One day left to enter national environmental awards

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news galway city co-founders of byowave — Social entrepreneurs including Brandon Blacoe and Eibhlin O’Riordan, co-founders of ByoWave

Two social entrepreneurs from Galway city have been awarded a place on Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Impact Awards programme, securing €20,000 in funding for their organisation ByoWave.

Brandon Blacoe from Salthill and Eibhlin O’Riordan from Knocknacarra co-founded Byowave to make accessible and customisable video game controllers for people with disabilities.

The organisation aims to address the exclusion and isolation felt by people with disabilities due to inaccessible controllers.

There are an estimated 180 million disabled gamers worldwide who are unable to to play video games due to inaccessible video game controllers.

Co-founder Eibhlin O’Riordan has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, which means she can only play games with one hand.

“It means the world have an organisation like SEI supporting us with our mission to make gaming and technology more accessible,” she said.

Each ByoWave controller is made up of a set of electronic cubes that can connect together at any angle.

The user connects their cubes together to create whatever shape they want to accommodate their specific disability.

Brandon Blacoe said: “Finding a community whose fundamental drive is social good, and being selected as a member within it, has re-energised the passion I found at UCD to innovate and engineer world class assistive technology that solves real problems for real people.”

The SEI Impact Programme is a nine-month accelerator programme that supports social entrepreneurs by providing significant funding and mentoring as well as access to a network of support.

This year’s awards attracted over 110 applications from across Ireland, with ByoWave being one of the five organisations to successfully pitch for a place and secure an equal share of the €100,000 funding.

Commenting, CEO of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Tim Griffiths said that the pandemic has proven that innovation and resilience are two of our strongest assets.

“The role of social entrepreneurship and the individuals whose insight, inspiration and tenacity to create the solutions to our social problems, has never been in greater demand,” he said.

“As we continue to live through these extraordinary and challenging times, it is truly heartening to see so many people stepping up and sharing their ideas to tackle social problems.

“I’d like to thank everyone who applied to the SEI this year and extend my congratulations to ByoWave and all our incredible Impact Awardees who are already making such a difference across Ireland.”

Since its foundation in 2004, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland has supported more than 400 social entrepreneurs across the country to move from idea to action and develop solutions that are transforming Ireland’s approach social problems.

A Quick Guide to Using Instagram For Business

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Angela Mc Bride

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August 26, 2021

More than 1 billion people use Instagram every month, and about 90% of them follow at least one business. That means that in 2021, it will be easy to use Instagram for commercial activities. In just over ten years, Instagram has grown from a photo-sharing application to a center of commercial activity. Brands can host fundraising events on Instagram Live, open stores through their profiles, and allow people to make reservations through their accounts. Updates to new business tools, features, and tips in apps have become almost routine, but there can be many things to track, especially when managing an Instagram business account is just one aspect of your job. Learn how to start a business with Instagram, from setting up a profile from scratch, increasing engagement on Instagram, to measuring your success. You can even use some of the best instagram marketing tools to engage more customers to your business.

How to set up Instagram for a business?

When you switch to a business account, Instagram will ask you to fill in details, such as your contact number, email ID, and address, so that people can contact your business. In addition, you can take some steps to optimize your Instagram business account.

Edit your Instagram profile to start a business. Your description represents your business and should let your audience know about you and why they should contact you.
Unlike other social platforms, Instagram does not allow you to add links to posts, so the only option for links in your profile. You can use this link to direct your users to your website, YouTube video, online store-no matter where you want to generate traffic.
Update your profile picture. The profile picture on the Instagram business page is the best for branding. You can choose to place your logo. You can use a free profile picture maker to create a professional-looking image that represents your business.
Make your Instagram name SEO-friendly. Many companies and creators have started adding main business keywords to their names to make them more SEO-friendly.

Update your profile description

When you click Edit profile, a page will appear where you can update your profile. The character limit is 150, and it can contain a combination of words, hashtags, or emojis. In this resume, consider what keywords people will search for when searching for a product or service you own.

Determine your target audience

Who do you want to attract? What will catch your attention? Marketers often try to keep content evergreen, which is an industry term, so that it can be used throughout the year and not specific to events or activities. However, social media is not the place to do this. Everything happens very quickly, and trends change every day. For example, if your target audience includes millennials or Gen Z, relevant memes may apply to your brand. Feel free to use it! For increasing engagement during the start, you can visit the best places to buy Instagram followers.

