Coronavirus: 5 new COVID cases in Galway

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November 27, 2020

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

A man received a suspended sentence for shouting abusive language at Gardaí and spitting during his arrest after being approached while part of a group drinking at a city church.

Thomas Donoghue, of Glenbaun, Ballybane, pleaded guilty to public intoxication and threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour at Galway District Court.

On July 15, 2020, at St Patrick’s Church on Foster Street, Garda Patrick Hughes approached a group of men drinking outside the church at approximately 8pm.

The group dispersed when Garda Hughes approached, except for Donoghue (48), who became extremely abusive, shouting “fuck off” at the Garda and approaching him with a clenched fist.

He was arrested for public order offences, and during the course of his arrest was spitting at the garda, which Judge Mary Fahy said was of serious concern.

“Spitting at any stage, at anyone, particularly a member of the gardaí carrying out their duty is very serious,” the judge remarked, but added that it was more so during the middle of a pandemic.

The facts were first heard at the District Court on September 14, and a plea entered, and the matter was put back for a Garda Behavioural Report and to hear from Garda Hughes.

Speaking at the sentencing hearing Garda Hughes said that Donoghue was extremely intoxicated, and showed no remorse afterwards.

During the incident he yelled “Fuck off or I’ll get the IRA” Garda Hughes added.

Solicitor for the defence Sean Acton said that his client has been dealing with addictions, and had no memory of the incident.

Judge Fahy imposed a two month prison sentence for the threatening and abusive behaviour, and suspended it for one year, and a €100 fine for the public intoxication.

Senator welcomes largest Christmas Bonus ever for 1.6 million people

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November 27, 2020

Galway Daily news Dozens of Galway City community groups awarded €272,708 in grant funding

A Galway senator has welcomed confirmation that the full Christmas Bonus will be paid to those receiving the Pandemic Unemployment Payment this year.

A total of €390 million will be be paid to Social Welfare recipients, with those in receipt of PUP for 17 weeks also entitled to the bonus.

It will be paid to over 1.6 million people across the country in the week beginning 7 December.

Welcoming the news, Senator Aisling Dolan said that due to the challenges of COVID-19, the Christmas bonus will also be paid to recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

“This was confirmed to me by my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys, who has announced the details of the largest ever Christmas Bonus,” said the Fine Gael senator.

“As always, people on long term social welfare benefits such as pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents will receive the 100% Christmas bonus.

“Those who have been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) continuously or otherwise – for at least 4 months (17 weeks) since March will also receive the Christmas Bonus this year.

“Minister Humphreys has also taken care to ensure that anyone returning to work next week as restrictions ease, will not be excluded from the Christmas Bonus.”

Any person in receipt of PUP for any one day from Friday 27 November to Thursday 3December will still receive the Christmas Bonus provided they also meet the 17 week requirement.

This means anyone returning to work this Monday or Tuesday will still receive the Christmas Bonus as they worked at least one day during the said period.

“The same criteria is also being applied to those on Jobseeker’s payments, who in previous years would have only received the Bonus if they had been out of work for at least 15 months”, Senator Dolan added.

Shops, gyms and restaurants to reopen next week

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November 27, 2020

galway daily news pubs reopening on july 5th in ireland

Retail outlets, hairdressers, museums, libraries and gyms will reopen on Tuesday after the Cabinet approved a plan to exit Level 5 restrictions today.

Restaurants and pubs which serve food will open next Friday – but it is understood that so-called wet pubs will not be allowed to reopen in December and they will only be allowed to serve takeaway drinks.

The government will also ask people to stay in their county until 18 December, with exemptions made for essential travel.

The period for relaxed travel restrictions will run until 6 January, and three households will be allowed to visit each other during the fortnight of relaxed restrictions.

Hotels are likely to be able to open their restaurants for non-residents, subject to strict social distancing requirements.

