Tablets to be sent to healthcare workers at 4 Galway locations

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June 25, 2020

Galway Daily arts & culture Renowned Galway singer Mary Coughlan receives Lifetime Achievement Award

The famed Irish singer and songwriter, and a native of Galway City, Mary Coughlan was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her “immense impact” on the artistic and cultural life of Galway City this week.

Mayor of Galway City Mike Cubbard presented Mary Coughlan with her award on Tuesday outside the Town Hall Theatre.

On receiving the award Mary said she was “honoured and humbled” to be recognised in this way by the Mayor of her home city.

A native of Shantalla in Galway city, Mary career in music has spanned more than three decades and multiple genres including Blues, Jazz and Irish soul.

Her first album, Tired and Emotional, sold more than 100,000 copies in Ireland after its release in 1985.

Thirty five years and nine more studio albums later she is still going strong, a fact spelled out in the title of her latest album, Alive and Kicking, which came out in 2017.

But her contributions to the arts extend beyond just the recording studio. In 2018 she brought a vision of her own life and its trials to the stage in Woman Undone, produced in collaboration with the Brokentalkers and Valgeir Sigurðsson.

Mayor Cubbard commented that “whilst there are many worthy winners, Mary has shown a personal resolve to overcome many obstacles to go on and carve out a career to be proud of.

“It gives me great honour to select Mary for this accolade and to thank her for her contribution to arts, music and culture in Galway”

Major spike in burglaries and thefts from cars in Galway City

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June 25, 2020

There was a massive jump in burglaries and thefts from cars in Galway City the first five months of this year compared with the same period in 2019.

At a meeting of the Galway City Joint Policing Committee figures were presented showing a 38% jump in burglaries, and a 98% increase in thefts from cars.

There were 102 burglaries recorded in Galway City between January and May of this year, and 97 cars were broken into.

Chief Superintendent Tom Curley said that it was “alarming” that in 76 of the cases of thefts from cars, the vehicle had been left unlocked.

He added that Gardaí’s evidence was that groups of people were simply checking car doors down the street, and stealing easily visible cash, phones, laptops, and more when they found one unlocked.

Cllr Frank Fahy asked the meeting if there was any way to push the public message that if people leave their cars or home unlocked, that they’re inviting criminals in.

However, if there was anyone wondering if there was any connection between the lockdown and the jump in crimes, Chief Supt Curley put that idea to bed.

He said that the vast majority of these offences took place before the real onset of COVID-19 in Ireland, adding that criminals were simply “very active” in Galway City during the first two months of the year.

Coronavirus: 6 COVID-19 deaths, no new Galway cases

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June 24, 2020

Galway Daily news Galway hospitals see COVID cases double in recent weeks

Another six people with COVID-19 have died according to today’s figures from the HPSC, and another five new cases have been confirmed.

There have now been a total of 25,396 cases of COVID-19 in the state, and the pandemic has claimed a total of 1,726 lives here.

In Galway the streak of no newly confirmed cases has continued today, with the city and county total since the start of this pandemic remaining at 485 cases.

“Through our collective action, we have moved in the right direction in our fight against widespread community transmission of COVID-19.

“As we go forward, the behaviour and progression of this disease is in all of our hands,” said Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer.

“Every single one of us today has the ability to reduce the impact the virus might have on our most vulnerable and those at risk.

“You can do this by keeping a physical distance from others or wearing a face covering when in busy public places like shops and public transport, and by continuing to keep your number of daily contacts as low as possible.”

As of midnight on 21 June, 92% of all confirmed cases to date are estimated to have recovered from COVID-19.

Statistics measured as of midnight on Monday show that a total of 3,292 people have been hospitalised due to COVID-19, and of those 434 have required admission to the ICU.

Community transmission accounts for 35.5% of cases where the cause of infection is known, with another 62.5% coming from close contact with an infected person, and just 2.33% of cases associated with travel abroad at this time.

The European Union is preparing to reopen its internal borders next month, as well as allowing travel to and from many countries outside the bloc.

But the United States, Brazil, and Russia, still hotspots for the virus, may be subject to travel bans beyond that point.

Met Eireann issues Status Yellow weather warning for Galway

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June 24, 2020

Galway Daily weather Status Orange thunderstorm warning in effect for Galway

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow weather warning for thunderstorms, rain, and possible flooding this week covering Galway and all of Ireland.

