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Galway targeted in €500m regional cities investment programme

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily tourism Galway named one of the Top 10 cities in the world by renowned travel magazine

Five regional cities including Galway will be targeted by a €500 million post-COVID investment programme to expand businesses, and build homes.

The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund announced that half a billion euro will be directed to Galway, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny, and Waterford.

The goal of this is to create new places to live and work in the cities, helping to regenerate city centres.

The investment programme will be aimed towards scaling up successful start-up businesses, to reach the €1bn “unicorn” valuation within 5 years.

Another cornerstone of the programme will be funding the delivery of 25,000 homes by 2030.

The four pillars of the ISIF programme are Housing and Infrastructure, Climate, Scaling Businesses, and Food and Agriculture.

Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe described this programme as “long-term transformational investments”, targeting key challenges facing the country.

He said that the €500 million programme would help unlock the full potential of the five cities.

ISIF Director Nick Ashmore said, “Our new strategy shows just how flexible and adaptable ISIF can be in targeting its resources in the most effective manner possible to support examine activity and employment in Ireland”.

“This programme will generate economic benefits, supporting employment and making Ireland a more sustainable, competitive and attractive place both for the people who live here and the employers who can create jobs for them.”

“Our new strategy also sets out a range of investment programmes that will back scaling-up businesses; deliver additional housing to build on our progress to date; and underpin the ambition displayed in our domestic food and agri sector, which has become a true global success story.”

Galway GAA announce partnership with CityLink

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Extra bus and train capacity added for fans headed to Football Semi-Final

Galway GAA and CityLink coach company have announced a transport partnership, for this year and the next at least.

CityLink will serve as the county’s official transport partner for all Inter-County Football and Hurling Squads travelling to and from away games.

The partnership has been confirmed for the remainder of the 2022 season, with plans to extend it into next year.

“Galway GAA are delighted to be working in partnership with Citylink as our Official Transport Partner, said Matt Gottsche of Galway GAA.

“Since the inception of this partnership earlier this year the quality of service provided by Citylink has been exceptionally across all our teams from our Academy through to Senior.”

“We look forwarding to building this partnership from the remainder of 2022 and into the future.”

CityLink has been operating inter-city coach services since 2003, currently running five main routes serving Irelands major towns and cities including Galway, Dublin, Limerick, and Cork.

The company employs some 2,000 people in Ireland, spread across those same four cities.

“We are delighted to begin this exciting journey with Galway GAA to become their Official Transport Partner” says Ciara Rosney, Head of Marketing and Public Relations for Irish Citylink.

“Galway is where Citylink began almost 20 years ago, so we are extremely proud to get even more involved with our community and support our local GAA teams.”

“We look forward to building a lasting relationship and are extremely excited to unveil our new Galway GAA branded coach very soon.”

Cost of Living protest planned for Galway City

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Briain Kelly
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galway daily news Cost of Living protest planned for Galway City

A protest against inaction on the spiraling cost of living amid rising inflation is planned for Galway City this weekend.

The Cost of Living Coalition is holding a protest in Eyre Square on Saturday, saying that, with inflation at a 38 year high, it is time to take to the streets.

A statement from the group said, “Across the board prices are rising with energy costs clearly out of control. Electricity has risen by 41%, Gas by 61% and home heating oil by 102%.”

“Food prices are also steadily rising. Clothing and footwear went up by almost 2% in the last month alone. Rents are up by 10%.”

“It is now clear that there is no let up for households throughout the country. The idea that rising inflation was temporary has now been shattered.”

The group said that it is not acceptable for government ministers to say that we have to wait until the budget.

The planned protest in Galway is scheduled to take place in Eyre Square at 2pm on Saturday, June 18.

The speakers will include representatives from trade unions, Community Action Tenants Union (CATU), People Before Profit, the Socialist Party and Sinn Féin.

Galway to house new European supercomputer

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway to house new European supercomputer

Galway has been chosen to house Ireland’s new state of the art European supercomputer.

Ireland is one of five successful countries, along with Germany, Hungary, Greece and Poland, chosen to operate the next generation of European High Performance Computing.

The new EuroHPC supercomputer will be houses at NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for High-End Computing.

When installed, it will be around 25 times more powerful than the current national supercomputer Kay, providing a powerful tool for scientific research and data modelling.

