Hurling Club Championship – Round 2 Fixtures

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August 16, 2022

Galway Daily news Kinvara Boil Water Notice

The latest quarterly report from the Water Advisory Body highlighted the long lasting Boil Water Notice in Gort as part of disappointing trend in 2022.

The WAB is a state body, comprising five members, which exists to report on Irish Water’s performance and increase public confidence.

It’s report for the second quarter of this year highlighted the large number of long lasting boil water notices.

Paul McGowan, chairperson of the board, said that it was a “disappointing trend” that 20 of the 21 notices in place at the end of the first quarter of this year were long-term.

“Under normal circumstances the WAB expects that no consumer should be on a long-term
boil water notice”.

A Boil Water Notice is considered long-term if it has been in place for more than 30 days.

The Gort Notice, which affected 2,776 people, was in effect for almost five months, from the start of February into late June.

A long-term notice means that the issue with the water treatment plant could not be fixed quickly, and required significant investment from Irish Water, the report highlights.

Other noteworthy findings in the report include 1,607 lead service connections replaced in Q1 of this year, out of a total target of 10,000 for 2022.

However, Irish Water has said that with the increased budget this year, it still expects to exceed that target by the end of the year.

It also found that Irish Water responded to 97.89% of domestic and 93.75%
of non-domestic complaints within five working days, with either a resolution or an outline plan of the proposed resolution.

This is the lowest five-day response rate since Irish Water started reporting against this metric in 2018.

A targeted survey by the Water Advisory Body also found that there were “confused lines of communication” between Irish Water and customers when there are issues with the water supply.

Paul McGowan concluded by saying that it was disappointing to see a decline in performance in these two areas.

“Customer service is at the core of utility delivery, and timely, effective complaints management is an important element of customer service.”

“The WAB is disappointed to observe this level of performance in an area it would reasonably expect to see improvement year-on-year as it beds in its customer complaints processes.”

Planning refused for 25 hectare solar farm development

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August 16, 2022

Galway Daily news perovskite solar panels

Planning permission has been refused for a 25ha expansion of an approved solar farm between Claregalway and Athenry, as there is already planning in place for the site.

Renewable Energy Systems Ltd sought approval for a solar energy development on land at Ballymoneen/Grange East.

This would operate as an extension of the 140ha Ballymoneen Solar Farm, for which they which RES received planning permission in January of 2021.

The site comprises five fields bounded by dry stone walls, fences, and hedgerows, approximately 0.5km east of Cregmore Park Golf Club.

In refusing planning permission, the County Council said that it would contravene the conditions attached to the approval of the larger 140ha Ballymoneen Solar Farm.

The plans would contravene Condition No. 1 of that approval, which required that the plans be carried out in their entirety as submitted, “as it proposes development of solar panels in the area of the energy storage facility previously approved under Pl. Ref: 20/961.”

“Therefore the development contravene materially a condition attached to an existing permission for development,” the decision said.

The second reason for refusing to approve the development was that the council was not satisfied that the site could be adequately accessed, or surface water disposed of properly.

Galway’s Tómas Farthing named Minor Football Player of the Year

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August 16, 2022

Galway Daily sport Galway's Tómas Farthing named Minor Football Player of the Year

Galway’s Tomás Farthing has been named Player of the Year in the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Stars Awards today.

The Spiddal man was the heart of Galway defence on their path to the All-Ireland title this year.

A total of six Galway players have been selected for the Minor Star Football Team of the Year for this year.

The Galway Minors won the All-Ireland Championship this year, claiming the Tom Markham Cup with a 0-15 to 0-09 victory over Mayo last month.

Along with Tomás Farthing on the back line, the awards also recognised keeper Kyle Gilmore, half-back Cillian Trayers, joint Galway GAA captain John Longergan at midfield, as well as forwards Éanna Monaghan and Colm Costello.

Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy said “I am delighted to, once again, have the opportunity to extend my congratulations to the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Team of the Year,”

He added that there is a “special mention for Tomás Farthing, the well-deserved recipient of the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Player of the Year.”

“Fans turned out in large numbers to support our Minor players this season and we were fortunate to see the skills of these outstanding players.”

“I look forward to watching the next chapter of their playing careers,” Larry McCarthy added.

