Coronavirus: No Covid-19 deaths reported today

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May 25, 2020

Galway daily news Traffic lights at UHG out of action until next week

The number of cars on a busy route in Galway City has continued to grow a week into the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, but the rate at which traffic is climbing has slowed after a massive jump last week.

Figures gathered by Transport Infrastructure Ireland showed that traffic on Bothar na dTreabh in the city on Monday was up 6% from the same day last week, when restrictions first began easing.

Last Monday, the first day of Phase 1 of leaving lockdown, saw a large spike in traffic, up 25% on the week beforehand.

However, with 2,357 cars counted between 7am and 11am today, these figures are still down 49% on this time last year.

TII has been keeping a daily count of traffic figures on a number of national roads from April 21 onwards when an upwards trend in car numbers became noticeable, despite the lockdown.

The biggest weekly climb seen today was on the M50, between the N3 Navan Road and N4
Galway Road, which was up 11% on this day last week.

The World Cup of Galway Restaurants – Group A!

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May 25, 2020

Welcome to The 2020 World Cup of Galway Restaurants!

To celebrate the launch of our brand new restaurants page last week, our new competition will see a selection of takeaways and restaurants from across the county competing in a World Cup inspired tournament.

The two restaurants with the most votes from each group will go through to the next round, which will begin next week after all of the group stages have been completed!

So get voting, share and check out our restaurants page!

[Total_Soft_Poll id=”5″]

Galway distillery launches hand sanitiser package for businesses

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May 25, 2020

galway daily news hand santisier micil distillery

Micil Distillery in Salthill is preparing to launch a new hand sanitiser package aimed at helping small businesses and organisations adapt to new hygiene practices as they reopen their doors.

The Galway distillery’s ‘Back to Business Safely’ hand sanitiser package is designed to relieve some of the stress that small local businesses may face in implementing updated hygiene practices.

The package is available to be ordered from today, and includes four refillable hand sanitiser wall-mounted dispensers, four 150ml Micil hand sanitiser pump-top bottles, three 5 litre refill drums of Micil hand sanitiser and a reusable 5L pump dispenser.

Despite producing, bottling and labelling all their sanitiser by hand at the distillery in Salthill, they have chosen to sell the package for €295 plus VAT, to support businesses in the community.

Because of the pandemic, the Micil family, which has been distilling poitín for over 170 years, was faced with the difficult decision to pause the production of hand-crafted spirits for the first time since 1848.

The action was taken as part of an effort to free up the distillery’s supply of alcohol and begin manufacturing antibacterial sanitiser to assist in the fight against the coronavirus.

The team has received a lot of support from the local business community purchasing their hand sanitiser products, meaning Micil Distillery has been able to donate over 1,000 bottles to a number of local charities including Galway Simon Community, Ability West and Cancer Care West.

Although spirit production at Micil Distillery has come to a halt for the moment, quantities of their unique spirits originally earmarked for bars and restaurants around the country are in stock at the distillery.

City Council seeks public input on designated swimming areas

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May 25, 2020

Galway Daily news Prior warning issued for Ballyloughane and Grattan beaches

Galway City Council is once again seeking public input on what should be the city’s officially designated swimming areas in the year ahead.

Under Irish and European law, councils must identify swimming areas each year so that they can be monitored for stringent water quality standards.

The city council is asking people who swim at beaches, rivers, and other waterways if they think the council should keep the designated areas as they are, or if there are other popular swimming spots not currently designated which should be added to the list.

Galway City’s beaches have reopened fully to the public as of May 18, when Phase 1 of the roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions began.

But associated amenities such as public toilets at the beaches and Blackrock diving tower remain closed for the time being.

As part of the law governing swimming areas the council must also submit a profile of each area that includes any potential source of pollution nearby.

In some cases, the official swimming areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season.

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help your Council decide which bathing areas should be classified as such, it might be helpful to consider the following:

How your swimming area has been used up to now;
How many people use the site
What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is
Any safety issues.

If you want to propose an area of beach, river etc. as a new swimming area, or comment on an existing one, email the council’s Environment and Climate Change Department at Environment@GalwayCity.ie, including ‘Bathing Water’ in the subject line.

Submissions will also be accepted via post.

The closing date for submissions to the city council is June 22. For more information please email environment@galwaycity.ie or phone 091536400.

1,917 people in Galway respond to call for community volunteers

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May 25, 2020

The fantastic response to the call for volunteers in local communities during the COVID-19 emergency has been praised by government Ministers.

A total of 1,917 people in Galway and 16,957 across the country have registered to volunteer through the I-VOL app since the government called for volunteers to support the community response in March.

East Galway TDs Ciaran Cannon and Seán Canney welcomed the huge number of people who signed up to help so far throughout the crisis through the app.