The announcement of EU funding is the first step in a process which will be completed subject to national co-funding arrangements.

President of NUI Galway Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said, “The key benefit of a super-computing technology of this excellence is its capacity to model complexity and to radically expand our research opportunities.”

“Our core values at NUI Galway include openness and respect and computing infrastructure of this capacity will be a significant asset in that regard as it futureproofs our approach to research”.

“It also fits with so many aspects of our research strategy, using data to support research and policy-making in the environment, marine, healthcare, and in supporting a good society.”

EuroHPC supercomputers will be available to serve a wide range of European users, including  the scientific community, industry and the public sector.

They will be used to power a wide range of areas, from designing medicines and new materials to fighting climate change; they will advance science and boost the innovation potential of enterprises.

Prof J-C Desplat of the ICHEC enthused that Ireland’s computer will enable the “next generation of data-centric techniques”, which will embed machine learning in mainstream science models.

Prof Jim Livesey, Vice President Research and Innovation, NUI Galway, said, “The key feature of machine of this nature is its capacity to model complexity.”

“As weather patterns change, as the future of distributed energy networks change, as we attempt to predict food supply needs of the future, we need a totally new kind of computing capacity to support our endeavours in these areas for the public good.”

NUI Galway’s Prof Breda Smyth taking over as interim Chief Medical Officer

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news NUI Galway's Prof Breda Smyth taking over as interim Chief Medical Officer

NUI Galway’s Professor Breda Smyth has been announced as the interim Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health.

Professor Smyth is replacing Dr Tony Holohan, who is retiring at the end of this month after 14 years on the job.

She will take up the role of interim CMO from July 4, pending the completion of an open competition for a permanent replacement.

Professor Smyth has extensive clinical experience and has specialised in public health for the last 16 years.

She is currently Professor for Public Health Medicine in NUI Galway and Consultant in Public Health in HSE West.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said that he was conscious the need to have someone in the Chief Medical Officer’s seat to continuing monitoring the situation with COVID-19, while awaiting a permanent replacement.

“Professor Smith has a unique skill set with the requisite mix of academic, policy and frontline experience having provided leadership, expert and professional guidance of Public Health nationally and in HSE West over the last number of years.”

“She has contributed significantly to the national response to COVID-19 in her many roles throughout the management of the pandemic.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Breda Smyth served on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), as well as the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group.

She was also the Chief Investigator for the UniCov study lead by NUI Galway, which aimed to facilitate a return to campus through rapid testing and intervention.

The role of the Chief Medical Officer for the Department of Health was not one of great public awareness prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recent years, Dr Holohan, and his deputy Dr Ronan Glynn, have been the public face of the government’s response to the pandemic on a daily basis.

Prof Smyth said that she is excited to work will colleagues at the Department to build on the work done before and during the pandemic, to promote public health.

“The pandemic has placed a spotlight on public health, and I look forward to the opportunity to advance the public health agenda through important, cross-government initiatives like Healthy Ireland and Sláintecare.”

She added that these would help to “improve the health and wellbeing of the entire population, including marginalised groups, and continuing to address inequities in health.”

Gardaí warn of email fraud impersonating An Garda Síochána

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news missing teen found safe

Gardaí are warning the public to be careful of email fraud where scanners are threatening them with over fake crimes.

There have been reports of people receiving scam emails claiming to be from An Garda Síochána.

The fraudsters claim that their computer is to be seized in connection with an investigation into “child pornography – Paedophilia – Cyber pornography – Sex trafficking or some similar ‘judicial’ claim,” a Garda spokesperson said.

“Gardaí are advising the public that An Garda Síochána does not and will not make contact with a person under investigation in this way.”

Gardaí are advising people not to respond to unsolicited emails seeking personal or financial information, or to click any links in an unsolicited emails.

If you receive an email you think might be genuine, verify it and any requests it makes independently from the sender.

“We would urge anybody who has received similar correspondence and has any concern about it to contact their local Garda station for advice.

‘An Garda Síochána also appeals to any person who may have inadvertently or otherwise engaged with this scam, or any similar scam, and subsequently been a victim of this type of fraud to report it to their local Garda Station.”

Headford Road social housing plans before An Bord Pleanála

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news An Bord Pleanála refuses approval of Headford Road social housing

Galway City Council have lodged an appropriate assessment application with An Bord Pleanála for a social housing development on the Headford Road.