Share high-quality content to create a visual aesthetic

Instagram is about visual effects, so having a recognizable visual identity is very important. Try to set a repeating pillar theme that you can switch. If you provide services, try to show the customer story or highlight the office life and the people who make your business run behind the scenes.

Take great photos. To make Instagram work for your business, you need to have great photos.
When it comes to Instagram photography, your phone is your best friend because you can post directly from your device.
Use tools to help you. Edit your photos using the Photoleap app to maintain beauty, add frames or logos, and even create infographics and other original content.
Write attractive headlines. Instagram can be a visual platform, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore your captions. The story that makes the photo meaningful.
Create inclusive content. Branded content is most effective when people can imagine using your product or service. It is even harder to do this if people feel that they are not recognized.

Set goals to achieve with this account

Instagram’s main marketing goals should be:

Increase brand awareness and engagement conversions.

Below are specific metrics that you can analyze (via Instagram insights) to ensure that you achieve these goals correctly:

Brand awareness-Follow the growth of readers, the impression, and coverage of posts. Reach is the total number of unique users who viewed your posts.
You can view a breakdown of where users viewed your posts, such as their feed, by visiting your profile, through hashtags, or in your discovery feed.
Share and save. For the story, check the view, forward, back, reply, and leave.
Finally, be sure to track the number of visits to your profile and the number of clicks to your website. This best shows whether your posts and stories are of interest to your brand.
Track the click-through rate and bounce rate of your call to action or bio link. That helps you understand how effective Instagram content is in stimulating brand interest.

We have included everything you need to know about starting a business with Instagram, from setting up an account to developing a winning strategy.

Remember, what works for one brand on Instagram may not work for another brand. Fortunately, social media platforms are forgiving and provide plenty of room for trial and error.

Now that you have a better understanding of Instagram features and how to create a business account, it’s time to put it all into action.

UHG is Ireland’s most overcrowded hospital today

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August 26, 2021

University Hospital Galway is the most overcrowded hospital in Ireland today, with 30 patients admitted without a bed available.

Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show that there are 30 patients on trolleys in the Emergency Department at UHG this morning.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, there are a further two patients in the wards who do not have a bed today.

The INMO’s Trolley Ward Watch shows that there were 240 patients without a bed in Ireland’s acute hospitals this morning, 205 of them on trolleys in the A&E, and 35 in wards.

After UHG, the worst affected hospitals are Cork University Hospital, where there are 28 people on trolleys, and UHL, which has 24.

An Bord Pleanála overrules inspector to approve Oranmore mobile mast

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily news An Bord Pleanála overrules inspector to approve Oranmore mobile mast

An Bord Pleanála has approved plans for a new mobile mast in Oranmore village, overruling their inspector’s recommendation to refuse planning permission.

Vodafone Limited had originally sought approval from the county council to take down a 15m high mobile mast at Main Street Oranmore, where the structure has a total height of 19m.

In its place, the telephone and broadband provider planned to erect a 24m high lattice mast, for additional antennae and dishes, which would reach a total height of 25.5m

These plans were refused approval by the county council in March of this year on the grounds that they would have a detrimental visual impact on the surrounding area, and due to its proximity to residential dwellings.

This decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, where Vodafone proposed revised plans for a 20m high mast, bringing the total height of the structure to 21.5m.

Vodafone also argued in the appeal that the larger mast is needed to deal with increased demand in the area, and to allow other operators to use the same location.

Seven objections to the original plans were received by the county council, and An Bord Pleanála also received submission from local residents, including the Oranmore Community Development Association CLG.

These argued that the site is zoned residential as it is, that no consideration has been given for other locations, and that there would still be a negative visual impact since there are houses close by.

An Bord Pleanála’s inspector Colin McBride recommended that the board uphold the council’s original decision, and refuse planning permission, regardless of the reduced size, for similar reasons.

“I would still consider that the design and increased physical bulk of the replacement structure would have a detrimental visual impact at this location,” the inspector’s report said in its assessment.

“I would be of the view that the design of the new structure is unacceptable and would have detrimental visual impact over and above that of the existing structure on site.

“I do not consider that sufficient technical justification for such has been provided or demonstrated or any information provided to indicate that alternative options are not available.”

“I would consider that the proposal would be contrary to the recommendation of the national guidelines in relation location and siting of telecommunications structure and that insufficient justification has been provided for the proposed replacement structure at this location.”

