Galway woman appointed Chairperson of Digital Business Ireland

-

March 21, 2022

GMIT launches year long Golden Jubilee celebration — Dr Orla Flynn, President of GMIT; Svana Dís Hafsteinsdóttir, second-year BA Design student, GMIT and winner of the Golden Jubilee logo design competition; and Dr Mark McCarthy, Chair of the Golden Jubilee Commemoration Committee.

GMIT has launched a programme of events that will run over the coming year to mark the Institute’s Golden Jubilee 1972–2022.

This major initiative will run throughout 2022–2023, to remember and reflect upon fifty years of technological higher education in the west of Ireland.

On Monday, September18 in 1972, the first cohort of students commenced their studies at the then Regional Technological College, Galway.

From the mid-1980s onwards, RTC Galway expanded its presence in the region by offering courses in Mountbellew, Letterfrack, Castlebar, and Cluain Mhuire.

It wasn’t until 1998 that the college was renamed to the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology that we’re all familiar with.

That is set to change again next month, as April 1 will see GMIT amalgamated with IT Sligo and Letterkenny IT to become Atlantic Technological University.

College President Orla Flynn said “As GMIT embarks on the next exciting phase of its development, it is entirely appropriate that we take time to reflect on the 50 years that we have been in existence.”

“Throughout that time we have made an enormous contribution to the cultural, economic, and social fabric of the western region and beyond, through the activities of our staff, students, and graduates.”

“On behalf of our GMIT community I welcome and look forward to your participation at our various public events throughout our Jubilee year.”

The Golden Jubilee commemoration is centred around five programme strands, namely: Ceremonial; Public History & Heritage; Cultural & Technological Innovation; Alumni & Community Engagement; and Sustainable Futures.

Key Golden Jubilee projects include the following:

A commemorative logo created by second-year Design student, Svana Dís Hafsteinsdóttir
A memorial to deceased staff and students – planned as part of the construction of the new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) building
An exhibition on “Celebrating Fifty Years of Technological Higher Education in the West of Ireland, 1972–2022”.
An oral history project
Commemorative artwork
An alumni registration and linking application
A showcase of “50 Faces in 50 Years”
A video on “Impact” – highlighting the human stories behind the college’s impacts, from the local to the global
A Green Spaces/Biodiversity Trial
A Student Sustainability/Green Ambassador initiative

Other events will include commemorative dinners, conferences and exhibitions, and a reenactment of the first opening in 1972, among many more.

Colin Kearney, President of GMIT Students’ Union, said, “With the exciting times ahead for GMIT in its new partnership, it’s just as important to look back on all the successes of the past.”

“Reaching the 50-year milestone is a momentous achievement, having turned out 50 years’ worth of graduates who all in their own way have gone on to enhance the community they now work in.”

“GMIT has every right to be proud of the strong and positive student representatives they have elected in the last 50 years.”

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the surname of Dr Orla Flynn..

Plans approved for expansion of IDA Business Park

By

-

March 21, 2022

Galway daily news Plans approved for expansion of IDA Business Park

Planning permission has been granted for an expansion of the IDA’s Parkmore Business & Technology Park in the city, with the construction of an Advance Technology unit.

The City Council has approved plans for a two storey building with 4,542m² of office and light industrial floor space on land at the east end of the existing Business & Technology Park.

The bulk of the open plan offices will be located to the front of the building to provide a modern façade to the two elevations facing outwards, wrapping around the industrial areas in the centre of the building.

The amount of car parking allowed in the development was limited to 73 spaces by the council, less than the 103 in the initial plans.

A Natura Impact Statement was also prepared at the request of the city council, and added to the application.

Planning permission for the Business Park expansion was ultimately granted with 24 conditions attached.

Among those, the council ordered archaeological monitoring of any ground works, and the inclusion of grassy areas among the landscaping plan for the site.

Separately from this, the IDA also completed an extension of the internal access road at the site, after securing permission from county council.

COVID-19: Just under 100 cases in Galway’s hospitals

By

-

March 21, 2022

There are just under a hundred COVID-19 patients in Galway’s hospitals as numbers have continued to increase again in recent days.

The largest increase has been at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, where there are 36 confirmed cases, almost double the 20 there a week prior.

At University Hospital Galway there were 60 confirmed cases as of Sunday night, up five in the past week.

However, the number of COVID patients in intensive care has remained relatively low.

There are three patients in the ICU at Portiuncula Hospital, two more than the previous Sunday.

But at UHG the number of cases being treated in the ICU has fallen from four to two in the past week.

