It was a lá fhéile Pádraig indeed for one lucky Euromillions player in Galway on Tuesday as they scooped a €500,000 prize.

There were two big winners for Tuesday’s Euromillions Plus draw, both of them in the west of Ireland. Players in Galway and Mayo both came away with an impressive €500,000 win.

The winning numbers in last night’s EuroMillions Plus draw were 16, 24, 32, 48 and 50.

One of the big prizes was won by an online player in Galway. An email notification has been sent to the online winner encouraging them to check their account.

The second player purchased their ticket from Costcutter, Killala Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The winning ticket was purchased from the store on Sunday, March 15.

The National Lottery are advising all players who may have purchased their tickets at the Costcutter store to carefully check their tickets, as one player now has a prize worth €500,000 waiting to be collected.

The holder of the winning ticket is advised to sign the back of their ticket and keep it somewhere safe.

Both winners can contact the National Lottery Prize Claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie, and arrangements will be made for them to collect their prize at National Lottery headquarters.

Darragh O’Dwyer, National Lottery spokesperson, said, “Tuesday night proved unforgettable for two EuroMillions Plus players who each scooped an incredible €500,000 in last night’s draw.”

“While there was no winner of last night’s EuroMillions jackpot of €26,669,837, more than 37,000 players across Ireland won prizes in Tuesday night’s EuroMillions and EuroMillions Plus draws, with two players now each holding a prize worth €500,000!”

A Book of Condolences is opening at the offices of Galway County Council in Áras an Chontae in memory of Dolores Keane.

The famed folk singer from Caherlistrane passed away earlier this week at the age of 72.

The Book of Condolences will be open for people to sign from midday on Wednesday.

The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Councillor David Collins, will open the book, which will be available for signing during normal office hours in the coming days.

Paying tribute, Councillor Collins said, “Dolores made a major contribution to the development and international reach of Irish music.”

“She had one of the most distinctive and respected voices and brought the music and spirit of County Galway to audiences around the world.”

He added, “Her ability to blend traditional sean-nós influences with contemporary folk styles has influenced countless other musicians and will continue to draw new listeners for generations to come.”

“On behalf of Galway County Council and the people of County Galway, I extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and all who admired her music,” he said.

Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill will be closing on and off over the next several weeks while it is being repainted.

Galway City Council has confirmed that painting works are being done on multiple structures in Salthill, Silverstrand and Ballyloughane from next Monday.

Works will include the painting of structures, including Blackrock Diving Tower, shelters, changing facilities, rails and benches.

The work will commence on Monday, March 23 and is expected to take three weeks to complete in total. However, this is dependent on weather conditions.

Temporary closures of Blackrock Diving Tower will be required to facilitate the works, and the specific dates for these closures will be confirmed separately.

Part of the Rahoon Road in Galway City will remain closed throughout the week as repairs are made to damage caused by a burst water main.

Significant damage was done to around 30m of the Rahoon Road between Oakley Crescent and the Seamus Quirke Road junction by a burst mains on Saturday morning.

Repairs were made to the water mains that day, restoring supply to the surrounding areas. However, the road remains closed for safety reasons.

Contractors working on behalf of Uisce Éireann have commenced repairs and it is expected that the road will be closed for a period of one week to allow for these works to be completed.

Diversions have been put in place for the period of the road closure, however local and emergency access will be maintained at all times.

Tony Kelly, Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager, said the damage caused to the road will require significant repair works.

“This was a major burst on the main, the force of which caused the road surface to lift. In order to make the road safe for use, significant repairs will need to be carried out this week.”

“We acknowledge the inconvenience that can be caused by a road closure such as this, and we thank impacted residents, businesses and road-users for their patience while our crews work to repair the damage and reopen the road as quickly as possible.”

Portiuncula University Hospital has reopened its newly refurbished paediatric playroom, providing a safe, engaging and child-friendly environment for patients.

The bright, newly decorated playroom is fully equipped with toys, games and creative activities, offering children an important escape from the clinical environment of the ward.

The space has been redesigned with a strong focus on therapeutic play and includes a soft sensory pod to support children with additional needs.

Robyn Burns, Play Therapist at Portiuncula University Hospital, said the refurbished facility will have a significant positive impact on patients and their families.

“Play is a crucial part of a child’s development and recovery. It helps reduce anxiety, supports emotional expression and provides a sense of normality during what can be a stressful time.”

“For many families, the playroom offers comfort, connection and a much-needed break from the ward environment.”

