners in Galway and Louth.

Emma Monaghan, spokesperson for the National Lottery said, “What fantastic news to wake up to – another substantial win for two Irish EuroMillions players! Huge congratulations to our winners in Galway and Louth.”

“We’re now urging all of our players to check their EuroMillions tickets very carefully – you could be holding a winning ticket!”

Garda appeal for teenage girl missing from Galway City

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Gardaí are seeking information on the whereabouts of a teenage girl who has been missing from Galway City for the past week.

15-year-old Angel Ndlovu is reported missing from her home in Ballybane, Galway, since Thursday, July 10.

Angel was last seen in the Ballybane, Galway area on Wednesday, July 9 at approximately 2pm.

Angel is described as being approximately 5 foot 2 inches in height, with a slight build. She has black hair and brown eyes.

When last seen, Angel was wearing black leggings, a black hoodie and black runners.

Angel is known to frequent the Tuam, Co. Galway, and Dublin areas. It is believed that Angel may have travelled to the Dublin City Centre area.

Gardaí and Angel’s family are concerned for her well-being.

Anyone with information in relation to Angel’s whereabouts is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091 538 000, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

University of Galway’s Start100 celebrates student entrepreneurs

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Pictured at the University of Galway Start100 2025 Demo Day final hosted by IdeasLab are (L-R): Jenny Mullery, IdeasLab; Méabh Conaghan, Enterprise Ireland; John Brennan, WestBIC; ‘One to Watch’ recipient Joseph Tannian; Overall Winner Sean Allen; Dr Helen McBreen, Atlantic Bridge; Dr Natalie Walsh, IdeasLab; and Conor Carey, Fairstone. Photo: Andrew Downes

IdeasLab, University of Galway’s hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, has celebrated student entrepreneurs and innovators at the 2025 Start100 programme.

Now in its fourth year, the six-week incubator brings in partners from the world of business and enterprise to support students and student teams as they develop early-stage business ideas.

The programme culminated in a Demo Day, where the students pitched their ideas to a panel of expert judges and an audience of peers, mentors and leaders in enterprise.

Sean Allen, from Four Mile House, Co Roscommon, showcased his concept – LeukoCheck – an early-stage idea for a continuous blood monitoring system designed to support ICU patients.

It explores how real-time biomarker analysis might enable earlier detection of sepsis and, in time, contribute to improved patient outcomes. He was inspired by his family’s personal experience of undetected sepsis.

Sean Allen was recently awarded the Séamus McDermott Entrepreneurial Scholarship, sponsored by The Liffey Trust, in partnership with IdeasLab at University of Galway.

The ‘One to Watch’ award, sponsored by WestBIC, was presented to Joseph Tannian, a PhD student in the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. The award recognises the potential of his concept – DuaLine – which aims to reimagine diabetes care.

Building on scientific advances that have extended the lifespan of implants from just three to four days to up to eight weeks, DuaLine seeks to explore how these breakthroughs could be translated into real-world impact through the design of a compact, next-generation pump.

Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “Congratulations to both of our innovative students on receiving their Start100 2025 awards by demonstrating such exceptional ideas and entrepreneurial talent.”

“Our students are not just preparing for the future – they are helping to shape it. Start100 is a powerful expression of University of Galway’s commitment to innovation with impact.”

“In a rapidly changing world, this kind of applied, values-driven learning is essential – not just for our students, but for the future of our society and economy.”

Méabh Conaghan, Regional Director for the West and North-West Regions, Enterprise Ireland, said: “The Start100 series of incubation supports are to be commended as they help students to explore, develop and validate their ideas in a structured and safe environment.”

“It is a privilege to preview the project ideas, and I am excited to say that there are some strong business prospects in the mix. Enterprise Ireland welcomes the Start100 initiative, recognising it as an avenue for future enterprise success and is happy to support this worthwhile programme.”

Start100 is designed to nurture creativity, confidence and entrepreneurial thinking through a blend of mentorship, skills-building workshops and real-world exposure.

