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AstraZeneca vaccines resume after 6-day suspension

By
Michael Malone
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galway daily news Spring vaccination campaign

People across the country have received the AstraZeneca vaccine today following a six-day break in the rollout of the vaccine.

The decision to restart vaccinations came after health officials recommended the rollout should resume after an European Medicines Agency review this week found that the vaccine was safe.

Some European countries suspended the use of the vaccine after reports of blood clots in a number of people who received the vaccine in Scandanavia.

But the EMA review concluded that the AstraZeneca vaccine is not associated with an increased overall risk of blood clotting disorders.

The agency noted ‘very rare cases of unusual blood clots’ accompanied by low levels of blood platelets after vaccination, and the reported cases were almost all in women under 55 years.

Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer, HSE, welcomed the review by the European Medicines Agency and the ‘positive outcome’.

“We know there are huge benefits in terms of preventing serious illness and hospitalisations, even after the first dose for all vaccines, including the AstraZeneca vaccine,” said Dr Henry.

“We are already seeing very positive and significant changes in terms of reported COVID-19 cases in healthcare workers and vulnerable groups.

“There are clear benefits for this vaccine in protecting against serious illness from Covid-19.”

HSE advice

The HSE recommends that people offered the vaccine should attend their appointment for the vaccine as soon as it is offered.

Only those who have had a severe allergic reaction following a previous dose of the vaccine or any of its constituents – including polysorbate 80 – should not receive it.

People are advised to delay the vaccine if they have an acute illness with a fever and they should also delay vaccination if they have received another vaccine within the last 14 days or if they have had COVID-19 within the past four weeks.

The second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should be administered 12 weeks after the first dose.

There are no appointments scheduled yet for second doses.

COVID-19: 22 new Galway cases and 9 deaths nationally

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

The Department of Health has reported 525 new cases of COVID-19 across the Republic and nine further deaths related to the disease, of which seven occurred in March.

Twenty-two new cases are in Galway, where the two-week incidence rate stands at 132.1 cases per 100,000 people with 341 cases confirmed here in the past fortnight.

Of the cases reported this evening, 266 are in Dublin, 33 in Meath, 29 in Wexford, 25 in Offaly and 24 in Donegal.

As of 8am today, 328 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 83 are in ICU. There have been 27 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

As of St Patrick’s Day, 639,586 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the State. Of those, 468,328 people have received their first dose and 171,258 people have received their second dose.

The 14-day incidence rate nationally now stands at 150.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Galway businesses urged to apply for new small business grants

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Additional Dog fines will have little effect without more Dog Wardens

Businesses in Galway are being urged to avail of grants from the €60 million Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC).

Galway East TD Seán Canney said that it is important for small businesses to be supported through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“These are much need supports and I encourage all firms to look at the scheme and apply for the grants available”.

The scheme, which was announced this month, provides grants of up to €8,000 to companies, self-employed, sole traders or partnerships, with a minimum turnover of €50,000 and are not owned and operated by a public body.

In order to be eligible, businesses must have less than 250 employees, and a turnover of under €25 million. The applicants’ turnover must also be down to no more than 25% of previous levels.

They must also not be eligible for other grant scheme such as the CRSS, the Fáilte Ireland Business Continuity Scheme, or the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media’s Live Performance Support.

The scheme makes a first grant payment of €4,000 in Q1 of 2021, and a second payment of the same amount later in the year.

Applications should be made to your local council, and the closing date to apply for the scheme is April 21.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said “As the pandemic goes on, more and more businesses are struggling to keep up with payroll and fixed costs. My objective is to ensure that as many businesses as possible get through this period and are able to re-open successfully.

“This new payment will help businesses with fixed costs like rent, insurance, utilities and security. SBASC should help around 7,500 mainly small businesses and although the grant is modest, it will go a long way for the smallest businesses.”

“While things remain very challenging for businesses, there is reason to hope. The latest public health numbers are going in the right direction, the vaccines work and there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Lidl appeals rejection of Moycullen development plans

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Green light for new Lidl supermarket in Moycullen

Lidl Ireland has appealed Galway County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a new supermarket and larger development in Moycullen.

The county council last month rejected Lidl’s plans for a mixed use development on unused land between the Slí an tStruthain estate and An Fuaran in Moycullen.

