Seven changes made to Connacht side for Bulls game

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September 30, 2022

Galway daily news Public spaces in the spotlight for Make Way Day

The annual Make Way Day campaign is highlighting the difficulty that people with a disability or mobility issues have in everyday life today.

The annual Make Way Day campaign, led by the Disability Federation of Ireland, exists to promote the needs of disabled people in public spaces.

Friday, September 30 will see a one day blitz putting Galway to the test for basic access issues, with Gardaí also promising a zero tolerance approach today.

Some of the other groups behind the campaign are the Irish Wheelchair Association, Fighting Blindness, Enable Ireland, Arthritis Ireland, Multiple Sclerosis Ireland along with many others.

It is about promoting awareness of the needs of people with a disability in public spaces, where a minor issue for a fully able person can be a severe obstacle in the path of a person with a disability.

Marian Moloney Access For All Galway Chairperson said, “Whilst Make Way Day highlights access issues that disabled people face on one given day, we would like to ask the public to be mindful of the other 364 days in the year”

She said that people should, “be alert and aware of where they park their bicycles, cars and vans; where they place their bins and whether their hedges overhang so as not to create obstacles and put others at risk.”

In addition to every local authority, Make Way Day is supported by the Gardai this year for the fourth year.

The Garda the traffic division will adopt a zero tolerance approach to cars parked on footpaths today.

Two Galway projects shortlisted for Coca-Cola Thank You Fund

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news coca-cola thank you fund galway — Pic:Naoise Culhane-no fee

Two local projects are preparing to pitch for a grant share of this year’s €100,000 Coca-Cola Thank You Fund.

Stúidió Mór Limelight Creative Arts (Brothers of Charity Galway) and Venture Out are among 22 non-profit organisations shortlisted from across Ireland and will pitch to a panel of judges in the coming weeks.

Stúidió Mór Limelight Creative Arts is seeking funding to launch an inclusive art studio for young artists with higher needs.

The initiative aims to provide an accessible space for young people who have an interest in art and design to express themselves and receive professional support to excel their artistic ambitions and learn how to create art sustainably.

Venture Out is looking for funding for a week-long wilderness experience for young adults to develop practical social and emotional life skills.

Participants will hike and camp in a range of wild outdoor locations while engaging in an immersive, experiential and intensive personal development process.

The programme is designed to help young people identify their strengths and skills and develop their own personal action plan for the future.

Now in its twelfth year, over 200 charities, community groups and non-profit organisations across the island of Ireland submitted applications to this year’s Fund.

The projects were assessed under the categories of education and training, diversity and inclusion in young people and those focused on encouraging young people to care for the environment.

In addition, the shortlisted organisations could win the People’s Choice Award, where the public has their say and votes for their favourite local group.

The recipient of this accolade will be awarded an immediate grant of €5,000 to help deliver the proposed project within their local community.

Commenting on the announcement of this year’s shortlisted groups, Agnese Filippi, Country Manager, Coca-Cola Ireland, said they are thrilled to reveal the 22 shortlisted youth groups from across the island of Ireland.

“Established in 2011 to help local community groups support and develop the future of young people, this year’s Fund is designed to back leaders in local communities across the island of Ireland working to nurture a generation of change champions within a challenging economic and social environment.”

Details of the 22 shortlisted projects can be found at www.coca-cola.ie/thankyou with the voting lines for this year’s ‘People’s Choice Award,’ now open.

New picture book guide for young readers launched

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news picture book guide in galway libraries — PIC JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY Pictured at the launch assisting Children’s Books Ireland CEO, Elaina Ryan, was young reader Kate (3).

A new reading guide from Children’s Books Ireland celebrating picture books and illustration is now available in every branch library in Galway.

Picture This features over 230 recommended reads for children and young people aged 0–18, which have been reviewed by experts in children’s literature.