In making its decision to grant permission, the board said that the mast was in a “highly suitable and appropriate location” for providing broadband coverage in the area, and that it would be available for other providers to locate equipment there.

Planning permission was ultimately granted for the mobile mast with six standard conditions attached.

Warning notices lifted for Grattan and Ballyloughane beaches

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August 26, 2021

Galway Daily news Swimming ban at Ballyloughane Beach due to E. Coli

Prior warning notices issued for Ballyloughane and Grattan beaches last week have been removed after positive water quality results.

The City Council gave prior warning notices last Friday, for people to beware of possible bacterial contamination.

There were concerns that a period of heavy rainfall could lead to contaminated water runoff.

Water samples from taken from both beaches on Monday, August 23, and have returned ‘excellent’ water quality results.

The Prior Warning notices were lifted for both the Ballyloughane and Grattan areas as of Wednesday evening.

Galway man joins new podcast exploring healthy ageing

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August 26, 2021

galway daily news old country podcast galway professor

Galway Professor Kieran Walsh is a featured guest in the latest episode of The Old Country, a new podcast exploring healthy ageing in Ireland.

Professor Walsh, who is head of the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology at NUI Galway, joins Mayor of South Dublin and podcast host Peter Kavanagh to speak about what is required to build a better Ireland for everyone by thinking about our older people.

The podcast is a 12-part series produced by Active Retirement Ireland exploring issues around ageing such as combating ageism, age-friendly environments, and integrated and long-term care.

In the latest episode, Professor Walsh also discusses the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on older people, and how things can be done differently in the future.

Each episode of the podcast features a guest involved in making Ireland a better place to grow older, from older people themselves to activists and policy experts.

The fortnightly episodes examine the challenges and opportunities which an ageing population brings.

The podcast, which is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify and iTunes and through the Active Retirement Ireland website, has been created to mark the beginning of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing and is supported by the Community Foundation for Ireland.

The next two episodes of The Old Country will feature Mai Quaid, Development Officer with Active Retirement Ireland, and Paddy Connolly, CEO of Age Action.

Commenting on the launch of The Old Country podcast, Mayor Peter Kavanagh said: “We are delighted to have Professor Kieran Walsh joining us on the podcast and provide his expert opinion on how we can build a better Ireland for our older people.

“He also offers great insight into the impact that the Covid 19 pandemic has had on our older people, and on the lessons we can learn to ensure more fair treatment for everyone.”

Peter Kavanagh said that with the ever-increasing popularity of podcasts, now feels like the right time for something to cater for our older population.

“With The Old Country, we are really excited to tell the story of ageing in Ireland,” he said.

“The podcast explores the challenges for our ageing population, highlights some of the great opportunities and discusses how we can make the experience of ageing in Ireland as positive as possible.

“We know how much our retired population in Ireland have to offer through our work with local Active Retirement Ireland groups.

“We also know that they will become a larger proportion of our population: by 2030 the population aged 80 or above will increase by between 89 per cent and 94 per cent, according to the ESRI.

“This is a major shift in the demographics of our country. This podcast is all about sharing insights from those making the most of their older years, and how we can better the experience of our older years through community, wellbeing and a positive attitude towards ageing.”

COVID-19: Another 2,051 cases reported today

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August 25, 2021

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

There have been a further 2,051 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland reported by health officials today.

As of this morning, the number hospitalised with the disease had climbed to 323, of whom 56 are receiving critical care in the ICU.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that “significant concerns” remain about the Delta variant, despite high uptake levels of the vaccine.

“Over 70% of cases are in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people and we are seeing a high incidence of COVID-19 in adults and teenagers aged 16-29.”

“If you haven’t yet registered for your vaccine or have delayed receiving your second dose, please do so as soon as possible. We know that vaccines work,” Tony Holohan said.

“They are about 80% effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 disease and they provide approximately 95% protection against hospitalisation.”

“It is very important that we remain vigilant and continue to follow the public health measures that we are all so familiar with. This is especially important for anyone who is soon to return to school and college.”

The Cabinet will meet this week to discuss a phased lifting of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions, with plans to be signed off on next Tuesday.

Among the earliest of those changes could be a return to full capacity on public transport, which could be implement by the middle of next week.

Construction of Spiddal wastewater treatment plant to begin soon

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news Lack of sewerage infrastructure impeding housing Galway TD says

Work is due to begin soon on the Spiddal Sewerage Scheme which will involve the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant for the Connemara village.

