Help shape the image of Galway as a destination for tourists, and be in with a chance to win a €100 voucher at the same time.
Galway City and County councils are working with Fáilte Ireland to develop a joint tourism destination brand to represent Galway.
This is meant to help promote all of Galway as a unified destination for visitors from around the world.
To that end, anybody working in or connected to tourism/hospitality in Galway is invited to share their ideas, via a short three minute survey, on what are the key elements the new brand needs to represent.
This short survey will be used to help craft the brand story for Galway and how it should be positioned with potential visitors both nationally and internationally.
Licence fees for outdoor dining at cafés, bars, and restaurants have been waived for the remainder of the years.
Minister Darragh O’Brien has signed and published the regulations for waiving section 254 street furniture license fees for the remainder of 2022.
This measure is meant to support the recuperating hospitality industry, by encouraging businesses to increase their capacity with outdoor seating this summer.
Last year the government took a similar measure to make it less costly for businesses to increase their presence on the street.
Minister O’Brien said that the hospitality industry in particular bore the brunt of measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic.
“We know that the summer months will provide an opportunity to the hospitality sector to increase the vibrancy of areas through the controlled use of outdoor dining on public roads.”
“Therefore, these regulations will repeat last year’s waiver and offer some respite to businesses who otherwise would pay significant street furniture licence fees.”
“There is no fee for awnings, canopies and heaters also as we have exempted them from planning on a permanent basis.”
Galway City is repeating last year’s measures of closing a number of public streets, either in the evening or 24/7, to provide more space for outdoor dining.
The council is pedestrianising the Small Crane and part of Woodquay all day, while Dominick Street Upper, William Street West and Raven’s Terrace will be closed to traffic in the evening
Full respite services are expected to be restored at Merlin Park Community Nursing Unit by August of this year.
Minister of State Mary Butler said that all of the 13 respite beds at Merlin Park are expected to be back in action after the completion of remedial works.
She was speaking in response to a question by Galway West TD Catherine Connolly, who asked when respite services will be restored to pre-pandemic levels.
There are currently 10 publicly funded beds open in Galway, of which seven are at Merlin Park Hospital.
Minister Butler said that a number of beds at Merlin Park which were operational before the pandemic, were closed so that remedial works could take place to ensure HIQA compliance.
“The HSE confirmed that remedial works are complete and envision that the 13 respite beds will be operational by August 2022.”
She added that measures have been taken to mitigate the lower number of public beds currently available in Galway.
“Emergency respite protocol is in operation linking with families to provide emergency respite through in-home supports or placement in nursing homes.”
“Day services continue to reopen across Galway assisting families in caring for their family members at home.”
There are also a further 12 beds available through the charity Western Alzheimer’s, which has short stay units in Mayo and Athenry.
The Minister said that providing respite beds is an essential part of services for older people, and that increasing this provision in Galway is a priority.
Galway has a some weekend weather fit for summer to look forward to, with clear sunny skies and temperatures pushing 20 degrees, and not a lick of rain.
The rest of Friday will be an enjoyable start to the weekend, as cloud cover gives way to the sun as the day progresses.
Highest temperatures of 14 to 17 degrees this afternoon, dropping to 8 or 9 degrees overnight.
A moderate westerly wind will ease up and veer northwesterly as the day progresses.
Saturday promises to be even better, with sunny skies throughout the day, aside from some sparse patches of cloud.
Temperatures will reach highs of 18 to 20 degrees tomorrow, with a light variable breeze throughout the day, primarily southerly in the evening.
Sunday also promises fine weather according to Met Eireann, with slightly cloudier conditions in the morning, but overall still sun.
As the day progresses that little cloud cover will give way to clear blazing sun for the majority of the day.
Sunday will also see temperatures reaching highs of 20 degrees, dropping to around 13 degrees overnight.
Unfortunately, conditions will take a turn next week, as an overcast Monday will be followed by persistent rain for much of the week.
An Bord Pleanála has refused planning permission for a development of 101 apartments in Oranmore.
Torca Construction Limited sought approval for a Strategic Housing Development at Carrowmoneash, Oranmore to the north east of the town centre.
The plans consisted of five blocks of apartments, three of which were to be three storeys in height, with two four storey blocks.
