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Over 50 COVID patients at University Hospital Galway

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news COVID-19 cases more than double at UHG

There are more than 50 patients with COVID-19 at University Hospital Galway in the latest figures from the HSE.

As of Thursday evening there were 53 confirmed cases at UHG, and another eight at Portiuncula Hospital.

This represents an increase of ten cases at UHG over the past 24 hours, but three fewer cases in Ballinasloe.

Seven of these patients are being treated in the intensive care units, five at UHG and two at Portiuncula, unchanged from the previous day.

Nationwide there were 884 confirmed cases in Irish hospitals as of yesterday evening, of whom 89 are in the ICU.

The Saolta Group announced today that it is postponing outpatient appointments and elective surgeries from next Monday at Galway University Hospitals, due to the pressure of COVID.

Rising cases and staff absences due to the disease mean that staff need to be reallocated to essential emergency care.

Séamus Woulfe gives evidence to court over golf society dinner

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily courts Man charged in connection

Supreme Court Judge Séamus Woulfe told Galway District Court that there were ambiguities in the regulations on gatherings due to the time pressure involved in drawing them up.

The former Attorney General was giving evidence at the second day of the trial on the Oireachtas Golf Society event in Clifden last year, as one of the guests at said event.

Galway TD Noel Grealish, former Senator Donie Cassidy, and father and son hoteliers John and James Sweeney have been charged in connection with the dinner at the Golf Society event at the Station House hotel in Clifden on August 19, 2020.

Mr Justice Woulfe served as the Attorney General of Ireland from June 2017 to June 2020, and as such was involved in drawing up the Covid regulations at the start of the pandemic.

He told the court that around May or June of 2020 he bumped into Noel Grealish, who asked him if he would be attending the event later that year.

He said that his wife thought that he was “a bit mad” to drive from Donegal to Clifden for the event. he added.

Mr Justice Woulfe said that he queried former Senator Paul Coughlan about the event when he arrived on the evening of August 18, who told him that Mr Cassidy had consulted with authorities and was assured it was compliant.

He said that he was reassured that there was an experienced hotelier like Cassidy involved in the event.

It was only on the day after playing golf when he received a ticket that he learned that it was going to be a group dinner, he said.

Mr Justice Woulfe told the court that he was aware that there were detailed guidelines on the operation of the 50 person rule.

He had not seen the text personally, but knew from his time as Attorney General that there were “a pile of guidelines” fleshing out Covid rules.

There was some “ambiguity” about what exactly a gathering meant, he said, whether it referred to 50 people in a room, a single building, or the whole premises of a hotel. This was because of the time pressure involved in drafting regulations.

It was significant, he told the court, that the government of Ireland harp is found on the front page of those guidelines.

In a previous statement to Gardaí after the event, Mr Justice Woulfe had said that he was aware that the rules in the statutory instruments adopted by the government were “fleshed out in more granular detail” through protocols adopted with sectoral interests.

He said that there was a conscious view towards allowing multiple gatherings in venues, provided that specific conditions were met.

This was a policy applying to all hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in the state, he added.

Mr Eoghan Cole BL, prosecuting, said that the guidelines allow multiple gatherings so long as they are separate events, with Mr Woulfe responding “separate spaces”.

At the dinner he was in the front portion of the room without about 40 people, and a “white wall” at his back, which he said he didn’t pay much attention to.

When questioned by Edward Walsh SC, he said that the Department of the Taoiseach was central to issuing protocols for different sectors, and agreed that it was a “serious matter” to have the government of Ireland logo on them.

Ms Constance Cassidy SC asked him if he saw anything that night which caused him concern, to which he said “no”.

Other witnesses who have so far given evidence today include Senator Jerry Buttimer and former Senator Lorraine Higgins.

The case continues at Galway District Court.

Connacht GAA moves Indoors

By
Angela Mc Bride
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0

History was made earlier this month when the first ever indoor inter-county GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) match was staged between Sligo and Leitrim. 

It took place at the Connacht GAA air dome, the largest indoor sports facility of its kind in the world, and provides a glimpse into the future not only for GAA but all types of sport across Ireland.