The proposed development consisted of a 2,278sq ft Lidl supermarket, two free standing retail units, and five houses.

There were 35 submissions made to the county council regarding this development, the majority of which were opposed to the project, from a variety of private individuals, as well as the Residents Association of the neighbouring Slí an tSruthaín estate.

The county council refused planning permission for the proposal on the grounds that there is already a high level of commercial vacancy in Moycullen town centre, and that allowing this proposal would pose a threat to the “vitality and viability” of retail within Moycullen.

The council also expressed concern about the level of parking in the plans, with Lidl proposing to have 102 car parking spaces, below the 201 required for a development of this scale.

Lidl has now appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála, which is due to make a ruling by July 12 of this year.

The appeal states that this development would create a “vibrant employment use which enhances the existing offer in the village centre and which creates commercial synergies with the same”.

Another 71 fines issued for COVID breaches in Galway

By
Briain Kelly
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galway daily news Further arrests made in connection with car park brawl

Another 71 on the spot fines have been issued for breaches of COVID-19 regulations in Galway over the past week.

The latest figures from An Garda Síochána show that 778 fines have been issued in Galway for various COVID offences to date, up from 707 the week before.

This is almost twice as many as were recorded here in the previous week, when Gardaí issued 42 fines.

These cover a range of regulations breaches, including travelling beyond the 5km limit without a valid reason, organising or attending a house party or other event, and failing to wear a face mask where required.

Deputy Commissioner of Policing and Security, Anne Marie McMahon said, “The vast majority of people are compiling with the public health regulations. Thank you and please keep it up.

“Your contribution is appreciated by Gardaí throughout the country. We know it is hard and it has meant significant sacrifices, but you are helping to save lives and protect those on the front-line.”

“The best way of keeping safe this weekend is to stay home. If you are going out, please stay within your 5km, limit your contacts with others, maintain social distancing, and regularly wash your hands.”

The week on week increase in fines seen in Galway is reflected nationwide. There have been 2,339 people fined in the past week, compared with 1,412 in the prior week.

More than 1,000 of those were for breaking the 5km travel restriction, and another 240 people have been fined for attending a house party.

Only six more people in the country have been given a larger fine of €500 for organising a house party in the past week.

Cork City remains the Garda Division which has recorded the greatest number of fines, with 1,650 issued to date, followed by Dublin North (1,331), and Limerick (1,113).

The Galway Garda Division has seen the fourth highest number of people fined for COVID breaches in the country.

The European Champions Cup 2020/2021

By
Angela Mc Bride
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The European Champions Cup, also known as the Heineken Champions Cup is in its seventh season in 2020/2021. It is a rugby championship run by the European Professional Club Rugby, and it takes teams from the six best nations in European rugby.

Revised Format for 2020/2021

The tournament last year was delayed because of the sanitary situation, so they will have a 24-team tournament that starts in early April. The teams will include the following:

England: There will be eight clubs from England, and they will play in the Premiership Rugby.

France: There will be eight clubs from France, and they will play in the Top 14.

Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales: There will be eight clubs from these countries, and the top four sides will play in the Pro 14. One of the contenders, Leinster, is one of the four provincial rugby teams from the island of Ireland. If you want to place bets on rugby, including Leinster, check out the Unibet betting site.

Both tournaments will begin on the weekend of April 2 through April 4, when they will resume the Round of 16 matches. The knockout stages will then continue in the quarter finals, semi finals and finals, which is scheduled to be played in Marseille.

The quarter finals will take place April 9 to April 11, followed by the semi finals April 30 to May 2. The Championship match will take place on May 22.

The Knock-Out Stage

The eight quarter finalists include the pool winners from 1 to 5 and the runners-up from 6 to 8. It is based on their performance in their own pool, and the four pool winners with the best pool record will have home advantage in the quarter finals.

The quarter finals don’t have a bracket, and they use the standard format of #1 vs #8, #2 vs #7, #3 vs #6, and #4 vs #5. The winners of these matches will advance to the semi finals. The higher seeded team will have home advantage in each match.

Favorites

On April 2, there are two matches. Leinster will play RC Toulonnais, with Leinster at -9.5 odds. The second match is Gloucester Rugby against Stade Rochelais, with Stade Rochelais at -4.5.