Along with the six Galway boys on the Team of the Year, Mayo, have four players represented. Ulster finalists, Derry have two representatives while Tyrone, Kerry and Dublin each have one player on this year’s team.

Sarah Sharkey of Electric Ireland said “Each member of the team has made a major contribution to making this year’s championship one of the most exciting and unpredictable in recent memory.”

“We would especially like to congratulate Tomás Farthing, this year’s Electric Ireland GAA Minor Star Football Player of the Year.”

She added that he displayed, “great maturity in Galway’s defence this year and was incredible as Galway won the 2022 Electric Ireland GAA Minor Football Championship”.

The full Minor Star Football Team of the Year is:

1. Kyle Gilmore (Galway and Cortoon Shamrocks)

2. Tomás Farthing (Galway and An Spidéal)

3. Ben Hughes (Tyrone and Donaghmore)

4. Rio Mortimer (Mayo and Claremorris)

5. Paul Gilmore (Mayo and Claremorris)

6. Cillian Trayers (Galway and Claregalway)

7. Fionn Murphy (Kerry and Rathmore)

8. Ruairí Forbes (Derry and Ballinderry Shamrocks)

9. Jack Lonergan (Galway and Claregalway)

10. Johnny McGuckian (Derry and Glen)

11. Éanna Monaghan (Galway and Claregalway)

12. Diarmuid Duffy (Mayo and Ballinrobe)

13. Joe Quigley (Dublin and Kilmacud Crokes)

14. Ronan Clarke (Mayo and Moy Davitts)

15. Colm Costello (Galway and Dunmore MacHales)

One killed and four injured following car crash in the west

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August 16, 2022

One person was killed and another four injured in a two car crash in the west of Ireland on Monday evening, and Gardaí are appealing for witnesses.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a crash on the N17 at Cloonturk, Kilkelly, Co. Mayo at 5:50pm on Monday.

Three women and two juveniles were taken to Mayo University Hospital to be treated for their injuries.

One of those injured, a woman in her 90s has since passed away.

Investigating Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

Any road users who were travelling in the area at the time with camera (including dash cam) footage, are asked to make this available to Gardaí.

Anyone with information can contact Claremorris Garda Station on 094 937 2080, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Almost 60 people on trolleys at UHG today

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August 16, 2022

Galway Daily news 67 people on trolleys at UHG

UHG is the most overcrowded hospital in the country again today, with almost 60 patients waiting on trolleys.

Figures from the INMO’s Trolley/Ward Watch show 55 patients on trolleys in the emergency department today, and another four in the wards.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe there are a further three people without beds, two in the ED and one in the wards.

Nationwide there are a total of 470 people admitted to Irish hospitals who are without a bed today.

The worst affected after University Hospital Galway are Cork UH (49), UH Limerick (46), and Sligo University Hospital (35).

The number of COVID-19 patients at UHG has also declined in recent days, from a peak of around 50, down to 29 on Monday evening.

At Portiuncula there are six confirmed COVID-19 cases, and just one of these patients is in the ICU at each hospital.

Water outages in parts of north Galway today

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August 16, 2022

Galway Daily news Moycullen water outage

Many homes and businesses in north Galway will be without water today as essential repair works are being carried out.

The repairs will take until 7pm to complete, affecting Kilconly West, Ballyfruit, Garraun, Logawannia, Annaghdown, Corrandulla and the surrounding areas.

Traffic management will be in place to facilitate the works but local and emergency traffic will be maintained at all times.

Irish Water said that it typically takes two to three hours following restoration time for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas

Speaking about the works, Rónan Daly of Irish Water, said, that they understand that this type of work can be inconvenient.

“Working in partnership with Galway County Council, we will make every effort to minimise the disruption that these necessary works may cause,” he said.

“Customers may experience some temporary discolouration of water following the works and occasionally issues such as internal airlocks may arise.

“For advice on clearing discolouration and airlocks, visit the Supply Issues Following an Outage page of our website.”

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water receive direct communications from us for planned and unplanned outages lasting more than four hours.

The Irish Water customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact us on Twitter @IWCare with any queries.

For updates, please visit the Supply and Service Updates section of the Irish Water website.