This year’s students explored diverse opportunities and challenges across sectors such as health innovation, education, accessibility, AI, and creative technologies.

Each team worked closely with a mentor from their field, while expert-led sessions focused on market validation, storytelling, tax, intellectual property and pitch delivery.

Students were also hosted by CREW and Platform94, strengthening their understanding of the regional innovation ecosystem.

Guest speakers included leaders from Enterprise Ireland, WestBIC, and the Local Enterprise Office (LEO), the award-winning SymPhysis Medical and Start100 alumni Sam O’Neill from Rowteic.

Final pitches at Demo Day were evaluated by an expert judging panel: Dr. Helen McBreen, Partner, Atlantic Bridge, Méabh Conaghan, Regional Director, Enterprise Ireland, John Brennan, CEO, WestBIC and Conor Carey, Director, Fairstone Ireland.

Dr Natalie Walsh, Director of Entrepreneurial Development at IdeasLab, added, “Showcase Day is always a reminder of the boldness and creativity of our students. Start100 is not about having all the answers – it’s about stepping into the unknown, testing ideas, and building the confidence to take the first steps toward impact.”

“What we saw at the event was a room full of energy, curiosity, and students willing to challenge themselves and think differently. That is the essence of innovation, and it’s exactly what IdeasLab was created to support.”

City Council approves €60 million loan for capital projects

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Photo: Galway City Council

Galway City Council has given its approval to seek a €60 million loan, which will be used for a number of sports, culture, and infrastructure projects.

The elected members of Galway City Council voted to approve the loan on Monday to commence projects such as sports masterplans and the redevelopment of Galway City Museum.

Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard, said, “This approval to proceed with this €60m loan application today represents the belief and positivity Galway City Council has in our city.”

“This is a young, vibrant, educated, artistic, Gaeltacht city, with a long tradition as an outward-looking trading port, over more than 800 years of history.”

“This decision is an investment in our future, starting the enabling works for ground-breaking projects, including the sports masterplans.”

The full list of projects being supported by this capital investment includes:

  • Masterplans at Kingston, South Park and Renmore (land acquisition and enabling works);
  • Woodquay Park redevelopment;
  • Pitches at Millers Lane;
  • New MUGA at Renmore;
  • Delivery of other sports capital projects, such as pitch drainage and the skate park in Doughiska;
  • Redevelopment of Galway City Museum;
  • Upgrades to Cultural Facilities in the City;
  • Public lighting upgrades, following damage from Storm Éowyn;
  • Fit out of new civic offices to accommodate staff

Galway City Council will now seek formal sanction for the loan from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and agreement of loan terms and drawdown with the Housing Finance Agency.

The 2026 budget planning process will commence in Galway City Council in Q3 2025, prompting the application process at this point in time.

Repayment of the loan will take place over a 30-year term, with an annual repayment of €3.1 million anticipated.

Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary, said, “This capital investment is possible as a result of some difficult decisions by Members in late 2024, to increase the funding available to the City Council through an adjustment in Local Property Tax and Commercial Rates.”

“This decision is now bearing fruit, as we find ourselves in a stable position to apply for a hugely significant investment in capital infrastructure in our city.”

“Galway City Council is gearing up to deliver these projects – through the establishment of a new Project Development Directorate, on-going recruitment of the specialised people and skills needed to deliver these projects, and preparation for our move to new civic offices where we have the space to expand and accommodate the people we need.”

“The loan sanction today is a statement of our intent for Galway City to remain a world-class city to live, invest, work, or visit, with a significant programme of projects enabled as a result of today’s decision”.

Howl at the Moon – A Night-Time Walk Raising Money for Galway Mountain Rescue

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The Galway Mountain Rescue Team is calling on local adventurers, nature lovers, and night owls to step into the moonlight for a cause that saves lives.

On Saturday, October 11, the charity will host “Howl at the Moon” – a unique walking challenge set in Galway Wind Park.

The event will offer two atmospheric walking options: a 9km and a 17km route, both taking place under the stars.