The volunteers are directly linked by their local Volunteer Centres to local organisations responding to COVID-19, carrying out a wide range of important work – including delivering food and medicines to older people who are self-isolating, and volunteering in COVID test centres.

There are also countless volunteers on the ground, helping out family, friends and neighbours.

Minister Ciaran Cannon expressed his heartfelt appreciation for ‘the invaluable work being carried out by volunteers’ in Galway during the Covid-19 emergency.

“The response to the COVID crisis shows once again what a fantastic resource we have in our volunteers and the wonderful community spirit that prevails here in the county even during these challenging times.”

Minister Sean Canney added: “Volunteers make a vital contribution to Irish society, developing communities as vibrant, inclusive and sustainable places where people want to live.

“This volunteering spirit has been so clearly visible in local communities across the country throughout the COVID-19 crisis.”

Galway Rape Crisis Centre submits plans for modern new premises

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May 25, 2020

Galway Daily news Galway Rape Crisis Centre submits plans for modern new premises

Galway Rape Crisis Centre has submitted plans for the constructions of a modern, new premises in the Claddagh to unify its services.

Galway Rape Crisis Centre has operated out of its premises at Claddagh Quay for more than two decades.

Now they are seeking planning permission to demolish the existing building there, and build a modern, welcoming three story building in its place to house their services for the future.

Seven years ago, as the demand for its services grew, much of the centre’s operations were moved to new premises at Forster Court, but continued to offer a counselling service from the Claddgah premises.

“Our present location is part of the Magdalen Laundry complex, which consists of the laundry and a residential building which had previously been occupied by the surviving ladies from the laundry.”

“In recent years the Sisters of Mercy assigned our lease to Cope Galway, who have asked us to vacate and return the building to them by July 2021,” the application states.

“As our building in the Claddagh Quay can no longer house our growing service in its present form, we are applying to the City Council to create a permanent and secure home for out clients and counsellors.”

“We need help to give all the survivors of sexual abuse a place to come to for counselling that is bright, modern and safe because they deserve it”.

Galway Rape Crisis Centre was established in 1984 by a group of local women concerned about the lack of services for victims of sexual violence in Galway.

In the years since then it has grown many times, securing government funding for the first time in the late 80s, and incorporating the services of Male Abuse Survivors Centre in 2006.

It services today include: Crisis Counselling for recent victims of rape and sexual assault, long term therapy for child abuse survivors, Adolescent Therapy clinic, a freephone helpline, outreach clinics in towns around the county, and more.

In 2019 Galway Rape Crisis Centre offered over 4,000 appointments to victims of rape and sexual assault.

Galway City Council is currently due to make a decision in this planning application by July 1.

Calls for technological solution to driving test backlog

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May 25, 2020

Galway Daily news Exemption for farmers on burning green waste welcomed

New practices and technology could be used to tackle the massive backlog of driving test applications which have piled up in the Covid-19 crisis a Galway TD has said.

Michael Fitzmaurice said it is “unacceptable” that over 25,000 applicants for the driving test have been left in “limbo” in the current crisis.

This is despite the fact that many who are on a provisional licence had already completed the required training with an instructor before Ireland went into lockdown.

Back in April the government announced that driving licences and learners permits which were due to expire between March 1 and June 30 have been automatically extended by four months.

This was after Minister for Transport Shane Ross ordered the suspension of most RSA services until further notice on March 28.

However, Deputy Fitzmaurice said that extending the duration of a provisional licence still presents difficulties for people travelling regularly.

“Many of these applicants are depending on this licence to ensure that they can travel to work.”

“As it stands, they have to be accompanied by a qualified driver as they only have a provisional licence,” Michael Fitzmaurice.

“But this isn’t always possible and some people may have to break this rule if they want to get to and from work, particularly in rural Ireland where public transport isn’t as widely available as it might be in urban areas.”

The difficulty with carrying out driving tests is the problem of having two people in such close proximity in a car, and how that can possibly be squared with social distancing requirements we’ll be living with for some time.

It was suggested that the driving test for cars could follow a similar pattern to how motorbike tests are carried out, with the applicant given a copy of the route, and the instructor following in another car, giving instructions via headset or bluetooth speaker.

A GoPro or similar camera could be used to allow the instructor to view the driver’s skills and behaviour inside the car.

“Technology is available which can assist with this issue, but we must be willing to take advantage of the opportunity.”

“Otherwise, the backlog is only going to get worse and applicants will be forced to way for months on end to get an opportunity to sit the test,” Fitzmaurice concluded.

Hairdressers to present plans for early reopening

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May 25, 2020

Galway Daily news Hairdressers seek approval to remain open in Level 4

The Irish Hairdressers Federation has today announced that it plans to present plans to the government this week to allow salons and barbers to open earlier than planned.

