The Galway-based Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, is visiting Gort National School today, where she will turn the sod for their new school building.

It is one of four schools in Galway which the Minister is visiting today, during which many important milestones and achievements will be marked.

She said, “I am absolutely delighted to be in Gort today to celebrate the start of a new chapter for Gort National School and to see some of the great work you are doing here.”

“Events like this are always important moments. Today we are celebrating the investment in the future of the young people who will learn, grow, and thrive here for many years to come.”

“This project will provide modern, high-quality learning and working spaces that will support the work of its pupils, teachers and staff for many years to come.”

“For the pupils here today, many of whom will watch this building grow over the coming months, and some of whom will be among the first to walk through its doors when it opens, this project is especially exciting.”

Gort Community School, Gort, Co Galway

Speaking while also visiting Gort Community School in advance of their 30th anniversary celebrations, Minister Naughton said, “This is a moment not only to celebrate but to reflect on the journey that this school has taken since first opening its doors in 1995.”

”The school motto comes from the famous Irish seanfhocal, ‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’ and I am without any doubt that over the past 30 years this saying has truly been lived out in your school.”

“The motto perfectly reflects what lies at the heart of Gort Community School. It is a school built on teamwork, community and collaboration.”

“Everyone works together, sharing common goals and striving to provide the very best education for every single student who walks through its doors.”

The Minister also referred to the broad range of activities available to students at the school.

“Well done to the Gort Community School chess teams, one of whom won the Conn Cup Connaught chess championship on March 18, and the other team, who finished up in bronze position in the Shield.”

“I know this is something that your maths teacher Gareth Fitzpatrick is encouraging and promoting at the school.”

Trinity Primary School, Tuam, Co Galway

Visiting Trinity Primary School in Tuam, the Minister said, “Whenever I visit schools, I am reminded that schools are not just buildings, they are communities.”

“They are places where children feel safe, where friendships are formed, where talents are discovered and where the foundations for the future are built every single day.”

“What makes Trinity Primary School especially impressive is the way that they have built that strong community across four different campus buildings.”

“Achieving this takes dedication, teamwork and a lot of organisation from your staff, teachers and school managers. It also speaks volumes about the spirit of the school.”

Tierneevin National School, Tierneevin, Gort, Co Galway

Minister Naughton said she was delighted to hear that Tierneevin National School celebrated 50 years in existence last November and had a wonderful community celebration.

“I want to take a moment to sincerely thank everyone associated with Scoil Naomh Colman Mac Duaigh for their tireless dedication to this school community. It is through these efforts that this school is thriving and growing.”

The University of Galway Tax Clinic, Claddagh Credit Union and St Columba’s Credit Union have announced a new partnership that will provide credit union members with free, confidential tax support.

Launched at the University’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics, the initiative combines the University of Galway’s tax expertise with the community networks of Claddagh and St Columba’s Credit Unions.

The partnership is designed to provide credit union members with accessible, confidential tax guidance, supporting improved tax literacy and financial confidence within local communities.

Colm Cleary, Chair of St Columba’s Credit Union, said, “This partnership means we can connect our members with expert, confidential tax support.”

“It’s about building confidence and helping people understand their rights and responsibilities, which is what community finance is all about.”

Louise Shields, CEO of Claddagh Credit Union, said, “Our members trust us to support their financial wellbeing, and being able to offer free tax support through the Tax Clinic strengthens that relationship and shows what we can achieve when community organisations work together.”

The University of Galway Tax Clinic was established in 2020 and is Ireland’s first free tax clinic. Originally founded to support University students, it has since expanded through community partnerships to assist vulnerable members of society.

The clinic works with a number of community partners, including an ongoing collaboration with Galway Public Libraries, and serves clients referred through COPE Galway and Longford Women’s Link.

The clinic also serves as a training ground for the next generation of student tax advisors, who gain hands-on experience under the guidance of professional tax advisors.

