A status yellow rain warning for Galway, Mayo, and Clare is in place today, with spells of heavy rain expected to last into the night.

The yellow weather will be in effect until 9pm on Friday, with spells of rain expected throughout the day, turning heavy at times.

This may cause some localised flooding Met Eireann has warned.

A Status Orange weather warning has also been issued for county Wicklow today, with heavy rain forecast until 11am Saturday.

Two other status yellow rain warnings have also been issued for Carlow, Dublin, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, and Kerry.

Ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) are urging all road users to support their efforts to keep them and all others on the roads safe this Easter Weekend.

Many will be planning to gather with family and loved ones over this Easter weekend and Gardaí expect that there will therefore be more road users on the move.

To help ensure that everyone using Irish roads this weekend remain safe, a Garda Roads Policing Operation will be in place. It got underway at 7am this morning and will run until 7am on Tuesday, 22nd April 2025.
People out socialising and drinking this weekend are urged to either leave their car at home, arrange a designated driver among friends, pre-book a taxi, use public transport where possible or fix up a lift home from someone they trust who will not be under the influence.

At no point is it safe or acceptable to get behind the wheel of a vehicle after having an intoxicant like alcohol or drugs.

Walking home or cycling under the influence of alcohol or drugs can also put you and other road users at risk.

So Far This Year:

The number of drivers and pedestrians that have been killed on Irish roads from January to March was above average when compared to the same period over the past five years.

In the first quarter of this year, 1-in-3 of those killed or seriously injured on Irish Roads have been aged under 30.

Half of those fatally injured in road traffic collisions this year have been the driver, while two-thirds of all fatal collisions involved a single vehicle.

During quarter one of each of the past six years, for passengers and pedestrians, the largest age group for fatal and seriously injured road users were those aged 20 or younger.

An Garda Síochána has noted an increase in the number of road traffic collisions occurring on Friday, Saturday and Sunday’s – with about double the five-year average number of collisions happening on Friday’s this year.

Chief Superintendent, Jane Humphries of the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau said, “What our most recent analysis demonstrates is that there is still some way to go in younger drivers paying heed to our pleas to follow the road traffic laws.

“There is a sense among some that Gardaí are out conducting roads policing duties to catch people, make their lives difficult by adding penalty points to their licences and cost them money in fines.”

“I can tell you that is absolutely not the case – we are working to help make sure everyone is safe on their journey.”

“No Garda has ever or will ever take satisfaction in responding to a horrific road traffic collision that has caused serious injuries or death.”

“Being tasked to call to a home to deliver the worst possible news to a devastated family that their loved one has been killed is something that no Garda ever wishes to do. Our work is aimed at avoiding all of those awful circumstances.”

“This long Easter weekend there will be more road users out on the roads the usual whether out walking, cycling or driving to go see loved ones. We urge you to please slow down, do not drive while under the influence and please keep your focus on the road.”

People in Galway are being urged to consider all care options before attending the emergency department over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Tony Canavan, Regional Executive Officer, HSE West and North West has asked that all avenues of care be explored in advance of attending your local ED.

“We’re asking the public to help us ease pressure on hospitals this Easter Bank Holiday weekend by choosing the right care at the right time, weather that’s an out of hours GP, local pharmacy, injury unit or community care team.”

In Galway the Westdoc out of hours GP service will be available over the Bank Holiday weekend from Thursday evening until Tuesday morning.

You can find your local GP out-of-hours service at https://www2.hse.ie/services/find-a-gp-out-of-hours/. Clinics are by appointment only, so please call the relevant number to book one in advance of attendance.

You can also access a range of support and advice at your local pharmacy.

It’s expected that emergency departments will see higher than normal attendances due to the bank holiday weekend and the HSE would ask for the public’s patience during long wait times.

Teams will continue to assist patients in moving as quickly as possible through the hospital system if they require hospital care.

This includes actions to support patients avoid ED admission, improving the experience of patients while in ED, ensuring effective movement within the hospitals and timely discharge to community services and other care supports.

Another option of care is injury units, which treat non life-threatening injuries such as broken bones, dislocations, sprains, wounds, scalds, and minor burns. You can find your local injury unit at www.hse.ie/injuryunits.

The National Ambulance Service (NAS) has advised that Bank Holiday weekends also see an increase in call outs and are also urging the public to consider all care pathways in advance of contacting them.

