A new grant scheme for events commemorating the experiences of people who were in the Mother and Baby Homes has been established.
The scheme allows survivor groups to get funding for commemoration events for a specific mother and baby home.
The goal of the scheme is to “support survivor centred advocacy organisations” who are dealing with the past in their own way.
This can include “both virtual and in person events, when public health guidelines allow, that responds to the specific needs of their communities.”
There has been €50,000 allocated for this scheme in 2021, with organisations able to apply for up to €2,500 for each event.
An information pack for the scheme notes that while applications will be accepted year round, the scheme is “cash limited” and they will be processed on a first come, first serve basis.
The Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes’ final report was released in January, six years after it was established.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin also stated in the Dáil this week that a redress scheme for survivors of the homes will open early next year.
More information about the commemoration scheme, and how to apply for a grant, can be found here.
Pamela Ube was in direct provision from seven years old until the year she started GMIT. Photo: Miss World
The number of children living long-term in the direct provision system has gone up by 50% in the past year.
Figures provided to Galway TD Denis Naughten by the Department of Children show that the number of children in direct provision for 5 years or longer has gone up from 110 in October of last year, to 165 this month.
Deputy Naughten criticised the length of time that people, especially children, are spending in the system, saying that anyone who has seen the facilities in person is aware of the “mental health, psychological and emotional issues” faced by people stuck in it.
“The Direct Provision system was never supposed to provide long term accommodation and it is never acceptable that people should spend years in that system,” Denis Naughten said.
“As I have said in the past in Dáil Éireann on numerous occasions, having nothing to do and all day to do it, in the Direct Provision system, is not good for any individual or their mental health.”
He compared it with the experience of living in lockdown that Irish people have coped with at numerous times in the past 18 months, adding that it is comparatively worse to endure such restrictions for up to seven years.
“Children have been born and, in some instances, have gone through their primary education living in these direct provision facilities.”
The recently crowned Miss Ireland, Galway girl Pamela Ube was one of those children. She came to Ireland with her parents and younger siblings at the age of seven, and her family spent the better part of a decade in Direct Provision, until the year she started college.
In total there are 725 people in Ireland, adults and children, who have been in the direct provision system for at least five years.
Under direct provision, adults receive a small weekly stipend, but are not allowed to work until at least six months has passed, at which time a special application must be made for permission to seek employment.
The reply from the department said that these figures only represent people who have had an uninterrupted stay in a centre, and does not include those who may have left and had to return for whatever reason.
They also only related to people who have registered with the International Protection Office (IPO) and “do not reflect children resident in the centres who may not have been registered by their parents.”
The department also said that between January and September of this year, 900 people have been moved out of direct provision centres to live in the community.
The government published plans back in February to end the direct provision system by 2024, but Sinéad Gibney, chief of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, told the Dáíl Committee on public petitions this week that some commitments are already slipping.
Opulent casinos are known for offering unique and prestigious entertainment. Their interior design, their service, and pretty much everything about the place were created to provide visitors with a good time. This is extremely difficult, after all, casinos profits come from those customers that lose money. Meaning the great majority of visitors is on the losing side and you can imagine just how tricky it is to keep everyone in a good mood.
This is why working as a live dealer can be demanding. You need to be charismatic, witty, and so many other things. But it is also a job that has its perks, and a lot of people who work as a dealer love it. Unless of course, a pandemic strikes and your job is in jeopardy because the institution is losing revenue. Those events aside, let’s see what are some pros and cons of working as a croupier.
Lots of Responsibilities
This is neither good nor bad, it’s really one of those things that are demanding but at the same time builds a character. Croupier needs to know the rules to all of the games, he needs to be social and charming, and also look out for anyone who might be cheating. Basically, a good atmosphere at the table is your responsibility, and if you are not careful, or if you make mistakes it could harm the game.
Of course, you cannot manage everything, and casinos are somewhat known for shady dealings. Just recently a casino in Sydney was a part of a money-laundering scandal, which is why they plan to ban cash payments in a casino. This is something that criminals often do, use supposed casino winnings to justify their earnings, and chances are you will have to deal with them from time to time.
Problematic Clients
When we say troublesome guests we don’t only refer to criminals that were mentioned previously. The truth is you can do your best to be professional but if someone is drinking and losing then that person will likely be tense and irascible. It’s not so uncommon that they take out their frustrations on the dealer or that they antagonize the worker because it feels like they are playing against him or her.
If these things bother you but you still wish to do this job, you can always try your chance at a slightly different but similar workplace. Nowadays there are lots of online casino platforms in Ireland and all over the world that boast a great number of casino games, and they also have lots of users. They typically offer hundreds of slot games, but they also have so-called live games. These experiences require a live dealer who is sitting in front of the camera. This can be a far less stressful environment.
Lucky Guests Tend to Be Generous
There are definitely going to be moments when you are truly glad you picked this profession. Every now and then guests catch a lucky streak, and it’s pretty much a custom for them to tip the dealer. It’s also a part of gambling psychology, they might perceive you as a lucky charm and they want to show karma how they are not selfish, whatever the case these are some of the best moments throughout the dealer’s career.
