The East Galway community will celebrate the completion of its new outdoor swimming pool with a Community Open Day at Shannon Bank Park this Saturday, August 1.

The free event will begin at 10am and will feature wellness classes, a 3km community run, kayaking and paddleboarding activities, the Shannon Poc Fada and a family friendly picnic in the park.

A group of swimmers completing the 3.5km journey from Shannon Harbour to Banagher will arrive at approximately 3pm. The day will conclude at 4pm with the unveiling of sponsored nameplates, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and official opening.

The Community Open Day marks the culmination of an ambitious fundraising campaign led by the Shannon Bank Park Development Group.

Since the campaign was launched in February 2025, the community has raised more than €195,000 towards the wider €850,000 development. The project also received €616,000 through the Fáilte Ireland EU Just Transition Fund.

The new facility provides an improved outdoor swimming experience at Shannon Bank Park, including wheelchair access, additional seating, wider pontoons and a dedicated launch area for kayaks and paddleboards.

Johnny Butler from the Shannon Bank Park Development Group said, “This project has been made possible by an extraordinary community effort.”

“People from Banagher and the surrounding areas of East Galway, West Offaly, and North Tipperary and the wider midlands region supported the campaign through fundraising events, sponsored nameplates and individual contributions.”

“The new pool is a free, accessible amenity for local people and visitors to swim, exercise and enjoy the River Shannon. The Community Open Day is an opportunity to thank everyone who helped to make it happen and to celebrate the achievement together.”

Fundraising activities included swimming, cycling and hiking challenges, a pony trek, a tractor run, school events, an auction and a fundraising night at Melba’s nightclub. More than 2,600 individual contributions were also made through the campaign’s online fundraising platform.

The Community Open Day is supported by Banagher Tidy Towns, Lough Derg Watersports, West Offaly Training, Sexton’s SuperValu Banagher and The Martello Coffee Dock.

Parking at Shannon Bank Park will be limited on the day. Attendees are encouraged to walk or cycle where possible.

Archaeologists have rediscovered a ‘lost’ Neolithic tomb and located a second, previously unidentified, tomb during excavations at a prehistoric site revealing new evidence about the earliest farming communities in the west of Ireland.

Led by Dr Michelle Comber and Dr Noel McCarthy of the Discipline of Archaeology at University of Galway, the excavation in the Maree area of Co Galway has revealed two different types of megalithic tombs dating back almost 6,000 years.

Researchers believe the site represents the only known example in Ireland where a court tomb and a portal tomb are found together, offering important new evidence about the people who built them during the early Neolithic period – the first farmers in this part of the world.

Court tombs were burial monuments with an open area or ‘court’ where ritual/ceremonial activities took place, while portal tombs were stone-built burial chambers marked by a large capstone.

The discovery of these two monument types side-by-side provides a rare opportunity to examine different approaches to burial, ritual and monument building in the Ireland of the Stone Age.

Project co-lead Dr Michelle Comber said, “The chance to find and excavate sites like these within the area of our larger research project provides a golden opportunity to locate – and attempt to understand – the first farmers of this place.”

“Working here with colleagues, students, and community members, playing a part in such important discoveries, is thrilling both professionally and personally.”

“The size and scale of the tombs, and the effort required to construct them, reflect a sizeable community living in and farming this part of coastal Galway. Their location right next to each other represents a meeting of two traditions, raising new questions about the nature of that interaction.”

Project co-lead Dr Noel McCarthy said, “The opportunity to investigate a site like this is not something that occurs very often. Discovering the second monument has added a layer of complexity that informs our understanding of culture and society in the Neolithic period and beyond.”

“Whole communities came together to create these monuments in what must have been great displays of group identity and religious expression.”

Once thought completely destroyed, the court tomb at Prospecthill, Maree, has been uncovered by University of Galway archaeological excavations this summer. One of the southernmost examples of this type of tomb, it is also one of the largest discovered, at approximately 30m in length.

Right beside the court tomb, and previously unrecorded as a burial monument, the remains of a large portal tomb have also been discovered. Its impressive capstone measures almost 4m in length and 1m thick, weighing an estimated 14 tonnes.

