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The Rise of CBD Vape Oil in Ireland

By
Thomas O'Brien
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0

CBD is a rising star in the world of wellness. Celebrities tout it; journalists won’t stop writing about it. Even your mom is likely in on the trend, and for a good reason. 

CBD just might work! 

Though you could enjoy it as a gummy or in your extra-expensive skin cream, nothing beats the convenience of a CBD vape oil pen. Maybe that explains the rise of CBD e-liquid in Ireland. 

After all, with a vape oil pen, the magic of CBD is always at your fingertips, ready to provide instant relief. And you’ll get to enjoy it in your favourite flavour, whether that’s strawberry banana or cookies and cream! 

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, though, let’s take a moment to explain what CBD vape oil is and why it’s on the rise in Ireland. 

What Is CBD Vape Oil?

CBD comes in a variety of forms. There are capsules, baked goods, topical creams, and vape oils packed with CBD.

Enjoying it in a vape pen comes with a few advantages, namely that the CBD bypasses your digestive tract. That means you’ll feel the effects of CBD faster, which could be critical if you’re using it for fast-acting purposes. 

Vape oil pens are increasingly popular as a replacement for cigarettes. Because of that, many falsely believe they all contain nicotine, but that’s not the case. Vape oil pens typically have three major components: 

  • Flavour
  • Sweetener
  • Solvent

The solvent is usually vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol. It helps the active substance in the vape pen dissolve, whether that substance is nicotine or CBD. 

Vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol are virtually odourless and colourless, making them the perfect canvas for adding flavour and sweeteners. You can enjoy CBD vape oil pens that taste like everything from green grapes to blueberry cake, whatever suits you best! 

Why Are People Using CBD Vape Oil?

Now that you know what CBD vape oil is let’s talk about why it’s so popular. Though the research is often inconclusive, there are a considerable number of positive benefits linked to CBD use. Maybe, more importantly, there are next to no ill side effects reported.  

Many use CBD to try ease anxiety and help them fall asleep. CBD provides a general sense of calm in some users, though it’s not psychoactive in any way. That means you can use it when you feel an anxiety attack coming on, or to help you fall asleep without the risk of side effects from sleeping pills or medications. 

CBD may also help with chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Arthritis patients, especially, report relief with CBD, but the research to back up such claims is inconclusive.  

In some specific areas, researchers have shown that CBD works. As a medication for childhood epilepsy especially, research shows CBD reduces or sometimes even eliminates seizures. In fact, in 2018, the United States approved the first anti-seizure prescription medication using CBD.  

Beyond that, many believe CBD helps them with various issues, from Irritable Bowel Syndrome to acne. There’s next to no research to back up these claims but given that CBD has little to no negative side effects, it makes sense that people are willing to try it. 

And if they’re willing to try it, it’s likely in the form of a CBD vape oil pen. 

The Benefits of a Vape Pen 

If you’re going to use CBD, as we mentioned, there are several ways to do it. You could enjoy it in pill form or as a topical cream. However, CBD vape oil pens come with a few advantages. 

Even if you enjoy CBD in other ways, you’ll probably want a vape pen on hand. Here’s why. 

Less Mess 

You can purchase CBD as a liquid supplement, wax, or concentrate, but that gets messy fast! Wax and concentrates are sticky, and you need a pipe or some other device to smoke them. Liquid supplements are easy enough, but the potential for spilling is still high. 

With a vape pen, there’s no mess. It’s all encased in one convenient package, so all you have to do is turn it on and inhale. 

Fast Acting

If you ingest CBD in edible form, it has to work its way through your digestive tract. So, you could be waiting thirty minutes or more to feel relief. A vape pen delivers CBD instantly; no waiting needed. 

Convenient 

A vape oil pen fits easily into your purse or pocket. It’s discreet and doesn’t require extra equipment or knowledge to use. You can carry it with you just about anywhere and use it whenever you need to. 

Is CBD Legal in Ireland?

Yes, CBD is legal in Ireland. However, the laws surrounding it can be confusing. 

CBD is allowed in the EU and Ireland with up to 0.2% THC, an amount too low to be psychoactive. That said, THC, in general, is illegal. 

Ireland also does not allow CBD products created with CO2 or solvent extraction. Unfortunately, those are two of the most efficient ways to isolate CBD from the hemp plant without including any THC. So, sometimes finding legal products can be tricky. 

What Does CBD Taste Like?

CBD straight from the plant tastes a lot like hemp. It’s grassy and earth-driven; some people love it, and others would rather pass. 

Luckily, CBD vape oils come in various flavours, so you don’t have to taste it in its natural form. Some of the more popular choices include: 

  • Mint
  • Orange
  • Tropical Fruit
  • Lemongrass and Ginger
  • Cinnamon
  • Cookies and Cream

If you do happen to love the flavour of hemp-based products, hemp flavoured CBD vape oil pens are available. With so many other fun flavours to choose from, though, it’s not a popular choice. 

Are CBD Vape Oil Pens Affordable?