Participants are encouraged to bring head torches, warm gear, and their loudest ‘howl’ as they join others for an unforgettable evening of fun.

“All funds raised will go directly to supporting our voluntary rescue services, helping us purchase essential gear, maintain operations, and ensure we can respond swiftly and safely when people need us most,” said Dermot Hughes, Team Member and Howl at the Moon Event Manager

Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or simply looking for a magical night-time adventure, Howl at the Moon promises a community celebration with a difference.

Don’t forget to pack your headtorch and hi-vis and fill your backpack with plenty of water and snacks for an unforgettable night under the moon.

The event will kick off at 6:15pm on the evening of Saturday, October 11, at Galway Wind Park.

The registration fee to take part is €35 for adults, €25 for Under 17s, or €50 for anyone registering on the night.

Anyone who wants to take part in this walk and raise money for a good cause can register at https://howlatthemoon.ie.

Thunderstorms forecast for Galway tonight as weather warning issued

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Galway Daily weather Status Orange thunderstorm warning in effect for Galway

Thunderstorms are expected to develop in Galway and much of the southern Atlantic coast this evening, with heavy rain and possible flooding.

Met Éireann has issued a rain and thunderstorm warning for Clare, Kerry, Limerick, and Galway on Monday night.

The status yellow weather warning will be in place from 7pm on Monday until 7am Tuesday morning.

Galway can expect to see heavy spells of rain tonight with possible thunderstorms.

This will cause a risk of flooding, difficult travelling conditions, and possible lightning damage.

This weather front is moving westwards across the country, with much of the east and midlands under a separate thunderstorm warning this morning and afternoon.

Monday will be a cooler and fresher day than we have experienced lately, with top temperatures ranging from 15 to 19 degrees.

Light to moderate south to southwest winds will increase fresh and gusty locally, with strong winds at times near windward coasts.

Lowest temperatures tonight of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate variable winds, becoming westerly by morning. Winds will be fresher at times along parts of the coast.

The rain will give way to isolated showers by Tuesday morning, with sunny spells developing as the day goes on.

CINE4’s ‘Báite’ premieres at Galway Film Fleadh

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Cast & Crew of Báite: Tara Breathnach, Olga Wehrly, Eleanor O’Brien, Juliette Crosbie, Gearoid Kavanagh, Mark MacGearóid, Pádraig Ó Loingsigh, Craig Garfinkle, and Ruán Magan

Báite, a powerful Irish-language film produced under the Cine4 scheme, premiered at the 37th Galway Film Fleadh on Tuesday, July 9 at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway.

Among the attendees was Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, who had visited TG4 headquarters in Conamara earlier that evening.

The film was celebrated at a special event hosted earlier at the Corrib House Tea Rooms in Galway City. Produced by Danú Media, Báite is part of the Cine4 scheme, a co-funded initiative between Fís Éireann, TG4, and Coimisiún na Meán.

Set in a rural village during All-Ireland weekend in 1975, Báite blends murder mystery and family drama as Peggy Casey’s life begins to unravel after a body surfaces from the local manmade lake.

Directed by Ruán Magan in his feature debut and written by Sheena Lambert, the screenplay is based on her novel The Lake, published by HarperCollins.

The film stars Eleanor O’Brien, Moe Dunford, Oisín Mistéil, Fionnuala Gygax, and Mark Mac Gearailt, and was filmed in Conamara in summer 2023.

Produced by Siobhán Ní Ghadhra and John Brady of Danú Media, the film was supported by TG4, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Section 481, and Coimisiún na Meán.

Deirdre Ní Choistín, Director General of TG4, said, “The vision Alan Esslemont had for Cine4 was that an Irish language film would one day win an Oscar, and that Irish language films in cinema would normalise the language in Irish society.”

“I wish to congratulate Danú Media on the latest feature film ‘Báite’ from the Cine4 scheme. Báite and each of the eight Cine4 films to date have brought new Irish creative storytelling as well as awareness and appreciation of the Irish language.”

