One person has died following a serious traffic collision in Ballybane, Galway City, which took place on Sunday afternoon.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision that occurred at Ballybane, Galway, on Sunday, 18th May 2025.

Emergency services and Gardaí responded to a three-car collision at Clareview Park at approximately 2:50pm.

The driver of one of the vehicles, a man aged in his 40s, was in collision with two other cars.

All three drivers were brought to University Hospital Galway, where the man subsequently passed away. There were no other injuries reported.

The local Coroner has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Road users who were in the Clareview Park between 2:30pm and 3pm and may have camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, are asked to make it available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Gaillimh Garda Station on 091 538000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Gardaí will be implementing traffic restrictions in Salthill tomorrow for the GAA double-header, Africa Day celebrations and An Tóstal Festival.

Around 20,000 people are expected in Pearse Stadium for the hurling and football double-header starting in the afternoon.

Throw-in for Galway v Antrim in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship is at 2:30pm and 5:00pm for Galway v Dublin in Round 1 of the All-Ireland Football Senior Championship.

In Salthill Park, the Africa Day Youth Multicultural Festival takes place from 1:00pm to 5:00pm, while the An Tóstal sailing festival takes place with activities along the Promenade on the day, and also on Sunday, 18th May.

Large volumes of traffic can be expected in the general Salthill area throughout the day.

There will be road closures, with access maintained for residents. Outer cordons will be in place in the following locations:

• On Salthill Prom at the junctions with Dalysfort Road and at Rockbarton West (by the Circle of Life Garden/Quincentennial Park).
• At Rockbarton Road (after the vehicular entrance to Leisureland)
• On Salthill Road Upper at the junction with Lenaboy Gardens
• Lower Salthill at the Devon Park junction
• Taylor’s Hill at the Rosary Lane junction
• The junction of Threadneedle Road and Dr Mannix Road

Salthill will remain very much open for business and is expected to be very busy given the weather forecast.

Gardaí are advising people heading to any of these events to plan their journey, arrive in Salthill early, and to follow guidance from Gardaí, event marshals and road signage.

People travelling by car are advised to that there is limited parking available at the carparks in Salthill and at St Enda’s College on Threadneedle Road.

Motorists should consider parking in the city centre and using bus services, which will operate throughout the day, or walking.

The Galway RNLI lifeboat came to the rescue of three people on a boat left stranded in the middle of Galway Bay yesterday evening.

Shortly after 6pm on Thursday, as the Galway lifeboat crew were getting ready for a planned training exercise, the call came in about a boat in distress between Spiddal and Blackhead.

The lifeboat with helm Seán King, Stefanie Carr, Ian Claxton and Eoghan Donohue on board was ready to launch and was quickly underway to the reported location of the 6.5 metre long rigid inflatable boat (RIB) which had engine failure and was unable to return to shore.

Once on the scene, the volunteer lifeboat crew medically assessed the three people on board the RIB and with no one in need of first aid, the lifeboat crew were able to establish a tow and bring the stricken boat safely to harbour.

Paul Carey, who was the Galway RNLI Launch Authority on Thursday, said, “It was a good outcome all round with everyone safe. The people on board the RIB did the right thing and made contact with the Coast Guard.”

“If you see anyone in difficulty at sea or if you get into difficulty yourself, please call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard will then contact us and our lifeboat crew will respond immediately.”

“When you are out on the water, it is so important to have a means of making contact either by mobile phone or VHF radio.”

“The area of Galway Bay between Spiddal to the north in County Galway and Blackhead to the south in County Clare is quite considerable, and it was really important that the crew on the lifeboat were able to stay in contact with the people on the RIB regarding their location.”

With the current spell of good weather, the RNLI has the following advice for people enjoying themselves out on the water:

• Always wear a lifejacket or a suitable flotation device for your activity
• Know how to float in an emergency
• Always carry a means of calling for help, such as a VHF radio or mobile phone, in a waterproof pouch and keep it on you
• Always check the weather forecast and tide times before venturing out
• Always tell someone where you are going and when you are due back
• If you see someone in trouble or get into difficulty yourself, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill welcomed progress on a masterplan for the expansion of University Hospital Galway during a visit on Thursday.

GUH is the only Model 4 Hospital in HSE West North West, it serves a population of over 850,000 people and is one of the busiest hospitals in the country.