The guide aims to break down barriers to children’s reading, making books of all kinds accessible to children across Galway, including those who may have reading difficulties or whose first language may not be Irish or English.

Each review is accompanied by a ‘Read also’ recommendation, bringing the total of books included to over 450.

Picture This focuses on books with strong visual narratives, including wordless or silent books, graphic novels and comics, picture books for all ages and graphic diary-style texts.

The guide aims to highlight books, series and texts to encourage reluctant readers or those with language barriers to engage with reading.

Commenting on the launch, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “Pictures are important. They are rich and expressive and joyful and complex.

“As a child, they’re our first dip into the world of storytelling – but they’re not something to be left behind once a child is comfortable reading text. Pictures on the page aren’t just a stepping stone, they’re a journey in themselves.

“Presenting an alternative route to the linear progression from picture books to chapter books, we want Picture This to give children and young people in Galway just a little bit of space to discover a love of reading at their own pace, to read stories in formats they never knew about or would never have considered, to come back again and again to an illustration, experiencing the joy of finding something new each time.

“We particularly hope that these stories will have special appeal for young readers with reading difficulties, or those whose first language may not be English or Irish.”

Irish Language Books

Testament to the increased visibility of excellent books for children as Gaeilge, the guide, whose Irish name ‘Amharc! Breathnaigh! Féach!’, translates to ‘Look! Look! Look!’, features 29 Irish language books.

These include new releases, such as An Slipéar Gloine by Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and Paddy Donnelly, and family favourites such as Geansaí Otto by Sadhbh Devlin and Tarsila Krüse.

All books from Irish authors, illustrators, publishers or those written in the Irish language are highlighted in the guide with a shamrock.

Picture This is now available for free in every library authority in Ireland and in sixty participating bookshops island-wide.

The guide is also free to download from the Children’s Books Ireland website: childrensbooksireland.ie.

Maths Week promises to be as popular as ever

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news maths week 2022 launched — Rockstars of Maths! Pictured are Darius O’Reilly (9); Jessie Collins (10); Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD; Cathal Billings (11); Lexi Hopkins (10) and Maisie Hogan (10) from Scoil Chaoimhin, Marlborough Street, Dublin. PHOTO: Mark Stedman

Maths Week 2022 has been launched by Minister for Education Norma Foley with this year’s festival of maths and numeracy kicking off on 15 October.

Now in its 17th year, Maths Week is designed to promote a positive attitude towards maths across the country.

Last year over 400,000 people, including 386,000 students, participated in the week, and this year promises to be as popular as ever with already over 142,000 pupils signed up to take part.

More than 60 organisations including the universities, institutes of technology, libraries, schools, training colleges and employers have also registered.

After two years online, Maths Week will be returning to classrooms, museums, universities, theatres, libraries, and auditoriums across the island of Ireland, from Ballinasloe to Ballymena.

Such was the success of the online events, ‘Maths Week Covid Editions,’ a number of online events are also programmed, to make the event as accessible as possible.

‘MathsWeekTV’ is scheduled to broadcast daily shows online for primary and secondary schools across the island.

It will feature well known presenters such as UK TV presenter and maths teacher Bobby Seagull and children’s author and maths teacher Sally Lunt.

Presenters from north and south will be joined by presenters from Britain, France, Spain, Catalonia, USA, South Africa.

Cross-border participation is a very important element of the festival with schools from both sides of the border connecting with fun maths activities.

Minister Norma Foley said that Maths Week is an integral part of the school calendar, and that she is delighted her Department is supporting the initiative once again.

“It is wonderful to see children growing in confidence and enjoying all the satisfaction and indeed fun that they derive from great maths teaching and learning.

“Maths is both an essential life skill, and a driver of the skills and innovation that we want our students to experience in their education. This is also a key element of a successful, vibrant, competitive, and growing economy.

“It helps us to learn and think creatively and critically. Maths Week brings numbers to life. It promotes a positive attitude towards maths in our learners that can contribute to their future success in and out of school.”