Nationwide there were 1,264 cases in Irish hospitals as of yesterday evening, of whom 49 were being treated at intensive care units.

Fishermen rescue teenage kayakers in trouble

By

-

March 21, 2022

Fishermen rescue kayakers in trouble near Letterfrack — Photo Credit: Michael Harris

Local fishermen and the Clifden RNLI lifeboat launched to the rescue of kayakers in trouble off the cost near Letterfrack over the weekend.

The Clifden RNLI station launched at 4:20pm on Saturday in response to reports of three teenage kayakers who had drifted away from the shore in Ballinakill Bay.

While the lifeboat crew were making their way to the scene, local fishermen from Mannin Bay Salmon Farm who operate in the bay came to the assistance of the young kayakers.

They brought all three safely ashore, where the casualties were assessed by paramedics and found to be well.

James Mullen, Clifden RNLI Coxswain said, “It may sound obvious but it’s worth reminding kayakers that a strong off-shore wind can blow you out to sea very quickly.”

“For people using kayaks, paddleboards, basically anything that floats; once you leave the shore and the protection of the bay you can quickly become powerless against a strengthening wind.”

“A strong off-shore wind, coupled with an outgoing tide is always a risk for paddlers,” he added.

“We would advise anyone enjoying water sports to always wear a life vest and appropriate clothes for the weather conditions, for example a wetsuit or layered clothing.”

“Carry a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch on your person, check the tides and the weather and tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back”

Star Quarterbacks Set to Hit the Links

By

Thomas O'Brien

-

March 20, 2022

The NFL is a league that just continues to make its way into the news, and four of the best players in the sport are in the news this week. Most fans of the league are focusing on NFL Draft odds, but a major announcement just came out.

Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, and Aaron Rodgers will all be competing in Capital One’s The Match, a major golf event that benefits charity. Capital One has continued to dip into the NFL player pool for this event, but this time there won’t be any professional golfers on the course.

The Match is set for June 1 and you can find betting odds available at BetUS for this event. The event will be held at Wynn Las Vegas, and this city is also the home for the 2022 NFL Draft at the end of April.

Brady and Rodgers will be on a team together and they will take on Allen and Mahomes. This event is always entertaining for fans of all sports and it will once again be filled with plenty of trash talking and competitive banter.

Brady and Rodgers are veterans of this event and that will help anyone trying to bet on this matchup at BetUS. This will be the first time that Allen and Mahomes are participating, and it will be interesting to see how their golf games compare to their quarterback play.

This event will not be a traditional 18-hole event though as the foursome will simply be playing just 12 holes on June 1. There are different rules in this event, and those should be announced at a later date.

Rodgers is a 4.6 handicap according to the Wisconsin State Golf Association and he has experience playing in tournaments. His teammate, Brady, was an 8.1 handicap prior to the previous event that took place a year ago.

Patrick Mahomes played in the same event as Rodgers a year ago as they participated in the American Century Championship. Mahomes is a 7.7 handicap, and Josh Allen was a 9.0 handicap when he took part in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am earlier this year.

The Match: Part 6

Capital One’s The Match has already happened five times in recent years, and this will be the 6th version of the event. Turner Sports has provided coverage of the event over the past five years and that is where you will be able to watch the event this year as well.

Since the event was started, Capital One has raised over $33 million for charity, and the participating golfers get to help pick where that money will go. Rodgers and Brady played in the event last year, and they were opponents paired with Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson.

Rodgers and DeChambeau won The Match over Brady and Mickelson, and it was the star quarterback that ended the match on the 16th hole. The first event took place on November 23, 2018 as Tiger Wood and Mickelson went head-to-head.

This will be the first time that event will solely be made up of non-professional golfers. Football is the only other professional sport that has been represented in The Match.

Brady, Rogers Back Again

Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have been in the news several times over the last few months, and they continue to be two of the biggest faces of the league. These two quarterbacks have spent years competing against each other, but will now be teammates for the first time.

There were also some questions about the possibility of each to retire at the end of the 2021 season. Brady actually announced his retirement shortly after the Super Bowl, but then later announced that he would be returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Aaron Rodgers signed a massive contract extension to stay with the Green Bay Packers, but it was a move that cost him a number of his top receivers.

Allen and Mahomes met up in the 2021 NFL Playoffs and delivered one of the best NFL games of all time. It was Patrick Mahomes that led his Kansas City Chiefs team past Allen’s Buffalo Bills to advance to the AFC title game.