An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission for the residential development on environmental and access grounds, as well as due to a risk of flooding.
The Bord said that Torca had failed to adequately demonstrate how access to the site could be secured via the Carrowmoneash Road.
The Flood Risk Assessment submitted with the application also did not assure the Bord that future occupants wouldn’t be exposed to flooding, and that the development wouldn’t increase the risk the risk of flooding elsewhere.
The other reasons for refusing permission centred on concerns that the housing development would impact conservation sites and habitats of nesting birds and otters.
The planned mix of apartments in the development was to comprise 8 one-bedroom apartments, 59 two-bedroom units, and 34 three-bedroom units.
Other work in the development was to include a creche in a detached building, along with 133 parking spaces, and a new access point off the Carrowmoneash Road.
The Galway Hooker is iconic across the country, both as a boat, and for the range of unique artisan beers.
The two wouldn’t seem to cross over in more than name, but that is no longer the case, as volunteers from Galway Hooker Brewery have taken on the restoration of one of these historic boats.
Galway Hooker Sailing Club was established in 2019 with a vision to make Hookers accessible to everyone and anyone who shares an interest in their revival.
Commodore Ciaran Oliver, along with a core team of people, brought together a community of volunteers to support the expertise of boatwright Cóilín Hernon & Sons.
The past years have seen them restore a number of these iconic craft to their original seafaring condition, teaching people to repair, care for, and sail them along the way.
Galway Hooker Brewery has brought their boat, the Caper Beag, to the sailing club to put it back on the water where it belongs.
Photo Martina Regan.
This will in turn provide the club with an additional boat to use for training crew and providing open community sailing events.
The process of restoring a Galway Hooker is dependent on the condition of the boat – from a full rebuild, to replacing ribs, planks, or spars – with all work done to ensure that the original shape and history of the boat remains intact.
Caper Beag, originally built c1890, has recently been made seaworthy by the Hernons, with the addition of a new back beam, knees and helm seat, a repaired stem plus more.
“It is an inspiration for me to see the passion and dedication the Galway Hooker Sailing Club bring to this beautiful and traditional craft,” said Aidan Murphy founder of Galway Hooker Beer.
“I am extremely honoured to be associated with the families and friends of the Sailing Club.”
“I’m sure we will have many exciting days out on the bay, and who knows, maybe even a beer or two!”
Galway Hooker Brewery is based in Oranmore, where they brew an award winning range of ales, lagers, and stouts.
Photo Martina Regan.
Not content to stay with the familiar, over time they have experimented with beers in Mango, Citrus, Berry, Cherry, and Honey flavours.
This boat is now with a team of both club volunteers and staff at the brewery for the final stages of restoration work.
Over the next few weeks they will caulk, sand and paint her, so she can join the rest of the Galway Hooker Sailing Club fleet that sail from the Claddagh this Summer.
Have you ever wanted to juggle, or learn circus skills? Obviously. But though the window might have passed for most, children in Galway can get a taste of life in the ring for Cruinniú na nÓg.
Galway Community Circus will be teaching children to juggle and more as part of a nationwide Cruinniú na nÓg special event next month.
Over 5,000 free juggling balls have been distributed to every county in the country as part of this event by the Irish Street Arts, Circus and Spectacle Network.
Galway Community Circus will be holding their free open day at St. Joseph’s Community Centre, Shantalla next June 11.
It makes performers skills accessible to everyone, no matter their location, background or skill level.
The event will see kids learn basic skills such as juggling, acrobatics, balance and more.
Director of ISACS Lucy Medlycott commented on their Cruinniú na nÓg events this year.
“Circus is going through a huge renaissance right now, and we in ISACS are so thrilled to be able to play out part.
She added that they are happy to “take these small steps” working together with the Creative Ireland Programme, in order to make thee fun skills available to all in Ireland.
Part of Woodquay in Galway City is closing to trafic for the next four months so that people will have space for outdoor dining once again.
The city council has ordered that the outbound lane in Woodquay shall be pedestrianised from Daly’s Place (L-5119), to the Headford Road (R-866).
The 24/7 road closure will come into effect next Thursday, June 2, and remain in place until Sunday, October 2.
The road is being closed to make space for outdoor dining, festivals, and events by local businesses.
