Mervue playground will be closed for the next several weeks while refurbishment works are taking place.

Galway City Council has said that the playground on Michael Collins Road will be closed starting from Monday, August 10.

The refurbishment works are expected to last three to four weeks from the date of commencement.

Queries on this can be directed to Parks.Department@galwaycity.ie or by phone call to (091) 536 400.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Coast Guard at lunchtime today (Sunday) to a lone sailor on board a 25 foot sailing boat which had gone aground and was taking on water near Aughinish, on the south shore of Galway Bay.

The crew of Eoin Carey, Máirtín Folan, Leo Branagan and helm James Rattigan were at the lifeboat station for a planned exercise and had just launched the lifeboat when the call came in from the Coast Guard.

This meant the lifeboat and crew were able to head without delay to the location of the stricken sailing boat, arriving around 15 minutes later.

On arrival at the casualty boat one of the lifeboat crew went on board to check on the welfare of the sailor and the condition of the boat.

The sailor was well but as the sailing boat was taking on water the crew decided to take the sailor on board the lifeboat as a safety measure. The lifeboat and crew then brought the sailor to a nearby harbour to get ashore safely.

Peter Navan was on duty as RNLI Launch Authority when the call came in from the Coast Guard. He said, “The sea conditions were moderate this afternoon with some wind and the visibility was poor.”

“Despite this the lifeboat and crew were able to cross Galway Bay to the south shore in good time. We knew from the Coast Guard that a sailing boat had gone aground and was taking on water so there was no time to waste.”

“Luckily we had the lifeboat and crew already on the water when the call came in which really helped to speed things up.”

“The crew’s assessment of the condition of the sailing boat was that it wasn’t safe to tow and as it wasn’t near the shipping channel or in any danger to other boats or water users it was left on anchor. Our priority is always the welfare of the casualty and our crew and making sure they all get home safely.”

“Today was an example of the importance of having the means of communicating with you at all times when on the water. And also to call for help when you get into trouble and not wait to see if things improve. ”

“The sailor did the right thing by making the call to the Coast Guard once the boat went aground which meant that we were able to get the lifeboat and crew ready and heading to the casualty boat in good time in order to rescue the sailor.”

The sailor on the stranded boat had dropped their anchor and was wearing their lifejacket by the time the lifeboat arrived, which Peter stressed was the right thing to do.

“Our advice is to use an anchor in an emergency. It can prevent you from drifting and make it easier for our crew to find you. Always have an anchor suitable for your boat and practise using it so that it is second nature if you need to anchor in an emergency.”

This rescue was also the first shout out for new helm James Rattigan, taking his place at the front of the Galway lifeboat.

The €176,000 renovation replaced all major equipment with new play structures and safety surfacing, playing into Athenry’s medieval heritage with a large castle climbing frame, horse themed see-saw, and natural wood throughout.

The joint project between Athenry Community Playground Group and Athenry Community Council received funding from Galway Rural Development, Galway County Council, and local donors.

“Completing this phase has been a huge morale boost for the town, but we’re not done yet,” said Erin Maglione, chairperson of Athenry Community Playground Group.

The twenty-year-old playground still has equipment that needs repairing, which the volunteer group hopes the Big Day Out will help raise funds for. The event will raise money to replace the zipline platform, repair the wheelchair roundabout, and install a covered seating area.

Last year, the community event saw over 1,000 people and raised funds for the renovation of Athenry playground. This year, the event will mark its grand reopening.

The Big Day Out will fill Athenry Town Park on Saturday from noon to 4:00 p.m. with a makers mart, food trucks, and live music from local artists like Sinead Murphy, Philip Joyce, and more. A ribbon cutting to open the renovated playground will also take place, with the community encouraged to participate.

Local councillor Peter Feeney volunteered on the original committee twenty years ago, and played a major role in creating the amenity.

“It’s a full-circle moment for me. I remember the grand opening in 2004, and have been pleased to see a new group of local parents take an interest in reviving the space,” he said.

For a ticket, children and families can enjoy activities hosted by Athenry Playground Group, including circus performances from Fishy ‘n Dishy, Ultraflex dance workshops, storytelling, art workshops, crazy golf, Music with Miss Dolly, face painting, and more.

The playground group received grant funding from Galway County Council and Creative Ireland to have Drumadore and yoga workshops for teens and families at the event.

Tickets (€15 per child and €5 for adults) can be purchased at athenryplayground.ie. All proceeds will go toward the continued renovation of the playground.

“Seeing so many families, local businesses, and volunteers come together to support this project has been inspiring,” said Kim Somers, owner of Ultraflex Dance. “We’re proud to have played a part in something that will benefit Athenry for years to come.”

A man arrested in connection with a shooting in Ballinasloe earlier this week has been released without charge.