Heavy thunderstorms are expected to develop from Thursday afternoon onwards, with some “severe downpours, hail and spot flooding” also forecast.

“Due to the localised nature of thunderstorms some parts of the country will remain dry,” Met Eireann said.

The weather warning will come into effect at 4pm on Thursday, and remain in place overnight until 9am on Friday morning.

A warning is also in place for thunder across all over Northern Ireland with information from the UK Met Office, which will be in place for the same time period.

“Whilst many places will be dry or see little rain, thunderstorms may cause flooding and disruption in a few places.”

Galway is forecast to see some light rain on Thursday evening and overnight, but nothing too heavy.

Temperatures will also spike again tomorrow, reaching highs of up to 23 degrees.

Shop Street McDonald’s reopens for takeaways

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June 24, 2020

Galway Daily food & drink Shop Street McDonald's reopens for takeaways

McDonald’s Galway city centre branch on Shop Street has reopened today for walk-in takeaway services.

This reopening follows on from a number of McDonald’s branches in the city and county which have already reopened for drive-thru services, but are still not accepting any foot traffic.

New safety measures for customers which have been introduced to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include limits on the number of customers allowed inside the fast food restaurant at any one time, and the introduction a one-way system when they do go inside.

There are fewer self-ordering screens in service right now, and these are being sanitised on a regular basis.

Customers are being encouraged to come alone to collect their food where possible and seating areas remain closed for the moment.

McDonald’s and other restaurants will be allowed to operate with indoor seating from next week when the country enters Phase 3 of the roadmap out of lockdown.

Staff hygiene measures brought in to improve safety include the installation of perspex screens in the kitchen and service areas, and reduced staff numbers on each shift.

Galway tech company raises €2 million for AI platform optimising public transport

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June 24, 2020

Galway Daily business Galway tech company raise €2 million for AI platform optimising public transport

Galway based transport data company CitySwift recently raised €2 million in funding to accelerate the rollout of its AI platform that helps optimise public transport systems.

This round of funding will improve the rollout of their systems in the UK and European markets, and also create 25 new jobs at the company, which is headquartered in Prospect Hill.

CitySwift has partnered with the UK transport companies National Express and the Go-Ahead Group in the launch of their latest AI driven predictive tool that predicts how busy buses will be

When2Travel lets public transport users plan their travel around when buses are expected to be busiest based on time, bus route, and even on a stop-by-stop basis.

This is extremely useful for passengers and operators alike when public transport has become one of the hot button topics when discussing the challenges of social distancing.

Brian O’Rourke, CitySwift Co-Founder and CEO, said that one thing the COVID-19 crisis has showcased is just how important having accurate data is for making decisions. Something equally true for businesses, government, or individuals.

“This has been even more evident for public transport companies as they monitored the effects of lockdown restrictions on their networks and model and plan for future scenarios as restrictions have begun to ease.”

“The CitySwift platform has been leveraged to enable our clients and their passengers to make informed, data-driven decisions as they navigate the road to recovery in these ever-changing times”.

This was the second round of investment in City Swift, which was led by Irelandia Investments, Act Venture Capital, Mike McGearty (former CEO of CarTrawler), and other notable Irish transport entrepreneurs.

With the additional €2 million in this round, City Swift has now raised a total of €3.5 million in capital to date.

All of the entities involved in the latest funding round had previously invested in the company.

This technology has recently been deployed across Go-Ahead Group’s entire UK operations via ‘When2Travel.co’ with other bus operators showing interest in rapidly deploying the solution to encourage passengers back onto the bus.

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Go North East said that their partnership has delivered an even more “detailed and comprehensive” predictive solution than he imagined.

“I think it could be the most powerful use of big data yet in terms of aiding local bus networks and customer service. That’s a bold statement, but we are really excited about it.”

CitySwift’s latest funding will speed up product development and the hiring of 25 new positions, in Ireland and remote, over the next twelve months.

The hires will be across commercial and technical roles including business development, customer success, product, data science and engineering, fuelling the expansion of its business in the European market, where they are already working with a number of public authorities.

