Gardaí in Galway City have seizied multiple e-scooters and an electric motorbike in recent weeks, including one e-scooter capable of doing 82km/h.

On Thursday evening Gardaí seized two e-scooters and an electric motorbike in the Cappagh Park area of Knocknacarra, all of which were being driven by young teenagers.

One of the scooters was tested and found to be capable of speeds up to 82km/h.

Prior to this, on August 11 & 12, the Road Policing and Community Policing units in Galway City seized seven e-scooters, including one being used by an 11-year old.

One e-scooter tested on a dynamometer was found to be capable of travelling at 74km/h, despite the 20km/h limit.

Fines were issued for offences including breaking red lights and using pedestrianised areas and footpaths.

Students receiving CAO offers are being urged to be careful of rental scams when looking for accommodation, with a sharp spike expected in the coming months.

Crime figures for the first seven months of 2026 show over 230 reports of rental and reservations scams, with total reported losses standing at over €400,000.

This comes ahead of the seasonal peak – historically August and October – as returning and first-time students scramble to find housing.

Rental scams generally fall into three distinct categories during the high-pressure college search season:

• The Absent Landlord: The scammer claims to be out of the country and demands an upfront deposit before keys or physical access can be provided.

• The Fake Host/Mass Showing: The fraudster poses as an occupant or fake agent, showing the property to multiple prospective tenants, collecting deposits from all of them, and disappearing.

• The Key Failure: The transaction appears entirely legitimate until the tenant arrives with their belongings only to discover the keys do not work, the property is already occupied, or the landlord has vanished.

Highlighting the need for vigilance during the high-pressure college search, Detective Inspector Alan Govern of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) strongly advised students and parents to stick strictly to verified channels:

“Students should only use recognised letting agencies or deal with people who are bona fide and trusted. If searching online, always check the URL to ensure it is a real website and take note of the privacy and refund policy sections.

“Be very wary of social media advertisements or where a person letting the property will only communicate via Messenger or WhatsApp. You should push for direct answers; if responses are vague, disengage immediately.

“If you have decided to take up an offer, only use trusted money transfer systems – I would recommend using a credit card. Never transfer money directly, pay cash, or pay into cryptocurrency wallets.”

The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) advises students and parents to look out for critical warning signs:

• Unrealistically low prices: if a room or apartment costs significantly less than others in the same area, it is almost certainly a trick.

• They rush you: Scammers try to panic you into paying quickly by claiming it’s a “once-in-a-lifetime offer” or demanding money immediately before you’ve even signed a lease.

• They want unusual or untraceable payment; be suspicious if they ask you to pay in cash, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or through peer-to-peer transfer apps where you cannot get your money back.

• They refuse to let you see the place: If the “landlord” always has an excuse for why you can’t do an in-person walkthrough or meet face-to-face, then walk away.
Advice for students seeking housing:

• Always physically view the accommodation and ensure keys fit by opening the locks before handing over any money.

• Pay using a credit card or secure, traceable banking methods where consumer protections apply. Never pay via cash, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer apps to strangers.

• Use the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) rent index to benchmark average asking prices in the local college area.

• Ask for official photo identification (such as a driver’s licence or passport) and ensure the property is registered with the RTB.

• Reverse-image search property photos online to ensure they have not been stolen from other legitimate advertisements.

The HSE is encouraging parents to protect their babies against RSV this winter as the 2026-2027 RSV Infant Immunisation Programme starts from Tuesday 1 September.

Free RSV immunisation will be offered to eligible babies through maternity hospitals and participating GP practices, helping to protect them from serious illness caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Who will be offered RSV immunisation?

For the 2026-2027 programme:

• Babies born between September 1, 2026 and February 28, 2027 will be offered RSV immunisation in maternity hospitals before they go home, where possible.
• Babies born between March 1 and August 31, 2026 can receive RSV immunisation through participating GP practices.
• Eligible babies at higher risk of serious RSV illness will be offered immunisation through a specialist pathway.

Dr Áine McNamara, Regional Director of Public Health, HSE West and North West said, “RSV is a common seasonal virus during autumn and winter, but it can be particularly serious for some young babies.”

“The RSV immunisation programme provides protection from the outset and continues throughout the season, helping to keep babies safe when RSV is circulating most widely.”

“Over the last two years, RSV immunisation has had a significant positive impact in Ireland, it has reduced the number of babies who become very unwell with RSV and require hospitalisation. International evidence suggests that immunisation is over 80% effective at preventing RSV-associated lower respiratory tract infections.”