Siobhán Ní Ghadhra, Producer, Danú Media, added that, “Bringing Báite to the screen has been a true labour of love. The team worked tirelessly to honour the story’s heart and its powerful female lead, Peggy.”

“We’re delighted to premiere the film in Galway, where much of the energy and creativity behind it was born.”

Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive of Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said that the Cine4 initiative has been a source of “immense pride” for Screen Ireland, with a remarkable cultural impact.

“Screen Ireland’s commitment to developing Irish language cinema continues, with a range of investments and supports across both film and television.”

“We are delighted to have supported Báite alongside our partners TG4 and Coimisiún na Meán, and would like to congratulate the creative team behind the film on its World Premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh this year.”

This launch also marked the 20th anniversary of Coimisiún na Meán’s Sound & Vision Scheme, which continues to champion Irish-language and culturally significant audiovisual content.

Báite was cast by Mairéad Campbell of West Coast Casting and features key creative contributions from Ronan Fox (DOP), Gemma Keenan (Costume Design), Jennifer Bowman (Hair & Make-Up), Stephen Molloy (Sound), and Conor Dennison (Production Design). Post-production was completed at Outer Limits, Dublin.

Teenager in critical condition after Tuam car crash

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Galway daily news

A teenager has been hospitalised in critical condition after a car crash in Tuam on Sunday evening.

Shortly after 6pm on Sunday, two cars were involved in a crash at Ballygaddy Road, Tuam.

The driver of one of the cars, a female teenager, was taken to University Hospital Galway, where her condition is described as critical.

The driver of the second car, a man in his 20s, and a passenger, a woman in her 30s, were both treated for non-life threatening injuries.

A technical examination of the scene was carried out, and Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information regarding this crash to come forward.

Any persons who were in the Ballygaddy Road area between 5:50pm and 6:15pm and who may have witnessed the incident should contact investigating Gardaí.

Any road users who were travelling in this vicinity at the time, and who may have camera footage including dash cam, are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Gardaí can be contacted at the Tuam Garda Station on 093 70840, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Galway RNLI rescue two walkers cut off by incoming tide

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The Galwat RNLI lifeboat came to the rescue of two people who found themselves stranded by the rising tide on Satuday afternoon.

Galway RNLI’s volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Irish Coast Guard yesterday afternoon to rescue two walkers on Hare Island who had been cut off from the shore by the incoming tide.

The request to launch came shortly before 3pm, and the volunteer crew of Pierce Purcell, James Rattigan, Aaron Connolly and Seán King launched the lifeboat shortly after and were quickly underway to Hare Island on inner Galway Bay.

Conditions at sea were good with good visibility, thanks to the current spell of fine weather.

When the lifeboat reached Hare Island, one of the crew went ashore and located the two casualties, who were safe and well.

The crew brought the casualties on board the lifeboat and returned to the lifeboat station at the New Docks.

Seán King, who was helm on the lifeboat, said, “We launched quickly when we got the call that there were people stranded on Hare Island because the tide had come in and covered the causeway to the island.”

“Luckily, lifeguards on a nearby beach noticed that people hadn’t returned from the island and raised the alarm.”

“If you get into difficulty or see someone in difficulty, please dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”

“Walking around coasts is a very safe activity most of the time. Our advice is to always take a means of calling for help and to check the tides.”

“Tide times and heights vary throughout the month and can easily catch you out if you haven’t checked them. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to be back.”

He added that, “With hot temperatures over the next few days, we know many people will be taking part in activities on the water or along the coast.”

The RNLI’s advice for people out on the water or at the coast is to:

  • Check the tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.
  • When swimming, choose a lifeguarded beach and always swim between the red and yellow flags.
  • If you get into difficulty in the water, remember: #FloatToLive. This simple skill can save your life.
  • In an emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard

Extreme high temperatures again tomorrow with thunderstorm risk

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galway daily news Weather warning for heavy wind and rain to hit Galway

Galway’s weather will continue to be extremely hot and unsettled tomorrow, with temperatures in the high 20s and a risk of thunderstorms.