Students looking for rooms in Galway urged to exercise caution

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August 16, 2022

galway daily news students union 2022 — PICTURED (Left to Right): Imogen O’Flaherty Falconer, Joe Mee, Sai Gujulla and Barry Ó Siochrú (NUI Galway Students’ Union)

NUI Galway students looking for accommodation for the upcoming academic year have been urged to exercise caution before committing to a private residence this year.

The University’s Students’ Union said that before rushing into signing a contract, it is extremely important to make sure the property fits the needs of all tenants and to look out for rental scams.

Despite the accommodation crisis, the Students’ Union said that students should not panic as there are still some rooms available.

They advised people to keep a close eye on all accommodation websites, especially nuigstudentpad.ie.

Imogen O’Flaherty Falconer, the Students’ Union Vice-President/Welfare and Equality Officer, said that finding accommodation can be extremely stressful, and that people tend to rush into it.

“It is paramount that you follow these guidelines to avoid scams and ensure that the house you live in will be sustainable for you and your friends,” said Imogen.

“Never rush into getting accommodation, be cautious and insist on receipts and any repairs where necessary.

“This will be where you stay for at least nine months so make sure you have all the necessities before making any commitments. Students still seeking accommodation should check www.nuigstudentpad.ie.”

Some handy tips:

Be aware of the following rental scams: Scammer claims to be out of the country so can’t show you the property but requests a deposit. Scammer is living at the property, and shows a number of people around. They get a deposit from several people and then flee with the cash. The transaction appears to have gone smoothly until the renter finds that the keys don’t work and the landlord has disappeared.
Take your time when viewing a property. Ensure all the necessities are there e.g. washing machine, furnishings etc. Check that all gas and electrical appliances are in good working order.
Take photos of the property and make sure to highlight any damages already there e.g. Cigarette burns, carpet stains, etc.
If there are any repairs to be made in the property, be sure to get it in writing from the landlord or agency that these problems will be rectified before handing over your deposit.
Avoid paying the deposit in cash and ensure you get a receipt for any moneys exchanged. You are legally entitled to a receipt so make sure to insist on one.
Request a viewing prior to the move in date to ensure that all outstanding issues have been rectified.
Ensure the house is well ventilated and that heating sources are identified prior to signing a contract/lease.
Insist that a building energy rating (BER) certificate is provided prior to signing the contract. This will help you know how cold the house is likely to get and will give you an idea of the cost for heating.
Ensure you are clear on the duration of the tenancy. If you sign a lease and leave early you may be liable to pay outstanding rent even though you are no longer living there. Check what the situation is in the event of a lockdown.
Make sure it’s clearly outlined in your lease which utility bills you must pay.
Take out contents insurance as the landlord’s policy will not cover your personal possessions.
For online learning check what the broadband speeds and deals are in the neighbourhood to make sure you will be well-connected.

Family raises over €11,000 for breast cancer care and research

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August 16, 2022

galway daily news cheque from breast cancer research fundraier — Austin and Dorothy Biesty present a cheque for €5,538.80 to Dr Nicola Miller Lecturer, National Breast Cancer Research Institute Principal Research Investigator and Emer Hennessy, Cancer Centre Research Manager, NUI Galway. Photo: Sean Lydon

A family in the West has raised over €11,000 for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute at NUI Galway and the Oncology Unit at Mayo University Hospital.

Dorothy Biesty, a mum of two from Ballyhaunis in Mayo, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last October – but thankfully due to the incredible care she received at BreastCheck Galway and the Oncology Unit in Castlebar, she is doing well and getting her life back on track.

To show their gratitude, Dorothy, her husband Austin and their girls Alicia and Shauna decided to organise a Shave or Dye fundraising event in their hometown.

The fundraiser took place at The Clock Bar in Ballyhaunis, receiving great support from family and friends.

Pink was the colour of the day with many people joining in the fun, having their hair cut and beards dyed, raising €11,077 in support of breast cancer care and research.

The money was divided evenly between the Oncology Unit in Castlebar and the National Breast Cancer Research Institute to help the development of breast cancer research.

Galway students invited to share experience of accommodation crisis

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August 15, 2022

Students across Galway have been invited to share their experiences of the student accommodation crisis in an online survey launched by Sinn Féin.

The survey is for students and apprentices to share their stories about how the housing crisis is impacting on their studies and wider college experience.

It was launched amid growing concerns among students about whether there will be sufficient suitable accommodation as the new academic term begins.