More to follow…

NUIG students to spread kindness this December

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November 27, 2020

galway daily nuig students union random acts of kindness — Pádraic Toomey, Faye McDonnell, Róisín Nic Lochlainn, Neasa Gorrell and Emma Sweeney at launch of RAK Challenge in November

In the second of six Charity Challenges, NUI Galway Students’ Union will be spreading kindness across Galway throughout the month of December.

The Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Challenge begins on 1 December, with around 250 students and staff having signed up to take part so far.

The challenge, which runs until New Year’s Eve, will raise vital funds for three Galway charities – Galway Autism Partnership, Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Helplink Mental Health.

Some of the random acts of kindness that are planned include beach clean-ups, letter writing to nursing home residents, a giant Secret Santa, getting to know neighbours and reaching out to those in need.

Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey said that they are very excited to start the RAK Challenge to support the three amazing charities.

“These events will help our students and staff to feel part of the NUIG community, have fun and keep active while fundraising,” said Pádraic.

“Our challenges are not one size fits all events – each participant can adapt them according to their own capabilities.”

The Students’ Union is organising a different Charity Challenge every month to raise funds for the charities and its November Kilometre Challenge has been a great success.

The challenges allow participants to stay active and connected while raising funds for three great causes at the same time. Participants can still register online for the challenge HERE.

Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer Róisín Nic Lochlainn said: “It’s great to see students and staff coming together as a community for a project like this even if we are apart.

“Spreading positivity and kindness is going to have an amazing and lasting impact on everyone involved. It will also raise vital funds for three very worthy charities.”

Donations can be made online at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/nuig-su-charity-challenge

Galway bar wins Best Takeaway Cocktails in Ireland Award

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November 27, 2020

galway daily news cocktail awards harrys bar bohermore

Harry’s Bar in Bohermore has staved off opposition to take home the title of having the Best Takeaway Cocktails in the country.

Harry’s beat three shortlisted businesses in Dublin and one in Wicklow in the cocktail category of the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards.

Other local businesses were not as lucky, with Boojum, Papa Rich and Lana, Salthill just missing out on taking home awards of their own.

Over 23,000 votes were cast for local and independent takeaway eateries right across Ireland in recent weeks, with the nation out in force to show its support for a distressed but resilient restaurant sector.

“We continue to be inspired by the responsive efforts of our colleagues in the restaurant sector but also by the reaction of local communities right across Ireland who have engaged in record numbers with this year’s Just Eat National Takeaway Awards,” said Amanda Roche-Kelly, Managing Director at Just Eat Ireland.

“These awards have always been about giving our customers the opportunity to support their local restaurant, celebrating excellence in the industry.”

Amanda said that this year in particular, the level of public engagement has been phenomenal.

“During the early stages of the pandemic, our resources were focused on delivering a safe and reliable service to our customers, getting restaurants online so that they could remain trading, efficiently,” she said.

“Further investments in support packages and an expanded infrastructure were later introduced to help them to deliver their much-loved food to more and more people during these hugely difficult times.

“The Just Eat National Takeaway Awards are not just about celebrating and supporting the 2,900 Just Eat restaurant partners, but also those hard-working owners of local and independent restaurants who have adapted their own business model in response to the changing needs of their local communities.”

Horgan and Doherty sign new contracts for Galway United

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November 27, 2020

Shane Doherty and Kevin Horgan have signed new contracts to keep them at Eamonn Deacy Park in 2021.

Goalkeeper Kevin Horgan returned to Galway United from Shamrock Rovers two years ago, while Shane Doherty rejoined the club midway through the 2020 season.

Speaking to galwayunitedfc.ie, Shane Doherty said that he was over the moon to be back at Galway United.

“It was such a strange season with everything going on, but to be involved so much really made me fall back in love with things,” he said.

“Being a part of the run we went on was really special. There was no question this was where I wanted to be after the momentum we had.

“It was a disappointing end, but it has only left us hungrier for the season ahead.”

Kevin Horgan, who is one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the country, said that he wants to play a big role in Galway United doing well and hopefully getting back to the Premier Division again.

