Athletes compete under glorious sunshine at Lough Cutra Castle Triathlon

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June 1, 2022

Galway Daily sport €40,000 on the table for Galway GAA clubs in Cúl Camps competition — 23 May 2022; Meath footballer Emma Duggan with xxx at the launch of the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps on-pack competition. Follow in the footsteps of Skryne GFC and your GAA club could win up to €25,000 in the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps on-pack competition. To nominate your GAA club today, all that is required is to purchase a promotional box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies or Bran Flakes. Using a unique on pack code, log on to kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/competition and nominate your club of choice. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

Galway GAA clubs from Carna to Caltra are in with a chance to win prizes worth up to €40,000 as part of the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps competition.

To date, more than 80,000 people have booked a place at the Cúl Camps this summer, which will run from June 27 to August 26.

There’s an added sense of excitement this year, as the summer programme is back running on all cylinders after the end of COVID restrictions.

Sarah Ferguson, Kellogg Ireland General Manager, said, “Based on incredible feedback and very popular engagement levels, we are delighted to officially launch the nationwide competition.”

“This is open for all GAA clubs across the country to be in with a chance to win prizes worth a total of €40,000.

“This on-pack competition provides GAA members with a great opportunity to raise vital funds for their club.”

“We want to encourage everyone to nominate their club to be in with a chance.

“Through our partnership with the Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps, we are very proud to support the grassroots of the GAA.”

The prizes available are Prizes available are €25,000 for first place, €10,000 for second place and €5,000 for third place.

To nominate a GAA club to win, simply purchase a promotional box of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies or Bran Flakes.

Using a unique on-pack code, log on to kelloggsculcamps.gaa.ie/competition and nominate a club of your choice.

Up-selling & Cross-selling – What’s the difference?

By

Thomas O'Brien

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June 1, 2022

Galway Daily business Boost your SME's digital presence with the Trading Online Voucher scheme

Many businesses continuously compete for a top spot in their respective markets, like Amazon in the e-commerce market, an online casino within the entertainment industry, and Apple in mobile manufacturing, just to name a few. Businesses offering a product or service need to master the art of selling, both online and offline. This ranges from the recommendations one sees at checkout to add to their shopping cart on e-commerce websites, all the way to the buy 1 get 1 free sales promotions used by a grocery store.

Terms are used to describe specific selling practices, with up-selling and cross-selling being two of the most commonly used. Continue reading below as we take a closer look at up-selling and cross-selling to explain the difference between them.

What is Up-selling?

Up-selling is offering a customer the opportunity to upgrade an item or service they are about to purchase. When up-selling a product or service, the new product or service being offered is usually of higher value and will ultimately make the company selling the product more money. So, the main advantage from the merchant’s point of view when up-selling is making a higher profit, while the customer receives a higher-end product for the extra money spent. However, up-selling can put customers off buying anything at all if they feel pressured into spending more than they can afford.

Example of Up-Selling

A customer is interested in buying a new television and they have come to the counter wanting to purchase a 43” television. Up-selling in this instance could be one of two things. It could be offering a bigger television, such as a 54” television that presents better value for money, even though it costs more to purchase. Another example of up-selling in this instance would be to present the customer with another 43” television but of a higher-quality brand such as Samsung, which comes with additional Smart TV features. This would obviously be more expensive for the customer; however, the customer might conclude that the more expensive television is more worth purchasing.

What is Cross-selling?

Cross-selling involves offering a customer the opportunity to purchase an item that is in some way related to the item they have already committed to buying. The additional item could be something that compliments the item they are buying, or it could be something that would enhance the experience of using the item they are first purchasing. As the customer is already spending money, it means they may be tempted to spend more on additional products. Cross-selling is beneficial to a company because it means selling more products in one transaction, while also enhancing the customer’s experience. Cross-selling also brings products to the attention of the customer they might not have previously known were available.

Examples of Cross-selling

Cross-selling regularly happens, especially when buying smartphones, for example when purchasing a new Apple iPhone, a customer can be offered a phone case, earphones, and a screen protector. The customer does not necessarily need these additional items, but they are all linked to the product they are buying.

