With Woozza, Xi’An Street Food, Handsome Burger and Vinnie’s through to the next round, it’s time for Group C.
Vote below!
And don’t forget to check out our page which features restaurants and cafes from across Galway!
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Unlikely meeting between GAA and FC Barcelona in live discussion
A live discussion tomorrow will see the GAA and Barça Foundation explore sport’s role in developing life skills during COVID-19.
The event, hosted by NUI Galway and Penn State, will feature stories of humanity and community engagement, and explore the future connections needed to cope beyond the first wave of the coronavirus emergency.
Armagh Footballer Caroline O’ Hanlon and Dublin Footballer Jack McCaffrey will provide a players’ perspective during the discussion and they will be joined by Partnerships Coordinator at Barça Foundation, Yolanda Antin, and Colin Regan, GAA Community and Health Manager.
Kalyn McDonough at the University of Delaware will also feature in the discussion, which is free for everyone and can be viewed at 6pm on Thursday, 28 May on NUI Galway’s Facebook page.
Speaking today, Professor Pat Dolan, UNESCO Chair for Youth Civic Engagement at NUI Galway, said that the value of sport as a tool to learn empathy is often overlooked but should never be underestimated.
“Through participation in sport we create relationships with others and by learning from the joy of winning and upset at losing we create a capacity to understand what others feel because we have felt it.
“The highs and lows of sport mirror life, and by bringing this understanding into our lives, we develop our capacity to show empathy to others,” he said.
Both Barça Foundation and the GAA have been active in supporting communities during the current pandemic.
A recent survey of GAA clubs found that approximately 19,000 GAA volunteers had supported around 35,000 people in local communities through activities such as collection and delivery of essentials, sharing public health information and meal delivery.
Tomorrow’s event is part of a series of 12 weekly virtual conversations hosted by the Institute for Lifecourse and Society at NUI Galway and UNESCO Chairs for Children, Youth, and Communities at NUI Galway and Penn State University.
Each week these Facebook live events (at 6pm Thursdays) bring together the views of academics, policymakers and most importantly citizens directly affected by the coronavirus.
This includes a focus on kernel issues for children and youth, parents, older people, families and people living with a disability.
City Council invites applications to lease allotments
The City Council is inviting applications to lease any of their allotments which become available over the next two years.
Galway City Council currently operates two areas of allotments at Merlin Woods and in Shantalla.
An allotment is a plot of land which is made available for non-commercial gardening or food growing.
Applications are now being invited for anyone who wants to be considered for any plots that become vacant at these two sites, or any newly developed site, over the period of 2020-2022.
These applications will remain active for a period of two years. After this, or when the allotments are re-advertised, any unsuccessful applications will be destroyed.
In order to qualify for one of the 50sqm allotments you must be a resident of Galway City, and your application must specify the area being applied for.
Applications forms can gotten from the city council Customer Services department, or online at www.galwaycity.ie/allotments2020.
The closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday, June 12.
Galway City’s allotments were closed during the full stay at home phase of the Covid-19 pandemic, but reopened with restricted access as of May 18, when the first phase of easing the lockdown began.
€15m announced for economic recovery in rural towns and villages
Groups in Galway have been urged to apply for funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020.
The €15 million scheme was announced today by Minister Michael Ring and is aimed at aiding economic recovery in rural towns and villages in response to COVID-19.
It constitutes part of a €30 million package for rural development announced earlier this week, which includes the CLÁR Programme.
Announcing the funding, Minister Michael Ring said: “I am pleased to announce the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2020 with funding of €15 million.
“This builds on and complements the funding I announced under the CLÁR programme earlier this week.
“The impact of the Town and Village Scheme can be seen in every corner of Ireland, with over 800 projects approved for funding of almost €68 million since 2016.”
East Galway TD Ciarán Cannon encouraged groups in Galway to apply for funding under the scheme.
“The Town and Village Renewal Scheme provides funding for projects which support East Galway’s towns and villages to be more attractive and sustainable.