The council intends to build an social housing apartment complex, and Traveller Accommodation units, on a site in Ballinfoyle.

The council has now made an Appropriate Assessment Application for this project to An Bord Pleanála.

This is a requirement under Sec 177AE of the Planning and Development Act 200 for certain developments by local authorities, where the Bord must determine the likely environmental impacts of the project.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make a decision on this application by November 21 of this year.

The housing will consist of a three storey apartment building, with rooftop solar panels, and three Traveller Accommodation homes.

The apartment building will contain a total of 21 units, with three one-bedroom apartments, 14 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units.

Each of the Traveller Accommodation units will be a two storey building, with four bedrooms apiece.

The social housing development will also include a children’s play area and multi-use games area to the rear of the site, and open green areas to the front.

The documents related to this development can be viewed online, or at city hall up to July 18.

Club Hurling Championship Draws to take place this evening

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport Club Hurling Championship Draws to take place this evening

The Galway Club Hurling Championship Draws will take place in Loughrea this evening.

The Championship Draws will take place at the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa from 7:30pm.

The senior and intermediate draws will be broadcast live on Galway Bay FM.

The Division 1 Hurling League final between Loughrea and Turloughmore will also take place tomorrow evening at Kenny Park in Athenry.

The Division 1 Final was originally meant to take place last Sunday, and the Championship Draw on Monday.

Both events were postponed as a mark of respect following the passing of Phelim Murphy, a titan of Galway Hurling.

The funeral for the beloved Turloughmore man took place yesterday, after his passing last Friday.

Galway top destination in Ireland for people moving for remote working

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Coast Guard, RNLI, and Water Safety Ireland appeal for swimmers to stay safe this Christmas

Galway is the top destination in Ireland for people who are considering relocating due to the availability of remote working.

The National Remote Working Survey by NUI Galway and the Western Development Commission found that 10.1% of people who are considering relocating said that Galway is the place in Ireland that they would most like to move to.

Coastal counties were clearly people’s preferred destinations, as the next most sough after counties are Cork (9.2%), and Wicklow (5.9%).

But more even than moving to the coast, there are a large number of people who want to move out of Ireland altogether, with 16.8% saying that they would consider moving out of Ireland.

This is the third annual National Remote Working Survey carried out by the Western Development Commission, and NUI Galway’s Whitaker Institute.

Of the people who responded to the survey, some 10% said that they had already relocated due to the pandemic, and remote working.

“This supports anecdotal evidence and stories that are familiar to many of friends and colleagues that have moved to more regional and rural locations,” said Tomás Ó Síocháin, chief executive of the WDC.

“This trend highlights the importance of remote work in supporting balanced regional development and initiatives like the ConnectedHubs network and legislative support for remote work can sustain these trends into the future.”

Of those who have already moved, nearly two-thirds had left Dublin, while 7.4% had moved out of Galway.

Other findings from the analysis shows that those who have relocated have a higher level of formal education with 48% of those who have relocated having a masters or doctoral degree.

The survey also highlighted that more women than men have relocated and of those who already relocated because they can work remotely 46% rented their home, and 54% owned their home.

Approval sought for 44 houses in Ballinasloe

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

Planning permission is being sought for a residential development of 44 houses at Poolboy in Ballinasloe.

Two separate planning applications have been made by Crownbell Ltd to the County Council, one for 38 houses, and another for 6 homes.

Both are to be located on an infill site at the existing Cuil Na Canalacht estate on the south side of the town.

In total, the two developments would comprise 20 three-bed, semi-detached houses, and 24 three-bed townhouses.

A Natura Impact Assessment is to be submitted with these planning application.

A decision is due from Galway County Council on these two planning application by August 2 of this year.

Point Lonsdale needs to rediscover best form to shock Coroebus

By
Thomas O'Brien
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Point Lonsdale enhanced his glowing reputation at Royal Ascot in 2021 with a brilliant performance at the Chesham Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien’s charge was seemingly a horse on the rise with the world at its feet, especially in Ireland, where he was downright dominant.

However, the first sign of an issue came in the Vincent O’Brien National Stakes at Curragh at the end of the campaign.