Key Differences

The major difference between up-selling and cross-selling is that the former is aiming to make the customer upgrade the original item, and the latter is aiming to enhance their purchase with add-ons. Cross-selling also involves making the customer aware of the company’s catalogue of products, whereas up-selling adds value to the original purchase without offering additional items.

So, although they both generate more money for the business, they are different. Which method a company will use will depend on the customer in question and the type of product or service being purchased.

Worst May on record sees 761 on trolleys at UHG

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June 1, 2022

University Hospital Galway was the third most overcrowded in the country last month, with a total of 761 patients on trolleys in May.

This was the worst May on record for UHG according to the monthly figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

Last month’s numbers come to almost a hundred patients without a bed more than the next worst May since counting began, which was in 2017, when there were 671 on trolleys in the same period.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe there were 53 patients without a bed last month, just one higher than the same period in 2021, and half the worst level seen in 2015.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha said that it has been “another extremely difficult month” for staff in hospitals.

“May is traditionally a time in our hospitals where pressure begins to ease but our members have had no reprieve.”

“Nurses and other healthcare staff cannot be expected to sustain this type of pressure all throughout the summer.”

“If the Government and HSE are serious about retaining those who already work in the health service, meaningful action must be taken to ensure safe care conditions for both patients and staff.”

“No nurse wants to have to care for patients in sub-optimal conditions,” Phil Ní Sheaghdha said.

Overall there were 8,680 patients without a bed in Irish hospitals last month, with the worst case being, of course, UH Limerick, which accounted for 1,823 people on trolleys by itself.

Cork University Hospital was the second most overcrowded in the country, where 898 patients went without a bed, and UHG was tied in third place with Sligo.

The INMO is calling on the government to urgently reconvene the HSE’s Emergency Taskforce to discuss “realistic solutions” for overcrowding on a hospital by hospital basis.

Top Reasons for Getting a Master’s Degree

By

Thomas O'Brien

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June 1, 2022

After spending four years in college, a small percentage of grads discover the value of adding another layer to their educational resumes.

While less than one-tenth of four-year graduates choose to earn master’s degrees, those who do reap significant rewards in terms of higher earnings, a much wider selection of career paths, personal satisfaction, and as a stepping-stone toward a Ph.D. doctoral degree.

While it’s true that only the top tier of college and university grads move on to master’s programs, they do so for a varied list of reasons.

Some want to prepare themselves for a spot on a university faculty or professorship, while others simply wish to gain a clear advantage in the search for corporate or government jobs in an era of stiff competition.

Are you ready to take on the challenge? If so, keep your motivation high by remembering the many benefits that come to those who choose graduate school.

Financial Help Available

Those who want all the lifestyle advantages that come with earning a graduate degree often wonder how to pay tuition and related expenses.

Luckily, it’s possible to take out a student loan that can cover some or all the cost of getting a master’s diploma, no matter what the subject area, school, or length of the program.

For many college grads, private graduate student loans are the quickest and most cost-effective way to deal with the financial demands of post-college education.

In many cases, just for the purpose of comparison, it’s interesting to note that most master’s programs are just one or two years in length and come with lower total costs than a typical four-year college degree.

Access to Higher Lifelong Earnings

It’s long been true that those who hold advanced degrees earn higher lifelong incomes than those who don’t. That’s simply a basic fact of the way capitalist economies work.

Those with additional skills and educational achievements are in demand in nearly every career field.

In today’s highly competitive world, where specialized training and post-college educational degrees are valued by major corporations and educational institutions, grad school diplomas can spell financial success in multiple ways.

Wider Selection of Careers

If your goal is to teach at the university level or even at a local community college, having a master’s degree in any subject will open more doors than a four-year diploma.

Besides the field of education, advanced study qualifies you for numerous jobs and careers that are simply not available to high school and college graduates.

This is especially true in areas like scientific research, mathematics, technical, and analytical markets.

As a Ladder Toward a PhD

For a select few, the idea of obtaining a doctoral degree, or Ph.D., is the end goal of their studies. If you are in that group, obtaining a grad diploma is often a wise move.