Gardaí are investigating a shooting incident at a residence in Dunlo, Ballinasloe on Monday, August 3 in which one person was injured.

A man in his 20s was arrested in connection with this incident on Wednesday, August 5.

He has since been released without charge, and An Garda Síochána has said that a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Galway City Council has issued temporary swimming bans for Ballyloughane and Grattan Roacd beaches due to poor water quality testing results.

The council issued the prohibition notice for both beaches after receiving test results from water sampling done on Tuesday, August 4.

Prior warning notices had previously been issued for them, but these have now been upgraded to full swimming bans.

Further water sampling was done on Thursday, August 6, the results of which are expected next Monday.

A drop-in public meeting will be held next week to discuss plans for the Monivea Road active travel scheme, for which a planning application has been made.

Galway City Council is seeking to improve walking and cycling infrastructure along the length of Monivea Road (East) between the junction with the Ballybane road and Old Ballybrit Road.

The existing Monivea Road is a single lane two-way carriageway, widening in places to two lanes at junctions to allow for turning lanes. Monivea Road has no existing cycling infrastructure but has footways on both sides of its length. The section of Monivea Road under consideration is approximately 1.7km long.

The development will consist of:

• The provision of a typically 3m wide two-way cycle track, reducing in places where constraints exist.
• Reduction in road carriageway widths (typically 3.2m wide lanes).
• Junction realignments and the introduction of raised crossings on all side roads to prioritise pedestrian and cyclist movements.
• Straight through cycle lane/track crossings on all side road junctions to prioritise cyclists’ movements.
• The provision of signalised crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
• The introduction of pedestrian and shared crossing points at several locations.
• The provision of landscaping along the routes.

A drop-in public information event for this project will be held on at St. James’ GAA Clubhouse, Michael Collins Road (H91 H983) on August 13, between 3:00pm and 7:00pm.

A man in his 20s has been arrested in connection with a shooting at a home in Ballinasloe earlier this week.

Gardai and emergency services attended a home at Dunlo, Ballinasloe at 3:15am on Monday after reports of a firearm being discharged.

One man was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after this incident.

A man in his 20s has now been arrested in connection with this incident, and is currently detained at a Garda station in the region.

An Garda Síochána has said that investigations into this shooting are ongoing.

People across County Galway are being invited to play a key role in developing the future of sport and physical activity as work begins on a new strategic plan for the county.

Galway County Council and Galway Local Sports Partnership have launched a public consultation on the Local Sports Plan, which will set out priorities for investment, facilities and programmes over the coming years.

The plan aims to increase participation in sport, improve access to opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, and support healthier and more connected communities.

Residents, sports clubs, community groups, schools, older people and people with disabilities are all being encouraged to take part and share their views.

Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr Andrew Reddington said sport and physical activity played a vital role in bringing communities together and improving quality of life.

“Across County Galway we have seen the positive impact of investment in community facilities, walking trails, recreational amenities and local sports programmes.

“This consultation gives residents, clubs, schools and community groups the opportunity to influence the future direction of sport and physical activity in our county.”

Galway County Council Chief Executive Liam Conneally said the plan would help shape how the county supports active lifestyles into the future.

“Galway County Council is committed to creating an ambitious, thriving and connected county where everyone can enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle.

“This new Local Sports Plan will help shape how we invest in facilities, programmes and initiatives that support our communities for years to come.”

A series of public meetings will take place across the county from August 25 to 27. The first events will be held at Oughterard Courthouse and Gullanes Hotel in Ballinasloe on August 25, followed by Gort Town Hall and Athenry Community Hall on August 26.

The final consultation event will take place at Harmony Hall in Tuam on August 27. All meetings will run from 7pm to 9pm.

People can also share their views through online surveys on www.galway.ie as part of the consultation process.

Galway Sports Partnership Coordinator Andrew McBride said the consultation was an opportunity to hear from people who are already active and those who face barriers to participation.

“We want to hear from those who are already active, as well as those who would like more opportunities to participate.

“The feedback we receive will help us develop a plan that will help create an ‘Active, Vibrant, Healthy Galway for All’ and ensure future investment reflects the needs of communities throughout the county.”

The consultation is being supported by S3 Solutions, which is working with Galway County Council and Galway Local Sports Partnership on the development of the plan.

Researchers in Galway have revealed new evidence that a single stem cell therapy treatment can slow the loss of kidney function in adults who have diabetic kidney disease.

The stem cell therapy, ORBCEL-M, was developed by University of Galway spinout company, Orbsen Therapeutics,

The new results come from the EU Horizon 2020-funded NEPHSTROM project, which conducted a clinical trial of this therapy as an intravenous infusion in adults with progressive chronic kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes.

