“We’ll come through,  we’ll keep smiling.”

Those were the words of Reverend Stan Evans today after discovering the contents of Holy Trinity, Errislannan, Clifden were destroyed by vandals.

Gardaí in Clifden are appealing for anyone with information relating to the vandalism to come forward.

Errislannan Church near Clifden extensively vandalised. pic.twitter.com/xqr671lxEI

— Diocese of TKA (@DcoTKA) October 26, 2017

Reverend Stan Evans, the Priest in charge of the Church of Ireland church, said that the contents of the church were destroyed and that it was ‘beyond belief’ but that they will rise from it.

“The whole interior of the church has been compeltely decimated. The pews, the organ, the altar table, even the cross used as a tool of destruction, every window smashed, and the family Bible thrown through the east end window lying sadly outside.

“It really is unbelievable what we found. The most important thing is the building and the material will be put back right. There is no problem in doing that.

“We’ll all come together as the community which we are, and that is the whole community.

“It is the people we have to be concerned about and bring love and tender care to them as they see a treasured church trashed in such a way,” Reverend Stan Evans said.

The summer church is open during July and August for worship and it is understood that the crime was committed within the last four weeks.

Rev Stan Evans said it was difficult for him to speculate about the motives behind the attack, but that the person or persons behind it had tremendous anger in them.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Clifden Garda Station at (095) 22500.

Road-users are being urged to ‘be safe and be seen’ as the clocks go back this weekend.

The Road Safety Authortiy & An Garda Síochána are urging pedestrians & cyclists to wear hi-visibility clothing while on the roads at the weekend, particularly on poorly-lit rural roads.

Ten people have been killed and 40 seriously injured in October Bank Holiday weekend crashes since 201.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána say that the most effective way to be safe this Bank Holiday weekend is to wear high visibility clothing such as a high visibility vest or a Sam Browne belt, or by carrying a torch and ensuring you have working lights on your bicycle or motorcycle.

A study conducted by the RSA in November 2016 monitored the high visibility wearing rates of 5,341 motorcyclists and 23,343 pedal cyclists.

The study found that 45% of motorcyclists are most likely to be wearing any form of High Visibility Clothing.

32% of all cyclists were wearing any form of High Visibility Clothing.

The wearing rate of any form of high visibility clothing for private pedal cyclists was 34% and for public pedal (bike rental scheme) cyclists it was recorded as 21%.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD said: “The evenings are getting darker and particularly so as the clocks going back this weekend, so it is vital that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists are clearly visible to drivers, especially on dark unlit rural roads. That’s why I would urge people to wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch when out on the road.”

Ms. Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, RSA said: “Pedestrians and cyclists can be difficult to see in the road traffic, especially at night and in dark weather conditions. Without wearing something reflective a pedestrian or cyclist is only likely to be visible 30 metres away, in low beam headlights.

“By wearing something reflective they become visible at 150 metres away. This gives drivers five times the distance to notice them and, more importantly, to avoid them. There really is no excuse for anyone to be out on the road without a high visibility jacket, especially when you can order one free of charge from the RSA website.”

Assistant Commissioner Michael Finn, Roads Policing, said: “Although there is no legal obligation for pedestrians to wear high visibility clothing, it makes absolute sense.

“Wearing the high visibility clothing gives drivers the opportunity to see pedestrians and other vulnerable road user significantly earlier which is especially important on dark and on poorly lit roads.

“Bicycle lights, high visibility clothing and replacement bulbs cost a fraction of the fixed charge penalty that can be imposed.  Please make sure all obligatory lights are working on you bicycle or any other vehicle that you are using.

“We cannot emphasis enough the importance of being able to see and as important to be seen.”

Galway Chamber today announced the shortlist for this year’s Galway Chamber Business Awards, which recognises outstanding achievements of business from across the county.

This year, the theme they have chosen for the Awards is ‘Éacht thar na Bearta’ or ‘Outstanding Achievement’.

Galway’s enterprises and individuals are being recognized globally for their achievements and the Chamber sees this as its opportunity to recognise and applaud them at home.

The Galway Chamber Business Awards and Gala Ball 2017 will be hosted by President Maurice O’Gorman on Friday November 10 in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway.

On the night, the awards presented will recognise and promote SMEs, Start-ups and established Businesses/Companies from all over Galway which embrace the concept of ‘Outstanding Achievement’

In Category 1: Best Emerging Enterprise; Ciara Silke, Feedthepulse and ChatSpace are shortlisted.