Professor Emer Mulligan, Director of the Tax Clinic, said, “This collaboration strengthens our collective ability to serve the community – we can now bring expert tax support directly to the people who engage with and trust their credit unions.”

Since going on station on March 27, 1996, at 9pm, the volunteer crew at Galway RNLI Lifeboat Station have launched on rescues 816 times, coming to the aid of 498 people, of whom 74 were lives saved.

The origins of the lifeboat service in Galway began in the 1990s following a number of incidents on Galway Bay and campaigning by the local RNLI fundraising committee, with the support of the maritime community and other search and rescue agencies.

In April 1994, the RNLI announced that an Atlantic 21 lifeboat would be placed on a year’s evaluation in Galway.

In October the following year, the first Galway volunteers went to the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre in Cowes on the Isle of Wight for training, and the following month the temporary lifeboat arrived in Galway.

At that time, the lifeboat was kept at the workplace of Pat Lavelle, one of the founding members of the RNLI in Galway and the first volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager. From there, the lifeboat was towed on a trailer to the Docks to launch.

Over the following number of years, there were significant developments, including the installation of a launching davit in 1996 (to enable the lifeboat to be moved in and out of the water), along with a temporary boathouse and a port-a-cabin for the crew.

The current lifeboat station was purpose-built in 1997, and the station’s first permanent lifeboat, an Atlantic 75 called Dóchas, came into service.

In 2011, Dóchas was replaced with the current lifeboat, an Atlantic 85 called Binny, which is 8.44m in length and has a top speed of 35 knots.

Paul Carey, Lifeboat Operations Manager with Galway RNLI, who first became involved as a volunteer crew in 1996, said, “The last 30 years of the lifeboat in Galway is due to the many people who gave their time and energy to fundraise to establish the RNLI service and who continue to support the running of the lifeboat service with generous donations and other support.”

“It has also been made possible by the many crew who have been willing to drop whatever they are doing day or night to respond when their pagers go off, and each one has played a very important role in saving lives on Galway Bay.”

“The area covered by the Galway RNLI lifeboat and crew is the section of Galway Bay east of a line between Blackhead in County Clare and Spiddal, County Galway.”

“Our crew is on call 24/7, 365 days a year, and the average time from the call from the Coast Guard requesting us to launch, to the boat and crew being on the water is approximately 10 minutes, day or night.”

There are 37 volunteers from all walks of life attached to the Galway RNLI station. This includes the people crewing the lifeboats, along with the shore crew and support staff that make their work possible.

This includes making sure the boats are maintained, the crew are up to date with their training and casualty care, and admin and fundraising for the charity service.

“We are very appreciative of the support from the community in Galway and beyond which has enabled us to reach this significant milestone, and we look forward to the next 30 years and more of saving lives at sea.”

The speed limit on part of the R352 near Portumna has been reduced due to damage done to the Ballyshrule Bridge.

Galway County Council has put a temporary speed limit of 50km/h in the vicinity of the Ballyshrule Bridge this week.

This has been imposed for safety reasons due to damage to the parapet wall of the bridge.

This reduced speed limit will remain until repair works are completed.

The council has asked drivers to slow down, follow the temporary traffic management signage in the area, and drive with care.

An international team of astronomers, led by a PhD student at University of Galway, have made the groundbreaking discovery of a second planet in the same system where they discovered another planet last year.

Detected at an early stage of formation in the disc around a young star, the young planet named WISPIT 2c is estimated to be about 5 million years-old and most likely ten times the mass of Jupiter.

The star, WISPIT 2, is located in the constellation of the Eagle, a prominent equatorial constellation visible in the northern hemisphere summer (July-November) along the Milky Way.

The study was led by PhD student Chloe Lawlor from the Centre for Astronomy at the School of Natural Sciences and the Ryan Institute at University of Galway, in collaboration with PhD student Richelle van Capelleveen, Leiden Observatory, Netherlands and postdoctoral researcher Guillaume Bourdarot, Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching, Germany.