When you compare CBD vape oil pens to other CBD products in Ireland, you’ll find they’re at comparable prices points. Pens will run at about the same price as CBD wax or concentrates, and they’ll typically be less expensive than trendy CBD novelty items, like packs of marshmallows or gummies. 

Of course, the major determinants in price are quality, brand, and potency. Higher end brands that use high-quality source material will always charge more than lesser-known options. With CBD, you often get what you pay for, so it may be worth spending a little more on a quality vape oil pen. 

Final Thoughts 

Everyone seems to be getting in on the CBD trend in Ireland and throughout the world. That makes sense given the lack of side effects and the vast number of self-reported benefits surrounding CBD use. 

Users of CBD swear it helps with their anxiety and chronic pain. It also helps some users with insomnia and can be incredibly potent for certain conditions, like epilepsy. Whether or not it will heal your acne or fix your digestion is up for debate. Still, the lack of side-effects means trying it probably won’t make things worse. 

And try it you can, because CBD is legal in Ireland, though it can feel like a grey area. If there’s no more than 0.2% THC in the product, it’s legal to have and consume. Plus, CBD vape pens are affordable and come in all sorts of flavours.

If you’ve been looking for a convenient way to try CBD, a vape oil pen is arguably the best option. They’re convenient, fast-acting, and mess free; it’s no wonder CBD vape oil is on the rise in Ireland! 

COVID-19: Increase in patient numbers at UHG

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news

The number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 at University Hospital Galway has continued to increase slowly but steadily in recent days.

There were nine confirmed case at UHG as of Friday evening, up from six at the start of the week.

At Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe five people were being treated for COVID-19, down from a mid-week peak of seven cases, but still above the start of the week.

There were a further four suspected cases at University Hospital Galway for which test results were awaited.

The number of patients in critical condition at UHG has remained steady at four, and one COVID patient is in the intensive care unit at Portiuncula.

Nationwide there were 164 people hospitalised with COVID-19 as of 8pm on Friday, of whom 48 were in the ICU.

A further ten new cases were reported in Galway yesterday, out of 434 cases nationally and one additional death.

City recycling centre reopens from Monday

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway news City recycling centre reopens from Monday

The Galway City recycling centre will reopening from next Monday, April 26 as the next wave of restrictions’ easing begins.

The recycling centre at the Civic Amenity Site in Liosbain has been closed since Ireland went back into Level 5.

Next Monday it will reopen again, with signage continuing to emphasise the one-way system and social distancing measures in place.

The initial reduced opening hours will be:

  • Monday – Thursday: 1.30pm to 3.45pm
  • Friday: 1.30pm to 3.00pm

People are advised that this is a self-service facility open to residents of Galway City and no commercial use is permitted.

To reduce the time spent at the facility, please ensure that you pre-sort all items and please refer to the Galway City Council website for a list of items that are accepted and conditions of use at the facility.

Eight more COVID-19 deaths recorded in Galway

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily news Galway University Hospitals holding Memorial Service

The overall number of COVID-19 related deaths recorded in Galway has risen by eight in the latest data released by the Central Statistics Office.

A total of 121 people in Galway have now died from COVID-19 as of 16 April.

The median age of the 121 deaths from COVID-19 recorded in Galway since the start of the pandemic is 82, which is one year less than the median age of COVID deaths nationally.

Galway continues to record by far the lowest median age of confirmed cases in Ireland. The median age of the 10,186 cases that have been confirmed here since the beginning of the pandemic is 31.

In contrast, Mayo has the joint highest median age of cases in the country at 41, and there have been 180 COVID-19 related deaths in the county since last March.

The latest CSO data shows that the proportion of daily cases among those over the age of 65 has been decreasing steadily in recent weeks. The percentage of cases in this age group has fallen from 18% in the week ending 29 January to 5% in the week ending 16 April.

There were 15 COVID-19 related deaths in the week ending 16 April. In the week ending 16 April 2021, and 87% of deaths were among people aged 65 years and over.

Council approves plans for new Mountbellew wastewater treatment plant

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Lack of sewerage infrastructure impeding housing Galway TD says

Galway County Council has given its approval to plans for the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant in Mountbellew.

Irish Water has been granted planning permission to decommission the existing wastewater treatment plant for the Mountbellew area, demolishing the existing tanks, biological filters and control building.

A new treatment plant is to be built at the northern end of Mountbellew town, located on lands adjacent to the Mountbellew Mart.

The old treatment plant will be converted into a pumping station, bringing untreated sewage to the new plant.

A rising main will be installed between the pumping station and the new treatment plant, and a gravity outflow pipe to carry treated sewage back to the pumping station.

Planning permission was granted by Galway County Council for the project with eight standard conditions attached.

Mountbellew Mart

The project has been heavily opposed by Mountbellew Mart, who have accused Irish Water of dishonesty in its dealings with them regarding the acquisition of the land for the WWTP.

Irish Water acquired the land via Compulsory Purchase Order, which was upheld by An Bord Pleanála in 2019, after saying that negotiations with the Mart had collapsed and their offer for the land had been rejected.

In an objection to the planning application for the treatment plant, the Mart disputed this version of events, saying that no final offer was ever made to them in writing.

