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COVID-19: 1,706 new cases reported today

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

There have been a further 1,706 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported by the Department of Health today.

As of this morning there were 347 patients in the country hospitalised with COVID-19.

Of these people 60 are in serious condition, and are being treated in the intensive care unit.

Daily case numbers may change in the future after the data has been validated and reviewed.

A walk-in vaccination centre for anyone aged 12 years or older is open at Ballybrit today for people to get their Pfizer vaccine.

The Cabinet subcommittee for COVID is due to resume Friday’s meeting on proposals for the lifting of public health restrictions tomorrow.

The draft plan will then be put to a meeting of the full Cabinet on Tuesday for consideration.

Council rejects mobile mast plans on Athenry outskirts

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Planning granted for new mobile telecoms mast in Headford
Photo: Steve Kazella via Wikimedia Commons

Galway County Council has refused planning permission for Eircom to put up a mobile broadband mast on the outskirts of Athenry.

Eircom Limited sought approval to put up an 18m monopole mast to provide broadband coverage in a field at Caherroyn, Athenry.

The mobile mast would have carried three antennas and dishes for Eir’s local coverage, as well as having room for another operator to located there.

Eir said that the height of structure, finishing at 19.2m overall, was the “absolute minimum” that could be used that meets technical requirements, and would have a line of sight over the surrounding area.

It was also argued in the technical justification that a mast was needed in this location to deal with “inadequate mobile voice and data services” at the edge of Athenry.

“There may confusion as to why a new telecommunications installation is required within North Athenry given Eir’s existing and planned site in Athenry Town Centre,” the planning statement said.

It said that all mobile operators have an obligation to provide “100% coverage” across towns and villages, and that the town centre locations alone would not suffice in Athenry.

In refusing planning permission, the county council said that, based on the information received, it was not satisfied that Eircom had “sufficient legal interest” to access the site.

One submission was received from Iarnród Eireann which said that the level crossing which Eircom proposed to use to access the site, which is owned by CIE, was created for agricultural use by the landowner, and is not suitable for other uses.

The council also stated that the limited access as a result of this would create a road traffic hazard and that the area is at risk of flooding.

Finally, the council said that the land Eircom proposed to build the mobile mast on is zoned residential, and that therefore “if permitted as proposed the development would be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

Walk-in vaccination clinic continues today

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

A walk-in vaccination clinic for anyone aged 12 years or older is continuing in Galway today, for a longer period than Saturday.

The walk-in vaccination clinic at Ballybrit Racecourse is open for people to get jabbed without an appointment until 4pm today.

Anyone aged 12 years or older can get their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and anyone who get their first shot before August 9 can go for their second dose.

Anyone attending between the ages of 12 and 15 will need a parent or guardian with them to give consent for them to be vaccinated.

If getting your second dose, you do not have to attend the same place where you got your first. People can go to any vaccination clinic in the country, as long as you have proof of your first dose.

This month saw Ireland secure the delivery of 700,000 additional doses of Pfizer vaccine from Romania, which accelerated the rollout of the mRNA vaccine.

COVID numbers fall at UHG after long spike

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Briain Kelly
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galway daily news Just one COVID patient in the ICU at University Hospital Galway

The number of COVID-19 patients at UHG has fallen in the latest count, so that it is no longer the hospital with the highest number of cases.

As of Saturday evening there were 28 confirmed cases at University Hospital Galway, down four from the day before.

Of these six are in the intensive care unit, also one fewer than the previous day’s figures.

UHG had the highest number of COVID patients in the country for six days in the past week, as the hospital dealt with an outbreak of the disease.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe the number of confirmed cases is unchanged at seven, and one of those patients is in the ICU.

Nationwide there were 330 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Irish hospitals, and of these 61 were being treated in intensive care.

Farrell welcomes decision to examine spending on new National Maternity Hospital project

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily mairead farrell td sinn fein nurses midwives pay

Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell TD has welcomed news that spending on the new National Maternity Hospital project will now be examined as part of a forthcoming audit.

Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy said that the project will be examined, with a special report carried out if necessary.