In a country where, especially in the winter months, climactic conditions can play a significant outcome on the results of a match, or even if it takes at all, there it seems there is now the perfect answer.

And whilst some may argue that weather adds to the unpredictability of the sport, there are others who believe that it can make too much like the games of chance which feature in this online casino guide, Playstival.ie.

Now thanks to the expertise of Slovenia firm DBS Engineering, and a number of local Irish companies, all that is a thing of the past.

The new facility is essentially a full GAA AstroTurf pitch which is covered by an inflated air dome. It also features a fully-equipped gym and a running track. 

There is scope for a matchday crowd of up to 2,000 spectators – although current Covid restrictions in Ireland mean that all matches must take place behind closed doors.

And to demonstrate its versatility, when not in use for sporting events, the air dome can be used to host conferences, corporate events, or concerts, accommodating up o 10,000, allowing for a mix of standing and sitting patrons.

The dome has a roof height of 26 meters – twice the height of the goalposts – which means there is no danger of either a football or sliotar hitting the ceiling, although Connacht GAA have offered a prize for anybody who succeeds in managing it.

The new facility, which is located in the West of Ireland between Knock and Ballyhaunis, has not come cheap. It has cost €3.1 million to build, and that is before the daily maintenance costs on top. However, thanks to its multi-purpose nature and the fact that it can be used 24/7 all year round, it is hoped that it will more than pay for itself.

Sligo won the game itself, just edging out their opponents who, having trailed at half-time, came back strongly towards then end of the match. However, all the players enjoyed the experience of playing in the new environment, even if some did admit that it took a little getting used to at first.

Research has shown that GAA has overtaken football to become the most popular sport in Ireland in recent years, with rugby, tennis, golf and swimming trailing behind them. 

In terms of individual athletes though, it is boxing champion Katie Taylor who consistently tops polls as the most popular. A two-weight world champion, she is the current undisputed lightweight champion, having held the world title since 2017. 

In 2019 she became one of only eight boxers – male or female – to have held all four major titles – WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO – at the same time.

Water outages in Galway City Centre due to burst mains

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news Water outages in multiple areas of Galway due to burst mains

Multiple areas in Galway City area experiencing water outages due to a burst mains today.

Irish Water reported a burst mains in the city centre shortly before 11am this morning.

This is causing outages to Newcastle Road, Canal Road, Presentation Road, Nun’s Island, Willow Park, Mill Street, Bridge Street, Dominick Street, Shop Street, Mainguard Street, Market Street, Lombard Street, Williams Street, Williamsgate Street, Mary Street, Newtownsmith, Woodquay and surrounding areas.

Repairs are underway, and are currently expected to be completed by 2pm on Friday afternoon.

People experiencing water outages are advised that it may take 2-3 hours after works are completed before their full water supply is restored.

Updates can be found on Irish Water’s supply and service website page.

Five months of water mains laying to improve Galway City supply

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Water main replacement

A significant number of homes and businesses in Galway City will benefit from an improved water supply when mains replacement works begin shortly.

Irish Water and Galway City Council will be installing more than three quarters of a kilometre of new mains to improve the reliability of the water supply from from Terryland Water Treatment Plant to Clifton Hill Reservoir

The project will also reduce the high level of leakage in the area from the old water mains.

Gerry O’Donnell of Irish Water explained “This initial phase of works will involve the construction of approximately 400m of new water mains in Moyola Park,”

These will facilitate a new trunk water main from Terryland Water Treatment Plant to Clifton Hill Reservoir, to supplement the existing network.

“To minimise disruption the works will be completed in a phased approach between January and May 2022,” Gerry O’Donnell said.

“The works may involve some short-term water interruptions and the project team will ensure that customers are given a minimum of 48 hours’ notice prior to any planned water interruptions.”

“We understand that this type of work can be inconvenient and works crews will make every effort to minimise any disruption these necessary works cause.”

The infrastructure works will be carried out by Ward & Burke Construction on behalf of Irish Water.

Worst December on record for trolleys at Portiuncula Hospital

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news 67 people on trolleys at UHG

Portiuncula Hospital had its worst December on record last month for the number of patients on trolleys, almost four times worse than 2020.