“This year it will specifically support projects that aid the economic and social recovery of our towns and villages in response to COVID-19.
“Town and villages in East Galway are at the heart of our economic and social activity and will play a pivotal role once again in providing safe spaces for people to meet and do business as the current restrictions are eased in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
“A new standalone measure under this year’s scheme will provide accelerated support for the region’s towns and villages in to adapt to public health requirements such as social distancing in the short term, and to encourage increased footfall.”
New safety barriers on the N65 near Kilmeen Cross fully installed
New safety barriers on the N65 near Kilmeen Cross are now fully in place, it has been confirmed.
The barriers were installed as motorists were in danger of veering off the side of the road and dropping several feet into overgrowth.
East Galway TD Ciarán Cannon has said that he is satisfied that the new safety system will prevent this from happening.
He said that the new safety barriers are ‘vital’ as normal traffic resumes along the route with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and ahead of the eventual reopening of schools.
“I very much welcome the confirmation that the new safety system is fully in place on the section of the N65 near Kilmeen Cross known as the ‘Bog Road’ which will be a major boost to road safety for the local communities who use this route on a daily basis and for motorists travelling between Loughrea and Portumna,” said Minister Ciarán Cannon.
“I have been in regular contact with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on this issue to ensure that we secured the necessary funding to get these safety barriers in place and wish to acknowledge the co-operation of the agency in progressing the project.
“These new safety barriers are also vital as normal volumes of traffic resume along the route with the easing of restrictions and ahead of the eventual reopening of schools.”
Coronavirus: Saolta Hospitals CEO praises staff for level of care in Covid-19 crisis
CEO of the Saolta Hospitals Group Tony Canavan praised staff at hospitals in the west for the level of care they have provided in the Covid-19 crisis, and the general public for preventing a surge in cases.
In a recent video address Tony Canavan said that when he looks back at the last few months of the Covid-19 crisis, it’s incredible how much things have changed since then.
When the hospitals group, which includes UHG, Merlin Park, and Portiuncula hospitals, was planning for the coronavirus pandemic in February, they expected a “surge” of Covid-19 patients sometime in April.
But the situation now is that the expected wave of cases “never arrived”, in part due to government regulations around the movement of people.
“But more importantly because of the way people complied with those regulations and really bought into them.”
“However some people were affected by Covid-19, and we’ve seen many patients come through our doors over the last couple of months.
“And the manner in which our staff have responded to the needs of patients has been really incredible”.
Canavan praised the “spirit of innovation” people have shown in being willing to adapt how they work to meet this crisis, and for “providing the best care we can” for people coming to hospitals in the west.
There have been 461 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Galway, putting the county at the lower end of the scale nationally, where it accounts for just 1.9% of cases in Ireland.
The national death toll from Covid-19 now stands at 1,615 people, while there have been a total of 24,735 confirmed cases in the state.
However Tony Cananvan cautioned that with Phase 1 of reopening the country now underway there will be more people moving around again.
“And while that’s inherently good, and we need the country to come back into activity again, there is also a risk that comes with it.”
“The concern that we would have is that with greater movement of people, that Covid-19 will start to get a grip again.”
He concluded by asking the roughly 10,000 people employed at Saolta Hospitals to talk to their families and friends about what they can do to “stick with this” a while longer, and prevent a resurgence of the virus.
Over 60,000 Leaving Cert students to register with Calculated Grades portal
Over 60,000 Leaving Cert students are expected register this week at a new online portal to decide whether they wish to receive a calculated grade.
The government is offering an opt-in system this year for students to receive a calculated grade in lieu of sitting Leaving Cert exams this year due to Covid-19.
All Leaving Cert and LC Applied students are required to register on the government’s online portal before 10pm this Thursday, regardless of whether they will to receive a calculated grade or not.
When registering students must have their Exam Number, PPS, email address, and mobile number.