Ceremony at Eyre Square remembers those who died during pandemic

By

-

March 20, 2022

Galway Daily news "Fear and anxiety" at anti-social behaviour in Eyre Square

A remembrance ceremony was held at Eyre Square in Galway city this morning as the country paused to reflect and remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic.

In her address, Mayor Colette Connolly thanked all the services that have contributed and assisted in the response to COVID-19, and described how they played a huge part in the last two years of keeping people safe.

She also remembered those who died during the pandemic and the families that were bereaved.

The ceremony acknowledged and recognised the pivotal role and the contribution of the Galway City Community Call Forum to the Covid-19 response in the city.

As well as a formal wreath-laying ceremony, there was a poetry reading from local poet, Gerry Hanberry and laments from singer Ceara Conway.

The ceremony enabled individual and collective remembrance and commemoration of all those who died and who have been bereaved during the pandemic.

National Tree Week 2022 gets underway today

By

-

March 20, 2022

National Tree Week 2022 has kicked off today with a ceremonial tree planting by the president of the Tree Council of Ireland, Eanna Ní Lamhna.

The ceremony featured a guest lecture by arboriculturist, founder, and chairman of the Irish Tree Society Thomas Pakenham in front of an invited audience.

Running until Saturday 26 March, this year’s theme is ‘More Forests for a Greener Future’ which aims to highlight the many benefits of forests for Ireland’s climate and biodiversity agendas, for green recreation spaces and sustainably grown wood.

National Tree Week sees events organised across the country celebrating all things trees!

From the more hands-on community tree planting experiences to taking some time out to learn how to tell your oak tree from your birch tree at tree identification talks – there is something for everyone on the Programme of Events available on www.treecouncil.ie.

The Tree Council of Ireland and Coillte are encouraging people from every corner of Ireland to get involved.

President of the Tree of Council of Ireland, Eanna Ní Lamhna explained: “It’s great to have the people of Ireland come out once again in their communities and celebrate the beautiful benefits trees have to offer.

“Trees are one of the most important resources we have to tackle climate change. Tree Week is all about communities coming together to celebrate trees.

“If you are thinking of getting involved, we would encourage you to do so with simple activities like hosting walks, discussions, or community planting. These important events we hope will encourage everyone to play their part in planting more trees for a greener future.”

Coillte CEO Imelda Hurley added: “Coillte is delighted once again to sponsor National Tree Week and to support the events across Ireland.

“Tree Week gives people the opportunity to learn more about the importance of trees and their important contribution to Ireland’s climate and biodiversity agendas.

“We’d encourage people to check out the list of events happening across the country and to get involved in what promises to be a fun week of tree-based activities for families to enjoy.”

Walk in Pink for Breast Cancer Research on Mother’s Day

By

-

March 20, 2022

galway daily news breast cancer walk in pink in galway city on mother's day — Getting in a few steps ahead of this Mother’s Day ‘Walk in Pink’ in aid of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute were event organisers L-R Ethelle Fahey, Tina Monroe, Bernie Ryan and Johanna Downer members of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute Galway voluntary fundraising committee.

The National Breast Cancer Research Institute is asking people across the county to ‘Walk in Pink’ for the charity on Mother’s Day, Sunday 27 March.

The walk starts at 10.30am at the Claddagh Hall where those participating will walk to Blackrock and then back again.

Those taking part are asked to gather at the Claddagh Hall from 10am where Ronan Lardner of Galway Bay FM will play music before the walk gets underway.

The event is organised by members of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute’s voluntary fundraising committee in Galway who hope to help make a difference for the many Irish women suffering from breast cancer.

One in seven Irish women will be diagnosed with breast cancer with over 3,507 cases diagnosed annually.

Funds raised from the walk will go directly to support the breast cancer research team at the Lambe Institute at NUI Galway, led by Prof Michael Kerin.

Registration is €20 and all are welcome. Participants also get a free pink pom pom beanie hat. Sign up now at: www.WalkInPink.ie

Galway pupils invited to create design honouring pandemic volunteer heroes

By

-

March 20, 2022

galway daily news pandemic volunteer art

Primary school pupils in Galway are being invited to participate in a new art competition launched this week.

Announced by the government in association with Volunteer Ireland, students from 3rd to 5th class are being asked to design artwork to be used to commission a commemorative badge to acknowledge the contribution of volunteers during the pandemic.

When considering their designs, children are asked to think about what volunteering looks like to them, and what volunteers do.