Welcoming the development, Deputy Farrell said that the announcement was ‘timely and necessary’.

“Many people are beginning to fear that the new National Maternity Hospital has all the makings of another National Children’s Hospital fiasco,” said Deputy Farrell, “where our government tell us how they are going to get great value for money for a project we badly need, then proceed to write a blank check which leaves tax payers on the hook for beserk sums of money, all the while telling us how ‘prudent fiscal management’ is their motivating factor.

“It would be laughable if it wasn’t so serious. I recently asked Minister Donnelly to explain how the projected cost of the NMH had risen from €150 million to €800 million. He couldn’t answer.”

Deputy Farrell said that she asked in very simple terms could he explain the variance to budget by expense category.

“I queried in accounting terms could he outline those areas where costs have increased drastically,” she said.

“Had salaries, wages and compensation levels increased? Were borrowing costs rising? Was there some unforeseen professional/consultancy fees incurred? But no answer could be given.”

Deputy Farrell called on Minister McGrath to outline what is going on with the NMH when the Dáil returns.

Progress made in talks to secure Kinvara Post Office

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Kinvara post office

An Post is making progress in discussions to guarantee an ongoing post office in Kinvara, with a business will to host the service.

Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon said that An Post is highly supportive of guaranteeing the service in Kinvara.

The Post Office in Kinvara closed with the retirement of the operators Gerry and Carmel Ryan this month, after they had run it for decades.

Deputy Cannon added that An Post are in talks with a business in Kinvara which has agreed to host the service on its premises.

“What’s now missing is somebody who would operate the post office in that existing business,” Ciaran Cannon said.

“We do have an existing premises willing to take the facility. What we now need is an individual who would become that contractor to An Post”.

An Post had advertised multiple times for the contract to run the former premises prior to their closure.

In short time since, people in the Kinvara area have had to travel to Kilcolgan to make use of the premises there.

London Irish coming to Connacht for pre-season friendly

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

Connacht will play host to the London Irish in a pre-season friendly next month before the start of the United Rugby Championship.

The west London club will play Connacht at the Sportsground on Friday, September 10, with kick-off at 5:30pm.

The week before that, the Irish side will be head over to Sixways Stadium for another friendly against the Worcester Warriors.

Full ticketing details for this friendly, as well as further info for Season Ticket holders, will be confirmed next week following the publication of the latest Government roadmap on the easing of restrictions.

These two games will give the Connacht side some essential time on the pitch before the start of the United Rugby Championship.

Connacht’s tournament will kick off on Friday, September 24 with an away game against Cardiff.

Enda Walsh has some stage ‘Medicine’ for you

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily theatre Enda Walsh has some stage 'Medicine' for you
Medicine by Enda Walsh. Photo: Jess Shurte

Galway International Arts Festival’s production of the critically acclaimed Medicine by Enda Walsh will be heading to the United States after wowing audiences in Galway come September.

Starring the multi-award-winning actor Domhnall Gleeson alongside a sensational cast including Clare Barrett, Aoife Duffin and drummer Sean Carpio, Medicine will wow audiences in Galway in person and online next month.

Dark, absurd, and devastatingly funny, Medicine shatters the boundaries between cast and audience in the surreal tale of John Kane, where he is joined at a hospital gurney by a jazz percussionist, two women called Mary, a very old man and a giant lobster.

Galway Daily theatre Enda Walsh Medicine
Domhnall Gleeson on stage in Medicine by Enda Walsh. Photo: Jess Shurte

So far Walsh’s latest work has proven to be a hit, earning rave reviews at the Edinburgh International Festival, where it is running until tomorrow.

In person tickets for the Galway dates sold out in a record 18 minutes but tickets for the four livestreamed performances (15-18 Sept) and to watch on demand (20-26 September) are on sale now.

Landmark Productions and Galway International Arts Festival – the team that brought you Misterman, Ballyturk and Arlington, team up with Enda Walsh to bring you this unmissable

Walsh shines a light on the the darkest corners of our collective stories with the help of his regular team of world–class collaborators: designers Jamie Vartan [set], Adam Silverman [lighting], Helen Atkinson [sound], Joan O’Clery [costume] and composer Teho Teardo, with live drumming composed and performed by Seán Carpio.

