Gardaí have frozen €410,000 worth of cryptocurrency and arrested one man in connection with an organised crime investigation in Galway.

On Monday, Gardaí from the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit searched a home in Doughiska.

The raid was backed by the Regional Armed Support Unit and personnel attached to Millstreet Garda Station.

As part of this operation, two cryptocurrency accounts containing $410,000 have been frozen, along with an account at a local financial institution holding over €20,000.

A male in his 20s was arrested and is currently being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 at a Garda station in the North Western Region.

Gardaí have said that this investigation is ongoing, and that further updates will follow.

Due to the success of the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic at University Hospital Galway (UHG), the clinic has extended its operating hours to 10:00am – 12:30pm to further support the delivery of Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT).

The Sunday clinic initially ran for just one hour each Sunday, accommodating up to eight patients. Due to increasing demand and positive feedback, the service now supports 20 patients per session.

This offers a more patient-focused experience that enhances both care and efficiency. To date, the clinic has welcomed 1,631 patients.

Traditionally, patients scheduled for chemotherapy and more specifically on Mondays and Tuesdays, had to arrive early in the morning for blood tests and await results before treatment could begin.

The Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic allows patients to have their pre-chemotherapy bloods taken up to 48 hours in advance of treatment, enabling treatments to be prepared ahead of time, significantly reducing waiting times on the day of treatment and enhancing the patient experience.

The success of the clinic is attributed to the dedication and innovation of UHG’s phlebotomy and laboratory teams, whose commitment has made a real difference to patient care.

“This initiative has made a tangible difference for our patients, with more patients requesting access to the service,” explains Dr Michael McCarthy, Consultant Medical Oncologist, University Hospital Galway.

“The programme ensures that cancer treatments are prepared in advance and ready for patients when they arrive for their systemic therapy appointments.

“It relies on the coordinated efforts of our staff nurses, nurse managers, chemotherapy schedulers, phlebotomists, laboratory scientists, porters, cleaners, and security staff, all working together, outside normal working hours, to deliver this targeted service.”

“This collaboration significantly enhances the patient experience while also improving the efficiency of our day ward.”

Maureen Keane, Senior Phlebotomist said, “The Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic has been very well received by patients and their families.”

“It allows them to avoid early starts on treatment days and reduces waiting times, which helps make their chemotherapy experience less stressful. We’re proud to play a part in improving the service for our patients.”

“The Sunday Clinic has transformed patient experience and workflow in the Haematology Oncology Day Ward,” explains, Julie Bradshaw, Clinical Nurse Manager II, Haematology Oncology Day Ward.

“With pre-treatment blood results ready in advance, nurses can focus more on care delivery, improving efficiency and reducing waiting times which is a true reflection of teamwork, innovation, and compassionate, patient-centred care.”

Eva Lally from Ardrahan, who attends the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic, said, “For the past two years I have attended the phlebotomy clinic on a Sunday morning prior to my treatment on a Tuesday.”

“I am extremely grateful to the staff there for working Sundays. There is no traffic and absolutely no delays and I am always out within 20 minutes.”

“Once my blood tests are reviewed, my treatment is prepared in the laboratory and ready for my 9.30am Tuesday appointment.”

“Having my bloods taken on a Sunday has been a game changer for my treatment day process, and I highly recommend the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic,” added Eva.

The expansion of the Sunday Phlebotomy Clinic underscores University Hospital Galway’s ongoing commitment to improving patient care, reducing waiting times, and ensuring seamless access to essential cancer treatment services.

A public meeting will be held next month to discuss plans to restore and protect the water quality in Lough Derg.

The Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) is inviting members of the public, and in particular community groups, anglers, and individuals, to a community information meeting about water quality in Lough Derg.

The meeting will take place at the Killaloe Hotel & Spa, Kincora Harbour, Co. Clare, at 7pm on February 12.

Representatives from LAWPRO will attend the meeting which will explore ways the local community can collaborate on projects to raise awareness of water quality and to help restore, protect, and enhance Lough Derg.

