The Rahoon Road in Galway City has reopened following the completion of emergency repair works to the damage caused by a burst water mains.

A 30-metre section of the Rahoon Road, from Oakley Crescent to the Seamus Quirke Road junction, was temporarily closed to road traffic after the burst caused significant damage to the road surface on Saturday morning.

Crews working on behalf of Uisce Éireann carried out temporary reinstatement works to make the road surface safe for use, and the road has reopened to traffic.

Permanent reinstatement works to restore the road surface to its original condition will be carried out at a later date. These works will require a road closure, but they will be carried out at night to limit disruption.

Tony Kelly, Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager, thanked impacted residents, businesses and road-users for their cooperation while the road closure was in effect.

“This burst necessitated a significant temporary repair job to the road surface, and this required a road closure to be put in place in order to be carried out safely,” said Tony.

“We want to thank impacted road-users for their understanding. The road has now reopened with temporary reinstatement in place.”

“Our crews will be back to complete permanent reinstatement and restore the road surface to its original condition as soon as possible.”

A Galway man was thrilled to find that two tickets he had almost forgotten about netted him a neat €42,000 prize.

The fortunate winner is planning to turn his winnings into a weekend holiday to celebrate the windfall.

The man came to the Lotto HQ this week to pick up his Lotto Match 5 + Bonus prize from last Saturday’s draw.

He scooped €42,191 in the March 14 draw after purchasing his winning ticket at the Spar shop in Carrowkeel, Kiltullagh, Athenry, Galway.

“I was scanning two tickets at the time and got the message ‘You’ve Won Big!’ I had no idea how much it could have been.”

“So I called the Claims team immediately and in the space of about three minutes, I went from not knowing I had won anything to finding out I had a ticket worth €42,191.”

“The only reason I even decided to check the tickets was because I was clearing out my pockets. I never would have thought of checking otherwise!”

The West of Ireland winner already has his plans in place. “The first thing I’ll be doing is booking an Italian weekend away to celebrate!”

Two Galway students are in with a chance to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad this Summer after competing in the national final this month.

Two students from Coláiste an Eachréidh competed at the National Final of the 18th All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO), hosted by the ADAPT Centre at Dublin City University (DCU) on Wednesday, March 4.

The 100 finalists represented 56 secondary schools from 20 counties across the whole island and are competing for the chance to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in Bucharest, Romania this July.

AILO is run by ADAPT, the Research Ireland Centre for AI-driven Digital Content Technology. The competition challenges students to apply logic and reasoning to decode unfamiliar languages by analysing the language data they are given to work out the ‘rules’ of the new language.

These transferable skills are critical in preparing young people for a wide range of careers in computing, linguistics and language.

Speaking about the event, Director of ADAPT, Professor John Kelleher said, “AILO is a showcase of the analytical ability, curiosity and capability of Ireland’s young people.”

“The students who have reached the final have demonstrated exceptional problem solving skills. The skills developed here are directly transferable to the real world and we hope will give them a love of computing and data-driven research.”

“We are very proud to host the final at DCU and to support an all-island initiative that opens up these futures to students from every background.”

The finalists progressed through a preliminary round, involving nearly 1,000 competitors, held in schools earlier this year.

The results of the AILO final will be released mid-March. For those who want to try the challenge, sample puzzles can be downloaded from https://ailo.adaptcentre.ie/sample-puzzles/.

The training at the lifeboat station follows a visit by Galway RNLI crew to the Clinical Simulation and Interprofessional Education Facility at the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the end of 2025.

Dr Cara Egan, lecturer in Clinical Skills and Simulation at University of Galway said, “For the RNLI crew visit to our facility last year, we designed a real-life scenario that enabled the crew to apply their casualty care training, along with using the first aid equipment they carry on the lifeboat.”

“This time, we were able to observe casualty care training in the lifeboat environment. This was an excellent opportunity for our students to see how their medical training will be used in the event of caring for casualties who are brought to shore by RNLI crew either as a result of an injury while on the water or having entered the water.”

This visit was also part of the Simulation and Medical Education module for the students, which is designed to demonstrate learning in the community.

Nurse Olivia Byrne, who is also a volunteer RNLI crew and leads out on first aid exercises at the lifeboat station, said, “The medicine students got to experience how RNLI crew assess and manage casualty care in a very different environment from hospital-based care.”

“We were able to show how we care for casualties on the lifeboat and the challenges that varying sea conditions pose when getting a casualty onto the lifeboat and then back onto land to hand over to the ambulance service if they require ongoing medical care.”

“As part of the visit, we also demonstrated the first aid equipment that our crew are trained to use. And the visit included an overview of technical capabilities of our lifeboat and the communications and other technology used to coordinate a search and rescue operation.”

“It was a very positive experience for our crew to meet these students as they begin their medical studies and we hope that what they learned here this evening will benefit them in their future careers.

She added that, “Every day is a learning day for us as crew and hopefully the same for the students.”

“We are all volunteers here in Galway RNLI and we depend on the support of our community to be able to provide a 24/7 search and rescue service.”

“We are very appreciative of the support from the University of Galway and the opportunities that our ongoing engagement has given us to enhance our casualty care and first aid training.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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