Many Ph.D. programs prefer candidates who already have a year or two of after-college education under their belts. Keep in mind that doctoral degrees open up highly rewarding professional fields to those who spend the time earning a Ph.D. and aim to become psychologists, researchers, professors, and economists.

HSE Chief Paul Reid visits healthcare services across Galway

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June 1, 2022

Galway Daily news HSE Chief Paul Reid visits healthcare services across Galway

HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid visited healthcare services in Ballinasloe, Tuam, and Loughrea yesterday as part of a tour of the west of Ireland.

Mr Reid spent Tuesday in Galway as part of a two day visit to the west, which will be followed by more stops in Mayo and Roscommon today.

Yesterday he went to Portiuncula University Hospital in Ballinasloe, speaking with staff from multiple services such as the heart failure programme, and Quality and Safety.

Tuesday’s trip also included visits to Loughrea and Tuam Primary Care Centres, followed by an online meeting with local political representatives.

“Meeting staff and hearing the innovative ways they are working to benefit the lives of patients is a great way for me to get first hand feedback,” Paul Reid said.

He added that it was also an opportunity to thank staff for their work in recent years, praising the performance of frontline staff during COVID.

“Despite the interruption the pandemic caused, staff have progressed development of services that will benefit all.”

“I look forward to visiting many more colleagues and patients in other parts of the country throughout the summer.”

Mr Reid will continue his tour of the west today with visits to Mayo University Hospital, Castlebar Primary Care Centre, Regari Recovery College and Roscommon University Hospital Campus.

The purpose of this trip, which covers the three counties of the HSE Community Healthcare Organisation Area 2, is to see how Enhanced Community Care (ECC) planning is progressing, and to meet the staff working on Sláintecare.

Traffic lights out of action at Carnmore Cross

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June 1, 2022

Galway daily news Traffic lights at UHG out of action until next week

The traffic lights at Carnmore Cross near Galway Airport are expected to be out of action throughout the day.

Galway County Council has said that the ESB is carrying out works at the crossroads of the R339 and R381 today.

As a result of these works, the junction’s traffic lights will be down for Wednesday.

Motorists are advised to approach the junction with caution as a result.

Call for end to passport ‘discrimination’ against people in West

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May 31, 2022

galway Daily news Lockdown creates long delays in immigration and asylum services

A Galway TD has called on the Government to establish a passport office to serve people in the West of Ireland, calling for an end to ‘discrimination’ against people in the region.

Independent TD for Galway East Seán Canney said that people in the West have no option but to travel to Dublin or Cork for an emergency passport, which he said is ‘discrimination’.

Deputy Canney also called on Ryanair to be flexible in their approach to IDs for passengers travelling to Britain.

He said that the Irish airline insists on a passport only, while other airlines and ferries accept other forms of identity such as a public service card or a driving licence.

“There is a common travel area agreement between the UK and Ireland and the authorities do not require a passport,” said Deputy Canney.

“This move by Ryanair would help people going to the UK where passports have expired.

“Common sense should mean Ryanair would remove their rule in these times where the passport office is overrun with applications.”

Pride 2022: Month of educational talks planned for GUH staff

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May 31, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway Pride Week gets underway with flag raising in Eyre Square

Pride month at Galway University Hospitals will get underway this Frday with an information stand in the main foyer of UHG from 1pm until 2pm.

Maria Walsh MEP will launch the event at the hospital at 2pm, outlining a month of educational talks for staff focused on inclusion and diversity for both LGBT+ patients and staff.

Members of the public attending the hospital for appointments on the day are also welcome to attend.

Orla Sheil, Occupational Therapist at the hospital and a member of the Hospitals’ Pride working group, said that Pride month is an opportunity to increase awareness of healthcare issues and to educate staff to services available to LGBT+ patients.

Orla said that while there has been significant progress in Ireland to reduce discrimination against the LGBT+ community, more work needs to be done.

“Pride month is a time to both celebrate LGBT+ diversity and educate healthcare workers. Many people in Ireland are still feel afraid to disclose their sexual or gender identity.

“During the month of June we will be distributing rainbow lanyards to staff to use to wear with their work ID badges.