The Irish thoroughbred was considered the leading contender for the contest after reeling off five wins on the bounce, including one at Curragh earlier in the term. However, he was beaten out by Native Trail in the contest, losing out by a comfortable margin to Charlie Appleby’s charge.

Point Lonsdale has since suffered a further blow in the 2000 Guineas Stake when he placed down in 10th at Newbury Racecourse, leaving him with work ahead to salvage his reputation. A chance will come at the St. James’s Palace Stakes, where he is backed in the Royal Ascot betting odds at 14/1 to win the event, although it will take a monumental turnaround for O’Brien’s charge.

O’Brien was once the king of the St James’s Palace Stakes, winning the event six times between 2000 and 2009. And although he holds the record for the most victories by eight, the Irishman has only had two winners in the last 12 years, with Circus Maximus his last successful entry in 2019.

There are a lot of quality competitors that are scheduled to compete in one of the signature events of Royal Ascot, notably Coroebus, who dominated the field in the 2000 Guineas in May. Point Lonsdale was a strong contender at 11/2 for the crown, only a shade behind Coroebus in the minds of the bookmakers, although Native Trail was the favourite in the betting odds to win the first UK Classic of the season.

Coroebus laid down a pace in the final stretch that not even his stable-mate could match, while O’Brien’s was never in contention and finished seven-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. As a result, there is a big bridge to cross for the Irish thoroughbred if he is able to restore his reputation in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

O’Brien’s record in the event is in the favour of Point Lonsdale to return to winning ways, although the dominance of Native Trail and Coroebus out of Appleby’s yard is a concern.

Appleby has not won the St James’s Palace Stakes in his illustrious career and will be determined to get over the line for the first time. Pinatubo was his best shot at success in 2020 in the race, but he faced off against a quality competitor in the form of Palace Pier out of John Gosden’s yard and was beaten by a length.

It has not been a race where Godolphin have enjoyed a lot of success, despite the quality available to them. Barney Roy was their last successful charge in 2017 from Richard Hannon’s yard, and the demand for success will be high.

O’Brien may look to capitalise on their eagerness, although the odds are stacked in the favour of Coroebus and Native Trail ahead of Point Lonsdale. The Irish thoroughbred needs to flash the brilliance of last summer to cause a stir at Royal Ascot.

Award winning Galway composer Eímear Noone receives honourary doctorate

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Award winning Galway composer Eímear Noone receives honourary doctorate
Photo: Aengus McMahon

The award winning composer and Galway native Eímear Noone has been awarded an honorary doctorate by her alma mater, NUI Galway.

The award-winning artist and creator of scores for 26 film and video game titles was conferred a Doctor of Music honoris causa at the university’s summer conferring.

The honorary conferring took place at a special graduation celebration for more than 150 former students who completed studies in 2021 and whose winter conferring was postponed.

It was also a chance for graduates who completed studies in 2020, and were conferred in absentia due to public health restrictions, to get their day in the sun.

A world-renowned conductor and award-winning composer, Eímear Noone is based out of Los Angeles and Dublin.

Originally from Kilconnell, she made history in 2020 when she became the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the Academy Awards.

She said that she was delighted to receive the Honorary Doctorate of Music, and this this year was a special time for it.

“It’s particularly poignant that it’s the same year that the first students of the university’s Bachelor of Music are graduating from NUI Galway.”

“To be honoured in my own home county, in Galway, is so meaningful and overwhelming,” Eímear said.

“If I was to offer any advice to the graduates of today it’s this –  take the ‘don’t be bold’ that we are told as kids, and turn it on its head, and go out there and be bold.”

One Galway name on latest tax defaulters list

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Briain Kelly
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galway daily news €3 million for funding community facilities in Galway

A orthodontic surgeon who underpaid income tax and VAT is the one Galway name on the latest list of tax defaulters from the Revenue Commissioners.

A total of nine settlements coming to €11.6 million are on the tax defaulters list published by the Revenue for the first three months of this year.

In Galway, orthodontic surgeon Hugh Gordan, of Dock Street in the city, reached a settlement of €250,218 with the Revenue, which has been fully paid.

This related to an audit case of €172,071 in under-declared Income Tax and VAT.

The largest settlement by far, almost all of the total so far published this year, was €9,984,534 by fuel wholesaler Glendalough Stores Limited.

