Applications are now open for the Cathaoirleach’s Awards 2026 to celebrate the people who give their all in service to the community in Galway County.

These awards are an annual initiative to acknowledge the commitment of individuals and groups who participate in community and voluntary activities in County Galway.

They recognise the significant impact these people’s actions have on the quality of life in their communities.

The Awards are a joint venture between Galway County Council and the Public Participation Network, which has over 1,300 Member Groups carrying out a range of community and voluntary activities across the County.

Cllr David Collins, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, said, “There is a huge amount of community & voluntary activity ongoing in County Galway, and it is important that we publicly acknowledge the significant impact it has on quality of life in our communities.”

The Cathaoirleach’s Awards are our annual initiative to acknowledge those unsung heroes who give freely and generously of their time, across a range of areas, to make life better in their communities.”

“I am delighted to be working with the Council & Galway County Public Participation Network on these Awards, and I look forward to announcing the winners in due course.”

Nominations may be submitted by individual members of the public, community groups or voluntary organisations.

Completed Nomination Forms should be emailed to awards@galwaycoco.ie by 10th April 2026.

The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi in Galway city has risen by 0.8% to €398,000 this quarter, according to the latest REA national survey.

Across the county, prices over the past three months have also increased by 0.8% to an average of €312,480, the Q1 REA Average House Price Index shows.

There was an increase in supply this quarter due to a noticeable increase in the number of landlords selling,” said Kevin Burke of REA McGreal Burke. “The market remains very busy overall, with lots of active buyers.”

The survey shows that this quarter, 60% of purchasers in the city and 70% across the county were first-time buyers, while a total of 20% of sales in the county, and 15% in Galway city, were attributed to landlords leaving the market.

Additionally, the survey found A-rated BER properties in the county are commanding 10pc price increases in comparison to C-rated properties.

The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Ireland’s typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.

The actual selling price of a three-bed, semi-detached house across the country rose by 1.5% in the past three months to €364,747.

This represents a 7.67% annual rise – slowing gradually from the 9pc increase registered six months ago.

With energy prices coming into focus, agents are reporting that there is a renewed focus on heating costs, with the A-rated v C-rated BER price premium rising to 13%, up from 10% at the end of December.

Actual selling prices in Dublin city rose by 1.6% in the last three months, with the average three-bed semi in the capital’s postcode areas now selling at €595,453, a 6.6% annual rise.

The percentage of first-time buyers purchasing in Dublin has dropped from 50% to 39% in the past six months, with agents citing a wait-and-see policy from buyers around the changes in rental legislation.

Selling prices in Ireland’s major cities outside Dublin rose by 1.2% to an average of €378,250 – a 6.5% annual increase, with homes selling in four weeks on average.

Homes in the country’s large towns rose by 2% this quarter and 9% annually to an average of €281,287, while prices in commuter counties rose by 1% to €377,185.

Galway Hospice has launched its annual Car Raffle, giving supporters the chance to win a brand-new car for just €10.

First prize is a 2026 Kia Picanto, supplied by Kia Renmore. Second prize is a holiday to France with KelAir Campotel, kindly sponsored by Keller Travel. Third prize is €500.

All funds raised will go directly towards supporting Galway Hospice services, helping us deliver specialist palliative care to patients and families, and building a much-needed new hospice for Galway.

“Our fundraising helps ensure we can provide the best possible care to those who need us, now and into the future,” said Mary Nash, Galway Hospice Chief Executive.

“Funds raised go to helping build our new hospice, as well as providing personalised patient care, essential equipment and vital projects that benefit our patients and their families.”

Tickets for the Galway Hospice Car Raffle cost just €10 each, with three tickets for €20 or 15 tickets for €100.

Anyone who buys or sells 15 tickets will be entered into a special draw to win €250. Entries close on 29 April.

Tickets are available:

• online at raffle.galwayhospice.ie
• from reception at Galway Hospice, Renmore
• or by calling 091-770868

The University of Galway is holding an Open Day this weekend to welcome prospective students to explore its campus and undergraduate programmes.

The event takes place on Saturday, March 21, from 9am to 3pm and will feature five exhibition areas across the city-centre campus, more than 90 course and subject talks and opportunities for visitors to experience life at the university and the campus first-hand.

The Open Day provides an opportunity for prospective students to explore degree options, facilities and the student experience as they prepare for CAO 2026.

Visitors can attend talks, take guided tours, and meet faculty, staff and current students across a variety of disciplines.

Academics and support staff from the University’s College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies will also be on hand to reassure prospective students, parents and guardians and teachers that there are no changes planned to current Arts programmes.

The University offers more than 60 internationally recognised undergraduate programmes, including Medicine, Nursing, Health Sciences, Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, Law, and Hotel Management, with over 90% of programmes offering work placements or study abroad opportunities.