Irish Water is investing €4 million in the new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure, which is meant to cut down on the discharge of untreated sewage into Galway Bay.

Construction work on the plant is expected to get underway in a matter of weeks, with a view towards being completed by early 2024.

Spiddal has frequently been listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a problem location for the dumping untreated waste, in contravention of EU regulations.

Patrick Greene from Irish Water said that the new plant will stop the equivalent of 600 wheelie bins worth of raw, untreated sewage being dumped into Galway Bay each day.

The new treatment plant will be designed to serve a population of approximately 1,000 people, in order to allow for growth in the area.

“We are looking forward to delivering this important project on behalf of the local community in Spiddal.”

“All new infrastructure has been sized to accommodate future population growth and the project will enhance the local environment and provide a platform for social and economic development of the area well into the future.”

The project will also protect recreational waters for swimming, surfing, fishing, boating and sightseeing, as well as protecting the integrity of the local marine environment.

Coffey Water Limited has been selected as the contractor for this project by Irish Water.

“We look forward to working with the local community to deliver this essential project in conjunction with our partners Galway County Council and Coffey Water Limited and eliminating the discharge of untreated wastewater into Galway Bay,” Patrick Greene said.

The location of the planned treatment plant, next to the craft village in Spiddal, proved controversial with many locals, who expressed health and environmental concerns.

The county council’s decision to grant planning permission for the sewerage scheme back in October of 2018 was appealed to An Bord Pleanála, which upheld the council’s decision.

GRETB awarded over €138k to support youth services

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news Four Galway community groups awarded funding for special transport vehicles

The Galway-Roscommon Education and Training Board has been allocated €138,877 to support youth services across the two counties.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’ Gorman announced €1.72 million in funding for ETBs’ youth services this week.

The funding for GRETB includes €57,866 in grants of less than €5,000, and a further €81,011 for larger scale grants.

“Youth services play a vital role in our communities, providing support and guidance to young people, and empowering them to reach their full potential,” Minister O’Gorman said.

“They have been at the forefront at reaching out to help young people throughout this pandemic, helping to alleviate social isolation, by offering them a space in person or online, to meet with their peers, and process the challenges of Covid-19.”

“I know clubs and services are working hard to improve the well-being of young people, and by providing opportunities for personal development, they are helping young people to achieve better social outcomes and gain a greater understanding of the world around them.”

“I have no doubt this funding will support services to provide real benefits to young people’s lives as they navigate the ongoing challenges brought by Covid-19.”

On top of the grants for services provided by ETBs, the Minister also awarded €564,032.98 in capital grants for 24 national youth organisations.

The grants are meant to support organisations and clubs with upgrade works, the purchase of new equipment, ICT for online service provision, improvements to ventilation, and adaptations to outdoor spaces to facilitate youth services to run outdoor activities.

COVID-19: ICU numbers steady amid outbreak at UHG

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August 25, 2021

University Hospital Galway is still treating the largest number of COVID-19 patients in the country following an outbreak, but critical care numbers have not increased.

There were 33 confirmed cases at UHG as of Tuesday night in the latest HSE figures, two more than the day before almost nine more than any other hospital.

There has still been no change in the number of COVID patients being treated in the intensive care unit at UHG however, which remains at seven

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe there are five confirmed cases, one fewer than Monday night.

Two of the patients at Portiuncula have been admitted to the ICU for critical care.

University Hospital Galway is also the most overcrowded in the country overall today, with 34 general patients admitted who are without a bed.

Figures from the INMO also show that there are four patients in the Emergency Department at Portiuncula who are on trolleys.

Nationwide, there 310 COVID patients in Irish hospitals, with another 42 admitted in the 24 hours prior. Of these 55 are being treated in intensive care units.

Bill Murray takes to the green in Galway for golf show

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily arts Bill Murray takes to the green in Galway for golf show — Photo Martina Regan.

Galway played host to Hollywood legend Bill Murray on Tuesday, when the much loved film star was in town for a few rounds of golf on his latest project.

Murray was in town with his family as part of a working trip to Ireland along with New York Times best-selling author Tom Coyne.

They are filming a new golf series, The Links Life, a and the stunning Galway Bay Golf Resort was his destination to enjoy the best that Galway has to offer.

The course is regarded as one of the best in Ireland, and officially rated as the best Parkland in Connacht.

Bill Murray takes to the green in Galway for golf show — Photo Martina Regan.