The who sum of this settlement by the Drogheda company, which is now in liquidation, remained unpaid as of March 31.

There were also 44 people issued fines by the courts totaling €88,950 in the first three months of the year.

 

Galway men set off on 5,000km row across the ocean

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway men set off on 5,000km row across the ocean
Photo: @emjcamera

Two Galway men have set off on a 5,000km odyssey, attempting to break the world record as they row from New York to Galway.

Lifelong friends Damian Browne and Fergus Farrell are crossing the Atlantic in Project Empower, raising money for four local charities as they do.

Two two men set off from New York on Monday, and expect to hopefully arrive at the docks in just under eight weeks.

You can track their progress across the ocean at projectempower.ie, as they attempt to break the existing record.

The existing record for an unsupported row across the Atlantic Ocean has been unbeaten for the past 120 years.

In total, there have been 52 such attempts, but only 18 of them even managed to complete the crossing.

Of these, six successful crossings have been made by pairs, another six by solo rowers, five by a group of four people, and one team of five.

The pairs world record is held by Norwegians George Harboe and Frank (Gabriel) Samuelsen who were the first pair to attempt the row.

They crossed from New York to the Scilly Isles in 1896 in a time of 55 days and 13 hours.

People can still donate to Project Empower to support the work of the Galway Simon Community, National Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Ability West and Madra.

Five Connacht players named for Irish side on New Zealand tour

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily rugby Aki and Fryday named Guinness Rugby Writers Players Of The Year

The 40 man Ireland squad for the five game tour of New Zealand this summer has been named, and includes five Connacht players.

Andy Farrell, head coach for Connacht and the national squad, has included Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Finlay Bealham, Dave Heffernan, and Cian Prendergast in the Irish side.

This is Ireland’s first tour of New Zealand since 2012, and the first chance the country has had to go on a full tour since before the pandemic.

Ireland will play three Test matches against New Zealand in Auckland, Dunedin and Wellington as well as two fixtures against the Māori All Blacks in Hamilton ahead of the first Test and in Wellington following the second Test.

There are five uncapped players included in the squad Ciaran Frawley, Joe McCarthy, Jimmy O’Brien (all Leinster), Jeremy Loughman (Munster) and Cian Prendergast (Connacht).

There are a further 12 players included who have won less than 10 caps for Ireland – Harry Byrne, Craig Casey, Gavin Coombes, Mack Hansen, James Hume, Michael Lowry, Ryan Baird, Dave Heffernan, Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney and Kieran Treadwell.

Robert Baloucoune, Andrew Conway, Chris Farrell and Ronan Kelleher have been ruled out of the tour through injury.

Andy Farrell said, “This is the start of our Rugby World Cup campaign and it is going to be a fantastic challenge for our group facing five massive tests across the three weeks.”

“Due to Covid we haven’t had an opportunity to tour and touring plays a massive role in teams gelling together and building cohesion on and off the field.”

“This group could also be the last to play a Test series in New Zealand which makes it even more special.”

We will learn so much about the players and the group as a whole as we have to front up for five incredibly tough fixtures, far from the comforts of home and in grounds where the home support will greatly outnumber travelling Irish fans.”

Connacht’s Senior Coach Peter Wilkins will also join the national coaching group for the duration of the tour to assist in team preparation.

Ireland 2022 Summer Tour Squad

Backs (18)
Bundee Aki (Connacht/Galwegians) 37 caps
Harry Byrne (Leinster/Lansdowne) 2 caps
Joey Carbery (Munster/Clontarf) 32 caps
Craig Casey (Munster/Shannon) 5 caps
Keith Earls (Munster/Young Munster) 96 caps
Ciaran Frawley (Leinster/Skerries) uncapped
Jamison Gibson Park (Leinster) 17 caps
Mack Hansen (Connacht) 4 caps
Robbie Henshaw (Leinster/Buccaneers) 57 caps
James Hume (Ulster/Banbridge) 3 caps
Hugo Keenan (Leinster/UCD) 20 caps
Jordan Larmour (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 30 caps
James Lowe (Leinster) 12 caps
Michael Lowry (Ulster/Banbridge) 1 cap
Conor Murray (Munster/Garryowen) 96 caps
Jimmy O’Brien (Leinster/Naas) uncapped
Garry Ringrose (Leinster/UCD) 42 caps
Johnny Sexton (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 105 caps CAPTAIN