Eoin Gill, Maths Week Ireland Co-Ordinator, said that as schools return to normality after two years of disruption due to Covid, it is more important than ever to motivate and inspire young people with maths.

“Mathematical thinking is part of everyday life, and we know that a positive attitude helps us succeed in a subject.

“The success of Maths Week in recent years has demonstrated the popularity of the subject and how maths can be enjoyed in so many different ways.”

Full programme and details of how to get involved are available on the Maths Week website www.mathsweek.ie.

GOAL urges people to take part in Jersey Day fundraiser

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news goal jersey day 2022 — Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Humanitarian aid agency GOAL is appealing to people in Galway to take part in the GOAL Jersey Day, which takes place on Friday, 14 October.

Students, employees and members of organisations across Ireland are being encouraged to don their favourite team jersey to raise vital funds to help GOAL’s lifesaving work with vulnerable communities all over the world.

Funds raised from the day will go towards GOAL’s work in emergency response, health, nutrition and livelihoods in 15 countries.

GOAL’s Director of Fundraising & Communications, Eamon Sharkey, said that Jersey Day is one of Ireland’s longest running fundraisers, and has been in existence for more than three decades.

He said that now more than ever, GOAL needs the continued support of the Irish people who have never been found wanting in supporting the world’s most vulnerable communities.

“Schools and companies look forward to GOAL Jersey Day every year, and it is a day when people can come together, have fun, and give to communities in need at the same time.”

Last year alone, GOAL reached more than 18.5 million people with lifechanging support in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and more recently in Ukraine, with humanitarian aid being delivered to people impact by the ongoing conflict.

“This year the support of the people of Ireland is more crucial than ever as global crises continue to have an impact on the world’s poorest countries,” added Eamon Sharkey.

“The combined impact of Covid-19, Climate Change and Conflict is having a devastating effect on global food security.

“This is especially acute in East Africa, where 23 million people are experiencing crisis levels of hunger. GOAL is responding, delivering water, food and medical aid, but we need your support this Jersey Day.”

To sign up to GOAL Jersey Day in partnership with Folens, visit jerseyday.org. primary and secondary schools that register will be entered for a draw to win a €1,000 prize from Folens.

Two weeks to enter Galway Chamber Business Awards 2022

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news galway business awards 2022 — Keeny Deery Galway Chamber CEO, Dermot Nolan, President Galway Chamber Mayor of Galway Cllr Clodagh Higgins and Gerry Dillon, The Shannon Airport Group at the launch of The Galway Chamber Business Awards 2022 in association with The Shannon Airport Group Photo:Andrew Downes, xposure

The growing global focus of many businesses across Galway will be among the themes highlighted at this year’s Galway Chamber Business Awards which will take place in November.

The awards, in association with the Shannon Airport Group, will take place in the Galmont Hotel in Galway City and entries must be received by 14 October.

Ten awards will be presented on 18 November, including a newly created Culture and Creativity Award, recognising the growing importance of this aspect of life in Galway.

Another key award, the Scale-Up/ Growing Business Award will recognise younger businesses who are growing and creating jobs at the forefront of enterprise in Galway.

Announcing the details of the 2022 Awards, Mary Considine, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said they are delighted to once again be associated with the fantastic and innovative business community in Galway.

“At Shannon, we know that connectivity is critical to enable business to connect with the global marketplace and we are continuing to grow our range of air services to further underpin the economic impact on our region,” she said.

“These awards provide us with a unique opportunity to acknowledge people who demonstrate vision, courage and ambition to drive both their business and this region forward.

“They enable us to recognise the positive impact these great businesses have in the community, and we look forward to seeing many of them recognised in November.”

The awards are easy to enter and provide all participants as well as their staff with an opportunity to show their pride in what they do as well as sharing their achievements with other businesses.

Three entries will be shortlisted in each of the categories and these businesses will be featured in all publicity around the awards.