Highlights of the Open Day include:

• Accommodation Talk – Learn about campus living, accommodation options, and how to settle into university life at the Purple Zone at 10am.
• Nursing and Midwifery Tours – Tours of the state-of-the-art facilities depart from Áras Moyola, Green Zone at 12.45pm and 1.30pm.
• Law and Moot Court Experience – Step inside the School of Law’s Moot Court to experience a real courtroom. Five tours are available throughout the day, with registration taking place at Stand 45 in the Orange Zone.
• Science and Engineering Tours – Explore the Engineering Building with tours starting from the Green Zone foyer.
• Chemistry Lab Tours – Register at Stand 18 in the Purple Zone for hands-on lab tours.
• Drama Masterclass and Theatre Tours – Drama enthusiasts can attend a Masterclass at 1pm or tour the O’Donoghue Drama and Theatre Performance Centre. The meeting point is in the Blue Zone foyer at 11.30am.
• Sports and Scholarships – Meet coaches and athletes and learn about sports scholarships and cutting-edge facilities in The Cube, Orange Zone.
• Zoology Museum Tours – Discover the fascinating world of animals at the Zoology Museum, with guided tours highlighting unique collections and interactive exhibits. Registration is available at stand 13 in the Purple Zone.

Students can also explore campus accommodation, and parents can attend a talk at 11:30am offering guidance on supporting students during the transition to university life.

Sarah Geraghty, Director of Student Recruitment and Outreach at University of Galway, said, “Our Open Day is the perfect chance for students to step inside their future and see what’s possible.”

“From world-class facilities to Moot Court to hands-on tours, students can truly experience university life.”

“Our College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies team will be on hand to chat to students and parents about all our Arts degrees and to reassure students that we have no plans to change any of our arts programmes.”

“We can’t wait to meet future students and help them discover the study paths and career opportunities that inspire them most.”

Advance registration is required. Full programme details and registration are available at www.universityofgalway.ie/opendays, or email opendays@universityofgalway.ie.

The Rahoon Road in Galway City has reopened following the completion of emergency repair works to the damage caused by a burst water mains.

A 30-metre section of the Rahoon Road, from Oakley Crescent to the Seamus Quirke Road junction, was temporarily closed to road traffic after the burst caused significant damage to the road surface on Saturday morning.

Crews working on behalf of Uisce Éireann carried out temporary reinstatement works to make the road surface safe for use, and the road has reopened to traffic.

Permanent reinstatement works to restore the road surface to its original condition will be carried out at a later date. These works will require a road closure, but they will be carried out at night to limit disruption.

Tony Kelly, Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager, thanked impacted residents, businesses and road-users for their cooperation while the road closure was in effect.

“This burst necessitated a significant temporary repair job to the road surface, and this required a road closure to be put in place in order to be carried out safely,” said Tony.

“We want to thank impacted road-users for their understanding. The road has now reopened with temporary reinstatement in place.”

“Our crews will be back to complete permanent reinstatement and restore the road surface to its original condition as soon as possible.”

A Galway man was thrilled to find that two tickets he had almost forgotten about netted him a neat €42,000 prize.

The fortunate winner is planning to turn his winnings into a weekend holiday to celebrate the windfall.

The man came to the Lotto HQ this week to pick up his Lotto Match 5 + Bonus prize from last Saturday’s draw.

He scooped €42,191 in the March 14 draw after purchasing his winning ticket at the Spar shop in Carrowkeel, Kiltullagh, Athenry, Galway.

“I was scanning two tickets at the time and got the message ‘You’ve Won Big!’ I had no idea how much it could have been.”

“So I called the Claims team immediately and in the space of about three minutes, I went from not knowing I had won anything to finding out I had a ticket worth €42,191.”

“The only reason I even decided to check the tickets was because I was clearing out my pockets. I never would have thought of checking otherwise!”

The West of Ireland winner already has his plans in place. “The first thing I’ll be doing is booking an Italian weekend away to celebrate!”

Two Galway students are in with a chance to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad this Summer after competing in the national final this month.

Two students from Coláiste an Eachréidh competed at the National Final of the 18th All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO), hosted by the ADAPT Centre at Dublin City University (DCU) on Wednesday, March 4.

The 100 finalists represented 56 secondary schools from 20 counties across the whole island and are competing for the chance to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad in Bucharest, Romania this July.

AILO is run by ADAPT, the Research Ireland Centre for AI-driven Digital Content Technology. The competition challenges students to apply logic and reasoning to decode unfamiliar languages by analysing the language data they are given to work out the ‘rules’ of the new language.

These transferable skills are critical in preparing young people for a wide range of careers in computing, linguistics and language.

