70 houses in Salthill affected by boil water alert after E-coli detected

The 2021 College World Series is about to take place as 8 of the best NCAA Division 1 baseball teams each go up against each other to be crowned the best of the best when the competition takes place in Ohama, Nebraska, over the course of June.

Arizona, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas and Vanderbilt were the five super regional host seeds that all managed to book their place in the College World Series bracket, whilst Stanford, NC State and Virginia also managed to acquire a place for themselves. Of course, teams such as Arkansas and Texas Tech failed to make the grade, despite having been fancied to do so.

If looking at the divisions that are to be represented, the SEC will lead the way in the College World Series 2021 and have the favorite to win the competition with Vanderbilt having been provided strong odds by Unibet Sports Indiana to retain their current title representing them, as well as Tennessee and Mississippi State.

The ACC and Pac-12 each have two teams, whilst the state of Tennessee is well-backed, as they have two teams representing the state.

How to Watch the College World Series:

NCAA Division 1 baseball fans will be able to watch the College World Series via a number of different ways, with ESPN providing coverage across a number of different platforms. The games will either be broadcasted on ESPN or ESPN2, whilst fans will also be able to watch games via the WatchESPN live stream service, where all games will be available.

What is the 2021 College World Series schedule?

This is how the 2021 College World Series has been scheduled, with times, dates and TV channel having all been provided:

Saturday, June 19

Game 1: Stanford vs. NC State | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN

Game 2: Vanderbilt vs. Arizona | 7 p.m. | ESPN

Sunday, June 20

Game 3: Tennessee vs. Virginia | 2 p.m. | ESPN2

Game 4: Texas vs. Mississippi State | 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Monday, June 21

Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser | 2 p.m. | ESPNU

Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN

Tuesday, June 22

Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser | 2 p.m. | ESPNU

Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner | 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Wednesday, June 23

Game 9: 7 p.m. | ESPN

Thursday, June 24

Game 10: 7 p.m. | ESPN2

Friday, June 25

Game 11: 2 p.m. | ESPN2

Game 12: 7 p.m. | ESPN

Saturday, June 26

Game 13: 2 p.m. | ESPN (if necessary)

Game 14: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (if necessary)

CWS Finals (Best-of-3 series)

Game 1: 7 p.m. | Monday, June 28 | ESPN2

Game 2: 7 p.m. | Tuesday, June 29 | ESPN

Game 3: 7 p.m. | Wednesday, June 30 | ESPN2 (if necessary)

Who has won the most College World Series?

When looking at the history of the College World Series, it is evident that there has been no other NCAA Division 1 Baseball team that has been more successful than the Southern California Trojans.

Although their last success came almost 25 years ago back in 1998, the baseball team have managed to acquire 12 titles in their history, which included a streak of six wins in seven years during the period of 1968 and 1974.

Vanderbilt are the current reigning champions and will be looking for their third title following the 2019 success, although Texas will likely be the team looking to stop them adding to it, should they meet in this year’s College World Series Final with the way the brackets have been determined.

New Galway City cycle parking in map goes live

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June 17, 2021

galway daily news cycle bike parking in galway city

Galway City Council’s new online map showing the location of over 1,000 bike parking spaces across the city has gone live.

The map will allow cyclists to find their nearest parking spot and it will help the council identify places where more bike parking spaces are needed.

A total of 296 new cycle parking spaces were introduced in 2020 – an increase of 28% compared to 2019 and a further 66 cycle parking spaces were added in the first three months of this year.

The map will be updated as additional cycle parking is added, or where stands are relocated and Galway City Council is welcoming suggestions from cycling and accessibility advocacy groups.

When the map was announced last month, Kevin Jennings, Chairperson of Galway Cycling Campaign, said that not knowing where you can safely and conveniently park can deter you from choosing to hop on the saddle to a shop, café or business service.

“There is clear evidence to show that cycle parking brings real benefits to businesses,” said Kevin.

“The retail spend per square metre for cycle parking is five times higher than the same area for car parking.

“There’s a bike boom across the city with people of all ages and abilities cycling everyday. And with cycle parking too.