Funding for Trading Online Voucher Scheme “falls significantly short” of what’s needed

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June 24, 2020

Galway Daily news Galway family syndicate "laughing, cheering and crying" after €250,000 Lotto win

The funding levels for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme falls “significantly short” of what is needed to help support businesses recovering from COVID-19 Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice claims.

Funding for the Trading Online Voucher Scheme this year is being expanded by €14.2 million which, after it was already expanded in April, brings the total amount of additional funding granted for the scheme this year to almost €20 million.

However, Michael Fitzmaurice said that demand for the scheme is “through the roof” and that this extra money will only cover applications which have already been made.

The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers businesses with up to 10 employees the ability to claim two vouchers, each worth up to €2,500, to help them expand their online presence.

Last year the scheme saw a total of 1,218 applications, but this year there were 3,962 applications made between March and early June alone.

That’s three years worth of applications in ordinary circumstances, made to Local Enterprise Offices around the country in the space of just three months.

Speaking on the matter, Fitzmaurice said “The COVID-19 outbreak has had a huge impact on businesses all around the country and they will require a variety of supports if they are to get back up and running.”

“We rely on these businesses to get people back to work and to keep communities going,” he said, dding that having a “strong online presence” will be a big help in sustaining businesses and helping them recover.

The voucher scheme is targeted at businesses which have little to no existing e-commerce presence, and can be used to help them in various ways such as adding payment options to their website or developing apps for customer use.

The scheme also requires businesses to have been trading for at least six months, and have an annual turnover of less than €2 million.

“When the additional funding was announced recently, it was allocated to applications that were already on hand,” Fitzmaurice said, describing the scheme as “significantly oversubscribed”.

“With all the talk around supporting SMEs and getting the country back up and running again, the department and the Government need to find funding to make a further allocation to this scheme”

The Galway-born footballer who will be hoping to get his big break at the top in the coming months

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Thomas O'Brien

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June 24, 2020

Galway daily sport stephen-kenny-fai-management-team

There’s a lot of excitement surrounding the Irish national team right now as they gear up for a new era under boss Stephen Kenny.

The former Dundalk chief was named as Mick McCarthy’s successor earlier this year despite Euro 2020 being pushed back by 12 months, so it’s Kenny who will be tasked with guiding the Boys in Green to the major event.

His appointment has been met with excitement from the majority of fans as the 48-year-old had worked wonders with the Ireland U21 side and many hope this will bring a new style of play to the senior team.

As well as that, he will be tasked with bringing through more talented younger players and giving those who had been on the fringes, or not involved at all, a chance to show what they can do.

BREAKING: Keith Andrews, Damien Duff and Alan Kelly join Stephen Kenny's coaching staff with the Men's Senior Team.

Jim Crawford becomes manager of the #IRLU21 team and will be assisted by John O'Shea #COYBIG🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/dfnB2eEFKH

— FAIreland ⚽️🇮🇪 (@FAIreland) April 5, 2020

And, one man who will be hoping to force his way into the thinking of Kenny is Queens Park Rangers’ Ryan Manning.

The versatile 24-year-old started out with local side Mervue United before moving to Galway, with his form catching the eye of the R’s, who sealed a deal for Manning back in 2015.

After taking time to adapt to his new surroundings, the Irishman has flourished in the past 12-18 months, with his form believed to be attracting interest from Premier League sides Southampton and Newcastle.

Given how he is approaching the final year of his contract with QPR, there’s every chance that a summer move could be on the cards, particularly as the Londoners are not in a financial position to turn down decent offers. Whilst Manning has starred at left-back for Mark Warburton’s men in the current campaign, he is capable of playing in midfield and that should make him a more attractive option to any interested clubs.

Perhaps more importantly from the perspective of the player, moving to the top-flight is only going to increase his chances of representing the Irish team.

With Euro 2020 set to be played in the summer of ’21, this season is pivotal to any player who wants to break into the team and that has got to be the aim for Manning.

If Stephen Kenny is to adopt a high-pressing side, it could suit the abilities that Manning has and the stylish way that Warburton has his QPR team playing also appears to mirror the approach that Kenny is going to try to implement with the national team.

Of course, Ireland still have work to do reach the major tournament and you can see by just checking the latest football odds that they are going to have a tough task to come through against Slovakia and then Northern Ireland or Bosnia in the play-off to reach Euro 2020.