The following day, there are three more matches, including Wasps (+3.5) v. ASM Clermont-Auvergne (-3.5), Munster (+3.5) v. Toulouse (-3.5), and Exeter Chiefs (-14.5) v. Lyon OU (+14.5). The final three matches of this round are played on April 4th, and they include Racing 92 (-14.5) v. Edinburgh Rugby (+14.5), Union Bordeaux (-2.5) v. Bristol Bears (+2.5), and Scarlets (-1.5) v. Sale Sharks (+1.5). It should be an action packed weekend, with plenty of great rugby to watch.

Betting on Rugby

Rugby is an extremely popular sport that began in the UK more than one hundred years ago. It is a contact sport, and two teams play to score points through goals, conversions, and scoring tries. There are strict laws on how tackline can happen, which are designed for the safety of the players.

When you bet in rugby, there are several different ways of doing it. You can bet on one team to win, which is a pretty straightforward bet. You choose the team, place the bet, and wait for the results. Another type of betting is handicap betting. In this case, one team is given a hypothetical disadvantage (or advantage), where they have a spread assigned. For example, when a team has a +14.5 next to it, it means that they begin the game with an additional 14.5 points. In other words, they start the game with 14.5 points. The other team has to beat them by more than this number.

You can also place over/under bets where you have a number and a category, so, you might see 40 as the number, and you can choose the over or the under. You decide if you think they will score more or less than 40 points.

Betting on the Tournament

Tournaments can be a lot of fun to bet on because you can bet on the individual matches or the outright winner of the tournament. This helps you stay engaged because you will follow your choice through the entire tournament. You have to keep in mind that the odds will change throughout the season and the tournament. It will be based on how the team is doing and other factors as well.

Three bed detached house comes with stunning back garden

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily property Three bed detached house comes with stunning back garden

This immaculate detached house with large gardens is a picture perfect family home, ready for a buyer to move in at a moment’s notice.

The three bed detached house at Kiltiernan East, outside the village of Kilcolgan, offers an abundance of space, both indoors and outside, but still has room to grow, making it perfect for a homeowner looking for something long term.

A welcoming warmth prevails throughout the house, evident in every part of its design and decoration, from the bright pastel coloured walls to the floors of bright wood or richly coloured carpets.

The ground floor of the house consists of the main living room, a stately study/library, a large kitchen and dining area, utility room, and a guest bathroom.

A set of French doors just inside the tiled entrance lead to the main living room, which centres around a beautiful stone feature fireplace with a fitted stove. The candelabra style light fittings and hardwood floors help build the elegant atmosphere of the room. 

The large open plan kitchen and dining area makes it a wonderful hub for the home, easy to move from cooking, relaxing with a book or in front of the telly, to family dinners around the one table, all in the same room.

The kitchen maximises its space with modern fitted countertops and storage units on both opposite walls, and tiled walls around the appliances and work spaces for easy cleaning.

Adding even more workspace to an already large kitchen is the utility room, which features its own fitted countertops, appliances, and fully plumbed sink.

The ground floor also features an impressive Study room, something that is increasingly valuable to have when working from home is more prevalent than it has ever been.

If you don’t need a room for working in, it is still a spacious ground floor room which could be converted to another use, such as a bedroom for a growing family or guests, or another living area.

The three bedrooms, all large enough for double rooms, are located upstairs. All of the bedrooms are carpeted for comfort, and one comes with an ensuite fitted with a shower.

All of the bedrooms make good use of light through large and well placed windows and skylights.

Three bed detached house comes with stunning back garden

The property, which sits on a 0.25ha site, only becomes more attractive outside. To the front of the house is a well maintained lawn and driveway with lots of off street parking.

But the back garden is where its character truly shines through, in the mature greenery and flower beds that help break up the space, creating a wonderful place for children to play and explore.

The property is ideally located to take the best advantage of the stunning countryside of the west of Ireland, while still being within easy reach of towns and cities.

Just five minutes away is the village of Kilcolgan, and Galway City is just a short drive beyond that. Despite being surrounded by green fields, it’s also located just off the M18 motorway, granting east access down to Gort, Ennis, or Limerick.

Off the beaten track, this area is in the heart of the Wild Atlantic Way, whether you follow it up past Galway City into Connemara, or down south towards the Burren.