Working Night Shifts
Casinos tend to work 24/7 so you will definitely see a fair share of night shifts while working as a dealer. The same goes if you are working as a live dealer on any instant withdrawal casino site, as they are always available, and allow users to withdraw their winnings at any time. This is why it can be exhausting at times and you might get a desire to switch professions later in life. Of course, if you are a night owl then chances are you won’t mind too much and you will thrive at this workplace.
It’s a Unique Career Path with Opportunities for Progression
It’s true that the skills you are honing here aren’t entirely applicable to other jobs. Although, you do get to work on your social skills and learn to be witty, which can definitely come in handy. However, it’s obvious that when the pandemic started and casinos began to lose revenue lots of dealers were concerned about where they will work next. Still, this was an exceptional situation, and many other professions were affected. Furthermore, there is a hierarchy or ladder that you can climb once you start as a croupier.
For example, if you show ambition and interest to advance, you can be promoted to pit manager. After that, you can aim for the position of floor manager or even as a shift manager. Each of these entails more responsibility, but if you excel you can end up managing the entire casino.
Conclusion
To sum up, this is a dynamic and very interesting job. At the same time, it is demanding and sometimes outright exhausting. You might have days where you get lots of tips, but the overall salary for this position isn’t that high so it soon starts to feel like you are dependent on those tips.
Luckily, there is room for you to advance in ranks and that can be a serious motivating factor. Moreover, online casinos with live games are now everywhere, so it’s a lot easier to get a new gig with this skill set. So, all things considered, it is a pretty balanced opportunity, and if you enjoy this type of work you should go for it.
Either a happy ending with honourable thieves, or slickly carried out ransom. However you view it, a city centre restaurant is just happy to have their signs back.
Bangin Noodles on Augustine Street in Galway City shared a plea on Monday for the return of their ‘Sendnoodz’ sign out front, which had been stolen by a bunch of lads the night before.
High level and objectively hilarious negotiations got underway quickly, with the restaurant offering a €100 voucher for the return of their sign, and offering a elaborate system for the exchange to take place, as soon as proof was provided of the safety of their beloved sign.
The plea quickly went viral, to great success, and the very next day the sign was returned with an apologetic note.
In a cunning attempt at misdirection, the thieves signed their return note as Pat McDonagh, though an in-depth investigation found that this probably wasn’t a slip up by the Supermacs godfather.
Roping the clown himself Ronald McDonald into the plot was likely also an effort to muddy the waters by these world class operators. A hollywood adaptation is surely already in the works.
“To all the Baiis at Bangin Noodles,” the note began, setting the tone early with a friendly approach.
“I’m very sorry for taking your sign. Myself and Ronald McDonald got a notion the other night while on a three day session.”
“Ronald told me that if I stole the sign he would let me open up Supermacs ‘Shateside’.” High stakes indeed if it could solve the legal bitterness between the two fast food chains.
“They are also the best craic ever! We are now best friends with the robbers,” the restaurant said in a later Facebook update, celebrating the return of their sign.
“Also 100 euro voucher for Bangin Noodles is given to the bandits and we will also be giving one of you free cocktails later in the week for helping and all the sharing to get our banner returned!”
Those who think all of this has sounded a bit familiar may cast their memory back to the great Carbon caper of 2013, where two thieves managed to slip out of the nightclub with a floor mat.
After they were publicly challenged by the now closed nightclub, the two daring lads managed to sneak it back in without getting caught, earning themselves a €100 bar tab in the bargain.
Clearly Galway is home to a generation of master criminals that will soon storm the world.
An Bord Pleanála has given the go ahead for a planning application to be made for a new back-up power station between Loughrea and Portumna.
The Bord ruled that a new open cycle gas turbine plant at the Tynagh Power Station complex would not constitute a Strategic Infrastructure Development.
This means that a planning application for the power plant can be made in the first instance to Galway County Council.
Forestdream and EP Energy Developments intend to build a natural gas fueled turbine plant, which would operate as a “peaking plant” to back up the national grid.
It would be designed to run for short periods of time when not enough electricity is being generated by renewable sources, in order to give a boost to the existing network.
The new gas turbine plant will have a maximum output of just under 300MW, bringing it below the threshold that would automatically make it a Strategic Infrastructure Development.
Though it is being built at the same location as the existing Tynagh Power Station, during the pre-application consultation, it was argued that the output two should not be considered cumulatively, as the new plant will be entirely independent.
The applicants stated in their meeting with An Bord Pleanála that they intend to submit a planning application to the county council in October 2021.
Well-known Galway broadcaster, musician and songwriter Seán Ó hÉanaigh has retired from his work with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta this week, as he celebrates his 65th birthday.
Seán Ó hÉanaigh worked at RnaG for 28 years and is particularly associated with music at the national Gaeltacht station.