Last winter, more than 37,000 infants were immunised against RSV. 88% of babies born September to February 2026 received the immunisation in maternity hospitals, and the uptake rate among high-risk infants was 100%.

The programme reduced RSV-related hospitalisations by 70% among babies born during the RSV season. Across eligible groups, infant immunisation is estimated to have averted over 1,000 ED presentations, hospitalisations and ICU admissions, significantly reducing the burden of RSV illness among infants in Ireland.

Dr Patrick Kelly of the Irish College of General Practitioners said, “We would encourage parents of babies who were born between March and August to take up the offer through participating GP practices ideally before the RSV season.”

“RSV immunisation can be given safely alongside routine childhood vaccines, meaning parents do not need to delay their baby’s scheduled vaccinations.”

“Parents who have questions about RSV immunisation should speak to their healthcare professional, who can provide trusted information and advice.”

RSV is a common and highly contagious winter virus. While it usually causes mild respiratory illness, it can cause serious illness in babies and young children, particularly during their first winter.

RSV immunisation is provided through a single dose of nirsevimab, which gives babies immediate protection during the RSV season and helps protect against severe RSV infection and hospitalisation.

For more information about RSV immunisation and eligibility, visit HSE.ie/RSV.

Pump Lane in Galway City’s westend has had a serious makeover, with five Galway-based street and graffiti artists turning its walls into a new open-air gallery.

The Pump Lane creative weekend kicked off on Thursday, bringing artists and the local community together to transform the laneway through paint, creativity and a bit of Galway attitude.

The brief was simple: give the artists the walls and let them go for it.

Each artist brought their own style, perspective and personality to the space, creating a mix of street art and graffiti that feels right at home in the westend.

There is plenty of Galway in the finished work too, with Irish language, local slang and references to the city’s street art culture appearing across the walls.

The project also respects what was already there. Pump Lane’s protected structures and history were an important part of the process, with the new artwork adding a contemporary layer without losing the character of the place.

And it wasn’t just the artists who got stuck in. The west community helped prepare the laneway, clearing and weeding the area before the painting began.

“Regeneration of urban spaces by the people is key to making towns and cities safer and more enjoyable places to live,” said project lead Lisa Regan.

“We wanted to give people another reason to walk through Pump Lane, and what better way to do that than with art, colour and the creativity of five brilliant Galway artists?”

“Everyone brought something different to the walls and that is what makes the finished space work. It feels very Galway, very Westend and very much of its place. More art, more colour and more community initiatives, we say.”

The project was supported by Creative Ireland and Galway City Council. For more, check out Galways westend across social media and at www.galwayswestend.ie.

One man has been arrested and charged as part of an organised crime investigation in Galway which has seen Gardaí freeze accounts bearing cryptocurrency worth $900,000, along with over €18,000 in drugs.

As part of ongoing investigations into organised crime, Gardaí executed search warrants at two properties in Galway City on Monday.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit, with support from local Garda units.

Following the operation two cryptocurrency accounts with a combined current value of approximately $900,000 have been frozen pending further investigation. A bank account containing €25,000 was also frozen.

The searches also resulted in the seizure of:

• Cash totalling €9,300
• Amphetamine with an estimated value of €9,000
• Cannabis with an estimated value of €9,300

A male in his 40s was arrested and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the North Western Region.

He has since been charged in connection with the investigation and is scheduled to appear before Galway District Court on Thursday, August 27.

University of Galway has made more than 4,000 offers to new undergraduate students for the 2026/27 academic year as the first round of CAO offers has come today.

With Round 1 CAO offers issued today, University of Galway shared a message of congratulations to the Leaving Certificate class of 2026 for their efforts and achievements.

Professor David Burn, President of University of Galway, said, “Today is a milestone for all students taking the next step in their education. On behalf of University of Galway, I wish them all well and for those who are lucky enough to come to our university, we are delighted to welcome them.”

“You deserve huge congratulations on your achievements at school and in the Leaving Certificate and I wish you every success as you begin this exciting new chapter.”

“University is a time to learn, to challenge yourself, to make new friends and to discover new opportunities. We look forward to supporting our new students throughout their time with us and providing them with an excellent education and opportunities and the very best student experience and campus in the country.”

“I would also like to acknowledge colleagues across the University who do so much work behind the scenes to support students and their families, from preparing offers and orientation and the warm welcome that all our new students get at University of Galway.”