“We’re already seeing the impact of the refurbished space, with laughter and play bringing a brighter and more uplifting atmosphere to the unit.”

Carly Smith, Assistant Director of Nursing for Paediatrics at the hospital, welcomed the reopening, highlighting its importance for patient-centred care.

“We are delighted to see the paediatric playroom reopen following its refurbishment. Creating a child-friendly environment is an essential part of delivering compassionate, holistic care.”

“This space will support not only the clinical needs of our young patients, but also their emotional wellbeing, helping to make their hospital experience as positive and supportive as possible.”

Ann Marie Furlong, Clinical Nurse Manager II in Paediatrics, also welcomed the initiative, noting the importance of supportive environments for children and families.

“This refurbishment represents a significant enhancement to the experience of children and their families while attending the hospital.”

“Providing a welcoming, therapeutic space helps reduce stress and anxiety and reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, family-centred care for the communities we serve.”

The reopening of the paediatric playroom reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to placing children’s experiences at the centre of care.

Plans are in development for the construction of 38 social and affordable housing units on the western side of Galway City.

The city council has submitted a Part 8 planning application for a housing development on two connected sites on the Cappagh Road.

The development will consist of 6 three-bedroom terraced houses, 6 two-bedroom terraced houses, 1 two-bedroom townhouse, 5 two-bedroom duplexes, 15 two-bedroom apartments, and 5 one-bedroom apartments.

Other works will involve vehicular and pedestrian access points to the Proposals via the An Cimín Mór/ Garrai Dhónaill access road, landscaping, parking, and associated site works.

Soft copies of plans and particulars of the proposed development can also be viewed online on the Galway City Council website at: Cappagh Road, Knocknacara Social & Affordable Housing development • GCC Part 8.

Submissions related to this project can be made to the city council planning department until 4pm on April 27, 2026.

One man was arrested in connection with the seizure of €21,000 worth of drugs and over €2,000 in cash in Galway City earlier this week.

On Wednesday, March 11, Gardaí searched a home in the Roscam area of Galway City as part of ongoing investigations targeting the sale and supply of drugs.

During the course of the search, Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000, cocaine with an estimated street value of €1,000 and €2,200 in cash.

A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region.

He has since been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

An Garda Síochána said that the seized drugs have been sent for analysis and that investigations are ongoing.

Private rentals are outnumbered nearly 10 to 1 by short term lets in Galway according to national housing charity Threshold.

Threshold has released a new analysis which highlights the scale of homes being diverted into the short-term letting market during Ireland’s worsening housing emergency.

This analysis shows there are now over 8,600 second homes advertised for short-term let across Ireland, compared to 2,100 homes available nationwide in the private rental market.

In Galway, the ratio of short-term lets to private rental homes is 9.5:1, with 1,105 short-term lets on the market compared to just 116 private rental homes.

This is the sixth most skewed ratio nationwide, and considerably worse than the national average of 4.1:1.

For this, Threshold has analysed data from Inside Airbnb – which collects and collates figures from around the world from the popular lettings and homestays website.

This shows that there are over 8,600 full properties on the popular short stay website, let by a host with more than one advertised property.

This compares to recent figures by Daft.ie for March 2026, which show that there are fewer than 2,100 homes advertised to privately rent nationwide.

Kerry has the highest ratio, with 1,009 short-term lets compared to just 33 homes advertised for private rent (30.6:1). Clare follows with 532 short-term lets and 19 rental listings (28:1). Donegal has 662 short-term lets versus 27 homes to rent (24.5:1).

The analysed short-term let figures are conservative as they exclude hosts with only one listing, on the assumption that the listing could be the host’s own home.

Threshold also excluded properties not suitable for long-term renting from the analysis, including cabins, chalets, tiny homes, barns, campervans and yurts.

Including hosts with only one listing, the Inside Airbnb data shows that the total number of entire homes or apartments available as short-term holiday lets in Ireland is 20,039.

Threshold CEO John-Mark McCafferty said: “Housing is a national emergency, and in an emergency we must use every policy lever available to increase supply.”

“This means protecting existing homes, so they are available to rent long-term for families and people who need somewhere secure to live.

“Our analysis shows that nationally there are over four short-term lets for every one home available to rent. In several counties, the imbalance is far more extreme.”

“These are communities at risk of being hollowed out, where homes sit empty or underused for parts of the year while workers and families cannot find anywhere to live.”