Following on from its run in Galway this September, Medicine be heading to the United States, where it will will play St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn for a limited run from November 11 – December 5.

COVID-19: 1,997 cases reported today

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

A further 1,997 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported by the Department of Health today.

As of this morning there were 324 people hospitalised with COVID around the country.

Of these patients, 61 are in serious condition in hospitals’ intensive care units.

“We continue to see levels of transmission of COVID-19 that are simply too high and would be categorised as a dark red country according to the ECDC.”

“It is important that we continue to follow the public health advice this weekend,” Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer.

He also stated that there are a lot of people under the age of 30 who are still not fully vaccinated, which is a serious risk when you have a high chance of meeting someone who has the virus.

“Stay away from the kinds of settings in which you’re going to interact with other people, whether those are sporting or whether those are leisure or family circumstances.”

The final batch of an additional 700,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine which Ireland purchased from Romania were delivered to the country this week.

The Cabinet is also due to meet again on Monday to continue discussions on setting a timetable for the lifting of the remaining COVID-19 restrictions, mainly affecting sporting events, music, and other live performances.

Business Courses for Students who Want to Be Financially Literate

By
Angela Mc Bride
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Financial literacy is vital to understand how to manage the budget properly. If the student is planning to become a businessman, he/she needs a lot of knowledge and skills in this field. Without understanding financial processes, the future startup won’t be successful.

That’s why starting a business course is a great idea to become more financially literate. If you do not have enough free time because you are overloaded with writing assignments, you can ask the professional for assistance. Reading the reviews can help find the best paper writers on PaperWriter which are experts in this field. After you solve this problem, it’s high time to choose the best business course.

Top 6 Best Business Courses for Students

Before starting a business in college, look through the list of the best business courses for students available online. And feel free to use special essay writing services if you’re searching ‘need help with my home work’ in situations requiring urgency. After finishing the courses, you will become a financially literate person able to manage the money properly. Who knows, maybe, you will even start your business project.

Investing 101: How to Start Investing in 4 Simple Steps by Udemy 

This course tells beginners how to invest money. Also, the course by Udemy provides a simple-step guide on how to become an investment professional. Here you can find the lectures by the experts with ten years experience telling about:

  • Foundation of wealth-building;
  • Fundamentals of smart investing;
  • How to create an investment portfolio;
  • Starting and maintaining the investing business.

After finishing this course, you will have enough knowledge to start investing according to all the principles of financial literacy.

Beginner’s Guide to Managing Money by Udemy 

This beginner’s guide is perfect for students who want to be financially literate. Udemy prepared eight segments of the course that will answer all your questions. You will learn how to earn income, spend, and save money. 

Also, the students will get a guide on how to set the goals and create a budget. After finishing the course, you will become financially literate and will have the next steps to start your own business.

Financial Literacy in Times of Crisis by Udemy

This course is available at Udemy and teaches how to be a financially literate businessman in crisis times. The business trainer Ted Wainman discusses why financial literacy is crucial for a successful startup. Also, eight lectures are available.

During this course, different entrepreneurs will tell you how to make money fast and effectively. Besides, directors and key stakeholders will share the secrets of successful financial strategy. 

Managing Your Personal Finances by LinkedIn Learning

This course is perfect for beginners in the world of business. It consists of 4 main constituents of personal finances: earning, spending, saving, and investing. What is more, the students have an opportunity to learn more about different types of income.

You can try a 1-month trial to understand whether it fits your needs or interests. One more benefit of this course is that it is quick. So, you will get the necessary knowledge in one or two months. 

Decision Making in a Complex and Uncertain World

Decision-making is an important skill for a successful businessman. FutureLearn aims to teach students how to make the best decisions in the fast-developing world. 

Everything becomes more complex and uncertain in our times, so choosing the right strategy is vital. Financial literacy involves the ability of the businessman to react fast and correctly. Hence, this course teaches how to become future leaders and key decision-makers.