They mist also confirm which level they sit each subject in, with the option to stay where they are or drop to a lower level.
Once they have registered, and the government has received the necessary information from schools, students will be asked to opt-in if they wish to receive calculated grades.
“This is a brand-new system that it has been necessary to introduce because of the decisions we have had to take as we respond to Covid-19 situation,” Minister for Education Joe McHugh said.
“The important message for Leaving Certificate students is that they must now register by Thursday at 10pm to ensure that they can receive their Leaving Certificate calculated grades.”
“Please don’t leave it until the last minute. This is a tight timeframe. We need every student to register so that the new system can operate smoothly.”
Some 61,000 students are expected to register on the portal this week as the department moves ahead with its Leaving Cert plans.
There was some tension last week with the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland over the plans, with the union expressing concerns that the indemnity protection offered teachers over the grades was not sufficient.
But this was smoothed over after the department offered assurances that teachers would not be left with legal costs of defending themselves where it is needed.
The Department of Education has today advised teachers to destroy any supporting documents related to how they arrived at a student’s grade, such as early drafts, and preserve only the final form submitted to the department.
This is because any appeal will not include challenging a teachers judgement, but may only look for potential data entry errors.
County Council sought legal advice on Connemara Greenway land access
Galway County Council has sought legal advice on gaining access to land for studies related to a proposed section of the Connemara Greenway a Galway senator has said.
Galway Senator Seán Kyne says that studies have been completed on 21km of the 28km stretch of the proposed Connemara Greenway between Galway City and Oughterard.
However Senator Kyne added that RPS Consultants, acting on behalf of the county council, have not been granted access to the remaining 7km worth of the section, meaning that documentation cannot be prepared for a planning application.
“Galway County Council has sought legal advice regarding gaining access to lands in order to complete the studies.”
“Property rights are protected in the Constitution making it vital that proper process has to be adhered to.”
“Galway County Council is also keeping a watch on the outcome and lessons that may arise from the Kerry Greenway oral hearing.”
If completed the Connemara Greenway would connect Galway and Clifden along a 76km route.
Though the project has been bogged down in land issues for many years, parts have been completed and are open to the public.
Last June €2.6 million in funding was awarded by the Department of Transport, Tourism, and Sport to advance sections between Clifden and Recess.
“To be clear, funding is not an issue as regards progressing the Greenway,” Seán Kyne says of the project.
“There is a clear commitment to Greenways under Project Ireland 2040 and the Greenway Strategy and I will continue to work with all stakeholders to make progress on this infrastructure for our communities.
Coronavirus: 9 more deaths in Republic but no new Galway cases
After no deaths related to the coronavirus were reported in the Republic yesterday, the NPHET has today confirmed that nine more people have died after being diagnosed with the disease.
The total number of people who have died from COVID-19 now stands at 1,615 and the total cases has reached 24,735 after 39 new cases were reported today.
No new cases were reported in Galway, as of midnight on Sunday, so the total number of people who have tested positive in the county remains 461 – 1.9% of the total cases in the state.
Speaking this evening, Dr. Tony Holohan said: “As of midnight Monday 25 May, 325,795 tests have been carried out.
“Over the past week, 30,169 tests were carried out and of these 633 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 2.1%.
“NPHET will meet on Thursday 28th May where further consideration will be given to broadening the case definition.”
The total number of people who have been hospitalised due to the virus is 3,233 and 395 people have been admitted to ICU.
The total number of deaths in hospital is now 1,354.
No new deaths were reported today in the North for the first time in ten weeks.