“Threshold welcomes the forthcoming register of short-term lets, but this alone is not enough. We look forward to working with the Government on strengthening enforcement of short-term lets regulation to ensure communities thrive and families can find long-term homes.”

Threshold says the figures underline that housing supply is not only about building new homes, but also about protecting existing homes for long-term use, particularly during a worsening homelessness and affordability crisis.

From 20 May 2026, all short-term lets must be registered with Fáilte Ireland to comply with EU regulations, including a unique registration number to be displayed on advertising platforms.

Threshold welcomes steps that improve transparency but warns that registration alone will not return homes to long-term use unless it is backed by enforcement, including planning requirements.

It is an existing requirement that all short-term rentals have appropriate planning permission before operation. The Government is to publish the National Planning Statement, which will contain guidance for local authorities when assessing such applications.

The charity has repeatedly highlighted that change-of-use planning permission is an existing requirement to convert a residential home into a short-term tourist let, yet compliance appears extremely low in practice.

Between 2019 and May 2025, local authorities received just 426 planning applications for change-of-use, amounting to approximately 1.3% of short-term lets available at that time – suggesting almost all short-term lets, where the entire house is let, are non-compliant.

The bad weather continues to pile up, as Met Éireann has warned of a risk of snow and ice developing tonight after a day of heavy wind and rain.

The status yellow Snow-Ice warning has been issued for Galway, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, and Wicklow.

It is forecast that on Thursday night showers may fall as sleet or snow with some accumulations possible, mainly on high ground.

This warning will be in place from 9pm Thursday until 9am Friday morning.

Two separate warnings for wind and rain have also been in place for Galway today, with the wind alert to continue until 6pm this evening.

The HSE is urging people in Galway to know their care options this Bank Holiday weekend, and not to come to the Emergency Department unless it is strictly necessary.

Hospitals in Galway are expected to be extremely busy over the bank holiday weekend, with St. Patrick’s Day next Tuesday.

People who get sick or hurt over the weekend are advised that there are multiple options available, which could reduce the amount of time they spend waiting for care.

Ann Cosgrove, HSE Healthcare Manager, Galway and Roscommon said, “St Patrick’s Day is a wonderful time for communities across the region, but it is also one of the busiest times for our health services.”

“By considering all available care options, people can help ensure Emergency Departments are available for those who need them most.”

“If you urgently need to see a GP over the bank holiday weekend, you should contact your local out of hours GP service.”

“The out of hours GP service in this region is Westdoc. The service is open all weekend, but you do need to make an appointment in advance.”

“A new service is available in community pharmacies which enables a pharmacist to supply prescription-only medication for a number of common illnesses, without having to see a GP.”

“In addition to expert advice and providing over the counter treatments, community pharmacists can now prescribe medicine for eight common conditions.”

This is called the Common Conditions Service (CCS). Common conditions your pharmacist can treat under this service are: allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral thrush, shingles, cystitis (uncomplicated urinary tract infection), and vaginal thrush.

The Roscommon Injury Unit is also open from 8am to 8pm every day of the year. This can treat non life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns.

Respiratory infections and norovirus are currently circulating in the community, and people planning on visiting someone in hospital or residential care this weekend are asked to take extra care.

Galway is under two status yellow weather warnings today, with heavy rain and wind expected until Thursday evening.

Heavy downpours are expected today, with possible spot flooding in areas, and difficult travelling conditions with poor visibility.

The rain warning was issued for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, and all of Connacht.

This weather warning came into effect at 6am this morning and will remain in place until 3pm.

This is on top of a wind warning for the entire country issued yesterday, which remains in effect until 6pm this evening.

Strong and gusty southwesterly winds may cause additional difficulty for motorists today, with a risk of fallen trees and branches, and debris or loose objects getting displaced.

Galway City Council has confirmed plans for the summer pedestrianisation of a number of westend streets to encourage outdoor dining.

William Street West, Dominick Street Upper, and Raven’s Terrace will all be closed during the evening and night from May to September.

These three streets will be pedestrianised from 5pm – 2am Monday – Friday, and 3pm – 2am Saturday & Sunday.

This will begin on Friday, May 1, 2026 and continue until Wednesday, September 30, to take advantage of the season of better weather.

This closure is to allow for the provision of space for outdoor dining, festivals, and events.

Localised access and access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained at all times.

Galway City Council first began pedestrianising some city centre streets to allow outdoor dining during the Covid pandemic.

Since then, it has been repeated every summer to encourage footfall and support bars and restaurants in the city centre.