It was further claimed that Irish Water had ignored their concerns about the impact that this development could have on the local community in terms of noise pollution, as well as specific concerns related to their business.

The Mart said that the noise from the WWTP could have an impact on the livestock being sold their, and that its presence could limit future expansion plans.

“Concerns as to whether a buffer zone will be implemented and whether Irish Water will object to any future applications for planning by Mountbellew Mart should they wish to expand their premises have been ignored.”

A charge was also levied against Irish Water that the site selection process which resulted in this location being chosen was “completely bogus” and “fictional” to justify choosing the location next to the Mart.

Last September the county council made a request for further information based on the Natura Impact Statement submitted with the application, seeking more specific environmental impact mitigation measures.

The council was particularly concerned about preventing fuels, building materials, and soils from entering the River Suck. An otter survey for the Castlegar River, with potential impacts from the construction, was also to be carried out.

A revised Natura Impact Statement was submitted by Irish Water in response to that request on March 12.

The new wastewater treatment plant is needed both to cater for the immediate and long term expansion of Mountbellew, and to comply with environmental standards.

The current plant discharges into Castleger River and, despite being upgraded in 2007, is not consistently capable of producing a discharge which complies with environmental regulations.

Irish Water also noted that the site has flooded on multiple occasions, most notably in 2009 and 2015, and is no longer fit for its current purpose.

Walk-in COVID test centre opening in Tuam next week

By
Briain Kelly
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0
galway daily news Just one COVID patient in the ICU at University Hospital Galway

A walk-in COVID-19 test centre will be open in Tuam for three days next week for anyone over 16 years old to come and get tested.

The test centre at the Irish Wheelchair Association premises on the Dublin Road in Tuam will run from Monday to Wednesday, April 26-28 next week.

The centre will be open for walk-in testing from 11am to 7pm each day.

This walk-in centre service is aimed at people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but would like to get tested, and have not tested positive in the past six months.

No GP referral is required for this centre, and the test is completely free of charge. People attending must be from within 30km (20 miles) of the centre.

The only requirements are that the people presenting must be over 16, have a photo ID, and provide a phone number so they can be contacted with their results.

This follows on from a similar walk-in centre which was open in Ballinasloe over Easter weekend following concern about the incidence rates in the area.

For people interested in coming to the Tuam test centre, people are asked not to attend the walk-in clinic if they have any symptoms of COVID such as high temperature, shortness of breath, a cough, or a loss/change in sense of smell.

If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, the HSE is continuing to advise people to stay home, self-isolate, and to contact their GP right away.

NUI Galway Study Inspects Online Gambling Behaviour

By
Angela Mc Bride
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0

Online gambling has grown in popularity over the years all over the world and even more so during the last year of the Covid-19 global pandemic. With people across the globe stuck at home, social distancing, and out of work, the pastime has gained an astoundingly large following.

The detrimental effects associated with gambling, however, have sparked public interest, leading to research being conducted into the behaviour of several groups of individuals to determine the goals, motivations, and patterns of behaviour in highly involved gamblers. 

Beyond those constituents, the NUI Galway study also aimed to ascertain the global prevalence of problem gambling and to offer suggestions for solutions to ameliorate the problematic usage patterns in high-risk gamblers.

The study 

A recent study carried out by the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at NUI Galway (National University of Ireland) examined a group of highly involved gamblers and how the gratification they seek differs between problem gamblers and non-problem gamblers. 

The study focused specifically on mobile gambling, in which people gamble on apps and online casino websites directly from their smartphones. Combining the Uses and Gratifications (U&G) and Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP) frameworks, researchers collected data from a global sample of 327 individuals who use gambling apps on a weekly basis. 

Data from participants were collected in two waves, focusing on mobile gambling habits, mood and mood changes, and reasons for engaging in the behaviour in order to identify the different media gratification triggers. By combining these factors and outcomes we can get a realistic picture of the causes of problematic gambling manifest, despite known negative consequences.

The findings

Published in February 2021, the study found that high involvement in mobile gambling is not inherently problematic. The key finding was the differences in motivation and gratifications-sought between problem and non-problem gamblers. 

Problem gamblers tend to use gambling apps to alleviate boredom and promote social interaction with others. Non-problem gamblers, conversely, gravitate toward mobile gambling for simple entertainment and relaxation purposes.

Additionally, the mood of the individual when they decide to participate in mobile gambling depends on their personal feelings toward the activity. If (or when) the individual’s craving for mobile gambling is obsessive, their mood is low, gloomy, and rather melancholy. However, when the drive to play is for fun, the subject’s passion is under control, leading to a much more elevated mood.

Pathological gambling

What this means is that for some, gambling is a non-problematic lifestyle activity that they engage in for simple recreation and fun. According to this study, this type of gambling can be categorized as responsible gambling. A non-obsessive habit that’s indulged in for fun and relaxation.

Pathological gambling, on the other hand, is problematic for the lives and mental well being of affected individuals. When pursuing mobile gambling for dubious reasons, such as avoidance, depression, or unchecked impulse, this can reflect a mental disorder. Individuals in this category are characterized by their inability to control their behaviour, leading to severe functional impairment.