Forwards (22)
Ryan Baird (Leinster/Dublin University) 8 caps
Finlay Bealham (Connacht/Buccaneers) 23 caps
Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Lansdowne) 30 caps
Jack Conan (Leinster/Old Belvedere) 27 caps
Gavin Coombes (Munster/Young Munster) 2 caps
Caelan Doris (Leinster/St Mary’s College) 17 caps
Tadhg Furlong (Leinster/Clontarf) 57 caps
Cian Healy (Leinster/Clontarf) 116 caps
Dave Heffernan (Connacht/Buccaneers) 6 caps
Iain Henderson (Ulster/Academy) 68 caps
Rob Herring (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 26 caps
Jeremy Loughman (Munster/Garryowen) uncapped
Joe McCarthy (Leinster/Dublin) uncapped
Peter O’Mahony (Munster/Cork Constitution) 84 caps
Tom O’Toole (Ulster/Ballynahinch) 2 caps
Andrew Porter (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
Cian Prendergast (Connacht) uncapped
James Ryan (Leinster/UCD) 43 caps
Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Lansdowne) 7 caps
Nick Timoney (Ulster/Banbridge) 2 caps
Kieran Treadwell (Ulster/Ballymena) 5 caps
Josh van der Flier (Leinster/UCD) 40 caps

Ireland 2022 Summer Tour Fixtures

Māori All Blacks v IRELAND
FMG Stadium, Hamilton, Wednesday 29th June, 2022 (KO: 8.05am)

New Zealand v IRELAND
Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday 2nd July, 2022 (KO: 8.05am)

New Zealand v IRELAND
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, Saturday 9th July, 2022 (KO: 8.05am)

Māori All Blacks v IRELAND
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Tuesday 12th July, 2022 (KO: 8.05am)

New Zealand v IRELAND
SKY Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 16th July, 2022 (KO: 8.05am)

Construction of 50 bed extension to Portiuncula Hospital starting this week

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Massive backlog after bone scanner at Portiuncula Hospital broken for 2 years

Construction on the new 50 bed ward at Portiuncula Hospital is due to get underway this week, a Galway TD has confirmed.

When completed the hospital extension will deliver a two-storey, 4,038sqm ward building with 50 beds, and a link corridor to the existing hospital.

Last November the county council granted an extension of planning permission for the project.

In seeking this, the HSE said that it is expected that the addition to Portiuncula Hospital will be completed by mid-2023.

Deputy Denis Naughten said that the COVID pandemic has delayed the project, the “failure of officials” to follow through on commitments has also been a factor.

“The reality of Covid-19 is that a new ward block is now more urgently required than ever to address the chaotic situation that many patients, and staff, have faced in the past in our local A&E Department.”

“This new 50 bed ward block at Portiuncula will increase bed usage and can also provide additional beds in the hospital system, easing pressure in hospitals across the Midlands and West of Ireland.”

He added that the HSE has said that this block us designed in such a way as to enable an additional 50 bed extension to the hospital.

“I will now be pressing the current Government to move on this additional bed extension as soon as possible,” said Denis Naughten.

 

Concerns over possible spread of Pacific Salmon in Ireland

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Concern over presence of Pacific Pink Salmon in Irish waters

Inland Fisheries Ireland has expressed serious concerns that Pacific Pink Salmon may spread in Irish rivers, potentially harming their Atlantic counterparts.

The IFI is calling on anglers to be on the lookout for any Pacific Salmon, and report any they find in Ireland’s river systems.

The worry is that if they do establish themselves in Irish waterways, they could negatively impact on native species such as Atlantic Salmon, and Sea Trout.

Also known as humpback salmon, pink salmon are a migratory species native to river systems in the northern Pacific Ocean, and nearby regions of the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean.

Although a single specimen was first recorded in Ireland in 1973, until 2017 individuals had rarely been encountered here.

Since 2017, the fish has been increasingly detected in unprecedented numbers in river systems and coastal areas of the North Atlantic, including Ireland, albeit at relatively low levels here to date.

However, at a recent meeting of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO), concerns were raised about an explosion in their numbers in the northernmost Norwegian rivers last year.