Dr Áine McNamara, Regional Director of Public Health, HSE West and North West had the following advice “It’s important that the public are reminded to protect their own, and their children’s skin by following the Healthy Ireland SunSmart 5S’s.”

“This is just as important here in Ireland as it is when holidaying abroad as from April to September the sun’s UV rays are strong enough to damage skin and increase the risk of skin cancer, even on cloudy days.”

During the bank holiday weekend, you can protect yourself and your children’s skin by following the SunSmart 5S’s:

1. Slip on clothing: Cover skin as much as possible
2. Slop on broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen
3. Slap on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, ears and neck.
4. Seek shade
5. Slide on sunglasses

Night Time water restrictions will be in place on Inis Oírr in the Arans Islands from the midweek onwards.

Uisce Éireann is appealing to customers on Inis Oírr to conserve water, as essential overnight restrictions are being introduced to maintain reservoir levels on the island.

The restrictions will be in place nightly from 11pm until 7am, beginning this Wednesday, 16 April.

The nighttime restrictions are being put in place to ensure a continuous daily supply of water is available for the island.

Uisce Éireann’s Tony Kelly said the restrictions will be timed to ensure minimal disruption to households and businesses on the island.

“We are mindful of the impact that these nighttime restrictions can have, but they are essential to safeguard continuous daytime supply on Inis Óirr,” said Tony.

“We are asking customers to be mindful of how they use water. Simple water conservation efforts can have a big impact on reducing demand on the supply.”

“Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth and shaving can save up to six litres of water per minute. Taking a shower instead of a bath or using a watering can rather than a hose when gardening can also make a big difference in water use.”

“We are also encouraging people with responsibility for properties that are currently unoccupied to check for leaks and turn off water where it is not required,” Tony continued.

Plans for the €1.4 billion Sceirde Rocks wind farm off the coast of Galway have been cancelled it has been reported.

A planning application for the proposed 450MW solar farm, consisting of 30 wind turbines, was submitted recently, but it seems that the project is not now going ahead.

It was reported by the Irish Times and news website The Currency last week that the project is being halted due to issues which had arisen following detailed surveying.

Galway Daily has reached out to Corio Generation, responsible for the project, for comment, but has not yet received a response.

Last week Corio issues a statement that the company was refocusing its operations in the offshore wind sector on a smaller number of projects which have a clearer path to delivery.

“Given challenging market conditions in the offshore wind sector, Corio Generation is refocusing its global operations to prioritise the development of a smaller portfolio of projects which have the clearest route through to construction.

“This will also require a restructure of the organisation to reflect that change in strategy. We are discussing this with our project partners and staff who may be affected by these changes.”

The planned wind farm would have comprised 30 turbines with a maximum height of 325 metres located offshore from Carna.

If completed it would have generated enough electricity to power 350,000 Irish homes, and save an estimated 550,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

There has been significant concern about the Sceirde Rocks proposal, with more than 150 third party submissions made to An Bord Pleanála

The back gate at Merlin Park Hospital has been permanently closed to public traffic starting from today.

Barriers are being installed at the back gate (off Merlin Lane) to manage traffic volumes on the Merlin Park University Hospital site.

Access to the hospital for the public, patients and visitors remains via the front entrance only.

Access via the back gate, once the barriers have been installed, will be restricted to HSE staff and essential service delivery vehicles, with strict access control in place.

The shuttle bus service for staff and patients between Merlin Park University Hospital and University Hospital Galway will operate as normal.

Local residents have complained for years now of people using Merlin Lane and the hospital campus as a rat run to avoid traffic on the old Dublin Road.

This has created a safety and traffic hazard for people living in the estates around the road, local have said.

Two public meetings on water quality in Connemara are being held by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO) later this month.

The two community information meetings on water quality and water related issues will take place in Furbo (Na Forbacha) and Letterfrack.

Under the Water Action Plan 2024 – A River Basin Management Plan for Ireland, LAWPRO carries out work in areas identified as having poor water quality called Priority Areas for Action (PAAs) to support targeted water quality improvements by state bodies and local authorities.

The two community information meetings are being held to increase awareness about water quality work in the area and to encourage as much engagement as possible with all stakeholders right across the community including key agencies, special interest groups, voluntary, public and private sectors.

Details of the meetings are as follows:

• Connemara South 24th of April 7.30pm. Location, Connemara Coast Hotel, Na Forbacha, Co. Galway, H91 KX27.