With another year of record levels of applications to the CAO, University of Galway expects more than 3,800 students to register to begin their undergraduate studies in September.

Round 1 offers show some trends across University of Galway’s programmes, including:

• Pharmacy (MPharm) – the 5-year undergrad course at University of Galway is due to have its second intake of students in September and has expanded to 75 places, up from 40 in 2025, responding to the need for qualified pharmacists and the demand for the career.
• BSc (Zoology) is a new programme for 2026, with points at 473 and about 40 students expected to enrol in the first intake.
• Courses offering Gaeilge experienced an increase in points, such as BComm (Gaeilge) and BA (Gaeilge agus Leann Aistriúcháin), cutting off at 488 and 405respectively
• 25 courses at University of Galway saw points increases this year, bringing the number of courses cutting off over 500 points to 28, which is half of all courses offered by University of Galway.
• All Engineering programmes remain above 500 points, emphasising the significance of sectors such as medtech in the region and strong career opportunities for graduates.
• Programmes in the creative arts saw increased demand with the BA (Drama, Theatre and Performance) increasing by 44 points to 404 and the BA (Music) up by 12 points to 413.
• The flagship science degree, BSc (GY301) cut off at 455, up 15 on last year and increases were also seen in Earth and Ocean Sciences, Biotechnology, Marine Science and Financial Mathematics & Economics.
• Nursing and Midwifery saw continued growth, in particular the Bachelor of Midwifery Science increasing from 429 to 498 points.

The volunteer crew of Clifden and Achill RNLI joined with the Cleggan Coast Guard and Rescue Helicopter 118 in a wide scale search operation late on Monday night.

The call-out came at 10.30pm when members of the public reported seeing a distress flare launched in an area of water between Renvyle and Clare Island.

Over a number of hours, RNLI volunteer crew on three lifeboats and Coast Guard colleagues carried out a comprehensive search of a large area of sea. With no sightings or further reports of anyone in distress all assets were stood down around 1.15am and prepared to return to station.

Clifden’s Atlantic 85 did not return to base however because the crew were re-tasked to additional call at Killary Harbour. Two hikers had descended Mweelrea Mountain, were stranded on the rocky shore and couldn’t find their boat in the darkness.

Clifden’s inshore lifeboat crew were able to locate the hikers, once assured they were uninjured and in good spirits they transported the casualties back to shore at the south side of Killary Harbour.

The casualties were very grateful for the assistance of the lifeboat crew as they had been stuck for hours on the rocks in the darkness and they were in a very dangerous predicament.

Fergal Conneely, Clifden RNLI Launch Authority said, “I want to say a huge thanks to our volunteers for a long night, it was 3.30am when some of crew were going home for a few hours sleep and then into work today.”

“It can be a big sacrifice being an RNLI volunteer but it is one we accept willingly and with pride. If you find yourself in an emergency situation or spot someone else in trouble, please always call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. We are ready to respond 24/7 to help save lives at sea.”

During this operation Clifden’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was helmed by David Barry with his daughter Caroline Barry, Ronan Mullen and Sean Pryce as crew.

Alan Pryce was Coxswain on Clifden’s all weather lifeboat with crew Joe Acton, David O’Reilly, Tom Guy, Shane Conneely and Alan Kearney as crew.

On Achill’s all weather lifeboat Patrick Mc Namara was Coxswain, with Declan Corrigan, Terry Hogarth, Stephen Mc Greal, Thomas Ruddy, Kevin Cattigan and Shane Guthrie as crew.

Not long after resetting from a busy night saving lives at sea, the Clifden crew were out again. Tasked on Tuesday morning at 11am to assist a broken down vessel East of Carraig na Rón.

James Mullen helmed Clifden’s inshore lifeboat with crew Sean Pryce, Dara Wallace and Shane Conneely as crew. After an assessment was carried out and due to the vessel causing a navigational hazard, a decision was taken to tow the boat to safety in Clifden Bay.

A man in his 50s was taken to hospital with serious injuries after being hit by a car in a collision in Galway City on Monday morning.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision that occurred on the R339 at Briarhill this week.

A collision involving a car and a pedestrian occurred shortly before 8:10am on Monday, August 24.

The pedestrian, a man in his 50s, was brought by ambulance to University Hospital Galway for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

No other injuries were reported at the time. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling the R339 in the area of Scoil Mhuire, Briarhill between 7:50am and 8:30am on Tuesday 24th August 2026 are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Oranmore Garda Station on 091 338030, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.