Born in Boston in the United States, Seán and his family returned to Ireland to live in Roisín na Mainiach in Carna, Connemara when he was ten years old.
Seán says that he vividly remembers from a young age listening to the pirate radio station Saor Raidió Chonamara, which preceded RnaG, and he has been completely taken with radio since then.
“Since I was in national school, when I first heard Saor Raidió Chonamara, I thought that the best job a person could have would be working in Raidió na Gaeltachta – broadcasting to a community in their own language,” he said on Iris Aniar on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta today.
He spent years in the Armed Forces before working in PR for Bord na Gaeilge, and in 1993, Joe Brennan, Head of Programmes at RnaG at the time, gave him an offer her couldn’t refuse – to put together a summer music series.
Seán took three months’ leave from his job with Bord na Gaeilge and he has been with RnaG ever since.
He has worked on many series over the years, but is most associated with music programmes and music content at the station.
A musician and songwriter himself, Seán comes from a musical family which included his uncle, legendary sean-nós singer Joe Heaney.
But he didn’t go down the traditional route, and had hits with popular songs such as Conamara, which many young people now learn on their summer courses in Irish college, and Ag Éisteacht leis an Raidió, Páidín, agus Na Laetha a bhí.
Seán says that the Réalta songwriting competition, which ran from 1995 until 2000, was one of the highlights of his career with RTÉ RnaG.
It was intended to bolster the Irish-language songwriting industry, and that it did, producing such great hits as An Dreoilín and An Ronnach by Seán Monaghan, Na Laethanta a Bhí by Feargal Ó Béarra and Ag an gCóisir by John Spillane and Louis de Paor.
Seán spent 27 years presenting the Scottish-Irish programme Sruth na Maoile with his co-presenter Mairi Anna Nic Ualraig. The programme was a co-production with BBC Radio nan Gàideal in Scotland, and gave trad and folk artists working in both countries a platform on the national airwaves.
The series ended this year after a record-breaking run, making it the longest running Celtic co-production in the world.
The programme won the award for Best Music Radio Programme at the Celtic Media Festival for their gala concert to celebrate 25 years on air, broadcast live from Glór in Ennis in October 2019.
Broadcaster Seán Ó hEanaigh in 1997
Seán was appointed head of programmes in 2000 and he was central to the night-time music service Anocht fm which came on air in 2005 when RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta first allowed English-language lyrics on the station after 9pm, and he also managed many of the big annual music broadcasts of the station such as the Willie Clancy Summer School and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.
“Raidió na Gaeltachta offered me many, many opportunities over the last 28 years. I worked with some great people all across the service and learned a lot from them and I’m very grateful for that.”
“The years have flown by, and I have greatly enjoyed my time working for this fantastic radio service.”
Head of Service, Ceannaire Gearóid Mac Donncha, said that Seán had been a fantastic ambassador for RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta over the years, with a wonderful way with people, and was a warm and understanding colleague who had given great service.
He said that although Seán didn’t seek praise, he had earned it, and wished him well in the next chapter of his life.
Galway TD Mairead Farrell has said that the Freedom of Information system in Ireland is seriously lacking and abused by the deletion of records.
The Sinn Féin was speaking in the Daíl this week in light of the ongoing political scandal surrounding Katherine Zappone’s aborted appointment as a UN special envoy.
Deputy Farrell introduced a motion in Daíl on Thursday calling for all government departments to ensure that Ministers do not destroy records that should be preserved, and educate the Ministers themselves about what needs to be retained.
It also calls for all public bodies not currently under the remit of the Freedom of Information legislation to be brought into the fold, and for a strengthening of the Information Commissioner’s Office powers to investigate complaints.
This comes after the government has been consumed in recent days with the process behind the Zappone’s planned appointment to the UN envoy role.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has been accused of cronyism for the entire affair, with people saying that the job was cooked up for a party colleague.
But much of the disaster has surrounded public explanations of the scandal, with Coveney telling the Dáil Committee that he deleted texts between himself and Katherine Zappone surrounding the position.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar would later release texts which also seemed to contradict Minster Coveney’s claim that she did not lobby for the position.
Speaking in the Dáil, Máiread Farrell said “The reality is that in this State for most of its history there have been very significant concerns as to transparency and access to records and data.”
“Freedom of information has been essential for journalists, political researchers, concerned citizens, NGOs, historians and victims of State abuse.”
“It has been a means to get access to information on politicians’ expenses and to gain access to reports on scandals in our nursing homes, hospitals and industrial schools. It has played very significant roles in sagas that have been detrimental to this State.”
“Many transparency campaigners and journalists have been saying for a very long time that they have very significant concerns as to the ability of the FOI Act at this time.”
“John Devitt from Transparency Ireland said it played an essential role in underpinning our faith in public affairs but that it has been deliberately diluted in recent years. That is its importance here in that it has an essential role in underpinning our faith in public affairs.”