• Connemara North 29th of April 7.30ppm. Location, Ellis Hall, Connemara West plc, Connemara West Centre, Letterfrack, Co. Galway, H91 AH5K

Since 2018 LAWPRO has been working in Connemara North as part of delivery under the River Basin Management Plan for Ireland 2018 to 2021 (2nd cycle). At these meetings LAWPRO catchment scientists will go through the work that has been carried out and what is being planned under the 3rd cycle Water Action Plan 2024, including expanding into Connemara South.

There will also be opportunities for the public to ask questions and talk to members of the Agricultural Sustainability Support and Advisory Programme (ASSAP) programme and the Farming for Water European Innovation Partnership (EIP) project.

Ahead of the community information meeting, Dr Bernie White, Regional Coordinator with LAWPRO said, “As we are coming to the end of 2nd cycle work in Connemara and expanding our plans for further work in the area under the Water Action Plan, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome members of the public to come along and find out more about what’s happening in their local waterbodies.”

“We hope to engage as many people as possible at the two meetings as public participation is key to helping make water quality improvements.”

“We would also like to thank all those whether in a voluntary or paid capacity who work in their local areas and help to make a difference to their natural waters and the biodiversity that lives in and around them.”

HSE West and North West welcomes over €103 million in Capital Funding which has been approved in counties Galway and Roscommon under the HSE Capital Fund 2025.

The funding was announced by Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and will enable the progression of a number of key health infrastructure projects spanning both community and acute healthcare services.

A number of projects in Galway Roscommon set to benefit under the HSE’s Capital Development Programme include:

• Allocations for OPD and Surgical Hub on the Merlin Park site
• The commencement of the Knocknacarra Primary Care Centre and Integrated Care Hub project
• A number of projects on the UHG site to enhance bed capacity, cancer services, laboratory and Emergency Department services
• A replacement adult mental health unit in Roscommon
• The expansion of emergency department accommodation in PUH
• The development of the central sterile services department to provide the necessary capacity to support surgical activity in Portiuncula and Roscommon hospitals.
• A replacement of the Community Nursing Unit at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon
  The replacement of Clifden and Merlin Park Community Nursing Units

Ann Cosgrove, HSE IHA Manager Galway Roscommon said “I’m delighted to welcome this funding under the HSE Capital Fund 2025 which will drive improvements in both community and acute healthcare in Galway and Roscommon.”

“Many projects will progress across Galway and Roscommon with the support of this funding, enhancing our services in our hospitals and within our communities.”

“These include the commencement of the Knocknacarra Primary Care Centre and Integrated Care Hub project, which will greatly improve access to specialist clinical services in Galway city.

“In Clifden and in Merlin Park, both Community Nursing Units will be replaced under the allocation, allowing for the best care for our older persons state of the art purpose built facilities.

“In Roscommon, the replacement of a 50 bed community nursing Unit in Sacred Heart Hospital is well underway and will provide modern, fit for purpose accommodation for older people in the region.”

“Funding for the replacement of the Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU) for Roscommon further demonstrates the HSE’s commitment to improved mental health services for the region,” she said.

A major requirement for healthcare in Galway is the provision of protected Emergency Care, Elective Scheduled Care and Cancer Care.

HSE West and North West has developed a masterplan for the future development of GUH which encompasses a number of projects of significant scale. This funding announcement will further support the progression of this masterplan.

Emphasis has been given to the progression of multiple projects on the Galway University Hospitals campuses to ensure that it remains a future proofed, Model 4 hospital.

These include a inpatient ward, new ED, new laboratory, an Ambulatory Cancer Centre, a new Women and Children’s Department, Theatres and Critical Care.

“The new surgical hub and elective hospital on the Merlin Park Campus are crucial developments, which facilitate high volume, low complexity cases such as elective, day surgery and ambulatory care on the MPUH campus.”

“This will allow complex acute care, urgent and emergency, inpatients and day cases, cancer, maternity and paediatric inpatient care will remain in UHG.”

“Overall, this funding marks another step in ensuring we provide the best health services for our population from the young to the old in Galway and Roscommon,” she added.

The University of Galway has announced the eight winners of their 2025 Alumni Awards who will be recognised at a gala event this summer.

The University’s Alumni Awards celebrate outstanding individuals among the 133,000 alumni, recognising their remarkable accomplishments across various fields on a local, national and international level.

