Tuam Mart postpones first sale of the year due to COVID

By

Briain Kelly

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January 3, 2022

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Galway Daily news Tuam Mart postpones first sale of the year due to COVID

Tuam Co-Operative Mart has announced that it has postponed its first sale of the year due to COVID-19.

The Mart was due to hold its opening Sheep Sale this Tuesday, Janaury 4.

However, it was announced over the weekend that this has been postponed “in the interest of staff and customer safety”.

The auction will now take place next week on Tuesday, January 11 at 5pm.

The Mart apologised for any inconvenience that this decision has caused.

Ireland has been dealing with a surge in COVID cases over the Christmas and New Year period cause by the Omicron variant.

There were a further 17,071 cases reported yesterday, and even this is down from multiple days over Christmas where there were more than 20,000 cases, setting multiple daily records.

Galway had Ireland’s third highest number of road deaths in 2021

By

Briain Kelly

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January 3, 2022

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Galway daily news Galway had Ireland's third highest number of road deaths in 2021

Galway had Ireland’s third highest number of road traffic fatalities last year, with 12 deaths on our roads in 2021.

End of year figures from the Road Safety Authority show that of the 133 people killed in collisions last year, the only counties worse affected were Dublin (20) and Meath (14).

Despite this, the RSA has said that road deaths hit a record low overall last year, with 13 fewer fatalities overall compared with 2020. This made it the safest year since road deaths were first recorded in 1959.

Provisional figures also indicate that 1,091 serious injuries were recorded up to December 21 last year, compared to 1,105 in 2020.

Minister of State and Galway TD Hildegarde Naughton said that the reduction in deaths and serious injuries is very welcome news.

“I want to thank road users for making it a safer year, especially after 2020 was such a bad year for road safety.”

“However, I am conscious that this news will come as cold comfort to those who have been injured and the families left grieving the loss of a loved one. It reminds us that one death or serious injury is one too many.”

The number of drivers and motorcyclists killed on the roads last year increased by nine and four respectively according to RSA figures.

But the number of pedestrian deaths was cut almost in half, down from 32 in 2020 to just 18 this year, and the lowest number seen in the past 25 years.

There was also a reduction in the number of passengers and cyclists killed. Deaths among cyclists dropped by three to 7 deaths, while the 17 passengers killed was a reduction of 8 on 2020.

Just three counties went the full year without seeing a single person killed in a crash; Leitrim, Offaly, and Carlow. Counties Wicklow, Waterford, and Sligo each recorded a single road death in 2021.

Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the RSA, said “While we never know who these people are, it is important that the road using public know that because of their choices and actions, fewer families had to deal with road trauma in 2021.”

“However, as the past week has shown tragedy on the road can occur in a split second, we all need to be aware of just how fragile our lives are and take extra care on the road.”

“Given that 75% of all road deaths were male, we must continue to target interventions at this group. It is vital that we continue the downward trend across all road user categories in 2022 and beyond.”

Fan favourite striker Wilson Waweru re-signs with Galway United

By

Briain Kelly

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January 3, 2022

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Galway Daily sport Fan favourite striker Wilson Waweru re-signs with Galway United — Striker Wilson Waweru is has signed on for the next season at Galway United. Photo Credit: Galway United

Galway United has retained yet another key player, as striker Wilson Waweru has resigned with the club for the coming season.

The 21 year old has been playing with United for four years now, first joining the Tribesmen in 2017, after having previously played with Mervue.

Speaking with the club’s media team over the weekend, Waweru said “I’m delighted to sign for Galway United. It feels great, and being here for four years now, hopefully, we do well again this year.”

“I’m trying to improve every year, and last year I got three goals, scored a few more as well, eight goals, so next year hopefully try and get a few more and improve myself as a player, and hopefully it will go well for me.”

John Caulfield is building an impressive line of strikers for United’s next run at climbing back to the Premiere Division, with Jordan Adeyemo signing on just before Christmas.