Minister Carroll MacNeill met with HSE management and staff today to discuss the UHG Masterplan, a transformative initiative designed to reshape healthcare delivery for the West and North West of Ireland over the next 25 years.

The development control plan (DCP) for UHG has been completed and will be used to support capital submissions for a series of priority capital projects on the campus.

The plan comprises the following major projects to improve the hospitals capacity:

• Two new Ward Blocks, each providing 150 acute beds with shell and core floors for later fit-outs including maternity and diagnostic services
• An Ambulatory Cancer Centre
• A new Laboratory Block
• A new Emergency, ICU and Surgical block

A new, permanent helipad, which will allow the hospital to be futureproofed for the next 40 years, is a vital component of this work.

The final stages of the development control plan include the following additional accommodation:

• An enlarged Main Entrance
• An enlarged Paediatric/Maternity Centre
• Facilities for Staff, Research and Education

Other works underway or planned for Merlin Park Hospital will see high volume, low complexity cases such as elective, day case procedures and outpatient services moved to the MPUH campus, while complex acute care, oncology, maternity and paediatric inpatient care will remain in UHG.

The infrastructure developments ongoing in Merlin Park involve;

• Construction of a new surgical hub, which is expected to open in Q2 2026.
• The construction of a new elective hospital for the region, currently in stage one of design. Enabling works are progressing to de-risk the site in advance of the main construction phase.

• The relocation of outpatient services to Merlin Park Hospital, where a new Outpatient Department block was completed in 2024 and became operational earlier this year. Phase Two of this development, which will enable the relocation of further outpatient appointments, is currently at the design stage.

As part of her visit, Minister Carroll MacNeill visited the Merlin Park campus to view the site of the new surgical hub, the proposed site for the planned new elective hospital and the recently opened Outpatient Department.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said, “I’m very pleased to be here today to see the impact of the Government’s significant investment in Galway University Hospitals, both at Merlin Park University Hospital and University Hospital Galway.”

“It was a pleasure to meet with and thank staff in the newly opened Outpatient Department and Cystic Fibrosis Units at Merlin Park, which represent a combined investment of almost €19 million.”

“I also met with the team to discuss plans to modernise Galway University Hospital, and I’m excited to see the real progress being made with the new Surgical Hub for the region.”

“I know the team in Galway have worked closely with officials in my Department to develop a holistic plan that is comprehensive and deliverable.”

“The upgrading, modernising and expansion of patient facilities in Galway will contribute to improved waiting times and greater care for patients not just in Galway but across the west and north west region.”

Chris Kane, Hospital Manager for GUH said that the development of this UHG masterplan is an important step in setting out the phased development of the hospital in the coming years.

“Each of the subsequent phases required to deliver the overall ambition will be developed in turn.”

“A parallel development control plan for MPUH is underway and decanting works are in progress.”

“We are very excited about the potential of this plan to deliver a modern, future-proofed hospital which our patients need and deserve.”

Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer HSE West and North West, concluded, “We need to ensure that the only Model 4 hospital we have in the region meets the highest standards and delivers the best possible outcomes for patients.”

“I was delighted to welcome Minister Carroll MacNeill to GUH today, and I would like to thank her for her support in progressing these ambitious plans for better patient care in our region.”

Uisce Éireann crews are working to restore water supply to areas in the vicinity of the Headford Road in Galway city after an outage caused by a burst water main.

The outage is affecting approximately 200 homes and businesses in the area, including customers in Dun na Coiribe, Gort na Coiribe and the Terryland Retail Park.

Customers in these areas may be affected by outages or reduced pressure in their supply as a result of this.

Uisce Eireann estimated that repair works will be complete and supply restored by 4pm this afternoon, but it may take some time for people to see their full water supply restored.

Uisce Éireann’s Leo O’Shea assured affected homes and businesses that specialist Uisce Éireann crews have been dispatched to the site and are working to repair the burst and restore supply to affected customers as soon as possible.

“Uisce Éireann understands the inconvenience caused by unplanned outages and thanks affected customers for their patience while repairs are being carried out,” said Leo.

Typically, it takes two to three hours following repairs for normal supply to restore to all customers affected by an unplanned outage.

However, it may take longer for normal supply to be restored to some customers as the system recharges.

A street in Galway City centre will be closed to traffic for three days next week while infrastructure works take place.

Galway City Council has made an order for the closure of Bowling Green to facilitate the urgent upgrade of water infrastructure.