Galway Bay Golf Resort, now part of the Connacht Hospitality Group, will be expanding with the addition of a 4 star luxury hotel and spa resort at Galway bay later this year.

Murray is famous for his roles in Ghostbusters, Lost in Translation, Groundhog Day, and many other classics in a long and storied career.

This isn’t the first time his work has crossed over with golf, as one of his most enduring roles was in the legendary 1980 comedy Caddyshack.

Taking advantage of Bill Murray’s visit, the expanding team at the resort took the opportunity to name ‘The Murray Suite’ in honour of him and his family, something for guests to ask about in the years to come.

Murray was dined in style by the CHG in a leisurely lunch, taking in the staggering views of Galway Bay in the beautiful summer weather, before heading to the course.

Filming for The Links Life, which will air on YouTube and other major streaming platforms, is supported by Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland.

Late night rescue of stricken boat by Galway RNLI

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news Late night rescue of stricken boat by Galway RNLI

The Galway RNLI lifeboat came to the rescue of nine crewmembers trapped on their boat on Tuesday night.

The 6.5m rigid inflatable boat had run aground at Ballyvaughan Bay on Tuesday night around 10pm.

With the boat’s propeller and engine damaged, the crew called for help, and the Galway RNLI launched in response after being called on by the Coast Guard.

Conditions were calm and dark when the lifeboat crew located the stricken vessel some 20 minutes later.

Galway RNLI Deputy Launching Authority Seán Óg Leydon said, “The crew of the vessel acted quickly by dropping anchor straight away and contacting the Irish Coast Guard.”

All nine crew on board were wearing lifejackets and did not need any medical assistance.

Galway RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew of Helm Brian Nilan, James Rhattigan, Dave McGrath and Cathal Bryne took the boat in tow to Parkmore Pier near Kinvara.

Global study finds new treatment approach for critically-ill COVID patients

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August 25, 2021

galway daily news research study covid-19 — Dr Bairbre McNicholas and Lisa Power at NUI Galway

Critically-ill Covid patients are less likely to die if lying prone on their stomachs while receiving oxygen, a research project sponsored by NUI Galway has found.

The impact of the technique, known as awake prone positioning, was assessed in hospitals in six countries on more than 1,000 coronavirus patients requiring advanced breathing support.

The study was the first clinical trial of its kind into the practice of awake prone positioning and ran from April 2020 to January 2021.

It showed that treating patients in this position, while they received high flow nasal cannula oxygen, reduced death and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation.

Dr Bairbre McNicholas, Honorary Senior Lecturer at NUI Galway and Intensive Care Consultant at University Hospital Galway, said that providing an evidence base for what they do in the intensive care unit is critical so that they support and implement recommendations that work.

“This study, which was part of a global effort and was sponsored locally by NUI Galway and the Health Research Board-Clinical Research Facility Galway, as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, shows that clinical trials can be scaled up and done properly and efficiently during a pandemic and demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together,” said Dr McNicholas.

The study involved 1,121 patients in Spain, Ireland, the US, Canada, Mexico and France,, and it is the first time awake prone positioning has been studied to such an extent.

It found that awake prone positioning reduces death and the need for invasive intubation in patients with severe Covid-19 who require high flow nasal cannula oxygen.

The technique is safe and well tolerated by patients and blood oxygen levels are significantly improved in patients who adopt awake prone positioning.

The longer patients can sustain being in prone positioning, the greater the success of the treatment and the less likely they were to need invasive mechanical ventilation.

Given the scarcity of ventilators and oxygen therapy, particularly in low and middle income countries, the study also provides welcome data on the efficacy of awake prone positioning which will ensure that the low-cost strategy to invasive mechanical ventilation is supported as a treatment strategy.

“I tell patients that going on your tummy will improve the oxygen levels in your blood, that although it is uncomfortable, the longer you can put up with this position, the less likely you will need to go onto require needing a breathing tube,” added Dr McNicholas.

Lisa Power was treated using awake prone positioning while being treated at University Hospital Galway for COVID-19.

Ms Power said: “I am extremely grateful to all the staff at University Hospital Galway, particularly the medics in ICU and especially as I was awake proned.

“It really helped my breathing and made me much more comfortable without having to put me on a ventilator. I cannot thank the staff enough for all the care they provided.”