“As well as having made really positive signings and re-signings already, moving to full time football is huge,” he told the club’s website.

“It’s something I wanted to do again, I’m excited to get back involved and it will be a huge help to us next year.”

Significant disruptions to Galway-Dublin rail travel this weekend

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November 27, 2020

There will be significant disruption to rail travel between Dublin and Galway this weekend due to line improvement engineering works taking place.

An number of trains on Saturday in particular will be operating as bus transfers between Dublin and Athlone due to works taking place on the line.

Travel from Westport to Heuston will also be affected to a lesser degree by the line works this weekend.

The full schedule of disruptions for Galway-Dublin rail travel this weekend scheduled by Irish Rail is:

17.30 Heuston/Galway service will also stop at Monasterevin
18.30 Heuston/Galway service will operate a bus transfer from Heuston to Clara and Athlone, second bus from Monasterevin to Portarlington, Clara and Athlone, train at 20.30hrs from Athlone to Galway
19.35 Heuston/Galway service will be bus transfers direct from Heuston to Athlone, second bus from Heuston to Tullamore and Athlone, third bus from Portarlington to Tullamore and Athlone, train at 21.25hrs from Athlone to Galway
17.20 Galway/Heuston service will operate to Athlone only, bus transfers direct from Athlone to Heuston, second bus from Athlone to Tullamore, Portarlington, Kildare, Newbridge and Heuston
19.20 Galway/Heuston will operate to Athlone only, bus transfers direct from Athlone to Heuston, second bus from Athlone to Clara, Tullamore, Portarlington, Monasterevin, Kildare, Newbridge, Sallins and Heuston

Two trains between Heuston and Westport, one going either way which are scheduled for 18:15, will also be operating as bus transfers between Dublin and Athlone.

There will also be some disruption on Sunday, November 29, though not as severe as what is scheduled for Saturday.

The 8am train from Heuston – Galway will be a bus transfer from Dublin to Kildare, with a train the rest of the way from Kildare to Galway at 8:55am.

Later that morning, the 11:40 train service from Dublin to Galway will not stop at Clara, and the 11am Galway to Dublin train will be delayed to 11:35.

The 9:40 service from Westport to Athlone on Sunday will also be delayed to 10:06.

Tax clearance now required for citizenship applications

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November 27, 2020

From this month onwards, people applying for Irish citizenship are required to have an up to date Tax Clearance Certificate as part of the application process.

A Tax Clearance Certificate is a document which is issued by the Irish Revenue Commissionaires confirming that a person has no tax liabilities at the time that the certificate is issued.

People looking for this Certificate can apply through the Revenue’s website here.

The Tax Clearance is required for people living in the state seeking a Certificate of Irish Naturalisation, and for people living outside of the state seeking citizenship, such as the spouse of an Irish citizen living in Northern Ireland.

A copy of the Tax Clearance Certificate or the Tax Clearance Access Number issued by the Revenue must be submitted as part of the application’s supporting documentation.

If someone is living outside of Ireland, and this cannot get a Tax Clearance certifixate from the Revenue, they must show equivalent proof of tax compliance from their current jurisdiction.

The full text of the Department of Justice Notice on Tax Clearance for Irish Citizenship Applications can be read here.

Immigration solicitors Sinnott are experts on all Irish immigration and citizenship matters.

If you have any queries do not hesitate to contact their Immigration Department today on 00353 1 406 2862 or info@sinnott.ie.

Galway Simon gets approval to build apartments for older people

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November 27, 2020

galway daily news Galway Simon gets approval to build apartments for older people

The Galway Simon Community has been granted approval for a new housing project for older people with mobility issues.

Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of a derelict building at 111 Upper Newcastle, and the construction of a new apartment building in its place.

The building will contain ten one-bedroom apartments specifically designed for older people with mobility issues who are receiving the assistance of the Simon Community.

Galway City Council granted planning permission for the project with a total of 24 conditions attached.