While Lough Derg has been negatively impacted by growing pollution and faces significant challenges to restore its water quality, this meeting will further engage the active community that already exists and discuss new public participation opportunities to improve water quality in the lake.

Barry Deane, LAWPRO’s Regional Co-ordinator in the South West, said, “This community meeting is a chance for local people in Tipperary, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Offaly to take an active role in protecting Lough Derg.”

“By working together, we can develop practical solutions to improve water quality in the lake for both wildlife and the local community.”

“We encourage community groups, anglers, and locals to come to the meeting, share their knowledge, and be part of the effort to restore and enhance this important waterbody.”

Funding opportunities for water quality related projects will be outlined at the meeting along with the work being coordinated by LAWPRO in the wider catchment.

Work underway at a national level in five pilot catchment areas to establish Catchment Community Fora will also be discussed.

These are structured local fora, designed to improve public participation within each pilot catchment and allow communities to develop local solutions for better water quality and environmental outcomes.

The fora are part of a national pilot under Ireland’s current River Basin Management Plan, the Water Action Plan 2024.

While the Lough Derg area is not one of the five pilot catchments, this collaborative model will be of particular interest to community groups, anglers and locals in the area.

The community meeting is a free event, and all are welcome to attend. Tea/coffee will be provided. You can register for the meeting through LAWPRO’s Eventbrite page.

Galway County Council has published its Customer Services Action Plan 2025-2029, setting out a major programme to enhance how the organisation serves and engages with the public.

Adopted by Elected Members at the January Plenary Council meeting this week, and aligned with the Council’s Corporate Plan 2025–2029, the bilingual plan includes a strengthened Customer Services Team aimed at improving consistency and response times across all service areas.

It also provides for more expanded online services delivery, more welcoming public customer service environments, and a gradual increase in services available through Irish, in line with national legislation.

The Council plans to bring services closer to communities by enhancing resources and functions within the five Municipal Districts of Loughrea, Ballinasloe, Tuam, Athenry, and Connemara.

A new Project Management Office will oversee major projects, while a dedicated Innovation Team will explore new ways to deliver services, putting the ‘customer’ at the heart of Galway County Council’s innovation drive.

The action plan sets standards for services offered in person, in writing, by phone and online. Response targets include acknowledging correspondence within five days and replying within 20.

The plan also includes a robust best practice, Customer Code of Conduct that sets out the responsibilities of staff and service users, providing guidance on respectful behaviour, handling peaceful protests and safeguarding children in Council facilities.

Complaints and appeals procedures have been strengthened, with clear timelines for responses and the option of review by the Ombudsman.

Equality and human rights are central to the new plan. Impact assessments will be carried out under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, with annual reports on complaints, requests for reasonable accommodations and improvements to services captured.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, said the plan reflects a shared commitment to delivering high quality services for the people of Galway.

“Like any public‑facing organisation, Galway County Council must meet the expectations and needs of the people it serves and adapt to changing conditions,“ he explained.

“Good public service is about more than meeting expectations; it is about building trust and strengthening Galway County Council’s relationship with communities. I commend the Chief Executive and staff for their work and look forward to the positive impact this new Customer Services Action Plan will have.”

Chief Executive Liam Conneally said the new plan provides a roadmap for continuous improvement and ensures that Galway County Council is well placed to meet the needs of communities over the years ahead.

“This plan is about making it easier for people to engage with the Council and ensuring every interaction is respectful and positive,” he added.

“By improving digital access, creating more welcoming customer service points and listening to feedback, we are putting customers at the centre of everything we do.”

“With the support of staff and elected members, it will help us build a stronger connection with communities and deliver better services across County Galway.”

Research Ireland has welcomed the announcement that two University of Galway researchers have this week received prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Proof of Concept (PoC) awards.

Professors Ted Vaughan (Professor of Biomedical Engineering) and Martin O’Halloran (Professor of Medical Electronics) will use the funding to further their research from concepts towards application-ready solutions with real-world impact.