“We’ve noticed lots of new racks at playgrounds across the city, outside shops like O’Connor’s Centra in Salthill, Face Hairdressers on Sea Road, near Eyre Square, and in the heart of the city such as outside Sally Longs on Upper Abbeygate Street.”

Suggestions can be sent to roads@galwaycity.ie – and the map can be viewed HERE

Work to begin soon on Craughwell National School expansion

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June 17, 2021

Galway Daily news craughwell national school

Plans for an extension of Craughwell National School have taken a step forward, as the OPW is now ready to formally appoint a contractor, with work to begin soon.

Galway East TD Seán Canney said that the Department of Education has confirmed that the evaluations of tenders for the project, and subsequent report, has been approved.

“This approval paves the way for the successful building contractor to be appointed by the Office of Public Works.”

“This project has been on the agenda for too many years,” Seán Canney said. “I expect the construction work to begin in the next few weeks with an estimated building programme of nine months”.

The two storey permanent extension to the existing national school is meant to replace a number of prefabs which have been in place.

It will incorporate eight new classrooms, a general-purpose sports hall, a multipurpose room, administration offices, principal’s office, access lift, toilets, carpark and a drop off and pick up area.

Deputy Canney said “This project is long awaited by the community in Craughwell, and I look forward to the Building contractor moving on site and I expect that the project will now be delivered without any further delay”.

NUI Galway graduate doctor receives highest grade in 4 subjects

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June 17, 2021

Dr Emma Callaghan, Gold Medals, Virtual Conferring, CMNHS, NUI Galway June 2021 3 — Dr Emma Callaghan | Photo: Aengus McMahon

NUI Galway graduate Dr Emma Callaghan from Castlerea in Roscommon has qualified as a doctor having secured four Gold Medals after getting the highest grade in four subjects.

On Tuesday, Dr Callaghan was conferred with Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Obstetrics from NUI Galway at a virtual conferring ceremony.

Dr Emma Callaghan | Photo: Aengus McMahon

Dr Callaghan received the highest grade in Pathology, Paediatrics, Psychiatry and Medicine, and received four Gold Medals at the ceremony yesterday which is 104 years old.

Professor Carmel Malone, Head of the School of Medicine at NUI Galway, said: “I extend my congratulations to Emma, to all the gold medal recipients and to this year’s Medicine class for their resilience and dedication in what was an extremely difficult end to their degree.

“I have no doubt that they will make excellent interns and wish them well in their future careers.”

Dr Callaghan will be starting her internship at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin in July.

Concerns raised about future of Job Clubs

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June 17, 2021

Galway Daily news Lack of Island specific group in LEADER programme criticised

Concerns have been raised about the future of Job Clubs as part of proposed changes to Employment Services.

Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane said that there are worrying updates following the launch of the Request for Tender for a new model employment services.

“Not only is the success of the Local Employment Services under threat,” said Deputy Kerrane, “we are now finding out that important Job Club services will likely no longer exist under the proposed changes.

“I raised the future of Job Clubs, which provide a crucial practical and individualised supports to those seeking employment, in Committee. The Minister advised that LES and Job Club will be merged, which means that this important drop-in service will no longer exist.”

The Sink Féin TD added that beore the tender was launched, it was said that those working in employment services would be ‘pleasantly surprised’ with the new model.

“Instead what has been put out for tender is worse than they could have imagined and continues to worsen as we find out more,” said Deputy Kerrane.

“The Minister stated the changes to these services are being made with those seeking employment in mind. If important supports like Job Clubs cease to be available, it is hard to see how the proposed model will do that.

“All of this is in addition to existing concerns that the new RES model is focused on profit over people.

“Various stakeholders have expressed worry that these changes will only serve to push those who need employment services most further away from the labour market. We cannot see this happen.”

Exhausted frontline healthcare workers need leave – Naughten

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June 17, 2021

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

Frontline healthcare workers who have been fighting the pandemic for 15 months need additional time off, Galway TD Denis Naughten has said.