The road will be closed 24/7 from Monday, May 19, through to Wednesday, May 21.

The closure will affect the entire length of the Bowling Green from its junctions with Market Street and Abbeygate Street Upper.

Diversion routes will be in place via the aforementioned roads, and local access will be maintained.

The first HSE West and North West Dementia Conference took place in Galway in April in partnership with University of Galway, Ireland, to highlight this growing health issue.

Dementia is a major and escalating public health challenge in Ireland, with a rising number of diagnoses largely driven by the country’s aging population.

There is also a notable rise in the number of individuals diagnosed with early-onset dementia (under the age of 65).

The number of people living with dementia is expected to increase significantly, with projections indicating that by 2045, over 150,000 individuals will be affected nationally.

Currently, over 12,000 individuals are estimated to be living across the West and North West with dementia, according to the 2022 census.

The conference was chaired by Paula Noone, Assistant Director of Nursing for Dementia Quality Improvement, HSE West and North West and Dr Maria Costello, Consultant Geriatrician, University Hospital Galway and Senior Lecturer in Geriatric Medicine, University of Galway.

Dr Costello stated, “The goal of this conference was to bring together health professionals from across the region to learn, network, and inspire one another, fostering collaboration and shared knowledge to support their vital work with people living with dementia.”

“The event also underscored the crucial role of academic partnerships in advancing research and education to drive innovation and excellence in the field.”

The event brought together over 170 healthcare professionals from diverse sectors, all working to enhance care for individuals affected by dementia. Patient representative groups and key support organisations were also present.

There were a number of presentations on the day from across the region focusing on clinical services, research, quality improvement initiatives and emerging treatments for dementia.

The experiences of individuals and families affected by dementia were also highlighted, with the voice of carers featuring throughout the discussions.

The opening address to the conference was delivered by Ann Cosgrove, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager Galway and Roscommon, who opened the conference by stating: “I’m delighted to see such a diverse range of healthcare professionals here today to share their knowledge and expertise in this field.”

“This is the first Dementia Conference for the West and North West and it marks the beginning of renewed collaboration and emphasis on dementia care and explores how we best deliver it across the acute and community settings.”

Awards were presented at the conference to three teams in recognition of their work in dementia, which had been submitted for adjudication.

• 1^st prize: Psychiatry of Later Life Team, Roscommon Mental Health Service
• 2^nd prize: Integrated Care for Older Persons Service, Galway East City and County
• 3^rd prize: Psychiatry of Old Age Service, Sligo Leitrim Mental Health Service

Dr Seán O’Dowd, Consultant Neurologist, Clinical Lead for the National Dementia Office, attended the event and gave a keynote speech on the day.

He commented: “It was hugely powerful to see the commitment in the room from those working in the West and North West, and the passion to make things better for those affected by these diseases and their families.”

“HSE National Dementia Services will continue to advocate for further resourcing to ensure equitable access and care across the spectrum from earliest symptoms to advanced need.”

Conservation projects for a church and a castle in Galway City have been awarded a combined €250,000 in funding.

Menlough Castle and St Nicholas Collegiate Church will both receive funding for conservation and repair works under the Community Monuments Fund.

€130,000 has been allocated for work on Menlough Castle, while another €120,000 will be spent preserving St. Nicholas Collegiate Church.

Speaking about the award of funding, Cllr Níall McNelis, Deputy Mayor of the City of Galway, said that it was wonderful to receive funding to preserve two such important monuments.

“The award under the Community Monuments Fund means that these two iconic monuments will be conserved, protected, and their presentation improved, for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”

The Very Rev. Lynda Peilow, the rector of St. Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, said, “This funding is vital for safeguarding the building’s rich heritage, allowing for ongoing restoration efforts that reveal previously unknown aspects of its history.”

Provost Lynda also highlighted that, “While St. Nicholas functions as a living church, it also serves as a heritage site of immense historical importance to Galway.”

She expressed gratitude for the support that enables the urgent work needed to address immediate issues.

Over the past two years, the grant funding has facilitated a transformation of the South transept of the church, restoring it to a semblance of its former glory.

Menlough Castle, or Menlo Castle, is a 16th century castle on the shores of the River Corrib, an iconic landmark in the Galway area.

Formerly belonging to the Blake family, the castle was gutted by fire in the early 20th century and has fallen into ruin.

Describing the proposed works, Brendan Dunne, Senior Executive Planner said that significant works have been undertaken to preserve the castle in recent years.