Former Deputy General of the World Health Organisation, Dr Michael Ryan, has warned against growing public narratives that blame vulnerable people for wider social problems, saying Ireland must continue to respond with compassion, dignity and community action.

Speaking in Galway at an event marking 60 years of COPE Galway, Dr Ryan said societies risk losing sight of their values when those on the margins are portrayed as the cause of social challenges.

“We are in a cruel phase of public discourse where people on the margins of society are too easily blamed for wider problems,” he said. “Ireland must not fall into that trap.”

Dr Ryan delivered the keynote address at the anniversary event at the Mick Lally Theatre in Galway. The event reflected on six decades of community action supporting people experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse and social isolation across Galway.

The global health leader said organisations rooted in communities often play a critical role in responding to hardship.

“Behind every statistic is a person – someone who found warmth on a cold night, someone who discovered safety after fear, or an older neighbour who realised they were not forgotten,” he said.

“And behind each of those moments is this organisation, the community that supports it and the agencies who fund it.”

Drawing on his experience responding to epidemics, disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide, Dr Ryan said community-based organisations are often the most effective responders.

“The organisations rooted in communities are often the most resilient, adaptable and innovative,” he said. “They recognise that people and communities experiencing trauma need safety, solidarity and dignity – not pity.”

However, he warned that community organisations must be properly supported and resourced. “Delivering services through community organisations can be hugely impactful,” he said.

“But it should never be seen as the cheaper option. Governments remain accountable for ensuring the resources are there to meet growing needs.”

The event also marked the launch of 60 Years in Galway, a new publication charting COPE Galway’s development from a volunteer-led Meals on Wheels initiative in 1965 to a modern social service organisation supporting more than 3,000 people each year.

Opening the event, COPE Galway CEO Michael Smyth reflected on the organisation’s roots in community action.

“COPE Galway was born from this community and shaped by it. For sixty years, people across Galway have stepped forward to ensure that dignity, safety and care are not abstract ideals but realities in people’s lives.”

Assistant CEO Martin O’Connor outlined the organisation’s history and the changing social context in which it has worked.

“From modest beginnings to a modern organisation driven by skilled staff, dedicated volunteers and a community that refuses to look away, COPE Galway has grown with the times,” he said.

Guests also heard from a panel of service leaders who spoke about the realities facing people today and the innovative programmes being developed to support children experiencing homelessness, promote healthy relationships among young people and help older people remain connected in their communities.

Reflecting on the organisation’s 60-year journey, Dr Ryan said the work of community organisations remains vital.

“For sixty years COPE Galway has shown what can happen when people come together with purpose and kindness,” he said. “The work is not finished, but the past six decades show that real change is possible.”

Householders, schools, businesses and community groups across County Galway are being encouraged to register for April’s National Spring Clean.

Galway County Council and An Taisce are aiming to make the 27th annual campaign the most successful to date.

An estimated 2,700 tonnes of litter was collected from roadsides, parks and coastlines nationwide in 2025, with more than 170 groups and volunteers in County Galway taking part.

Free clean‑up kits are available to everyone who registers.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, said, “National Spring Clean comes at the perfect time of year as the days begin to stretch and more people are out and about.”

“It gives everyone a simple way to contribute to a litter pick in their own community and to take pride in the place they live. Galway is a beautiful county, and we all have a role in respecting it by keeping it litter-free for residents and visitors.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said, “We are encouraging people who have never taken part in National Spring Clean to register this year.”

“It can be as simple as two neighbours coming together to pick up litter in their own area or a larger group of volunteers working across their community.”

!Every extra pair of hands goes a long way in tackling the blight of litter in our communities, along our roads and in our public spaces.”

“Clean-up kits are available for all registered groups in Galway, and every effort helps to keep the county clean.”

Eileen Ruane, Director of Services for the Environment, said, “National Spring Clean is a key part of our Anti‑Litter Programme and Litter Management Plan, and it is a great opportunity for people across Galway to join the 4,250 groups throughout Ireland who organise local clean-up initiatives.”

“The campaign supports community clean-ups and raises awareness about the impact of litter and the benefits of cleaner and healthier places to live. We encourage everyone to get involved and help keep Galway litter-free.”

National Spring Clean is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in partnership with Local Authorities and supported by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Mars Wrigley.

Registrations are being accepted on www.nationalspringclean.org and further information is available from the Environment Section of Galway County Council on 091-509510 / environment@galwaycoco.ie.