They will also look at the impact of all types of volunteering in the community during the pandemic across a number of areas and initiatives, including local volunteers, or if any of their family members were involved in volunteering.

Key messages for primary school children were included as a part of the lesson plan which accompanied the competition outline, and will provide teachers with the opportunity to discuss the importance of volunteering in the classroom.

There will be four regional winners and one national winner, with the national winner’s design to be put forward for the commemorative badge that will be presented to volunteers at an event in May.

Each winner will receive a gift voucher and the winning National School will receive a grant of €2000 for sports or art equipment. Winners will be announced in April.

Announcing the competition this week, Minister Joe O’Brien said: “The design of this commemorative badge is just one of a number of initiatives being planned to acknowledge the extremely valuable contribution of volunteers during the pandemic, from volunteers in testing and vaccine centres, in organisations such as Alone and Aware, and volunteers who took part in the Community Call.”

Galway TD welcomes support for extending Western Rail Corridor

By

-

March 19, 2022

Galway Daily news Additional Dog fines will have little effect without more Dog Wardens

Galway East TD Seán Canney has welcomed cross-party support for extending the Western Rail Corridor at a recent meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications.

At the meeting, Oireachtas members including Stephen Matthews (Green Party), Dara Calleary (FF), Alan Dillon (FG), Rose Conway Walsh (SF) and Senator Sean Kyne (FG) all spoke in favour of extending the Western Rail Corridor further north to connect Tuam to the National Rail Network.

There was support for the ambition to connect Galway and Mayo by linking Claremorris to Athenry.

“I have continuously advocated for such investment and I called for unity of purpose in ensuring that the infrastructure require in the regions is delivered,” said Deputy Canney.

“I have also called for unity in our campaign to ensure that Tuam and North Galway are connected to the National Greenway Network by providing a loop off the proposed greenway from Dublin to Galway.”

The Independent TD said that it should be our ambition to deliver both as a right for people to have parity in the infrastructure being delivered.

“We should never sacrifice one piece of infrastructure for another. The regions need investment, and these two projects are well within our reach”.

“The Joint Oireachtas Committee will be lodging a submission to ARUP, the Consultants employed to carry out the review and I expect that the submission will be positive towards the Western Rail Corridor expansion northwards.”

Temperatures to rise with more beautiful spring weather on the way

By

-

March 19, 2022

galway daily met éireann forecast for galway this week

Higher temperatures and blue skies are forecast next week across much of Ireland, with Met Éireann saying that the West will see the best of warmer weather and spring sunshine.

Temperatures will rise to mid to high teens in Galway with plenty of sun forecast throughout the week.

It will be cloudier on Sunday though across the county and highest temperatures will be 11 to 13 degrees.

Monday will be mostly dry with long spells of spring sunshine across most of Galway in the afternoon. Top temperatures could reach 16 or 17 degrees.

The beautiful spring weather is set to continue throughout the week, with early forecasts saying that it could last into next weekend.

Met Éireann says that it will be very mild or even warm in the sunshine, with the highest temperatures across the western half of the country.

Public meeting organised in Headford after rise in burglaries

By

-

March 19, 2022

Galway Daily news Galway sees decline in burglaries over the past year

A public meeting has been organised in Headford following a number of break-ins in the area.

The meeting will take place in St. Fursey’s Hall at 8pm on Monday, and will discuss home security, farm security and cybercrime among other topics.

Local Gardaí and the crime prevention officer will be present at the meeting.

Cllr Andrew Reddington encouraged as many people as possible to attend.

The councillor said that he was at a similar crime prevention meeting in Tuam before, and found it ‘extremely informative’.

Watch: St. Pat’s pupils belt out five Irish ballads in wonderful St. Patrick’s Day video!

By

-

March 19, 2022

galway daily news st. pats pupils on st.patricks day

St. Patrick’s Primary School in Galway city created a fantastic video this week featuring pupils belting out popular Irish ballads for St. Patrick’s Day.

Pupils poured their hearts and souls into rousing renditions of classics such as the Black Velvet Band, the Irish Rover, the Rising of the Moon and Óró Sé do Bheatha ‘Bhaile. Watch below!

Drive & Drop donation day for pregnant women and new mothers in need

By

-

March 19, 2022

People in Galway are being urged to contribute to Community Connect’s ‘drive and drop’ donation day at one of three locations next Saturday, 26 March from 1-3pm.

Community Connect gives support to pregnant women and babies, and teams up with homeless agencies, domestic violence services, direct provision centres and health professionals across the country.