Preparing to Manage Human Resources

It’s a great course by the University of Minnesota available at Coursera. The main focus is on hard career skills. The course will be useful both for beginners and experienced entrepreneurs. Before starting your own business, it’s crucial to know how to manage employees effectively.

Financial Literacy is great, but future entrepreneurs should also know the human resource management (HRM) strategies. This course teaches all these secrets and provides powerful ideas to motivate future works.

College Courses that Teach Finance Skills

Starting an online course is not the only opportunity to become more financially literate. Students can also add one of the Business and Finance courses to their schedule. Here you can find the list of college courses that can help you get knowledge and boost your skills in this field. 

Statistics

Statistics refers to data collection, analysis, and further interpretation. This discipline teaches the students how to estimate the probability of a certain event. This subject is crucial for improving financial literacy. After this course, the students will have the necessary skills to invest, buy and sell the property.

Statistics is important to know how to make decisions correctly. Also, having this knowledge, you will be able to choose the best strategy for your business. 

Accounting

Accounting courses provide you with the necessary knowledge and skills to understand and manage numbers. In addition, students should understand their finances and learn how to track money. Also, accounting is crucial for negotiating deals. Finally, this course is helpful to know how to do the taxes.

No doubt, college students should add this subject to their curriculum to become more financially literate. Accounting provides a basic understanding of the majority of financial processes.

Business

Business is another course important for boosting financial literacy. It teaches students to understand the fundamentals of various aspects related to finance. Furthermore, business lectures tell about the economic activity of different countries. 

One more benefit of this course is in sharing the basic concepts related to data analysis and modeling. Without these skills, it will be quite hard to manage personal finances after starting your own business.

Finance

A Finance course is last but not the least on this list. After visiting these lectures, the students will have enough knowledge and skills to analyze expenditures and plan the project’s future growth.

Also, Finance covers a lot of topics, such as budgeting, career guidance, college financing, and bank accounts. Be sure that you will increase your outlook in this field and be prepared to manage your money properly.  

Final Words 

Now you know which courses you need to increase your knowledge in financial literacy. Remember that understanding the basic financial and business process is crucial for planning a perfect strategy on how to rule your own startup.

RSA creates new road safety guidelines for schools

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Call for major safety improvements on Old Ballybane Road

The Road Safety Authority has this week published new guidelines aimed at improving the safety of children and drivers as we return to school.

The ‘Guidelines for Improving Rod Safety Around Your School’ provide information and tools to help schools create a plan to cut down on risks and incidents during the commute to and from school.

These include encouraging schools to encourage active travel rather than dropping kids off by car where possible, provide infrastructure for people travelling by bike, and a safe place for kids to wait on school grounds in the morning.

Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the RSA, said that each school has unique road issues depending on whether it is rural or urban, particularly while opening or closing.

“The mix of road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, vehicles and other road-using public, can lead to an unsafe environment.”

“The RSA’s new guidelines, which have been developed in collaboration with government departments and agencies, will help school management to develop and implement a road safety action plan to reduce the risk of injuries while students and staff are travelling to and from school.”

“It gives valuable advice on identifying the areas of concern around your school environment. It offers suggestions on how best to address these issues, provides examples and tells you where you can get help.”

Creating an action plan involves identifying road safety risks that are present, before considering ways it can be removed or isolated from pedestrians, and if not, change the way that people work in order to avoid it.

Local authorities are also encouraged to play a role in guaranteeing road safety around schools by reducing speed limits, improving footpaths and pedestrian crossings, or creating dedicated ‘school zones/streets’.

Galway TD and Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said that she would encourage schools to read the guidelines, and develop new plans for road safety.

In Galway, there were 14 schools chosen for the initial roll-out of the ‘Safe Routes to School’ programme in June of this year.

This aims to encourage active travel such as walking and cycling among kids, and reduce congestion around school gates, by providing walking and cycling facilities and even a complete reworking of a school’s entrance.

“Funding for the rolling programme will be provided from the €1.8 billion for walking and cycling infrastructure committed under the programme for government,” Hildegarde Naughton said.

The RSA’s new guidelines for ‘Improving Road Safety Around Schools’ are available here.