Shortlisted in Category 2 (Best Innovation/R&D) are SmartBear, Smart Bay Ireland and Insight Research Institute, NUI Galway.

Category 3 (Best SME) sees Evergreen Healthfoods Ltd Hero Recruitment and Fahy Travel Worldchoice shortlisted.

Best Customer Service will go to GoBus.ie, Galway Bay Hotel or Talent Fusion.

An Pucán, Supermacs and Baboró International Arts Festival are shortlisted for their social media and marketing achievements.

Category 6 – Best Social Enterprise/CSR – sees Grant Thornton, Boston Scientific and Volunteer Galway shortlisted, and in Category 7, which recognises toursim, The Galway Races, Galway Food Tours and Galway Atlantaquaria are shortlisted.

On the night of the awards the ‘Special President’s Award’ will also be presented to an individual who has made a contribution to the business life of Galway that is outstanding in every way. The recipient of this award is chosen by the President of Galway Chamber in consultation with his officer board.

The actual awards are unique pieces by ceramic artist Rachel Webb.

Rachel has created beautiful and unique pieces entitled ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Éacht thar na Bearta’ underlying the outstanding nature of the Category winners as well as the Overall winner and the recipient of the President’s Award.

Galway Pro-Choice will hold a vigil this Saturday to mark the fifth aniversary of the death of Savita Halappanavar, with other vigils taking place across the island at the weekend.

The vigil in Galway will take place at Church Yard Street (Galway Market) at 6.30pm.

Twenty four vigils will be held in other towns and cities across Ireland, London and New York.

A full list of vigils can be found here.

Galway Pro-Choice is currently live-tweeting the shocking circumstances which led to Savita’s death at University Hospital Galway in 2012.

Savita was seventeen weeks pregnant with her first child when she died.

After suffering a septic miscarriage, her requests for a termination were refused because a foetal heartbeat was still present.

There was national outrage when it was revealed a midwife had explained to Savita that a termination was not possible because Ireland was a ‘Catholic country’.

Meanwhile, a UK government scheme to provide free abortion services in England for women travelling from the North was welcomed by the London-Irish Abortion Rights Campaign yesterday, along with Abortion Support Network, Alliance for Choice, Amnesty International UK, the Family Planning Association, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas), Marie Stopes UK, and Stella Creasy MP.

The plans were revealed at Westminster by Equalities Minister Justine Greening, just days before the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act.

Ahascragh, Carraroe, Roundstone, Spiddal are discharging untreated sewage, a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report has found.

Ten other areas in Galway have been highlighted by the EPA in the Urban Waste Water Report published today.

The fourteen areas in Galway where improvements are required to resolve environmental priorities are: Ahascragh, Athenry, Ballymoe, Carraroe, Clifden, Galway City, Glenamaddy, Gort, Loughrea, Mountbellew, Oughterard, Roundstone, Spiddal and Woodford.

Athenry, Gort and Oughterard are included in a list of 50 urban areas across Ireland that failed to meet the EU’s legally binding standards for the collection, treatment and discharge of urban waste water.

The report also found that waste water discharges were contributing factors to the poor quality of bathing waters in both Clifden Beach and Ballyloughane Beach in 2016.

Kinvara has now been connected to new treatment plants, thereby ending the discharge
of raw sewage which was highlighted in a previous report.

Clifden was removed from the list of poor bathing waters in 2015, following improvements to the town’s waste water treatment system. The bathing water quality at Clifden returned to poor status in 2016.

The EPA say that resolving these priorities requires a substantial increase in capital investment to provide the outstanding infrastructure needed to collect and treat our waste water effectively.

The agency also states that the delivery of infrastructure projects should become more efficient, so that there are no avoidable delays; and Irish Water must target improvements in the operation and maintenance of waste
water systems, where this can improve performance and effluent quality.

The European Investment Bank will provide €60 million towards development of the NUI Galway campus.

The first ever loan to the university from Europe’s long-term lending institution, agreed in Galway earlier today, will finance construction of campus developments including new student residences and a new building for the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

At the signing, Dr Jim Browne, President of NUI Galway said: “The University is nearing the conclusion of a ten year capital development plan, which has transformed our campus.