This major find for the field of astronomy makes WISPIT 2 only the second-known young (and still forming) multi-planet system.

WISPIT 2 may resemble the young Solar System with now two gas giant planets embedded in its multi-ringed dust disk.

This includes the now confirmed planet WISPIT 2c and the planet WISPIT 2b, which was discovered last year by the same research team (led by Richelle van Capelleveen at Leiden Observatory and Dr. Laird Close from the University of Arizona).

The new planet is a very young gas giant based on the temperature and its radius from the atmosphere spectrum.

It is twice as massive as the previously detected WISPIT 2b and orbits four times closer to its host star, which makes it incredibly difficult to detect with ground-based telescopes.

The presence of this second planet was detected using the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Very Large Telescope in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

By linking several telescopes together to act as one giant instrument, the research team was able to observe regions very close to the star.

The team detected carbon monoxide gas, a chemical that is commonly found in the atmospheres of young giant planets.

Carbon monoxide leaves a strong and distinctive chemical signature in telescope data, providing the crucial evidence needed to confirm the planet’s existence.

Chloe Lawlor said, “After the initial discovery of WISPIT 2b, which I was also involved in, we suspected there might be another object in the system. At first, we weren’t sure if it was a planet or a very large dust clump.”

“We very quickly made follow-up observations using the Very Large Telescope Interferometer, an incredible setup where multiple telescopes can be connected to form a large virtual telescope.”

“This allowed us to take what we call a spectrum, which is essentially a chemical fingerprint, revealing the elements and molecules in an object’s atmosphere.

“Carbon monoxide is one of the key signatures we are looking for in young giant planets. When we saw it clearly in the data, that was when we knew we had something significant. There was definitely an element of disbelief.”

“I didn’t expect to be the one to find a second planet in the system. When I sent the spectrum to my supervisor Dr Christian Ginski, it was a huge shock and upon further examination, he confirmed I’d found a planet!”

To uncover the hidden planet, the research team used the European Southern Observatory’s (ESO’s) Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI), which captured an image of the object and also allowed the first study of its atmosphere.

The team specifically used the recently upgraded instrument GRAVITY+, which allows the light from all four of the eight-metre telescopes of the ESO to be combined.

This challenging technique using cutting-edge instrumentation was fundamental to detecting the new planet, because the star outshines the planet signal by a factor of thousands.

Professor Frances Fahy, Director of the Ryan Institute, University of Galway, said, “The discovery of the planet WISPIT 2c is a remarkable achievement and highlights the world-class astrophysics research taking place at University of Galway.”

He added that they are proud to support work pushing the boundaries of science, and that “Discoveries like this capture the imagination and can inspire a whole new generation of astronomers.”

The new discovery offers scientists a rare opportunity to study how massive planets form and evolve, shedding new light on the early processes that ultimately led to the formation of Earth.

Dr Christian Ginski said, “Finding these young planets in formation is the culmination of a lot of work by scientists and engineers alike.”

“When I started out in my career, we had only a few hundred exoplanets discovered, as opposed to the many thousands that we know now, and being able to take a direct image of any planet was considered an incredible challenge.”

“It still boggles my mind that now we are at the level where we can take a peek at the planets as they are forming.”

“I also feel very privileged to work with a whole bunch of brilliant young scientists who know how to make the most of the observational facilities that are now available to us.”

A Book of Condolence is open in memory of the sports broadcaster Michael Lyster in City Hall for the next three weeks.

Michael Lyster passed away over the weekend at the age of 71. The Galway native had a decades long career in journalism and sports broadcasting.

Starting off at The Tuam Herald, he was best known for presenting The Sunday Game Live from 1944 through to 2018, when he retired.

Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard commented, “On behalf of the people of Galway, I extend our deepest sympathy on the passing of Michael Lyster, a distinguished journalist and a cherished voice in Irish public life.”