Speaking in the Leaders Questions on Tuesday, Deputy Naughten said that in the past 15 months, frontline staff in the health service have dealt with three waves of COVID-19, and a cyber attack that has seriously hampered operations.

The Independent TD said that he first raised this issue of providing additional paid time off for frontline workers with the Taoiseach in July of last year.

“These people are now mentally and physically exhausted,” Denis Naughten said, “We must provide staff with time off because exhausted healthcare staff are a recipe for mistakes”.

“They have been selfless and the country owes them a great debt of gratitude. The Government must now recognise their efforts.”

He referenced the fact that the Scottish government made a pledge in December, that every member of the NHS and social care worker would receive a £500 COVID-19 bonus.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin responded that the government is examining options for recognising all frontline workers, not just those in the health service.

“However, we are not out of the pandemic yet and all our attention and focus are on making sure we continue with progress on the vaccination programme and the very positive impact the vaccination programme is having on the prevalence of the disease,” Micheál Martin said.

He added that focus must also be kept on monitoring variants, such as the Delta variant which has become so widespread in the UK, to ensure they do not undermine efforts made to control the pandemic to date.

Galway tech company lands major contract with National Express

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June 17, 2021

galway daily news national express cityswift

Galway technology company CitySwift has signed a major deal worth millions of euro with transport company National Express in the UK.

National Express West Midlands – the biggest bus operator outside of London – will use CitySwift’s products to share the number of available seats on a stop-by-stop basis, helping people feel safer and avoid crowds.

Through this three year investment, CitySwift is also supporting National Express Group’s mission to be the UK’s most sustainable bus and coach company.

There are currently 1,300 National Express buses in the West Midlands and 150,000 passenger journeys per day.

Brian O’Rourke, CEO and co-founder of CitySwift said: “We’re really pleased that National Express chose to work with CitySwift.

“COVID-19 has forced the public transport sector to be at its most agile, which has meant the adoption of new working practices and technologies at a pace never before seen.

“The pandemic has accelerated the need for the sector to go through a digital transformation to understand how passenger demand will change and National Express is at the forefront of this, as they use our technology to ensure vehicle supply matches the demand.”

Chris Gibbens, Commercial Director, National Express West Midlands, said that National Express plans to be net-zero by 2030 and CitySwift is playing an important role in helping them achieve that.

“By enabling networks to optimise routes, stay on schedule, and avoid crowding, CitySwift effectively increases the number of people using our buses as well as providing a safe environment for them,” said Chris Gibbens.

“The pandemic has meant that we need to restore passenger confidence and ensure we put the right number of vehicles on the right routes at the right times to get people back on board, and CitySwift enables us to do just that.”

With the Commonwealth Games taking place from the 28th July – 8th August, 2022, CitySwift’s platform will also be supporting National Express West Midlands to help it efficiently and reliably transport visitors to and around the city of Birmingham.

The platform is currently live with 8,500 buses in over 35 cities across the UK, US and Europe.

Dominick Street Upper set for outdoor dining

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June 16, 2021

galway daily news west end dominick street galway city

Dominick Street Upper will become the latest street in Galway City to be closed every evening to allow for outdoor dining.

The street in the West End will be closed to traffic from 6pm to 11pm every day, from Friday 18 June until Thursday 30 September.

Dominick Street Upper, which has a number of well-known pubs and restaurants, is joining other streets in the city where trial measures began last week.

The measures have allowed for locals and visitors to safely and comfortably dine outdoors.

Galway City Council says that a number of safety tests by emergency services were carried out to ensure that access remains available to emergency vehicles at all times.

The evening pedestrianisation of the street will be assessed throughout the summer and adjustments could be made, the council says.

COVID-19: 329 new cases as hospital numbers fall again

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June 16, 2021

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

The Department of Health has reported a further 329 coronavirus cases in the Republic.

As of this morning, there are 59 people with COVID-19 in Irish hospitals receiving treatment – the lowest figure recorded since 13 September 2020.

Of those, 19 patients are in intensive care units – the lowest number since late September 2020.

Health officials say the daily case numbers may change due to future data review, validation and update.

No county breakdown of today’s cases was given.