Built in 1999, the house has a reasonable C2 BER energy efficiency rate. The asking price for the property is €350,000.

To make an enquiry call O’Donnellan & Joyce at 091 564 212, or to see more check it out on their website at odonnjoyce.com/residential/brochure/kiltiernan-east-kilcolgan-galway/4478648.

COVID-19: 10 deaths and 29 Galway cases today

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

A further 10 deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported by health officials today, of which 9 occurred in March and one is under investigation.

Another 507 new cases have also been reported today, with 29 of them in Galway, the third highest level in the country behind Dublin (216) and Kildare (40).

The 14-day incidence rate in Galway is now 130.6 cases per 100,000 people. There have been 337 cases here in the past two weeks.

The deaths reported today were in people aged from 45 to 88 years old, and the median age of those who died was 75.

Of the cases notified today:

  • 249 are men / 255 are women
  • 70% are under 45 years of age
  • the median age is 33 years old
  • 216 in Dublin, 40 in Kildare, 29 in Galway, 24 in Offaly, 18 in Tipperary, and the remaining 180 cases are spread across 20 other counties.

There were 336 people hospitalised with COVID-19 as of 8am this morning, of whom 87 are in the ICU. Another 43 people had been admitted to hospital in the past 24 hours.

As of Tuesday, March 16 there were 632,359 doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered in Ireland, with 168,859 people fully vaccinated.

The COVID-19 data hub provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of the virus in the community including daily data on Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

Galway 2020 events marking International Day Against Racism

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life style Galway 2020 events marking International Day Against Racism

Galway 2020 is holding a programme of online events in music, movies, and sport this weekend to mark International Day Against Racism.

This year’s International Day Against Racism is on Sunday, March 21, and to mark event, a series of online events are taking place from Saturday through to Monday, to celebrate the cultures, languages, and histories that enrich Galway, and to look at what can and must be done to combat racism in Ireland.

Kicking off the programme this Saturday is a panel discussion at 1:30pm being organised by Galway 2020 in partnership with the FAI and sports publisher Off the Ball.

Featuring current Irish international Darren Randolph; former League of Ireland and Dublin GAA legend Jason Sherlock; and Des Tomlinson Intercultural National Strategy Coordinator with the FAI, this panel will discussion where we are currently at in the Irish game and where we need to get to in terms of combatting racism.

On Sunday, March we start the day with the opening of a window exhibition entitled #TogetherAgainstRacism at the Galway 2020 Wave Makers Hub created by local artist and Wave Maker Enda McCormack.

At 11am, Galway 2020 will be releasing a short video across their social media channels featuring Wave Makers reciting a very special and powerful poem as a statement and show of solidarity against racism.

At 3pm local groups The Melting Pot Luck and Visionation will present three short films created especially for International Day Against Racism that provide a unique insight into the prejudices, racism and microaggressions that are an everyday experience for many people.

And on Sunday night, Galway 2020 is celebrating the rich musical culture of Galway with the release of ‘Music, Memory and the Night’ online at 6pm.

This collaborative project centres around Afro-Irish and Black musical experiences in Galway and Cork and combines musical memories, visual artwork, and musical compositions, all on an interactive virtual platform.

The events will finish off on Monday, March 22, looking to the future with the launch of the Onside Schools Programme at several primary schools in the city.

Created in partnership with the FAI, this features specially designed classroom and schoolyard modules that educate young people about racism and facilitate language learning and cultural exchange through football.

How to start online dating after divorce

By
Thomas O'Brien
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Separation and divorce from a spouse are long processes. They teach you about your wants and needs. You feel like you’re in flux, and you crave a sense of normalcy. Consider using online dating sites to have a perfect match with a new love interest. Today, it’s no problem to find a fairly reputable dating site like this one and start looking for a partner. Here are tips to ease this transition:

Resolve to finish the divorce.

Be firm in your decision. Don’t entertain the idea of reuniting with your ex-spouse. Undertake the healing process and complete the legal paperwork. Some things happen quickly, such as establishing a separate residence. Other things move slowly, such as the court process. Formalizing the divorce redefines you as a single adult and helps others to understand your permanent decision. Friends, family, and co-workers must adjust to your decision. Some people will take sides, so you’ll find out who your true friends are.