“While philanthropic and State funding have enabled much of this expansion, the support from EIB will assist in the completion of our new Human Biology Building, which will transform the learning environment for our health science students, as well as the development of new campus student accommodation.

“Construction of new residences for 430 students is well underway, and at a time when there are such significant issues nationally with supply of housing, we are looking forward to having this increased capacity during the next academic year.

Andrew McDowell, European Investment Bank Vice President said that future generations of students will benefit from the transformation of Galway’s already impressive campus made possible by the 60 million EIB financing agreed today.

“Irish universities are recognised around the world for both their academic and research renown, and enjoyable student experience.

“The European Investment Bank is committed to ensuring that world-class third level institutions across Ireland can build on these strengths in the years ahead.

“This follows successful cooperation between the EIB and all Irish universities and EUR 1.2 billion support for Irish education investment in recent years.” said Andrew McDowell.

Following agreement for the new financing for NUI Galway the EIB will have supported campus investment at all seven members of the Irish Universities Association. Over the last decade the EIB has provided EUR 1.2 billion for education investment across Ireland, including EUR 675 million for investment in third level education in the country.

Catherine Connolly TD has criticised Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, saying that he has presided over a budget which ignores the seriousness of domestic violence in Ireland.

The Independent TD made her points in the Dáil, however she pointed out that it was not the first time she has raised the issue.

“Almost four months ago to the day, I used my time durie  Leaders’ Questions to raise the very serious issue of domestic violence. More specifically, I raised the failure of the Government to provide funding of approximately €1 million to review the groundbreaking study that was carried out in 2002, indicating over 3,000 victims of violence generally,” she said.

This week, government ministers have reiterated their view that a new study is unnecessary.

“Since then, the Taoiseach has presided over a budget that utterly failed and fails to grasp the seriousness of the issue or make any provision to deal with the extent of domestic violence and its pervasive and detrimental effect not only on women and children but also on society at every level.

“Simultaneously, the Taoiseach has provided €5 million for a strategic communications unit. He did so notwithstanding the urgent representations from SAFE Ireland, which represents over 30 organisations on the ground that are more than familiar with the catastrophe owing to violence generally, particularly domestic violence. It pointed out that 4,831 requests for a safe place or refuge – a massive number – were refused last year.

“It pointed out that we are dealing with the tip of the iceberg, and that 79% of women do not report abuse. It pointed out that there is no such thing as a typical victim. Domestic violence affects those of every social class, age and level of education.

“It pointed out that domestic violence is rarely a once-off event. One in every three women experiences severe psychological violence, and over 12,500, comprising almost 10,000 women and approximately 3,000 plus children, attended for a safe refuge. The organisation also pointed out that there is a serious lack of safe havens,” Catherine Connolly added.

Met Eireann has issued a Status Orange wind warning for Storm Brian, which is expected to hit Mayo, Galway, Clare, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and Wexford on Saturday.

The second major storm in six days will bring west to southwest winds veering northwest will reach mean speeds 65-80 km/h with gusts 110-130 km/h.

There are concerns about structures that were already damaged or destabilised by Ophelia, especially in Munster and to a lesser extent in Galway, which did not experience the worst of the ex-hurricane.

The Status Orange warning was issued on Thursday 19 October at 21:00 and will be valid throughout Saturday 21 October, from 06:00 until 18:00.

Caution is advised; however it is unlikely, at least in Galway, that the storm will be as ferocious as Ophelia.

An Independent Galway senator has called for charges and jail time for ‘clowns’ who risk their lives and those of emergency services during extreme weather events.

Senator Gerard Craughwell made the remarks yesterday in the aftermath of ex-Hurricane Ophelia.

The storm battered Galway on Monday afternoon, and as many stayed inside for the duration of the storm, some decided to take to Blackrock for a dip.

The Independent senator said: “I sat and watched the television yesterday and I saw what I would call a clown in Blackrock, Galway, walking along the diving tower to go in for a swim.

“It might interest the House to know that the tower is there as a direct result of my father saving a woman’s life during a riptide in Blackrock in 1947.

“It was dangerous then when there was no tower, but it is twice as dangerous now.

“We should look at legislation that would provide for people to be charged with reckless endangerment and, if necessary, put in jail. Somebody suggested last night that there should be a fine for this type of behaviour. How much of a fine would pay for the loss of a rescuer’s life in a situation like that?” he added.