Archaeologists on the site also identified a large bedrock pit in which the portal tomb was originally constructed. This enabled the exceptional preservation of the original burial deposits, providing a rare opportunity to investigate evidence from the monument’s earliest use, offering fresh insights into how these communities honoured and buried their dead.

The excavation uncovered stone tools, prehistoric pottery and cremated bone, including a small amethyst pendant from the portal tomb. While quartz beads are known from a few megalithic sites, nothing like this amethyst pendant is known from anywhere in Ireland.

Both tomb types are dated to the early Neolithic period and, despite their name, both tombs represent much more than just places of burial. They were the focus of communal gatherings and rituals, some of which involved human remains and ancestral interaction.

The discoveries have been made as part of the University of Galway research project, MAREE – Land Use Through Time, which is exploring how people lived and used the landscape in the area over thousands of years.

The latest discoveries build on the project’s first excavation season in 2025, when archaeologists confirmed Rathgurreen Ringfort as a high-status Early Medieval settlement occupied by rulers and nobles. That excavation uncovered links to trade and contact extending to Rome, Scotland, France and Scandinavia.

This year’s discoveries have extended the research project’s timeline back into early prehistory, offering new evidence about the origins of farming, settlement and territoriality in the west of Ireland. This is key to understanding the long and continuing relationship between people and land in this landscape.

The excavation is being carried out by researchers and students from University of Galway, alongside community volunteers, and hosted by the local landowner the Burke family, with support from the Royal Irish Academy and survey work by the Discovery Programme, the national archaeological research body supported by the Heritage Council.

Twelve community projects across County Galway are to share €100,000 in funding for biodiversity, climate action and environmental improvements under the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF).

Galway County Council approved the funding at its July meeting, with €50,000 provided by IPB Insurance to mark its centenary and a further €50,000 contributed by the local authority.

The funding is aimed at supporting Tidy Towns groups and community organisations to deliver projects that enhance biodiversity, improve public spaces and promote more sustainable communities.

Galway County Council said the initiative targeted towns and villages that have performed strongly in the national Tidy Towns competition, including Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners, recent Endeavour Award recipients and Galway’s two 2026 Pride of Place entrants.

Allocations have been made to community groups in Milltown, Oranmore, Abbey (South Galway), Tuam, An Spidéil, Ballygar, Clifden, Kilkerrin (North Galway), Kinvara, Mountbellew, Portumna and Woodford.

Cllr Andrew Reddington, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway said, “This is a unique initiative in that it attempts to offer strategic funding to communities on a particular Tidy Towns pathway.”

“All our tidy towns groups do very necessary work that complements the work of the Local Authority in keeping our towns and villages looking as well as they can.”

The largest allocation of €18,000 was awarded to Abbey Community Development Association for a major biodiversity project that includes creating a pollinator corridor, expanding a community orchard, planting native trees and hedgerows, developing wildlife habitats, installing rainwater harvesting systems and biodiversity signage, and transforming the entrance to the Cineál Feichín housing estate into a community nature space.

Milltown Tidy Towns received €15,000 for projects including a sensory garden, community garden, wildflower habitats and an accessible picnic area, while Woodford Parish Development was allocated €12,703 for a Living Carbon Garden featuring rainwater harvesting, native planting, bird and insect boxes, educational workshops and green business initiatives.

Ballygar Tidy Towns secured €12,523 to replace petrol-powered maintenance equipment with battery-operated alternatives, introduce pollinator planting, native hedging, water butts and energy-efficient lighting.

Oranmore Tidy Towns was awarded €10,000 to develop a Bat Discovery Trail and biodiversity enhancement project centred on its existing Bloom Postcard Garden.

Clifden Tidy Towns received €9,757 to create a pollinator-friendly community garden and improve planting at Tullyvoheen estate, while Tuam Tidy Towns secured €6,072 to establish a green corridor and pocket orchard along the River Nanny through the removal of invasive species.

Kinvara Tidy Towns was allocated €6,042 for a community polytunnel, raised beds and educational facilities to support biodiversity projects linked to its Biodiversity Action Plan.