Speaking today, the party’s representative in Galway East Louis O’Hara, said that they want to hear from students in Galway about how the crisis is affecting them personally.

“There are huge numbers of students and families in Galway who are worried sick about how they will secure suitable college accommodation in time,” said O’Hara.

“Many are concerned they will have to make long, exhausting and expensive commutes to college because they can find nothing nearby. Students should be able to focus on their studies, not face the added stress and hassle of navigating the housing crisis.”

O’Hara said that students in Galway deserve better, and they need to see the accommodation crisis sorted out as a matter of urgency.

The survey is available here.

Galway business among Brown Thomas Pitch’22 finalists

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August 15, 2022

galway daily news brown thomas pitch 22 finalist from mervue galway — Yvonne Daly of Mervue Organic

Mervue Organic has been named among five finalists in Brown Thomas Arnotts’ Pitch’22, an initiative which gives start-ups a chance to retail in the department store.

The local company launched in February 2020 and produces organic skin and body care products such as cream cleansers, moisturisers and hydrating floral mists.

The products contain plant botanicals and superfruit extracts and are all grown, harvested and processed organically, sustainably and ethically.

Mervue Organic’s products carry the COSMOS Organic and Leaping Bunny Certifications and the Vegan Trademark.

The aim of the Pitch’22 initiative is to support Irish start-ups, small businesses, designers, makers and entrepreneurs across a host of sectors who already have a product or range developed.

The overall winner will receive €10,000 for business development.

This year’s finalists are responsible for developing products ranging from revolutionary make-up tools to organic skincare and art keepsakes; the line-up presents an exciting range of creative entrepreneurial talent.

Public invited to register for this year’s Sleep Out for Simon fundraiser

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August 15, 2022

galway daily news sleep out for simon community 2022

Homeless charity Galway Simon Community has launched its annual Sleep Out for Simon fundraising event which will take place on the night of Friday 30 September.

The event will see people from Galway and beyond give up their bed for one night to raise awareness and vital funds for those facing homelessness in the West.

Galway Simon has set itself a target of raising €100,000 from this year’s event, with 100% of proceeds going directly towards their Homelessness Prevention Services.

The charity has invited the public to get their flasks of tea and hot chocolate at the ready and pack into their warmest sleeping bags, for a jam-packed night on 30 September.

People can join one of the organised community sleep outs taking place across Galway city and county, and they can also organise their own event in a safe place of their choosing.

One participant from last year said it was “a great experience with my family raising money for such a good cause while also getting a greater understanding of homelessness and the fact that it can happen to anyone”.

Karen Golden, CEO of Galway Simon Community, explained why they are relying on the community to come together and raise funds for those living with the threat of homelessness.

“The fear and trauma of having nowhere to sleep is a stark reality for some, the families and individuals who we support continue to be under extreme pressure,” she said.

“We are asking for the help of our community so that we can continue delivering the support needed to protect the most vulnerable in our society from the threat of homelessness.”

Over the last two years the Sleep Outs took place virtually due to Covid-19 and were the most diverse to date.

People took part from across the globe, from Moycullen, Westport, Castlerea, to as far as Shanghai, with participants from Montessori groups to sports clubs to businesses and enterprises of all sizes.

The vital funds raised helped support more than 800 individuals and families across the West.

To register for the Sleep Out for Simon, visit sleepoutforsimon.ie.

Long Covid patients could overwhelm hospitals says local TD

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August 15, 2022

Denis Naughten TD has called on the Government to treat the surge in Long Covid patients with the same urgency as the initial Covid-19 infections.

The Roscommon-Galway TD says that Long Covid patients presenting to the health service with complex conditions would overwhelm hospitals as we begin to plan for a winter of overcrowding.

He said that in addition, these services will be put under considerable pressure due to recurring waves of Covid-19.

Symptoms of long Covid include fatigue and brain fog, which are experienced at least three months after the initial infection for significant periods of time, in some cases over 2 years.

Deputy Naughten has estimated that there are around 18,000 people with Long Covid in Galway, based on research from the Netherlands which suggests one in eight people with the virus develop longer lasting symptoms.

“We cannot just sleepwalk into a crisis of chronic illness, which will push people waiting on treatments since before the pandemic even further down already horrendous waiting lists,” said the Independent TD.