The organisation supports for pregnant women and new mothers in need, with gifts of essential items like buggies, Moses baskets, baby clothes and mother and baby boxes filled with items such as nappies, maternity items and baby blankets.

The local collection points next Saturday will be located in Oranmore, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception; Renmore at St. Oliver Plunkett Church Car Park; and Knocknacarra, at St. John the Apostle Church Car Park.

Speaking about the event, Programme Manager of Community Connect, Elaine Noonan said: “We continue to have a great demand for the services we provide across the country. Every package of essential items makes a real difference to a struggling family, and we want to help as many as we can.”

“Our upcoming Drive & Drop event is a great way to donate new baby items to vulnerable families. It couldn’t be easier to get involved.”

Donors are asked to visit the Community Connect website to browse the list of items requested and decide what they want to donate.

All the items donated will be delivered to pregnant women and new mothers in need in the coming weeks and months.

“We are of course ever mindful at the moment of the ongoing situation in Ukraine, and we want to be in a strong position to also assist Ukrainian refugees coming to Ireland with babies and small children, who are asking for our assistance,” added Elaine Noonan.

“We are so grateful to our volunteers and supporters for what we have achieved so far and we hope to continue with this essential work, to help as many pregnant mothers and families with young babies as possible.”

New Card Factory store to open in Galway city on Monday

By

-

March 19, 2022

galway daily news card factory eyre square in galway — Photograph: Richard Walker/ImageNorth

Card and gifting retailer, Card Factory, has announced that it will be opening a new store at Eyre Square on Monday, 21 March.

The opening of the new Card Factory branch will create six new jobs at various levels, both full and part-time, and the new team will be led by an experienced store manager.

Following the announcement, Card Factory’s Retail Director, Steve Lilley said that their team has been working incredibly hard to prepare for the new opening.

“We’re so excited to open another store in the Republic of Ireland, especially given the difficult couple of years retailers have had,” he said.

“We’ve already created a stand-out team, and we can’t wait to welcome existing and new customers into our new premises in Galway.”

Card Factory’s stores offer a variety of party, gifts, stationery and confectionery items for any milestone occasion, including helium balloons that can be blown up free of charge in store.

Woman (20s) dies following car crash in the west

By

-

March 18, 2022

Galway Daily news missing teen found safe

A young woman in her 20s lost her life after a single car crash in the west of Ireland on Thursday night.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collison on the L5243 at Knocknalower, Pullathomas in Co. Mayo.

Gardai were alerted to the crash approximately 11:15pm on Thursday night, after a car is understood to have collided with a wall.

A female in her 20s was taken to Mayo University Hospital to be treated for her injuries before she later passed.

The road is currently closed to allow for a technical examination to take place by Forensic Collision Investigators.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the area at the time are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Belmullet Gardaí on 097 819 10, the Garda Confidential Line o

City Hotel gets more time to complete extension

By

-

March 18, 2022

Galway Daily news City Hotel gets more time to complete extension

More time has been given to the Glen Oaks Hotel in Galway City to complete a substantial extension and renovation project.

An Extension of Duration to planning permission granted in 2016 was approved unconditionally by the city council.

The full project consists of building a single storey extension with a floor space of 56m², which would add a new common room and dining room.

A first and second floor extension over an existing flat-roof area will provide eight new en-suite bedrooms.

The unused attic space currently in the hotel will be converted to six new en-suite bedrooms, a linen room and storage areas.

Internal renovations will include providing new staff toilets and changing area in the existing basement.

While the ground floor bar, restaurant and staff area are being converted to 13 new guest bedrooms.

To the rear of the hotel, an enclosed yard will be created, and two fire escape stairwells are to be extended up to the attic.

The EOD application stated that substantial works have been carried out to date, including building the rear single storey extension, and “extensive internal works” providing additional bedrooms.

The main extension remaining has not been built yet, with a “substantial element” of the project delayed due to COVID.

The developer expects that work will be completed by the end of 2024. The city council granted a five year extension of the planning permission to February 2027.

Woman hospitalised following late night crash

By

-

March 18, 2022

A woman was hospitalised with non-life threatening injuries following a car crash in Galway late last night.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the single vehicle collision at Killatanagh, near the Galway/Offaly county line.

“Gardaí attended the scene of a single vehicle collision at Killatanagh Co.Galway yesterday, 17^th March 2022.”

“The collision occurred at approximately 10.45pm,” a statement to Galway Daily said.

“A female passenger from the car was taken to Tullamore Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.“

City Centre Street closing for two weeks of evenings

By

-

March 18, 2022