Wilson Waweru has a strong scoring record with Galway, claiming nine goals in his first season with the underage side.

This year he scored a further eight goals, and earned fans’ appreciation while doing so.

“It was great walking off that pitch with all the supporters cheering us on. The fans chanting our names gives us the drive to push on and to try and win games.”

Repeated call for curtailment of non-emergency hospital care

By

Briain Kelly

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January 3, 2022

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Galway Daily news Health Officials urge public to stay safe this St. Patrick's weekend

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has repeated its call for hospitals to curtail all non-emergency services amid staff burnout in a COVID surge.

The largest hospital workers union has repeated its demand that the government make use of private hospitals for elective care in order to take some pressure off the public system

“Our fragile health services are being held together at the moment by an exhausted nursing workforce who are experiencing high levels of burnout,” said INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha.

“Annual leave is being cancelled by many in order to fill rosters and many nurses are reporting that they are staying beyond their scheduled work hours to care for patients.”

The public healthcare system simply can’t cope with the demands of emergency services, the COVID pandemic, and elective car all at once, she said.

On Sunday morning there were 717 people in the country hospitalised with the virus, of whom 87 were in the ICU.

The union also said that more needs to be done to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 among hospital staff at work.

“The HSE and political system has a responsibility to an exhausted medical workforce to ensure their workplaces are as safe as they can be.”

“There must be no tolerance for hospital overcrowding while a highly transmissible airborne virus is making its way around our hospitals. Improvements to air quality in our hospitals must be a priority.”

The “normal January patterns” of hospital overcrowding simply cannot be tolerated this year Phil Ní Sheaghdha said.

COVID-19: 17,071 cases reported today

By

Michael Malone

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January 2, 2022

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Galway Daily news 25 percent drop in COVID cases in Galway hospitals

A total of 17,071 further cases of COVID-19 have been reported by health officials today.

As of 8am today, 717 people with the disease are hospitalised nationally, of whom 87 are in intensive care units.

As a result of the current high incidence, the daily case number is based on positive results uploaded to the HSE COVID Care Tracker the preceding day, and these data are provisional.

Temperatures to plummet to below freezing this week

By

Michael Malone

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January 2, 2022

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Galway Daily weather Met Eireann issues fresh weather warning for Galway

The mild start to the new year is set to be short lived with Met Éireann forecasting much colder weather this week.

Tomorrow, Monday will be bright and breezy at first with sunny spells and scattered showers developing, but southwesterly winds will become more moderate during the day.

Highest temperatures tomorrow will be between 7 and 10 degrees.

It will be dry for most of Tuesday and for daylight hours on Wednesday, but rain and showers are expected most days afterwards.

Tuesday will be noticeably colder than recent days with highest temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees.

But there will be good spells of sunshine and light to moderate northwesterly winds.

Tuesday night will be dry at first with mostly clear skies.

Nationally, temperatures will be between -4 and 0 degrees with a widespread sharp frost developing in light to moderate westerly or variable breezes.

Wednesday will be cold and frosty to start with good sunny spells developing. Light outbreaks of rain will affect parts of the southwest for a time in the morning, but overall it will be a largely dry day with just some coastal showers.

Highest afternoon temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees are expected, in mostly light breezes.

During the evening, cloud will thicken from the west with rain following behind, extending eastwards across the country overnight along with freshening southerly winds.

The rain will be heavy in places with localised flooding possible. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees are forecast.

E-sports: what it is and why it is gaining more and more popularity

By

Thomas O'Brien

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January 2, 2022

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In many countries, e-sports is already an official sports discipline, which involves the holding of competitions in computer games. Yes, in the modern world, e-sports can be equated with traditional competitions such as swimming, running, wrestling, etc.

The audience of e-sports fans is growing every day. Hundreds of thousands of people watch broadcasts on the Internet, and many like to bet on their favorite teams on portals like Betwinner.

