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The Ultimate Guide to EU Taxonomy Reporting: A Step-by-Step Approach

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Galway Daily EU

The European Union (EU) is committed to achieving a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and sustainable economy. To this end, the EU has introduced the EU Taxonomy Regulation, which aims to classify and report sustainable economic activities. The EU Taxonomy Reporting is a process that allows companies to disclose their sustainability activities and investments that contribute to achieving the EU’s environmental objectives. This article provides an in-depth guide to EU Taxonomy Reporting, including its benefits, how to comply with its requirements, and its impact on sustainable investments.

What is EU Taxonomy Reporting?

EU Taxonomy Reporting is a process of disclosing a company’s sustainability activities and investments that contribute to achieving the EU’s environmental objectives. The EU Taxonomy regulation is a classification system that identifies environmentally sustainable economic activities. The taxonomy covers six environmental objectives: climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention and control, and protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems.

The EU Taxonomy Reporting enables investors to compare and assess different companies’ environmental performances based on a common standard. The reporting requirements are intended to increase transparency and help investors make informed decisions about their investments in environmentally sustainable economic activities.

Why is EU Taxonomy Reporting Important?

EU Taxonomy Reporting is important because it provides companies with a framework to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable practices. The reporting requirements apply to all large companies operating in the EU that are subject to the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). The NFRD requires large companies to disclose information about their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance in their annual reports.

By complying with the EU Taxonomy requirements, companies can increase their transparency, credibility, and reputation. Investors are increasingly interested in companies with strong sustainability performance, which can result in higher investment and better access to capital. Companies that fail to disclose their sustainability activities and investments may face reputational risks and may be at a disadvantage when seeking investment.

Who is Affected by EU Taxonomy Reporting?

The EU Taxonomy Reporting applies to all large companies operating in the EU that are subject to the NFRD. The NFRD applies to companies that exceed the following criteria:

  • More than 500 employees
  • Annual turnover of more than 40 million euros
  • Balance sheet total of more than 20 million euros.

The EU Taxonomy Reporting is an additional requirement that applies to companies that claim to have environmentally sustainable economic activities or investments. Companies that do not have environmentally sustainable economic activities or investments are not required to report under the EU Taxonomy Regulation.

How to Comply with EU Taxonomy Reporting Requirements?

Complying with EU Taxonomy Reporting requirements involves four main steps:

Step 1: Identify the economic activities and investments that are covered by the EU Taxonomy Regulation.

The first step is to identify the economic activities and investments that are covered by the EU Taxonomy Regulation. The taxonomy covers economic activities and investments that make a substantial contribution to one or more of the six environmental objectives mentioned above. Companies should identify the economic activities and investments that are relevant to their business operations and determine whether they meet the EU Taxonomy criteria for environmental sustainability.

Step 2: Assess whether the economic activities and investments meet the EU Taxonomy criteria for environmental sustainability.

The second step is to assess whether the economic activities and investments meet the EU Taxonomy criteria for environmental sustainability. The criteria are based on technical screening criteria that are developed by the EU Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance. The screening criteria provide a set of performance thresholds that economic activities and investments must meet to be considered environmentally sustainable.

Step 3: Disclose the proportion of the company’s economic activities and investments that meet the EU Taxonomy criteria for environmental sustainability.

The third step is to disclose the proportion of the company’s economic activities and investments that meet the EU Taxonomy criteria for environmental sustainability. Companies must report the proportion of their turnover, capital expenditure, and operating expenditure that is generated by environmentally sustainable economic activities and investments. The disclosure should be made in the annual report or in a separate sustainability report.

Step 4: Provide additional information on how the economic activities and investments contribute to the EU’s environmental objectives.

The fourth step is to provide additional information on how the economic activities and investments contribute to the EU’s environmental objectives. Companies should provide information on the environmental impact of their economic activities and investments, the measures they have taken to reduce their environmental impact, and the expected future environmental benefits. Companies should also disclose any potential adverse impacts on the environment and explain how they plan to mitigate them.

Conclusion

EU Taxonomy Reporting is an important step towards achieving a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and sustainable economy. By complying with the reporting requirements, companies can increase their transparency, credibility, and reputation, and investors can make informed decisions about their investments in environmentally sustainable economic activities. To comply with the EU Taxonomy requirements, companies need to identify the economic activities and investments that are covered by the regulation, assess whether they meet the EU Taxonomy criteria for environmental sustainability, disclose the proportion of their economic activities and investments that meet the criteria, and provide additional information on how they contribute to the EU’s environmental objectives. By following these steps, companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and contribute to a more sustainable future.

How to do EU Taxonomy efficiently?

Using Celsia for EU Taxonomy reporting can greatly simplify the reporting process and help companies ensure compliance with the regulation. This dedicated software can automate data collection and analysis, provide real-time insights and alerts, and generate accurate and consistent reports. It can also help companies identify gaps and opportunities for improvement and track progress towards their sustainability goals. By using Celsia software for EU Taxonomy reporting, companies can save time and resources, reduce the risk of errors and inconsistencies, and enhance the quality and credibility of their reporting.