According to the Farrell, a survey she conducted last year found that 80% of people in Ireland felt that the FOI system performs poorly, and a whopping 86% felt that it had declined in quality in recent years.
She went on to say that was informed in June that the system is “robust and functioning well”, but called those “famous last words” in light of what has been seen in recent days.
“Those events really show the attitude towards the FOI regime and the fact that it needs to be strengthened. We know that deleting official correspondence is a clear offence under the Act, but this seems to be disregarded again.”
“Public bodies were claiming that correspondence did not exist only to show later that it did. This is nothing new, however. Anyone who has been using FOI can tell you that this happens regularly.”
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath moved to amend the motion to be remove all of the points initially put forth, and replace it with language broadly complimentary of the current operation of the FOI regime, and referring to a planned review of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 announced this year.
This motion and proposed amendment is due to be taken up by the Dáil again today.
Deputy Farrell and Deputy Sorcha Clarke are also planning to bring forward an FOI (amendment) bill to address the issues they have with the current system.
GGPoker, which is operated here in Ireland, has gone from pretender to the number one online poker site in the world.
It was only as recently as 2014 that GGPoker was launched by the Good Game Network as a fledgling poker site. Fast forward seven years and this Irish-based operation has knocked long-term leader Pokerstars off top spot as the industry leader.
GGPoker is operated by NSUS Limited in Sandyford, Dublin, and is licensed and regulated in Great Britain by the Gambling Commission. But having started as a small English focused poker room, GGPoker is now Ireland’s very own global giant.
It was officially confirmed by GameIntel, one of the industry’s leading data providers and independent monitor of all cash games in online poker, that GGPoker are ranked number one in the online poker sector.
GGPoker has replaced Pokerstars, which had been the dominant force in online poker since 2006, as top dogs.
It has been some journey for a site first developed in Ireland now played by poker fans from the Far East to the United States and just about everywhere in between.
One of the big reasons for the success has been the launch of the GGPoker bonus code NEWBONUS, which gets new customers a sign up bonus of $600.
Many of the customers using the code have gone on to win big on games including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, Rush & Cash, Spin & Gold, PokerCraft, Card Squeeze, All-In or Fold and more recently Flip & Go and 6-Max Spin & Gold.
Where GGPoker have stood out is with their jackpot tournaments, setting new Guinness World Record for individual tournament prize funds.
The World Series of Poker events, the biggest tournament in poker, that have really set GGPoker apart from their rivals – and seen this Irish fighter leaving them trailing in their wake.
Last year’s WSOP Online Main Event at GGPoker was awarded the Guinness World Record for the largest prize pool in a single online poker tournament, boasting a massive $27.5 million in prizes.
This year’s 18-event WSOP Super Circuit Online Series has a staggering $100 million-guaranteed in prize funds.
With the WSOP offering joined byGGSOP Poker Series, Battle of Malta Online Festival, Multi Millions, GG Masters, Daily Flipout, Feeling Lucky, Chinese Zodiac, High Rollers, AoF Bingo and Daily Leaderboard, it is clear that the huge jackpot events are what keep punters coming back.
GG also have a tie-up with celebrity poker star Dan Bilzerian as he hosts the Battle Royale on the poke site.
Bilzerian is one of a number of ambassadors along with Daniel Negreanu, Bryn Kenney, Bertrand ‘ElkY’ Grospellier, Felipe Ramos, Henri Bühler, Kitty Kuo and Fedor Holz.
Aldi has confirmed that it will create 30 new jobs in Galway with the opening of a new €9 million supermarket on the Old Monivea Road.
Galway City Council has granted planning permission for the construction of a two storey supermarket building, with 1,254sqm of retail space.
Construction of the new supermarket on the is expected to start next year, and will support 50 jobs while being built.
The store is currently expected to open in August of 2023. When it does, it will be powered by green electricity, courtesy of the 52 solar panels which will go on the roof.
Commenting, Colin Breslin, Aldi Regional Managing Director said: “This is great news for Aldi shoppers in Galway and the local vibrant economy, and we are delighted with Galway City Council’s decision.
“Since opening our first store in County Galway in 2000, we’re proud to be an established part of Galway’s retail landscape.”
“We look forward to serving more Galway shoppers with our award-winning range of incredible value food and drink products, many of which are sourced locally from our Galway producers.”
Planning permission was granted by the city council with a total of 18 conditions attached to the project.
The new supermarket will be served by 80 car parking spaces and 12 bicycle spaces, and will also feature four charging stations for electric vehicles.
Objections to the plans were raised by Tesco Ireland Limited, and the Retail Grocery & Dairy Allied Trades Association (RGDATA).
A submission by Tesco raised issue with the plans contravention of the site’s zoning, which is a mix of ‘Industrial’ and ‘Light Industrial and Commercial’.
The city council however decided to grant a material contravention of the development plan in order to allow the supermarket plans to go ahead.
In its objection RGDATA said that it was “concerned with the proliferation of planned and permitted convenience stores in suburban locations throughout Galway City in recent years.”