The prestigious President’s Award will be awarded to an individual who has contributed to the business life of Galway that is outstanding in every way.

The 2022 Galway Chamber Business of the Year sponsored by The Shannon Airport Group will be awarded to one of the category winners.

To apply, simply complete the application form, available at www.galwaychamber.com. The deadline for applications is Friday, 14 October.

Full list of award categories

Scale-up/ Growing Business Award, sponsored by Galway Technology Centre & WestBIC

Sustainability Initiative Award, sponsored by Shannon Airport

Excellence in Innovation Award, sponsored by EY

Best Small to Medium Enterprise Award, sponsored by AIB

Best Customer Service Award, sponsored by Permanent TSB

Marketing Excellence Award, sponsored by Galway City Council

Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion Award, sponsored by Galway City Council

Culture and Creativity Award

President’s Award, sponsored by PwC

Overall Business of the Year Award, sponsored by The Shannon Airport Group

Highlighting the growing number of award categories, Dermot Nolan, President of Galway Chamber said the beauty of these awards is that they reflect the diverse and multifaceted nature of business in Galway.

“There are awards for every hue of enterprise and for all those who are making significant contributions to the Galway business community,” he said.

“Whether it is for newly established companies who are scaling and creating jobs, those who are helping to highlight the innovative nature of the Galway corporate community, those helping to foster the culture and arts or those who are supporting inclusion or sustainability – these awards are set up to recognise the many positive strides taken by our corporate community.

“There is a lot to cherish about business in Galway and we look forward to seeing that accomplished on the 18^th November.”

A fortnight in ICU for young Galway boy who developed rare syndrome

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news Breda Ni Mhaoláin and Patrick Clesham with their children Ríona and Liam on their wedding day icu — Breda Ni Mhaoláin and Patrick Cresham with their children Ríona and Liam on their wedding day 30 August 2022

Breda Ní Mhaoláin from Leitir Móir has spoken about how her young son Liam spent more than a fortnight in intensive care after falling suddenly ill with a rare skin disorder over the summer.

When 3-year-old Liam developed small red spots on his neck and chest in July, the GP initially thought it might be chickenpox – but within a few days, he was receiving treatment in the ICU in the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.

Speaking on Iris Aniar on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta this week, Breda explained that Liam developed lesions everywhere on his body – on his face, hands, down his throat and under the lids of his eyes.

She said that he was in such pain and that it took them a few days to figure out what was wrong with him.

Breda explained that Liam had Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a very rare and serious disorder of the skin and mucous membranes.

She said that they had to put drops in Liam’s eyes every two hours, day and night.

“Every time the door would open he would say ‘no doctors no nurse’ begging me to keep them away from him, but I couldn’t.

“There was a danger he might lose his sight … he was in danger of dying really. He wasn’t eating or drinking, and one night they thought he might have sepsis. He suffered so much.”

Due to the lesions on the eyelids that were scraping Liam’s eyes, the doctors feared he might lose his sight, so he needed to have an operation.

Although the operation went well, the aftercare was very tough on Liam.

“If you saw him, it wasn’t a nice image. He had bandages on his eyes, and then another cover over his eyelids to hold the bandages in place, and he had stitches in his eyelids too. His arms were restrained so that he couldn’t pull them off.”

Breda said that she could hardly breathe, but when she was with him she didn’t want to be upset so as not to upset him.

“And you don’t want the doctors to be worrying about you instead of looking after the child. When I’d leave Liam, I would cry and cry, I couldn’t stop.”

She said at that time, her partner Patrick was unable to eat or sleep.

“And the worst of it was that I had spent almost a week in the bed with Liam, he wanted me to be beside him, but once they did the operation he had so many tubes and pipes attached to him that it was really hard to get beside him.

“And then on top of that he had so many lesions on his skin, if you touched him, his skin was coming off.