Four Connacht players chosen for U20 Ireland Squad

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The Ireland U20s squad depart for South Africa this weekend. ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Four Connacht players have been named to the Ireland Squad for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.

Fiachna Barrett, who plays with the Corinthians, will take his place among the forwards in the Ireland side.

In the backs for Ireland are John Devine (Corinthians), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians), and Harry West (Buccaneers).

The tournament, taking place in the Cape Town region, returns for the first time since 2019, running over five Match Days from June 24 to July 14.

Ireland will start their campaign against Six Nations rivals England on the first day of the tournament, with kick-off at 12:30pm Irish time on Saturday, June 24.

Speaking ahead of the squad’s departure for South Africa, Head Coach Richie Murphy said, “It is an exciting time for the squad as we prepare to depart for South Africa for the World Rugby U20 Championship.”

“It has been four years since the last edition of the tournament and we’re looking forward to getting to Cape Town to test ourselves against the world’s best teams.”

“It has been a competitive couple of weeks as the squad have pushed each other in preparation for the tournament and we know we’ll need to grow and evolve as a team from the Six Nations for what will be a challenging couple of weeks against quality opposition in South Africa.”

Ireland have been paired in Pool B alongside England, Australia and Fiji, with Murphy’s side playing all three of their Pool matches at Paarl Gymnasium in the Western Cape.

Murphy also confirmed his coaching staff for the tournament, with Mark Sexton (Backs and Attack) and Aaron Dundon (Scrum and Contact) continuing in their roles, while Andrew Browne joins as Defence and Lineout Coach as Willie Faloon is unable to travel due to personal reasons.

Feargal O’Rourke, PwC Ireland Managing Partner, commented, “Developing young talent is a strategic imperative for PwC, we are determined to nurture the aspirations of future leaders, in business and in sport.”

“The dedication and team-work that the U20s show is always exceptional and mirrors our own values at PwC.”

“We wish them the best of luck for the upcoming World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa and we have no doubt they can continue the success from the Six Nations”.

World Rugby will confirm broadcast details for the World Rugby U20 Championship shortly, while there will be coverage of Ireland’s progress throughout the tournament on IrishRugby.ie and Irish Rugby social media platforms.

Ireland U20s Squad:

Forwards (17):

George Hadden (Clontarf/Leinster)
George Morris (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Gus McCarthy (UCD/Leinster)
Max Clein (Garryowen/Munster)*
Danny Sheahan (UCC/Munster)
Paddy McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)
Fiachna Barrett (Corinthians/Connacht)
Ronan Foxe (Old Belvedere/Leinster)*
Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD/Leinster)
Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Joe Hopes (Queen’s University/Ulster)
Diarmuid Mangan (UCD/Leinster)
Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
James McNabney (Ballymena/Ulster)
Ruadhan Quinn (Old Crescent/Munster)
Brian Gleeson (Garryowen/Munster)
Dan Barron (Dublin University/Leinster)*

Backs (13):

Fintan Gunne (Terenure/Leinster)
Jack Oliver (Garryowen/Munster)*
Oscar Cawley (Naas/Leinster)
Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne/Leinster)
Matthew Lynch (Dublin University/Leinster)
John Devine (Corinthians/Connacht)
Hugh Cooney (Clontarf/Leinster)
Hugh Gavin (Galwegians/Connacht)
Andrew Osborne (Naas/Leinster)
Rory Telfer (Queen’s University/Ulster)
James Nicholson (UCD/Leinster)
Henry McErlean (Terenure/Leinster)
Harry West (Buccaneers/Connacht)

Ireland U20s Fixtures:

  • Saturday, June 24: Ireland U20s v England U20s, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl – 1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
  • Thursday, June 29: Ireland U20s v Australia U20s, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl – 11am local time/10am Irish time
  • Tuesday, July 4: Ireland U20s v Fiji U20s, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl – 1.30pm local time/12.30pm Irish time
  • Sunday, July 9: Play-off match
  • Friday, July 14: Play-off match.

Thunderstorms forecast today as Met Éireann issues another warning

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galway daily news Lightning and flooding forecast as Thunderstorm warning issued

Met Éireann has issued another status yellow warning for thunderstorms in Co Galway today, which will come into effect at 1pm.

The forecasters say localised slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are likely, with frequent lightning, gusty winds and hail in the most intense storms.

Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary are also affected by the Met Éireann warning.

It is expected to be lifted at 9pm this evening.

Seven arrested after major investigation into criminal gangs in Galway & Mayo

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Galway Daily news missing teen found safe

Seven men have been arrested in the West this morning following a major Garda operation into criminal gangs in Galway and Mayo.

The offences include serious assault, violent disorder, possession of weapons and drugs offences.

Gardaí carried out searches of properties in the Ballybane and Bohermore areas of Galway City, as well as properties in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo.

A total of seven men were arrested – two in their 40s, four in their 20s and an adult in his teens.