Age range affected (in the Republic)
| Age range | Number of cases | % of total |
| 0 – 1 | 45 | 0.2 |
| 1 – 4 | 102 | 0.4 |
| 5 – 14 | 294 | 1.2 |
| 15 – 24 | 1802 | 7.3 |
| 25 – 34 | 4139 | 16.8 |
| 35 – 44 | 4337 | 17.6 |
| 45 – 54 | 4428 | 18 |
| 55 – 64 | 3163 | 12.8 |
| 65 – 74 | 1757 | 7.1 |
| 75 – 84 | 2230 | 9.1 |
| 85+ | 2307 | 9.4 |
| Unknown | 25 | 0.1 |
The World Cup of Galway Restaurants – Group B
Woozza and Xi’An Street Food are through from Group A, with Kashmir Restaurant just missing out on a place in the last 16! Now it’s time for Group B – click on your favourite below to vote.
And don’t forget to check out our restaurants page, featuring eateries from across Galway.
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When Your Snow Globe is Shaken – A mother’s perspective on childhood cancer
By Judith Sibley, mother of Lily-Mae and Director of Hand in Hand National Children’s Cancer Charity.
In 2012 when we received the diagnosis of stage IV Neuroblastoma, it was as though my entire world ended in an instant. With the diagnosis came frightening survival statistics and what became a lengthy course of treatments that spanned years and continents to save her.
Lily-Mae had just turned four when she was diagnosed.
On the eve of her twelfth birthday amidst the uncertainty of Covid-19, I took a moment to reflect on the lessons learned through this incredibly difficult journey.
Today is her last day of being 11 – tomorrow my miracle child will be 12. I woke up early and stood by her bed just watching her sleep; so peaceful and beautiful, and so very very fortunate.
Where have the years gone?
Each year, each day, moment, second; each breath is a gift I have never taken for granted, something that my friends who’ve walked in the same shoes will understand.
The entire world is in a very strange and frightening time right now and will continue to be for some time. In reflection, it is as though our own worlds are little snow globes filled with those we love and what’s important to us.
My entire world ended in June 2012 with the diagnosis and stopped me in my tracks. The diagnosis was coupled with fear, confusion, sadness, loss, unemployment, uncertainty and real isolation. Parents of children with cancer often spend weeks and months in isolation and we did it whilst our precious children were incredibly sick.
In many ways when our snow globe was glued back together, it was and still is a very different snow globe.
And though our worlds and snow globes have cracks; they’re not all negative markers of the past. With our childhood cancer journeys come resilience, strength, understanding what truly matters, appreciation, patience, and a newly acquired ability to understand medical research. Above all else love; so very very much love.
Right now, a lot of people’s snow globes feel shaken as our lives have been turned upside down. The same feelings of fear, confusion, sadness, loss, unemployment, uncertainty and loneliness set in, and it’s easy to feel as though we’re alone in this in our own shrinking worlds.
As we adjust to these very strange times, mind your own snow globes (they’re easily shaken and very delicate) and remember what matters. Trust in this – the turbulence in your snow globe will settle and this too shall pass.
Professor at NUIG awarded prestigious Global Leadership Award
A Professor of Medicine at NUI Galway has been awarded the Dr John P. Bilezikian ISCD Global Leadership Award by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.
Professor John J. Carey was presented the award for his service and leadership in the global promotion of the field of bone densitometry and the ISCD.
Professor Carey is a Consultant Physician in Rheumatology and Medicine, and Clinical Lead for DXA, Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disorders, at Galway University Hospitals, and Professor in Medicine at NUI Galway.
He has published more than 40 research papers, five book chapters, and presented around the world on osteoporosis, densitometry, biosimilar medications and evidence-based medicine.
Speaking about the announcement of the award, Professor Carey said: “I am truly humbled to be honoured with this award, which really reflects the many great effors and support of friends colleagues and professionals around our planet who are dedicated to excellence, professionalism and friendship, and the unwavering support of my wonderful family without whom none of this would have been possible.”
Professor Carey has been an ISCD member since 1999, a Past President of ISCD, a member of several ISCD committees, and current faculty for all ISCD densitometry courses: Osteoporosis Essentials, Vertebral Fracture Recognition, Body Composition and Pediatrics, and a member of the Asian Tripartite Alliance for Osteoporosis.