But, the hope is there and it could be a new-look Irish side that lines up for that game in what will be a high-pressure encounter for Stephen Kenny as he tries to get off to the perfect start competitively.

Even though the senior figures that helped Ireland reach this position shouldn’t be discarded, there’s no denying that the managerial switch has given hope to a wide pool of players that they will be able to make the squad and pull on the green jersey at the highest level.

Manning certainly falls into that category and playing for Ireland at Euro 2020 could top off what has the potential to be a very exciting year for the Galway lad, who has the potential to be a leading name in sport from the region; he could very well be a Premier League player by then and it will continue what has been a rapid rise since he was playing for the local teams in this area.

image credit: FAI/Twitter

Two day road closure for Gort roadworks

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June 24, 2020

Galway Daily news Roadworks to disrupt traffic near Portumna on Tuesday

The R460 near Gort will be closed during the day for the next two days while roadworks are taking place.

Galway County Council is carrying out resurfacing overlay works on the R460 at Kilmacduagh, Gort near the county line with Clare.

In order to allow these roadworks to take place, the section of road being worked on will be closed from 7:30am – 7pm on Wednesday and Thursday.

As a consequence users of this road should expect delays and give themselves more time to complete journeys.

The contract for these works has been awarded to Lagan Asphalt Limited.

Tuam Farmers’ Market not reopening, but TD says it could return in “not too distant future”

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June 23, 2020

Tuam Farmers’ Market will not be reopening after closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The market says it was required ‘to adapt in order to survive’ and that social distancing was going to be a responsibility they did not have the resources for.

“Some of us are now tied into other avenues that we can’t walk away from,” Tuam Farmers’ Market said in a statement.

But Galway East TD Ciarán Cannon said he is confident the market will return in the ‘not too distant future’.

He also said that he will be working with the next Minister for Agriculture to ensure that any supports required are put in place to ensure this happens “sooner rather than later”.

“I’m very sorry to hear that Tuam Farmers’ Market will not be returning to its established venue in Brownes Lane and I understand the difficulties the different producers and traders have faced since the onset of restrictions,” he said.

But the Fine Gael TD said that he is pleased to note the upbeat statement posted on behalf of vendors on social media and the commitment to continue trading in a different context.

“This is a blow to Tuam’s business environment, but I am confident that the conditions will be more favourable for a return of the market in the not too distant future and the upcoming regeneration forum should certainly discuss how the optimum conditions can be created to support producers and vendors.

“I wish to acknowledge the contribution the various businesses have made to the business and social life of Tuam town and I intend to discuss this matter with the incoming Minister for Agriculture to ensure that any supports for the horticultural sector are put in place to ensure that vendors can return to an open trading environment sooner rather than later.”

Coronavirus: 3 deaths in Republic, still no new Galway cases

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June 23, 2020

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

A further three people with COVID-19 have died in the Republic of Ireland and ten new cases of the disease have been confirmed, the NPHET has said.

There have now been a total of 1,720 COVID-19 related deaths in the State, and 25,391 confirmed cases.

The number of people who have tested positive for the disease in Galway remains 485, after no new cases were reported in Galway in today’s figures.

Over the past week, 18,368 tests were carried out across the country. 99.5% of these tests were negative.

Dr. Tony Holohan said this evening, “While we now have a robust testing system in place, the success of this system is dependent on people isolating and coming forward to their GP as soon as they experience symptoms. Cough, fever, shortness of breath, change in smell or taste, flu like symptoms should be treated as COVID-19 until a GP assessment or test deems otherwise.

“If you are experiencing these symptoms, do not go to work or socialise. Self isolate in your household and contact your GP by phone without delay.”

Junior Chamber Galway represent Ireland on the European Stage

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June 23, 2020

Galway Daily business JCI Galway summer Success seminar series helping businesses grow

While COVID-19 cancelled all physical events, this didn’t stop Junior Chamber International Ireland, who hosted their European Conference online earlier this month.

The JCI European conference had been planned to take place in Dublin this May, hosting several thousand delegates from across the world.

But unfortunately it was cancelled as so many events were due to this pandemic, and shortly after the decision was made that the event would be held online.

JCI Galway represented Ireland at the public speaking competition, debating competition and at the annual awards ceremony.

Colleen Baxter, 2020 President of JCI Galway was thrilled when her branch won an award for their ‘Best Inter-Organisation Collaboration project’.