“By choosing to wear the rainbow lanyard, staff can show that Galway University Hospitals offers non-judgmental and inclusive care for all who identity as LGBT+.”

One mother who recently attend the Emergency Department with her son said: “I must say it was so lovely to see the doctor wear a rainbow lanyard. Visibility matters.

“As a concerned parent it felt reassuring that I didn’t feel like I had to worry about our family status being questioned.”

For more information on LGBT+ sexual identity and orientation, including supports, click here.

Pop-up event to reimagine the future of Headford town centre

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May 31, 2022

galway daily news headford main street meeting — Traders of Headford Main Street. Photo by Aengus McMahon

A free pop-up event will be held in Headford this Saturday, 4 June for the local community to get involved in reimagining a new future for the town’s centre.

Part of the Headfest festival line-up, the ‘Bloom Room’ event will discuss topics based on the ‘Reimagine Headford’ survey, which highlighted issues such as the declining main street, poor pedestrian experience and traffic management.

The event is a collaboration between Headford Town Team and architect and urban design specialist Deirdre Greaney, and a temporary space will be set up in a courtyard behind Mitchell & Co Solicitors on Headford Main Street.

Commenting on the event, Nathalie Weadick, Director of the Irish Architecture Foundation, said that we are at a major crossroads in Ireland as to how we use and reuse our town centres.

“With careful consideration, and the amazing work of people like the Headford Town Team, we have a chance to restore towns around Ireland to their vibrant hubs for every type of activity,” she said.

“This is a timely project, chiming with the objectives of ‘Places for People’, Ireland’s new national policy on architecture, which ambitiously calls for the regeneration of local areas through our built heritage.”

Also commenting on the event, a spokesperson for Headford Town Team said that Headford is a small town with a ‘big heart and a strong community spirit’.

“Our Town Team is seeking to channel and implement some big ideas for our Main Street, which tap into our fantastic creativity to model the town centre we want to have for future generations.

“With flowers, plants and pots for pollinators by McGaugh’s Garden Centre, an ‘imagination playground’ by Bricí Spraoi, live music by Eoin Stiffe, an ice-cream cart, Brown Bag Donuts and much more, we are inviting people to come and enjoy this temporary community space.”

Bloom Room, in association with the Irish Architecture Foundation, is taking place on Saturday 4th June, 11am-3pm.

Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta returns to Connemara this weekend

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May 31, 2022

Galway Daily sport Loughrea school adding all weather playing pitch

Leitir Móir is set to host the eagerly-awaited Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta this weekend, with the gaelic football festival returning for the first time since 2019.

The annual inter-Gaeltacht football tournament will take place at the club grounds of Cumann Peile Naomh Anna in Leitir Móir from Friday 3 June to Monday 6.

The festival will be officially launched on Friday at 9pm, with the first match throwing in on Saturday morning at 11am.

TG4, the competition’s main sponsor, will have coverage of the festival across all of its platforms including YouTube Spórt TG4. Eight games will be streamed live on the YouTube channel, with a further five games to be televised live on TG4.

Micheál Ó Domhnaill will present the games with commentary from Brian Tyers, Mac Dara Mac Donncha and Cuán Ó Flatharta.

Analysts will include some Comórtas Peile legends including Kerry’s Aodhán Mac Gearailt (An Ghaeltacht) Galway’s Seán Óg de Paor (An Cheathrú Rua) and Donegal’s Kevin Cassidy (Gaoth Dobhair).

Cork’s Rhona Ní Bhuachalla and Donegal’s Emer Gallagher will share their expert views on the Ladies Gaelic Football games.

The Ladies Senior Football Final will broadcast for the first time on TG4 on Bank Holiday Monday, 6 June and the Ladies Junior Final will be broadcast live on Spórt TG4’s YouTube channel on Sunday.

The weekend’s action will be previewed in the first programme of Spórt Iris, presented by Dara Ó Cinnéide and Gemma Ní Chionnaith live at 9.55pm on Friday night.

Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2022 schedule

Saturday 4 June

11:00	Men’s Quarter Finals – Junior	Boston Gaels v Clann na nGael	YouTube Spórt TG4
13:15	Ladies Preliminary Rounds – Junior	Cumann Peile Naomh Anna v Na Gaeil Óga	YouTube Spórt TG4
15:00	Men’s Quarter Finals – Seniors	Baile Átha an Ghaothraidh v Bearna	YouTube Spórt TG4
17:00	Men’s Quarter Finals – Junior	Winners Preliminary Rounds A v B	YouTube Spórt TG4
19:00	Men’s Quarter Finals – Seniors	1 v 2 preliminaries	YouTube Spórt TG4

Sunday 5 June

11:00	Men’s Semi – Final Game	Páirc an Mhaimín	YouTube Spórt TG4
13:15	Ladies Semi – Finals	Naomh Anna v Cill Chomáin	YouTube Spórt TG4
15:00	Ladies Final – Junior	Páirc an Mhaimín	YouTube Spórt TG4
17:00	Men’s Semi – Final – Senior	Páirc an Mhaimín	TG4
19:00	Men’s Semi – Final – Senior	Cumann Peile Naomh Anna v Winners C	TG4

Monday 6 June

12:00	Men’s Final – Junior	Páirc an Mhaimín	TG4
14:00	Ladies Final – Senior	Páirc an Mhaimín	TG4
16:00	Senior Men’s Final	Páirc an Mhaimín	TG4

Over 50 patients on trolleys in Galway today

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May 31, 2022

University Hospital Galway is the second most overcrowded in the country today, with 51 patients on trolleys in the emergency department.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe there are a further seven patients without a bed, one in the ED, and six in the wards.

Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that there were a total of 470 patients in Irish hospitals who did not have a bed as of counting this morning.

As usual, UH Limerick was the worst affected by overcrowding, with 95 patients waiting on trolleys in the emergency department and wards.

UHL and UHG had a significant, if unwelcome lead on the next worst affect hospital in Sligo, where there are 44 patients waiting for a bed.

COVID-19 paitents

There were a total of 14 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Galway’s hospitals as of Monday evening, nine at UHG and five at Portiuncula Hospital.

Of these three people have been admitted to the ICU, two in Galway City and one at Portiuncula.

Four Galway sports groups awarded almost €250k on successful appeals

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May 31, 2022

Four Galway groups have been awarded almost a quarter of a million in grant funding, after successfully appealing an earlier rejection.

There has been an additional €6.4 million allocated under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme announced today.

These grants are for 108 different groups around the country which successfully appealed an earlier rejection under the 2020 round of funding.

The successful appellants in Galway were Coiste Pairc na Forbacha – Furbo Pitch Committee, Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán Teo in Lettermore, Creggs RFC, and Inishbofin Development Co.

Creggs RFC has been allocated €118,766.91 to enhance it facilities for female players, and players with special needs.

Comhairle Ceantar na nOileán Teo will get €110,348.74 for a multi-sports pitch in Lettermore.

Coiste Pairc na Forbacha has been awarded a grant of €11,854.33 for a community walkway, and €7,006.79 will go to Inishbofin Development Co. for work on the island’s sports facilities.

Minister Catherine Martin said that this programme is essential for providing sports facilities around the country.

“To achieve our aims of having as many people participate in sport as possible, we need the required pitches, dressing rooms, floodlights etc.”

The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme is used by clubs and other groups to build sports and recreational facilities, as well as for buying non-personal equipment.

The additional appeals grants announced today are on top of the €143.86 million in funding announced in February for the 2020 applicants.

Minister of State Jack Chambers added that he has seen first hand the “huge difference” that the programme can make.

“It is one of the highlights of my job to meet the volunteers such as those behind the clubs and groups receiving grants today and see the real improvements the grants make to their organisations.”

To date, over €1.15 billion has been awarded under the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme since it first began in 1998.

Lifeboat volunteer takes the Helm

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May 31, 2022

Galway Daily news Lifeboat volunteer takes the Helm — Photo Credit: RNLI

Lifeboat volunteer Steve Smyth, who was inspired to join the RNLI by his own rescue, has taken the helm at Lough Derg after two years of training.