Met Eireann has issued another weather warning for 16 counties tomorrow warning of temperatures in excess of 27 degrees.

This warning for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, and all of Connacht will be in place from midday until 6pm on Sunday.

There will also be a risk of thunderstorms developing from the late afternoon and early evening.

Met Eireann has issued a status yellow weather warning for thunderstorms for all of Connacht.

This warning will be in place from 3pm until 10pm on Sunday, with the greatest risk in Galway developing in the early evening.

This carries with it a risk of heavy thundery downpours causing surface flooding and lightning damage in places.

Difficult travelling conditions may results and some outdoor events could also be impacted.

Athenry’s Big Day Out raising funds for community playground

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Aine Fitzgerald,Kya Coll Cannon, Isabelle Gill during the Hop & Hunt Easter fundraiser

It’s a big day out in Athenry this summer, with a full day (and night) of community events to raise funds for Athenry Playground.

Athenry’s Big Day Out, on 19 July from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., is a collaboration between Athenry Community Council and Athenry Community Playground Group, two volunteer groups focused on fostering involvement and creating community spaces in the town.

The community event promises a wonderful day focused on promoting local talent, creativity, and music.

“It’s a great opportunity to get together for a really good cause,” said Galway County Cllr Peter Feeney, who also chairs the Athenry Community Council.

This public event will fill Athenry town park and playground with free access to a makers mart, featuring youth creators and local craftspeople; food trucks, and live music.

In the playground, families can enjoy a fundraiser filled with creative play workshops and activities like dancing, drumming, mural painting, yoga, crafts, sensory play, and more.

“The park and playground have always been a place of social interaction and the Big Day Out will be the ultimate community play day,” said Feeney.

Sophie Mitchell, Kya Coll Cannon, Áine Fitzgerald supporting their playground and walking in the parade.

The playground fundraiser will kick off with the grand opening of the Athenry Little Library, a book-sharing initiative gifted to the town by Athenry Community Council.

The unveiling will feature art from local resident Tanya McGarry and storytelling from authors Katherine Scanlon and Georgia-Mai O’Boyle.

Local primary school pupils will also have their artwork on display as part of the playground group’s Design Your Dream Playground art competition.

The competition saw over 400 entries from parish schools, with winning pupils’ design elements being considered in the redesign of Athenry Community Playground.

The fun continues after the Big Day Out with a Big Night In at Dowling’s Bar on North Gate Street. Starting at 8:00 p.m., Dowling’s will host live music from Moonlight Eclipse and Gerry Hanberry, a DJ, barbecue, and a mega raffle to raise funds for Athenry Community Playground.

Since re-forming in October 2024, ACPG has been working to bring attention to the playground, which, after over 20 years of use, has begun to rapidly deteriorate and become unsafe.

The group has raised €50,000 through community activism, donations, and fundraisers. The funds will be used to refurbish the playground and install new equipment

“We are pleased to be moving in the right direction now in terms of having a new, accessible, and modern playground that is fit for purpose,” said committee treasurer Dr Michelle McMahon.

Progress can already be felt thanks to the recent purchase of new sensory play panels, which were funded in part by Galway County Council’s Community Development Scheme Infrastructure Grant.

Galway County Council is also supporting the Big Day Out through their Community Development Scheme Arts Grant.

Most playgrounds in Galway County are owned and managed by local community groups and are only insured by the county council.

The council typically provides no funding or management. Athenry Community Playground is the oldest community-owned playground in the county and the only public play space in Athenry.

Oisin and Iarla Needham playing during the Athenry St. Paddy’s playday

Community group win praise for heritage project keeping name of Gort Inse Guaire alive

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Members of the Gort Project at the launch of the pamphlet (l-r) Gabrielle Bolster, John Murphy (illustrator of pamphlet). Anna Swisher (project organiser), Rory O'Shaughnessy (local historian), Pamela Ward, Jim Ricks, Aisling O'Leary. Fiona

A community group from Gort, Co. Galway, has been praised for its project on keeping the name of their town alive.