All seven have been detained at Garda Stations in Mayo.

The operation involved 85 Gardaí with assistance provided by a number of national units including Armed Support Unit, Air Support Unit and the Garda Dog Unit.

The operation was carried with the purpose of targeting the activities of criminal gangs operating in both Galway and Mayo.

Investigations are ongoing.

More to follow…

Works finally completed at Martin Junction after months of delays

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galway daily news martin junction works

The surfacing and signage works have been completed at long last at Martin Junction in Galway City, after access across the junction was restricted over the past two nights to facilitate the final works.

The mini roundabout reopened at 6am and the traffic signals are to be switched on this morning after months of delays and diversions which been the cause of much frustration to road users.

The initial works on the conversion of the roundabout to a signalised junction began in January 2022, and the construction was expected to take just six months to complete.

But that date was pushed back to late November 2022, and the project’s completion date was delayed until the middle of 2023.

Significant traffic management was in place at the junction near Galway Clinic over the past 17 months, which was performed in phases.

Celebration of music gets underway at Galway Folk Festival

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galway daily news galway folk festival 2023
Ispiní na hÉireann

The six-day Galway Folk Festival kicked off yesterday with melodious tunes and infectious energy

The annual event promises to be a celebration of music, culture, and community, bringing together renowned folk artists from around the world for an unforgettable experience.

Throughout the festival, which lasts until Sunday, attendees will be treated to an exceptional line-up of talented musicians, singers, and dancers who will grace the four stages in the vibrant venue of Monroe’s Live, with additional outdoor pop-up gigs.

From traditional Irish ballads to innovative fusion performances, the festival offers a musical journey that caters to all tastes and ages.

Acts include Steve Earle, The Sharon Shannon Trio, Roseanne Reid, Teenage Fanclub, Ger O’Donnell & Trevor Sexton and Fergal Scahill & Ryan Molloy, Niamh Regan, Kíla, Myles O’Reilly, Niamh Regan, Inhaler, The Whileaways, BRÍDÍN, Dylan Flynn & The Dead Poets, Enda Scahill, Laytha, Greenshine, Sonny Casey, Tony Clayton Lea’s Culture Vultures, Ispíní na hÉireann, and more”

Celebrate the richness and diversity of folk music at the 2023 Galway Folk Festival! For full programme details, and booking, visit www.galwayfolkfestival.ie

Three Galway astrophotographers progress to next stage of DIAS competition

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galway daily news astrophotograpghy DIAS galway shorlist
Galaxies Through The Dust By David Mackie

Three Galway astrophotographers have been chosen for the next stage of the prestigious ‘Reach for the Stars’ competition, run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS).

The competition aims to find the best astronomy photographs taken in Ireland over the past year.

The Galway photographers who were shortlisted were David Mackie from Athenry, Enda O’Loughlin from Loughrea, and Joe Silke from Kilcolgan.

The Spaghetti Nebula by David Mackie
Joe Silke – Leaning into Polaris
Enda O’Loughlin – Poulnabrone Arching Milkyway

While a high-profile judging panel will select the overall winning entries in the coming weeks, an online vote was launched this week so that members of the public can also have their say.

All shortlisted images can now be viewed on the ‘Reach for the Stars’ website, www.reachforthestars.ie, and members of the public can cast their vote for their favourite image.

There are two categories in the competition: ‘Out of this World’ and ‘Back on Earth’. The ‘Out of this World’ category features images depicting elements of astronomical interest.

The ‘Back on Earth’ category features astro-landscape images that depict an element of astronomical interest and elements such as nature, cityscapes, land or water.

The winning images selected by the judging panel and the public vote will be announced in July, and an outdoor exhibition will be staged by DIAS in August to showcase the best images.

Alongside the Public Choice Award for the winner of the online public vote, the overall winners and runners-up will be chosen by the judging panel for ‘Reach for the Stars’, which includes: Professor Peter Gallagher, Head of Astrophysics at DIAS; Brenda Fitzsimons, Picture Editor of The Irish Times; John Flannery, Vice-President of the Irish Astronomical Society; and Niamh Breathnach, Director, Alice Public Relations.

Dr Eucharia Meehan, CEO and Registrar of DIAS, said that the online public vote to select the winner of the Public Choice Award brings Irish astrophotography to a much wider audience.

“Every year we see a large amount of the public engaging with it and voting for their favourite image. It will be a difficult task for people to choose a favourite from the shortlisted entries – and for the judging panel to select an overall winner,” said Dr Meehan.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the online gallery and what this year’s photographers have captured in our night sky. I’m so impressed by the level of creativity and skill we have amongst photographers in Galway and right across the country.”

Professor Peter Gallagher of DIAS said he was delighted to return for a third year of judging for the competition.

“Each year we have seen exceptional standards from Irish astro-photographers. Photographers have shown great creativity and technical skill capturing everything, from stars and galaxies that are millions of light years away to stunning scenery back on earth,” he said.

“We hope the people of Galway will get involved again this year and cast their vote for their favourite image.”