There were 267 patients on trolleys or without a bed at Portiuncula University Hospital last month, compared with 69 in the same period in 2020, where overcrowding was depressed by the pandemic.

This is also a step up from the previous worst year on record in 2019, when there were 242 patients without a bed in Ballinasloe in December.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has been keeping track of the number of patients without a bed in emergency departments and wards since 2016.

The extent to which the trolley crisis has escalated even outside of major urban areas can be seen in the fact that last month figures were five times higher than when records began.

The past four months have all been the worst on record for overcrowding at the Ballinasloe Hospital.

University Hospital Galway fared better than Portiuncula in comparison to recent years last month.

While the 378 patients on trolleys in Galway last month is above the atypically low numbers of 2020, it is lower than the December figures for 2014-2019, when numbers had increased year on year.

Nationwide there were 7,493 patients without a bed in Irish hospitals last month, a 72 percent increase on 2020, but 25 percent lower than in 2019.

Galway University Hospitals postponing surgeries and outpatient appointments

By
Briain Kelly
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0

Outpatients appointments and routine surgeries are being postponed at Galway University Hospitals from next week due to COVID pressure.

In a statement issued this morning the Saolta Group said that rising COVID cases, along with related staff absences, are having a significant impact on hospital services in Galway.

A number of outpatients appointments at UHG and Merlin Park Hospital will be postponed starting from Monday, January 10 as a result.

This is to allow the hospitals to redeploy staff to support essential emergency care.

“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.”

“All routine inpatient surgeries scheduled have also been postponed.  Time sensitive, urgent cases will proceed when it is safe to do them and patients will be contacted if they are to attend.”

The Saolta Group said that this situation is being kept under constant review.

Argument over guidelines dominates first day of golf dinner trial

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily courts Argument over guidelines dominates first day of golf dinner trial

Intense argument over the nature and value of guidelines for the operation of the hospitality industry dominated much of the first day of the ‘golfgate’ trial at Galway District Court.

Galway TD Noel Grealish and former Fianna Fáil Senator Donie Cassidy, along with hoteliers James and John Sweeney appeared before a special sitting of the court for the opening of the trial on Thursday.

They have all been charged with organising or allowing to be organised an event that contravened COVID regulations at the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner at the Station House Hotel in Clifden on August 19, 2020.

Prosecutor Eoghan Cole BL said that the state contends that they organised an event with more than 50 people in violation of public health regulations in force at the time, and did not take all reasonable steps to ensure it wouldn’t exceed the legal limit..

Colm Smyth SC, counsel for Donie Cassidy of Castlepollard, Westmeath came out swinging by saying that his clients actions were based on guidelines published by Fáilte Ireland, which the “entire hotel sector” relied on.

He said that these guidelines were created by Fáilte Ireland and the Irish Hotels Federation in concert with the government, and bore its stamp. 

These guidelines allow for more than one gathering to take place indoors, he said, which is why the dinner was separated by a moveable partition wall.

Mr Cole said that it would be a “distortion of reality” to say that there were multiple gatherings, and later reiterated that the guidelines do not have the force of law.

Edward Walsh SC for John Sweeney said that the context of the guidelines need to be clarified, and that they were created by the state liaising with the industry.

He said that the state now appears to be trying to disassociate itself from those guidelines.

Michael McDowell SC for Mr Grealish, of Carnmore, Co. Galway, emphasised that this was a two day event, and that his client only organised the Captain’s competition on August 18, a golf event.

He had no role in organising the President’s dinner which took place on the 19th, Mr McDowell said, which is the subject of the charge.

Ms Constance Cassidy SC, for James Sweeney, said that it is strange that the company of which her client and his father are directors is not being prosecuted, but they are.

During the second half of the day the court heard from numerous witnesses who were also at the event.

Among those, Senator Aidan Davitt said that he stayed at the Station House from August 17 – 19 and thought the hotel staff were extremely professional. 

He said they were “on top of their game, particularly in relation to Covid”, and that James Sweeney met him as he arrived and impressed the need for mask wearing.

He said that during the dinner he was sitting in the back room, with maybe 30 people spread across four or five tables.