“If not carefully managed, the cumulative effect of these retail developments poses a real threat to the future vitality and viability of the City Centre and existing centres in the city”.
This will be the 10th Aldi supermarket to be built in Galway since the opening of their first store in
There’s reason to get excited for a night out this weekend, as Culture Night is returning in style this Friday for an evening of arts in Galway.
Galway City Council has released the full lineup of events that will be taking place in the city this Friday, where there is sure to be something for everyone.
More than 40 events are planned for the city on Culture Night, which over 200 artists working in theatre, film, dance, visual arts, and much more have contributed.
That’s not even getting started on all the event that’ll be on around the county for lovers of the arts to get out and have some craic with this weekend.
A series of walking tours will also take place around the city for anyone who wants a guided look at Galway’s street art, history, crafts, and so on.
Galway City Culture Night takes place on Friday 17 September. The programme was curated by Jane Hanberry in partnership and funded by Galway City Council.
The full lineup of events for this weekend is:
Visual Arts
Spend your Culture Night immersed in artwork by local and international artists. Kicking off at 11am with 21 stunning bespoke painted currach sculptures commissioned to celebrate 21 years of Áras Éanna, the Inis Óirr Arts Centre, showing in the quadrangle of NUI Galway.
From 3pm GMIT (Official) hosts ‘Plan C: Whereabouts?’, the showcase for the Masters in Creative Practice for the 2020 and 2021 graduates, curated by Ruby Wallis and Michaële Cutaya. It presents the work of 21 students across multiple media such as painting, sculpture, textile, installation and film.
Musical guests will accompany a group exhibition from 4pm at Art in Mind showcasing works from residents’ studios and guest artists featuring sculpture, painting, ceramics and photography. While 5pm sees the kick off for the Galway Cartoon Festival Programme Launch at The Cornstore.
Why not pop by the Claddagh Art Collective for an exhibition by Joe Westcott and Jarlath Tourish where the pair have set up a tattoo & art studio where they push their creative boundaries with painting, sculpture and photography.
While you’re in Galway’s Westend why not stop by Galway Arts Centre (which will stay open until 11pm). Spanning ten years, this exhibition traces the evolution, visual concerns and subtle shifts in direction of Ger Sweeney’s work.
Around the corner Margaret Nolan will display ‘Iconic’, an exhibition of drawings and collage in the windows of Tigh Neachtain and 2 wild geese.
As the sun sets, Marqu VR will have a magnificent display of architectural projection mapping to create 3D illusions on Town Hall Theatre Galway.
You can round the evening off at The Latin Quarter Galway where Dolores Lyne has curated a fantastic showcase of eight Galway City art collectives which will be displayed on the television screens at The Dáil Bar Galway & The Front Door Pub Galway.
Walking Tours
Join Karen O’Leary, a National Tour Guide at 1pm to wander off the beaten track to explore what could be called Galway’s open air art gallery.
Colour, beauty and inspiration are added to the side streets by locally and internationally acclaimed street artists, including Finbar 247, Sutek_west, Danleo and Shane O’Malley. This may be the most Instagramable tour that you have ever been on.
The 14th Galway Scouts are inviting the public to attend a series of campfire performances from 5pm where youth members will host a public audience in an interactive campfire experience sharing the joy of improv storytelling and campfire songs, and of course getting to cook a toasted marshmallow sandwiched between two chocolate digestives.
Galway City Museum Ireland presents this year’s ‘History Blitz’ from 5.30pm which goes walkabout to visit memorial sites relating to the 1916-23 period around the city centre. The featured speakers will take eight minutes each to talk about people who are commemorated in monuments and street names, or who represented it in literature.
A Bi-Lingual Demonstration/ Exhibition of Traditional Crafts will be held at Westside Community Resource Centre from 6.00 to 8.00 p.m, presented and demonstrated by Craft Tutor, Máirtín Davy.
Join Brendan J Hynes for ‘Famous People, Theatre and Literature Tour of Galway’ at 6.30pm. The tour will take you on a journey of discovery that will highlight key aspects of the city’s cultural and artistic side.
For a more self-guided walking tour, with audio commentary, come see the Drowned Galway exhibition. Find yourself immersed in a near-future Galway, where the abnormal has become normal, and floods and sea level rising have transformed the city by hope it rains.
Photo Credit: Joe Lee
But despite the excitement of coming back to the streets of Galway for a taste of the arts, missed by locals and sure to be appreciated by visitors, there will still be a programme of online events this Friday as well for people who maybe can’t get out this weekend.
Online Events
A 15-minute documentary by Mary Cunningham features interviews with people who swam at Salthill in the 60s. The documentary reflects on fifty years ago this month, the ‘Men Only’ sign was removed from the entrance to Blackrock swimming area.
Eva’s Echo presents a rehearsed reading of Dose, featuring actors from three countries performing together through the wonders of digital theatre. The new dramedy explores toxic family dynamics, mental health issues, and struggles unique to Queer relationships.