Realizing that many members were struggling to stay encouraged and active during the COVID-19 pandemic period, Junior Chamber Galway organised the project Effective Weekend to host a series of JCI leadership courses and training sessions.

In an effort to cultivate more future leaders for the local and national organisations, JCI members utilised video-conferencing technology to move all their face-to-face training sessions online.

Not only did this allow the sessions to proceed without interruption, but also brought a new
learning experience to the Junior Chamber trainers as well.

Partnering with 6 trainers from six different countries, four local chapters in Ireland and
members from over fifteen different countries, the Effective Weekend brought together a diverse group of people to continue learning and growing.

The event proved to be a fantastic example of adapting to the changing world and ensuring that members still have access to training and development opportunities during these trying times.

This is the second year in a row that JCI Galway have won this award and Colleen says that they’re already working to make sure they get the hat-trick.

The Irish debating team were also represented by Galway comprising of team captain Colleen Baxter, 1st speaker Conor Hogan and 2nd speaker Marie Scully, all members of JCI Galway.

The Galway team itself had made it to the European stage after triumphing over JCI Cork in April.

There they debated against the teams from Turkey and the UK, but were unfortunately knocked out at the semi-finals.

“It was an honour to represent both Galway and Ireland at a European level,” Colleen Baxter.

“I was delighted that we made it to the semi-finals in the debating competition and we hope to compete again at the JCI World Congress in Japan later this year.”

As to how the experience differed from past years, she said “It was a bit weird competing online but overall we really enjoyed it.”

Gardaí appeal for information on stolen litter of puppies

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June 23, 2020

Galway Daily news Litter of puppies stolen from Craughwell recovered safely in Belfast

Gardaí in Craughwell are appealing for information following the theft of four fox hound puppies in Craughwell on Sunday night or Monday morning.

The theft occurred between 7pm on Sunday June 21, and 9am on Monday June 22, 2020.

The litter of puppies are just four weeks old and are described as black, white and tan in colour. There were three male dogs and one female pup in the litter.

The pups were taken from their mother before they could be weaned properly, and this is of concern.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone who may have been offered pups matching this description or who may have information in relation to the theft to make contact with them at Craughwell Garda Station on 091-876320 or Loughrea Garda Station at 091-842870.

World Cup of Galway Restaurants Quarter Final 2!

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June 23, 2020

Vinnie’s on Upper Dominick Street is through to the Semi-Finals, and will be joined by three more restaurants!

Vote below for Galway Tandoori or BóTOWN – and check out our Restaurants Page where you can find your favourite eateries from across Galway and order online!

Majority of nurses and midwives using annual leave to care for children

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June 23, 2020

Galway Daily covid-19 INMO calls for inquiry into Covid-19 rates among healthcare workers

The majority of nurses and midwives with childcare needs are using up annual leave to care for their children, an INMO survey has revealed.

Over 1,800 INMO members with childcare needs responded to the union’s survey, which found that 62% have taken annual leave to care for children, while 10% are using grandparents as a means of childcare.

The survey also found that a substantial minority (22%) were using paid childminders, with the majority paying over €100 per week above the usual amount, so that they could attend work.

Sixty-nine percent did not have a partner available to provide childcare – often because they are a single parent, or their partner is another essential worker.

When asked what form they would like childcare assistance to take in the coming months, the most popular solution among respondents was to allow parents to source their own childcare and be reimbursed by the employer.

One community nurse who responded to the survey said that she and her garda husband, who are parents to three school-going children, have experienced immense stress.

“I don’t really want to hear the government thanking us and calling us heroes,” she said.

“They have neglected this huge issue we need help now with childcare now – financial assistance specifically.

“This is not going to change in the next coming months. The problem will remain if the schools only open part-time. This issue has been handled disgracefully.”

The survey’s results are being presented to the Oireachtas Special Committee on Covid-19 Response today where the INMO will call for the committee to recommend a range of measures.

These including the reimbursement of any additional childcare costs incurred during COVID-19, and compensation for annual leave used to care for children.

The organisation wants to see a scheme to pay healthcare workers for any childcare they source themselves and priority access for nurses and midwives in access to preschools, creches, and childminding.