Free and subsidised places announced on courses at NUIG and GMIT

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June 16, 2021

GALWAY daily news free courses at nuig and gmit

Free and subsidised higher education places have been announced for a number of courses at GMIT and NUI Galway under the Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1 initiatives.

The free places are available to people who are unemployed, people who have taken time out of work or education to raise their families or care for loved ones, or people who want to upskill.

The courses, which open for applications today, include a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Recovery, a Certificate in Applied Digital Skills and a Higher Diploma in Business Analytics.

Over 10,000 places are available through the initiatives across the country in 2021.

For those in employment, the Government will fund 90% of the cost of a Springboard+ or HCI Pillar 1 course.

“As we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic, we will need to ensure that people have the skills they need,” said Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris.

“Springboard+ and the graduate conversion courses under the Human Capital Initiative provide a targeted response to skills needs, enabling people to upskill and reskill in areas of critical importance which have come to the fore as a result of COVID-19, including Cybersecurity, Virtual Reality, Health Innovation, and Logistics,” said Minister Harris.

“Programmes in Climate/Sustainability and Energy which are central to the Programme for Government are also being funded.”

Dr. Vivienne Patterson, Head of Skills and Engagement at the Higher Education Authority, said: “Springboard+ and HCI courses give people who are unemployed, those looking to return to work and people in employment a great opportunity to upskill or reskill – particularly in areas where there are skills shortages.

“We work closely with employers across the country to ensure that the courses that are on offer are in-line with industry needs and best practices.

“We are delighted that this year, 90% of courses will be delivered in a flexible manner – which will allow more people to engage with the courses which may have been inaccessible to them before, because of work or family commitments, or because of where they live.

“This means people from Galway can, effectively, participate in courses anywhere in Ireland – and vice versa.”

Planning permission refused for expansion of Eyre Square hotel

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June 16, 2021

Galway daily news City Centre hotel gets green light for major expansion

Planning permission has been refused for the expansion of a hotel in Eyre Square, with strong criticism levied at the proposed design, and its relationship with the existing area.

Skeffington Arms Limited sought approval from the council to demolish the DNA nightclub at Ballalley Lane, and build a new seven storey extension to the Skeffington Arms Hotel in its place.

The proposed extension would contain 44 guest bedrooms, a reception, breakfast areas, and restaurant with outdoor seating area, and would be connected to the existing hotel building through a link corridor at the second floor.

The design of the building proposed a mix of stone work on the lower floor, with cladding and metal finishes on the upper floors.

There are no protected structures on the site itself, but two can be found adjacent to the north boundary, a fragment of the medieval walls bastion, and historical cottages.

A design report for the application argued that portions of the building have been “intentionally set back on ground and roof level” to create outdoor areas and to expose these historic structures to pedestrians’ view.

In refusing planning permission, the city council said the “poor design including scale, massing, height and low quality visual appearance” of the proposed extension, as well as its “unacceptable interface” with neighbouring protected structures and the Eyre Square Architectural Conservation Area.

“The proposal would in its totality result in a negative impact on the unique impact and visual amenity of the city centre area, including the character and special interest of the adjoining Eyre Square Architectural Conservation Area”.

It was also noted that the proposed plot ratio was 4.78:1, more than twice what is generally permitted under the city development plan.

Circling back to its earlier criticism, the council said that the hotel would not qualify for an exception to this rule, as it would not make a “significant architectural contribution” to the character of the city.

The developer argued that the expansion was needed to make the existing hotel, which currently has 24 rooms, competitive with other hotels in the area.

Galway Hibernians coaches honoured for decades of volunteering

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June 16, 2021

Two Galway Hibernians coaches were honoured for their decades of work with young people in the city this week.

Paddy Connolly and Joe O’Reilly, were celebrated by Mayor Mike Cubbard at a socially distanced Mayoral reception in Leisureland on Tuesday.

Both men have been coaching with Galway Hibernians for decades, and have shown an ongoing commitment to the development of young players in Galway City.

Tirellan man Paddy Connolly’s involvement in football coaching started informally, with his two boys Niall and Paul, who played football as young children in the green area beside their house.