Galway City Council is planning to restore native woodland at Merlin Woods which was heavily damaged by Storm Eowyn more than a year and a half ago, replacing the spruce which previously made up much of the woods.

Since the 1960s Merlin Woods has contained a lot Norway spruce trees, making up about 50% of the woodland. These were heavily damaged by Storm Eowyn in January 2025, while the native and broadleaf species were least affected.

The council is currently advancing plans to clear the damaged areas of the woodland and replant with the goal of creating a native woodland and public park, with initial clearance works to commence in the coming weeks.

More than half of the woodland (54%) remains intact today and will be protected during the clearance works. Some standing conifers remain close to public paths, and Galway City Council sought expert advice from an independent arborist on the feasibility of retaining them.

However, it is expected that the clearance works will leave these trees exposed and weakened, meaning they will need to be removed for public safety reasons.

The Council’s plans have been informed by expert advice from an independent arborist and from Dr Colin Lawton of the University of Galway’s Zoology Department, ensuring that public safety, biodiversity and the protection of the resident red squirrel population are central to the restoration proposals.

Irish Forestry Services Ireland, on behalf of Galway City Council, is preparing an application to the Department under the NeighbourWood Scheme to secure funding for the replanting works.

Securing funding will depend on demonstrating local support for the replanting project and proposed amenity features, including trails, seating, signage and an outdoor classroom for schools and summer camps.

An independent arborist appointed by the Council stated, “This recommendation is a considered approach considering the topography of the site, the geology, the location in proximity to the western seaboard and tree species characteristics. I am recommending that the 3.5-hectare area is harvested and replanted with native broadleaf tree species.”

At an early stage of the project, Galway City Council engaged with Dr Colin Lawton of the University of Galway’s Zoology Department and author of the Irish Squirrel Survey to seek expert advice on how best to support the resident red squirrel population and inform the restoration plans.

His support for the replanting works and invaluable advice has directly influenced the harvest plan, including decisions relating to tree retention, post-harvest planting and a supplementary squirrel feeding programme, which the Council will put in place immediately. The areas of retained trees will provide continuous canopy cover for the squirrel population and other wildlife in the woods.

Commenting on the project, Dr Lawton said; “Although the loss of any forest habitat is a blow, if we can replace coniferous trees with a mix of broadleaved trees, particularly hazel, it would be beneficial to them in the long term.

We have seen the benefits of supplementary feeding for red squirrels in urban parks previously, including Belleek Forest Park in Ballina…. It could be a very good community outreach project, and volunteers/community groups could be brought in to help stock the feeders and monitor the squirrels. ”

A teenage boy is in critical condition following a single vehicle car crash which occurred in east Galway on Saturday night.

Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a crash at Ballyedmond, Clonberne, Ballinasloe at around 10pm Saturday.

The front passenger in the car, a teenage boy, is in Beaumont Hospital Dublin for treatment of serious injuries and remains in a critical condition.

The three rear seat passengers, also teenage boys, were brought by ambulance to Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe as a precaution.

A technical examination was carried out by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to come forward.

Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area of Ballyedmond between 9:30pm and 10:30pm on Saturday 22nd August, 2026 are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Ballinasloe Garda Station on 090 963 1890, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Galway bars took home eight medals in the 2026 Bar of the Year Awards on Monday night in a great showing for hospitality on the west coast. Seven bars took home gold and silver prizes in eight categories.

The premier stars of Ireland’s licensed trade were crowned on Monday, August 24 at the gala ceremony of The Square Bar of the Year Awards 2026, hosted by Anton Savage, held at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin.

Following a record-breaking year featuring over 1,000 national entries, the industry gathered to honour the extraordinary innovation, resilience, and craftsmanship defining Irish bars, hotels, craft breweries, and hospitality venues.

The Kings Head in Galway City struck gold, taking home the Gold Award for Best Live Entertainment Bar and earning recognition as the best in Ireland in that category.

The historic Galway venue also picked up Silver for City Bar of the Year, further cementing its reputation as one of the country’s leading bars and entertainment venue.

With more than 800 years of history, The Kings Head is renowned for its live music and entertainment, with free live music seven nights a week alongside trad sessions, comedy and theatre.

Joe O’Callaghan of Tom Sheridan’s Bar & Restaurant in Knocknacarra was another gold medallist in the Bar Manager of the Year category.

The third gold medal of the night went to Sonny Molloy’s Irish Whiskey Bar in Galway City Centre for Whiskey Bar Of The Year.