The prevalence of problem gambling is estimated to vary between 0.12% and 5.8% in different countries around the globe and is caused by a variety of factors such as environment, peer influence, negative life events, or poor emotional regulation skills. 

The recommendations

The lead author of the study, Dr Eoin Whelan, said, “Our study sought to find out what differentiates the two groups with the findings suggesting social gratifications are much more pertinent in problematic gamblers. The link between social gratifications and obsessive gambling could be a result of the broader cultural normalisation of mobile gambling.”

The answer, therefore, lies in the comingling of mobile gambling and positive depictions of social acceptance in the marketing of these platforms. The study’s authors recommend online gambling regulators focus on restricting this depiction in advertising to ameliorate the effects it might have on vulnerable individuals — or those engaging in mobile gambling for problematic reasons.

A casino in your pocket

The landscape of gambling has changed drastically in the last two decades. What was once a physical activity (i.e. travelling to a land-based casino) has now evolved, introducing new dimensions and gambling opportunities by means of mobile technology. Mobile gambling apps run in the background, frequently popping up notifications that are ever more personalized and tailored to a player’s gambling behaviour.

Studies like this are a sign of the times. The convenience of gambling from a mobile device has increased users and user demographics significantly in recent times. Without having to drive to a local casino or bookmaker, it becomes ever easier to simply unlock your phone and begin gambling. The ease with which gamblers can access an online casino or gambling app has made the practice less of an outing or occasion and more impulsive and habitual behaviour. 

The accessibility, personalization, and social acceptance of mobile gambling have all converged to create a perfect storm for a subgroup of vulnerable individuals. There’s no question that a public health need exists to study the issues surrounding problem gambling and the related social consequences. Thankfully, this study has shed some light on the motivations of individuals so that we can better understand the problem.

COVID-19: One death nationally and 10 new Galway cases

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway Daily news 25 percent drop in COVID cases in Galway hospitals

Ten new coronavirus cases have been reported in Galway by health officials this evening, taking the 14-day incidence rate here to 77.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Nationally, the Department of Health reported 434 new cases of COVID-19 and one further death related to the virus.

The national incidence rate now stands at 117.4 cases per 100,000 people, with a 5-day average of 448 new daily cases.

Ten counties reported fewer than five cases today while 217 cases were reported in Dublin, 30 in Kildare, 30 in Cork, 27 in Limerick and 21 Donegal.

74% of new the new cases are under 45 years of age and the median age is 31 years old.

A total of 166 people with COVID-19 are in hospitals across the State – the lowest figure since last October. Of those, 48 are in ICU.

Visitor restrictions to be eased at UHG’s Maternity Ward

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway Daily news uptick in Galway dads using paternity benefits

Visitor restrictions which were introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the maternity ward at University Hospital Galway will be eased from next week.

Following recent improvements in community transmission, partners will be allowed to visit St. Catherine’s Ward and St. Angela’s Ward from 7pm to 8pm from Monday 26 April.

Visiting time by fathers in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit will increase to 30 minutes, and partners may attend anomaly scans.

Currently, birthing partners of women in labour can attend births, and partners can also attend a caesarean section done under regional anaesthesia, subject to screening questions and wearing full PPE. 

If a partner has COVID-19 symptoms, is awaiting a COVID-19 test or test result or has had a positive test within the last 14 days, they must not go to the hospital.

In this event an alternative birth partner may attend, and all partners must wear a face mask at all times, maintain social distancing and use the available hand gel to clean their hands regularly.

While the community transmission rates in Galway have improved, the risk associated with COVID-19 remains and UHG says that visiting arrangements will be kept under review while there is still a risk of introduction of infection to the Maternity Department.

The details of the visiting restrictions in the Maternity Departments are updated regularly on the HSE website.

Local hotel owners call for clear roadmap for reopening

By
Michael Malone
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Galway daily news Plans for city centre hotel development off Eyre Square

Hotel and guesthouse owners in Galway are calling on the Government to clarify next week what the reopening of the sector will look like this summer.

Hoteliers in the county are also calling for specific measures and supports including inter-county travel which will enable businesses to plan for a safe and sustainable reopening.

Chair of the Galway branch of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), Wayne Neilon, said that with June just over a month away, hotel bookings nationally are at an historic low, currently averaging only 22% for the key months of July and August.

He said that it is critical that the Government gives clarity to consumers and businesses as a matter of urgency.

“We are asking the Government to outline a more detailed roadmap for reopening the hotels sector safely based on clear progress markers for restrictions to be eased in line with public health improvements,” said Wayne Neilon.

“While we recognise the challenges around public health and supressing Covid that it is facing, the ongoing lack of detail is jeopardising the viability of hotels and guesthouses as they grapple with the financial and operational commitments required to be ready to reopen after months of prolonged closure.”

Mr Neilon said that booking levels have never been this low so close to the key summer months, which are a lifebuoy for many businesses for the remainder of the year.