Commenting on the news, Dr Diarmuid O’Brien, CEO of Research Ireland, said, “These researchers exemplify the curiosity, ambition and excellence that drive Ireland’s global reputation for world-class innovation.”

“Their success demonstrates how frontier research can move boldly toward real-world impact. The achievements being celebrated today began as ideas; the breakthroughs of tomorrow come from the courage to pursue them.”

This latest accolade for Prof. O’Halloran brings his total ERC awards to eight, making him the most awarded Ireland-based ERC awardee.

Prof. O’Halloran, who is also Co-Director at CÚRAM Research Ireland’s Research Centre for medical devices, and Executive Director of the BioInnovate programme.

Prof. O’Halloran outlined how this grant will advance his work. “Painful bladder syndrome is a chronic, underdiagnosed condition marked by persistent bladder pain, urgency, and frequency, with profound impacts on quality of life, mental health, and economic productivity.”

“This proposal introduces Uro-Lieve, a minimally invasive, biodegradable capsaicin hydrogel designed to selectively silence pain fibres while avoiding the severe burning of current treatments. It highlights a major unmet clinical need and the broader structural neglect of women’s pain in research and healthcare.”

Prof. Vaughan, who is also Director of the Institute for Health Discovery and Innovation and a Principal Investigator at CÚRAM, secured his PoC funding to develop next-generation design technology that will make additive manufacturing more sustainable and capable of delivering more efficient, optimised components for industry.

Working alongside his colleague, Dr Mahtab Vafaeefar, Prof. Vaughan will advance an innovative software platform that enables engineers to design lighter, stronger and more efficient components optimised for 3D printing.

“Too often, we simply ‘print’ conventional designs rather than truly exploiting the capabilities of additive manufacturing.”

“Our goal is to provide intuitive tools that automatically generate high-performance, production-ready designs that are truly functionally-tailored to each application, reducing costs, saving material, and accelerating innovation.”

The software platform builds on biomimetic principles developed during Prof. Vaughan’s ERC Starting Grant, drawing inspiration from how nature designs complex structures.

These principles are translated into industry-ready design tools capable of delivering lightweight, efficient and high-performance components across a broad range of engineering applications.

In this round of PoC awards, 136 grantees each receive €150,000, supporting them in exploring how their scientific results can move towards practical application or early commercial use.

With these awards, the total number of Proof of Concept Grants under the ERC 2025 work programme reached 300, representing an overall budget of €45 million. The scheme is funded under Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation.

President of the European Research Council, Prof. Maria Leptin, added, “The ERC does not ask its researchers to start with ready-made solutions or immediate applications.”

“Instead, ERC grantees explore the frontiers of knowledge, guided by their curiosity and scientific ambition. With these Proof of Concept Grants, many ERC grantees will explore the commercialisation or societal potential of their curiosity.”

“And they will lay the foundation for future technological innovations and societal technologies that drive progress in Europe.”

Travel by train between Galway and Dublin will be disrupted by engineering works taking place this weekend, with bus transfers in place for part of the journey.

Irish Rail is carrying out track renewal and platform works between Portarlington and Athlone from Saturday, January 31, through to Monday, February 2.

This means that trains on the Heuston – Galway route will be operating bus transfers between Dublin and Athlone, with trains for the rest of the journey.

Times between Dublin and Athlone have been altered, please see the Journey Planner for full details.

The work on renovating Ceannt Station is also expected to progress and be completed in 2026.

Irish Rail has said that this will cause periods of disruption to Galway rail travel between April and June.

Gaol Road West by Galway Cathedral will be closed to traffic for just over a week to facilitate the annual novena starting next week.

The annual Novena, now in its 42nd year, will run from Monday, February 2, until Tuesday, February 10.

During that time, Gaol Road West and the Gaol Road East to West link will be closed to traffic 24/7.

Entry and exit from Cathedral Car Park will be via Gaol Road East.

Traffic normally using Gaol Road West will be diverted via University Road and Gaol Road East.

Localised access will be maintained at all times, and signage will be in place before the road closure comes into effect.