As more children began joining in these games they became more organised, arranging friendly matches with a nearby group.and school.

Bridie, Paddy’s wife who recently passed (RIP), used to provide refreshments and lovely scones and wash jerseys for the children.

With Galway Hibernians Paddy has contributed to the club, both in a coaching role and in Committee duties.

Joe, who hails from Castlepark, has dedicated almost fifty years of his life to the club, starting off as a player and also taking on a coaching role from the young age of fifteen.

Galway Hibernians coaches honoured for decades of volunteering — Joe O’Reilly at Mayoral reception

He now passes on his love of the game by working with a number of the club’s youth teams from the under-6’s upwards.

Joe has left a mark on the lives of so many people across the city and has been known to help former players with their coaching exams – even when they were coaching with so called rival clubs.

Like Paddy, he has also been involved with the running of the club off of the pitch as a committee member.

Mayor Cubbard commented that Paddy and Joe are a prime example of the vital role that volunteers play in the community, without asking for “credit or recognition” for their work.

“They are at the very centre of the club and their community. To put it simply, clubs such as Hibs and many other across the city would struggle to survive without the selflessness, dedication and commitment of volunteers and coaches like Paddy and Joe.

“I am delighted to pay tribute to their many years of work here today,” Mike Cubbard said.

In honour of their work, Paddy and Joe were presented with a Genesis Fine Arts footballer sculpture and a Presentation Scroll signed by Mayor Cubbard.

Galway awarded over €1.3 million backing for live performances

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June 16, 2021

Galway Daily news Nightclubs and indoor music returning in new reopening plan

More than €1.3 million has been awarded to support the staging of live performances of music, comedy, and dram in Galway this summer.

This is part of a €25 million fund announced by Minister Catherine Martin this week to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters to plan live performances across the country over the summer months.

The single largest award here is €199,931 for Galway Comedy Festival to help stage multiple live shows when it returns this October.

The ever popular Roisín Dubh on Dominick Street, a popular performance venue, will get €182,021 for a series of live shows indoors and in the beer garden, with recording.

Gemstone Business Consultants have been allocated €169,254 for a number of live music performances which will take place over a weekend.

The Black Gate will also benefit from €131,992 for Trá Gheall Ltd to stage traditional music events at the venue, while Monroe’s Bar in the west end will receive €130,114 for live and streamed music performances.

For people who miss stage drama, Milestone Inventive have been awarded €126,941 to perform The Playboy of the Western World at five different locations.

Trad on the Prom will receive €95,205 for multiple traditional Irish music performances, and a sit down concert with Mike Denver and guests has been allocated €64,634.

Lastly, the CelloVisions Project by Adrian Mantu has been awarded €31,735 for a multimedia productions of historical Irish music and dance.

In total, there were 237 successful applications for funding under the scheme, which is particularly aimed at venues where capacity for live attendance is restricted due to Covid-19, and additional funding will help make such events viable.

Minister Martin said “I am very pleased to announce this funding, which will encompass and support a wide range of performances over the coming summer months.”

“I know this funding will assist in the employment of performers, artists, technicians, creative and performance support staff across the sector, bringing much-needed employment to many who have not had work for many, many months.”

“I look forward to the high quality artistic output, as demonstrated in the pilot, which has been so important and enjoyed by so many.”

Four talented Galway journalists among winners at Smedias

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June 16, 2021

galway daily news student journalists smedias — Ellen O'Donoghue and Paddy Henry

Four talented young Galway journalists were among the winners at the National Student Media Awards (Smedias) which took place earlier this month.

Sophia Hadef took home the highly prestigious Radio DJ of the Year award for hosting The Cure on Flirt FM.

The French journalist and publisher has been living in Galway for two years and is currently studying for a Master’s at NUI Galway. She previously attended La Sorbonne in Paris.

Ivan Smyth from Ahascragh in Co. Galway took home the Sports Writer of the Year award. The Galway man attended St. Cuan’s College in Castleblakeney before studying Journalism at UL, where he is in fourth year.