The Founder of Paddy Power Finds Gambling to Be a Major Social Issue

By

Angela Mc Bride

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August 25, 2021

Steward Kenny who is the co-founder of Paddy Power recently came out and said that gambling regulations are ineffective in Ireland because of which the vulnerable and the young are not protected from gambling harm. The former CEO of Paddy Power, Kenny noted that Irish governments have been totally negligent for the past two decades when it comes to regulating gambling.

Simultaneously, Kenny was also critical of the gambling industry. He admitted that he resigned from Paddy Power in 2016 because of the company’s inability to protect consumers from gambling addiction.

In 1988 Stewart Kenny founded what is now one of the biggest gambling brands in UK but now he regrets doing it. While admitting his love for gambling and opining that gambling can be a great pastime when one does it correctly, Kenny said that smartphone technology and the Internet have made gambling accessible to all, converting a pastime into a major social issue.

Kenny expressed concern about gambling companies making addictive online casino games available to players below the age of 25. He noted that the frontal lobe of the human brain, which helps people to control their impulses, is developed only in people who are at least 25 years old. But betting companies encourage young bettors to play addictive online casino games.

Paddy Power released a statement in which it expresses longstanding support for efforts to effectively regulate gambling. The company said that it has made its safe gambling policies better than ever and has also set up a team to work full-time for safe gambling. In addition, the company has invested in predictive models to identify possibilities of consumers suffering from gambling harm, enabling intervention and communication.

The company has also launched initiatives including banning credit cards to fund online gambling and online betting accounts and dedicating 1% of its revenue for education and research on problem gambling and treatment of Irish residents who have suffered gambling harm.

Paddy Power ended its statement by saying that it has not always got things right with regard to safe gambling but has always remained committed to using innovation and evidence to prevent problem gambling.

Ireland is currently facing severe issues with problem gambling. Cuan Mhuire, an Irish addiction treatment center that has been treating alcohol and drug addicts for the past 50 years, has recently established a special treatment program for problem gambling. Michael Guerin, who is an addiction counsellor at Cuan Mhuire, says that online gambling has created an environment in which people can easily get addicted.

The Irish Bookmakers Association has stated that its members have recently made significant attempts to update their safe gambling policies.

Currently, Ireland has no gambling regulator, but the Department of Justice has stated that a fully operational gambling regulator will be set up by 2023.

Problem gambling counsellors believe that stringent gambling regulation is the number one solution that will help address gambling addiction in the country. At a Senate debate in April, junior minister James Browne admitted that one cannot deny that Irish gambling laws have created a Wild West situation.

Meanwhile, the state exchequer received €4.75 billion in gambling taxes in 2019. The Department of Justice says that the Irish gambling market, including the National Lottery and many other forms of gambling, is annually worth €6 – €8 billion. The industry has over 8000 employees.

According to Kenny, the Irish government is just as addicted to gambling tax revenue as vulnerable residents are to gambling activities. He also warns that setting up a gambling regulator is not a solution to the problem. The need of the hour is to legislate, not hide behind a gambling regulator.

Kenny says that players below the age of 25 have to be protected from being bombarded with advertisements from online gambling companies. Also, mandatory deposit limits have to be established.

Just like Paddy Power, Boyle Sports too recently stated that its responsible gambling team is trained to intervene in cases where customers are clearly experiencing difficulties with controlling their gambling activities. The company also supports the setting up of a national register in which customers who self-exclude from one gambling company will not be allowed to register for the services of another company.

Kenny says that gambling is like cigarettes. In the past, tobacco companies claimed that they encourage consumers not to smoke but the government had to put in place required measures to protect people from cigarettes. Kenny wants the Irish government to do more when it comes to gambling, regulations and player protection measures.

Epic charity cycle to raise funds for Down Syndrome Galway

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily sport Take a Summer Cycle in aid of Croí and help people living with heart disease and stroke

Cyclists in Galway will take to the roads this weekend in an epic charity event in aid of Down Syndrome Galway.

Challenge Cycling Club’s event takes place this Saturday, 28 August, with the 115km route going from Claregalway to Kinvara, Caraun, Ballyvaughan and back to Claregalway.

There are four tickets to choose from costing €20, with all proceeds going to Down Syndrome Galway.

Challenge Cycling Club chairperson Eoin McGrath said that in recent months they have been made aware of the impact COVID-19 has had on some local charities and the struggles they face post lockdown.

“Down Syndrome Galway have a centre in Claregalway and have been forced to close their doors during lockdown,” explained Eoin McGrath.

“Having recently visited the Claregalway base and met some of the children and parents, I can see first-hand the great work done.”