Among the work which has been done in recent years has been the removal of overgrowth which covered most of the remain walls of the old castle.

Brendan Dunne added that this funding will support, “Consolidation and repair works to the internal spine wall, and the commencement of works to the distinctive East ‘front’ façade, including repairs to the impressive windows.”

“Likewise St Nicholas Collegiate Church is ‘a church in the heart of the city, with the city at its heart’ – and a place of considerable historical significance for the people of Galway for over 700 years, as the largest medieval parish church in Ireland in continuous use as a place of worship.”

“This €120,000 funding will support the completion of repairs to east wall of the South transept, which has been ongoing over the last number of years; in addition, external repairs to the belfry tower will be undertaken”.

The Atlantic Masters Swimming Club is holding its 7th annual Lifeboat Swim this July to raise money for lifesaving water charities.

The charity swim in aid of the Galway RNLI and the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit will take place on Saturday, July 5 at Renville Pier, Oranmore.

Open for entries now, the event offers a range of swim challenges, from a 250m Try-a-Swim for beginners to a more ambitious 2km swim for experienced open water swimmers.

Participants will have the unique opportunity to swim in the beautiful waters of Galway Bay, all while supporting two vital local search and rescue charities Galway RNLI and the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit.

“We’re excited to celebrate the growth of our club, especially after our 10-year anniversary last year,” said Eimear Keane, Secretary of the Atlantic Masters Swimming Club.

“Open water swimming has grown in popularity, and our event caters to swimmers of all levels—whether you’ve just taken up swimming in open water or aiming to conquer the 2km challenge. We’ve made sure to create an inclusive and safe environment for everyone to enjoy.”

The 2km swim will take participants around swim buoys installed at Renville Pier, Oranmore.

Swimmers will be provided with timing chips, and prizes will be awarded to the top three male and female finishers in both wetsuit and non-wetsuit categories. Participants in the Try-a-Swim will receive a medal to commemorate their efforts.

Safety boats and kayakers will be stationed on the water to provide support and safety for swimmers throughout the day.

In addition to being a fun and challenging event, the swim is a major fundraiser for the Oranmore Maree Coastal Search Unit and Galway RNLI. Participants can register and find more details on the event at www.atlanticlifeboatswim.com

A teenager reported missing from Claregalway earlier this week has been located safe and well.

Gardaí made a public appeal for information after Tyler Berry (14) was reported missing from Claregalway since Thursday, May 8.

It has now been confirmed that Tyler has been located safe and well.

An Garda Síochána thanked the public for their assistance.

One lucky person in Galway got their weekend off to a flying start with a €500,000 win in yesterday’s Daily Million lotto draw.

The Galway lotto player took home the top prize in the 2pm Daily Million Plus draw on Friday, making them the third winner of this prize in the year.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased on the day of the draw from Mountbellew Post Office, Co. Galway.

The winning numbers in Friday, 9th May 2pm Daily Million Plus draw were: 8, 16, 28, 29, 33, 34 and the bonus was 27.

They aren’t the only one celebrating, with another Limerick player going home €255,000 richer following the EuroMillions Ireland Only Raffle.

In addition to the usual €5,000 Raffle prize, the Limerick player received an additional prize of €250,000, bringing their total winnings to €255,000.

The winning Quick Pick ticket, which was purchased on the day from Moloney’s Daybreak, Carrigkerry, Athea, Co. Limerick, had the raffle number I-SBS-10586.

Throughout May, EuroMillions players in Ireland have the chance to win an additional €250,000. With six more prizes of €250,000 to be won, and previous winners from Dublin, Meath and now Limerick, the excitement builds as we wonder where the next winner will come from.

This series of special EuroMillions Ireland-Only Raffles guarantees players a top up in the prize fund for all nine draws, every Tuesday and Friday, over the month of May.

Typically, every EuroMillions draw produces ten winners of the €5,000 Ireland-Only Raffle prize, but this month, we have created something extra special.

In addition to the normal Raffle prize, one winner in each draw in May will win a dazzling €250,000 on top of the usual €5,000 Raffle prize.

Darragh O’Dwyer, National Lottery spokesperson, said, “It was a Friday to remember for our players in Galway and Limerick, with two big wins to celebrate this weekend!”

“In last night’s EuroMillions draw, there was no winner of the EuroMillions jackpot, but over 61,000 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games.”