This joins four other four other roads which have been pedestrianised, either for evenings or throughout the day, in order to encourage outdoor dining.
This was a measure introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to support struggling hospitality businesses.
The question now is whether it shall become standard practice in order to boost tourism and the night time economy in Galway.
Pictured at Government Buildings for the launch of the Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 initiatives were: Minister of State for Skills and Further Education, Niall Collins TD; Ciara Manning, past participant of HCI Pillar 1 course; and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD.
Hundreds of free and subsidised higher education places will be made available in Galway colleges as part of the 2022 Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 initiatives.
Over 850 places across 28 courses have been allocated to colleges in Galway, including NUI Galway and ATU Mayo Galway.
Forty percent of all the courses nationwide will run entirely online, and 60% through blended learning, meaning those in Galway will have access to hundreds more courses.
The 11,600 places nationwide are open to people who are unemployed, or those who are in employment and are looking to upskill or change career.
Courses are available across a number of sectors, with a particular focus on areas where there are skills shortages.
This includes ICT, high-level manufacturing, financial services, medical devices, biopharma, entrepreneurship, and green skills.
Dr Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills and Engagement at the Higher Education Authority, said Springboard+ has gone from strength to strength over the past 11 years, and they are delighted to announce the latest cohort of courses available.
The courses that are being made available address areas with critical skill shortages in the labour market – ultimately leading to qualifications that are in demand among employers.
“Now in its third year, the HCI Pillar 1 initiative also continues to offer graduate conversion courses to people across the country who may be looking to upskill for future job prosperity in areas such as ICT, engineering, data analytics and technology,” said Dr Patterson.
“We are going through a time of great change in the jobs market – with factors such as remote working, and the cost of living forcing people to re-evaluate their careers.
“These programmes are an excellent opportunity for anyone who may be hoping to return to the workforce after taking some time out; for people who may be hoping to upskill or retrain in a new area; or anyone who is unemployed and wants to re-enter the workforce.
“With the blended and online learning options, there are hundreds of options available to the people of Galway, which is vital in ensuring people in every corner of the country – whether they are in employment or returning to the workforces – can easily access courses.”
A Roscommon-Galway TD has called on the Government to take urgent action on introducing a cost of living package to support families and workers.
Deputy Claire Kerrane’s call follows the British Government’s announcement of a £15 billion package this afternoon to help families struggling with rising costs.
Their package includes a £650 one-off payment to low-income households and an energy bill discount of £400 this autumn.
Speaking today, the Sinn Féin TD said that it ‘speaks volumes’ that the Tory government is introducing measures before Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil.
She said the Irish government has ‘dragged its heels yet again’ at a time when households need supports.
Her party put forward proposals on introducing measures to support households, including a direct cost of living cash payment.
Under the party’s proposals, someone with an income of up to €30,000 would receive a cash payment of €200, and an individual on income of between €30,000 and €60,000 would receive a payment of €100.
“We have also repeatedly called for the introduction of a €15m Discretionary Fund, to support households facing utility debt especially for those who are locked out of supports like the Fuel Allowance,” said Deputy Kerrane.
“This is in addition to our proposals to cut childcare costs, freeze rents and address rising energy costs.
“These measures would ease the pressure facing families and workers, whilst ensuring those households that are most vulnerable to the soaring cost of living receive targeted supports.”
Lidl has submitted a planning application for a new store with wide aisles and high ceilings in the centre of Claregalway, which would create 30 new jobs in the town.
The application was made following a meeting with the local community who were interested to see the new store’s location and designs.
Lidl wants to transform the greenfield site on the N83 in the centre of Claregalway into a vibrant retail unit, bringing up to €7 million in local investment to the community.
As well as the 30 new jobs in store, the construction phase will also create up to 100 further jobs.
Lidl has said the plans have been designed to ‘contribute positively to the local area’ and will incorporate a range of sustainability features including two EV charging spaces and solar panels.
Dervla Nash, Regional Property Director for Lidl Ireland, said that they are committed to delivering high quality builds, and that leading architects and designers will make the best use of the site.
“We are hopeful for a positive planning decision and we look forward to developing the site and opening the store next year, should the application not be appealed by An Bord Pleanála,” said Dervla.