Under his leadership the ISCD held their first annual meeting outside of the Americas in NUI Galway in 2016, attended by professionals from 28 countries around the world, and established the European-Middle-East and African Panel, and later an Ireland-UK panel to represent their interests to the society, and the society to theirs.
He is one of two ISCD representatives to the Asian Tripartite Alliance representing the ISCD, The International Osteoporosis Foundation and the Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Societies, and currently a guest editor for a special of The Journal of Clinical Densitometry Titled: Quality Densitometry: A Global Perspective.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Annual Meeting was held recent virtually for the first time. This year’s awardees will be honoured in person at next year’s Annual Meeting in the USA.
Groups in Galway encouraged to apply for 2020 CLÁR Programme
Local groups in the county have been encouraged to apply for the 2020 CLÁR Programme, which has a total fund of €5 million and is designed to help rural communities respond to the challenge of COVID-19.
The programme can be used for small scale infrastructural projects in rural communities where there have been significant levels of population decline and has been tailored to help communities to deal with the COVID-19 crisis.
East Galway TD Ciarán Cannon has urged local community groups in Galway to apply.
“All the details they will need, including the application forms, are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar,” said Minister Cannon.
The CLÁR Programme was launched in 2016 and has supported over 1,400 projects nationally with funding of almost €33 million.
“CLÁR is one element of a €30 million package of co-ordinated and complementary supports that is being launched by the Minister this week as part of his Department’s Rural Development Investment Programme,” explained the Fine Gael TD.
“The other elements of the programme to be opened later this week will be the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Rural Development Investment Programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040.
“It’s great to see the CLÁR Programme being adapted this year to help rural communities respond to new challenges as a result of COVID-19.”
The Schools and Community Safety Measure, which funds items such as pedestrian crossings and footpaths to provide safe access to schools, has been broadened to allow additional investments to adapt areas around schools and community facilities to help meet new public health requirements.
“Funding will be provided under a new measure for community recreational areas where friends and families can socialise outdoors in safe, accessible, community spaces while respecting public health guidelines,” added Minister Cannon.
“This measure will include support for items such as picnic benches/tables, outdoor covered seating or BBQ areas, public lighting, bicycle stands, bandstand/stage areas, etc.
“These recreational areas will be particularly important for community social interaction in the coming months, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
“Community organisations providing meals on wheels and other community services will also be supported to purchase kitchen or food delivery equipment.
“They can also access funds for any adaptations that may be necessary to their existing vehicles as a result of new public health guidelines.”
Amazing pics of Galway submitted ahead of new campaign for local charity
A creative new COPE Galway campaign is asking people to post their favourite image of Galway on their social media channels and make a donation to the charity, which has found itself relying on donations more than ever during the COVID-19 crisis.
The #HelpingGalwayCope campaign is being launched on Thursday morning at 9.00 am as a way to raise vital funds for older persons, homeless and domestic abuse services in the city.
COPE Galway says that with fundraising efforts restricted, donations are now absolutely crucial to the ongoing provision of these supports.
The charity is asking people to use the #HelpingGalwayCope hashtag, upload their favourite picture of Galway, make a donation and tag three friends in the post on social media channels.
The funds will go directly towards helping the charity provide essential services to vulnerable people in Galway.
Their frontline teams are actively supporting older people with meals, calls and outreach, individuals and families who are homeless and women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
“We are seeking to increase awareness of our services for those who may require them and to request donations which will enable us to continue with our essential support services, which are helping so many others to cope right now,” said Jacquie Horan, CEO of COPE Galway.
Sharon Fitzpatrick, Head of Development at COPE Galway said the organisation is hugely appreciative of the support that the Galway community has always shown for COPE Galway.
“We are asking everyone who can, to please continue to help by sharing this campaign to let people know that our doors are open and that help is at hand for those who need it.
“Every euro donated to this campaign will be used by COPE Galway to support vulnerable individuals and families in our community during this challenging time.”