Steve became a volunteer with Lough Derg RNLI in 2018, having been inspired by his own rescue eight years prior, an event which made him want to give something back to the lifesaving charity.

Having friends who were already volunteers with the RNLI, including his brother-in-law Owen, a senior helm at Lough Derg, he had good insight into what was required to train as a crew with the lifeboat.

In 2020, just as lockdown restrictions were being imposed, Steve began his own training to qualify as a helmsman of the inshore lifeboat.

Undaunted by the challenging circumstances, he pushed on with the programme through online classes, training on the water with crew, and with Helena Duggan, the station’s Assessor Trainer.

When asked about becoming a RNLI lifeboat helm, Steve said that it wasn’t just him, but everyone at the station, and all those who support its efforts, who had helped achieve this.

“It is a team effort. We can’t go afloat without the support, time and effort of each other. We are all one crew.

“I also want to thank our Assessor Trainer Helena Duggan for all her advice and guidance, Mark Mitchell who carried out the pass out, to Eleanor and Chris, my excellent crew on the day and Cathy, the on-duty Deputy Launching Authority”.

Steve says he will now endeavour to maintain the high standards and professionalism shown by the helms and crew at the station.

“When the call comes to help, I have faith that my training and experience will enable me to make the correct decisions day or night.”

“As all RNLI volunteers are aware, it is the understanding from our families that enables us to fulfil our roles,” Steve said.

“I want to say a huge thanks for the support and encouragement from my wife Clodagh and my two boys Cathal and Darragh.”

Remote Working survey finds 95% think it makes life easier

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May 31, 2022

A Galway team’s third annual survey on remote working has found that almost 95% of people believe that it makes life easier.

Between late April and early May, researchers from NUI Galway and the Western Development Commission gathered survey responses from more than 8,400 employees nationwide.

Among their findings were that just 8% of workers have returned to the office full time, while more than half are working hybrid, and 40% are fully working from home.

It also found that remote working is increasingly becoming a priority for employees, with 30% of people saying that they would change jobs if their requirements were not met.

A third of those would be willing to move to another job in order to work from home, even if it meant taking a pay cut.

Minister for Rural and Community Affairs, Heather Humphreys highlighted that accommodating remote working can help companies to “attract and retain talent” at a time when there are shortages in the labour market.

“So much excellent work has been done in the last few years to support remote workers and employers”.

“These survey results will build on that work, providing up-to-date information on remote working experience of employees.”

“I have no doubt that this will help enable us to make the right decisions at this crucial time,” Heather Humphreys said.

She highlighted the investment in Digital Hubs as one way in which the government is enabling remote working, investment in the network of which is set to continue throughout 2022.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than half of employees in Ireland, 58 percent, had never worked from home or outside of the office before.

Far from reducing productivity, 49% of the people surveyed said that they work more hours while remote working, while just 6% said that they put in fewer.

Obviously not having to commute each morning and evening saves people a great deal of time in the day.

The top five activities that people reported spending that extra time on include household duties (e.g. cleaning, shopping, DIY); exercise; working on their main job; relaxation; and caring responsibilities.

People were also optimistic about how it affects their career future, with 49% saying they think it has no impact on promotion opportunities, 33% did not yet know they impact, and 9 percent each felt that it had a positive or negative impact on promotion opportunities.

This is the third such annual survey the team in Galway has carried out since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Prof Alma McCarthy of NUI Galway highlighted how they have changed it up over time.

“We added a new module asking if remote working was a key factor in changing employer and career decision making.”

“It is interesting to see that of those who changed employer since the outbreak of Covid-19, nearly half – 47% – indicated that remote working was a key factor in their decision to change employer.”

The reports from the 2020 and 2021 Remote Working Surveys are available from NUI Galway’s Whitaker Institute here.

Specialist Parkinson’s nurse for Galway University Hospitals

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May 31, 2022

Galway University Hospitals are due to get a welcome addition to the medical staff with the recruitment of a specialist Parkinson’s nurse.

Galway TD Denis Naughten said that the HSE has confirmed that recruitment plans for an advanced nurse practitioner are at advanced stage.

The HSE told him it was finalising the job specifications for the full-time post in Galway.