Condition two states that the housing project “shall only be used by the clients of Galway Simon Community or other similar voluntary organisations, and shall not be sold independently of one another, or as a block, to any third party.”

The project will also involve the development of associated on-site car parking, external storage, and landscaping works.

“As the housing and homelessness crisis in Galway continues to deepen, the severe shortage of one bed apartments in Galway is widely recognised. The lack of accessible one bed apartments is even more acute,” Galway Simon Community said in its application.

“Galway Simon Community has been supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Galway since 1979. In 2019 we supported 646 households, including 748 adults and 443 children.”

“With more people facing homelessness as a result of the housing crisis, Galway Simon has placed a significant focus on our Prevention Services — where we can prevent people from becoming homeless, they do not experience the significant trauma of Emergency Accommodation.”

“Providing secure and affordable housing is one of the key ways that we prevent people from becoming homeless.”

“Over the last couple of years, we have noticed a marked increase in the number of older people who are facing homelessness for the first time in their later years.”

Galway TD asks if Mortgage Interest Supplement considered for people on PUP

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November 27, 2020

Galway Daily news Eamon Ó Cuív: Cocaine usage a "national scourge" across society

A Galway West TD has asked if the government considered at any point reopening the mortgage interest supplement scheme due to the significant loss of income for many homeowners on Pandemic Unemployment.

During a meeting of Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands this week, Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív said that people on the highest band of the PUP, receiving €350 a week, are only at an average of 58% of what they were earning beforehand.

While many of those would be eligible for rent supplement if they are in rental accommodation, there is no statutory equivalent for people who own their home and pay a significant portion of their earnings in a mortgage.

“Further up the income scale, a fair number of the people affected would have significant mortgages and young families,” Eamon Ó Cuív said.

“I understand that such a person would not be entitled to child dependent allowance and there is no mortgage interest supplement.”

The Mortgage Interest Supplement Scheme, which provides assistance to make mortgage interest payments, has been closed to any new entrants since 2014.

At the start of the pandemic the government made arrangements with lenders to introduce mortgage payment breaks, during which time people could have their mortgage payments and interest deferred.

However, the interest that was due during this time still accumulated, and will be added to the repayments of people coming off the break when they do.

The Independent TD asked if any consideration was given at the outset of the pandemic to reintroducing the mortgage interest supplement scheme as a policy instrument, instead of informal arrangements with banks.

Deputy Ó Cuív noted at the Committee debate that banks are not charitable organisations, “They are run by hard-headed business people and if someone gets a moratorium on repayments, the banks will come after them, looking for that money back.”

The arrangement the department of finance made with the banks only had the effect of “pushing the can down the road” for people with mortgages.

“The mortgage interest supplement, which used to last for as long as a person was unemployed and ended the minute he or she went back to work, meant that person had no accumulated interest and would not be going cap in hand to the financial institutions, which are not charities.

“I just do not understand the rationale for the suspension. Maybe somebody in the Department could give us the policy reason for it,” Deputy Ó Cuív said.

Deputy Denis Naughten, Chairman of the Committee, added that it might make sense to reintroduce the mortgage interest supplement in light of the fact that the arrangement made with lenders has now run its course.

He also raised the fact that the Tánaiste has hinted at the possibility of renewed restrictions in the new year to suggest that the supplement should be reintroduced.

Whiskey distillers submit plans for next stage of Galway operation

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November 27, 2020

Galway Daily news Green light for Whiskey Maturation Warehouse for Ahascragh Distillery

Plans to bring an old whiskey brand in Galway back to life are continuing to progress, with plans before the council for a storage and maturation warehouse.

McAllister Distillers is seeking planning permission to build a whiskey maturation warehouse on a site at Knockglass outside of Ballinasloe, to work in partnership with their newly approved distillery.

McAllister Distillers was granted planning approval by the county council for the construction of a whiskey distillery in Ahascragh back in October.

That project will involve the restoration of the old Mill buildings in Ahascragh to house the distillery, along with a museum and tourist facilities.

At the time the developers stated that they did not intend to store the maturing whiskey on site due to a lack of space.