Ivan is a member of his local handball club Mountbellew/Moylough and is inspired by many journalists including Tony Leen, Paul Kimmage, Martin Breheny and Tommie Gorman.

NUI Galway journalism students Ellen O’Donoghue and Paddy Henry took home Collaborative Journalism of the Year Award at the online ceremony.

Roscommon native Paddy Henry is Editor of SIN while Ellen O’Donoghue from Donegal is News Editor and Proofreader of SIN. Both student journalists are in their final year at NUI Galway.

An impressive line-up of judges included award-winning director and screenwriter Robbie Walsh, social media star James Kavanagh and various editors and producers from Ireland’s leading media organisations, including The Irish Times’ News Editor Mark Hennessy.

They also included high-profile presenters including Richard Chambers, Angela Scanlon, Maura Derrane and Muireann O’Connell.

Queen’s University Belfast came out on top at this year’s Smedias, winning a total of seven awards. TCD won six awards, while TU Dublin, UCD and UCC took home four awards each.

Ciara Mahon, Manager of Oxygen.ie which hosted the Awards, said: “We are delighted to have another successful year of the Smedia’s, even in the unprecedented situation that we are all living in today.

“This year’s standard was phenomenal and we were so impressed with the hard work of these students this year, especially as there was a big jump in entry submissions.

“I applaud each and every one of you who participated in the Smedia’s 2021.”

Three Galway men named in latest tax defaulters list

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June 15, 2021

galway daily news €3 million for funding community facilities in Galway

Three Galway names feature in the latest tax defaulters list from the Revenue covering settlements made in the first three months of this year.

In total, there were 30 settlements made for a total of €21,371,188 in the latest quarterly figures from the Revenue.

In Galway Medical Consultant Sherif Abdel Hanid Sultan of Busphypark, Galway City settled for €155,305.86 after an audit found €87,841.28 in under declared Income Tax.

The second largest settlement here was by Alan Killeen, an offshore cementer from Carragh Hill, Salthill, who settled for €48,494.1. This was in relation to the non-declaration of €31,797 in Income Tax.

Lastly, Brian Place, a retired man of Cregboy, Claregalway, reached a settlement of €42,458 for the non-declaration of €24,089.86 in Capital Gains and Income Tax.

All three of the settlements reached by these Galway figures have been fully paid over to the Revenue Commissioners.

Three of the businesses and individuals on the tax defaulters list were for sums in excess of €1 million, the largest of which was by Motor Vehicle Dealer James Joseph Daly of Cloghan, Co. Offaly.

He settled with the Revenue for €11,711,975 after an investigation in the non-declaration of €4,577,954 in income tax and VAT. The entirety of this sum was unpaid as of March 31.

Oshima Ireland Limited, Santry based Precision Metal Component manufacturer also settled for €4,002,701.99 after a revenue audit found €2,516,643.75 in under-declared corporation tax, PAYE/PRSI/USC and VAT, all of which has been paid.

Of the total settlements made in this quarterly report, €13,811,898 was still unpaid as of the end of March.

COVID-19: Health officials report 283 new cases

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June 15, 2021

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

The Department of Health has reported 283 new coronavirus cases in the Republic.

There are 60 people in hospitals in the State with COVID-19, of whom 23 are in intensive care units.

No county breakdowns were provided by health officials today and they say that the daily cases numbers could change due to updated data.

‘Bar stools were flying, baseball bats were being swung’ – Three men sentenced over bar brawl

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June 15, 2021

Galway Daily courts Man charged in connection

Three men were given suspended sentences for their part in a bar brawl in the Westside of Galway City, and another incident at a bookies two days later back in 2017.

Father and sons Patrick McDonagh (52), Jason McDonagh (31), and Stephen McDonagh (27), appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at a special sitting of Galway District Court.

The three men, who all reside at Corrach Bui, Rahoon, entered pleas to charges of violent disorder and production of an article capable of causing injury, related to two events days apart.

Sgt Michael Walsh gave evidence to the District Court that in the early hours of August 6, 2017 he was called to reports of a fight with weapons taking place at the Westside Tavern, just off the Seamus Quirke road.