Forget about your “type” of partner

You don’t know what kind of match you’ll attract at this stage of life. People grow and change every day. They refine their interests and ideas. Allow yourself to learn greater insights into yourself. Allow time for personal reflection. New insights impact future dating choices. Therefore, releasing past prejudices and revisiting why the relationship ended will give you perspective. Approach the past with less emotion and understand where you and your partner made mistakes along the way. Forgive yourself for failing in your past relationship. Allow yourself to hope for love again. Everyone deserves to be loved.

Don’t rush things at the slightest hint of attraction

We’ve all heard about how rebound relationships end badly. Don’t rush to find a new partner or insist on a long-term relationship with him or her too quickly. Not only will your partner feel pressured, but you’ll take steps before you’re emotionally and mentally ready. It’s fine to use online dating sites to make new friends and enjoy dates. Don’t pressure yourself to make a long-term commitment soon after divorce. It can take years to heal. Some divorced adults need therapy because they can’t heal alone. 

Don’t hide your past.

Past issues affect whether a person wants a relationship with you, including past or domestic, or mental health issues. For example, there’s a restraining order against your ex-spouse for domestic abuse or another past partner. If you keep this information hidden, when it comes out, a new partner will question if you’re worthy of trust. Being honest makes it easier for a partner to decide whether to keep dating you. Also, expect a potential partner to be honest about their past. If you’re in doubt, ask their friends or family to perform a background check on your own. The reality is that if something is hidden – it should come out to ensure your couple is successful. Otherwise, a wall of secrets will always block the trust between you.

Live for yourself. 

You’re setting new routines for the present and the future. Think of how best to recreate a lifestyle as a single person. Make decisions in your best interest. Then, attract a partner who respects your boundaries. Quite often, in a relationship, one partner makes choices to benefit their partner more of the time. When you’re feeling lonely or dating a new person, you’ve got time to decide what you want from life and how much to change for a partner. 

If you decide to live alone, keep your intentions clear. You make a daily choice to be a friend or partner. A romantic partner can accept or reject how you rebuild your lifestyle and do what is in your best interest, so the seriousness of your future partnership should be discussed beforehand.

Over 45,000 people in Galway received Pandemic Unemployment in the past year

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Fewer than 4,000 remain on pandemic unemployment in Galway

More than 45,000 people in Galway have availed of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment since it was introduced a year ago.

The latest figures from the Department of Social Protection show that Galway still has the third highest level of people on PUP.

Payments have been made to 24,563 people in Galway this week, a decrease of just over 400 on the week prior.

In total, 45,994 people here have been in receipt of pandemic unemployment at some point in the past year. While the numbers spiked going into 2021 as we re-entered lockdown, they still remain below the peak of 33,132 seen last May.

In the past year, the government has made payments totalling €6.3 billion under the PUP scheme, going to a total of 854,236 people.

This week, there are 456,580 people on the pandemic unemployment scheme, a decrease of 8,280 seen in the past week.

Minister Heather Humphreys said “A year on since the start of the pandemic, it is only right that we reflect on the hurt and devastation that has been felt by people who lost friends or loved ones due to the pandemic.”

“Thousands of lives were lost; hundreds of thousands of people found themselves without employment, often for their first time in their working lives.”

She said that the solidarity shown since last March has been key part of efforts to “mitigate the worst effects of the virus” while supporting frontline healthcare staff.

“I am immensely proud of the efforts of my Department’s staff since last March when they mobilised quickly to introduce the PUP in a matter of days.”

“I also want to pay tribute to our customers for their co-operation and understanding as we implemented these new schemes and measures to provide them with supports during these difficult times.”

The worst hit sector of the economy has been for unemployment has been Accommodation and Food Service Activities, where 170,272 people have availed of PUP.

This is followed by Wholesale and Retail Trade; Repair of Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles (143,779), Construction (108,376), and Administrative and Support Service Activities (71,329).

GMIT welcomes report recommending increased funding to tackle sexual consent and violence

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news ATU Languages Competition for secondary schools returns for 2nd year

GMIT has welcomed the publication of the Technological Higher Education Authority’s report on sexual violence and consent on campus, which calls for greater support to help address these issues.

The PROPEL Project Report “Promoting Consent and Preventing Sexual Violence in Higher Education Institutions” which has been released this week calls for further funding, increased resources, and stronger policies to address these issues.