The senator also extended his deepest sympathies to the families of those who were tragically killed by the storm and praised the government’s preperation and reaction, on the most part.

“I congratulate the Government on an excellent job of preparedness, and for the excellent co-ordination of services throughout the storm.

“The Taoiseach and his Minister have been a credit to this country. However, there is always a downside. This morning I listened to the Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe, and was absolutely horrified that he would mislead the country in the way he did.

He spoke about engineering units being available in every barracks in the country to assist the local authorities.

There are no engineering units in counties Donegal, Galway, Limerick or Kilkenny. A third of an engineering unit is available in Dublin, two thirds of an engineering unit is available in Athlone,” said Senator Craughwell .

NUI Galway celebrated the success of a select group of first-year students with a special ceremony last week, in recognition of the high points they achieved in the recent Leaving Certificate Examination.

As part of the University’s annual Excellence Scholarships, 56 students received €1,500 each.

Each year the Excellence Scholarships are given to new entrants at NUI Galway who reached a minimum of 560 points in their Leaving Certificate examination, except in Medicine.

For first-year Medical students 10 Scholarships were awarded certificates, based on the combined results in the Leaving Certificate and the new Admissions Test (H-PAT Ireland).

NUI  say the Excellence Scholarships are designed to recognise and reward Leaving Cert success for the highest-achieving students, and encourage their ongoing commitment to academic excellence during their time at NUI Galway.

The awards may be held with any other scholarships or grants, including the University’s Postgraduate Scholarships, Mature Student Scholarships, Sports Scholarship Scheme and schemes specific to individual colleges for those who excel in their University exams.

Speaking in advance of the Awards presentation, NUI Galway President Dr Jim Browne, said: “I am delighted to present the scholarships to these outstanding individuals in recognition of their academic talent.

The purpose of these Awards is to encourage each student to develop his/her academic potential to the fullest, by setting a realistic threshold of excellence and rewarding every student who attains that level.

It is also a chance to give due credit to their parents and teachers for their important contribution to such success.”

This year Excellence Scholarships were awarded to students from 37 individual schools throughout Ireland.

The winners represented 12 counties including Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Tyrone, and Westmeath.

Galway County Council is updating the map below showing all road closures across County Galway.

Storm Ophelia has moved north of the county and will hit the north and north-west in the coming hours, while conditions are still hazardous across the county.

Galway is now in the firing line of Ophelia, as she travels up the west coast past Co. Clare. Galway Bay will likely experience the worst of the storm over the next few hours.

Dock Street in the city, Claddagh, Salthill and other areas along the coast have seen flooding, trees have been falling across the county.

Met Éireann has advised people to stay indoors until the storm has passed and Gardaí have had to respond to people attempting to swim in Salthill.

Leo Varadkar reminded people that this is a state of emergency and has urged people to stay indoors, check on any elderly neighbours, and stressed that although in some areas it is not yet too bad, it is coming your way.

COPE Galway have provided shelters for homeless people, according to the County Council.

Take extreme care.
A swathe of severe southwest winds already over parts of Clare, will propagate northwards through Connacht and… 1/2 pic.twitter.com/zDbVF9aqBS

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) 16 October 2017

Tree down on Shannon Road, Portumna @GalwayCoCo @aaroadwatch pic.twitter.com/SvBoojN6SF

— Anne Rabbitte TD (@AnneRabbitte) 16 October 2017

Coastal defences completely breached at Salthill, Galway. The Atlantic now extends to the promenade. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/qF9B47Ty3i

— David Blevins (@skydavidblevins) 16 October 2017

“This is going to get worse” – Police are asking people to heed their warnings about Storm #Ophelia. @skydavidblevins has the latest pic.twitter.com/XkxBe6szMP

— Sky News (@SkyNews) 16 October 2017

Galway County Council advises people not to attempt to clear fallen trees while #StormOphelia is ongoing

— GalwayCountyCouncil (@GalwayCoCo) 16 October 2017

All schools in Galway tomorrow will be closed tomorrow following advice from the Department of Education.

Storm Ophelia is set to be the worst storm to hit the west in fifty years.

The hurricane, which will likely downgrade by the time it reaches the west coast, will still have hurricane force winds of a Category 2 strength.

There is also a high risk of flying debris.

GMIT will also be closed tomorrow while NUI Galway are still undecided about the best action to take despite the warnings from Met Éireann. The university said a decision will be made at 7pm.