There was no mixing between tables, which was taken extremely seriously, he said, and the barman behind him insisted he had to order from the waitress.

“I haven’t been at an event before or after in Covid times that has been as well regulated,” Senator Davitt said.

Former Captain of the Guard at Leinster House John Flaherty gave evidence that he satisfied himself that the event was compliant with public health guidelines before attending.

He said that he called the hotel himself on two occasions, and staff assured him that all precautions were being taken. He also spoke with Donie Cassidy about the dinner.

During the dinner he was in the front room, with approximately 45 people spread across six tables, he said. The two suites were separated by a floor to ceiling partition 

He said the dinner was followed by a short set of speeches and a prize giving ceremony, which lasted for about 20 minutes, after which everyone “dispersed in a very civilised manner” and didn’t hang around.

When questioned by Mr McDowell he said that Noel Grealish was a “stand-in” captain for the golf event.

Mr Flaherty also said that the owner and general manager of the hotel, Mr Sweeney Jr & Sr were very hands on in ensuring people were complying with Covid requirements.

He said that he saw nothing at the Station House which concerned him, and that he was satisfied the day was Covid compliant. 

Towards the end of the day, the written statements of a number of witnesses were read into the court record.

The case continues this morning before the court.

Galway Lotto player is over €300,000 richer!

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Galway Lotto player scoops €54,583 in midweek madness

One lucky Lotto player in Galway was one of three who each won €305,478 in Wednesday night’s draw.

Three players in Galway, Mayo, and Offaly split the topped Match 5 + Bonus prize of €916,434.

The €19,060,800 Lotto jackpot remains up for grabs this weekend after there was no overall winner in last night’s draw.

As no additional funds were added to the jackpot as it remains capped, the funds that would usually go to the jackpot were instead distributed to the next prize tier at which there was a winner.

The Galway winner purchased their winning Quick Pick ticket on Tuesday 4th January at Londis in Tí Cloch Mhíle on the Dublin Road in Galway City.

The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s (5th January) Lotto draw were: 08, 24, 36, 38, 41, 45 and the bonus was 16.

The Mayo winner purchased their Quick Pick ticket on Tuesday 4th January at Mulherne’s Applegreen Filling Station and Gala Shop on Ballina Street in Crossmolina.

Business owner Ciaran Mulherne, who runs Mulherne’s Filling Station with his daughter Laura, was thrilled to hear the good news.

“We have a team of 16 working here in-store and there has been a great buzz around the place today.”

“We have been telling all of our customers to check their tickets quickly as one lucky person is over €300,000 better off now.”

“It certainly is nice to get good news and even nicer to start the year off with it – we wish the winner all the very best!”

The Offaly winner purchased their Quick Pick ticket on the day of the draw online at www.lottery.ie.

The National Lottery has confirmed that a notification to the user’s online account and a separate email has now been sent to the lucky Offaly ticket holder. The Galway and Mayo winners are advised to sign the back of their tickets and to keep them safe.

All three winners should make contact with the prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prizes.

The 5 Stages of Small Business Growth

By
Thomas O'Brien
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0
Galway Daily business The 5 Stages of Small Business Growth

Have you ever had a brilliant idea for a company, only to be assaulted by the vast amount of work it would take to get your business to the level of your would-be competitors?

It can feel daunting and disheartening to discover the huge steps you think you need to take to succeed – but the truth is, you don’t have to plan every detail of the next 10 years up front. Small business growth happens over time, and while it’s important to map out the direction you’re taking, it’s equally important not to get so caught up in planning that you never actually start doing. 

Conceptualizing

This is the stage of that first idea, dreaming about your future company and deciding if it’s a viable business. This stage is important as you need to make sure your business idea is one that you’re passionate about if you’re going to dedicate your time, energy, and possibly savings, to it. If you aren’t fully committed, scrap the idea now and wait for something better to hit you. 

That doesn’t mean your small business has to be able to replace your full-time earning right away. Even if you only plan to commit 5 hours a week at first, be sure that those 5 hours of commitment are going to be sustainable for you. If you’ll struggle to satisfy your customers’ expectations, your business will flop before it ever really gets off the ground. 