GMIT’s Debbie Molloy and Mary Nestor, co-chairs of the GMIT Working Group on Preventing & Responding to Sexual Misconduct and Harassment, welcomed the report.

“Third levels institutions like GMIT are uniquely placed to raise awareness and make a real impact on preventing and responding to sexual misconduct and harassment.

“At GMIT, we have formed a Working Group, representative of staff and students, and that group is developing a four-year institutional action plan to make progress on these issues that affect our staff and students and the wider population.”

The PROPEL report was commissioned by THEA to assist technological higher education institutions to implement the national Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions: Safe, Respectful, Supportive and Positive – Ending Sexual Violence and Harassment in Irish Higher Education Institutions, published in April 2019.

It details key components and options for inclusion in institutional action plans, outline of best practice and guidelines for emerging policies and procedures in this area and a series of conclusions and recommendations.

Policy Analyst and author of the report, Dr Eavan O’Brien of THEA said that understanding of the issues of sexual violence and harassment in higher education is still developing, as are policies for tackling them.

“Rather than the end, this report is just the beginning. Sexual violence and harassment are generally related to power. We must examine structural inequities that are the drivers of unacceptable behaviour and that set the conditions for abuse of power.

“This includes challenging and dismantling sexism, racism, ableism, and discrimination based on gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation.”

“We must also recognise, as a society, that we will be more successful in eradicating these behaviours if we educate and raise awareness of sexual consent at primary and post-primary levels.”

Appeal lodged against 254 bed Headford Road student accommodation

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Green light for dozens more bed spaces in Headford Road student accommodation

An appeal has been lodged against plans for a 254 bed space student accommodation development on the Headford Road in Galway City.

The city council granted planning permission to Cleverson Ltd last month for a part seven, part eight storey development next to Galway Retail Park.

The development will consist of four retail units on the ground floor, a gym on the first floor, and 74 student accommodation apartments on the remaining six floors.

It has been designed as two building blocks connected via a glazed link bridge. The block closest to the retail park will be eight storeys in height, while the southerly block will be seven storeys.

The site is an undeveloped brownfield location between the Galway Retail Park and the Dyke Road car park.

The green light for the project was granted by Galway City Council with 28 conditions attached on February 11.

However, that decision has now been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the An Taisce Galway Association.

A decision on this appeal is due from the higher planning authority by July 13 of this year.

COVID-19: Hospital numbers at Portiuncula pass UHG

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news COVID-19 cases more than double at UHG

There has been another slight increase in the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalised in Galway, with Portiuncula Hospital overtaking UHG.

As of Thursday evening there were six confirmed cases at Portiuncula Hospital, up from four the previous day.

At University Hospital Galway, however, the number of confirmed cases has dropped to five, with a further two suspected cases.

The Intensive Care Unit at Portiuncula remains empty of COVID-19 patients as of yet, despite rising hospital admissions, while the ICU numbers at UHG remain steady at three.

Nationwide there were 334 people in hospital with COVID-19 as of 8pm Thursday, of whom 83 are in the ICU.

Another 41 new cases were reported in Galway yesterday, the second highest figure in the country behind Dublin.

Galway TD calls for extension of parental benefits to cover surrogacy

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

Galway TD Claire Kerrane has called for the government to extend parental support measures to parents of children born through surrogacy.

The Sinn Féin TD said that parents of babies born through surrogacy are currently not entitled to Maternity Benefit or Parent’s Leave and Benefit.

“It is so important that all parents have the opportunity to take time off from work to spend with their baby and that in that time they are supported financially by the Social Protection system.

“The fact that this opportunity is not afforded to those who have a baby through surrogacy is totally unacceptable. This has to change,” Claire Kerrane said.

The Galway-Roscommon TD said that she has contacted the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys to ask why these parents are excluded from paid parental supports, and for legislation to be amended to correct it.

“We need to have parental supports in place for parents and families that are inclusive. I will be pushing this matter with the Minister and I hope for a positive response.”

The best alternatives to traditional parties in Galway

By
Angela Mc Bride
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Massive parties in which people interacted with each other with zero hesitation and very little personal space almost seem like fantasies today. The rich and the famous continued to host huge parties during the pandemic since they had access to both resources and better treatments. But, ordinary people found it much harder to bring back any semblance of normalcy to their daily lives. They could barely work anymore, much less hold parties. 