Portumna Tidy Towns received €4,656 for a polytunnel to support year-round community growing, while Mountbellew District and Development Association was awarded €3,000 to create a new pollinator garden around public sculptures.

Smaller grants included €1,127 for Kilkerrin Tidy Towns to establish a community orchard, plant native hedging and purchase battery-powered maintenance equipment, and €1,120 for Coiste na mBailte Slachtmhara an Spidéil to develop a biodiversity-friendly community garden behind Spiddal Library.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, stated, “Galway County Council is committed to supporting communities through various schemes and this initiative targeted at Tidy Towns organisations is such an example.”

“With the great voluntary work that happens in communities, these specific funding interventions can go a long way. We are delighted to partner with IPB and local communities in delivering this initiative.”

Mr. Conneally added that the projects would strengthen local biodiversity, support climate action and build on the long-standing contribution of community volunteers to the appearance and environmental quality of towns and villages across the county.

Galway City Council is progressing plans to install new cycling and pedestrian infrastructure on the east side of Galway City along the Monivea Road.

The active travel scheme works will involve the provision of a segregated high quality cycle route along the R339 Monivea Road 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.

The plans for this development can currently be viewed online or at City Hall until Friday, August 21 during public hours.

Submissions related to the project can be made at the link above or to the planning department of the city council. Public submissions must be received before Friday, September 4 to be considered valid.

Last week the Galway RNLI lifeboat came to the rescue of three people on a boat adrift without power near the coast close to a main shipping channel last week.

The volunteer crew were requested to launch by the Coast Guard, following a call for help from three people on board a 19ft boat with engine failure near Blackrock.

The lifeboat launched shortly before 4pm this afternoon with crew Kenneth Kitterick, Paddy Hennelly, Darragh Heskin and helm Brian Niland on board and were quickly on the scene in the vicinity of Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill.

The three people on board the casualty boat were well but had no means of propulsion and needed assistance.

The crew carried out an inspection of the boat and in the absence of a more suitable vessel and given the risks related to the boat’s condition and location in the main shipping channel to Galway port, it was determined that towing was the best course of action and the boat was towed to a safe harbour.

Paul Carey, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Galway RNLI was the launch authority for the rescue that afternoon. He said, “The weather conditions were very good this afternoon during this fine spell of weather. The people on the casualty boat were wearing lifejackets, were hydrated and had acted appropriately by calling the Coast Guard to seek help.”

“With the sunny weather expected to last for another few days, we know many people will be planning to head to the coast. I’d like to remind everyone heading out on a boat to always wear a lifejacket, let someone ashore know where you are going and when you plan to be back.”

“Check your vessel is safe to go to sea and bring a means of communication so you can call for help if needed. Even on the shortest trips you can get caught out, so it pays to be prepared, including carrying the right boat safety kit.”

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

Night time water restrictions on Inis Mór have been extended earlier into the evening on parts of the island as pressure on water supplies continues to grow.

The restrictions in Creig a’Chéirin to the west of the island, and in Cill Éinne to the east, now come into effect at 5pm each evening and remain in place until 7am.

Elsewhere on the island, the restrictions will remain as they were, coming into effect nightly from 10pm until 7am.

These extended nighttime restrictions are essential to protect the island’s daytime supply Uisce Éireann has said.

Increased demand on the network due to the high number of visitors to the island, coupled with the recent spell of warm, dry weather, has led to reserves of treated water falling to critically low levels in recent days.

Nighttime restrictions also remain in effect on Inis Oírr between 11pm and 6am nightly.

Tony Kelly of Uisce Éireann has renewed the appeal to customers on the Aran Islands to limit their water usage to essential purposes only over the coming days.

“Our supplies of treated water on Inis Mór are at very low levels, and we are appealing to residents, businesses and visitors to the island to be mindful of how they use water over the coming days,” said Tony.

“The nighttime restrictions we have brought into effect are an essential measure to safeguard supplies and protect a continuous daytime supply of treated water for the island.”

Elsewhere in Co Galway, nighttime restrictions also remain in effect on supplies in Kinvara, Cloch na Rón, Carna / Cill Chíaráin, Leitir Móir and Tir an Fhia until further notice.

The nationwide Water Conservation Order will also come into effect for all counties, including Galway, from 00.01am on Friday morning.