When he arrived on the scene, the barman met him outside and said that multiple people were fighting inside. He then entered the pub, drawing his bat and pepper spray.

Describing the scene inside, Sgt Walsh said that “barstools were flying, baseball bats were being swung”, and he saw blood on the ground around the pool table.

The Garda saw Patrick McDonagh holding a knife, which he dropped under the pool table, and Jason McDonagh holding a baseball bat.

CCTV footage taken from showed an incident lasting roughly twenty minutes involving seven people in total. However the DPP only directed charges on the three before the court, though Sgt Walsh said that all had some culpability.

The bar brawl occurred at approximately 2:25am, and Sgt Walsh said that he never got the full story of what happened, with different accounts given by parties involved afterwards.

One injured party suffered a cut to his arm from a knife. Two knives were recovered from the scene, one of which was a carpet knife from Patrick McDonagh, which Sgt Walsh said appeared to have blood on it.

He was also initially charged with assault causing harm, but Inspector Des Beirne, presenting for the state, said that this was being withdrawn as the person involved had refused to engage with Gardaí.

All three men pleaded guilty to violent disorder over this event, and Jason and Patrick McDonagh pleaded guilty to additional charges of producing a weapon.

Events escalated two days later on August 8, the court heard, in a related event which occurred at Boyle Sports in Westside, where two men entered the bookies armed with a slash hook and golf club and attacked two other men.

They left the bookies, before returning with a third older man armed with a slash hook, and attacking the same two men. The incident was captured on CCTV, and Patrick McDonagh was identified off the footage.

All three men pleaded guilty to producing an article capable of causing serious injury under Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act in relation to this incident.

Barrister Gary McDonald, for the defence, said that this started as a argument between two families, describing it as “stupidity that got out of hand”.

Threats and messages had been sent between the two families, and all three of the defendants were ashamed of how it had escalated out of control he added.

He added that peace has broken out between the families, and Sgt Walsh agreed that he had not heard of any incidents between them in the years since.

The defence also highlighted that during the bar brawl Patrick McDonagh suffered a head injury after being hit with a stool, and Stephen McDonagh suffered two broken teeth, but no-one was before the court regarding that.

Judge Gearty said that the weapons used in this incident were “despicable”, saying that they were in no way implements that someone would ordinarily carry.

It was only due to the “love of god” that no-one was killed as a result of this, the judge added. Mr McDonald asked her to take them at their word that nothing like this would happen again.

Stephen McDonagh received a total sentence of four months, Jason was sentenced to six months, and Patrick, who should have had the most sense as their father, Judge Gearty said, received an eight month sentence.

All of the prison sentences were suspended for a period of one year. Leave was granted to appeal the sentences.

Galway – Gort bus service should be reinstated, not privatised

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June 15, 2021

GALWAY daily news bus éireann gort galway

Bus Éireann services between Galway and Gort should be reinstated without being privatised, People Before Profit’s Galway representative has said.

Adrian Curran said that that his bus route, and public transport in general, is a vital public service and should not have to be profitable for the State to provide it.

“Bus Éireann recently cancelled their evening services between Galway city and Gort. The last bus leaving the city for Gort is now at 5.05pm,” said Adrian Curran.

“This bus route, and public transport in general, is a vital public service and therefore it should not be required to be profitable for the State to provide it.

“Instead of cancelling or privatising it, the government should be investing in our public transport system to make it free, frequent and reliable.”

Adrian Curran said that for Fianna Fáil to be calling for the route to be privatised is typical of their ideology which has seen other vital public services in the county shut down when they are not turning a profit for the State.

“These services should be recognised as a public good and receive the support they need from the government to serve people in the area,” he said.

“There was a perfect example of the folly of privatising public transport last year when Galway was hit with the suspension of City Direct, Bus Feda and Citylink’s services when public health restrictions limited capacities on buses.

“It was not seen as profitable enough for private operators to run with limited capacities. This resulted in Knocknacarra being left without public transport for six months. This would not have happened if the service was provided by the State for the public good.”

Brand new Bus Éireann coaches coming to Galway

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June 15, 2021