“Unless this is turned around quickly, there will be serious implications for the recovery of our sector here in Galway and elsewhere that could take years to remedy.”

The Irish Hotels Federation is calling for the Government to commit to measures to enable hotels and guesthouses reopen safely and sustainably.

These include inter-county travel being permitted, hotels being open to all patrons whether residents or not, capacity to be linked to function room size for events, outdoor capacity to be linked to space available, plans to be put in place for easing of restrictions for family gatherings.

The federation also called for the EU Digital Green Certificate to be adopted and plans to be put in place for other vaccinated international travellers.

“We also require a commitment on business and employment supports,” added Mr Neilon.

“While the supports to date have been very welcome, it is essential that the Government provides greater clarity and certainty now around supports into 2022 and beyond.

“Wait and see is not the approach for sustainable business planning and job recovery.”

Three changes to Connacht lineup against Ulster tonight

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily sport Connacht squad named for Edinburgh trip
photo credit: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Three changes have been made to the Connacht Rugby side which will face off against Ulster in the Rainbow Cup this evening.

Two of the changes from the last lineup are in the back, with Caolin Blade now in number 9 and Ben O’Donnell on the wing. Up front, John is coming in at at loosehead.

Otherwise the team is as selected against Leicester in the Challenge Cup, with the experienced duo of Dave Heffernan and Finlay Bealham joining Duggan in the front row.

A second row duo of Ultan Dillane and Gavin Thornbury, and a back row consisting of flankers Eoghan Masterson and Conor Oliver, and captain Paul Boyle at number 8 complete the roster.

Jack Carty partners Blade at out-half, Tom Daly and Sean O’Brien continue their centre partnership, and winger Matt Healy and full-back John Porch form the back three with O’Donnell.

“There is still huge disappointment with our Challenge Cup exit and our last few performances, so this is a game where I’m fully expecting a reaction from the players,” said Head Coach Andy Friend.

“This is a new competition for us but as with competition we play in, we’re going out to win it. Our team selection reflects that and if we play the way I know we can, we’ll give ourselves a great chance of making a positive start to the Rainbow Cup.”

The Rainbow Cup took a heavy blow earlier this week when the South African Rugby Union confirmed that their sides would not be coming due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions.

Instead two parallel competitions will take place, with twelve PRO14 teams in the north competing in one, and the four southern teams in another.

Connacht and Ulster will meet at Kingspan Stadium tonight, with kick-off at 8:15pm. The full Connacht side is:

Name/Number/Caps
15. John Porch (36)
14. Ben O’Donnell (4)
13. Sean O’Brien (Acad) (7)
12. Tom Daly (44)
11. Matt Healy (148)
10. Jack Carty (155)
9. Caolin Blade (127)
1. Jordan Duggan (11)
2. Dave Heffernan (140)
3. Finlay Bealham (155)
4. Ultan Dillane (110)
5. Gavin Thornbury (56)
6. Eoghan Masterson (107)
7. Conor Oliver (17)
8. Paul Boyle (55) (C)

Replacements
16. Shane Delahunt (96)
17. Matthew Burke (20)
18. Dominic Robertson-McCoy (63)
19. Niall Murray (13)
20. Abraham Papali’i (10)
21. Kieran Marmion (182)
22. Conor Fitzgerald (32)
23. Peter Sullivan (12)

GMIT student from Gort wins prestigious engineering award

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily education GMIT engineering student CABE award

GMIT Engineering student Simon O’Grady from Rinneen, Gort received a prestigious industry award for his academic achievement this week from the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.

After previously being delayed due to COVID-19, on Tuesday the Southern Ireland Region of CABE came to Galway to present Simon with his award for best first year student in CABE-accredited programmes in the built environment.

Simon, who is now in his second year of the GMIT Construction Management (Honours) degree programme, received the award for obtaining the highest overall grades across the seven CABE-accredited programmes.

David Courtney, Chair of CABE Southern Ireland Region, said he was delighted to present the CABE award to Simon as just reward for his very hard work and endeavour, giving him the CABE certificate, and a €250 bursary to sweeten the pot on behalf of the organisation.

Mary Rogers, Head of the GMIT Department of Building and Civil Engineering, congratulated Simon on his great achievement and wished him well with his future studies.

Mary also thanked CABE for their generous sponsorship of the award and for their ongoing support of their programmes and the Department of Building and Civil Engineering.

CABE were also represented at the outdoor event by Gordan Henderson, longstanding committee member in the region.

GMIT currently holds CABE accreditations for seven programmes in the Department of Building and Civil Engineering in the areas of Construction Management; Civil Engineering; Quantity Surveying and Building Economics, and Architectural Technology.

Heavy disruptions to Galway-Dublin train services this weekend

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily news Galway train service disruptions this weekend

Train services between Galway and Dublin will be disrupted this weekend, with a number of services cancelled or running as replacement bus transfers.

Irish Rail is carrying out line improvement works between Hazelhatch & Newbridge and Ballinasloe & Woodlawn this Saturday, April 24, with further works between Hazelhatch & Newbridge on Sunday.

As a result of this passengers should be aware that there have been significant changes to the schedule, with the worst disruption on Saturday.