Nighttime water restrictions have been imposed on Kinvara this week until further notice due to severe strain on the local supply.

The restrictions will be in effect between 8pm and 8am and will remain in place until further notice to ensure a continuous daytime supply of treated water for homes, businesses and essential services in Kinvara and the surrounding areas.

The ongoing dry spell, coupled with heightened demand on the network, has placed the capacity of the town’s water treatment plant under severe strain.

Ger Greally of Uisce Éireann said the nighttime restrictions are essential to safeguard daytime supply for customers.

“We are still dealing with extremely high demand for treated water, which has placed our treatment processes under pressure,” said Ger.

“Leakage detection and repair works have been ongoing in the area in recent days in order to protect supplies. These nighttime restrictions are necessary to further ensure a continuous daytime supply for homes and businesses in Kinvara and surrounding areas.

“We are asking everyone to continue playing their part by using water wisely and reducing non-essential use wherever possible. Every small action can collectively make a real difference during this period of exceptionally high demand,” Ger continued.

Customers are encouraged to be alert to signs of leaks on their property, such as persistent damp patches on lawns or driveways.

Uisce Éireann’s First Fix Free scheme provides a free repair for qualifying underground leaks on private property once identified. To report leaks on the public water network, customers can contact Uisce Éireann’s 24/7 helpdesk at 1800 278 278 or online.

Two crew from the Galway Lifeboat Station were recognised for 30 years of volunteering at a recent RNLI volunteer recognition event and a third crew received his 20 year long service medal.

Shane Folan has been volunteering since May 1995 and was the very first volunteer crew member officially enrolled at Galway Lifeboat Station. He started as lifeboat crew, progressed to helm and then to the role of launch authority that he currently holds.

The second recipient of the 30 year award is David Oliver who has been a volunteer since mid 1995, first as lifeboat crew and since 2001 as helm.

Martin Oliver joined Galway RNLI in 2005 and has been a helm since 2015 after spending the initial years as lifeboat crew. Martin received his medal in recognition of 20 years of volunteering with the RNLI.

They received their awards at an event in Dublin in June recognising people who have dedicated 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years to the RNLI.

Paul Carey, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Galway RNLI said, “This year we are celebrating 30 years since Galway Lifeboat went ‘on station’ in March 1996.”

“Since that date our volunteer crew have launched on rescues 818 times, coming to the aid of 498 people, 74 of whom were lives saved.”

“It is incredible to think that we have two crew who have been volunteers and part of our crew since the very beginning and many more who have reached milestones of long service.”

He added that it is “impossible to quantify in hours” the time and effort they have given to the RNLI, and the good they have done with it, over those years on Galway Bay.

“In addition to the 100s of hours spent out on search and rescue missions, they have devoted the same time again and more to training both as part of their own training and progression plans, but also significantly as leaders on the crew, delivering training to the next generation of lifesavers.”

“As a volunteer with the RNLI, family and friends play a really important role. They are the ones who provide support when the pager goes off in the middle of the night, in the middle of mealtimes, in the middle of large life events like weddings and Christmas Day.”

“The recognition events are also for the families and spouses of our crew and all the people who make it possible for our volunteers to make such an enduring commitment to the RNLI.”

“We look forward to the next 30 years and longer of Galway RNLI and to marking the long service achievements of more crew in the future.”

A total of 1,968 residential buildings were recorded as being under construction in Galway in June 2026, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report, prepared by EY.

The highest proportion of residential buildings under construction were located in Dublin (6,107), with activity also notably strong in Cork (3,770), Meath (2,192), Louth (2,061) and Galway (1,968).

Residential Address Points

2,235 residential address points in Galway were added to the GeoDirectory database in the twelve months to June 2026.

Dublin accounted for over a third of these new address points, with 12,524 dwellings recorded, followed by Cork (4,154), Kildare (2,744), Galway (2,235) and Meath (1,964).

In Leitrim, just 94 new residential address points were added to the GeoDirectory database, with Longford (116) and Carlow (161) the only other counties to record fewer than 250 additions.

Following the release of the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report, Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory said, “The past twelve months has seen a considerable surge in residential construction activity and new address points recorded.”