“So he didn’t want anyone touching him, so I couldn’t give him a little cuddle, he didn’t want kisses or for me to rub his hair. I couldn’t touch him. It was so hard because I couldn’t do anything to comfort him.”

But then, after a few weeks, Liam’s condition started to improve.

“He was hungry. The nurses asked me what he would eat, and I asked him, and he said pancakes! Everyone started running around looking for pancakes!

“The dietician found him two pancakes, and sure he only took two tiny bites of pancake, but that’s what he wanted. He started talking about things. I was playing music for him – Hit the Road Jack. He couldn’t move in the bed, but he was pulling his legs up trying to dance to it.

“Everything started to improve at the same time. He was getting hungry. He wanted to play.”

He was moved downstairs to another ward, and could see a playground there outside, and that helped to encourage him to stand and to walk again.

Finally, on August 22, Liam was allowed to go home after spending a month in hospital, and he has been doing well since.

“There’s no defect or mark on his eyes, thank God. We have to be careful with him out in the sun, his skin hasn’t healed completely, it’s still quite red… If you saw him, you’d think he had been scalded or had bad sunburn.”

Just a week after Liam left hospital, Breda and Patrick Cresham married on 30 August in the Twelve in Bearna.

“We’re together almost 19 years,” said Breda. “We had picked a date in May, never imagining that something like this would happen in the meantime. So Liam came out on Monday, we came home on Tuesday, and the following Tuesday we got married.

“There were just 18 people there, we had a great day. Everyone was so happy to be together again for the first time since Liam had been sick … and everyone was delighted to see Liam.”

The family also has another party to arrange, because Liam turned four while he was in the ICU.

“26 July is his birthday. He doesn’t believe himself that he’s four yet because we didn’t have any little party for him yet, but we will.”

Warning issued for heavy rain with flooding possible

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September 29, 2022

galway daily news Weather warning for heavy wind and rain to hit Galway

Galway is one of six counties included in Met Éireann’s latest weather warning which will come into effect overnight.

The forecasters have said that it will become wet and windy tonight and during Friday morning, with strong and gusty southerly winds developing.

They warned that heavy rainfall may cause some localised flooding.

The status yellow warning begins at 2am and will be lifted tomorrow afternoon at 2pm and also affects Donegal, Clare, Sligo, Mayo and Leitrim.

The rain will clear to sunny spells and showers for the afternoon and maximum temperatures will be between 13 and 16 degrees.

Cúirt International Festival of Literature appoints new director

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September 29, 2022

Galway Arts Centre has announced the appointment of Manuela Moser as the new festival director of the Cúirt International Festival of Literature.

Manuela brings a wealth of experience to Galway Arts Centre and has previously held roles as a director, programmer, editor, and publisher.

Manuela comes to Cúirt from a post as a director at Catalyst Arts, a gallery and project space in Belfast, where she worked with visual and performance artists, and writers, developing new work for exhibitions and publications over the last two years.

She is a founding editor of The Lifeboat Press, where she has published new work by leading and emerging Irish writers, such as Paul Muldoon and Susannah Dickey, and commissioned the landmark anthology Queering the Green: Post-2000 Queer Irish Poetry, edited by Paul Maddern.

Based in Belfast since 2010, Manuela was born in Morecambe in the North West of England. While studying from BA to PhD level at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University, she was a long-standing member of Ciaran Carson’s writing group.

In 2021 she was awarded the inaugural Publishing Fellowship at the Seamus Heaney Centre.

Manuela said she is delighted to be appointed as the new Director of Cúirt International Festival of Literature.

“With Galway’s rich literary history and thriving contemporary scene, I am excited to build not only on Sasha de Buyl’s work in the last number of years, but also the festivals long and illustrious history.”

Man to be sentenced over Eyre Square firework incident that caused life changing injuries

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September 28, 2022

Galway Daily courts Man charged in connection

A Dublin man will be sentenced at the Circuit Court for causing life changing injuries to a young woman after hitting her with a firework in Eyre Square.