Speaking about the event, Director of ADAPT, Professor John Kelleher said, “AILO is a showcase of the analytical ability, curiosity and capability of Ireland’s young people.”

“The students who have reached the final have demonstrated exceptional problem solving skills. The skills developed here are directly transferable to the real world and we hope will give them a love of computing and data-driven research.”

“We are very proud to host the final at DCU and to support an all-island initiative that opens up these futures to students from every background.”

The finalists progressed through a preliminary round, involving nearly 1,000 competitors, held in schools earlier this year.

The results of the AILO final will be released mid-March. For those who want to try the challenge, sample puzzles can be downloaded from https://ailo.adaptcentre.ie/sample-puzzles/.

The training at the lifeboat station follows a visit by Galway RNLI crew to the Clinical Simulation and Interprofessional Education Facility at the University’s College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at the end of 2025.

Dr Cara Egan, lecturer in Clinical Skills and Simulation at University of Galway said, “For the RNLI crew visit to our facility last year, we designed a real-life scenario that enabled the crew to apply their casualty care training, along with using the first aid equipment they carry on the lifeboat.”

“This time, we were able to observe casualty care training in the lifeboat environment. This was an excellent opportunity for our students to see how their medical training will be used in the event of caring for casualties who are brought to shore by RNLI crew either as a result of an injury while on the water or having entered the water.”

This visit was also part of the Simulation and Medical Education module for the students, which is designed to demonstrate learning in the community.

Nurse Olivia Byrne, who is also a volunteer RNLI crew and leads out on first aid exercises at the lifeboat station, said, “The medicine students got to experience how RNLI crew assess and manage casualty care in a very different environment from hospital-based care.”

“We were able to show how we care for casualties on the lifeboat and the challenges that varying sea conditions pose when getting a casualty onto the lifeboat and then back onto land to hand over to the ambulance service if they require ongoing medical care.”

“As part of the visit, we also demonstrated the first aid equipment that our crew are trained to use. And the visit included an overview of technical capabilities of our lifeboat and the communications and other technology used to coordinate a search and rescue operation.”

“It was a very positive experience for our crew to meet these students as they begin their medical studies and we hope that what they learned here this evening will benefit them in their future careers.

She added that, “Every day is a learning day for us as crew and hopefully the same for the students.”

“We are all volunteers here in Galway RNLI and we depend on the support of our community to be able to provide a 24/7 search and rescue service.”

“We are very appreciative of the support from the University of Galway and the opportunities that our ongoing engagement has given us to enhance our casualty care and first aid training.”

It was a lá fhéile Pádraig indeed for one lucky Euromillions player in Galway on Tuesday as they scooped a €500,000 prize.

There were two big winners for Tuesday’s Euromillions Plus draw, both of them in the west of Ireland. Players in Galway and Mayo both came away with an impressive €500,000 win.

The winning numbers in last night’s EuroMillions Plus draw were 16, 24, 32, 48 and 50.

One of the big prizes was won by an online player in Galway. An email notification has been sent to the online winner encouraging them to check their account.

The second player purchased their ticket from Costcutter, Killala Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The winning ticket was purchased from the store on Sunday, March 15.

The National Lottery are advising all players who may have purchased their tickets at the Costcutter store to carefully check their tickets, as one player now has a prize worth €500,000 waiting to be collected.

The holder of the winning ticket is advised to sign the back of their ticket and keep it somewhere safe.

Both winners can contact the National Lottery Prize Claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie, and arrangements will be made for them to collect their prize at National Lottery headquarters.

Darragh O’Dwyer, National Lottery spokesperson, said, “Tuesday night proved unforgettable for two EuroMillions Plus players who each scooped an incredible €500,000 in last night’s draw.”

“While there was no winner of last night’s EuroMillions jackpot of €26,669,837, more than 37,000 players across Ireland won prizes in Tuesday night’s EuroMillions and EuroMillions Plus draws, with two players now each holding a prize worth €500,000!”

A Book of Condolences is opening at the offices of Galway County Council in Áras an Chontae in memory of Dolores Keane.

The famed folk singer from Caherlistrane passed away earlier this week at the age of 72.

The Book of Condolences will be open for people to sign from midday on Wednesday.

The Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Councillor David Collins, will open the book, which will be available for signing during normal office hours in the coming days.

Paying tribute, Councillor Collins said, “Dolores made a major contribution to the development and international reach of Irish music.”

“She had one of the most distinctive and respected voices and brought the music and spirit of County Galway to audiences around the world.”

He added, “Her ability to blend traditional sean-nós influences with contemporary folk styles has influenced countless other musicians and will continue to draw new listeners for generations to come.”