Today we will try to understand the reasons for such popularity and why computer games have become on a par with traditional sports.

Why it is considered a sport

The e-sports discipline received its status for a reason, according to the assurances of experts, it has all the formal features familiar to most sports competitions:

a large number of spectators and fans;
large-scale competitions and tournaments;
a single set of rules;
the presence of online broadcasts of the largest sporting events;
big cash prizes;
a huge number of sponsors, etc.

Of course, it is possible to argue a long time about whether e-sports is a sport and whether it meets the above criteria, but the fact remains that in many countries it is already considered an official sports discipline.

What games can be considered e-sports

In the previous paragraph, it was mentioned that e-sports, like any other sports discipline, has a clear set of rules, and therefore competitions are held here only for certain games.

The game must meet certain parameters. For example, all players should initially be in equal conditions, and the game itself should be interesting to the mass audience, on whose views, in fact, the rating and popularity of e-sports is based.

Many are perplexed whether it is really interesting to watch someone playing computer games. Naturally, the let’s play format has existed on YouTube for many years, so why can team battles in certain computer games lose in views to some competition in a shot throw or long jump?

The most popular e-sports games today are:

Dota 2 and LoL (League of Legends) are similar team strategies in the MOBA genre, where the main task of the team is to capture the enemy base. Dota 2 The International tournament is probably the most significant event in the world of e-sports with tens of millions of dollars in prize money.
CS:GO is a modified version of the cult classic shooter Counter-Strike. Teams compete 5×5 on different maps. The task of the terrorists is to place a bomb in a certain place; the counter-terrorists are to prevent this.
Hearthstone is a relatively new genre of e-sports games, a card game based on the well-known gaming universe – Warcraft.
FIFA – the well-known football transferred to the digital world. Every year a new version of the game is released, and players compete, playing for the best footballers in the world.
Valorant – a futuristic first-person shooter game.

Reasons for the popularity of e-sports

If you take an unbiased look at e-sports as a sports discipline, then it is quite possible to understand why it has gained such popularity:

Mass character, availability. This sport attracts millions of people because everyone is equal here, and people with disabilities will not be different from the rest. The Internet, the world of games removes almost all physical limitations, whether it is distance, age, gender, etc.
Involvement. With a 99.9% probability, every spectator of an eSports tournament is also an active participant. Surely practically all fans went out on the battlefield themselves, but today they can just watch the game.
Valuable prizes and lucrative contracts. The massiveness and popularity of e-sports attracts investors who are ready to spend impressive sums on the tournament. Here are game developers, advertisers, sponsors, and all they invest money in the promotion of a tournament, a specific product or an entire e-sports team.
Entertainment. Today e-sports tournaments can hardly be distinguished from those of football or hockey. Huge stadiums, thousands of spectators in the stands and millions in front of screens, professional commentators, the intensity of passions and an epic show – all this is a sign of love for this sport.

FAQ about e-sports

Who can take part in e-sports competitions?

This is the advantage of e-sports that anyone who has reached a high level of gaming skills can participate. There are no restrictions on age, physical activity, etc. Usually, e-sports attracts young people, but you can also meet older athletes. Don’t be surprised if you meet 15-year-old and 40-year-old players in a duel.

Can any game be e-sports?

No, there are certain criteria that a game must meet. First, it must have a competitive multiplayer mode. It must also ensure the equality of all participants. And of course, it should be popular with a lot of people.

Where can I watch e-sports broadcasts?

The bulk of the broadcasts takes place on the Internet in the form of streams on sites such as Twitch or YouTube. There are also dedicated e-sports channels that broadcast the competition on TV.

Why Irish Casinos Are Like No Other: The Pros of Online Irish Casinos

By

Angela Mc Bride

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January 1, 2022

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Ireland is known for many things – The absolutely wondrous rolling hills and countryside, The incomparable hospitality of the locals and hearty food & drink. But one of the surprising things you may find that is an attraction in Ireland are the online casinos.