Construction of the warehouse will also involve building an access road connecting the greenfield site to the R348 road.

A decision is due from the county council on this planning application by January 8 of next year.

Founded by husband and wife Gareth and Michelle McAllister, McAllister Distillers expects to begin production of spirits here in Galway by mid-2022.

Just one local area sees increase in Covid rate this week

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November 26, 2020

galway daily news Just one COVID patient in the ICU at University Hospital Galway

Galway City Central is the only Local Electoral Area in the county to have seen an increase in its 14-day Covid incidence rate.

The rate in Galway City Central is now 221 cases per 100,000 population, an increase of 7.5 since last week.

The 14-day Covid rate fell in eight of the ten LEAs in Galway, while in Conamara South it remains the same.

The rate is less than 30 cases per 100,000 people in five Galway LEAs with Ballinasloe LEA recording less than five cases in the past fortnight.

Gort-Kinvara LEA had the second highest rate last week, but it has fallen from 148.9 confirmed cases per 100k people to just 51.1, less than half of the national average.

The rate also fell in Galway City East and Galway City West, which now have rates of 90. and 134 respectively.

In Conamara North and South LEAs the rates remain low, at just 37.5 and 34.9 cases per 100,000 people. Just 13 people in all of Conamara tested positive in the past two weeks.

14-day COVID-19 incidence rates in Galway LEAs

Galway City Central: 221 cases per 100k | 59 cases
Galway City West: 134 | 34 cases
Galway City East: 90.2 | 24 cases
Gort – Kinvara: 51.1 | 12 cases
Conamara South: 37.5 | 8 cases
Conamara North: 29.1 | 5 cases
Tuam: 27.1 | 9 cases
Loughrea: 21.5 | 5 cases
Athenry – Oranmore 21.3 | 7 cases
Ballinasloe: Fewer than 5 cases

Data from 10/11/2020 to 23/11/2020.

Coronavirus: Eight COVID cases in Galway today

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November 26, 2020

There have been three additional deaths due to COVID-19 reported by the Department of Health today, along with 335 new coronavirus cases.

Of the cases notified today, 8 are in Galway, where the 14-day incidence rate has now fallen to 54.6 cases per 100,00 population, the fifth lowest in the country.

There have now been a total of 2,036 deaths due to the coronavirus in the Republic of Ireland, and 71,494 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state.

Validation of data by the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 28 cases, which is reflected in the national total.

As of 2pm today, 236 people in Ireland are confirmed to be in hospital with COVID-19, of whom 35 are in Intensive Care.

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

Of the cases notified today:

162 are men and 171 are women
64% are under 45 years of age
the median age is 35 years old
119 in Dublin, 29 in Kilkenny, 23 in Limerick, 20 in Donegal, 19 in Tipperary, 19 in Cork, with the remaining 106 spread across 19 other counties

The Cabinet is due to meet tomorrow to make a decision on exiting Level 5 next week, and what the exact nature of any change in conditions will be.

NPHET is recommending that pubs and restaurants should remain closed except for takeaway, the Irish Times reports, while the government has indicated that they may be allowed to reopen later this month.

The government and health officials are also reported to be in disagreement on lifting travel restrictions, with the government favouring a period of allowing people to travel to be with family over Christmas.

Breast Cancer screenings in Galway plummeted this year

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November 26, 2020

Galway Daily news Breast Cancer screenings in Galway plummeted this year

The number of women who have received screening for breast cancer through BreastCheck in Galway has plummeted dramatically this year.

In 2018 there were 9,958 women who received breast cancer screening through BreastCheck in Galway, and this went up to 10,657 last year.

But between January and mid-March of this year this year there were just 2,167 women screened in Galway before services halted due to COVID-19.

Figures provided to County Councillor Donagh Killilea for the Regional Health Forum this week showed that BreastCheck services halted on March 16, and screening only resumed on October 27.

During that time there were 150,000 screening invitations nationwide which were paused due to the shutdown.