You somehow survived these horrendous months filled with uncertainty and would like to get together with your close friends and family members. A typical party from the past is entirely out of the question, and you have to be innovative when it comes to planning a party while the pandemic rages on. Here are a few fun ideas that can get you started.

A Zoom party

Video calls turned into the primary mode of communication in 2020. It is now being used for everything from communicating with family members to official meetings. Why not use it for a birthday party too? Although adults will be pretty okay with a few phone calls wishing them a good year ahead, your children would have been looking forward to celebrating their birthdays. Due to the pandemic, they might not have seen their friends for several months, and it would be cruel to tell them that their birthday party is also cancelled. A good solution to this issue is to hold a birthday party over a video call. Contact the parents of your children’s friends, let them know about the online party, tell them the date, time and send them a link to the scheduled meeting. Just talking to each other via video call is not going to cut it. 

Since you will definitely be purchasing a cake for your child, also order several boxes of cupcakes and candies for their friends. On the day of the birthday or the day prior, go on a delivery drive to the houses of all the invited guests. If you take your child along, they can communicate with their friends from the safety of the car. Drop off the cupcakes, candies and materials needed for any crafting activities you wish to hold during the party. Once the day arrives, you can set down the cake in front of the screen and ask the other children to eat their cupcakes once your child has cut a slice. The rest of the evening can be spent making the kids engage in some fun activities or having them perform for each other. 

A casino themed party.

Visiting your favourite casino with your friends must have been a part of your monthly routine. Now that it’s not so safe to be outside anymore, going to the casino is no longer practical. But what if you recreated the casino atmosphere at home? 

Set out appropriately spaced areas with a laptop or a PC. Distribute typical snacks and drinks you used to enjoy at casinos. Turn on some standard casino music on the speakers and open up a good online casino on the devices.

There are thousands of online gambling sites you can access right from your home. You can find several trustworthy online casinos on this site. This party is only for a limited number of people, and to ensure appropriate social distancing, you can ask them to keep their devices in different rooms and not crowd in one single room. You can get started with some of your favourite slot machine games and celebrate the wins. Once you are done with those, you can join online rooms or servers where you can play table games with each other. Some online casinos today also provide live dealer games that can enhance your experience.

To better emulate the casino experience, ask your friends to dress glamorously, as they would have to a casino. Also, change the lights and decorations inside your home to give it a more casino-like feel. 

An outdoor movie watching party

If you want to enjoy an evening with a handful of friends and you have a pretty spacious backyard, a movie session could be a good choice. Get a projector, and project the movie onto a white sheet or a screen hung up a certain distance away. Set out chairs or rugs with sufficient distance between them, prepare all of the guests’ favourite snacks and get watching. Though this might not be the same as watching a movie at a theatre, you’ll still get to enjoy a fun evening where you can communicate with your friends. 

Wrapping up

We are still trying to learn how to exist alongside this deadly disease. Humans have always found ways to persist and survive. Though the way we live has certainly changed, our basic desires and emotions continue to be the same. If you want to spend a few hours with your close friends, there are ways to do it while being safe. 

COVID-19: No deaths today, but 41 new Galway cases

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

No new deaths related to COVID-19 have been reported by the Department of Health today, but 582 new cases have been notified.

Of the cases reported today 41 are in Galway, the second highest figure in the country behind Dublin (262).

The county’s 14-day incidence rate now stands at 124.4 cases per 100,000 people, with 321 cases here in the past two weeks.

There were 345 people hospitalised with COVID-19 in Ireland as of this morning, of whom 83 were in the ICU.

There have now been a total of 228,796 confirmed cases in Ireland, and 4,566 deaths related to the disease.

The COVID-19 data hub provides up-to-date information on the key indicators of the virus in the community including daily data on Ireland’s COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

Pesticide exceedances detected in two Galway drinking water supplies

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

Pesticide exceedances were detected in the Ballinasloe and Tully-Tullycross water supplies nine times in the past two years.

Irish water said that the pesticides MCPA, glyphosate and 2,4-D were detected in the public drinking water supplies in Ballinasloe and Tully-Tullycross during routine sampling in 2019 and 2020.