“Michael’s remarkable career in broadcasting was defined by integrity, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to public service. For decades, he brought great insight to national conversations, earning the respect and trust of audiences across Ireland.”

“His work not only informed but also inspired, and his presence became a reassuring constant in homes throughout the country. Beyond his professional achievements, Michael will be remembered for his warmth, humility, and genuine connection with people.”

“He carried his success with quiet grace and remained deeply proud of his roots and community. Galway mourns the loss of a man who contributed so meaningfully to Irish life and culture. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

The book will remain open to the public until 15 April – online or in City Hall, College Road during normal opening hours.

A weather warning for heavy winds tonight is in place for Galway and four other counties on the west coast.

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, and Mayo.

There will be very strong and gusty westerly winds tonight, with a possibility of fallen trees and branches, and large coastal waves.

These gusty winds may cause difficult travelling conditions in Galway tonight.

The weather warning will be in effect until midnight tonight.

Elected members of Galway County Council have approved €424,182 in grant funding for 342 projects under its Community Support Schemes, aimed at supporting tourism, community and cultural development across the county.

The schemes are designed to assist community and voluntary groups in taking an active role in local development by providing small-scale funding for projects that deliver clear benefits in their areas and enhance economic, social and cultural life.

Funding has been allocated to a wide range of initiatives, including projects that improve local amenities, facilities and services, as well as groups working to promote the arts, heritage and the Irish language.

Support has also been provided for collaborative efforts such as festivals and participative events that are intended to increase footfall in towns and villages and support local economic activity, alongside initiatives that encourage greater participation in sport.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, said there was strong interest in the schemes, reflecting the high level of volunteerism and community work across the county.

He added, “We are delighted to offer funding to groups throughout the county and across areas including culture, arts, heritage, sport, community and tourism. I wish to congratulate and thank every one of them.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, commented, “We are committed to supporting communities. With the great voluntary work that happens in communities, these funding supports can go a long way.”

“The Community Support Schemes provide much needed financial support for many local communities throughout the county who, in conjunction with the Council, are doing very valuable work in their own local areas.”

Michael Owens, Director of Services, stated, “The schemes provide really practical support to community groups and amenities that are active at a grassroots level or who are looking to become more active in their local area.”

“The funding is about giving a helping hand to our local groups and clubs, which are the lifeblood of our communities. These grants will go a long way in helping hundreds of great community organisations and clubs the length and breadth of the county.”

Large‑scale festivals in receipt of funding include the Clifden Traditional Music Festival, Galway Garden Festival, Headfest and the South Galway Bay Music Festival (€3,500 each), along with the Galway Comedy Festival and the Wild West Music Festival (€2,000 each).

A further 82 smaller festivals and events across the county are receiving allocations ranging from €400 to €2,300.

56 local projects are being funded under the Community Development Support Scheme, including essential playground repairs at Páirc Spraoi Iorras Aithneach (€2,300), the provision of pollinator‑friendly planters in Ardrahan (€2,200), beach access repairs at Leitir Mealláin and Baile na Cille, and a lighting upgrade on the Annaghdown GAA Community Walkway (€1,000).

Another 12 projects are to receive funding under the Environment Support Scheme, including the resurfacing of pathways in Woodford Burial Ground (€7,945) and Killalaghton Burial Ground (€7,548), measures to address gum‑litter blackspots in Tuam through specialist equipment and awareness campaigns (€3,680), and the replacement of rotted wooden seating with long‑life recycled benches in Abbeyknockmoy Burial Ground (€1,459).

Among the 66 projects to receive funding under the Sports Support Scheme are Ballymoe FC’s Women’s Football Programme, Tuam RFC’s Give it a Try Girls Programme, Kinvara Hockey Club’s Leadership Development Programme and Older Adults Chair Yoga at Moycullen Active Retirement Association (€1,000 each), along with new hurling equipment for Mullagh GAA Club (€950) and sports equipment for Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin (€738).