Other silver medal winners include McSwiggan’s in Woodquay, which came second in the Restaurant Bar of the Year category.

Located on Eyre Street in Woodquay, McSwiggans has been at the heart of Galway life for more than 40 years, combining its traditional public house with an award-winning Steak & Seafood Restaurant.

This latest recognition adds to an impressive run of national awards for McSwiggan’s, which was named Ireland’s Best Gastropub in 2025 and Best Pub Restaurant by the Bar & Cocktail Awards.

An Púcán in Galway City won silver for Tourist Bar of The Year, while Donnellys of Barna was the runner up for Staff Personality of the Year.

Anne Murray, Festival Manager of the Galway Science and Technology Festival (GSTF) will represent Galway at the Network Ireland National Businesswoman of the Year Awards in September.

Anne will represent Galway at the national awards next month having won the STEM Professional category at the Network Ireland Galway Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2026.

The award recognises Anne’s career, leadership and contribution to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), during her career with IDA Ireland, Galway Science & Technology Festival and Sláinte Wellness.

The Network Ireland National Businesswoman of the Year Awards will be held in Galway on Friday, September 18 at the Galmont Hotel.

Anne Joined GSTF in 2010, initially taking responsibility for the Festival’s annual Schools Programme and supporting the flagship Festival Exhibition. Today, the School’s Programme engages approximately 200 primary and secondary schools reaching 30,000 students across Galway city and county each year.

The annual Exhibition at University of Galway attracts an audience of more than 15,000, making it one of the largest events held during National Science Week.

Speaking about the award, Anne said, “I grew up in an Ireland where young people were often expected to leave to find opportunity. I have been incredibly fortunate to spend my career contributing to a Galway where young people can now access world-class education and build world-class careers.”

She also commented, “While this is an individual award, it also reflects the strength of Galway’s wider STEM community including our companies, researchers, teachers and schools. It is a community where science is celebrated, curiosity is encouraged and young people are helped to see the opportunities available to them”

Under Anne’s leadership, GSTF has continually developed new and creative ways of making STEM relevant and accessible to people of all ages. In addition to the popular Exhibition, Festival highlights have included bringing the University of Leicester’s ‘Richard III Discovered Exhibition’ to Galway and displaying an original Enigma Machine used in codebreaking in World War II.

The Festival has also delivered many events which made science relatable to various audiences including TeenTech, The Science of Sea Swimming, The Science of Hurling and The Science of Women’s Health – demonstrating how science connects with everyday life, health, sport, history and the world around us.

Alongside her role with GSTF, Anne is the founder of Sláinte Wellness, a nutritional therapy and wellbeing clinic where she draws on health science, nutritional therapy and health-promotion principles to help people better understand the factors influencing their health and wellbeing.

Anne said representing Galway at the national awards was particularly meaningful: “Galway has undergone an extraordinary transformation into an internationally recognised centre for science, technology, medtech, research and innovation.”

“I am delighted to represent Network Ireland Galway at the national awards and proud that my work within Galway’s STEM community has been recognised.”

The hosepipe ban in place since last month will be lifted in Galway later this week Uisce Eireann has confirmed today.

A water conservation order was issued in July due to prolonged dry weather, prohibiting the use of hosepipes for water gardens, cleaning cars, or filling pools and water features.

The order will be lifted from Thursday, August 26 for Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath.

The conservation order will remain in place for Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.

Inis Mór remains under nightly water restrictions from 5pm each evening until 9am the following morning. These are currently expected to remain in place until the end of the month.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) will host an Information Day for students exploring their future across its Letterkenny, Sligo and Galway City (Dublin Road) campuses this week.

The open day will take place on Thursday, August 27, from 11am to 2pm, offering support and guidance to students navigating the next stage of their higher education journey.

The event is aimed at prospective first-year students who have questions about their CAO offers, are exploring available places, or are considering alternative pathways into higher education.

Students who have not yet received an offer, are unsure of their options, or have not made a CAO application are also encouraged to attend.

Visitors will have the opportunity to meet ATU’s experienced admissions, marketing and student support teams, who will be available throughout the day to provide one-to-one advice and answer questions about courses, applications, registration and student life.

The Information Day is particularly valuable for students who may be unfamiliar with the CAO available places process or who are the first in their family to attend university. Parents and guardians are also welcome to attend and learn more about the supports available to students beginning their third-level education.

As ATU continues to experience strong demand from applicants across the region, the university expects to issue more than 12,000 CAO offers during the 2026 admissions cycle.