Moth and Butterfly present a Culture Night Special of Storytelling and Improvisation Featuring the ensemble and guest tellers. The stories will be a combination of traditional tales, true narratives, and improvised stories – all to the Culture Night theme of ‘Come Together Again’.
The Harmonica Fixer premiers online, a short film that profiles the musician Cathal Johnson’s work as a musician and as a harmonica technician, who repairs and customizes harmonicas for Andy Irvine and many others.
Fontanella Dance company shares their solo dance film commission ‘Plurabelle’. Kristyn Fontanella draws from her knowledge of traditional dance to make new rhythmical patterns and shapes inspired by the fall of rain on her body and the South Galway landscape.
Ballybane public library will stream Galway city librarians discussing reading through the pandemic joined by guest panelist, poet Rita Ann Higgins, reading from her newly published collection Pathogens Love a Patsy: Pandemic & Other Poems. Galway City Library hosts Storyteller Rab Fulton and Galway City Library for a wonderful ‘Folklore and Fairy Tale Session’.
Why not learn what Irish people mean when they say “Grand”, “I will yeah!” and “What’s the craic” with Comedian and English Teacher Steve Bennett in the online workshop ‘Culture Through Comedy’.
Planet Science will also give a digital workshop to children to explore different topics in Science. Children will gain hands-on scientific experience exploring topics that include but are not limited to Chemistry, Physics, Biology & Geology.
Yet More Live Events
The latest plaque on the Galway Poetry Trail will be unveiled at 2:30pm in association with Kenny’s Bookshop and Cuirt International Festival of Literature. The limestone plaque will feature the poem ‘Vortex’ by Gerard Reidy – a homage to Galway in which the poet describes his coming to Galway for the first time as a UCG student, from a small area in west Mayo.
This is the 25th plaque on the Galway Poetry Trail, which is a series of bronze and limestone plaques dotted around Galway city, each featuring a piece of writing about the place in which they are situated.
Morgan Creative will present two songs from their original musical, “Immortal” outside Galway City Museum at 7pm. Immortal is the next chapter of Irish folklore. The story is set between the mythological land of Tír na nÓg, rural Galway during the Irish Civil War and modern day Galway.
It was created by Morgan Creative, brothers Luke and Jake Morgan, and features original songs that strive to bring our rich local history and Celtic traditions to a modern audience.
Galway Community Circus will host Circus SWAP: the battle of all battles, circus style at 6pm from St. Joseph’s Community Centre. Circus SWAP is a fun, silly, laugh out loud event where professional circus entertainers, Galway Community Circus members and anyone who wants to give it a go, swap, share and battle out their best circus tricks.
Forge Clay Studios will open their doors at 4pm for a botanical press workshop and wheel throwing demonstrations from forge members and professionals Aoife Natsumi Frehan, Anne Rumph and Rory Clark.
As a follow up to the film premier ‘The Harmonica Fixer’ which will be streamed online for Culture Night, Cathal Johnson and all musicians involved in the film will perform outside at the Crane Bar from 6pm.
Bádóirí an Chladaigh return to the Claddagh Basin for Culture Night after a summer of sailing. The beloved hookers and gleóiteogs that grace our coast are a combination of design, craft, art, and seamanship. Join The Naomh Crónan, The Manuela and The Croí an Chladaigh at quayside from 8.30pm.
Livefeed is a Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture project for young people (aged 13 – 18) interested in music performance, production and promotion. For this very special event Livefeed will put on a showcase of original music from some of the many talented participants from the project. Taking place in the beautiful surrounds of The Cornstore’s arcade from 7pm, this promises to be a memorable and triumphant return for the much loved youth-music project.
Rounding out the evening is ‘The Craic is Back’ at Carroll’s Caravan Club from 6pm till late, a variety show curated by Gerry Hanberry featuring music, poetry, story, comedy. Performers include Paraic Breathnach, Tracey Bruen, Darra MaGuire, Fergal Mac Donnagh, Vibe Tribe, Carrolls Culture Club, James Colohan & Tom Mathews.
The flagship event of Culture Night will be presented by Give Us The Night and Galway Light festival presenting ‘NIGHTVISION’, An atmospheric audio-visual experience within the grounds of St Nicholas Church from 8.30pm. Ambient, electronic and experimental sounds will play alongside a special light installation from Brendan Savage (Galway Festival of Light), illuminating the church and surrounding area to otherworldly effect.
GMIT recently played host to the French Ambassador to Ireland and a delegation from the embassy as they sought to build ties with the country.
Members of GMIT’s Hotel School and International Office met with a group from the embassy, including HE Vincent Guérend, the ambassador, to discuss a range of Franco-Irish events and activities hosted by GMIT.
The GIHS will once again host the annual Goût de France Dinner in April of 2022, after it was cancelled for the past two years running.
This event will coincide with the Hotel School also hosting the annual Dairy Chef Competition, a Franco-Irish culinary competition, as well as the France-Ireland scholastic network on Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Tourism (FICAHT) Forum.