Schools across the other seven counties which have a status red warning will also be closed tomorrow.

In 1961, Hurricane Debbie killed eighteen people in Ireland, and people are being advised to take all necessary precautions in order to remain safe throughout the day.

Evelyn Cusack @MetEireann briefing the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting on weather developments this am pic.twitter.com/5msYQkhULU

— OEP (@emergencyIE) 15 October 2017

The Defence Forces are on standby in the eight counties, and they will be deployed if their assistance is needed by the local authorities.

Latest discussion from the National Hurricane Centre regarding #Opheliahttps://t.co/fYHReDhD6k
We are currently updating Ireland’s warnings pic.twitter.com/V7VR3A61AR

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) 15 October 2017

Met Éireann issued this updated warning today: ” Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding.”

Met Éireann has today issued a Status Red weather warning for Galway, meaning forecasters believe Ophelia will bring strong winds to the west and south-west coast.

Hurricane Ophelia is expected to transition to a post tropical storm as it approaches our shores on Monday bringing severe winds and stormy conditions.

Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding.

The warning is valid from Monday 16 October at 09:00 until Tuesday 17 October 2017 03:00.

Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry are also affected by the Status Red warning.

The rest of the country has been given a Status Orange warning, with mean wind speeds between 65 and 80 km/h with gusts between 110 and 130km/h are expected, however some inland areas may not be quite as severe.

The winds have potential to cause structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding

Met Éireann forecasters say they will be keeping a close eye on the possibility of hurricane Ophelia hitting Ireland in the coming days.

Early next week, we could see heavy rain, strong winds and high sea levels if the hurricane continues on its current path.

Met Éireann say that at this stage, there is strong evidence from the weather forecast models that its remnants will track close to or even over parts of Ireland, but at present, there are still a wide spread of possible outcomes.

They are treating the situation with with caution and are in contact with thier counterparts in other countries.

But they say that given the lead time and the uncertainties that come with a tropical system, it won’t be possible to predict the exact time, nor the strength or intensity of the wind and rain, in any great detail until later in the weekend.

“Ophelia won’t be a hurricane in meteorological terms when it reaches us, as she will have moved over the cooler waters of the mid-Atlantic and undergone what is known as extra-tropical transition.

“While there could be the threat of wind gusts reaching hurricane force or indeed heavy rainfall with this system, it means the traditional attributes of a hurricane – such as an eye or an eye-wall containing a core of hurricane force winds – are very unlikely to be present,” Met Éireann explained.

Tomorrow Galway wil see a mainly cloudy and misty start to the day with patches of light rain or drizzle.

It should brighten up later but it will stay mostly cloudy near the coast with highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees.

Tuam is the town with the highest population of Travellers, according to census figures released yesterday.

Co. Galway had the highest number outside of Co. Dublin and Galway City has more members of the Travelling Community (1,598) than cities other than Dublin.

In April 2016, Tuam had 737 Travellers, which was more than any other town of more than 1,500 people in the country.

2,647 members of the Travelling Community lived in Co. Galway at the time of the census, which was an increase of almost 7% since 2011.

Nationally, the number of Irish Travellers is up 5.1% to just over 30,000, making them the fourth largest ethnic group in the country, just ahead of Romanians.

Almost 60% of Travellers were aged under 25, compared with just 33.4% of the general population.  There were just 451 Traveller men aged 65 and over and 481 Traveller females.

They were more urbanised than the general population with almost 8 in 10 (78.6%) living in cities or towns (of 1,500 or more), compared with 62.4% of the total population.

After Tuam, the town with the most Travellers was Longford with 730 persons.

Navan, Mullingar, Dundalk and Ballinasloe all had 500 or more Irish Travellers.

In April 2016 almost 1 in 3 Travellers aged 15 to 29 were married.

This was high compared with the general population, of which just over 1 in 20 were married.

The divorce rate was less than half that of the general population, 2.2% compared to 4.7%.

Educational attainment among Travellers continues to lag significantly behind that of the general population.

Among Traveller females, just 13.3% were educated to upper secondary level or above, compared with almost 7 in10 (69.1%) of the general population.

Nearly 6 in 10 male Travellers (57.2%) were educated to primary level at most, compared with just 13.6% of the general population.  The 167 Travellers with a third-level qualification was almost double the 2011 figure of 89.