“This includes one Raffle Ticket Winner: I-SBS-10586 of the ‘Ireland Only Raffle’ special draw, who received €255,000. With six more €250,000 EuroMillions Ireland Only Raffle top up wins guaranteed, it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable month for our players.”

The National Lottery is urging all players in the Limerick and Galway areas to check their tickets carefully and if you’re holding the winning ticket, be sure to contact the National Lottery prize claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie to arrange the collection of your prize.

Gardaí are appealing to the public for information that could help to locate the missing 14-year-old Tyler Berry.

Tyler Berry is reported missing from Claregalway, Co Galway since Thursday, May 8.

Tyler is described as being approximately 5 foot 5 inches in height with a slim build, light brown hair and blue eyes.

Gardaí are concerned for Tyler’s well-being.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station on 091 538000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

The spotlight shone on some of Ireland’s brightest young performers as No Name’s Got Talent 2025 took to the stage on Saturday, April 26th, at the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone.

Young people from clubs across the country came together for an unforgettable evening of music, dance, comedy and more.

No Name Club, a national, voluntary youth organisation, provides young people with a space to socialise in a fun, safe, and alcohol-free environment.

The annual talent show is one of the No Name Club’s biggest and most anticipated events and this year was no exception.

Sorcha Watson, a member of No Name Club Mountbellew, was named one of the overall winners. Sorcha was awarded the second-place Gallery Award for her painting.

Tanya McNamee from the Mountbellew club performed ‘Maybe This Time’ on stage, and Katie and Rachel performed a dance routine to ‘What Was I Made For’, which the judges called elegant and beautiful.

Judges praised both the variety and the standard of talent on display, and all participating clubs were recognised with trophies and awards.

Speaking about the competition, Dr. Garrett Keenaghan, Chairperson, No Name Club said, “It’s so heartening to see the talent on show from our young people.”

“The level of effort, organisation and team work that we’ve seen here is just fantastic. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

No Name Club is a national, voluntary youth organisation that empowers young people aged 15–18 by providing a fun, safe environment where they can socialise without the pressures of alcohol or drugs.

Operating youth clubs across Ireland, No Name Club plays a vital role in helping teenagers build confidence and social skills, while avoiding the risks associated with peer pressure.

A man in his 80s died after a car went into the water on Clare Island on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 6.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a single-vehicle fatal road traffic collision that occurred at Glen, Clare Island, Co Mayo yesterday afternoon.

A car entered the water at approximately 1pm and the driver, a man aged in his 80s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

His body was removed from the scene to Mayo University Hospital where a post mortem examination is due to take place.

A Forensic Collision Investigator carried out an examination of the scene.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Gardaí are appealing to the public for assistance in locating 14-year-old Lily Reilly, who has been reported missing since the start of the week.

Lily has been missing from Sligo Town, Co. Sligo since Monday, May 5.

Lily is described as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with a slim build, brown hair, and brown eyes.

When last seen, she was wearing a white shirt, black leggings and carrying a cream handbag.

Gardaí are concerned for Lily’s wellbeing.

Anyone with information on Lily’s whereabouts is urged to contact Sligo Garda Station at 071 915 7000, the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Work was completed recently on significant upgrade works to the water network in Ballinasloe to reduce the amount of outages the town suffers.

Crews have recently completed reinstatement works at St Michael’s Place, in the centre of the East Galway town, after a programme of works which saw over 200 metres of the aging cast iron mains replaced with new, modern pipes.

This upgrade to the town water network began work back in February, and was completed in mid-April.

The works also involved laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries, and connecting it to the customers’ water supply.

Enda Mac Namara, programme manager with Uisce Éireann, outlined the benefits of the project.

“Ultimately, these recently completed works will provide real and tangible benefits for St Michael’s Place and the surrounding areas of Ballinasloe by ensuring a safer and more reliable water supply and significantly reducing the risk of future disruptions.”

“Local residents and businesses were highly cooperative with our crews while works were ongoing, and we wish to extend our thanks to these residents and businesses,” said Enda.

The Tuam Bypass will be closed to traffic overnight for one night this week while maintenance work takes place.

CJV, on behalf of TII, plan to carry out routine maintenance of Tuam Bypass on the night of Thursday, May 8.

In order to allow this to take place, the road will be closed to traffic from 7pm that evening until 6am the following morning.

During these hours any traffic will be diverted through Tuam town itself.