The winners of the 2025 University of Galway Alumni Awards are:

• Alumni Award for Arts, Literature and Celtic Studies: Deirdre Sullivan, award winning novelist
• Alumni Award for Business and Commerce – Sponsored by Bank of Ireland: Anne O’Riordan, former Group Director of Digital at Jardine Matheson Limited
• Gradam Alumni don Ghaeilge: Rónán Ó Domhnaill, Media Development Commissioner, Coimisiún na Meán
• Alumni Award for Law, Public Policy and Society – Sponsored by RDJ: Geoffrey Shannon, Circuit Court Judge
• Alumni Award for Engineering, Science and Technology: Dr Fiona Grant, Head of International Programmes at the Marine Institute
• Alumni Award for Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences – Sponsored by Medtronic: Dr Elizabeth Whalen, Medical Director of the Office for Public Health for the State of New York
• Alumni Award for Contribution to Sport: Kevin Dinneen, Chair of Third Level Rugby and the IRFU Appeals Board
• Alumni Award for Emerging Leaders: Dr Ríona Ní Ghriallais, co-founder of ProVerum

These eight recipients are to be recognised at a gala awards night on Friday May 23, 2025.

Professor Peter McHugh, Interim President of University of Galway, said: “It is a privilege to honour the accomplishments of these eight remarkable individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields at home and abroad.”

“Each one of them are making a great impact in their own way and I hope their achievements serve as an inspiration to our current students and our graduates. I look forward to welcoming them back to their alma mater in May.”

Professor Becky Whay, Interim Deputy President and Registrar at University of Galway, added, “Our Alumni Awards and our awards night on campus are a wonderful opportunity to recognise University of Galway graduates and to inspire our current students by showcasing some of the many different ways their predecessors have made a positive mark on the World.”

“This year’s winners join an impressive roll call of 113 people from all walks of life who we have had the pleasure of helping to educate and, importantly, the pleasure of recognising and celebrating for their outstanding achievements since the awards began in the year 2000.”

Irish Olympian David Gillick marked the finale of the Ballinasloe Marathon Kids by joining 250 primary school children from the East Galway town in the final leg of their journey.

David Gillick, who competed in the 400 metres and 4×400 metres relay at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, led the Marathon Kids participants through a series of exercises and stretches before they embarked on the final run of the series at the Dunlo Running Track today.

Funded through the Ballinasloe Community Sports Hub under the Sport Ireland Dormant Account Fund, the Marathon Kids programme targets 5th and 6th class students who learn the health benefits of physical activity and perform four running sessions per week.

The children ran 26.2 miles over the course of the eight-week programme to complete their first marathon.

Speaking following the event, David Gillick said, “It is fantastic to see so many young people on the track, having fun, and being active. I hope this event has inspired them to keep running and to stay active in the years to come.”

Cllr Martina Kinnane, Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, commented, “It is truly inspiring to see these young children pushing themselves to achieve such a great goal.”

“The Marathon Kids event promotes not only physical activity but also discipline and perseverance, which are values that will serve these children well in all aspects of their lives.”

The children who participated in Ballinasloe Marathon Kids were drawn from four local schools, namely Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh, Newtown National School, Scoil an Chroí Naofa, and Creagh National School.

Cllr Mike Cubbard, Chairperson of Galway Sports Partnership, congratulated everyone on their Marathon Kids journey, adding, “There was a positive atmosphere and a great sense of achievement at the event.”

Andrew McBride, Coordinator of Galway Sports Partnership, stated, “Galway Sports Partnership was delighted to facilitate this programme and give primary school children the opportunity to keep active.”

“We would like to thank all the teachers for their support and congratulate the children on their achievement of running 26.2 miles over the last eight weeks.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, noted the importance of encouraging young people to get involved in physical activity and develop a healthy lifestyle.

“Events like Marathon Kids are a great way to do this, and I’m delighted to see so many young people taking part in Galway,” he said.

“The event was a huge success with children and teachers praising the initiative and the opportunity it provided for young people to stay active and healthy.”

Galway University Hospitals have recently adopted advanced high-precision radiotherapy technology, eliminating the need for permanent skin marks (tattoos) for radiotherapy patients.

The new Surface-Guided Radiotherapy Technology (SGRT) offers a tattoo-free alternative to traditional radiotherapy positioning.

It uses real-time 3D surface tracking for accurate patient alignment, potentially improving accuracy, efficiency, and patient experience.

Using over twenty thousand reference points on the patient’s skin surface, the technology can track and detect motion with sub-millimetre accuracy and will stop treatment if the patient moves.

It enables precise and timely radiation treatment without the need for permanent ink marking.