Francis O’Donnell CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland said, “We are appealing to anglers and the general public to remain vigilant and report the presence of any Pacific pink salmon encountered in Irish river systems.”

“The threat of pink salmon means that our already critically endangered Atlantic salmon are on the verge of a very serious ecological crisis.”

“The species is already under threat from declining water quality, loss of habitat, and the impacts of sea lice and salmon farm escapes on native stocks.”

“We will have to consider robust mitigation measures that may prove costly and labour intensive.”

As pink salmon predominantly have a two-year lifecycle, there is potential for the species to reappear in Irish rivers again in 2023 and every second so called ‘odd’ year thereafter.

However, they can also turn up in ‘even’ years and a single specimen was reported in the River Suir in 2018.

Dr Cathal Gallagher, Head of Research and Development at IFI, said that the growth of the their numbers in Norway last year, and sightings in Ireland in recent years, are of great concern.

“The presence of large numbers of pink salmon in Irish rivers could negatively impact some of our native species such as Atlantic salmon and sea trout as well as estuarine and coastal marine fish species and their associated ecosystems.”

He warned that, despite limited information at the moment, the climate and environmental conditions in Ireland are potentially suitable for them to get a foothold in our rivers.

IFI is appealing for anglers to report catches of Pacific Pink Salmon to their 24-hour confidential hotline number – 0818 34 74 24 or 0818 FISH 24, and follow the advice given.

Three free electronic waste collections in Galway this week

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Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Free electrical waste collection event in Galway this weekend

Three free collections of electronic waste for county householders will take place in Galway this week, over the space of two days.

The County Council is holding two free WEEE collections on Tuesday, with a third on Thursday, June 16.

The first two collections will take place in Kinvara and Woodford, in the morning and afternoon respectively, with Thursday’s collection in Portumna.

This is an opportunity for county households to get free recycling of anything with a plug or battery.

Any household waste electrical items, batteries, or energy saving lightbulbs will be accepted.

This extends to electronic waste of any size or shape, small items such as a phone or cables, or larger goods like a fridge or lawnmower.

The schedule of collections announced by the county council for this week is:

  • Kinvara – Tuesday 14th June 2022 at St. Colman’s Parish Church Car Park: 10am -1pm
  • Woodford – Tuesday 14th June 2022 at St. John the Baptist Church Car Park: 4pm -7pm
  • Portumna – Thursday 16th June 2022 at Portumna Co-operative Mart: 10am -4pm

Call for major safety improvements on Old Ballybane Road

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Call for major safety improvements on Old Ballybane Road

The City Council and NTA are being urged to apply for funding to carry out works to improve safety on the Old Ballybane Road.

Councillor Alan Cheevers said that the area between Ballybane and Doughiska is in need of major improvements.

He described the lack of footpaths, motorists travelling at high speeds, as a serious health and safety issue.

“It’s a danger to pedestrians and motorists and needs to be addressed with urgency as it an accident waiting to happen,” Alan Cheevers said.

He expressed urgency over the need for better footpaths and other traffic calming measures, as the population in the area is only set to increase.

“We will see over 200 residential units being occupied on this road in next while, over a phased basis. This is more traffic, so I’m asking for this to be dealt with as soon as possible.”

€3,000 bursary for young musicians in the Galway Gaelteacht

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news €3,000 bursary for young musicians in the Galway Gaelteacht

A €3,000 bursary will help support the education of young musicians in the Galway Gaeltacht this year.

Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta is one of 24 recipients coinfirmed for the Non-Mainstream Music Education Bursary Scheme in 2022, for an initiative in Galway.

The scheme has been allocated a total of €100,000 for bursaries this year, with just one recipient in Galway.

A nationwide organisation, Tuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta provides support, assistance and advice to families who are raising their children through Irish in the Gaeltacht or who wish to do so.

The Bursary Scheme provides a small cash grant to help initiatives that help cultivate the talent of young musicians.

The scheme is operated by the Department of Education, which put out a call for applications in March of this year.

“Bursaries available under this scheme will help organisations to provide resources they need to continue working with children and young people in community settings,” Minister Norma Foley said.

“Music is in our DNA and is an important way for people to express themselves and show their creativity.”

“I hope that these grants can enable community organisations to continue providing music tuition and classes for the remainder of this year and assist in the recovery from the impact of COVID-19 on our children and young people.”

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