The union will also set out its concerns on international recruitment, and discuss the many representations it made to government on the childcare issue without resolution.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said that there has rightly been applause and praise for frontline healthcare workers over the past three months.

“Yet when the applause dies down, many will be left out of pocket and without any leave. Our members say they feel abandoned.

“We have long sought a solution to the childcare problem facing our members. They want to do their jobs, while also knowing that their children are being looked after. This is not an unreasonable demand.

“Nobody doubts that childcare in a pandemic is a difficult issue, but so far that difficulty has landed on those who are taking the greatest risks during the pandemic.

“One in ten COVID cases in this country are nurses. We must support them better.”

INMO President, Martina Harkin-Kelly, said, “Our nursing and midwifery members feel let down as parents. There has been an abject failure to provide adequate childcare support. Our members want to do their jobs as professionals without impediment.

“The INMO’s Executive Council’s view is that this remains a critical issue for our members. A solution must be found quickly to ensure continuity of safe patient care.”

Galway champions its greatest food assets so people will Dine in Galway

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June 23, 2020

Galway Daily food & drink Galway-restaurants-dine-in-galway

From the 29 June, Galway’s cafes, restaurants and gastro pubs will be reopened, reimagined and ready to welcome people back for great food and dining experiences.

Dine in Galway, an initiative which aims to highlight the amazing food you can enjoy in one of Ireland’s most vibrant food destinations is launching Galway City, where there is a Plate for Everyone.

As a city with a huge diversity of people, cultures and flavours, Galway food passion is the driver for the return of the local economy on the west coast.

Galway has a long tradition of using close-to-hand ingredients from the land and the sea in creating food.

Fresh seafood and shellfish, sustainably caught in the roaring Atlantic Sea. Vibrant vegetables and roots, plucked from the mineral rich soil of the West of Ireland. Mouth-watering meats and poultry that are reared with respect and care.

But Galway’s food heritage has grown and adapted, transforming the city into a melting pot of contemporary cuisine from all over the globe.

You can experience the tastes of the world here; starting with our own locally grown produce available from the Galway Market each weekend.

But beyond that there’s treats like Chinese Street Food from Xi’an Street Food, authentic Italian pizza from The Dough Bros, Middle-Eastern falafel from The Gourmet Offensive, Spanish tapas from Cava, contemporary brunch from Dela or hearty, rustic Bistro food from The Kings Head.

And that is only the beginning of what’s on offer in Galway. With so many top-quality restaurants all situated within strolling distance of the city centre you will be spoiled for choice.

Galway is also home to a host of comfortable and relaxing hotels and hostels, making it the ideal staycation destination for any food lover.

“We are reopening in early July and we are really looking forward to getting back and reconnecting with our community, staff and customers alike,” said Sinead Meacle and Enda McEnvoy, owners of Loam restaurant.

“We’re rested, refreshed, and with renewed focus and ready to re enter this new changed landscape.

They added that restaurants are more than just the sum of their parts, supporting a wide range of growers and crafts people, fishermen and farmers, cheese-makers and candle makers, bakers and refuse collectors all of whom have been affected by this pandemic, and all of whom are eager to get back to work.

Kevin Nugent of Tribe Hospitality Group commented “Salthill in summer means one thing, people coming together to enjoy one of the most iconic seaside town in the country.

“This year that has all changed. We are all ready now to reopen and to welcome our customers back in an adapted way, but nonetheless with the same values as always. To bring great food, a shared experience and to create memories.”

The Kings Head plans to reopen on July 2, and owner Paul Grealish says they’ll be happy to have their fantastic staff and customers back breathing life into this 800 year old building.

“While we have been busy preparing the premises to comply with guidelines to keep our customers and staff safe, the core elements of Customer Service and commitment to fresh local ingredients will remain the same.

“At the end of the day, this global pandemic is difficult for everyone. We would ask our customers to be kind to themselves, to each other and to our staff.

“No doubt this too shall pass and better days lie ahead! It’s great to see other businesses in our area starting to re-open.”

He added that one-off business run by their owners are part of what makes any visit to Galway so unique.

“Galway is coming back and on the 29th with all our great restaurants, food outlets and producers we are going to open our doors again to our customers,” says Rory McCormack, owner of Handsome Burger.

“We are getting our staff back in and really this is the first time in weeks we have been excited yet again by what Handsome Burger is in the westend and in Galway.