Staff from the admissions team, fees office and induction team will be available on the day to assist students and families as they make important decisions about their future studies.

Fiona Kelly, ATU Marketing Manager, commented, “Starting university is a significant milestone, and we want prospective students and their families to feel supported and informed every step of the way. Having the opportunity to speak directly with our teams can make a real difference at what can often be a stressful time.”

“Whether students are seeking advice about a CAO offer, exploring available places, considering accommodation options or simply want to learn more about life at ATU, our teams will be on hand to provide guidance and practical support.”

“We encourage anyone considering ATU to come along, ask questions and explore the opportunities available to them,” Fiona Kelly said.

School Engagement Officers from each campus will be available to welcome visitors and provide information about programmes and services, while Students’ Union representatives will showcase the many supports, activities and opportunities that are part of ATU’s vibrant student community.

For more information and to register for the Information Day in Letterkenny, Sligo or Galway City (Dublin Road), visit: atu.ie/information-day.

More than 70,000 students are receiving their Leaving Cert results today, including 3,700 in Galway, with people able to get their results from 10am onwards.

Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton and Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan have congratulated the 70,411 students across the country receiving their Leaving Certificate and Senior Cycle Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programme results.

Ministers Naughton and Moynihan highlighted the wide range of supports available to students as they receive their results and begin to consider their next steps, whether that is further or higher education, an apprenticeship, employment or another pathway.

The Ministers also welcomed confirmation from the State Examinations Commission that it intends to issue the results of Leaving Certificate appeals on 25 September.

Minister Naughton said, “I would like to warmly congratulate every one of the 70,411 students across Ireland receiving their results today.”

“I also want to congratulate your families, teachers and school communities, who have supported you throughout your journey. Today marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and challenges overcome.”

“I hope you take the time to celebrate this achievement, to reflect on everything you have accomplished, the friendships and memories you have made and the contribution you have made to your school and wider community.”

The National Parents and Students Leaving Certificate Helpline will be available free of charge from 21 August, offering vital support to Leaving Certificate students and their parents/guardians.

Students and parents/guardians can choose to phone or text the helpline. Whichever option is chosen; an experienced guidance counsellor will be on hand to provide live, person-centred support. The service can be reached by calling 1800 265 165 or texting 086 180 0685.

The State Examinations Commission Candidate helpline is available for queries relating to the Candidate Self Service Portal and the services provided through the portal.

The Candidate Portal helpline will be available at 1800 111 135 or 1800 111 136 from 9am to 5pm from Friday 21 August 2026. Outside of these hours, queries may be e-mailed to candidateportal@examinations.ie.

Minister of State Moynihan said, “Today marks a milestone moment for inclusive education in this country as those of you who completed Level 1 and Level 2 Learning Programmes receive your results alongside your peers. I would especially like to congratulate you and wish you all the very best for your life ahead.”

“This is a new beginning for you and, as you look to the future, remember that a wide range of opportunities and supports are available to help you achieve your goals and realise your full potential.”

“Whether this means further education, an apprenticeship, the workforce or another pathway, the skills you’ve gained are a solid foundation for your next steps. The future is yours to shape, so go forward with confidence.”

“To your families, teachers, and school communities, thank you for guiding, inspiring, and supporting each student to get to this day. Your encouragement and belief have been instrumental in their success.”

A woman in her 80s is in critical condition after being hit by a car in Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo on Thursday afternoon.

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a serious injury road traffic collision that occurred at Glebe Street, Ballinrobe.

Emergency services attended the scene of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian at approximately 4:20pm on Thursday.

The pedestrian, a woman in her 80s, was conveyed from the scene to Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar for treatment of serious injuries, and remains in a critical condition.

No other injuries were reported at the time. The road is currently closed to allow for a technical examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

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

Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area of the N84 / Glebe Street, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo between 3.50pm and 4.50pm on Thursday 20th August, 2026 are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Claremorris Garda Station on (094) 9372080, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

Gardaí in Galway seized more than €70,000 worth of vape oil and jellies suspected to be laced with cannabis, along with counterfeit weight loss products this week.

During a search of a home in Claregalway on Monday, August 17, Gardaí seized nine litres of oil for use in cannabis vapes with an estimated street value of €45,000.

In follow-up searched by the Drugs Unit, a quantity of suspected cannabis edibles (jellies), with a street value of €17,600 were also seized.

A quantity of a suspected counterfeit weight loss product – with an estimated street value of €10,000, was also seized.

No arrests have been made at this time according to An Garda Síochána.