She said that a Lidl store doesn’t just bring better value shopping to an area, but it also means more fundraising for Ladies Gaelic Football clubs and schools in the area.
“The Claregalway LGFA team has recently won a set of new jerseys through the Lidl Plus LGFA reward card scheme and when the new store opens, we would hope to increase funding for the local team alongside youth mental health in Galway through Lidl Ireland’s charity partner Jigsaw.”
Lidl Ireland employs over 5,000 employees in its 174 stores, Head Office in Tallaght and three distribution centres and regional offices based in Charleville, Mullingar and Newbridge.
Agricultural shows taking place over the coming months will receive €700,000 in funding, the Government has announced.
Minister Heather Humphreys made the announcement during a keynote address at the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show Sponsors Night yesterday.
Announcing the funding, the minister said that for over two and a half years, we lost something that really sums up everything that is good about rural Ireland.
“As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I know that our Shows are intrinsically linked to that sense of community that Rural Ireland is all about,” she said.
The shows are key dates in the rural calendar and central points for the agri-food industry, farming community and local artisan producers.
Key dates over the coming weeks include Middleton (29 May), Belgooly (4 June), Ballyconneely Performance Pony Show (4 June), Ennistymon (5 June), Westport Horse and Pony Show (6 June), Leap Horse and Pony Show (6 June), Ballivor Horse Show (12 June), Dundalk (12 June), Claregalway (12 June), Ballinalee Connemara Pony Show (12 June) and Clonakilty (12 June).
Minister Humphreys added that she believes it is of vital importance to our rural communities that they support the efforts of the show committees and the work of their volunteers.
“I hope that this funding will help put the shows on a firmer financial footing and provide vital support to the committees.
“I’m delighted to support the Irish Shows Association and like many others I look forward to getting out and about and visiting our Shows this summer.”
'My Familiar' - award-winning artwork by Judith Sohn from Salerno Secondary School in Salthill, 2022
Two Galway students have won top prizes in this year’s 68th Texaco Children’s Art Competition.
Diarmuid Donelon (11), from Tuam Educate Together N.S and Judith Sohn (18) from Salerno Secondary School, Salthill, were both winners of Special Merit Awards.
Both were winners of Special Merit Awards for artworks that Final Adjudicator, Professor Gary Granville said “displayed high levels of skill and creativity.”
Diarmuid Donelon won the award for his work entitled ‘Camouflage Birds’ and Judith Sohn took home the award for her work, ‘My Familiar’.
The brilliant ‘Camouflage Birds’ by 11-year-old Diarmuid Donelon from Tuam Educate Together N.S
The Texaco Children’s Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955.
This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Galway and counties across Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.
From 31st May to 30th June, Belfast’s Royal Ulster Academy of Arts is hosting an exhibition of the top 126 winning paintings in this year’s Competition.
Admission is free and the Academy is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-5pm.
Plans by Galway City Council for a Cross-City Link bus corridor, that means to reshape public transport in the city, are continuing to progress.
The council engaged in a pre-planning consultation with An Bord Pleanála over the project back in October of last year.
After two meetings with the Bord in January and March, that consultation process has now come to a close.
This clears the way for the city council to lodge a full planning application with An Bord Pleanála for the Cross-City Link.
This is meant to enhance public transport links between the east and west sides of the city, by creating a route through the city centre where buses will be given priority.
The route, going from University Road to the Dublin Road, will see restrictions on private car traffic at certain times, as well as building new infrastructure.
These bus routes and traffic restrictions would be in place from 7am to 7pm, with a window in the late morning and early afternoon for loading and deliveries at city centre businesses.
The strategy also aims to improve pedestrian and cycling facilities such as footpaths, cycle lanes, and road crossings along the route, as well as to create public plaza areas to enhance the public realm.
Details about the proposed Cross-City Link bus corridor can still be found online in the virtual information room created for last year’s public consultation.
Galway has been ranked among the top ten cities in Europe to raise a family, with a high quality of life and recreation.
The rankings, which were compiled by e-learning company Preply, rated over 130 European cities on the basis of their ‘Education’, ‘Health and Safety’ and ‘Leisure and Lifestyle’.
Galway placed 6th in the entire continent, ahead of the likes of Helsinki, Florence, or more importantly, anywhere else in Ireland.