Tomorrow, the 16:30 Heuston to Galway and 19:35 Heuston to Galway services have been cancelled altogether, as has the 18:10 Galway to Atlone train, while the 13:25 and 15:35 Heuston to Galway trains will run on an altered path.

The 17:30 and 18:30 Heuston to Galway have been replaced by bus transfers serving different sets of stops.

The first bus transfer will operate direct from Heuston to Galway, and the second bus will stop in Tullamore, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Athenry and Galway.

The third bus transfer will serve Clara, Athlone, Athenry, Oranmore and Galway, and the fourth will leave from Monasterevin and stop at Portarlington, Tullamore, Athlone and Galway.

The 15:05 Galway to Heuston service will travel by train only as far as Athlone. From there two bus transfers will make the rest of the journey, with one heading direct to Heuston.

The second bus from Athlone will serve Clara, Portarlington, Kildare, Newbridge and Heuston, and the third will go to Tullamore, Portarlington and Heuston.

The 17:20 and 19:20 Galway to Hueston services have been completely replaced with four bus transfers.

The first and fourth will go directly from Galway to Heuston, while the second will stop at Oranmore, Athenry, Athlone, Portarlington, Kildare, Newbridge and Heuston, and the third will serve Attymon, Woodlawn, Ballinasloe, Athlone, Tullamore, Portarlington and Heuston.

Only minor disruptions are expected to train services from Galway to Dublin on Sunday, April 25, with one bus transfer and some delays.

The 08:00 Heuston to Galway will be a bus transfer as far as Portarlington, with a train completing the rest of the journey leaving at 09:15.

The 11:00 Galway to Heuston service will be delayed to 11:35, and the 11:40 train will not be stopping at Clara.

Irish Rail is carrying out Line Improvement works on selected Saturdays as part of an annual €10 million investment which ultimately aims to deliver more reliable, smoother services.

The works this years are focusing on the section of the network between Newbridge and Ballybrophy.

For a full list of available services on your day of travel, please check Irish Rail’s Journey Planner.

3 Galway areas record fewer than 5 COVID cases in 2 weeks

By
Michael Malone
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0
Galway daily covid-19 coronavirus galway cases 14 day incidence

Fewer than five new COVID-19 cases were reported over two weeks in Loughrea, Conamara North and Conamara South LEAs, new data shows.

The latest breakdown of COVID rates shows that Tuam is the local electoral area with the highest two-week incidence rate in the county, with 171.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

A total of 57 infections were reported in the Tuam electoral area the two weeks to April 19.

In the city, 42 cases were confirmed in Galway City East, bringing its 14-day rate down to 157.9 cases per 100,000 people.

The rate in Galway City Central is now 86.1 and just 47.3 in Galway City West, with 23 and 12 new cases reported in these electoral areas respectively.

Ballinasloe LEA’s two-week COVID rate remains unchanged at 124.5 cases per 100,000 inhabitants since last week’s figures, with 35 new infections reported in 14 days, while the rate in Athenry-Oranmore trebled to 97.5 with 32 new cases.

After Loughrea and the two Connemara LEAs, Gort-Kinvara has the lowest rate in the county with just eight cases reported in two weeks. The incidence rate there is now 34 cases per 100,000 people.

Health officials reported 21 new cases of COVID-19 in Galway yesterday afternoon. The 14-day incidence rate in the county is now 80.2 cases per 100,000 population, with 207 new cases in two weeks.

Seamus Keating receives inaugural ‘Innovator of the West’ award from Galway Technology Centre

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Seamus Keating receives inaugural 'Innovator of the West' award from Galway Technology Centre

Former Galway City and County Manager, Mr. Seamus Keating has been awarded the inaugural ‘Innovator of the West’ award from Galway Technology Centre.

Mr Keating received the award from GTC Chairman, Frank Greene as they prepare for the major Scaling up Our Legacy event which is taking place this morning.

He was chosen as the inaugural recipient of this prize for his role in establishing Galway Technology Centre more than a quarter of a century ago.

In 1994, after the closure of the Digital Equipment Corporation’s Galway facility he was chosen by the government to lead a task force which became the driving force behind the establishment of the GTC.

The work of that task force proved to be such as successful model that it was copied many times on subsequent occasions.

“It would be fair to say that Seamus Keating was pivotal to the creation of Galway Technology Centre,” said Frank Greene, “Without his immense contribution during those very difficult times for Galway and the West it would not have been possible to establish the centre”.

“A facility which has gone on to support more than 300 companies, over 3,000 jobs and contributed €1.3 billion gross added value to the west region.”

Frank also highlighted that the GTC was the first such centre focusing on innovation in technology in Ireland.

“Seamus and the Task Force were innovators. They looked to the future and had a vision of what was possible. What Seamus and the Task Force put in place has made a massive contribution to Galway and the West ever since.”

“We are immensely proud that list of recipients will begin with the name of Mr. Seamus Keating. We thank him for all he has done for Galway Technology Centre and we are deeply honoured he agreed to accept this award as part of our Scaling Our Legacy anniversary celebrations,” Mr. Greene concluded.