HSE West and North West is advising people in Galway and Roscommon to be aware of their healthcare options this Bank Holiday weekend.

If you do get sick this bank holiday weekend there are a number of healthcare options available; plan ahead, know your options and stay safe.

The month of January has been extremely busy across health services in the West and North West, with continued high levels of attendance at emergency departments and sustained demand for inpatient care.

Ann Cosgrove, HSE Healthcare Manager, Galway and Roscommon said, “January has placed significant pressure on our hospitals, with high numbers of patients requiring care across emergency, medical and surgical services.”

“Our staff have worked exceptionally hard to meet this demand and we are doing everything we can to minimise any delays for patients in accessing care.”

“Emergency departments tend to be busier at holiday weekends than at other times of the year. We are asking people to choose the right care in the right place over the bank holiday. This helps ensure that emergency departments can focus on those who are most unwell.”

“We continue to monitor service pressures closely and are working to support patient flow, including timely discharge planning and the use of community supports where appropriate.”

If you urgently need to see a GP over the bank holiday weekend, the HSE says that you should contact your local out of hours GP service first.

The out of hours GP service in this region is Westdoc. The service is open all weekend, but you do need to make an appointment in advance. GP Out of Hours information is available on the HSE website here.

You can also access a range of support and advice at your local pharmacy.

Roscommon injury unit is open from 8am to 8pm every day of the year, which treat non life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns.

They can help with many of the injuries people go to the emergency department for, including X-rays. You do not need an appointment to attend an injury unit. You can find your local injury unit here.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has advised that Bank Holiday weekends also see an increase in call-outs and is also urging the public to consider all care pathways in advance of contacting them.

Please dial 112 or 999 for emergency care if there is concern for serious illness or injury.

Gardai will be out on the roads in a road safety campaign taking place over the course of the St. Brigid’s Bank Holiday weekend.

In addition to dedicated Bank Holiday checkpoints and enforcement activity every member of An Garda Síochána on duty will be out conducting road traffic enforcement activity.

The operation began on Thursday morning and will continue until 7am next Tuesday, February 3.

Last year, a total of 188 people died on Irish roads, with 8 road deaths this year up to January 27.

Distracted driving is a significant factor in road safety. An Garda Síochána have emphasised that it is an offence to hold a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.

Over the last 5 years, Gardaí have issued nearly 110,000 Fixed Charge Notices for holding a mobile phone while driving.

There has been over a 30% increase in Fixed Charge Notices for holding a mobile phone from just over 18,500 FCNs in 2022 to nearly 24,500 FCNs in 2025.

Minister of State with responsibility for Road Safety, Seán Canney, said, “One of the most dangerous behaviours on our roads is driving while distracted.”

“Driving while using a mobile device is utterly unacceptable, but unfortunately, this behaviour has become far too common on our roads.”

“Driving any vehicle requires your full attention, and it is unacceptable to put lives at risk by picking up the phone – whatever the reason.”

“Too many families and communities have lost loved ones to road traffic collisions, and I appeal to all road users this weekend to put your devices away and to drive in a manner that protects the safety of other road users.”

The Road Safety Authority carried out an Observational Survey on Mobile Device Usage during September and October 2025.

It found that 8% of motorists were using a handheld mobile device, up from 6% in 2024.

The highest rate of handheld mobile device usage was seen by LGV drivers at 15%, with rates ranging from 6% – 8% amongst drivers of other vehicle types.

Of the drivers observed using a handheld mobile device, 48% were using the device in their hand, and 52% were using the device to their ear.

The percentage of drivers seen using a handheld mobile device increased on motorways (+10%) and urban roads (+2%) in the 2025 study, with a slight improvement seen on rural 80km/h and 100km/h roads.

Distracted driving goes further than specifically the holding of a mobile phone, but also includes checking messages/ content on any app on any mobile device, watching videos or other content but also activities such as shaving, applying makeup, eating and drinking to the extent where these activities impede and distract driving.

These activities can also be prosecuted by issuing a Fixed Charge Notice for Driving without Reasonable Consideration, or in more serious cases, being charged for offences of Careless and maybe Dangerous Driving.