Many of the Irish sites that have casino games have a great selection of software for people to enjoy – the same style of quality casino entertainment you’d find in the top tourist towns of Cork, Galway and Dublin.

Online betting and online casinos have been a hit in Ireland for two decades, with licensed local casino sites and offshore casinos that people can enjoy. One thing players in Ireland must know before they get down to hitting the felt of the poker tables or having a quick spin on their favourite slot are the laws around gambling.

The whole industry has been heavily regulated since 2013, and the Gaming and Lotteries Act received a facelift in 2019, so that is well worth checking out if you want to get a grip on the basics and whether you can play. One of the most critical aspects of this is to make sure you’re of legal age to gamble in Ireland!

After you’ve checked that out, here are a few pros of playing on an online casino site in Ireland:

So What Makes Irish Online Casinos So Good?

It’s super convenient

Whether you’re an Irish citizen or just visiting one of its many beautiful towns and cities, like Galway, one of the biggest draws for online gaming is the sheer convenience it offers. No matter where in Ireland you’re located – from the bustle of the capital to the middle of nowhere, as long as you’ve got an internet connection, you can play.

If you wanted to go down to a land-based casino, you would have to go to all the effort of getting down there, making sure you’re dressed to any requirements for the casino and then, of course, getting back after your session.

With Irish online casinos, these factors are irrelevant – you’re going to be able to play your favourite online casino game at any time and from the comfort of your own home (or anywhere with an internet connection!)

Your favourite games 24/7… in your hand!

Another great thing about online casinos in Ireland is the fact that many of these casinos are mobile-ready and built on HTML5. This technology means all of your favourite casino games will play silky smooth no matter what device you want to play on or how big the screen is.

Updated games and software

If you were to go into a land-based Irish casino, you’d be hard-pressed to see updated machines at the same pace online casinos can update their offerings. Many online casinos will update their games monthly or even weekly, making it incredibly hard to get bored.

Online casinos will also have a much wider range of different games to be played – you’re going to have thousands of different pieces of software, each with its own bonus rounds and animations.

Big Bonuses

Irish online casinos will also come with big bonuses – from amazing welcome packages that reward you with free spins and bonus money to no deposit style bonuses that give you the chance to win when you sign up.

You’ll also be able to get regular promotions at many casinos, giving you plenty of free spins and bonus money when you top up your account balance.

Next Level Privacy & Security

Finally, you’re going to be playing on a totally secure website. Any online casino in Ireland will be fully licensed by the relevant governing body – including two of the most prestigious in the industry – The UKGC (United Kingdom Gambling Authority) and the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). These agencies put online casinos through strict measures to make sure that they are both fair and secure, putting the players of these casinos first.

Online casinos will also have SSL or Single Socket Layer encryption. This amazing technology is what is used by almost all of the biggest payment processors, financial institutions and banks in the world to keep their sites safe, and means that any details you enter on the site are kept away from any prying eyes!

As you can see, all of these are great reasons as to why Ireland has some of the best online casinos around and players from The Emerald Isle have access to some of the best entertainment around when it comes to casinos.

29 people with Covid in Galway hospitals on NYE

By

Michael Malone

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January 1, 2022

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There were 29 people in Galway’s public hopsitals on New Year’s Eve as the number of people with the disease in ICU also increased.

Twenty-two of the COVID patients are receiving care at UHG while there are seven cases at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

Of those diagnosed with COVID-19 at UHG, four are in the intensive care unit, and two of the seven cases at Portiuncula Hospital are in ICU.

Tallaght Hospital has the most COVID-19 patients in the State with 55.

The Department of Health provisionally reported 23,281 further cases of COVID-19 this afternoon.

As of 8am today, 656 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised nationally, of whom 85 are in intensive care units.

COVID-19: 23,281 new cases provisionally reported

By

Michael Malone

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January 1, 2022

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Galway Daily news Galway hospitals see COVID cases double in recent weeks

Health officials have provisionally reported 23,281 further cases of COVID-19 this afternoon.