Breast Cancer screening services in Galway are carried out at the BreastCheck clinic on the grounds of University Hospital Galway.

The National Screening Service said that they are recruiting staff and examining other ways to maximise capacity in order to try and deal with the backlog, but that it will take extra time to complete this round of screenings due to the pause.

Evening of opera, oratorio & festive favourites for local charity

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November 26, 2020

galway daily armorica restaurant opera ecening galway simon community event oranmore — Helen Hancock and quartet at Armorica

A virtual evening of opera, oratorio, chamber music and festive favourites will be held in Oranmore next weekend in aid of Galway Simon Community.

The exclusive performance will be filmed from the beautiful surroundings of Armorica restaurant in Oranmore, and exclusively available to view from the comfort of your own home on 5 Saturday December at 7.30pm.

The programme, which will appeal to a broad audience, is set to feature sacred and opera music by Handel, Bach and Mozart, excerpts from Mozart string quartets KV157 and KV172 and Christmas favourites.

Helen Hancock, who organised the event, will be joined by special guest, international tenor Owen Gilhooly who is her friend, mentor and teacher.

“My last live performance was in March, at Rathfarnham Castle, Dublin, just before lockdown,” explained Helen.

“I am so excited to work with Owen and such accomplished musicians: rehearsing together has brought us all so much joy. We are indebted to Armorica for lending us this beautiful atmospheric space for the performance.

“During the pandemic my home has been at the heart of everything -a workplace, a school and a haven. I feel very strongly about fundraising for the Galway Simon Community who help those who have no home.

Helen is excited to work with a newly formed string quartet consisting of Sinead Hayes violin, Rozanne Botha violin, Tom Murphy viola and Adrian Ivičević cello.

Sinead Hayes is a conductor, composer and violinist now based back home in Galway. Rozanne and Tom are friends and colleagues of Helen’s at Coole Music and Arts and are well known teachers and performers in Galway and Limerick.

Adrian, a Croatian native is in his second year on the MA in Classical String Performance in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance and ICO.

Speaking about the event, Amy Lavelle, Community & Youth Partnership Coordinator with Galway Simon explained how they have never been more reliant on support like this to safeguard their essential services.

“We are absolutely delighted to be the chosen beneficiary for this wonderfully festive event,” she said.

“In addition to the huge challenges of the pandemic across our Homelessness Prevention and Housing Services, our fundraising has also been significantly impacted as our much loved events and collections can’t go ahead as planned.

“We’re deeply grateful to supporters like Helen, and all those involved in this event, for continuing to find innovative ways to raise vital funds in support of those facing homelessness during these difficult times.”

Tickets for this virtual event are available at galwaysimon.ie and are priced at €10 per household.

With the option also available to purchase an additional ticket as a gift for half price. A link will be emailed to all ticket holders on Friday 5th December and the link will remain live for seven days after the event.

Tickets for the evening of opera, oratorio and festive favourites, can be purchased throughout this period to view on demand after the initial premiere.

Pubs plead with government to reopen alongside restaurants

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November 26, 2020

Pub owners are pleading with the government to give them an opportunity to prove they can open in a safe manner over the Christmas period.

The Vinters Federation of Ireland (VFI) took aim at the government and NPHET and criticised speculation that pubs will not be allowed to open unless they have a chef and a kitchen.

The VFI said that NPHET has an ‘anti-pub’ agenda and is demonising a trade that is now fighting for it’s very survival.

“It’s difficult to overstate how angry publicans are right now,” said Padraig Cribben, VFI Chief Executive.

“They feel demonised by the leaks coming from Government, that no matter what regulations and guidelines they implement it won’t be enough for NPHET who clearly have an anti-pub agenda.”

“The facts are clear, pubs are safer than restaurants according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).

“The Government’s reopening guidelines recognise both pubs and restaurants as ‘controlled environments’, so there is no logic for allowing restaurants open and refusing pubs the same right.”