Under the government’s timeline for reopening businesses as we move out of the Covid-19 crisis, hairdressers will not be allowed to reopen until July 20.

The IHF has developed guidelines and recommendations which will be presented to the government this week on the day to day operations of salons.

It’s expected that the document to be submitted for the government’s consideration will include over 110 specific recommendations to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Commenting on this, incoming President of the Irish Hairdressers Federation, Danielle Kennedy, said; “Foremost in our thoughts is the wellbeing of our staff and the safety of our customers.”

“The recommendations will radically change how we do our business, which will see the extensive use of PPE and sanitisation procedures.”

Danielle went on to say: “there are 25,000 people employed in our sector and we want to ensure they can come back to work safely.”

“I have been talking to hundreds of hairdressers in the past few weeks and they can’t wait to get back to work because they love their job and they love their customers.”

“Our customers come in, they talk with the staff, find out the local news and they all go home feeling great. It’s a vital local service, especially for the elderly.”

The IHF is the trade association for Irish hairdressers and represents over 400 salon owners nationwide, who in turn employ over 5,000 stylists.

NUIG student is youngest ever winner of Mary Mulvihill media award

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May 25, 2020

Galway Daily news NUIG student is youngest ever winner of Mary Mulvihill media award

NUIG student James Hayes has been named the 2020 winner of the €2,000 Mary Mulvihill Award, a science media competition for third level students.

Seventeen year old James became the youngest ever winner of the media competition for a biographica essay about mathematician William Rowan Hamilton’s discovery of quaternions.

‘Cabra’s Scientific Banksy: The Story of William Rowan Hamilton and Quaternions’ belies its dry subject matter by weaving the story together with references to the aforementioned Banksy.

James also finds time to bring in Alice in Wonderland, the Angolan basketball team, an 1813 mental arithmetic contest of eight-year-old prodigies and the early days of NASA’s space exploration programme.

“The science was clearly, accurately, and succinctly presented, in the midst of a well-researched and flowing narrative that brought Sir William Rowan Hamilton to life for new audiences,” said Nigel Monaghan, Keeper at the National Museum of Ireland, and a member of the judging team.

The Banksy reference that is such a core part of the essay refers to the moment on inspiration that struck Hamilton in October 1843, when he carved the equation that had just come to his mind into the stones of Broombridge on the Royal Canal near Cabra, in Dublin.

This competition commemorates the legacy of science journalist and author Mary Mulvihill, who passed away in 2015. This year’s competition invited entries on the theme of ‘Our scientific heritage’.

On top of being the youngest winner yet of the €2,000 prize, James is also the first winner to come from a college outside of Dublin.

A Roscommon native, James is a first-year student of Mathematical Science at NUI Galway.

Mary’s sister Nóirín Mulvihill, said that their family is delighted with the announcement.

“James Hayes’ winning essay echoes Mary’s passion for communicating Ireland’s scientific heritage and it is wonderful to see this fine tradition continuing.”

Other works which were submitted for this year’s Mary Mulvihill Award included a history of the Dunsink Observatory, an environmental campaign to preserve Bantry Bay’s kelp forests, and biographical essays on diverse figures, including computing pioneer Kathleen McNulty and microscopist Mary Ward.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the usual presentation of the awards at an event in Dublin cannot take place,

Coronavirus: 4 Covid-19 deaths, small increase in Galway cases

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May 24, 2020

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

The Department of Health has reported four further deaths related to Covid-19, bringing the death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in Ireland to 1,608 people.

Another 57 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have also been reported to the HPSC. There have now been 24,639 confirmed cases in Ireland.

There have been another three cases confirmed in Galway today, bringing the total in the county to 458.

The data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 22 May (24,569 cases), reveals:

57% are female and 43% are male
the median age of confirmed cases is 48 years
3,222 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
of those hospitalised, 394 cases have been admitted to ICU
7,819 cases are associated with healthcare workers
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,873 (48% of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,428 cases (6%) and then Kildare with 1,392 cases (6%)
of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 59%, close contact accounts for 38%, travel abroad accounts for 3%

Covid-19 restart grants of up to €10k now available for small businesses

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May 24, 2020

Small businesses can now avail of the Covid-19 restart grants, applications for which opened this week.

The €250 million Covid-19 Restart Grants scheme was announced by Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation Heather Humphreys on May 15.

It provides grants of between €2,000 and €10,000 to help small and micro businesses with the costs of reopening and reemploying staff.

Applications for restart grants opened on Friday, and can be made through the city or county council, depending on where your business is based.

In order to qualify a business must have a commercially rateable premises, or one where rates are paid on your behalf and attributable to the business premises you occupy.