As of 8am today, 656 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised nationally, of whom 85 are in intensive care units.

Given the current high incidence, the daily case number is based on positive SARS-CoV-2 results uploaded to the HSE COVID Care Tracker the preceding day.

The Department of Health has said that these data are provisional.

Plans for new Primary Care Centre in Spiddal

By

Briain Kelly

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January 1, 2022

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Galway Daily news People in Galway urged to know their healthcare options for Bank Holiday

Plans have been submitted to the county council by Baile Éamoinn Teoranta for a new Primary Care Centre in Spiddal village.

Planning permission is being sought for a two storey primary care centre on the north side of the R336 at the east edge of the village.

The centre would consist of 28 therapy and consultants rooms, along with car parking and other associated site works.

The design statement for the application states that there is no access point directly onto the proposed development.

“However the Spiddal relief road which is provided for in the current Galway County Development Plan is proposed to be located along the site’s north eastern boundary, which connects to the existing Baile Eamonn Road.”

The development would involve upgrades to a portion of the Baile Eamonn Road, and construction of a section of the relief road, including a footpath to make the site easily accessible to pedestrians from the village.

“Published guidance by the HSE has identified the need for a new Primary Care Centre in An Spideal Village and the HSE is seeking proposals that can deliver a new health care facility,” the design statement reads.

“The proposed primary care centre could accommodate general practitioners, x-ray services, physio, dental, district nursing and [a] community health care nurses team for the area, together with speech and language, occupational therapy, ophthalmology and mental health services in a non-acute healthcare setting.”

Galway County Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by January 28 of this year.

What is the appeal of playing online roulette?

By

Angela Mc Bride

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January 1, 2022

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As a modern-day entertainment option, people are turning to the huge amount of casinos online to satisfy their gaming needs. Many of these types of casino products can be sampled with ease on a mobile phone throughout the day as people follow the latest rugby news and update their social media statuses. It’s easy to jump between a casino gaming product as and when it suits, with roulette being one of the most popular options of the lot.

Other commonly utilised games which many casino players favour include the likes of poker, blackjack and baccarat, but those types of games generally require extensive knowledge to succeed in and some strategic play. Roulette, on the other hand, is a more simple casino product that has been enjoyed offline for centuries. It’s a seemingly timeless casino product that has managed to thrive despite a number of other casino titles coming to the fore, too. But what are the main appealing aspects of online roulette and why is it still one of the most popular online casino games around? Let’s take a look at some of the main reasons below.

There is always a place at the table

When comparing online roulette to roulette at a land-based casino resort, one of the key differences is that you’re always guaranteed a place at the table, as many online casinos offer a large amount of roulette games. On the other hand, with roulette being one of the most popular casino products, it can be hard to get a place at a table in a brick-and-mortar casino. Online roulette provides a guaranteed gaming option, it’s easy to place bets, and you don’t have to worry about a crowded table or drinks being spilled. Instead, you can relax at home safe in the knowledge that you’re likely to have an uninterrupted gaming session.

Different types of roulette games on offer

Another reason why playing online roulette is the go-to option for many is due to the sheer amount of roulette games that many of the reputable online casino providers host. Popular options include American roulette, double ball roulette, multi-wheel roulette, and European roulette, where Live Quantum Roulette – which is played on a standard European Roulette wheel – is an excellent product, particularly for casino gamers who prefer a full complement of betting options. These different variations help keep roulette’s all-around offering fresh and appealing, while also giving roulette gamers the opportunity to win in more ways than one.

An authentic experience

(Image via https://twitter.com/JastDemetris)

Given the fact that many live roulette games include a host who spins the wheel, playing roulette online represents an authentic alternative for people who perhaps don’t regularly frequent land-based casinos. Throw in the high-resolution cameras from multiple angles, the sound effects, and the ability to talk with the host in some instances, and it’s clear why playing classic table games like roulette online is in constant demand.