Galway Technology Centre will announce this morning that it expected to create 12,500 jobs over the course of the next 15 years with with its expansion of AcademyWest.

At the anniversary event this morning celebrating more than 25 years of the GTC, plans will be officially unveiled for the major expansion, which will see €1.4 billion invested over the next 15 years.

NUIG students elect all women SU executive team

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Michael Malone
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Galway Daily news Galway universities awarded over €2 million for new research equipment

Róisín Nic Lochlainn will be NUI Galway Students’ Union President in the next academic year after winning more than 50% of students’ votes in yesterday’s SU election.

Clodagh McGivern and Cora Clarke will join Róisín in the new executive team as Vice President / Education Officer and Vice President / Welfare and Equality Officer respectively, with both candidates also receiving over 50% of votes.

Current Welfare and Equality Officer Róisín Nic Lochlainn will take over from Pádraic Toomey as SU President, after winning a majority of the votes in the election.

Among Róisín’s manifesto pledges are to ensure that no student has more than one exam on the same day and to lobby the Department of Higher Education to secure subsidies for students who are paying more than €50 per year for textbooks.

Final year corporate law student James Pope took over 31% of first preference votes in the presidential election, while Joe Mee was the first choice for over 500 students (14%).

In another well-contested three-way race, Clodagh McGivern secured 51.28% of first preference votes in the election for VP/ Education Officer, with Neasa Gorrell winning over 26% and Conall McCallig taking more than 21% of first preference votes.

Cora Clarke romped to victory in the election for VP/ Welfare and Equality Officer, taking more than 54% of first preference votes. Erin Mac An tSaoir was the first choice for over 700 students as was Conor McWalters, who both won around 22% of first preference votes.

A total of 1,897 students (51.52%) voted Yes in the closely contested levy referendum, with 1,785 students voting No.

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Galway Technology Centre expansion to generate 12,500 jobs

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Michael Malone
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galway daily news academy west galway technology centre

Galway Technology Centre (GTC) will announce this morning that it expects to generate 12,500 jobs over the next 15 years with its expansion of AcademyWest.

The expansion represents a €1.4 billion investment and is being strongly facilitated by Enterprise Ireland.

The plans will be revealed this morning during a special anniversary event celebrating over 25 years of Galway Technology Centre, which will be attended by An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, Minister for State Hildegarde Naughton and Mayor of Galway Cllr Mike Cubbard, among others.

The AcademyWest project will have a particular focus on start ups and innovation driven enterprises, as well as growing ICT businesses in need of second sites.

The 22,000 square foot expansion will see the total floor area of GTC extend to 72,000 square feet, with the number of floors in the facility growing from two to four.

It will also include dedicated conferencing and meeting space and will address a critical capacity barrier in the existing centre.

When complete, the development will enable GTC to become an even greater focal point for the expanding tech cluster throughout Galway and the west of Ireland.

The impact of the expansion is expected to see 828 new jobs and €62.4m in investment generated per annum by Year 5, growing to 1,689 new jobs and €127.3m per annum by Year 10 and on to 2,517 new jobs and €189.7m per annum by Year 15.

This will take the total number of jobs created to 12,500 and €1.4 billion invested over the next 15 years.

GTC is currently home to 41 companies, with 326 people employed directly on site.

The centre is a social enterprise jointly owned by Galway Chamber and WestBIC. It provides scale up space and supports to meet the needs of innovative ICT startups and entrepreneurs.

GTC was the first technology innovation centre in Ireland, originally founded in the mid-nineties following the closure of Digital Equipment Corporation’s Galway facility. At that time, Digital had been Galway’s largest employer.

In response to that closure a special Government Task Force was established who invited Galway Chamber, WestBIC and An Forbairt to realise their vision of an indigenous ICT cluster in the west of Ireland. This led to the formation of GTC.

The Government Task Force was led by former Galway City and County Manager Seamus Keating. As part of the anniversary celebrations, Mr. Keating this week received a special Innovator of the West Award from GTC, in recognition of his role in helping to establish the centre.

Over the last 25 years GTC has housed more than 300 different companies who have created over 3,000 jobs.

“We are tremendously proud of all that Galway Technology Centre has achieved over the last 25+ years,” said Frank Greene, GTC Chairman.

“The original centre comprised a total of 8 individual units filled by seven startups, all founded by former Digital staff.

“From those humble beginnings the centre has become a modern, dynamic facility and social enterprise which has had a major impact on Galway and throughout the West.

“Anyone who was involved in the early days would be deeply impressed to see how the centre has gone on to flourish and would be amazed at the broader impact it has made on the regional ICT sector.

“Galway Technology Centre is proof that when social enterprises profit, society profits. Those benefits are being felt by ICT enterprises and innovative businesses in Galway and across the West to this day and with our AcademeyWest expansion we aim to make sure that continues for a very long time to come.”

Noreen Conway, Acting Manager of GTC, said that the AcademyWest expansion represents a significant new phase in the life of Galway Technology Centre.