However, Irish Water has said that the levels detected, while excessive, do not represent a threat to public health.

MCPA is an active substance present in many commonly used herbicide products used to control the growth of thistles, docks and rushes and remains the most commonly detected pesticide in Ireland.

The Ballinasloe water supply is drawn from the River Suck and the Tully-Tullycross drinking water supply comes from the River Tully, both of which are vulnerable to runoff from land Irish Water states.

Dr Pat O’Sullivan, Irish Water’s Regional Drinking Water Compliance Specialist said “In Co. Galway, the exceedances of the drinking water regulations for MCPA, glyphosate and 2,4-D were noted in the Ballinasloe and Tully-Tullycross public water supplies following routine sampling.”

“While our consultation with the HSE has concluded that the levels seen do not represent a threat to public health, it is however undesirable and therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.”

Last year there were 81 pesticide exceedances recorded in public drinking water supplies, five more than in 2019, with MCPA being the most commonly detected pesticide.

Fortunately, the two locations in Galway where pesticide exceedances were recorded are not among the six catchment areas of greatest concern to the National Pesticides and Drinking Water Action Group (NPDWAG).

These are Longford Central, Co Longford (MCPA), Newcastlewest, Co Limerick (MCPA), Belturbet, Co Cavan (MCPA), Clonroche, Co Wexford (Bentazone), Newport, Co Mayo (Glyphosate/MCPA) and Foynes Shannon Estuary, Co Limerick.

Irish Water, working in partnership with a range of organisations involved in the NPDWAG, is asking the farming community, greens keepers, grounds keepers, and domestic users, to minimise pesticide use, and to consider in each case whether they need to use pesticides at all.

John Leamy, Irish Water’s Drinking Water Compliance Lead said that while consultation with the HSE has shown that the levels being detected are not a threat to health, they are undesirable to have in drinking water.

“It is therefore imperative that users of pesticides are mindful of best practice when using herbicides or pesticides and seek out alternatives.”

Preview: Connacht Rugby v Scarlets

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

Connacht are eager to finish get a win in their last home game of the season against the Scarlets next week said Defence coach Pete Wilkins.

Connacht and the Scarlets will meet at the Sportsground on Monday night. But regardless of what happens there, Connacht are guaranteed of the second spot on the leaderboard in Conference B of the Guinness PRO14.

But Pete Wilkins said that they want to keep up their momentum for morale purposes, and to build steam headed into the European Challenge Cup last 16 game away to Leicester Tigers on April 3.

“In terms of the context of going into the European encounter, in terms of rebounding from that Edinburgh performance, in terms of finishing our domestic season, a win ticks all of those boxes.”

“So I think there are a lot of moving parts, and selection is another one of those. But actually, it’s what we control in terms of how we play and getting the result, it satisfies all of those.”

Wilkins praised the focus that the team have maintained despite the chaos and uncertainty caused by COVID-19, not letting any of the doubt regarding fixtures dampen their ambitions for the season.

“I know that’s a cliche but when we’ve had uncertainty around the draw in both competitions, around the schedule, in terms of games being rescheduled or dates being moved, what this group has done really well is just charge into the week ahead and make sure we try to get that bit right with all the commitment and enthusiasm you would want out of them, in terms of preparation.”

“In that sense, it sets us up really well for this because, again, we’ve just found out what that European last 16 draw looks like.”

“Then you finally get wind of what it’s being played on, in terms of that weekend. The fact that we’ve been really good at focusing week by week and on the opposition in hand, I think that sets us up and if we are going to be successful it’s going to be an important part.”

COVID-19: Hospital cases rise at Portiuncula

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Portiuncula Hospital reports high flu circulation

The number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 in Galway has increased to 10, due to an uptick in cases at Portiuncula Hospital.

Portiuncula Hospital, which had dropped to zero cases on multiple days recently, now reports four confirmed cases of COVID-19.

There are a further six cases at University Hospital Galway, down from eight the day before, along with two suspected cases.

The number of patients in Intensive Care in Galway remains the same, with three ICU admissions at UHG and none at Portiuncula.

Nationwide there were 343 people hospitalised with COVID-19 as of 8pm on Wednesday according to the latest HSE figures.

Of those, 82 patients had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, and 56 had to be placed on ventilators.

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