Over the last 5 years, An Garda Síochána has issued nearly 30,000 Fixed Charge Notice for Driving without Reasonable Consideration.

There has been nearly a 36% increase in Fixed Charge Notices for Driving Without Reasonable Consideration from 2022 to 2025.

Assistant Commissioner Catharina Gunne, Roads Policing and Community Engagement, said that driving requires people’s full attention and that using a mobile device endangers lives.

“When you pick up a mobile phone, read a message, or interact with any device behind the wheel, you are placing yourself, your passengers, and every other road user at risk.”

“No call, message or notification is worth a life. Put the phone away, remove distractions, and stay focused on the road.”

“We are asking everyone to play their part. A safe journey is the responsibility of every driver. By eliminating distractions and making safe decisions, you can help ensure that all road users arrive home safely.”

1,701 new residential address points were recorded in Galway in 2025, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report.

The report, prepared by EY, found that a total of 35,056 new residential address points were added to the GeoDirectory database nationally in 2025.

Dublin accounted for the largest proportion of new residential address points with 11,966 new additions, followed by Cork (3,761), Kildare (3,107) Louth (1,892) and Meath (1,761).

Construction Activity

A further 1,632 residential buildings were classified as under construction in Galway in December 2025.

Nationally, 27,931 new buildings under construction in the state in December, 25.5% higher than the same point in 2024.

The highest concentration of residential development activity in the State at the end of 2025 was in Dublin, where 5,046 buildings were under construction.

Outside of the capital, construction levels were highest in Cork (3,668 buildings), Kildare (2,075 buildings), Louth (1,780 buildings) and Meath (1,703 buildings).

Vacancy Rates and Derelict Buildings

The residential vacancy rate in Galway in December 2025 was 5.0%, higher than the national average of 3.7%.

The national residential vacancy rate remained at a record low of 3.7% in Q4 2025, decreasing by 0.1% from the same period in 2024.

In total, 79,703 residential units in the State were classified as vacant by GeoDirectory at the end of last year.

The lowest residential vacancy rates were recorded in Dublin, where 1.2% of the overall housing stock was vacant. Kildare (1.7%), Waterford (2.0%), Meath (2.2%) and Carlow (2.4%) all recorded vacancy rates of below 2.5%.

Residential vacancies in December 2025 were highest in the west and north-west of the country. At 11.7%, Leitrim recorded the highest vacancy rate, followed by Mayo (10.3%), Roscommon (10.1%), Donegal (9.0%) and Sligo (8.5%).

A total of 19,438 derelict units were recorded in the State by GeoDirectory in Q4 2025, a 3.3% decrease compared to the previous year. 8.8% of these derelict buildings were recorded in Galway.

Property Transactions and Average Prices

A total of 1,932 residential property transactions were recorded in Galway in the twelve months to November 2025, according to CSO data. 17.3% of these transactions involved new dwellings.

The average house price rose in all counties in the State between November 2024 and November 2025, with the national average house increasing by 6.6% to €427,937.
In Galway, the average residential property price was €377,588.

Residential property prices were highest in Dublin (€588,649), Wicklow (€501,881) and Kildare (€443,164). These were the only three counties where the average house price exceeded the national average.

The lowest average house prices were recorded in Longford (€206,583), Donegal (€215,554) and Leitrim (€218,507), although the average residential property transaction in Leitrim increased by €28,562 (15%) during the period in question.

Commenting on the findings of the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report, Dara Keogh, CEO of GeoDirectory said, “2025 saw an acceleration in residential construction activity nationally, which was over 25% higher than what was recorded in 2024.”

“Delivering this new supply pipeline to the market in 2026 should be a priority for the sector, as low vacancy rates combined with increased demand continues to drive the average property price upwards.”

Simon MacAllister, Partner at EY said, “The latest GeoDirectory report highlights the continued positive momentum in Ireland’s housing market.”

“Construction activity strengthened considerably in the last quarter of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, while vacancy rates continued to tighten, falling to 3.7% nationally and just 1.2% in Dublin.”