“It will drive substantial employment growth, while expanding the technology cluster and knowledge economy throughout Galway and the West over the coming years,” said Noreen Conway.

“This enhanced modern facility will have a further transformative effect on the regional ICT ecosystem. It will help attract and retain dynamic high performance startups who wish to scale their enterprise and also act as a second site for growing, innovative companies.

“Once the AcademyWest expansion is complete it will facilitate businesses who are expected to generate over 12,500 jobs and €1.4 billion investment on a cumulative basis over the next 15 years.”

Ms Conway added that the scope and benefits of this project will be felt across Galway and throughout the entire region.

“It will make Galway Technology Centre a beacon for innovation across the west of Ireland. On a day when we celebrate the history of Galway Technology Centre, we are excited to be firmly placing a foot towards our dynamic future.”

COVID-19: 21 Galway cases and ten deaths nationally reported today

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

There have been 21 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Galway today by the Department of Health, out of 617 new cases nationwide.

The 14-day incidence rate in Galway is now 80.2 cases per 100,000 people, with 207 cases reported here in the past two weeks.

Another 10 deaths related to COVID-19 have also been notified today. Of these, 7 occurred in April, and the other three were in March, February, and January.

Of today’s cases 299 are men and 318 are women, while 70% are under 45 and the average age of the cases is 33.

As of this morning there were 176 people hospitalised with COVID-19 in Ireland, of whom 48 are in the ICU.

There have now been 4,866 deaths related to COVID-19 in Ireland, and a total of 245,310 confirmed cases of the disease in the state.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, said “We are in a strong position in that transmission levels have reduced substantially and the roll-out of vaccination is protecting more and more of those at risk from the severe effects of COVID-19.”

“If we can maintain our current position there is hope that we can look forward to a real easing of measures, but it is as important as ever that we don’t put that progress at risk by letting our collective guard down too much, or too early.”

Professor Philip Nolan added that the reproductive number of the virus is estimated to be close to 1, and the number of close contacts people are having remains at 2.6, which he called a “phenomenal testament” to the public will.

“All indicators of the disease are stable or declining slowly, though we may see an increase in cases over the coming days. Maintaining this over the coming weeks is key to managing community transmission, and a move towards easing of measures.”

The COVID-19 data hub provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of the disease in the community.

Galway gymnast Emma Slevin makes history at European Championships

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sports Galway gymnast Emma Slevin makes history at European Championships

Galway gymnast Emma Slevin has made history this week at the women’s qualification round of the 2021 European Gymnastics Championships.

Yesterday evening say Slevin, from Renmore Gymnastics Club, become the Irish female gymnast to qualify for a senior All-Around final in the European Championship.

Competing in Basel, Switzerland on Wednesday evening among 109 gymnasts from 38 countries, Emma finished the qualifier for the with a score of 50.432.

She will compete on Friday in the All-Around Top–24 Final, which takes place from 12.15pm – 2.45pm Irish time and will be broadcast on RTÉ2

Speaking following the competition, Gymnastics Ireland CEO Ciaran Gallagher said “A superb day for women’s gymnastics in Ireland”

“Emma’s performance cements her position as one of the best All-Around gymnasts in Europe and again a history maker as our first senior AA women’s finalist.”

Renmore Gymnastics Club also offered their congratulation to Emma, posting to facebook “We are so proud of you – best of luck on Friday! Following on from the long Covid break from competition Emma came back fighting and made history to qualify as the first Irish female gymnast to qualify for a Senior All Around Final.”

Meg Ryan from Cork, who is a first reserve for the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, also competed yesterday in three of the four apparatus, and counted no major errors.

Ciaran Gallagher said “For all gymnasts the target is always for a clean competition which both girls delivered. On behalf of everyone at Gymnastics Ireland huge congratulations to Emma & Meg

More public toilets needed in Galway City, says Cllr Owen Hanley

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily news public toilets cllr owen hanley

Cllr Owen Hanley has said that the city council should consider plans to address the shortage of public toilets in Galway City.

The Social Democrats councillor outlined short, medium and long-term strategies which would increase the number of public toilets in the city, which he says are essential – and not a ‘mere inconvenience’.

He said that in the short term, there are public bathrooms and changing facilities that could be opened immediately, such as those in the Arts Centre or An Post.

In the medium term, Cllr Hanley said that temporary facilities should be installed and a City Recovery Taskfoce be set up to oversee the next 12 to 18 months.

Communities and businesses in the Westend, Merlin Woods and Woodquay need access to public toilets, and facilities are needed for visitors and to make the city more attractive, he said.

In the long-term, he believes that permanent facilities should be installed.

“There are limited public toilets in the city and where we once relied on private businesses to make up the difference, under current circumstances we require intervention,” explained Cllr Hanley.

“The lack of facilities throughout Galway should not be seen as normal or typical. A lack of adequate restroom facilities greatly limits the enjoyment of the city and is also a gender, age and accessibility issue.

“Consider menstruation, pregnancy, families with buggies and toddlers, and carers – the majority of whom are women – assisting older people or people with disabilities.

“It may be the difference between people being able to make a visit into town or not at all.”

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