Alex Byrne (23) appeared before Galway District Court this week in relation to an incident where a 19 year old girl was serious injured after being hit by a firework while sitting at a bus stop.

The court heard that the DPP has consented to the case going forward to the Circuit Court on a signed plea of guilty.

Byrne, from Furry Hill, Sandyford Road, Dundrum, is charged igniting a firework at Eyre Square on October 22 of 2021.

He is also charged with assault causing serious harm to the young woman, under Section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997.

Free legal aid was awarded for his solicitor, as well as both junior and senior counsel.

Byrne was sent on bail to the next sitting of Galway Circuit Court commencing on October 3 to be sentenced.

Skylight 47 launch at Over the Edge open reading

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September 28, 2022

galway daily arts & culture Skylight 47 launch at Over the Edge open reading

This September’s Over the Edge Open Reading will take place in Galway City Library this week, and also see the launch of the latest issue of poetry magazine Skylight 47.

The featured readers for this month are Fiona Hanley, Jim Ward, & Anne Rouse, and there will also be readings by Skylight 47 contributors.

Currently based in Connemara, Fiona Hanley writes poetry and lyrical essays, with her latest works featuring in Howl: New Irish Writing and The Interpreter’s House.

Fiona read some of her poems at the Poetry Co-operative’s arts for mental healh fundraising gig in aid of Jigsaw at Róisin Dubh in July.

Jim Ward is a multilingual artist, having published poetry and stories in Irish and English.

He is the author of two plays, the award-winning Just Guff and Three Quarks (A Trinity of Joyce), and has just finished his first novel.

Raised in Virginia, Anne Rouse lives in East Sussex, and has previously held Royal Literary Fund Fellowships in Glasgow, Belfast and London.

Her poems have appeared in the Times Literary Supplement, Poetry Review, Magma, the Guardian, and other journals and anthologies.

Her latest work, Ox-Eye, poems on personal and social change, was published by Bloodaxe this June.

The Open Reading will take place this Thursday, September 29 at 6pm, and will also be livestreamed via facebook.

Students sleep out protest tonight over accommodation crisis

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September 28, 2022

galway daily news Students sleep out protest tonight over accommodation crisis — (Left to Right): Barry Ó Siochrú, Sai Gujulla, Imogen O’Flaherty Falconer, and Joe Mee (University of Galway Students’ Union)

Students from the University of Galway will be sleeping out in Eyre Square this evening in a protest of the accommodation crisis.

The University’s Students Union is calling on the government, and city council, to find solutions for the housing crisis facing students.

The sleep out protest aims to draw attention to the plight of the many students who can’t find housing.

Students’ Union President Sai Gujulla said, “We already know of students who are returning to their home countries and dropping out of their courses because they have not been able to find accommodation.”

“We have students living in cars and hostels or commuting huge distances or paying extortionate rent and this is unacceptable. Students can’t study and work under these conditions.”

The protest will leave University of Galway campus at 6pm this evening, and make its way to Eyre Square where there will be speeches before the students set up camp for the night.

Galway lotto player scoops €500,000 Euromillions prize

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September 28, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway lotto player scoops €500,000 Euromillions prize — McCanns Centra, Moycullen, Co.Galway sold a ticket worth €500,000 in Tuesday night's (27th September) EuroMillions Plus draw. Pictured outside their store is Assistant Manager Aisling Flannery and staff.

One lucky Lotto player in Galway is €500,000 richer after scooping the Euromillions Plus top prize in Tuesday night’s draw.

The winning quick pick with plus ticket was sold on the day of the draw in McCanns Centra, Moycullen, Co. Galway.

The winning numbers in Tuesday’s (27th September) EuroMillions Plus draw were: 23, 32, 35, 42, 50.