Votes for the Public Choice Award are restricted to one vote per person, and voting will close at midday on Monday, 26 June 2023.

The online gallery is available at reachforthestars.ie/exhibition/.

New partnership to create pathway for young women in STEM

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galway daily news university of galway and fidelity announce partnership
Students from Coláiste Einde in Galway City Adria Gannon, Fainche Joyce, Elena Kenny, and Niamh McGovern with Sally McHugh, University of Galway; Lorna Martyn, Fidelity Ireland Regional Chair and SVP Technology; and Cornelia Connolly, Associate Professor at University of Galway. Photo: Martina Regan

Fidelity Investments and University of Galway have announced the launch of a new partnership that will impact more than 2,500 female students in the next two years.

With women accounting for less than 20% of ICT graduates over the last seven years in Ireland, more needs to be done to encourage female students to explore the world of STEM.

To bridge the gap in the west of Ireland, Fidelity Investments and University of Galway will work together under a national project to inspire female students to consider working in technology.

This meaningful industry-academia partnership involving Fidelity Investments and University of Galway will support CodePlus, a nationwide outreach engagement project, involving Trinity College Dublin, Lero/University of Limerick and University of Galway, aimed at overcoming this gender imbalance that exists in Computer Science and ICT courses at third level in Ireland.

Through a range of workshops, company visits, and career talks which take place over a 20-hour program, CodePlus uses interactive learning and real-life experiences to inspire female students to embrace STEM and consider technology and computer science subjects at third level.

Lorna Martyn, Fidelity Ireland Regional Chair and SVP Technology, said CodePlus is an innovative accessible pathway signposting opportunities in Computer Science careers to young women.

“It intentionally addresses the gender imbalance in participation across Ireland’s third-level institutions,” she said.

“As a personal advocate for greater female participation in technology careers and directly aligned to Fidelity Investment’s strategic commitment to education at every level and fostering new diverse talent pipelines, I am thrilled to announce Fidelity’s new two-year partnership with the University of Galway on the CodePlus programme.

“Presently, only 15% of Irish schools offer Computer Science as a subject, with 22% of females studying the subject in those schools.

“There is an urgent need to bridge the participation gap and provide equitable, inclusive, and real-world opportunities to encourage young Irish females to be the next generation of technology leaders and innovators.

“Fidelity Investments Ireland is looking forward to supporting the programme through company visits, workshops and career talks from female role models working at Fidelity. By providing real-life experiences to the students in partnership with CodePlus, we believe we can have a positive impact on the students’ understanding, outlook, and attitude to careers in STEM and most particularly careers in technology and software engineering.”

New exhibition opening at The Kenny Gallery this Friday

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galway daily news kennys art exhibition
Mario Sughi, Summer Rest, 2016 Digital painting on canvas, mounted on dibond (unique), 68.4x62.7cm

A new collection of artworks, Summer Show, will launch this Friday at Kennys in Liosbán –the first of two major group exhibitions at the gallery this year.

The show will feature artworks by a range of artists including Lola Donoghue, Shane Berkery, John Morris, Mario Sughi, George Callaghan, Susan Hazard, Bernadette Madden and more.

It will include paintings, sculpture and graphics, and will feature a wide range of styles.

Shane Berkery, ‘Upon Reflection’
Oil on canvas, 120x120cm

Kennys is delighted to have such a wide representation, with artists from Italy, Germany, Australia, Japan, The Netherlands, the US, as well as Ireland.

The exhibition will run in-store at The Kenny Gallery from Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and online at www.thekennygallery.ie from June 16 – July 11.

Admission is free and the artworks are for sale. More information, including a full catalogue of the exhibition with prices, can be found on www.thekennygallery.ie.

Planning appeal against controversial mobile mast

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Galway Daily news Planning granted for new mobile telecoms mast in Headford
Photo: Steve Kazella via Wikimedia Commons

A planning appeal has been lodged against a mobile mast in Monivea village which has proven to be highly controversial.

Planning permission for the 34m monopole mast at the edge of Monivea Rugby Club was granted by the county council back in May.

The planned monopole mobile mast will carry telecommunications antennae, dishes, and associated equipment.

The location of the mast is at the far east edge of the club, with forestry to the north.

During the initial planning process with Galway County Council, there were 63 public submissions made concerning the project.

These raised multiple objections including the impact on the amenity of homes and businesses in the area, environmental impacts on local wildlife and the woodlands, the lack of a pre-planning consultation with the county council, and more.

Many of the objections also disputed the necessity of building a mobile mast in the village.

The application by Monivea Rugby Club stated that it had the support of 3, Eir, and Vodafone, which wished to expand their services.

It said that there are no existing mobile masts in or near Monivea Village, and that this development is needed to provide adequate indoor coverage.

Approval for the development has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which is currently due to make a decision on the case by October of this year.

Three separate appeals have been lodged with the higher planning authority concerning this development.

Weather warning issued for thunderstorms and downpours

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galway daily weather weather warning for heavy rain in effect

After a long dry period, Galway could be in for some thunderous downpours today, with a weather warning issued by Met Eireann.