The City of Tribes’ high score is largely down to its prospects in the ‘Leisure & Lifestyle’, with the study highlighting a good choice of parks and an even more impressive choice of sports centres (per capita).
The harbour city also ranks as Europe’s seventh best for air quality, whilst also having free healthcare and 156 days’ paid maternity leave on offer.
The best city in all of Europe for anyone thinking of starting a family, is the city of Funchal, found on the Portuguese island of Madeira.
The city’s ‘chart-topping’ performance is owed to it having the lowest crime rate of all, low air pollution levels and a cheaper cost of living.
Back in Ireland, Cork and Limerick came in 25th and 29th place respectively, still impressive among the many old cities of Europe, while Dublin trailed behind in 66th place.
London placed at the very bottom of the list due to its high crime rates, high pollution levels and poor distribution of education.
After years of monthly zoom meetings, Over the Edge is welcoming lovers of the written word back to Galway City Library.
The May Over the Edge open reading will take place in the library on Thursday evening at the earlier time of 6pm, with an open mic after the night’s featured readers.
Those who can’t make it can still join in with the proceedings via Zoom, including the open mic, which is not being thrown out in a fit of post-pandemic delirious ecstasy.
The featured readers this evening will be Morag Anderson, Sinead Mears, & Caoimhe May.
Caoimhe May is a teenage writer, spoken word artist and performer in Galway.
She is an avid activist who focuses on issues such as eating disorder recovery, sex positivity, and self love.
Caoimhe’s writing has been published in Vox Galvia, Skylight 47 and elsewhere, and she is a published children’s author.
Sinead Mears has always had a love for language, as seen in the national writing competition she won at just 12 years old.
She stumbled upon a Spoken Word group in Debarra’s pub in Clonakilty, Co Cork at aged 17 and partook in their Open Mics from then on.
Since coming to Galway to further her writing studies, Sinead has read her work at poetry readings here, and had a poem published in the Galway Advertiser’s Vox Galvia creative writing page.
Morag Anderson is a Scottish poet based in Highland Perthshire, Scotland. Her debut chapbook, Sin Is Due to Open in a Room Above Kitty’s explores human connections—concealed violence, love, and everything in between.
Her poetry appears in Finished Creatures, Gutter, Popshot Quarterly, Skylight 47, The Broken Spine Arts Collective, and The Scotsman as well as several anthologies, including Best Scottish Poems 2021.
Morag as placed in the Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition 2021, the Edwin Morgan Trust Competition 2021, shortlisted for the Bridport Poetry Prize 2021, and won Over the Edge New Poet 2018.
Those interested in taking the open mic after the readers should give their names to Kevin Higgins at Galway City Library before the reading starts at 6pm.
Those who wish to read remotely should text 087-6431748 in the half hour before the reading starts.
Emergency setvices atteneded the secne of a multi-vehicle collision on the M6 motorway in Galway this morning.
The three car crash occurred at the Oranmore junction westbound at approximately 7:15am.
A Garda spokesperson said that no injuries have been reported as a result of this collision.
Motorway traffic was down to a single lane westbound earlier, but the road has since been cleared.
“Gardaí attended the scene of a road traffic collision involving three cars that occurred at approximately 7:15am on Thursday, 26th May, 2022, at Junction 19 on the M6 in Galway.”
“No injuries have been reported at this time. The road has since been cleared,” a Garda statement to Galway Daily said.
It was a good start to the week for the U14 boys at Moyne Villa, as they claimed victory in the Cup final on Monday.
The Moyne Villa B team played the Renmore A side in the U14 Division 3 cup final at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday evening.
The final score was 3 – 1 to Villa, after overcoming an early lead by Renmore. Villa went on the attack early, but went one goa behind to a looping header at 15 minutes.
Villa responded immediately when Conor Murphy was taken down just inside the Renmore half.
Mark Eco made full use of the wind advantage with the resultant free, chipping it into the top corner of the net.
Ten minutes from half time, Eco delivered again with a delightful lob from nearly 30 yards, giving the keeper no chance.
On the stroke of half time, captain Jason chased Mark’s through ball, beat the defender and chipped the keeper for a strong half time lead.
Despite being down two goals heading into the second half, Renmore came out of the gates storming, but were unable to overcome the Villa defences despite constant threat.