The early-stage trial involved two groups of patients treated with lower and higher doses of ORBCEL-M as well as a group treated with a placebo infusion.

The results for these groups confirmed that a single dose of ORBCEL-M was as safe as the placebo infusion and associated with better preservation of kidney function. Patients taking part in the trial were followed closely for 18 months after receiving the therapy.

These promising results could mean more time before kidney failure, more time living independently, and potentially more time before dialysis or transplant becomes necessary for adults with diabetic kidney disease.

The project was completed by an international consortium led by University of Galway-including specialised researchers, medical specialists, cell manufacturing facilities and companies from Ireland, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

The ORBCEL-M cell therapy is a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) preparation manufactured from healthy bone marrow which was discovered and developed by Orbsen Therapeutics, a Galway-based clinical-stage cell therapy company which emerged as a spinout from the University of Galway’s Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI).

Steve Elliman, Chief Scientific Officer of Orbsen Therapeutics, thanked the patients who took part in this trial. “Every clinical advance begins with patients who are willing to participate in carefully controlled research.”

“These are still early studies, and ORBCEL-M must now be tested in a larger clinical trial. Taken together, the NEPHSTROM publications support the case for that next stage of development.”

The findings from the trial support plans for a larger clinical trial to test whether a single infusion of ORBCEL-M will slow the rate at which kidney function declines in people with diabetic kidney disease and delays the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation. It is the second positive report following a clinical trial of the therapy.

Matthew Griffin, Professor of Transplant Biology at University of Galway and Consultant Nephrologist at Galway University Hospitals, said, “While the data are very encouraging, it is important to recognise that the latest results to be published from the NEPHSTROM trial do not prove benefit.”

“Nonetheless, they do strengthen the evidence we need to move toward larger trials. If confirmed in larger studies, that could mean giving people who are at risk of kidney failure due to diabetes more healthy time at home, at work, and with their families.”

Chronic kidney disease affects more than 1 in 10 adults in Ireland and is most commonly caused by type 2 diabetes. It is often a silent condition which can progress for years before a person realises anything is wrong.

For people with diabetes whose kidney function is worsening despite the best treatments that can be provided, the future can be stark, including a high risk of needing kidney replacement therapies such as dialysis several times a week or kidney transplantation.

In the past decade, new medicines have been discovered which have improved treatment for diabetic kidney disease. However, these medicines are taken daily or weekly and some patients still progress towards dialysis or transplant.

Orbsen is seeking to test whether a single dose of ORBCEL-M can be added to these medicines to slow the loss of kidney function and keep more people with diabetic kidney disease free of kidney replacement therapy for longer.

Orbsen is now seeking funding to advance manufacturing validation, regulatory preparation and the larger clinical trial required to determine whether ORBCEL-M can become a clinically meaningful disease-modifying therapy for progressive diabetic kidney disease.

A homecoming event will be held for the the All-Ireland winning Galway Senior Ladies Football Team in Tuam Stadium on Monday evening at 5pm.

The event will give supporters from across the county the opportunity to celebrate Galway’s TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final victory over Kerry at Croke Park.

Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, Cllr Andrew Reddington, said the victory marked a significant moment in the county’s sporting history.

“The win over Kerry has created its own piece of sporting history for Galway, with the county claiming only our second All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football title and our first since 2004.

“This has been a wonderful year for our ladies footballers. Following a brilliant Connacht Championship victory over Mayo, securing three titles in a row, the team showed great determination and skill to overcome Armagh in the semi-final and earn their place on the biggest stage.”

“The win in the final is a joyous occasion that will be celebrated by everyone in Galway and by our diaspora across the world as the Brendan Martin Cup comes west once again.”

Galway County Council Chief Executive Liam Conneally said the homecoming would give supporters the chance to recognise the team’s achievement.

“The homecoming celebration on Monday evening affords everyone the opportunity to celebrate a historic result for ladies football in the county.

“On behalf of Galway County Council, I want to congratulate manager Daniel Moynihan, captain Kate Geraghty, the full panel of players and everyone involved with this famous All-Ireland win. This is a proud day for everyone in Galway.”

One man was hospitalised in connection with a shooting in Ballinasloe in the early hours of Monday morning.

Gardaí are investigating a shooting at a home at Dunlo, Ballinasloe which occurred at approximately 3:15am Monday.

A male aged in his 20s was conveyed to University Hospital Galway to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The scene is currently preserved for technical examination. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward.

Any person who was in the vicinity of the Cúlán Eiscir Riada area on the morning of Monday 3rd August 2026 between 2:30am and 4:00am and who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) is asked to make this footage available to Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ballinasloe Garda Station on 090 9631890, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Galway County Council is asking the public to help shape the first outdoor recreation strategy for County Galway, with a series of consultation workshops taking place during August.