“We need to see this surge of long Covid patients managed with a co-ordinated response from Government, which based on responses that I have received previously has not been forthcoming.”

Naughten estimated that Dublin has the highest number of people suffering the long-term effects of Covid-19 with 100,650, with County Leitrim at the other end of the scale with 2,075.

The figures are based on research published earlier this month in The Lancet by a team of researchers in the Netherlands.

Research on blood donors published last month by the HSPC indicates that 69% of adults in Ireland have now been infected by the virus.

“In fact, The Lancet paper has described long Covid as ‘the next public health disaster in the making’ which clearly indicates that Government must now treat this illness and the patients with it as a matter of the utmost priority.”

Ten Galway clubs and community groups awarded funding

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August 15, 2022

Ten Galway projects have been awarded funding of up to €50,000 today under the government’s CLÁR scheme for rural projects.

Mountbellew Moylough GAA Club was allocated €50,000 for a walking/running track and improved parking and lighting, while Gort GAA Club is to receive €45,000 for an 850 metre walkway around its 20 acre site.

Kilchreest National School has also been awarded €50,000 under the scheme for a car park to allow access to the community walking track and pitch area.

A total of €7.4 million was announced for 175 groups and clubs across the country today.

Announcing the successful projects, Minister Heather Humphreys said that every community is different and the people who know best what their town, village or parish needs are the people who live there.

She said that it was for this reason that she broadened the scope of the CLÁR Programme this year to allow for a much wider range of eligible projects.

“The response from communities across the country has been overwhelming and that is evidenced by the diverse range and variety of successful projects under this year’s scheme,” said Minister Humphreys.

“I am pleased to award funding to a record number of applications this year. This funding will supports Sports Clubs, Schools, local Development Associations and other community groups in developing community facilities which will benefit people of all ages in our rural communities.”

Galway projects awarded funding

“The recent census results show that there are now more people living and working in rural Ireland than ever before. This hugely positive,” added Minister Humphreys.

Planning permission refused for Loughrea Leisure Centre

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August 15, 2022

Galway Daily sport Planning permission refused for Loughrea Leisure Centre

Galway County Council has refused planning permission for a new Leisure Centre with a swimming pool and gym in Loughrea.

Atlantic Troy Ltd sought the council’s approval for a Leisure Centre with a main swimming pool, kids pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym, and associated facilities on the Athenry Road.

The development was to built on a greenfield site adjacent to the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa, which is also owned by the developer.

However, the county council refused planning permission due to the “car and roads dominated” layout of the proposal.

The council said that the car parking provision was excessive, and that the design offered a poor street frontage.

The final plans included 124 car parking spaces, reduced from 138 in the initial design after consultation with the council

Concerns were also raised in the refusal about whether the developer had sufficient “legal estate or interest” in all of the land subject to the proposal.

NUI Galway & ATU get €6.5m for greener and more accessible campuses

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August 15, 2022

Galway Daily news ATU Languages Competition for secondary schools returns for 2nd year

NUI Galway and Atlantic Technological University have been awarded €6.5 million in funding for greener and more accessible campuses.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris has today announced a total of €40 million for improvements to higher education campuses.

The money must be used for improvements such as supporting universal access, energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects, general ICT and equipment-related upgrades, health & safety and building upgrades, and other minor works.

Atlantic Technological University, which spans Galway, Mayo, Sligo, and Donegal, has been allocated €3,979,631, while NUI Galway will receive €2,569,294.

“I’m delighted to announce a significant devolved capital grant for the higher education sector to support a range of capital priorities,” Simon Harris said today.

“Our third level sector faces significant challenges in responding to climate objectives and this fund will assist with making energy upgrades.”

He added that the funding will also help ensure that campuses in Ireland are inclusive and accessible to everyone.

“The funding can be used to make the necessary upgrades to make campuses accessible for people with disabilities, but it can also be used to help students to access laptops or other ICT requirements.”

Funding will be provided through the Higher Education Authority for all technological universities, institutes of technology and smaller colleges.

The only exceptions are the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) and the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies (DIAS), which are being included for the first time, and funded directly by the department of education.

City Council awarding grants to support live performances

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August 15, 2022

Galway Daily news grant for music groups

There is less than two weeks remaining for artists and performers to apply for Local Live Performance Programme Scheme.