Planning and Goal Setting

So, you’ve got a bunch of concepts and ideas. If you just jump straight into things without a plan, you might find yourself at a loss for what to do. It’s time to plan things. Do you need a business loan? If you plan to secure additional funding, you will need to set aside time to write a business plan.

Consider all the possible pitfalls you could face and how you might avoid them. Will your business need a fleet? Accidents and thefts can be costly, especially to a startup. By planning ahead, you can use GPS tracking software to help keep your fleet safe and your costs down. 

Small Scale Beginnings

The initial stages of running your business can seem like a grind. Even with a plan, it’s more than likely you’ll be making mistakes, putting out fires, and learning new skills on the fly, all whilst trying to grow your brand. You might learn, for example, that the kind of modern business tech you assumed would be best, is actually inefficient, so you have to pivot.

You can’t avoid these growing pains but going through them when your business is still young is actually an advantage. It gives you the opportunity to fix issues while your business (and, by extension, your platform), is still small, rather than costly mistakes being played out on the public stage. The time when your business is small is the best time to learn by trial and error.

Learning and Re-Evaluating

Now that you have identified the problems facing your business, you can go about repairing those mistakes and finding solutions. With time and experience under your belt, those original plans might need to change, and that’s okay.

The benefit of running your small business rather than just planning it is learning, for real, what works and what doesn’t, and using that knowledge to guide the direction your business takes. You might need to completely overhaul the plans you made originally, or simply tweak those first goals. Don’t get too hung up on following a rigid plan. 

Growth and Maintenance 

This is the point where the business starts to take off. You’ve made it through the teething stage, you’ve learned what to do, and you’ve addressed any unanticipated issues. Now, just keep doing what you’re doing.

Keep improving, keep planning. Essentially, rinse and repeat. Your business growth will happen faster and more easily at this point. You never know – one day soon you may even get a day off.

COVID-19: New record as 23,817 cases reported

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway Daily news Galway hospitals see COVID cases double in recent weeks

Health officials have reported 23,817 additional cases of COVID-19 in the Republic this evening.

As of 8am today, 941 COVID patients are hospitalised across the country, of whom 90 are in intensive care units.

The latest HSE data shows that yesterday evening, UHG had 43 people diagnosed with COVID-19, while Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe had 11 confirmed COVID cases.

 

Updated EU COVID Certs to be issued from today

By
Michael Malone
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0
galway daily news EU Digital COVID Cert

Updated Digital COVID Certs will begin to be issued from this afternoon to people who have received a booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Over 2 million booster jabs have been given so far, and recipients of these vaccines can start to expect their Digital Certs from today – but this may take a number of days.

New EU rules which will come into effect on 1 February 2022 mean that European COVID Certs will only be valid for a maximum of nine months.

Similar expiration rules for vaccine certs for access to indoor dining are not currently planned in Ireland.

Speaking today, Minister Stephen Donnelly said that he is “very pleased” to announce that the EU Digital COVID Certificates will be updated to reflect additional vaccine doses.

“Those who have received an additional dose can expect to start to receive their updated certificate over the coming week,” said Minister Donnelly.

“Ireland’s COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Programme has been a wonderful success, with all aged 16+ eligible to register for an additional dose now.

“Similar to our primary Vaccination Programme, uptake of the booster vaccine in Ireland is second highest in the EU at 57% of the adult population.”

Cyber Security is More Essential Than Ever

By
Angela Mc Bride
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0

Cyber security is becoming more vital than ever due to digital advancement and the pandemic. In addition, the growth in online work, trade, and work from home culture has made the Internet the data hub. So, keep reading to know why you need cyber security to protect your data, which is more important than ever.

It’s evident from the recent trends of online breaches that large firms are targeted and individuals too. In addition, the pandemic has compelled all companies to change their working dimensions, as physical interactions are avoided. 

It has its advantages as the task is at your fingertips, but with all the good comes evil too. The evil is cyber breaches, which can be avoided with precautionary steps. So let’s know why cyber security is most important today.

The Internet of Things is Increasing

The Internet of things (IoT) is increasing as every gadget is turning into a smart device. The handiest and everyday gadget is our phone; the apps and activities access our personal information and data. So, cyber security is of utmost importance as data is more valuable than oil.