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive brain condition, which primarily affects people’s motor functions, such as causing stiffness, tremors, or slowness of movement.

An advanced nurse practitioner specialising in Parkinson’s Disease helps patients live with their condition through monitoring and managing their prescriptions.

This is meant to help people with the disease enjoy a better quality of life, and reduce their need to travel to hospital for appointments.

Deputy Naughten said that it also provides a “vital link” for patients and their families to clear information and supports.

“I welcome this news and hope that recruitment for this position will now proceed without delay,” he said.

Approval sought for 36 houses in Ballinasloe

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May 31, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway County Council has granted planning permission for a housing development in Headford

Planning permission is being sought for a residential development of 36 houses on the east side of Ballinasloe.

Leadlane (Ballinasloe Ltd has submitted plans to the county council for a housing estate on Church Street/Dublin Road in the east Galway town.

This development would be located next to the existing Roscarn estate, and another permitted, but as yet unbuilt estate of 38 homes by the same developer.

The housing in this application mostly consists of semi-detached homes, along with four terraced houses, and two fully detached units.

The houses are all two storey units, with a mix of two and three bedroom units.

A planning statement for the project states that it is proposed that four houses will be transferred to the county council.

This is to fulfill the legal requirement that 20% of new residential developments must be set aside for social or affordable housing.

Vehicle traffic to this estate would be through the access road for the permitted housing estate to the west, with which there would also be pedestrian links.

The plans include two car parking spaces per house, along with five visitor spaces, for a total of 77 spaces.

One fifth of all the parking spaces will be equipped with electric vehicle charging points.

There have been four public submissions made to the county council concerning this application to date.

These raise concerns about overlooking of adjacent bungalows, and that the local primary school is at full capacity.

A decision is due from the county council on this planning application by June 26 of this year.

Eight Galway groups shortlisted for Lottery Good Causes awards

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May 30, 2022

Galway daily news galway syndicate claims 133,000 euro prize

Eight clubs and other worthy groups in Galway have been named as the county winners of the National Lottery Good Causes Awards 2022.

The Good Causes Awards were created by the National Lottery to distribute funding from money spent on the lotto, back to groups, causes, and individuals in local communities.

Nearly 30 cent of every euro spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes all over the country.

Announcing the county winners today, National Lottery CEO, Andrew Algeo, said that these entries “exemplified the positive impact” that these groups are having in their communities.

“Celebrating the inspirational work being carried out by these extraordinary beneficiaries, and recognising the effect that they have on their communities, is exactly what the Good Causes Awards are all about.”

The winning groups in Galway are:

Galway Film Fleadh (Junior Galway Film Fleadh)
Row to Recovery
The Galway Sub Aqua Club
Youth Work Ireland Galway
Gaillimh le Gaeilge
Muintearas Teoranta
Connacht Hockey
Lough Grainey Nature Sanctuary

The awards, which culminates in a Gala Awards Dinner in October, has seven main categories: Sport, Health & Wellbeing, Heritage, Arts & Culture, Community, Youth and Irish Language.

The 118 County Finalists will now compete for a place in the National Finals judging phase next month, after which the 35 National Finalists will be announced.

The total prize fund for the Good Causes Awards is €130,000 and each of the 35 finalists will win €1,000 when they are announced in June.

At the awards ceremony in October, each of the seven category winners will receive €10,000, and the overall national winner will take home an additional €25,000.

Swimming ban at Spiddal beach due to bacteria

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May 30, 2022

Galway Daily news Swimming ban at Spiddal beach due to bacteria

A swimming ban is currently in place at Trá na mBan beach in Spiddal due to water contamination by bacteria.

Galway County Council detected elevated levels of bacteria in water samples taken last Thursday, May 26.

This is suspected to be related to high levels of rainfall in the days preceding this.

Further water samples were taken last Friday, and the results of these tests are expected this week.

In the mean time, visitors to the beach are advised to avoid swimming in or splashing the water, and not to swallow any.

Overall Trá na mBan consistently has had ‘Excellent’ water quality test results since 2014, and this type of contamination is typically short-lived.

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May 30, 2022