“The figures suggest that the medium-to-long term outlook is improving, but demand continues to outpace supply in the present, with house prices continuing to rise and vacancy rates remaining at record low levels.”

Vacancy Rate and Dereliction

The vacancy rate in Galway in June 2026 was 5.0% which was higher than the national average of 3.7%. The national residential vacancy rate remained unchanged between June 2025 and June 2026, although year-on-year decreases were observed in 15 out of 26 counties surveyed.

In total, 81,373 residential units were classified as vacant across the state in Q2 2026. The highest vacancy rates in June 2026 were found in the west and north-west of the country, with Leitrim (11.5%), Mayo (10.3%), Roscommon (9.9%), Donegal (8.9%) and Sligo (8.3%) topping the national table.

At just 1.4%, Dublin was the county with the lowest residential vacancy rate, while Kildare (1.6%), Waterford (2.2%), Meath (2.4%) and Wicklow (2.4%) all registered rates lower than 2.5%.

19,137 properties were listed as derelict in the State in June 2026. The number of derelict units has fallen by 3.5% compared to Q2 2025. The highest concentration of derelict properties was in Mayo, with 14.2% of the national total.

Average House Prices

The average house price in Galway in the twelve months to May 2026 was €394,287 according to CSO data. The national average during this period was €437,631 an increase of 4.7% compared to the previous year. With the exception of Longford, the average house price increased in every county.

Residential property prices were highest in Dublin, with an average of €596,997 per transaction. The highest average property price in the capital was recorded in Dublin 6, at €1,019,942. Wicklow (€527,282) and Kildare (€451,485) were the only other counties with an average transaction price above the state average.

The lowest average house prices in the 12 months to May 2026 were registered in Longford (€209,146), Donegal (€229,640) and Leitrim (€235,714).

Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY said, “Passing the 30,000 mark for homes under construction represents a significant milestone for the sector, while the more than 37,000 address points added in the year to June demonstrate strong momentum in housing delivery.”

“We are seeing much of this activity clustered in high-growth commuter areas, reflecting where population growth and housing demand are most acute. The challenge now is to maintain this pace of delivery and ensure more new housing is brought to the market.”

The Emergency Department at University Hospital Galway continues to be extremely busy this week, with high numbers of people attending the department who need to be admitted to hospital for ongoing treatment.

Yesterday, 328 people attended the Emergency Department. As of this morning, there are 17 patients on trolleys in the Emergency Department, 22 patients on ward trolleys, and an additional 36 patients on trolleys in surge areas.

The hospital is implementing all possible measures to improve patient flow and reduce delays in the Emergency Department and is asking the public to consider all available healthcare options before attending.

Everyone who presents will be treated, with priority given to those who are seriously ill or injured. Patients who do not require urgent care unfortunately may experience longer waiting times.

All available beds in the hospital are in use. Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward.

Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.

Due to these ongoing pressures and the lack of bed capacity, reviewing some elective surgeries and may have to defer. Urgent and time-sensitive procedures are being prioritised. Patients will contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.

The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.

UHG is requesting that people only attend the Emergency Department at the hospital if it is an emergency situation. We ask that people attend their GP or out of hours service in the first instance if at all possible.

The Roscommon Injury Unit is also open from 8am to 8pm daily, to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over the age of five.

The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.

Community pharmacists provide expert advice and over-the-counter treatments for a wide range of minor illnesses. In addition to this expert advice, a new service is available which allows pharmacists to supply prescription-only medication without the need to see a GP.

The following common conditions can be treated under the Common Conditions Service; allergic rhinitis, cold sores, conjunctivitis, impetigo, oral thrush, shingles, cystitis (uncomplicated urinary tract infection), vaginal thrush. Information about the scheme is available on the HSE website here.

A contract has been signed for the construction of a €4.7 million housing development and community care facility in Athenry, Co Galway.

The Galway County Council development at Cullairbaun will deliver 12 social homes and a purpose-built community care home.

The housing scheme comprises four one-bedroom homes and eight two-bedroom homes. The care facility will include five bedrooms, communal living areas and support spaces.