The project entitled “Gort Inse Guaire – What’s in a name?” focused on raising awareness of the full name of the town. It was a project carried out as part of the Heritage Keepers programme for community groups and primary schools.

The Gort project was spearheaded by a number of local community groups, including Gort Tidy Towns, Gort Arts, Gort River Walk and Burren Lowlands.

As part of the project, the community groups came together to research and publish a pamphlet documenting the history and heritage of the name ‘Gort Inse Guaire’, understanding that many people were not aware of the full name and its origins.

They enlisted the help of a local historian and a local archaeologist and illustrator to tell the story through words and original artwork.

The pamphlet was launched at a storytelling and information night, which was attended by more than 100 people, and at which they gathered the names of those interested in forming a local Heritage Group.

The Gort project was one of many celebrated at a special gathering in Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Tulsk, Co. Roscommon, last weekend. Attendees included community groups from all over the country who participated in Heritage Keepers projects.

Heritage Keepers is a free programme for community groups and primary schools that helps participants to delve into their built, cultural and natural heritage, providing funding to allow them to take positive local action.

Heritage Keepers recently celebrated the end of the fourth year of the programme, which helps community groups and primary schools protect and celebrate their local heritage.

It is now looking for new applications for the fifth year of the programme, with the closing date September 30th.

It is open to community groups and primary schools across Ireland in both urban and rural locations. Applications can be made online at www.heritagekeepers.ie

Anna Swisher, Project Organiser, said, “I wasn’t particularly interested in history when we started this project; I was more interested in the nature piece. But at some point during the project research I realised I was totally hooked on these stories!”

“It was fascinating to recognise how much humanity has taken place in these buildings we see and streets we walk down, nearly every day. Actually feeling the heritage around you is amazing.”

“What Heritage Keepers is doing is so important: Getting people to fall in love with their local place. It’s the only way we’ll ever stand up and protect it. Whether we’re talking about nature, culture, or built heritage.”

“It’s so important to take the time to get to know your place, so that you love it enough to protect it for future generations.”

This year’s Heritage Keepers programme will have an increased number of places for both community groups and schools. Last year, 75 groups took part in the programme, with more than 200 groups having participated since it started in 2022.

ATU team wins first place in international robotics championship

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Four PhD researchers from Atlantic Technological University (ATU) have won first place in the prestigious international robotics competition, the Robothon Grand Challenge 2025, hosted recently by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) MIRMI in Germany.

The TU RISE research students Dipshikha Das, Ali Al Abbas, Abdullah Haider Ali and Camillo Murgia, all living in Galway City, beat off competition from a field of eight international competitors from Germany, Ireland, India and UAE.

They built a robot solution that can perceive and react intelligently in different scenarios as the team explains.

“We tackled five core tasks ranging from vision-guided tasks to tool use and also designed our Bring Your Own Device challenge (BYOD) to demonstrate transferable skills and adaptability.”

“It was an incredible opportunity to apply our skills, research and creativity, and we are proud of how our team came together to deliver a robust, responsive system.”

“We are thrilled our team Atlabotics has won first place and we thank the organisers and Peter So from Technical University of Munich MIRMI for creating such a thoughtful and inspiring competition, and to everyone who supported us along the way.”

Three of the research students, Ali Al Abbas, Camillo Murgia and Dipshikha Das are registered under the School of Engineering (Dept of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) in ATU Galway, while Abdullah Haider Ali is registered under the School of Engineering (Dept of Electronic and Mechanical Engineering) in ATU Letterkenny.

Dr Philip Long, mentor and lecturer, ATU Galway, says: “I’m really proud of the team for winning first place at the Robothon Grand Challenge 2025.”

“They developed an advanced vision-based robotic manipulation system in a very short space of time, a testament to the state-of-the-art research they’re conducting as part of their PhD programmes.”

“It’s a fantastic achievement on the international stage and a great example of their creativity, technical ability, and teamwork.”

All four are PhD researchers at ATU through the HEA’s TU RISE programme, co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union via the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Southern, Eastern & Midland and Northern & Western Regional Programmes 2021–27.