The RSA and An Garda Síochána are also reminding drivers that there will be a significant increase in road traffic as schools return.

Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hillman said “We always urge road users to behave responsibly but extra vigilance is required as children return to school.”

“It’s also vital that motorists reduce their speed near schools and ensure they give plenty of space when overtaking any children who might be cycling or walking to school.”

Over 200 additional Tús and Community Employment positions for Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Disappointment that no occupational injury benefits coming for Long Covid sufferers

More than 200 additional places on local community employment and Tús schemes in Galway County have been announced.

Galway TD Denis Naughten said that the government has sanctioned 200 new Tús places in Galway and Roscommon, and 38 additional community employment positions.

Galway Rural Development CLG has been allocated an additional 170 places for Tús schemes in the county area.

A total of 32 CE scheme positions in Galway have also been added at:

ABILITY WEST COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEME 5
CASTLEBLAKENEY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION 6
DUNMORE PARISH SCHEME COMPANY LTD 3
GALWAY CENTRE FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SCHEME CLG 10
GALWAY ROSCOMMON EDUCATION & TRAINING BOARD 6
THE GALWAY RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY 2

 

“These allocations of additional posts are very welcome and reflect proposals which the Dáil Committee put to Minister Heather Humphreys and Minister Joe O’Brien earlier this year,” Denis Naughten said.

He added that the Committee has also recommended that time limits for people aged 55 and over on community employment scheme should be relaxed.

There was a backlash to changes in the rules of CE schemes earlier this year, so that people on them aged 55 or older would have to take a year off the programme after being on it for three years.

Deputy Naughten said that it is hoped that a relaxation of these aged based rules will be reflected in the budget come October.

Macnas brings the magic of Gilgamesh to the big screen

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily film Macnas Gilgamesh

Galway’s master visual storytellers Macnas are presenting their mythological epic Gilgamesh for audiences at home and in the UK.

Gilgamesh, a 22-minute short film shot on location in the west of Ireland, is the final of a series of shorts inspired by the Epic of Gilgamesh, considered the oldest surviving story.

This film, followed by a live ‘In Conversation’ with director Noeline Kavanagh and playwright Marina Carr, will be coming to the Town Hall Theatre in Galway City next month, before heading to the UK.

On Sunday, September 12 t the Town Hall Theatre there will be three screening of the film throughout the day. Tickets for this will go on sale online at www.tht.ie at 10am on Thursday, September 2.

Gilgamesh brings the magical large-scale images and stunning artistry of the internationally acclaimed spectacle theatre company Macnas to the big screen for the very first time.

They have used this canvas to reveal a story which explores the fundamental themes of why we exist and how we exist as human beings – leadership, love, power, death and environmental crisis, and bring it to an international audience.

Join Macnas to be immersed in another world, from the majestic city of Uruk and the bogs and deserts of earth, to the realm of the Gods. All represented by spectacular landscape of Ireland.

Firmly rooted in the landscapes of Ireland, this is a beautiful Macnas-infused interpretation of an ancient story, the first ever hero’s journey written over 3,000 years ago.

The award-winning creative team includes playwright Marina Carr, cinematographer Colm Hogan, co- designers Julian Crouch and Orla Clogher, costume designer Cherie White, music and sound design Nick Powell, joined by a stellar team of local artists and makers who all collaborated to shapeshift and translate this mythical story for a whole new audience.

Gilgamesh is directed by Noeline Kavanagh with a cast that includes Curtis-Lee Ashqar as Gilgamesh, Aaron Edo as Enkidu, Maeve Fitzgerald as Ninsun, Ella-Lily Hyland as Shamhat, Úna Kavanagh as Ishtar, San Shella as Enlil and Sean McGinley as Uta.

Following on from its day in Galway, Gilgamesh will be headed across to England for its UK premiere at the London Irish Centre on Thursday, September 16.

The film will also be available to View On Demand for 48 hours only on September 18 – 19 via Eventive.

23 countries dropped from designated states list

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news 23 countries dropped from designated states list

There has been a significant update of the designated states list for COVID-19, with 23 countries removed from the quarantine list.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has also added Ecuador to the list of designated states as of Friday evening.