FICAHT was created in 2015 and is a network that aims to develop links and foster innovation between academia and industry from France and Ireland.
The annual Dairy Chef competition sees culinary students from both countries battling it out for the top prize, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the CNIEL (Centre National Interprofessionnel de l’Economie Laitière).
Ambassador Guérend will attend both the Goût de France Dinner and the Dairy Chef competition on Wednesday, April 6 of next year. The FICAHT Forum will take place on the following two days.
Diarmuid Ó Conghaile of GMIT, said that “following two postponements” they are looking forward to welcoming colleagues and guests to the events next year.
“This very special event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate, develop and sustain Franco-Irish relations, while offering a warm Galway welcome.”
Gambling has been popular for decades in Ireland and we all know about the ‘Luck of the Irish’ expression. So, in the 90s when the Internet became available to everyone, it is no surprise that Irishmen decided to take their passion online. Online gambling in Irelan is a popular phenomenon and the demographics mainly consist of people between 25 and 34 years (5.7%) and between 18 and 24 years (4.8%). However, for beginners who would love to engage in such online games, there are a few things to learn and consider first, since not all online casinos are created equal.
Licensing and Security
Like said, not all casinos are created equal. There are more popular and less popular sites, and there are those that are created in order to scam people. So, in order to avoid getting scammed or revealing your personal information to a site, you should look for a license and proof of security on the site.
There are more and more casinos in Ireland every year and not all are legal. So, when choosing a site make sure they have emphasized they are licensed and approved by a recognized gambling body, such as UK Gambling Commission. This gaming commission is responsible for ensuring safe and legit sites adhere to gambling standards which are strict and they will protect you as a user.
Selection of Online Games
What drives players to online casinos and helps them make choices is, first of all, the range and availability, and the quality of online games a casino offers. The first thing here is to know what games you would like to play online and then filter out sites on offer. You can go through lists of brand new online casinos sites in Ireland and see if they have games that you know how to play and would like to try your luck on. Also, most casinos will hold a rich library of games, including the classics and even some of the newest, hottest, and more modern options. The choice is yours, go with your likes and dislikes and see what they offer.
Money Deposits and Withdrawal Options
Since online casinos games are usually played with real money, and the prizes include cash, too, it is highly important to check what your site choices offer for deposits and withdrawals. Make sure to check all the options of depositing money – e-wallets, debit/credit cards, prepaid vouchers, etc.
What is also important is the options for withdrawing your cash prizes and how quickly and fuss-free you can do it. Most casinos will offer withdrawals to debit/credit cards, e-wallets, and even bitcoins, so make sure to check what pleases you and your needs the most.
Promotions and Bonuses
What is great about online casinos is that they often offer great bonuses and promotions for their players. Make sure what kind of bonuses casinos offer and make sure to read the fine print and terms and conditions of those bonuses to determine how worthwhile and beneficial they are to you as a player.
Most casinos will offer great sign-up bonuses which are a great way to start playing and gain some skills before depositing any real money. Also, there are great bonuses for loyal players since the casinos want people to stay longer with them and play more games.
However, it is important to remember that bigger bonuses does not mean they are better. Massive bonuses can be useless because they have high wagering and it is almost impossible to cash out your winnings. So, choose carefully and read the fine print.
Read Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are the best way to find out everything about an online casino and how good they are. Since the Irish are passionate players, they will leave their experiences and comments with the reviews. And if you cannot find any testimonials and comments on the very casino site, make sure to do some digging on the internet and look for blogs and review sites. There you will be able to successfully narrow down your choices of casinos, find out how fast withdrawal of prizes is, how secured sites are, etc. Such reviews are made by real people who have tried out the casinos and will certainly help you find a legitimate and fast-paying casino.
Is There a Mobile Version?
It is almost an unwritten rule that all legitimate online casinos will have their own mobile version of their site, offering the same games. This is because all casino businesses know that we are constantly on our phones and that gambling on the go is a useful and frequent occurrence.
So, when on a website, see if there is a way to download the mobile app and read all terms and conditions. Plus, if there is an app for this casino, this is just an added bonus since you can play anywhere you are and in a more comfortable position than sitting in front of a computer. Also, don’t forget the compatibility of your phone with the app in order to get the full experience.
All in all, online casinos are extremely popular in Ireland. However, make sure that your choice is a legal and legitimate site that will provide you with good bonuses and fun games that you love playing. Good luck!
As part of an exciting new project, Galway City Council is partnering with local residents and young people to ‘green’ city laneways.
The public are being invited to transform their streets into vibrant, playful and nature-friendly spaces for all of the community to enjoy.
The premise of the project is for local residents and young people to plant flowers, shrubs and an ‘edible landscape’ with the help of Galway City Council Parks staff. They will then take over the maintenance of the planting in the future.
The community will also be involved in painting vibrant, nature-based murals along the laneways with the help of professional artists.