The project also includes roads, footpaths, parking, public lighting, landscaping and utility infrastructure.

Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr Andrew Reddington, said, “This project will deliver much needed homes while also providing a purpose-built community care facility. It is another important investment in Athenry and will support people to live independently in their own community.”

Chief Executive of Galway County Council, Liam Conneally said the project reflects the Council’s commitment to expanding housing delivery across the county.

“While demand for housing continues to outstrip supply across Ireland, Galway County Council has a strong pipeline of projects at various stages of delivery. Working with our delivery partners, we are committed to increasing the pace of housing delivery and bringing more homes on stream across the county.

“We look forward to working closely with C&N Higgins and the wider design team as construction gets underway.”

Director of Services for Housing Damien Mitchell said the Athenry scheme forms part of a wider programme of housing delivery.

“This project reflects the progress being made across County Galway through new build developments and partnerships with Approved Housing Bodies. Our priority is to deliver more social, affordable and supported housing and ensure people have access to secure, high-quality homes.”

The contract, valued at approximately €4.7 million, has been awarded to C&N Higgins Construction Ltd. following a competitive procurement process.

Studio PKA is lead architect on the project, with MMP appointed as quantity surveyors, SDS Consulting Engineers as civil and structural engineers, and CBS Consulting Engineers as mechanical and electrical engineers.

The volunteer crew of Clifden RNLI had a busy Saturday with two operations taking place in quick succession resulting in the rescue of seven people.

The lifeboat crew were first tasked by the Coast Guard at 10am yesterday, Saturday 18th July, to reports of swimmers in difficulty near Mannin Bay.

Both of Clifden’s lifeboats were put to sea immediately with James Mullen as Coxswain on the all weather lifeboat, St Christopher and David O Reilly, Brian Ward, Darragh Wallace and Chris Nee as crew. Clifden’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was helmed by Dave Barry with Shane Conneely, Ronan Mullen and Sean Pryce as crew.

Once at the scene, a short distance from Ballyconneely, the crew quickly located the swimmers. They were in good form and able to make their way back to shore unaided.

Not long after returning to base the pagers went again, this time a family on a small pleasure craft were in difficulty near Turbot island.

The volunteer crew assembled for the second time, John Mullen was Coxswain on the all weather lifeboat with David O Reilly, Alan Pryce, Caroline Barry and Darragh Wallace on board.

James Mullen was helm on Clifden’s Atlantic 85 with his son Ronan Mullen, Brian Ward and Shane Conneely as crew. Notably, it was the first shout for this father and son since Ronan joined Clifden RNLI as a 19 year old earlier this year.

The crew quickly made their way to the boat’s location, near the small island of Turbot in Clifden Bay. In all, seven people were in danger because their boat was drifting towards the rocky shoreline of the island.

When the lifeboat crew arrived on scene the wind had blown the casualty vessel off the rocks and the family were able to get their engine restarted. The crew checked for any sign of structural damage or water ingress.

The casualties included two parents and five children who were very relieved to have assistance from the RNLI. The casualty vessel was escorted back to their mooring in Clifden Bay.

Five children from the casualty vessel were transferred to Clifden’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat and brought ashore while the parents came ashore on their small tender escorted by the Clifden’s all weather lifeboat crew.

James Mullen, Clifden RNLI Coxswain said, “Thankfully we had very good outcomes yesterday and I’d like to thank our brilliant crew who worked really well together to bring that family of seven people to safety.”

“Clifden RNLI is ready to respond 24/7 to anyone who is in distress in or around the water. Please don’t delay in looking for help, you could save a life by calling 999/112 at the first sign of trouble. Please be safe and enjoy our beautiful Connemara coast.”

Age Friendly Ireland has revealed the shortlist for the 2026 National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards, with two Galway projects among the nominees including Tuam Palace Grounds Sensory Garden and Connemara Memory Cafe for Brain Health.

The projects have been recognised for creating meaningful improvements to the everyday lives of older people, contributing to inclusive communities where older people can live well, feel valued, and stay connected.

Now in their tenth year, the National Age Friendly Recognition and Achievement Awards were created to recognise the outstanding work being done by organisations, community groups, businesses, local authorities and individuals across the country to make Ireland a better place to grow older.