“On behalf of Galway County Council and the people of County Galway, I extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and all who admired her music,” he said.

Blackrock Diving Tower in Salthill will be closing on and off over the next several weeks while it is being repainted.

Galway City Council has confirmed that painting works are being done on multiple structures in Salthill, Silverstrand and Ballyloughane from next Monday.

Works will include the painting of structures, including Blackrock Diving Tower, shelters, changing facilities, rails and benches.

The work will commence on Monday, March 23 and is expected to take three weeks to complete in total. However, this is dependent on weather conditions.

Temporary closures of Blackrock Diving Tower will be required to facilitate the works, and the specific dates for these closures will be confirmed separately.

Part of the Rahoon Road in Galway City will remain closed throughout the week as repairs are made to damage caused by a burst water main.

Significant damage was done to around 30m of the Rahoon Road between Oakley Crescent and the Seamus Quirke Road junction by a burst mains on Saturday morning.

Repairs were made to the water mains that day, restoring supply to the surrounding areas. However, the road remains closed for safety reasons.

Contractors working on behalf of Uisce Éireann have commenced repairs and it is expected that the road will be closed for a period of one week to allow for these works to be completed.

Diversions have been put in place for the period of the road closure, however local and emergency access will be maintained at all times.

Tony Kelly, Uisce Éireann Water Operations Manager, said the damage caused to the road will require significant repair works.

“This was a major burst on the main, the force of which caused the road surface to lift. In order to make the road safe for use, significant repairs will need to be carried out this week.”

“We acknowledge the inconvenience that can be caused by a road closure such as this, and we thank impacted residents, businesses and road-users for their patience while our crews work to repair the damage and reopen the road as quickly as possible.”

Portiuncula University Hospital has reopened its newly refurbished paediatric playroom, providing a safe, engaging and child-friendly environment for patients.

The bright, newly decorated playroom is fully equipped with toys, games and creative activities, offering children an important escape from the clinical environment of the ward.

The space has been redesigned with a strong focus on therapeutic play and includes a soft sensory pod to support children with additional needs.

Robyn Burns, Play Therapist at Portiuncula University Hospital, said the refurbished facility will have a significant positive impact on patients and their families.

“Play is a crucial part of a child’s development and recovery. It helps reduce anxiety, supports emotional expression and provides a sense of normality during what can be a stressful time.”

“For many families, the playroom offers comfort, connection and a much-needed break from the ward environment.”

“We’re already seeing the impact of the refurbished space, with laughter and play bringing a brighter and more uplifting atmosphere to the unit.”

Carly Smith, Assistant Director of Nursing for Paediatrics at the hospital, welcomed the reopening, highlighting its importance for patient-centred care.

“We are delighted to see the paediatric playroom reopen following its refurbishment. Creating a child-friendly environment is an essential part of delivering compassionate, holistic care.”

“This space will support not only the clinical needs of our young patients, but also their emotional wellbeing, helping to make their hospital experience as positive and supportive as possible.”

Ann Marie Furlong, Clinical Nurse Manager II in Paediatrics, also welcomed the initiative, noting the importance of supportive environments for children and families.

“This refurbishment represents a significant enhancement to the experience of children and their families while attending the hospital.”

“Providing a welcoming, therapeutic space helps reduce stress and anxiety and reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, family-centred care for the communities we serve.”

The reopening of the paediatric playroom reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to placing children’s experiences at the centre of care.

Plans are in development for the construction of 38 social and affordable housing units on the western side of Galway City.

The city council has submitted a Part 8 planning application for a housing development on two connected sites on the Cappagh Road.

The development will consist of 6 three-bedroom terraced houses, 6 two-bedroom terraced houses, 1 two-bedroom townhouse, 5 two-bedroom duplexes, 15 two-bedroom apartments, and 5 one-bedroom apartments.

Other works will involve vehicular and pedestrian access points to the Proposals via the An Cimín Mór/ Garrai Dhónaill access road, landscaping, parking, and associated site works.

Soft copies of plans and particulars of the proposed development can also be viewed online on the Galway City Council website at: Cappagh Road, Knocknacara Social & Affordable Housing development • GCC Part 8.

Submissions related to this project can be made to the city council planning department until 4pm on April 27, 2026.

One man was arrested in connection with the seizure of €21,000 worth of drugs and over €2,000 in cash in Galway City earlier this week.

On Wednesday, March 11, Gardaí searched a home in the Roscam area of Galway City as part of ongoing investigations targeting the sale and supply of drugs.

During the course of the search, Gardaí seized cannabis with an estimated street value of €20,000, cocaine with an estimated street value of €1,000 and €2,200 in cash.

A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region.

He has since been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

An Garda Síochána said that the seized drugs have been sent for analysis and that investigations are ongoing.