Rewards and bonuses

Yet another key reason as to why online roulette is booming is down to the rewards and bonuses which many loyal and new customers are offered. Brick-and-mortar casinos don’t offer their players anything in return on the whole (unless you count a free drink), whereas online providers offer deposit bonuses, sign-up bonuses, and a whole lot more. These types of enticing offers are why many online casino games are thriving right now, particularly as people spend more time gaming online.

Conclusion

As an all-round gaming package, playing online roulette represents one of the best casino gaming experiences you can have. It’s simple to grasp, fun and entertaining to play, and roulette games offer a great deal of value to casino gamers overall.

Berni makes a tough decision on Ros na Rún

By

Briain Kelly

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January 1, 2022

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Galway Daily television Berni makes a tough decision on Ros na Rún

Berni faces a tough decision, but knows what she wants, Caitríona has a spring in her step, and Sorcha is badly shaken by gunfire in Ros na Rún.

Berni visits a doctor who confirms to her that she is indeed pregnant, much to her distress.

He tells her there are many places that she can go for support, but Berni knows what she wants to do.

Caitríona, after spending the night with Greg, has a spring in her step, but Michelle thinks that she should know better at her age, much to Caitríona’s indignation.

John Joe lands in hot water when it looks like he’s been engaging in some hanky-panky in the back seat of his car, but it’s not with who you might think.

Sorcha is uncomfortable walking the land with Malachaí, for fear Cóilí Jackie will see her, though he tells her that it belongs to her and Sadie by right.

Malachaí tells her that she shouldn’t fear Cóilí Jackie any more, but gunshots soon have them both quaking in their boots. That said, is Malachaí even on their side?

Catch up on all the latest from this week’s episodes of Ros na Rún in a double feature omnibus on TG4 this Sunday.

Boosters available for over 16s from Sunday

By

Michael Malone

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December 31, 2021

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Galway Daily news Parents advised to keep on top of school immunisation programme

Booster vaccines will be available for everyone over the age of 16 from Sunday, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.

People can book a vaccine centre appointment from tonight or contact their GP or pharmacist.

Martin said that boosters are our “best protection against Omicron” and pleaded with the public to get the booster when they can.

Walk-in vaccination clinics will continue uninterrupted in Galway through the New Year period.

The hours for walk-in vaccination clinics at Ballybrit Racecourse over New Year’s are:

Saturday 1 January, 9.30am to 7pm
Sunday 2 January, 8.30am to 7pm
Monday 3 January, 8.30am to 1.30pm
Tuesday 4 January, 1.30pm to 7pm

Irish language status now on par with other official EU languages

By

Michael Malone

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December 31, 2021

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Galway Daily business Coronavirus: EU approves Ireland's €200m business support scheme

The Irish language’s status in European istitutions will be on a par with other official languages of the EU from midnight tonight.

The Irish language was given official and working status on 1 January 2007 – but a shortage of translation staff has restricted the amount of material translated into Irish.

Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and Sport, Jack Chambers, said that the end of the derogation of the language’s status in the EU is a ‘crucial step’ in the development and future of Irish.

“Irish is now on a par with other official and working EU languages and this will strengthen the relationship between citizens and European administrative systems,” said Minister Chambers.

“Together with the Official Languages (Amendment) Act 2021 signed by the President of Ireland last week, the role of the Irish language in national and European systems of administration has now been significantly strengthened.”

Minister Chambers said that the European institutions and the staff of his Department deserve ‘a great deal of credit’ for putting in place the appropriate structures and initiatives to achieve this goal.

“It was an ambitious project, but thanks to the close cooperation between the EU institutions, the Irish Government and stakeholders under the Advanced Irish Language Skills Initiative among many other initiatives and projects, the European institutions are now ready to translate the full suite of content into Irish along with other official and working languages of the EU.”

Irish was a treaty language when Ireland became a Member State in 1973, which meant that only EU treaties were translated into Irish.