Down Syndrome Galway provides information, support and friendship to people with Down syndrome and their families across Galway.

The organisation receives no state funding and rely solely on donations and fundraising events to keep our Centres up and running providing essential services such as Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy, Adult Education Course, Mother and Toddle Group, Social Groups for ages ranging from birth to Adults, Cinema nights and much more.

Donate here.

Protest this weekend to call for public housing on public land at Sandy Road

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August 25, 2021

Galway Daily news Criticism levelled at housing proposals in Sandy Road development plans

A socially distanced protest will be held at Sandy Road at 2pm this Saturday demanding that the public land there be used to construct public housing.

The protest, organised by People Before Profit, will call for public housing to address the housing emergency, instead of being sold to a private speculator by the Land Development Agency.

People Before Profit representative for Galway, Adrian Curran, said that the Land Development Agency is the latest attempt by the government to raid the public land bank in order to enrich private developers.

“It further corrodes the already weak powers of local government by forcing through sales of public land over the heads of local councillors, denying them the opportunity to vote against these decisions,” he said.

Adrian Curran said that his party made a submission to the public consultation on the site last year calling for it to be used for public housing and community facilities.

“As it stands, rather than seriously addressing the housing emergency, most of this land will be used for private development for the enrichment of developers,” said the PBP representative.

“The scale of the housing crisis in Galway is stark. The average one-bedroom apartment here costs 64% of the minimum wage.

“There was a 9.5% increase in people accessing emergency homeless accommodation in Galway in the first three months of this year. Around 4,500 people are on the waiting list for council housing in Galway City alone.

“The Sunday Business Post reported last weekend that the number of short term lets in Galway is ten times larger than the number of long-term rental units.”

He added that they need to demand public housing on the Sandy Road site, as well as the other tracts of public land at Dyke Road, Ceannt Station and Nuns Iasland which are also due to be redeveloped.

“Public housing reduces homelessness and the lengthy waiting lists for housing and creates a sense of community as long-term tenants develop bonds with each other that doesn’t exist among residents of short-term private rentals.”

Further decrease in Galway PUP recipients

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August 25, 2021

The number of pandemic unemployment payments issued to people in Galway decreased again this week, as the number of recipients nationally fell below 150,000 for the first time.

Figures from the Department of Social Protection show that a total of 7,900 people received a payment this week in Galway, down from 8,120 last Tuesday – a decrease of 220.

Nationally, 149,000 people received the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this week at a cost of €44.2 million.

Commenting on this week’s figures, Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said: “We are seeing week-by-week reductions in the number of people receiving the PUP – reflecting the steady progress we are making in rolling out the vaccination programme and the continued reopening of the economy.”

The county with the highest number of people receiving PUP is Dublin, which stands at 56,900, followed by Cork (13,162) and Galway (7,900).

Book of Condolences opened for Kurdish family killed in tragic crash

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August 24, 2021

Galway Daily news Book of Condolences opened for Kurdish family killed in tragic collision

An online Book of Condolences has been opened by the Mayor for the Kurdish family killed in a road traffic collision last week.

Karzan Sabah, Shahen Qasm and and eight month old baby Lena lost their lives in a multi-vehicle collision on the M6 near Ballinasloe last Thursday evening.

Mayor of Galway City Colette Connolly opened an online Book of Condolences in memory of the family today, for people to convey their sympathy.

“As Mayor of Galway City, I would like to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families and relatives of Karzan Sabah D. Ahmed, his wife Shahen Qasm and their baby daughter, eight-month-old Lena.”

“I would like to extend my sympathies also to the wider Kurdish community for whom this tragic loss of life is so incomprehensible and equally devastating.”

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha dílse”

The book of condolences is open online at https://www.galwaycity.ie/askgcc/index.php/945118?newtest=Y&lang=en

The family, from Erbil in the Kurdish region of Iraq, came to Ireland in 2017 as Karzan was doing a PhD in agriculture at NUI Galway.

Shortly before the crash that cost them their lives, he had submitted his thesis and was offered a job in Carlow. The family was going to view accommodation ahead of a move there.

One other person was killed in the collision, the driver of another vehicle, Jonasz Lach, who caused the crash by driving into traffic on the motorway.

A GoFundMe page created on Monday to raise money to have the family’s remains repatriated has already raised over €86,000 from more than 3,300 donors.

Work on replacing Martin Roundabout to begin this year

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August 24, 2021