The Galway County Outdoor Recreation Strategy will set out how outdoor amenities are improved, expanded and funded across the county. The development of the five-year strategy has been backed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

The strategy will map out high level priorities for new and existing facilities, examine what is already in place and identify strategic gaps in infrastructure and services.

It will also aim to strengthen cooperation between agencies, landowners and community groups involved in outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, mountain biking and water-based activities.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Andrew Reddington said public input would be central to shaping the final strategy. “Galway’s natural environment is one of its greatest strengths and I encourage anyone with an interest in the outdoors to attend the workshops.

“The strategy should support activities ranging from walking and cycling to paddlesports, while ensuring the county’s landscapes are protected for future generations.”

Chief Executive Liam Conneally said the strategy would act as a blueprint for future development. “This is the first time a dedicated Outdoor Recreation Strategy has been prepared for County Galway, and it offers an opportunity to create a shared vision for how people experience and enjoy the county’s exceptional natural landscapes.

“We look forward to working with communities, landowners and recreational groups to identify ways to enhance existing amenities and develop new opportunities in a sustainable and accessible way.

“Outdoor recreation plays an important role in supporting the health, wellbeing and quality of life of our citizens, and this strategy will help shape the future development of outdoor recreation across County Galway for years to come.”

Five consultation events will take place across the county’s Municipal Districts and will be led by Outscape, the consultancy appointed to prepare the strategy.

The first workshop is scheduled for Oughterard Courthouse on Monday, August 10, at 7pm.

Athenry Community Hall will host a session from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, August 11, followed by an evening workshop at Harmony Hall, Brú Bhríde Family Resource Centre in Tuam at 7pm.

On Wednesday, August 12, events will take place at Ballinasloe Family and Community Resource Centre from 2pm to 4pm and at Temperance Hall in Loughrea at 7pm.

Following the in-person public consultation events, an online survey will be available on Galway.ie from Monday, August 17 to Monday, August 31. The survey will give people who are unable to attend the consultations an opportunity to share their views and help shape the development of the strategy.

Michael Owens, Director of Services with Galway County Council and Chairperson of the Galway County Outdoor Recreation Committee, said the consultation process marked an important milestone in developing a long-term vision for outdoor recreation across the county.

“Following the establishment of the Galway County Outdoor Recreation Committee earlier this year, the public consultation process represents an important step towards a coordinated countywide approach to high quality, accessible and sustainable outdoor recreation for residents and visitors.”

The Galway County Outdoor Recreation Strategy will align with the national strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, and will guide future investment by Galway County Council and partner organisations. Outdoor recreation, as defined for the strategy, covers activities in natural settings and does not include pitch sports or motorised pursuits.

Meanwhile, Galway County Council has invited applications under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2026/2027, which supports the development, enhancement and promotion of outdoor recreation infrastructure in rural areas.

The scheme provides funding across four measures, ranging from project development grants of up to €100,000 to strategic infrastructure projects worth up to €500,000. Applications for the Project Development Measure and Measure 1 close on 20 August, while the deadline for applications for Measures 2 and 3 is 10 November.

HSE West and North West has announced the appointment of Eileen Kelly to the role of Hospital Manager at Portiuncula University Hospital (PUH).

A native of Ballinlough, County Roscommon, Eileen brings more than 25 years of healthcare experience to the role, having worked across a range of clinical, academic and senior management positions within both the public and private health sectors.

Eileen graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Radiography in 1999 and began her career as a radiographer, holding a number of clinical posts before joining Galway University Hospitals in 2007 as a Clinical Specialist Radiographer.

In 2014, she returned to University College Dublin as a lecturer in the School of Medicine, where she taught on both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. She re-joined Galway University Hospitals in 2016 as Radiography Services Manager.

Since moving from clinical practice into healthcare management in 2018, Eileen has held a number of senior regional leadership roles, including working with the patient flow improvement project team and serving as Clinical Services Improvement Manager in the Office of the Chief Clinical Director for the Saolta University Health Care Group.

She also served as General Manager for the Women’s and Children’s Network for HSE West and North West and, until recently, was General Manager for Maternity Services at Portiuncula University Hospital. During her 18 months in this role, she supported the delivery and ongoing development of maternity services.

Throughout her career, Eileen has led a broad range of service development, quality improvement and transformational change initiatives, with a strong focus on improving patient care, operational performance and healthcare delivery.

Commenting on her appointment Eileen Kelly said, “I am honoured to take up the role of Hospital Manager at Portiuncula University Hospital. Having worked alongside the dedicated staff at PUH over the past 18 months, I have seen first-hand their commitment to delivering high-quality care to patients and their families.”

“I look forward to working with colleagues across the hospital, our community partners and stakeholders to continue developing services, improving patient experiences and ensuring the best possible outcomes for the communities we serve.”