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of Age Friendly Ireland, said, “Ireland is on a journey of designing our communities, services and infrastructure to meet the challenges and opportunities associated with our ageing population. Through the work of Age Friendly Ireland and the Older People’s Councils, older people have a meaningful role in shaping that response.”

“This year’s finalists demonstrate that adopting an Age Friendly culture requires a top-down and bottom-up approach, and our collaborative efforts stem from the voice of older people, at grass roots level, co-designing solutions to everyday issues. However, local innovation must not remain local, and the strongest ideas should be recognised nationally, shared and replicated across the country.”

“These Awards celebrate excellent projects, but they also set a standard. They are a showcase of practical solutions for government departments, public bodies, statutory agencies, businesses, and community and voluntary organisations setting out what Age Friendly leadership looks like and challenge all of us to do more.”

Each shortlisted project was chosen for its outstanding impact, innovation, and potential to inspire lasting change in other communities.

Ahead of crowning the winners this October, all 36 shortlisted projects will now be visited and assessed by a judging panel that includes Mr Pat Dowling, former Chief Executive of Clare County Council (Chairperson);Ms Madeleine Quirke, former Chief Executive and President of Wexford Chambers; Ms Anna Marie Delaney, former Chief Executive of Offaly County Council; Mr John Kerin, former Chief Superintendent, An Garda Síochána; Ms Clare Curley, former Director of Services, Tipperary County Council; and Mr Jimmy Feane, former Director of Services, Limerick County Council.

The Awards consist of ten categories; each aligned with a World Health Organization (WHO) Age Friendly Theme. These include awards for best in Age Friendly Transport; Active Living and Leisure; Business Innovation; Safety and Security; Communications; Environment; Community Innovation, Housing; Intergenerational; and Active and Healthy Ageing.

Previous winners have included eir Ireland for their Age Friendly Care line, An Garda Síochána, Kerry for their Safety Door Hanger Initiative and Brady’s Court, South Dublin County Council for their Infill Age Friendly Housing project.

Ms McGuigan added, “We extend our sincere thanks to Dr Pat Daly, Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council, for hosting this year’s awards and supporting this national celebration of Age Friendly innovation and leadership.”

The awards ceremony will take place on  8 October  at  The Strand Hotel, Limerick, hosted by Limerick City and County Council. For more information about this year’s awards and to learn about all the finalists, visit agefriendlyireland.ie.

The rollout of high speed fibre broadband on the Aran Islands is progressing this summer, with customers on Inis Meáin now able to pre-order ahead of their connections becoming available.

NBI is continuing work on connecting the new fibre network to Inis Meáin. When complete 147 homes and businesses on the island will be able to access high-speed fibre broadband.

Another 641 premises on Inis Mór can already order connections on the NBI network, with final testing and commissioning progressing as planned.

Representatives from National Broadband Ireland will be visiting both Inis Meáin and Inis Mór over the coming weeks to provide information and support to residents and businesses on how to access their new broadband connections.

They will be available to answer questions about broadband availability, explain how to place an order with a retail service provider, and provide guidance on connecting homes and businesses. Residents will be able to identify the representatives by their black NBI-branded jackets.

The visits are currently planned for Inis Mór from 20-22 July and Inis Meáin from 27 July. Dates are subject to weather and travel conditions.

TJ Malone, Chief Executive Officer, National Broadband Ireland, said: “The opening of pre-orders on Inis Meáin marks another important step towards delivering reliable, future-proofed broadband to communities across the Aran Islands.”

“With 147 homes and businesses on Inis Meáin now able to pre-order services, and pre-orders already open for 641 premises on Inis Mór, residents and businesses are moving closer to being connected to the NBI network.”

“Our representatives will be visiting both islands over the coming weeks to answer questions and provide practical support on the pre-ordering and connection process.”

“We encourage residents and businesses to speak with the team and contact a participating retail service provider so they are ready to connect when services become available.”

There are 37,174 premises that can now pre-order or order high-speed, reliable broadband across Galway with 12,539 connections made to date. Works have also been completed in rural areas surrounding Galway City, Gort and Ballinasloe.