Find out more at copegalway.ie and follow #HelpingGalwayCope on social media channels.
Two Galway – Castlebar bus services cancelled today
Two bus services on Route 456 running between Galway and Castlebar later today have been cancelled.
Bus Eireann has announced that 6pm service from Castlebar, County Mayo to Galway City will not be running today.
The 9:15 service from Galway City to Castlebar has also been cancelled.
Buses on this route stop at Ballindooley, Currandulla, and Headford in Galway, as well as Shrule, Ballinrobe and Westport in Mayo.
No reason was given by Bus Eireann for the cancellations today.
Route 456 from Castlebar to Galway at 18:00 is cancelled this evening, The 21:15 Galway to Castlebar will also be cancelled @TFIupdates
— buseireann (@Buseireann) May 26, 2020
The best places to go for a night out in Cork
Cork is perhaps best known for the Blarney Stone, the legendary block of limestone that will apparently grant the gift of the gab to anyone who kisses it.
In addition to the questionable hygiene practices of thousands of tourists all kissing the same piece of rock every day, acquiring the gift of the gab requires a degree of flexibility since you need to lie on your back and hang over the side of a wall so that you can tilt your head back and kiss the rock.
If you’ve gone through all this trouble and want to put your newly developed loquaciousness to the test, what better way to do it than on a night out in Cork? As the Republic of Ireland’s second-biggest city, Cork packs everything you could want, including these top nocturnal spots.
Macau Casino & Restaurant Complex
While there are venues in Galway to play card games like Texas hold ’em, Omaha hi-lo, and blackjack, none quite compare to the Las Vegas-style casinos you can find in Cork.
One of Cork’s best gaming establishments is the Macau Casino & Restaurant Complex located on the north bank of the River Lee. Inside, you’ll find everything you need for a thrilling night out.
Its casino floor has all the table games and slot machines you’d expect, including Texas hold ’em and Omaha poker which will be quite familiar if you enjoy playing poker online.
The main poker room hosts regular no-limit and pot-limit cash games and tournaments. You can also book private events for special occasions.
That’s not all, though. Sports fans can also enjoy live games of just about any sport you can think of, including boxing, baseball, rugby, UFC, and American football.
If all the poker and sports have worked you up an appetite, you can enjoy some of the gourmet dishes that are served up in its two restaurants. You’ll find a range of burgers and steaks in the lounge, while the Macau Casino Menu is filled with popular Chinese dishes like sweet and sour chicken and satay beef.
Charlie’s Bar
Charlie’s is a traditional pub that’s a popular watering hole among the locals, with traditional wooden benches and a welcoming coal fire. It’s a “morning-ba” too, so you can enjoy drinks in this friendly environment from 7 AM.
While it hasn’t got the casino and poker game offering of the Macau Casino & Restaurant Complex, it does have just about everything else. With plenty of live sport, including big events like the Six Nations, you can follow the action of your favourite teams while enjoying a wide selection of drinks.
Charlie’s Bar also holds regular live gigs, with a range of acts from traditional Irish folk music to Hendrix tributes.
The Secret Garden
Describing itself as a “fairy tale for grown-ups,” The Secret Garden is an outdoor nightclub that has some of Cork’s best live music and DJs in an ambiance that wouldn’t be out of place in Alice in Wonderland or The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
It’s got traditional garden decorations like trellis and wooden benches, but that’s mixed in with a peculiar set of tables made from models of sheep inside a glass case.
The club recently added The Hidden Attic, which offers a different feel and atmosphere. With a decor that looks like a random collection of old furniture, along with displays of random things like chess boards, dolls, and old film reels, it aims to be a “treasure trove” of remnants from the past. It’s kept the stuffed animal theme though, with a giant bear in a glass case, which will certainly make for some interesting photos from your night out.
Airtastic
If you want to do something a bit more lively, then why not head to Airtastic? Open until 10 PM most nights and 11 PM on Friday and Saturday, this entertainment centre packs 10-pin bowling, minigolf, and arcade amusements.