A Status Yellow warning has been issued by Met Eireann for thunderstorms and rain across most of the west and midlands of Ireland today.

The weather warning cautions of, “localised slow-moving showers with heavy downpours, thunderstorms and the chance of hail.”

The possible impacts of include localised spot flooding and difficult travel conditions during this time.

The weather warning will be in effect from midday today until 9pm on Tuesday night.

Met Eireann has issued the status yellow warning for all of Connacht, along with Cavan, Donegal, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath.

How Local SEO Can Help Galway Businesses

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Galway Daily business Challenging yet rewarding year in the property market for O'Donnellan & Joyce

For local business owners, it might feel like there’s little need to invest time and money in optimising your Google presence, considering you’re up against giants like Amazon and Nike for top-tier rankings. However, while this might be true for main organic listings, it’s not necessarily the case for local search. 

Whether you have a physical store or serve a distinct geographical location, local SEO can effectively let you interact with prospects and customers in your town, city, and neighbourhood. When done correctly, local SEO can help you appear more prominently in search results featuring the Local Pack, the Local Finder, Google Maps, and other localised organic search results. 

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is part of SEO aimed at improving the visibility of local businesses in local search engine results. These results that usually appear in local search results are usually in response to “near me” searches, meaning that the search user is looking for something in the location or the search engine has picked geographical constraints related to the search. 

To perform SEO for your Galway business, you will need to perform a series of actions aimed at raising your local search visibility. Some of the best practices include:

  1. Claiming and optimising your Google My Business Profile 
  2. Website optimisation
  3. Reputation management
  4. Local link building
  5. Adapting to Google Search changes
  6. Fighting spam
  7. Building citations
  8. Geotagging images

Moreover, it’s still best to do all of the things you have been doing for traditional SEO. you want to have a website that is as technically sound as possible, with other SEO best practices in place. 

How SEO Can Help Local Galway Businesses

Currently, nearly half of all Google searches are local searches. In fact, when someone does a typical search on Google, Google will likely show local businesses in the results. The following are some of the ways SEO can be helpful for local businesses.

  1. Higher online visibility

Most of the activities involved with local SEO will help improve the visibility of your business in the local search results, and also help you build better online visibility. 

For instance, building citations entails building mentions of your business name, its physical address, social media profiles, phone numbers, and online review platforms. This is done on as many different platforms as possible. This makes it easier for people interested in your product or service in Galway to find your business. 

Keep in mind that most users will likely opt for brands Google ranks higher in the search results. This is important for small businesses as it means that they can reach their goals faster and outdo their competition. 

  1. More calls and traffic to your store

Achieving higher local visibility means that you will get more foot traffic to your physical Galway store, whether it’s a food truck in Galway, a restaurant, a hardware store, or a dry cleaner business. If your products are best experienced in person, it can be helpful to have a growing number of people stopping by, as this can help create a buzz about your business and make more sales. 

It’s also worth pointing out that local SEO will improve your conversion rates, as it helps bring more relevant traffic that is already interested in your product. For this reason, your opportunity for making more sales increases, and therefore gets you a better conversion rate. 

  1. Leverages local shopping 

In recent years, there has been a widespread shift in consumer buying habits. One of the more notable trends is that consumers are increasingly prioritising local shops and businesses when making purchase decisions. 

According to recent research, consumers are not thinking smaller, and are prioritising local, small, and independent businesses instead of the larger, brand-name experiences or offering they may have been choosing previously. 

One of the main benefits of local SEO is that it places your business in front of local consumers that are looking for the exact services or products you offer. As such, this could enable you to make the most out of this shift in consumer behaviour to expand your business. 

  1. Highly targeted traffic

For small businesses, each minute spent handling unqualified leads or prospects who don’t end up making a purchase or hiring your services is money lost. Local SEO optimisation can help reduce irrelevant traffic and time saps that might be preventing your business from operating efficiently, making sure your business is only visible to users in your local area. 

  1. Establishes you as an expert in your niche

Performing link-building and content marketing is necessary to establish relevance and prominence, which are the main pillars of SEO rankings. The same activity can help with cultivating a reputation as a thought leader in your field.

Local content marketing will naturally see you talking about your neighbourhood or city and getting involved in your local community. This will not only help to grow your authority and expert vice, but also get clients closer to your business, build brand loyalty, stronger links, and increase engagement. 

In Closing 

As you can see, local SEO can have enormous benefits, especially for small businesses. And while the results won’t be immediate, once you get one of the higher-ranking positions, you will stay there for long enough to enjoy increased conversions and higher brand awareness. Of course, you will need to maintain your SEO efforts to stay on track, but this is a relatively small investment compared to the benefits you’re getting.

Renville Beach picked clean by volunteers for World Ocean Day

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Galway Daily news Renville Beach picked clean by volunteers for World Ocean Day
The Connacht Hotel marked World Oceans Day with a big clean at Renville Beach

The Connacht Hotel marked this year’s World Ocean Day by giving back to the community with a beach clean up.