Tiarnan McCusker, Environmental Awareness Officer with Galway City Council, said that as far they were aware, no such initiative has been undertaken in Ireland before now.
“It’s very much a community-led approach whereby Galway City Council will liaise with local residents, schools, libraries, community centres and youth groups to ascertain how they would like these laneways to be improved.”
If they project gets a strong “buy in” from the local community, particularly young people he added, then it can create a “strong sense of ownership” which will hopefully see a drop in littering, dumping and graffiti, and increased biodiversity.
The money for the ‘Greening the Laneways’ project is being provided by the government through the Anti-Dumping Initiative 2021.
To start things off, this Saturday, September 18 will see a community action day taking place in the Rocky Road in Westside from 11am.
This event will involve local residents and young people putting a splash of colour in the area with planting and mural painting.
“The actions days are a chance for locals to be involved in transforming these sometimes dull and unstimulating spaces into something the whole community can be proud of,” Tiernan McClusker said.
NUI Galway and Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) have joined forces to herald the role of the University’s graduates in this year’s theatre productions.
Former students feature in over half of the shows at this year’s festival, working behind the scenes and on stage to bring drama, arts and culture to audiences as they flocked back to live, in-person events.
Among the alumni are recent graduates from the BA in Drama who took part in the SELECTED programme this summer and went on to work as stage manager, assistant stage manager and props person on Cogadh Na Saoirse.
Others are playing key roles in the performances on stage, with actor Catherine Denning, a BA and MA graduate, featuring in Branar’s Sruth na Teanga, while Cogadh na Soairse was written by MA graduate Philip Doherty and After Love was written by BA graduate Dani Gill.
NUI Galway graduates are also working on the Abbey Theatre’s Happy Days on Inis Oírr and Druid Theatre’s The Seagull.
Patrick Lonergan, Professor of Drama and Theatre Studies at NUI Galway, said: “We began partnering with Galway International Arts Festival from our shared desire to ensure that the next generation of theatre-makers and artists would have the skills and experiences needed to build sustainable careers, both here in the west of Ireland and in other national and international contexts.
“Through programmes like the SELECTED internship scheme, our students have gone behind the scenes to meet artists, producers, and other professional experts on GIAF shows.
“We’re seeing the fruits of that approach now, with more than half of this year’s theatre productions featuring recent NUI Galway graduates.”
Professor Lonergan also highlighted that NUI Galway is also proud to support the Irish premiere of Enda Walsh’s Medicine, starring Domhnall Gleeson, and that another production, Ar Ais Arís, emerged from the University’s Aistriú project.
John Crumlish, chief executive of the Galway International Arts Festival, said that GIAF’s partnership with NUI Galway on SELECTED has been very rewarding.
“We always envisaged the programme being a support for young people who wanted careers in culture, so we are delighted to see alumni working for arts organisations that are part of the festival programme itself,” he said.
“We hope to work with NUI Galway to further develop the programme over the coming years and play our part in developing the careers of the next generation of arts professionals.”
The Department of Health has reported 1,185 new cases of COVID-19 in the State, as the number of people in hospitals with the disease has fallen below 300.
As of 8am this morning, 292 people with COVID-19 are hospitalised, with 65 in intensive care units.
There has been a total of 5,179 deaths related to COVID-19 notified in the Republic to date.
CMO Dr Tony Holohan said COVID-19 vaccines are providing very effective protection from severe illness and have fundamentally changed the risk profile of this disease.
“Since the 1st of April, approximately four out of every five people admitted to ICU and approximately three out of every four deaths with COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated.
“It remains vital that those who have not yet received a COVID-19 vaccine do so at the earliest opportunity.
“If you are fully protected through vaccination, then you can have confidence that your vaccination, and your continued adherence to the public health advice appropriate to each environment, is the best way you can protect yourself from COVID-19,” said the chief medical officer.
Six people were rescued by the Clifden RNLI, assisted by the Cleggan Coast Guard, in Ballyconneely Bay on Tuesday evening after they had boat problems.
The 14ft vessel got into trouble when it suffered engine failure inside of Ballyconneely Bay shortly after 6pm, and the people aboard called for help.
The Cleggan Coast Guard spotted the boat from the shore, and launched a drone to keep an eye on the situation from the air.
Both of the Clifden RNLI station’s lifeboats, the the Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat and the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, were launched in response to the emergency.
They arrived shortly before 7pm, and after ensuring that all of the passengers were safe and well, towed the boat back to shore.
Clifden RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John Brittain commended the volunteer crew for a timely response and successful outcome.
He also reminded people that safety precautions are a must at sea. “Plan your route in advance, carry out regular checks on your vessel prior to, and during your journey.”
“Have means of calling for assistance if you find yourself in trouble and everyone onboard should always be wearing lifejackets.”
Roadworks are to take place at the Bóthar Stiofáin/Gateway Shopping Park junction (the junction at Lidl), beginning from Monday September 7.
These roadworks will last...