The Irish Government applied in 2005 for Irish to become an official and working language and it was granted this status on 1 January 2007.

Due to the shortage of translation staff and Irish language technological resources at the time, the scope of the status was derogated and the number of documents to be translated into Irish were limited.

In support of those applying for language posts with the EU in the future, NUI Galway is now providing support material in Irish as it relates to the European Union’s EPSO recruitment tests.

Surgeries postponed, visiting restricted at UHG due to COVID outbreak at hospital

By

Michael Malone

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December 31, 2021

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Visiting at Galway University Hospitals will be limited to compassionate grounds from New Year’s Day due to a COVID outbreak at UHG.

The outbreak at the hospital is having a significant impact on services, with a number of elective procedures being postponed so staff can support essential emergency care.

Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed. All routine inpatient surgeries scheduled for next week have also been postponed.

Visiting will now be by appointment only, and hospital staff will confirm appointments and times with the nominated support person or visitor.

The nominated support person/visitor must complete a COVID screening checklist and follow the public health guidance, including wearing a FFP2 surgical face mask and performing good hand hygiene regularly whilst visiting.

Visitors will also be asked to produce their EU Digital COVID Certificate or HSE Vaccination Record or other proof of immunity at the hospital Entrance.

There are separate arrangements in place for access to the maternity department for nominated support partners, in line with national guidance.

Visiting to the maternity department for nominated support partners will be facilitated once a day for a 1 hour period between 5pm and 8pm.

Partners can continue to attend for all deliveries, inductions, scans and emergency presentations. All visits must be preapproved by the ward/unit manager.

The visiting restriction will remain in place for one week and the situation will be monitored continually in the meantime.

Time sensitive, urgent cases will proceed when it is safe to do them and patients will be contacted if they are to attend. The situation is being kept under constant review.

Out-patient services are proceeding. Ambulatory gynaecology, some endoscopy and other non-theatre day cases are proceeding but remain under review.

Patients should confirm that their case is proceeding on the day before it is scheduled using the contact details provided on their appointment notification.

Over 20,000 cases reported again today

By

Michael Malone

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December 31, 2021

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Health officials have reported over 20,000 cases of COVID-19 again today, as the number of people hospitalised with the disease continues to rise.

The Department of Health reported 20,110 cases and as of this morning, 682 people with the disease are hospitalised, of whom 86 are in intensive care units.

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said that he knows many people have cancelled or postponed planned social and family events, not just for New Years Eve, but right throughout the Christmas period.

“The occasions in life we most look forward to have been changed utterly by this pandemic,” he said.

“However, these collective efforts are necessary to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our health service.”

Dr Holohan said that it is timely today to remember all of those who continue to contribute so much to our response to COVID-19, particularly the individual and collective efforts of our frontline healthcare workers who are now facing into a third year of pandemic response.

“In the most challenging of circumstances, they continue to work to protect public health and to maintain access to services across all parts of our health service,” he said.

“In the delivery of both COVID and non-COVID services, patients and their families have benefitted from their empathy, skill, and care.

“January will likely be a difficult time and I would like to thank all of our health care workers most sincerely for their efforts.”

Garda advice on preventing home burglaries over New Year’s

By

Briain Kelly

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December 31, 2021

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Galway Daily news Garda advice on preventing home burglaries over New Year's

Gardaí have issued advise for people who may be away from home over the New Year’s holidays on how to protect their home from burglaries.

There have been an alarming number of burglaries at homes in Galway over the Christmas period, striking quickly when people are out.

Galway Senator Ollie Crowe said that 14 homes in the Carnmore and Claregalway areas were broken into in the space of just ten days.

Gardaí advise that if leaving your home unoccupied, to take the following steps:

Leave on some lights or using timer switches to give the impression someone is at home.
Ask a trusted neighbour or family member to conduct frequent checks of the property.
Ensure all doors and windows are locked the house alarm is set.
Keep all gates and outbuildings closed and locked.
Safely store away ladders, tools, wheelie bins etc.
Don’t post status updates while you’re still away on social media.