Galway City Council is seeking applicants for the 4th round of the LLPPS grants for performances to take place this September and October.

The scheme is designed to support employment and wellbeing in the commercial arts and culture sectors through live performances.

The city council is looking for proposals from individuals, organisations, groups, promoters, producers, or venues for live performances they can organise.

The performances funded under this round of the scheme must take place between September 1 and October 31 of this year.

Grants of up to €30,000 are available to support events in Galway City.

The deadline for applications is August 26. Application forms and more information can be found at: https://www.galwaycity.ie/liveperformance.

Eligible Expenditure

Artists’ Wages & Fees
Technical Crew Wages & Fees
Production Technical Costs – Set Build/Rehearsals
Video Streaming Costs (Only if required due to restrictions)
Technical Equipment Hire
Management Costs (incl. Promoter / Producer fees)
Venue Costs (to include crew / overhead / payroll / For the duration of production only)
Health and Safety / Security
Intellectual Property Costs
Marketing & Promotion

Logistics company Rhenus doubling size of Galway facilities

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August 15, 2022

Galway Daily business Logistics company Rhenus doubling size of Galway facilities

Global logistics company Rhenus is doubling the size of its Galway City facilities in Parkmore.

The German company is building a multi-client warehouse at a new site in Parkmore, that will bring the total size of its Galway facilities to 20,000m².

Mayor of Galway Cllr Clodagh Higgins attended a sod turning on the project along with representatives of the company and IDA Ireland.

David Williams, CEO Rhenus Road, Region North Europe, said that the new facility “will allow Rhenus to unlock new opportunities and partner with businesses to provide world-class logistics and supply chain solutions.”

“We are excited to further build and leverage the knowledge of our Rhenus Ireland team.”

The Rhenus Group logistics company employs some 37,500 people globally, and has an annual turnover of €7 billion, providing transportation, warehousing, and customs clearance services.

The new 10,000m² Galway facility has already commenced construction, and is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Declan Sinnott, Managing Director of Rhenus Ireland added, “The opening of this new site builds on the strong customer relationships built by SSL management and staff over 20 years.”

“This new facility is part of our 2022-2027 development plan, providing for an increase in our logistics capacity for existing and new customers on the island of Ireland.”

IDA Ireland’s Head of Regional Business Development, Ray O’Connor said that the expansion is a vote of confidence in Rhenus’ Irish operations.

Ransomware a growing threat to small businesses

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August 15, 2022

Ransomware is a growing threat to small and medium businesses in Ireland, Gardaí and the National Cyber Security Centre have warned.

The NCSC and Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau have jointly warned business owners of an increased threat of ransomware.

Un a letter sent to Ibec’s Small Firms Association, the NCSC and GNCCB noted that they had observed a “a trend of small and medium-sized businesses being increasingly targeted by ransomware groups”.

In the past, these groups typically focussed on larger organisations. However, they noted that “recently there have been several smaller Irish businesses impacted by ransomware”.

The Director of the NCSC Richard Browne said, “We have been dealing with the threat of ransomware for some time; however, we have seen a noticeable change in the tactics of criminal ransomware groups”.

“Whereby, rather than largely focusing on Governments, critical infrastructure and big business, they are increasingly targeting smaller businesses.”

“This is a trend that has been observed globally, and Ireland is no exception with several businesses becoming victims of these groups in the past number of weeks.”

Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.

Often ransomware gangs also threaten to leak sensitive stolen data if a ransom is not paid.

In May 2021, the Health Service Executive was the victim of a devastating ransomware attack which crippled the central IT systems and had a significant impact on the delivery of health services nationwide.

The letter to Ibec’s Small Firms Association referred to guidance on how small and medium-sized businesses can take to prevent and recover from cyber-attacks such as ransomware.

The cyber authorities also cautioned against the payment of ransoms to criminal groups saying that they do not “encourage, endorse nor condone the payment of ransoms”.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary, Head of Bureau at the GNCCB, said “There is no guarantee that paying a ransom will lead to your data being successfully being decrypted or prevent the data from being leaked online.”

“In fact, it may lead to your organisation being targeted again, with some research showing that up to 80% of organisations that pay are attacked again.”

Appeal for people in Mid Galway to conserve water

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August 15, 2022