Some 30 volunteers spent the afternoon of Thursday, June 8, World Ocean Day, cleaning up the beach at Renville, as staff from the hotel do each year.

The Connacht Hotel have pushed for sustainability, including the establishment of a Green Team, whose mission is to help the hotel achieve carbon-neutral status.

Green Team Lead Natasha Chuyeva was full of praise for The Connacht Hotel staff who turned up to help out at the beach clean in Renville.

“Seeing all these people come together to do good for the local beach is a truly inspiring thing.”

“It’s easy to think about the climate crisis as a huge problem that’s too big to tackle, but small changes when done collectively can have a huge impact. This beach clean is proof of that.

“We can always each do more to think about the environment – and there are always eco-friendly alternatives that we can adopt.”

“The beach clean-up was a huge success, and it was great to partner with our friends at Coastal Reserve, Plastic Oceans, and Findlater,” Natasha said.

For the beach clean-up, The Connacht Hotel partnered with Plastic Oceans, a non-profit whose aim is to end plastic pollution, and they also teamed up with Findlater & Co., Ireland’s leading wine importer and distributor.

Coastal Reserve were also in attendance, and they are a wine company whose wines are made with the environment very much in mind; The Connacht Hotel are one of the first to do something like this with Coastal Reserve.

The Connacht Hotel offers water-saving shower heads, EV chargers, re-usable coffee cups, and has partnered with sustainability leaders Hometree to help plant an acre of Irish rainforest.

They have also achieved the Green Hospitality Silver Award for all their sustainable achievements.

Three week road closure for Moycullen Bypass construction

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Galway Daily news road closure

The Homefarm Road in Connemara will be closed for a period of three weeks while roadworks on the construction of the new Moycullen Bypass.

The road will be closed between its junctions with the Knockferry Road and Leegaun Road from Wednesday June 14 through to Wednesday, July 5.

This closure is being put in place to facilitate the construction of the realigned Homefarm Road and Moycullen Bypass.

Diversion routes will be in place for the duration of these roadworks.

For traffic headed away from Moycullen Village, divert via Knockferry onto the Leegaun Road.

Traffic headed towards Moycullen Village should divert via the Leegaun Road onto the Knockferry Road.

Lifeboat swim raising funds for lifesaving charities

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Lifeboat swim raising funds for lifesaving charities

The 5th annual Atlantic Lifeboat Swim will take place in Oranmore next month to raise money for saving lives on the water.

The event, organised by Atlantic Masters Swim Club is being held in aid of the Galway RNLI Lifeboat Station and Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit.

All proceeds from the event go directly to these two worthy causes. To date, the Atlantic Lifeboat Swim has raised €20,000 to help them in their work.

This year’s event will take place on Saturday, July 1 at Rinville Pier in Oranmore.

Entries are now open for swimmers who would like to Try-A-Swim (400m) or challenge themselves to a 2km swim in this unique part of Galway Bay.

“We are grateful for the generous support of business to date and welcome any new business who would like to support the event,” Fergal Madden, Chairperson of Atlantic Masters said.

More details of the event and how to register are available at www.atlanticmasters.ie early registration is encouraged as places will fill fast.

Mayoral Reception honours work of Gaillimh le Gaeilge

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Mayoral Reception honours work of Gaillimh le Gaeilge

Gaillimh le Gaeilge was honoured with a Mayoral Reception recently for the work their team do to keep the Irish Language alive in Galway.

Mayor of Galway City Cllr Clodagh Higgins hosted Bríd Ní Chonghóile, CEO of Gaillimh le Gaelige, and her team at city hall last week.

Galway City is designated as ‘Gaeltacht Service Town’, meaning that it works closely with nearby Gaeltacht communities, and also takes pride in its status as a bilingual city.

Speaking at the reception, Mayor Higgins said that designations like that happed due to the “dedicated, energetic people” who love the Irish language, and are deeply committed to their heritage.

“The Irish language has so many words and expressions that describe the unique landscape, people, animals and nature, and ways of thinking and living that make us who we are”.

“This Mayoral Reception is to honour a group of people who have played a hugely important role in keeping Gaeilge i nGaillimh.”

“Your work to develop an Irish Language Plan for Galway City, among many other projects, are instrumental in keeping Gaeilge in our consciousness and in our lives.”

The Mayor thanked Bríd and her team for their work, and wished them the best for the various projects they are involved in.

These include Gradam Sheosaimh Uí Ógartaigh, An Coiste Logainmneacha, Gaeilge sa Ghnó service, An tEolaire – Seirbhís i nGaeilge, Irish on the Menus and the Pioc Suas Mé! – Give Irish a Go booklet.

Bríd expressed her gratitude for the honour, saying, “Is cúis mhór áthais agus bróid dom an onóir seo ó Mhéara Chathair na Gaillimhe an Comhairleoir Clodagh Higgins.”