The Virtual Private Network is quite effective as it alters your IP address, location and encrypts all your data. Therefore, you can take timely steps as an individual or company and stay safe online with the help of vpnpro.net. The website helps you pick the best VPN for you, securing all your internet activity and data. In addition, it lists all the advantages of a VPN and how it’s crucial for safeguarding all your information. 

People are Using Cloud Storage More

Past years have seen a massive increase in people storing their data on the cloud. Many celebrities and valuable accounts have been compromised. Cloud storage is so accessible as you can access helpful information almost anywhere. The cloud storage hack is quite common; slight negligence can lead to a breach.

Online Sharing of Personal Information

The Internet is a hub for sharing personal information. Significantly, everyone shares their data like IDs, photos, passwords more online. The data leak of such information can cause you trouble. Therefore, the appropriate protection and cyber security are crucial for protecting you from violations.

All Professional Activities are Online

Every business sector is turning online – For example, a new app lets pubs and restaurants work in a pandemic. Innovations like these that connect the world to the Internet directly or indirectly carry slots of data with it. Such an extensive network has discrete files, information, data, online banking details, and much more. So, the appropriate cyber security, timely updates are necessary. 

Hackers are Getting Smarter

As technology advances and brings more and more tasks online, so are the hackers. They know who is more susceptible to the hacks and encounter them. As a result, hacking tools are becoming refined.

As there are around 200 billion connected devices at risk, the range of the attacks is increasing. The hackers are now using machine learning and artificial intelligence for autonomous attacks.

Bottom Line 

You can create a robust security system by familiarizing your staff with all kinds of online pitfalls. You must share information with trusted people and protect everything with strong passwords and two-factor authentication. In addition, you should update all your security features and opt for VPNs. Formal learning and updates of security can make you and your date indestructible.

Weather warning now in place with “hazardous” driving conditions expected

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway Daily news Snow and Ice warning in effect for Galway this evening

A status yellow weather warning is now in place in Galway with scattered showers of hail, sleet and snow, and icy stretches forecast this evening, overnight and on Friday morning.

Met Éireann says that this will lead to hazardous travelling conditions in some parts of the country.

Showers will be most widespread in the West and north of the country, where some accumulations are likely and isolated thunderstorms will also occur.

Status yellow warnings are in place across all 32 counties and will be lifted tomorrow, Friday at 11am.

Contractor appointed for new footbridge at Clarin College Athenry

By
Michael Malone
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0
galway daily news clarin college athenry

Galway County Council has appointed a contractor for the construction of a new footbridge to provide pedestrian access to Clarin College Athenry.

Galway East TD Seán Canney received confirmation from Galway County Council that Coffey Construction has been appointed as contractor.

He said that they are presently designing the steel structure, which will be fabricated off site.

“The project is expected to be completed by the end of April 2022,” said Deputy Canney.

“I welcome this progress on a project that will provide direct, safe pedestrian access for pupils attending Clarin NS.”

The Galway TD said that it is important that no further delays are encountered and that this project is delivered as quickly as possible.

“I have been working on this project with Cllr. Gabe Cronnelly, my Independent Councillor colleague from Athenry. I also commend Galway County Council who have taken on the project at the request of the Department of Education.”

Gardaí renew appeal for info on fatal crash in Mayo

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway daily news

Gardaí have again appealed for information relating to a fatal car crash on the N60 at Breaffy in Castlebar last Monday.

The collision, which involved two cars, occurred at approximately 5.40pm on Monday 27 December.

A man aged in his 30s who was a passenger in one of the vehicles received fatal injuries and later died.
Three men and one woman were taken to Mayo General Hospital, where they received treatment for non-life threatening injuries.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to the collision to come forward.

Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N60 Castlebar to Claremorris Road between 5.35pm-5.55pm, are asked to make this footage available Gardaí.

Anyone with information can contact Castlebar Garda Station on 094 903 8200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

51 people on trolleys at Galway hospitals today

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway Daily news

There are 51 people on trolleys across Galway’s public hospitals today, according to data from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

University Hospital Galway has 33 patients on trolleys, while 18 people at Portiunucla Hospital has 18 people waiting on a bed.

