A section of the Headford Road which was closed throughout morning following a crash yesterday evening has been reopened.

Diversions were in place via the local Caherlistrane Rd.

Five people were injured in the crash and taken to University Hospital Galway.

It is understood that none of the injuries are life-threatening but that one man is in a serious condition.

Gardaí in Ballinasloe have renewed their appeal for information in relation to the tragic road traffic collision which occurred last Thursday at Station Road in the town, claiming the lives of two pedestrians.

The Gardaí are particularly anxious to speak to anyone who may have travelled on the R358, Station Road, Ballinasloe immediately prior to the collision or to any person who may have witnessed the collision.

The scene is located close to the Train Station and would have been busy at the time.

The two-vehicle fatal collision occurred at around 5.40pm.

Two female pedestrians, both in their 50s, were tragically killed when they were struck by a car which had collided with a second car.

Contact gardaí

Gardaí at Ballinasloe can be contacted on 090 – 9631890, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Galway West TD Éamon Ó Cuív has said that Fine Gael’s ‘right-wing agenda’ ignores the social inclusion aspects of existing community schemes like RSS and Tús.

A new Bill is being brought forward by Deputy Ó Cuív’s colleagues in Fianna Fáil to try to secure the future of a range of community and social schemes including the CE, RSS & Tús programmes.

The Social Welfare (Community Employment) Bill 2018 would ensure that anyone on the Jobpath programme will have an option to transfer to a Community Employment (CE) Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) or the Tús Scheme if a place becomes available.

Deputy Ó Cuív explained: “Fianna Fáil has long been an advocate of programmes like Community Employment (CE) Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Tús, recognising the fact that they act as a means of getting people out working again, while also providing a huge social and economic dividend in the communities where these schemes operate.

“This Fine Gael led government is continuing to push its right-wing agenda and force people onto its results related Jobpath programme, completely ignoring the social inclusion aspects of the existing rural and community schemes.

“I have been contacted by numerous community groups which are fearful that this government is trying to diminishing the existing schemes through cuts to places and supervisors.  Last week I, along with a number of my colleagues met with some of these groups to hear their concerns and to devise a plan about how best to secure the future of these schemes.

“We’re bringing forward this new legislation to protect schemes like Community Employment (CE) Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and the Tús Scheme.  We want to see the future of these schemes safeguarded and I hope that this Bill will be supported.”

His party colleague and Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte said last week that she is “very worried by Minister Doherty’s efforts to favour Jobpath over schemes such as the RSS and Tús. 

“While I appreciate that employment is rising, and I welcome that, we cannot forget the social element that these programmes provide, not only to participants, but to their communities as well.”

Over 100 food-based events will take place during the 7th annual Galway Food Festival for five mouth-watering days over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.

Now in its 7th year, the West’s premiere food festival will take place from March 29th to April 2nd with five days of markets, demonstrations, talks, family fun and more.

The Galway Food Festival theme ‘Planting Seeds’ will resonate throughout a wide-ranging programme, and will raise awareness of the origins of our food and of economic growth and development.

And most importantly, the events will also highlight the sheer enjoyment of food culture in Ireland and abroad.

Between the Official Festival Opening Night, on Thursday March 29th in the Kitchen Café, and the return of the popular Breaking Bread on Easter Monday, the festival will present a programme which will encourage people to reconnect with where their food comes from, and learn more about what nature can provide for all of us.

Highlights include the return of the lauded community feast event Breaking Bread at the Corrib Printworks on Bank Holiday Monday April 2nd, in collaboration with Creative Ireland.

Co-produced with Cope and Galway European Capital of Culture 2020, Breaking Bread is a unique event that uses our shared love of food to showcase and celebrate the varied and diverse cultural groups that form the bedrock of Galway’s vibrant modern community.

Focusing on themes of inclusion, acceptance and collaboration, Breaking Bread will feature exhibitions of culture and food by participating groups, including mouth-watering traditional and modern dishes to taste and share with the public.

Entry to the event (and a plate for the feast) can be attained simply by making a donation to Cope Galway. Festival organisers are also inviting individuals throughout Galway City and County to get involved by hosting their own Breaking Bread event, bringing together family and friends to share food, tell stories and celebrate your community as part of a live, shared interactive experience.

Also returning is the hugely successful Halla Bia. Huge numbers visited Galway’s first indoor food market last year, which cast a spotlight on a wide range of produce from almost 30 indigenous food and drink producers from along the European Region of Gastronomy. Halla Bia provides an opportunity for small local food & drink producers to showcase and sell their products, and this year the festival has linked with our colleagues in Local Enterprise Offices along the Wild Atlantic Way to bring a wide range of amazing local food producers to Galway.

Halla Bia is part of the wider effort within Galway to encourage and promote local food & drink producers who are growing and creating employment throughout the region, and this year sees producers from Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Donegal selling their products at the vibrant indoor market in the Connacht Printworks on market street over the Easter weekend.

The ever popular selection of Food Tours return with events including Galway Food Tours at Night, where you can taste the best food and drinks across Galway, traversing the city from East to West over the course of three hours as the sun goes down; The Aniar – EAT Galway Taste Trail, a Food and Wine taste trail in Aniar, Tartare, Cava Bodega; the Half Day Wild Atlantic Way Tour which includes Connemara Abalone farm, Connemara Organic Seaweed (light meal included), and Poitín Micil tasting; Cava on the Corrib, a boat tour and Barbeque on the Corrib Princess and Galway Vegan Food Tours which showcases the best of Galway’s plant based food scene on a 6-stop tour.