“Looking ahead, a series of policy changes introduced last year have been welcomed by the construction sector, and it is hoped they will unlock further housing growth potential and spur additional commencements in 2026 and beyond.”

Three people have been arrested in connection with the seizure of over €100,000 in cocaine and cannabis, and nearly €30,000 cash this week.

As part of an ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the area, Gardaí carried out a search under warrant at two residences in Sligo on Monday.

Members of Sligo/Leitrim Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by the Armed Support Unit, searched a property in Sligo Town.

There, they seized suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of €70,000, cannabis with a value of €12,900 and just under €20,000 in cash.

A woman (30s) and a man (40s) were arrested at the scene at detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

In a follow-up search at a residential property in Gurteen, Co Sligo, cannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000 and cash totalling €7,350 was seized.

A man (50s) was arrested and detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

All three have since been charged and are due to appear before Tubbercurry District Court today.

Funding of nearly €450,000 has been approved for the restoration and preservation of heritage buildings in Galway this year.

The government has approved a package of €8.1 million in grant funding under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2026, including €1.1 million for thatched buildings specifically.

This funding will be used to repair, restore and protect historic structures from traditional homes to landmark public buildings across Ireland.

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2026 (BHIS) is for the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts. Grants of between €2,500 and €50,000 are available

Galway County Council will receive €204,469 for conservation work on 14 historic buildings, while Galway City Council has been allocated €127,500 for the preservation of 11 buildings.

Among those projects is €20,000 for the reinstatement of character and timber windows of the Head Gardener’s House at Kylemore Abbey in Connemara.

The Historic Thatch Grant is meant to support the owners of thatched roof buildings with their obligations to protect these structures and their heritage value.

The grant goes up to a maximum of €20,000 based on the type of building and the nature of the applicant.

Galway County Council has been allocated €115,984.47 for conservation works on nine thatched buildings in the county.

Applications for the Built Heritage Scheme are made to your local authority. The scheme will reopen in July of this year for the next round of funding.

This funding under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme will ensure that the architectural legacy of past generations continues to survive in towns, villages, and rural communities across the country.

“The preservation of our built heritage relies on our taking action today to repair, maintain, and secure the integrity of these buildings with the care and attention they deserve,” Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said.

“That is why my Department continues to make substantial funding available under this scheme – as well as through other schemes such as the Historic Structures Fund and Community Monuments Fund – thereby helping to renew and protect the fabric of our architectural heritage with each passing year.”

The Minister added that this scheme helps to “Preserve our past while also securing our future by maximising use of existing building stock and helping to prevent or reverse vacancy, dereliction, and underuse.”

Applications will open next week for local community groups and clubs in Galway City to apply for grants from the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2026.

The LEP scheme is aimed at groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, which need to carry out repairs and improvements to their facilities.

The grant funding can also be used to purchase equipment such as furniture, computer technology, and training equipment.

The Galway City Local Community Development Committee has been allocated €141,688 in capital funding under this programme for 2026.

The LCDC will ringfence a proportion of funding to provide small capital grants of €1,000 or less, which will allow a larger volume of groups with limited resources to receive funding.

The scheme is designed to ensure local priorities are identified and met, in order to improve and enhance community facilities for all.

Applications should relate to one or more key priority areas identified in the Galway City Local Economic & Community Plan 2024 – 2029.

Applications will open online only from Tuesday, February 3. For further information and the online application link, please visit this page.

The closing date for all online applications is Friday, February 27 at 4pm. The Local Enhancement Programme 2026 is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

A status yellow weather warning is in force for all of Ireland today as heavy winds from Storm Chandra are expected to cause damage.

The wind warning came into effect at 3am this morning and will remain in place until 11pm Tuesday night.

Winds associated with Storm Chandra will be powerful and gusty, particularly on coasts and in exposed areas.

This may result in fallen trees and loose debris creating hazardous travelling conditions.

Motorists in coastal areas are also advised to be wary of wave overtopping due to the strong winds.