The Arts Support Scheme features funding for 54 projects including Galway Dance and Songs of Hope and Lament by the Tuam‑based Resurgam Choir (€2,300 each), Athenry Music School’s Intercultural Harp Project for Young Musicians (€2,100), a creative writing project for children aged 8 to 10 by Portumna Arts Group / Shorelines Arts Festival (€1,900), an Artist‑in‑Residence Programme by the Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society (€1,300) and Headford Youth Theatre’s production of Shrek the Musical (€1,000).

14 community groups and voluntary organisations are benefiting under the Irish Support Scheme, including Club Pop‑up Gaeltacht Chinn Mhara, Pastime Chonamara, Clifden Comhaltas, Kilcroan NS, Gaeilgeoirí Áth Cinn and Scoil na bhForbacha.

Meanwhile, 62 projects are in receipt of funding totalling €60,000 under the Heritage Support Scheme, including Williamstown Tidy Towns’ Heritage Digital Mapping project, Belmont NS’s digitisation of school records, Féile na mBáid by Coiste Pobail Ros Muc (€1,308 each), the Lackagh Museum oral heritage project (€1,175) and the development of a wildlife trail by St Brendan’s NS in Eyrecourt (€1,170).

Applications are now open for the Cathaoirleach’s Awards 2026 to celebrate the people who give their all in service to the community in Galway County.

These awards are an annual initiative to acknowledge the commitment of individuals and groups who participate in community and voluntary activities in County Galway.

They recognise the significant impact these people’s actions have on the quality of life in their communities.

The Awards are a joint venture between Galway County Council and the Public Participation Network, which has over 1,300 Member Groups carrying out a range of community and voluntary activities across the County.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said, “There is a huge amount of community & voluntary activity ongoing in County Galway, and it is important that we publicly acknowledge the significant impact it has on quality of life in our communities.”

The Cathaoirleach’s Awards are our annual initiative to acknowledge those unsung heroes who give freely and generously of their time, across a range of areas, to make life better in their communities.”

“I am delighted to be working with the Council & Galway County Public Participation Network on these Awards, and I look forward to announcing the winners in due course.”

Nominations may be submitted by individual members of the public, community groups or voluntary organisations.

Completed Nomination Forms should be emailed to awards@galwaycoco.ie by 10th April 2026.

The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi in Galway city has risen by 0.8% to €398,000 this quarter, according to the latest REA national survey.

Across the county, prices over the past three months have also increased by 0.8% to an average of €312,480, the Q1 REA Average House Price Index shows.

There was an increase in supply this quarter due to a noticeable increase in the number of landlords selling,” said Kevin Burke of REA McGreal Burke. “The market remains very busy overall, with lots of active buyers.”

The survey shows that this quarter, 60% of purchasers in the city and 70% across the county were first-time buyers, while a total of 20% of sales in the county, and 15% in Galway city, were attributed to landlords leaving the market.

Additionally, the survey found A-rated BER properties in the county are commanding 10pc price increases in comparison to C-rated properties.

The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Ireland’s typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.

The actual selling price of a three-bed, semi-detached house across the country rose by 1.5% in the past three months to €364,747.

This represents a 7.67% annual rise – slowing gradually from the 9pc increase registered six months ago.

With energy prices coming into focus, agents are reporting that there is a renewed focus on heating costs, with the A-rated v C-rated BER price premium rising to 13%, up from 10% at the end of December.

Actual selling prices in Dublin city rose by 1.6% in the last three months, with the average three-bed semi in the capital’s postcode areas now selling at €595,453, a 6.6% annual rise.

The percentage of first-time buyers purchasing in Dublin has dropped from 50% to 39% in the past six months, with agents citing a wait-and-see policy from buyers around the changes in rental legislation.

Selling prices in Ireland’s major cities outside Dublin rose by 1.2% to an average of €378,250 – a 6.5% annual increase, with homes selling in four weeks on average.