As of yesterday evening, UHG has 43 people with COVID-19, while Portiuncula Hospital has 11 confirmed cases.

There are 941 cases in hospitals nationally today, but the number of cases in intensive care units has decreased by four, to 90.

Forty COVID-19 related deaths were reported to NPHET since last Wednesday.

Booster appointments now open to 16-29 year olds at Ballybrit

By
Michael Malone
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0
galway daily news Spring vaccination campaign

People aged 16 to 29 may now book an appointment to get a booster vaccine at the Ballybrit Vaccination Centre. 

The appointments are open to those who had their first round of COVID-19 vaccination at least 90 days ago.

People in this age category can book a free booster vaccine appointment for at hse.ie and search ‘book booster’ – or click here.

Ballybrit Vaccination Centre appointments are now available to book on:

Thursday 06 January between 8.30am and 6.30pm

Saturday 08 January between 8.30am and 6.30pm

Sunday 09 January between 2.00pm and 6.00pm

The hse.ie booster booking page is updated regularly with additional dates.

For those who have had COVID-19, they can get the booster dose vaccine three months after their positive test result. 

People aged 30 or older can also book a booster appointment on hse.ie

‘Golfgate’ court hearing to get underway today

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily courts

The court case arising from the ‘Golfgate’ scandal involving alleged breaches of COVID regulations by a Galway TD and three others is getting underway today.

Independent Galway TD Noel Grealish, of Carnmore, and former Fianna Fáil Senator Donie Cassidy, of Castlepolard Westmeath have been charged in relation to an event for the Oireachtas Golf Society that allegedly breached COVID regulations in place at the time.

John Sweeney, owner of the Station House Hotel in Clifden, and his son James have also been charged in relation to this.

The charges relate to an event for the Oireachtas Golf Society which took place at the Station House Hotel on August 19, 2020.

It’s alleged that they did organise or cause to be organised an event for cultural, entertainment, recreational, sporting, social, community or educational reasons in a relevant geographical location and as a result, did contravene a penal provision of a regulation made under Section 31A(1) of the Health Act 1947 as amended, to prevent, limit, minimise or slow the spread of Covid-19.

This is contrary to Section 31A(6)(a) and (12) of the Health Act 1947 (as amended by Section 10 of the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020).

There were 81 people in attendance at this event, at a time when indoor gatherings were limited to 50 people maximum.

At the time of this event, Deputy Noel Grealish was the captain of the golf society, and Mr Cassidy was its president.

The maximum sentence for this offence is a fine of €2,500, and/or a sentence of up to six months in prison.

The first day of the hearing is getting underway today at a specially convened sitting of Galway District Court due to the number of witnesses involved.

It’s expected that the full hearing could last for five days, as the prosecution expects to call over 50 witnesses.

Gort to get €800k makeover with redesigned Market Square

By
Michael Malone
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Galway Daily news Gort awarded €100,000 for town centre revitalisation plan

Almost €800,000 in funding has been announced for a project to rejuvenate Gort town centre.

The G’ort Inse Guaire’ project, which is expected to cost €1 million overall, involves the re-design of the Market Square and town centre streets.

It will also upgrade Canon Quinn Park, a greenspace in the town centre.

Minister Heather Humphreys announced a total of €21.5 million this morning for 27 projects in rural communities across the country.

The funding, under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF), is being invested in projects that aim to rejuvenate town centres, drive economic growth and footfall, combat dereliction and develop pedestrian zones.

A number of the projects approved for funding involve the re-purposing of old, derelict and historical buildings into modern-day remote working hubs, as well as enterprise, cultural and community facilities.

Announcing the funding, Minister Humphreys said in 2022, “we will continue to roll-out unprecedented levels of investment in Rural Ireland – making towns and villages even better places to live, work, raise a family and run a business.”

“The projects being invested in represent the huge ambition that underpins ‘Our Rural Future’ and will have a truly transformational impact right across the country,” said Minister Humphreys.

“When complete, these projects will leave a lasting difference on these locations for generations to come, benefitting tens of thousands of families in Rural Ireland.”

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