“Looking forward to feeding people and just seeing our customers again.”

So, book your table now to feast on the tastes of Galway and support the local producers, chefs, owners and staff who can’t wait to have you back,” said Gill Carroll of the Galway City Business Association.

Looking to plan the perfect Galway trip? Check out some of the finest food spots the city has to offer by following Dine in Galway at dineingalway.ie.

Good news for Portumna as Waterways Ireland development gets approval

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June 23, 2020

galway daily lough derg waterways blueway tourism in galway

The new Waterways Ireland development in Portumna has been approved which will see a number of improvements to local water amenities.

The €1.5 million investment will be carried out over two phases and aims to enhance infrastructure for visitors engaging with local water amenities, as well as walking and cycling facilities.

Phase one of the plan will see the the development of a new Blueway, just over 2km in length, which will connect Portumna Bridge to the Lough Derg Water Recreation Park and onwards to Portumna Forest Park.

The second phase proposes the creation of a new 8-berth marina and car park at Connaught Harbour, the repair of footpaths, and the construction of a new Toucan road crossing to the Blueway.

Commenting on the approval, East Galway TD Ciarán Cannon said that the project will be a major boost to local activity tourism and comes at a much-needed time following the economic impact of the pandemic.

The Fine Gael TD said that Portumna has a wealth of outdoor amenities, “including the Forest Park, the Hymany Way and the Marina, and all of these contribute greatly to the visitor experience and to the local tourism economy.”

“I’m confident that this development will complement those amenities and make a significant contribution to the recovery of the local tourism sector and the return of robust visitor numbers to Portumna.”

Garda Chief Superintendent supports 30km/h speed limit for Galway City

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June 22, 2020

Garda Chief Superintendent Tom Curley has said he would be “absolutely delighted” to see a 30km/hr speed limit introduced across Galway City.

The issue of reducing the speed limit was raised at the Joint Policing Committee today by councillors Owen Hanley and Niall McNelis, who asked for garda support to make Galway’s streets safer for families and older people walking, and people cycling.

The Chief Superintendent said that reducing the speed limit was already being discussed to improve safety for cycling, and that this is supported by Inspector Peter Conlon and Superintendent Damien Flanagan.

Galway Cycling Campaign welcomed the added support for a 30 km/h speed limit, which has come a week after a public meeting that explored the benefits of lower speed limits.

Spokesperson Martina Callanan said that lower city speed limits are becoming more common in European cities such as Athens, Milan and Brussels.

“This will give parents peace of mind to bring small children into the city centre to shop and dine, when children play and cycle outside their homes, and as children and teenagers walk and cycle to school,” she said.

Mairéad Forsythe of Love 30, Ireland’s campaign for lower speed limits, was in attendance at today’s meeting on Zoom, and said that introducing a 30 km/h speed limit would be a significant achievement for road safety in Galway.

“It will make our roads safer for people walking, cycling and driving. Most important of all, slower streets make our neighbourhoods more pleasant places to live, work and for children to play.”

Earlier this year, analysis of collisions where speed was a factor, using data from 2016 to 2018, showed that the most dangerous stretches of road in Galway depended on the type of incident counted.

The Headford Road just past Galway Shopping Centre had by far the largest number of collisions in the three year period, with 29 incidents.

However 27 of these were classified as minor collisions, with two serious incidents, and no deaths.

The most dangerous area was the Upper Newcastle Road in Galway City just past the quincentenary bridge, where there were 13 collisions from 2016-2018, including two fatal incidents.

Kevin Jennings, chairperson of the Galway Cycling Campaign, added that the typical road speed limit of 50 km/h ‘does not feel fast if you are behind a windscreen’.

“The research is stark: speed is the biggest contributing factor to road deaths in Ireland. If a person walking is hit by a person driving a car at 50 km/h, there is a 50% chance that person will die. At 60 km/h – that’s only 10 km faster – 9 in 10 pedestrians will die,” he said.

“Slower speed limits have an added benefit of improving traffic flow. Scientific models show motor traffic flowing more steadily at lower speeds in congested networks.”

A total of 1,773 people were caught speeding in the city between January and May this year, up from 1,209 in the same period in 2019.

Coronavirus: 2 deaths and 4 cases in Republic, no new Galway cases

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June 22, 2020