VFI says that since early March, publicans have acted responsibly and done everything asked of them, including closing their businesses, introducing strict social distancing protocols, training staff and reducing capacity in venues.

“What does it say about Taoiseach Micheal Martin’s attitude to pub-goers that he’s happy to trust restaurant owners and their customers yet, for some inexplicable reason, doesn’t think publicans and their patrons are deserving of trust?” added Padraig Cribben.

“This attitude to publicans and their customers is appalling and will lead to great distress and unrest among our members. In splitting the hospitality sector in half, into winners and losers, the Taoiseach is playing with fire.

“Even at this late stage we ask him to make the common sense decision to allow all pubs reopen like the rest of the hospitality sector.”

Give essential hygiene gifts to people in need this Christmas with #ItsInTheBag campaign

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November 26, 2020

Galway Daily news Give essential hygiene gifts to people in need this Christmas with #ItsInTheBag campaign

The Hygiene Bank Ireland, the community initiative giving hygiene and personal care products to those in need, has been gathering donations for their Christmas campaign this month, and there is still time to give.

With the #ItsInTheBag campaign, supporters can purchase essential and luxury toiletries and leave them at one of the many drop off points in Galway, so that they can be distributed to local charities.

“We are asking people to help us bring some joy this Christmas to families in need by donating essential and luxury items such as shampoo, body wash, nappies, wipes, shaving cream and toiletry gift sets,” said Úna Reynolds, project coordinator of The Hygiene Bank Galway.

“We will fill and tailor each bag depending on who is receiving it and a Christmas card will be included. It is a heartfelt and practical present for those living through hygiene poverty this Christmas.”

The Hygiene Bank Ireland, which launched in November 2019, has four projects across the country and since its launch has distributed 45,000 hygiene items into local communities through charity links.

The group’s aim is to alleviate the pressure of hygiene poverty felt by many families across the country, when financial struggles mean that food, rent and bills are prioritised over hygiene products.

If you would like to help someone struggling this Christmas you can donate through the link www.idonate.ie/itsinthebaggalway.

Or you can donate products themselves to their Drop Off Boxes, or you can host a home collection in your work, school, or among family and friends.

The campaign will be collecting donations in Galway until December 4, after which they will be sorted and distributed to charity partners

In Galway there are drop off points available in Galway City, Tuam, Claregalway and Craughwell. Email thbgalway@gmail.com for more information, or visit the regional Instagram page @thehygienebankgalway.

City Council issues CPO notice for Salmon Weir pedestrian bridge

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November 26, 2020

Galway Daily news Budget 2022: Greenway and pedestrian projects in Galway

Galway City Council is moving ahead with plans for the construction of a pedestrian and cycling bridge across the Corrib next to the Salmon Weir Bridge.

The council has issued a notice that it is making a compulsory purchase order for the land needed to install the bridge between Newtownsmith and Gaol Road.

If this is approved by An Bord Pleanála, the council then intends to submit a planning application to the higher planning authority for the pedestrian bridge.

The bridge will cover a total of approximately 85m across Persse’s Distillery River, Lower River Corrib and Friar’s River in three spans of 13m, 54m and 18m respectively.

The project will also involve alterations to the existing stone masonry walls to allow the new footpaths and approach areas, and upgrading the existing footpaths at either end of the bridge.

A copy of the plans, and the Natura Impact Statement which has been prepared as part of the application, will be available for public viewing at City Hall from today until January 21.

The projected has already secured €3.5 million in funding from the government, which has been allocated under the Designated Urban Centres grant scheme.

An Bord Pleanála already ruled in October that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required for the development, as there will be no permanent structure actually sitting in the river.

If no objections are made to the compulsory purchase order by the city council, it may be confirmed by An Bord Pleanála without holding an oral hearing.

This pedestrian bridge project is part of the Galway Transport Strategy, which ultimately aims to take private car traffic out of the city centre, and have the Salmon Weir Bridge solely used for public transport.

British Ambassador writes letter to British citizens in Ireland with advice

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November 26, 2020