People can also help to look out for their neighbours who are away by keeping your eyes open, and reporting any suspicious persons or vehicles to An Garda Siochana.

For further information check the Garda website: https://www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/securing-your-home/

High winds forecast for Galway as weather warning issued

By

Briain Kelly

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December 31, 2021

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Galway daily weather Met Eireann weather warning in force for Galway today

Galway is expected to get battered by strong winds on Friday night, with a status yellow weather warning issued by Met Eireann.

Southerly winds veering southwesterly, will reach mean speeds of 50-65km/hr tonight, with gusts of up to 100km/hr overnight.

Winds will be strongest in coastal areas and high ground, and there is a possibility of local wave overtopping, Met Eireann has warned.

The wind warning for Galway and Mayo will be in effect from 8pm tonight, until 8am on Saturday morning.

A marine weather warning for winds reaching gale force 8 or strong gale force 9 tonight on all Irish coastal waters has also been issued.

Despite the wind warning, conditions in Galway are expected to be mostly dry today, with some scattered showers, and temperatures of 12 to 13 degrees.

There will be more light intermittent rain on New Year’s Day, but also sunny spells in the late morning and early afternoon.

Two changes to Connacht lineup for Munster interpro

By

Briain Kelly

-

December 31, 2021

0

Galway Daily rugby Four changes made to starting XV for Connacht v Glasgow

Connacht Rugby have announced their matchday lineup for this weekend’s URC interpro against Munster, with two changes from the side that faces Leicester.

Connacht will be facing Munster at home in the Sportsground this Saturday, January 1 at 5:15pm.

Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend said that this is a very important game if they want to finish in the top 4 of the URC.

“We’ve no game in the competition for a month after this weekend so it’d be great to have another win under our belt, albeit it against a very strong Munster team.”

Connacht’s last game was two weeks ago against the Leicester Tigers, after a planned St. Stephen’s Day matchup against Ulster couldn’t go ahead due to COVID on the Ulster side.

In this week’s squad, top try-scorer Mack Hansen making a welcome return from injury to start on the wing for the first time in a month.

The other change is in the second row where Oisín Dowling comes into the starting side.

The rest of the starting XV is unchanged, meaning Hansen forms a back three with winger John Porch and full-back Tiernan O’Halloran, while internationals Kieran Marmion, captain Jack Carty, Bundee Aki and Sammy Arnold make up the half-back and centre pairings respectively.

The front row is again made up of Matthew Burke, Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham, and Ultan Dillane partners Dowling in the second row. Flankers Cian Prendergast and Conor Oliver and number 8 Jarrad Butler make up the rest of the starting team.

Included on the bench is Academy scrum-half Matthew Devine, with the Ballinasloe RFC man named in a Pro matchday squad for the first time.

“The last four games between the teams have been decided by a single score, so we’ve to make sure we’re on top of our game for the full 80 minutes and take our chances when they come,” Andy Friend said.

The full Connacht matchday 23 for the coming game is:

15. Tiernan O’Halloran (196)
14. John Porch (46)
13. Sammy Arnold (25)
12. Bundee Aki (113)
11. Mack Hansen (7)
10. Jack Carty (168) (C)
9. Kieran Marmion (195)
1. Matthew Burke (32)
2. Dave Heffernan (153)
3. Finlay Bealham (167)
4. Ultan Dillane (122)
5. Oisín Dowling (13)
6. Cian Prendergast (17)
7. Conor Oliver (29)
8. Jarrad Butler (82)

Replacements
16. Shane Delahunt (109)
17. Tietie Tuimauga (1)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (70)
19. Eoghan Masterson (116)
20. Abraham Papali’i (17)
21. Matthew Devine *
22. Conor Fitzgerald (43)
23. Tom Farrell (66)

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