McCanns Centra in Moycullen is a local shop running just over ten years. Assistant Manager Aisling Flannery said she was delighted to get the news the store had sold a winning ticket.

“We got the call this morning and we’re absolutely delighted! To think someone in our local community could have won is just brilliant.”

“Selling a winning ticket of that value means everything to us. We’re a small run shop, and a staple in the village.”

“We’ve had some nice smaller wins over the years, but this is beyond any of that”, she said.

“This will be the talk of the village and we’ll be expecting lots of our customers over the next few days checking tickets and asking us all sorts of questions.”

We want to give massive congratulations to the winner and hope they enjoy their lovely prize,” she added.

The Galway winner is advised to sign the back of their ticket, which is now worth half a million euro, and keep it safe.

They should contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prize.

As there was no winner of last night’s EuroMillions jackpot of €17,000,000 Friday night’s draw is set to roll towards an estimated €30 Million.

Galway city street closing for one month

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September 28, 2022

Galway daily news Seven week road closure in downtown Galway City

A street in the west end of Galway City will be closing for a month while infrastructure works are taking place in the area.

Galway City Council has given notification that Munster Avenue will be closed daily from October 24 to November 25.

The road is being closed to allow for urgent upgrade works on the water infrastructure in the area.

In order to facilitate these works, the road will be closed from 8am to 6pm each day.

Diversion routes will be in place via Father Griffin Road, Father Griffin Avenue, Sea Road and William Street West.

Local access will be maintained at all times, and the city council will have signage in place in advance of the works.

Music for Galway is Bach in business

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September 28, 2022

Galway Daily music bach music for Galway

Music for Galway’s latest international concert with a stunning Bach rendition as part of a new initiative, the Galway Encore.

Three exquisite musicians, impassionate violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, as versatile as virtuoso violin and viola player Sergey Malov and mesmerising cellist Natalie Clein, are joining forces to perform the string trio arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

The first concert will take place this Thursday at 8pm in the Emily Anderson Concert Hall at University of Galway.

A second concert will take place the following evening at the same time in Christ Church in Portumna.

Anna Lardi, executive director of Music for Galway said that this is an exciting moment for them, as they seek to make “first-rate classical music concerts” accessible in the wider region.

“Furthermore, MfG is joining the many arts organisations who are becoming more and more conscious of working in a more sustainable way.”

“As we bring three artists from three different countries to Galway we want to get the most out of them, hence the repeat performance in Portumna”.

1 of 3

On top of these concerts, Sergey Malov will also be at the Mall Theatre in Tuam a day earlier, inviting close to 400 children to ‘Meet the Violins’.

The iconic Bach Goldberg Variations were originally composed for harpsichord and are said to have been written to comfort and ease the insomnia of an ailing Count.

The work has become known and loved through performances on modern piano by artists such as Glenn Gould, and infamous as one of Hannibal Lecter’s favourite pieces in The Silence of the Lambs.

The magnificent arrangement for strings was written by Dmitri Sitkovetsky, the uncle of the performing violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky.

Whether in the west or the east of County Galway or beyond, here is an opportunity to experience the joy and calm that Bach sought to conjure as he wrote the Goldberg Variations, performed by world class artists.

“This trio brightened a dark day for us back in January 2021 when they performed at our Midwinter Festival online,” said Music for Galway artistic director Finghin Collins.

“At the time we thought at first that we could have a small audience, but in the end the artists could not even travel. However, their online performance from Berlin was so uplifting that we decided to invite them to Galway in person as soon as possible.”

Tickets cost €20 / €18 concession. There is a reduced price for full-time students and school-going children of €6 and MfG Friends pay €16.

To book or find out about how to join as MfG Friend, visit musicforgalway.ie or phone 091 705962. Music for Galway gratefully acknowledges the support of the Arts Council.

The repeat performance is made possible by the support of Galway County Arts Office and the educational outreach is supported by SAP.