“This is an incredibly special and wonderful way to celebrate the Irish language and all the bilingual work that has been done in the city. Tá mé thar a bheith buíoch don Mhéara as an onóir seo a bhronnadh orm agus ar Ghaillimh le Gaeilge ar aon.”

“In addition, this honour pays tribute to everyone who has worked or supported Gaillimh le Gaeilge for the past 30 years.”

“I want to especially say ‘buíochas ó chroí’ to Gearóidn Hynes, Projects Manager, who has worked with me for over fifteen years. In addition, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all Bord Stiúrtha members, past and present. Ní neart go cur le chéile.”

Road closures for two weeks of motorway roadworks

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Galway Daily news

Road closures will be in place for two weeks of roadworks on the M18 motorway getting underway this week.

The PPP operator of the M18 is carrying out resurfacing works along the R458 / M18 Jct 17 junction which are beginning on Monday.

These works will take place each night from 8pm until 6am the following morning.

A full road closure will be in place along the R458 between L4506 (Kiltiernan West, Kilcolgan) & L85664 (Tonroe, Ardrahan), plus M18 Northbound & Southbound Jct 17 on & off ramps.

A full diversion route will be in place, signed & checked for the duration of the closure nightly.

The Ultimate Guide to Bathroom Renovation: Planning and Execution

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Renovating a bathroom can greatly improve its functionality, aesthetics and overall value of your home; a worthwhile endeavor. However, to ensure a successful outcome, careful planning and execution must be prioritized. In this in-depth guide, you will be taken step-by-step on the processes of planning and executing a bathroom renovation. 

From conceptualizing your goals to choosing materials and hiring professionals, every detail of your bathroom renovation project will be covered thoroughly. 

Set Your Goals

Starting a bathroom renovation project is exciting, but it’s important to determine your goals before commencing work. Consider asking yourself the following questions beforehand: 

Firstly, what are the primary reasons for the renovation? Does it aim to improve functionality, enhance aesthetics, or address any specific issues? Knowing your reasons will help align your renovation objectives.

Secondly, what is your budget for the redesign? Knowing what you’re willing to spend will allow you to make sound decisions throughout the entire process.

Lastly, do you have any specific design preferences or style inspiration in mind? The web is a great source of inspiration where you can collect ideas, create a vision board, or do both.

Assess Your Space 

Before you begin remodeling your bathroom, there are key considerations you should make:

  • Look at your bathroom’s existing space carefully and try to ascertain whether the current layout suits your needs or if modifications are required.  
  • Assess the plumbing and electrical systems that are currently in place and make a note of any upgrades that may be beneficial. 
  • From the toiletries to towels, it’s essential to evaluate needs and make conscious efforts to implement better space-saving solutions. As part of the remodel, consider what storage and organization changes are necessary for the best bathroom experience.

Create a Realistic Budget 

To avoid any overspending during renovations, it is crucial to have a realistic budget. Here are some factors to consider: 

Begin your planning by researching all the costs that are involved. Get quotes from various contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers. This way, you’ll get a better idea of and stay in line with the overall expenses and make a wiser budgetary plan.

When preparing your budget for a renovation project, you should also set aside an additional contingency fund for any surprises or unplanned events that may come up in the process.

Prioritization is key. Determine which parts of the renovation are more critical to you, and could be potentially more expensive, and allocate more funds for these elements. This way, you can enjoy quality work on the features most important to you whilst keeping expenses under control.

Hiring Professionals

Hiring professionals like tiler dublin is always a good idea for people who lack expertise in renovation projects. Just make sure you do your research on various contractors, plumbers, electricians, and other professionals. Get multiple quotes and compare their expertise, experience, and charges.

You can also request references from former clients or check online reviews to confirm the reliability of the hired professionals.

Keep in mind that you need to have the necessary permits in place. Draft a detailed contract that includes all aspects of the project, e.g. timeline, requirements, and payment terms.

Design and Layout 

Focus on designing your brand new bathroom layout. It is important to create a space that works optimally, making it both functional and efficient. Create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere in line with your preferences and budget by picking the sort of fixtures (sink, toilet, shower, bathtub), arrangement, and necessary features (lighting, mirrors, storage) for the bathroom. Also, don’t forget that every detail matters; from the type of flooring, countertops, and tiles to cabinets. Ensure that there is an organic connection between your preferred aesthetics and practical application.

Execution

The planning phase for your bathroom renovation project is complete – now it’s time to execute. To make it a success, meticulously remove all existing fixtures, tiles, and cabinets without any damage to the surrounding structures.

After that, you need to update or repair any electrical and plumbing systems needing it.

Install everything according to the approved design and layout – new fixtures, cabinetry, tiles, and flooring. Then you can apply the finishing touches to the bathroom – coordinated accessories, bathroom linens and a fresh coat of paint. Don’t forget that everything about the renovation must be up to par with all current building codes and regulations.

Conclusion

A bathroom renovation can seem like a daunting task, but it’s a rewarding process when done right. It’s easy to stay on track with this guide as long as you remember to do a few things right. Remember to set clear goals, create a realistic budget, hire reliable professionals, and pay attention to detail throughout the renovation journey. If done successfully, a refreshed bathroom has the potential to be more than just a functional space: it has the power to contribute value to your home and delight you every morning.