People arriving from a designated country who do not have a valid proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 in the past two weeks must go into mandatory hotel quarantine.

If you receive a negative result from a test taken from day 10 onwards after arrival into Ireland, you will be able to leave hotel quarantine.

Those who do have the required proof will have to present a negative RT-PCR test from the past 72 hours, and self-quarantine at home.

The full list of countries removed from Mandatory Quarantine is:

  • Bangladesh
  • Botswana
  • Cuba
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Eswatini
  • Fiji
  • Georgia
  • India
  • Kazakhstan
  • Malaysia
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Namibia
  • Pakistan
  • Paraguay
  • Russia
  • South Africa
  • Suriname
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Uganda
  • Uruguay
  • Zimbabwe

The full list of designated states worldwide can be found online here.

UHG has Ireland’s highest number of COVID patients for sixth day running

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

University Hospital Galway has the highest number of COVID-19 patients in the country for the sixth day in a row.

The latest HSE figures show that there were 32 confirmed cases at UHG as of Friday night, one fewer than the day prior, and five more than any other hospital.

The number of cases at Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe has also increased again to seven patients.

There are also eight COVID patients in the ICU at University Hospital Galway, and one at the intensive care unit at Portiuncula.

Nationwide there were 311 cases in Irish hospitals as of Friday night, of which 59 are being treated in intensive care units.

A further 1,875 new cases were reported by NPHET yesterday. Ireland is now ranked ‘dark red’ by the European Centres for Disease Control due to the high incidence rate.

This is the highest level of risk category in the ECDC rankings, set for countries which have a two week incidence rate of more than 500 cases per 100,000 population.

COVID-19: 1,875 new cases reported this evening

By
Michael Malone
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Galway Daily news 25 percent drop in COVID cases in Galway hospitals

Health officials have reported 1,875 new cases of COVID-19 in the State this evening as the number of patients in hospital with the disease remains steady.

As of 8am today, 326 people with COVID-19 are in hospitals, of whom 59 are in intensive care units – a slight decrease on yesterday’s figures.

Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, said Ireland’s fourteen-day incidence is currently 531 per 100,000 inhabitants.

This means that as per ECDC categorisation, Ireland is now classified as dark red with incidence higher than 500 per 100,000.

“This demonstrates that there is presently a high level of virus transmitting in Ireland. With so much disease circulating in the community, the reality is that if you are unvaccinated or not yet fully vaccinated you are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and potentially becoming very unwell,” said Dr Holohan.

The CMO reminded people that over this weekend, the HSE are operating walk-in COVID-19 vaccination centres right across the country for anyone aged 12 years and older.

“This increased opportunity for vaccination is a real sign of hope and I strongly encourage anyone who has not yet attended for their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to avail of these vaccination centres this weekend,” he said.

“Please make sure to take up your second dose of vaccine as soon as it is offered to you. These vaccines are very safe and effective at protecting against the worst effects of COVID-19.

“As we come into the weekend, it’s important to risk assess your plans, particularly if you are not yet fully vaccinated. Try to meet up in small groups, meet outdoors and avoid crowds if possible.

“If you need to meet indoors with others, please ensure the room is well ventilated. Please also continue to wear a mask where appropriate, wash your hands, manage your contacts, and maintain your social distance.”

Treatment plant fault affecting Portumna water supply

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Water outages in Moycullen

Homes and businesses in Portumna and surrounding areas may experience disruptions to their water supply until tonight.

Galway County Council has said that a mechanical fault at the water treatment plant may result in reduced water pressure for Portumna.

Works are underway to correct the fault, and are expected to continue until 9pm tonight.

People affected area advised that it may take 2 – 3 hours after works are completed before their full supply is restored.

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

Fourteen Irish Travellers take first steps towards higher education

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily news irish travellers at nui galway ceremony

Fourteen Irish Travellers have been recognised at a special ceremony after completing NUI Galway Access Centre’s first Educational Transition Project.

The Traveller students received certificates of completion at the ceremony which took place at the University.

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris sent a video message to the students saying they should be very proud.