Homes in the country’s large towns rose by 2% this quarter and 9% annually to an average of €281,287, while prices in commuter counties rose by 1% to €377,185.

Galway Hospice has launched its annual Car Raffle, giving supporters the chance to win a brand-new car for just €10.

First prize is a 2026 Kia Picanto, supplied by Kia Renmore. Second prize is a holiday to France with KelAir Campotel, kindly sponsored by Keller Travel. Third prize is €500.

All funds raised will go directly towards supporting Galway Hospice services, helping us deliver specialist palliative care to patients and families, and building a much-needed new hospice for Galway.

“Our fundraising helps ensure we can provide the best possible care to those who need us, now and into the future,” said Mary Nash, Galway Hospice Chief Executive.

“Funds raised go to helping build our new hospice, as well as providing personalised patient care, essential equipment and vital projects that benefit our patients and their families.”

Tickets for the Galway Hospice Car Raffle cost just €10 each, with three tickets for €20 or 15 tickets for €100.

Anyone who buys or sells 15 tickets will be entered into a special draw to win €250. Entries close on 29 April.

Tickets are available:

• online at raffle.galwayhospice.ie
• from reception at Galway Hospice, Renmore
• or by calling 091-770868

The University of Galway is holding an Open Day this weekend to welcome prospective students to explore its campus and undergraduate programmes.

The event takes place on Saturday, March 21, from 9am to 3pm and will feature five exhibition areas across the city-centre campus, more than 90 course and subject talks and opportunities for visitors to experience life at the university and the campus first-hand.

The Open Day provides an opportunity for prospective students to explore degree options, facilities and the student experience as they prepare for CAO 2026.

Visitors can attend talks, take guided tours, and meet faculty, staff and current students across a variety of disciplines.

Academics and support staff from the University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies will also be on hand to reassure prospective students, parents and guardians and teachers that there are no changes planned to current Arts programmes.

The University offers more than 60 internationally recognised undergraduate programmes, including Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, Law, and Hotel Management, with over 90% of programmes offering work placements or study abroad opportunities.

Highlights of the Open Day include:

• Accommodation Talk – Learn about campus living, accommodation options, and how to settle into university life at the Purple Zone at 10am.
• Nursing and Midwifery Tours – Tours of the state-of-the-art facilities depart from Áras Moyola, Green Zone at 12.45pm and 1.30pm.
• Law and Moot Court Experience – Step inside the School of Law’s Moot Court to experience a real courtroom. Five tours are available throughout the day, with registration taking place at Stand 45 in the Orange Zone.
• Science and Engineering Tours – Explore the Engineering Building with tours starting from the Green Zone foyer.
• Chemistry Lab Tours – Register at Stand 18 in the Purple Zone for hands-on lab tours.
• Drama Masterclass and Theatre Tours – Drama enthusiasts can attend a Masterclass at 1pm or tour the O’Donoghue Drama and Theatre Performance Centre. The meeting point is in the Blue Zone foyer at 11.30am.
• Sports and Scholarships – Meet coaches and athletes and learn about sports scholarships and cutting-edge facilities in The Cube, Orange Zone.
• Zoology Museum Tours – Discover the fascinating world of animals at the Zoology Museum, with guided tours highlighting unique collections and interactive exhibits. Registration is available at stand 13 in the Purple Zone.

Students can also explore campus accommodation, and parents can attend a talk at 11:30am offering guidance on supporting students during the transition to university life.

Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach at University of Galway, said, “Our Open Day is the perfect chance for students to step inside their future and see what’s possible.”

“From world-class facilities to Moot Court to hands-on tours, students can truly experience university life.”

“Our College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies team will be on hand to chat to students and parents about all our Arts degrees and to reassure students that we have no plans to change any of our arts programmes.”

“We can’t wait to meet future students and help them discover the study paths and career opportunities that inspire them most.”

Advance registration is required. Full programme details and registration are available at www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays, or email opendays@universityofgalway.ie.

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.