Patients undergoing radiotherapy need to be positioned in a stable comfortable position for their CT reference planning scan.

This position must then be consistently and accurately replicated during treatment sessions to ensure precise and effective delivery of radiation therapy.

Previously, this was achieved by marking the patient’s skin with three or four tattooed dots during the CT scan.

These tattoos served as reference points, allowing radiographers to accurately align the patient in the same position for each treatment session.

Stephen Coyne, Radiotherapy Services Manager at the hospital, said, “This new technology represents a significant advancement for our radiotherapy patients. It enhances safety, comfort, and treatment accuracy while minimizing side effects and potentially improving outcomes.”

“Additionally, patients will no longer have permanent ink marks on their skin, which some find distressing, eliminating an unnecessary source of stress during their treatment journey.”

The primary objective of radiotherapy is to deliver the highest possible radiation dose to the cancerous area or tumour while safeguarding healthy tissue to minimize side effects.

SGRT enhances this process by reducing overall treatment time, minimizing imaging dose, and enabling more precise positioning.

It is used to treat various cancer types while minimizing radiation exposure to critical organs and is most commonly used in breast, prostate, lung, and rectal cancer treatments.

For head and neck cancers, it is utilized with open-faced masks. Additionally, SGRT plays a crucial role in advanced radiation treatments, like stereotactic brain treatment.

Chris Kane Hospital Manager stated, “Our radiotherapy team is committed to constantly improving the care and treatment we provide to patients. This innovative technology will further enhance the delivery of radiotherapy treatment and elevate patient care.”

Galway based schools Clarin College and Coláiste na bPiarsach, and Youthreach Galway City received the Belong To LGBTQ+ Quality Mark recognising their work over an 18-month period to foster LGBTQ+ wellbeing and inclusion for their students.

The schools and centre were presented with their awards at an event in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin which was attended by over 350 staff and student representatives, including those from Galway and hosted by social media influencer and TV presenter James Kavanagh.

The 44 schools presented with their LGBTQ+ Quality Mark represent 17 counties and 26,000 post primary school students across the country.

The LGBTQ+ Quality Mark

The accreditation initiative was developed by Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland in 2022. That year, the School Climate Survey by Columbia University revealed that 76% of LGBTQ+ young people in Galway and across Ireland do not feel safe in post-primary schools.

Since the pilot programme, over 100 schools and Youthreach centres have embarked on the LGBTQ+ Quality Mark journey to improve the lives and experiences of their LGBTQ+ students.

The initiative draws on national and international best practice to create an environment where students feel safe and welcome regardless of who they are.

This is done through a host of practical, proactive actions such establishing an LGBTQ+ and Allies Club for students, training whole-staff teams on supporting LGBTQ+ students and promoting the representation of LGBTQ+ families and identities in classroom teaching.

The School Climate Survey 2022, showed that an action as simple as including LGBTQ+ related topics in the curriculum resulted in young people:

• 22% more likely to feel like they belong at school
• 11% more likely to feel accepted by the student body
• 8% less likely to miss days of school due to feeling unsafe

LGBTQ+ second-level students feel unsafe at school

Speaking about the awards today, Moninne Griffith (she/her), CEO of Belong To, said, “Homophobia, biphobia and transphobia remain a significant challenge for LGBTQ+ students in Galway and across the country.”

“The School Climate Survey 2022 conducted by Columbia University has shown that in Ireland, compared to the general youth population, LGBTQ+ students are four times more likely to suffer verbal harassment and five times more likely to be physically harassed.”

“It’s no surprise then that 76% of LGBTQ+ second-level students feel unsafe at school,” she added.

“It is in this context that we say how proud we are at Belong To to have been working with this brilliant cohort of schools and Youthreach centres to make positive change and create safe spaces.”

“Across the board, every principal, coordinator, teacher and staff member has shown a huge level of commitment to fostering a truly inclusive environment in their school and to supporting all students in their care.”

“I want to congratulate all for the actions that they have taken throughout the process and hope that they feel extremely proud to stand with the students and young people from their school or centre today, knowing what a huge impact their work has had and will continue to have on the lives of so many Galway young people.”

Also speaking today at the event was Leanne O’Connor, Coordinator at Youthreach Galway City who commented, “This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering an inclusive and safe environment for all students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”

“Through comprehensive training, awareness programs, and ongoing support, we strive to create a school culture where everyone feels valued and respected.”

“This honour highlights our dedication to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that every student can thrive authentically and confidently in their educational journey with us.”