“We are very proud of you and all that you have achieved. I applaud you on reaching this major milestone,” said Minister Harris.

“My belief is that further and higher education is for everyone and our mission as a Department is to make sure that no-one is left behind.”

Professor Pól Ó Dochartaigh, Deputy President and Registrar of NUI Galway, presented the students with their certificates.

“This programme builds on NUI Galway’s values of ambition, creativity, impact, collaboration and integrity through a supportive student-centred approach that connected with students at a community level,” said Professor Ó Dochartaigh.

“It is wonderful to see these 14 students now taking their first steps towards third level education.”

The Educational Transition Project for Traveller students was developed to build on current initiatives and work directly with community organisations in supporting members of the Traveller community to progress to higher education.

NUI Galway’s Access Centre held a series of consultation meetings with stakeholders including Traveller organisations, community groups, Galway Roscommon Education Training Board and Traveller students in order to inform and support the design and implementation of the programme.

Dr Mary Surlis, Senior Manager NUI Galway Access Centre, said: “The Educational Transition Project is multi-disciplinary and is designed to support Traveller students to achieve their desired educational goals, whether they are school leavers or mature students.

“This programme represents an important intervention in ensuring Traveller students access higher education.

“The success of this year’s programme and the feedback we have received will enable us to develop the initiative further for next year.”

The programme commenced in early June 2021 and was delivered online three days a week over five weeks, due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Owen Ward, Programme Co-ordinator, NUI Galway Access Centre, said: “These students are inspirational role models.

“Despite the additional obstacles they faced as a result of the pandemic, they remained committed to completing the programme.

“The Access Centre will continue to support these students as they progress in education. This initiative further demonstrates NUI Galway’s commitment to widening the participation of Irish Travellers in third level education.”

‘Coldtober’ sea swimming challenge to raise funds for mental health services

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily news coldtober fundraiser for helplink

A month-long sea swimming challenge will take place in October to raise funds for Helplink, which provides accessible, free and low cost mental health services.

The national ‘Coldtober’ fundraiser challenge will take place in 20 locations across Ireland, with all proceeds going to Helplink.

The challenge will take place at Blackrock in Salthill, but people across the county are invited to participate by swimming in their local swimming spot.

For those who would like to take part but does not live near the sea, they can still take part by having a 30-second cold shower each day!

Founder and CEO of Helplink Mental Health Lochlann Scott said that they were bowled over last year by the support that received from NUIG students who did a sea swimming challenge.

“Now that we are launching this inaugural national event called Coldtober, we hope that people all around the country will join us,” said Lochlann.

“Either by jumping into the water everyday in October, sponsoring a friend or family member, or by donating to these great services.

“All proceeds from Coldtober will go towards supporting the organisation to provide our much needed mental health services locally, nationally and internationally; thank you to everyone taking part and to our sponsors.”

Coldtober donations will support Helplink’s free and low cost mental health services for children, young people and adults, which operate seven days a week and out–of–hours.

Money will also go to its free international counselling service for Irish citizens – so far they have supported Irish citizens with their mental health in 36 different countries.

Helplink also provides a free gambling addiction counselling that is available nationwide by phone and online; 24/7 and its e-learning platform Mind Hacks provides free video and podcast libraries on mental health and student/employee wellbeing workshops.

Registration for Coldtober is €30. Sign up HERE or make a donation at https://www.idonate.ie/event/3068_coldtober.html

Potentially dangerous algal bloom visible at Annaghkeen Pier

By
Michael Malone
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0
galway daily news annaghkeen pier headford algal bloom county council

Galway County Council has said that people and animals should avoid an algal bloom which is currently visible at Annaghkeen Pier, Headford.

The bloom, which is an overgrowth of algae, can be seen as blue or green streaks or a slimy scum, and can produce toxins which can be dangerous.

People are being asked not to swim in waters where algal blooms are visible and to prevent animals from drinking from the water where the phenomena are present.

A typical algal bloom

Should someone come into contact with the algal bloom, they should shower or wash immediately to remove the algal matter.

All clothing and equipment should also be cleaned thoroughly.

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