City Council urges people to ‘Leave no Trace’m enjoying the fine weather

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Galway City Council is inviting people to enjoy the fine weather promised this weekend in the city – and while you’re here, ‘Love this Place, Leave no Trace’.

With summer in swing and festival season in full flow, Galway City Council is asking people to ‘Use the bin or bring it with you’.

In spells of fine weather earlier this year, in the Claddagh Basin in particular, when the Galway City Council Litter Management Unit started work at 5am, they were greeted with long stretches of glass bottles, coffee cups, food wrappers, cans, and other waste scattered all along the ground – at times, metres from an empty bin.

As well as looking terrible, when this litter goes into our waterways, it’s impacting on the wildlife and waters of Galway Bay and beyond.

Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard said, “Galway City is a great place to be in the summer – to meet friends, to unwind, and to take in all the city has to offer.”

“We’re all delighted to see the good weather returning, and people out and about enjoying the city. We’re asking people socialising in the city to help us care for our city, by ‘leaving no trace’.”

“If you have waste whether it’s a coffee cup, a sandwich wrapper or drinks bottle – use a bin, or bring it with you – either home, or to another bin”.

Further ‘on-street’ messaging around litter in the Claddagh/ Spanish Arch will follow in the coming weeks, in conjunction with local businesses and An Garda Síochána.

This campaign is reminding people to enjoy their time in Galway, but don’t let a moment of laziness or inattention ruin our city.

Recall issued for 60,000 Tower air fryers solar in Ireland

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The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is warning consumers to stop using certain models of Tower air fryers following a recall from the company.

Almost 60,000 affected models have been sold in retail outlets across the Republic of Ireland.

The affected air fryers have a manufacturing defect that may cause the appliance to overheat, potentially leading to fires and risking injury or death.

Although no incidents have been reported in Ireland to date, there have been reports in the UK of these products catching fire

The CCPC is urging consumers to check if they own one of the five affected models listed below.

The air fryer models affected by the recall are:

T17023 Tower 2.2Ltr Manual Air Fryer
T17061BLK Tower 4Ltr Manual Air Fryer
T17067 Tower 4Ltr Digital Air Fryer
T17087 Tower 2Ltr Compact Manual Air Fryer
T17129L Vortx 8L Dual Basket Air Fryer

How to check your model

To find the model number, consumers should unplug their air fryer and check the appliance rating label located at the bottom of the air fryer. The model number will begin with the letter T.

Consumers who have one of the affected air fryers should stop using the product immediately, unplug it and contact Tower Housewares. They can do this on the website or by emailing towerproduct@customersvc.co.uk.

The affected products were manufactured between 2020 and 2024 and were sold in various retailers, including Argos, Tesco Ireland, DID, Dealz, Lidl, Amazon and the Tower Housewares website. Other retailers may also be included.

Grainne Griffin, director of communications at the CCPC, said, “This recall covers five Tower air fryer models with a dangerous manufacturing defect that could cause the models to overheat.

“Almost 60,000 affected units have been sold in Ireland so it’s vital that consumers who have a Tower air fryer check their model. If their model is affected, it is not safe to use.”

Consumers are also reminded to always follow manufacturer, health and safety instructions when operating any electrical appliances.

Anyone concerned about a product safety issue can contact the CCPC’s national consumer helpline on 01 402 5555 from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, or email ask@ccpc.ie.

Temperatures over 27 degrees expected this weekend – Weather Warning issued

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Galway Daily weather highest ever april temperatures

Galway and all of Ireland are in for a scorcher of a weekend, with temperatures expected to soar over 27 degrees.

A high temperature weather warning for the entire country will be in place from midday Saturday until 6am Sunday.

While temperatures will reach highs of 27 degrees and more during the day, at night it will still remain above 15 degrees.

This may come with a risk of heat stress and forest fires over the course of the weekend.

Much of the midlands and east will already be baking from tomorrow, as a similar warning will be in place from midday Friday until 6am Saturday.

This warning covers counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, and Tipperary.

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