While it doesn’t offer the quirky ambiance of other venues, it’s still a great place to hang out with friends for an evening.
The onsite kitchen and bar serve up various dishes and drinks for you to enjoy while you play.
An Bróg
An Bróg looks like another traditional Irish pub on the outside, but on the inside, it’s awash with eccentric styling and decor. It’s got an old VW campervan, tables made from ancient barrels, and some artwork that looks like it’s been lifted from the box art of a Grand Theft Auto Game.
This look is no accident. The place was specially designed by Audrey Gaffney Associations, a Dublin based architects practice.
An Bróg has been open to the public since 1992 and has become one of the most popular nighttime venues among residents of Cork. It’s very lively inside, so don’t expect to receive much in the way of personal space as it’s always busy, but this is part of its charm, and you’ll likely make plenty of friends.
Reidy’s Wine Vault Bar
Located a little out of the city centre, Reidy’s Wine Vault Bar is a little more sedate than An Bróg, making it a great place to relax and chat with friends. With a decent selection of drinks and pub food that you can enjoy in the beer garden, Reidy’s is the perfect place for a summer’s night out.
From poker to stuffed bears, whatever you’re looking for in Cork, the city has it all, making it a great option for a night out away from Galway.
Progress made on Caherlistrane junction road safety works
Significant progress has made been made on road safety improvements underway at Kilvolan junction in Caherlistrane.
Phase One of the the road safety project, which involved setting back the boundaries at the junction and the construction of a new stone wall, has now been completed Galway East TD Seán Canney has said.
The second phase of the works includes the realignment of the public road to improve safety at the junction for residents exiting onto the main road.
“I have been informed by Galway County Council that these works will be carried out next month as part of the council’s road programme.”
The last phase of the project will involve building a footpath connecting the village to the junction.
The Independent TD thanked locals Barbara Mangan and Stuart Archibald for their support for this project, as well as the “generosity” of the Queally family.
The new stone wall was built through the efforts of the Rural Social Scheme, a programme which provides services benefiting rural communities.
Deputy Canney also thanked former county councillor Billy Connolly for his efforts “driving” this project while he sat on the council until last year.
“I also want to thank the people of Kilvolan for their patience and encouragement along the journey.”
Two Galway beaches get ‘poor’ rating for water quality
While the overall quality of bathing water at Ireland’s beaches has continued to improve, two Galway beaches were at the bottom of the rankings in the latest EPA report.
The Environmental Protection Agency today released its Bathing Water in Ireland report for 2019, which named Ballyloughane and Clifden beaches as two of just five in the country classified as ‘poor’ in 2019, meaning they did not meet the minimum required standard.
The other three to fall into the poor category were Merrion Strand and Portrane (The Brook) in Dublin, and Lilliput beach in Westmeath.
Merrion Strand has received a ‘poor’ result five years in a row now, and so will be declassified as fit for swimming in 2020.
But overall the report found that 95% of bathing waters, 140 of 147 designated areas, met or exceeded the minimum required standard last year.
Commenting on the report, EPA Director Dr Micheál Lehane welcomed the overall improvement of water quality results, and that local authorities have been identifying and classifying new bathing areas.
However, he cautioned that “local authorities must remain vigilant to ensure public health is protected and continue to identify and fix sources of water pollution which impact on our beaches.”
Of the waters that met or exceeded the minimum required standards:
- 107 (73%) were classified as ‘excellent’, up from 103 in 2018
- 24 (16%) were classified as ‘good’, up from 22 in 2018
- 9 (6%) were classified as ‘sufficient’, down from 12 in 2018
Mary Gurrie, EPA Programme Manager added that Ireland has many beautiful beaches, and that it’s important that they are protected.
“Enjoying these natural amenities can be good for our physical and mental wellbeing, and it is therefore essential that Ireland maintains good bathing water quality.