Minister Donnelly leaving Galway pharmacies in the dark

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galway daily news pharmacy galway

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has been accused of ignoring pharmacies in Galway by leaving them in the dark over their future funding.

The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), which represents community based pharmacies nationwide, has said the sector is rapidly losing faith in the Minister and his department’s ability to use pharmacies appropriately.

Pharmacists are now campaigning for meaningful engagement to begin without delay. 

Outlining the issues, Derek Reilly, interim Secretary General of the Irish Pharmacy Union said that pharmacies have endured a 14-year-long pay freeze at the hand of the government.

“They provide vital healthcare services on behalf of the state and while costs increase dramatically the fees received for doing this work are lower now than in 2009,” he said.

“We are reaching the point where the future viability of many pharmacies is coming into question.”

There are 106 pharmacies across Co Galway supporting over 750 jobs in the city and county.

“Minister Donnelly is legally obliged to review pharmacy services and funding by the end of June 2023. Despite this deadline there has been zero engagement from the Minister.

“The majority of pharmacies are small and family-owned businesses, they rely on state income.

“It is incredulous that less than a month before the Minister must decide on their future he has not engaged with the sector in any way.”

The IPU also accused the Minister of discriminating against the pharmacy profession.

“Community Pharmacy is now the only healthcare sector that has had no pay restoration since the financial crisis. There is no reason for this blatant discrimination, and it needs to change.”

Which Casino Games Are The Most Profitable?

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roulette

The Most Profitable Casino Games to Play at an Online Casino in Ireland

If you’re rather new to online gambling in Ireland, the first thing you’ll want to be aware of is the fact that different games will give you different odds of winning. Several types of casino games exist at online casinos, but the potential to earn money varies greatly from one game to another.

Online casino games are there for fun and entertainment but ultimately, everyone wants the chance to win. If you’re wondering which casino games you should be trying your luck on, keep reading to learn more about the most profitable casino games you can play at your favourite Irish online casino today. 

What is the House Edge in Casino Games?

To understand what makes a casino game potentially profitable or not, you first need to know a little bit about the house edge. This is a term that you’re going to encounter often when you visit any Irish casino online and it simply refers to the advantage that the casino has over you in any given game. Therefore, the lower the house edge, the lower the casino’s advantage, and the higher your chances of winning the game and generating revenue.

  1. Online Blackjack

First on our list is online blackjack, a game that’s popular at both land-based and casinos all over the world. And when you understand exactly how blackjack works, it’s easy to see that one of the main reasons for its popularity is the fact that it has a very low house edge.

Unlike many casino games, blackjack isn’t just about luck. It’s a game that combines both luck and strategy, which means that the higher your skill level, the better you’ll fare in the game. 

Blackjack has a very low house edge of 2% but if you play with basic strategy and follow it without any deviations, the house edge can go as low as 0.5%, making blackjack the most potentially profitable game you can play at an online casino.

1. Online Roulette

Online roulette is a close second in terms of the chances of profit from the game. However, this game is all about luck, which means that there’s nothing you can do on your part to improve your odds except choose your bets wisely and weighing the odds with the payout for each bet before you place it.

Online live roulette might give you even better chances of making a profit just because you get a much bigger choice of roulette variants to try your luck on. Several of these variants are not only a lot more exciting to play than your standard game of roulette but they also offer payouts and multipliers that you won’t find in regular online roulette. 

2. Video Poker

Next up is video poker, another popular casino game that can be found at nearly every online casino in Ireland. Like blackjack, both luck and skill play a part in this classic card game, but we would definitely say that skill is a lot more important in this game. 

You can’t predict what cards you will be dealt but knowing which ones to fold, which to keep, and how to play your hand optimally will be the biggest determining factor in the outcome. If you’re not familiar with the rules of the game and the best poker strategies, video poker can quickly become a game that will lead to significant losses.

3. Online Slot Machines

We’ve put online slot machines at the bottom of this list but as you may know, these games tend to be hugely popular at online casinos. If you look at online gambling statistics in Ireland, you’ll see that online slots are one of the top picks for Irish punters, preceded by online lottery games and live casino games.

Online slots might be the most fun online casino games to play, but they’re certainly not the most profitable in the long run. In fact, you could almost say that online slots are the most profitable games for online casinos more than the players. 

The revenue that can be potentially generated from these games can be life-changing, with some slots awarding millions in jackpots, but the problem is that these wins are triggered extremely rarely. So, in the long run, you’ll have better odds of generating revenue by playing any of the games mentioned above, even if those wins won’t be huge.

Conclusion

Ultimately, you can never really know how a game will turn out; even if you’re an expert blackjack or poker player, the possibility of losing will always be there. Having said that, if you want to give yourself the best odds of winning money rather than spending your funds on randomly chosen games, you’ll definitely want to stick to the casino games which offer the highest chance of generating revenue.