Black Gate founders planning new venue in Galway City

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September 28, 2022

Green light for new cultural centre from Black Gate founders

Plans are in the works for a new cultural centre in Galway City from the people behind the much loved venue The Black Gate.

Tra Ghall Ltd is seeking planning permission from the city council to convert two floors of a building on Flood Street.

When converted it would consist of a café and bar on the ground floor, along with a performance/theatre space.

The first floor of the building would be converted from office use to a recording studio and editing suite.

The application states that the preparation of food would be limited to cheese platters and charcutier, with no cooking on site.

The planning documents state, “We hope to operate out of the premises, which will be similar to our previous business which was in Francis Street called The Black Gate.”

It adds that part of the project is driven by a “need to give artists voice and space”, while strengthening their role as a fulcrum in Galway’s arts scenes.

Work on the building will involve converting two windows on the front facade to doorways.

A decision from Galway City Council on the project is due by November 8 of this year.

Homeless charity Depaul welcomes budget, but says it doesn’t go far enough

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September 28, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway City Council has announced plans for a social housing development of 84 apartments and houses in Knocknacarra.

Homeless charity Depaul welcomed the allocation of €215 million for homeless services in the budget, but that more meaningful action is needed.

Depaul said that funding is needed now more than ever, with almost 11,000 people in Ireland currently homeless and in urgent need of emergency housing support.

The true picture is even worse, as these figures do not include people sleeping rough, homeless people in prison, those in direct provision and unreported homelessness.

The budget announced on Tuesday includes €215 million in funding for homeless services, as well as €98 million to support 6,467 new leased units for social housing.

Depaul’s Chief Executive, David Carroll said that this funding is welcome, but that it must be reviewed every six months to see if more is needed.

“We acknowledge it’s necessary to increase social housing supply through leased properties but care needs to be taken to ensure leases are being negotiated on behalf of the State within acceptable financial parameters.”

“We have little option but to bring in supply to target those most in housing need,” Carroll added.

Depaul said that the measures announced in the budget may not go far enough, and that more meaningful action is needed for the crisis.

“We welcome the recognition of the rent and energy credits for households, but any one off contribution needs to be done in parallel with a moratorium on evictions.”

“In order to assess what long term private rented sector reforms need to occur,” David Carroll said.

“We are calling for an immediate ban on evictions, in order to deal with the crisis over the winter period.”

The charity welcomed the tax on vacant housing, adding that there must be measures to ensure that vacant homes coming onto the market are available to those most in need.

Any increase in HAP tenancies will only be viable if properties are within HAP limits, Depaul said, which they aren’t right now.

More than just once-off funding, long term solutions are needed to address issues with the recruitment and retention issues in the voluntary and community sectors.

Last year, Depaul helped over 3,600 people across Ireland, including helping 487 people out of homelessness, and into long term accommodation.

Plans for 24m mobile mast for Claregalway approved

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September 27, 2022

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

Planning permission has been granted for a 24m high mobile mast on the outskirts of Claregalway, to replace one removed from the town.

Emerald Tower Limited has been given the green light to erect the mast in a field at Cahergowan, Claregalway, to the northwest of the village.

The monopole mast will hold nine antennae and three dishes, catering to Eir and Three Ireland.

Both operators had equipment on the roof of the Claregalway Hotel, but were served with notice to quit due to redevelopment plans.

The two are currently operating from a temporary 12m structure, but this 24m mast is meant to be a permanent replacement, with room for a third operator as well.

The new mast will serve to continue existing 3G and 4G services, as well as provide the infrastructure needed for 5G, the application states.

Planning permission for this development was granted by the county council with 11 conditions attached.

One submission was received from Vantage Towers, which stated that the council approved their plans for a 27m lattice mast some 500m away back in March.

These plans, meant for Vodafone and potential other operators, are currently the subject of a third party appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Galway Bar wins best Outdoor Space in Connacht at Irish Pub Awards

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September 27, 2022