Galway’s beaches have fully reopened to the public in the last week as Ireland entered Phase 1 of easing public restrictions imposed for the Covid-19 crisis.
Information about the water quality and any incidents at Ireland’s beaches can be viewed at the website www.beaches.ie.
GMIT staff member makes hundreds of reusable face coverings for nursing homes
A staff member at GMIT has been putting her creative skills and resources to invaluable use since April, making hundreds of reusable face coverings for nursing homes.
Kelly Roberts, a Textiles Technician from GMIT’s School of Design and Creative Arts has been churning out an average of 75 non-medical face coverings a week from home during lockdown.
“I really wanted to use my skills and resources from GMIT to help fight this Coronavirus pandemic but it had to be something I could do at home and around my children’s daily schedule and GMIT work,” Kelly said.
Fortunately, shortly after the campus shut down she and others were allowed back for a quick visit to gather supplies.
Kelly used this opportunity to collect a sewing machine and threads from the Textiles department to set up a workstation at home, where she has been working away since.
“I am relying solely on donations of fabric from friends and colleagues. Mostly I use high quality cotton duvet covers and sheets as they are easy to fashion into non-medical masks, and everyone needs an excuse to clean out their hot press”.
“If anyone would like to donate good quality fabric, please feel free to contact me on kelly.roberts@gmit.ie”
All this while she has continued to provide remote support for some 40 students in the BA in Design (Fashion & Textiles Design) as well as homeschooling her two young children.
Kelly started by providing the face coverings to nursing homes in the region here, but word spread on social media, and she now finds herself sending them as far as Donegal.
More recently she has been stocking up masks for staff who opt to use them as GMIT prepares its Return to Campus protocol.
“If staff avail of the offer, it will keep me busy for many more weeks and I would hope to have a reusable mask available for those who wish to use them come September, all going well”.
GMIT is currently putting plans in place to ensure HSE safeties are implemented through social distancing, handwashing and hygiene measures.
Face coverings are an optional extra personal measure to assist in preparation for winter coughs and colds to prevent the spread of infection.
GMIT Health & Safety Officer Doreen Geoghegan says: “Hand washing with soap for a minimum of 20 seconds is the primary action we can take in protecting ourselves and others.
“In tandem with this, social distancing is effective at limiting the spread. Although it is optional to wear face coverings, it is an additional measure to prevent disease spread indoors or when in crowded places.”
Celine Curtin, Head of the GMIT Centre for Creative Arts and Media, says they have a “wealth” of expertise among their staff and students, and they’re delighted to use it to help the community in these times.
Workplace bullying costs economy €239 million a year NUIG study suggests
Workplace bullying costs the Irish economy €239 million a year in lost productivity a new study from NUI Galway has suggested.
Statistical research examining the impacts of workplace bullying estimates that 1.7 million workdays are lost as result of the impacts of bullying in the workplace each year.
The study was led by Dr John Cullinan of the Discipline of Economics and Dr Margaret Hodgins from the Discipline of Health Promotion at NUIG.
“Workplace bullying is a pervasive problem with significant personal and wider costs,” Dr Cullinan said.
“In addition to lost productivity from workplace bullying, there are also likely to be costs associated with early retirement and presenteeism.”
He added that though people are working from home far more due to Covid-19, the damage done by bullying is unlikely to
In a previous study the same research team looked at the relationship between bullying and work-related stress in Ireland.
The current study builds on this to examine the economic costs of workplace bullying.
In addition to estimating the number of days lost, and the €239 million price tag comes with that, the study also found that although bullying is more prevalent in the public sector, it has a larger effect on absences in the private sector.
Dr Hodgins said that in order to tackle this problem, organisations need an anti-bullying policy to let employees know that it won’t be tolerated.
“However a policy is insufficient in itself and it is vital that it is implemented fairly and in a timely fashion.
“Ideally, organisations should be proactive, identifying how and when bullying occurs in the organisation, and be prepared to develop specific interventions that are appropriate to context.”