Businesses must also:

have a turnover of less than €5m and have 50 or less employees.
have suffered a projected 25%+ loss in revenue from 1st April to 30th June 2020.
commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed.
The business must also declare the intention to retain employees that are benefitting from the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).

Entities that aren’t eligible include chain stores; non-commercial entities like community or sports organisation, including charity shops and sporting premises with a bar; businesses that do not operate from commercially rateable premises; and premises that were vacant prior to the Covid-19 emergency.

“I want to ensure that eligible companies with the most immediate need to get back up-and-running receive the grant support as quickly as possible,” Minister Humphreys said.

Businesses listed in Phases 1 & 2 of the roadmap to ease Covid-19 restrictions, as well as those who have stayed open through the crisis, are being prioritised.

“Businesses know the dates on which their premises can reopen, and we want to avoid long waiting times for the grant.”

“As a result, I am urging businesses to wait until a few weeks before their business is due to reopen before submitting their application to the local authorities.”

“Staff in the local authorities will endeavour to process applications quickly, but a quick turnaround will be difficult to achieve if every business applies immediately.”

Businesses in Galway City can apply for a grant at www.galwaycity.ie/restart, and the portal for those in the county is at gccapps.galwaycoco.ie/RestartGrant.

200,000 people “a hell of a lot better off” with COVID payments, says Galway TD

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May 24, 2020

ga,way daily news anne rabbitte covid payments

An East Galway TD has said that 200,000 people are “far better off” with the €350 COVID-19 payments than they were before – and said that these payments should be reduced.

Speaking to Cormac Ó hEadhra on RTÉ Radio 1 yesterday, Anne Rabbitte TD expressed her view that the payments that were brought in as a result of the pandemic should be cut before the end of the summer.

“We heard this week very clear figures that there’s 200,000 people in the country far better off at the moment because of the 350 euros a week,” said the Fianna Fáil TD.

When asked about when the payments should be cut, Deputy Rabbitte said: “That’s up to the current Minister for Finance, when he’s going to do that, or for the new government when it comes in.

“But it needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

She said that this would “have to be happening” before the end of summer, “definitely for the 200,000 people who are a hell of a lot better off because of it.”

“Let’s call a spade a spade here,” she said when asked whether people were a ‘hell of a lot’ better off. “There’s 200,000 people who are earning more being on COVID than they were before.”

Louis O’Hara, who was Sinn Féin’s East Galway general election candidate, said that it was ‘absolutely disgraceful’ from the East Galway TD.

“Cutting the Covid payment is not fair on workers who will not be able to return to work until later in the summer and are struggling to pay their bills,” he said.

People Before Profit Galway said: “The attacks on low earners continues this time from Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte. Let’s be clear, if the COVID-19 payment is higher than a persons usual wage, then wages are too low. Raise wages and stop the attacks on poor people.”

Tidy Towns groups can still use funding after cancellation of competition

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May 24, 2020

Galway Daily news Four Galway community groups awarded funding for special transport vehicles

Tidy Towns groups can still use the funding that was allocated to them despite the cancellation of this year’s competition.

East Galway TD Ciaran Cannon welcomed the announcement that the organisations in the region will not lose out on funding which was earmarked for them to help them prepare for this year’s competition.

Last year, €1.4m was allocated to groups nationwide to assist them in their preparations for this year’s SuperValu TidyTowns competition.

Minister Cannon has advised that any groups that have already spent the funds they received should retain their records of expenditure in the normal way.

“I also want to assure those groups which have not yet spent the funding they received, they can continue to use it over the next few months to assist with activities they might undertake as the COVID-19 restrictions are eased, or in preparing for the 2021 competition.

“This includes, for instance, and where applicable the funding granted to Lawrencetown of €1,000; to Abbeyknockmoy of €1,000; to Abbey of €1,000; to Athenry of €3,000; to Kinvara of €1,000; to Loughrea of €3,000; to Portumna of €2,000; to Tuam of €3,000 and to Woodford of €1,000,” he said.

Due to the current restrictions in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fine Gael TD says that it would not have been feasible or safe for TidyTowns groups in the region to continue their great tradition of work in the normal way.

“However, I very much hope that once the restrictions on gatherings are eased, and where possible within the public health guidelines, they can resume their work in making towns and villages in East Galway more attractive and welcoming.”

Galway City holding virtual 2020 Africa Day

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May 24, 2020

Galway Daily news Galway City holding virtual 2020 Africa Day

Despite the restrictions brought on by Covid-19, Galway City will still be celebrating Africa Day next week with an online showing of music and arts.

The Galway African Diaspora, Africa United Galway, and Galway City Council have been organising the 2020 Africa Day for weeks now, and plan to show the fruits of the community next Monday through social media channels and on YouTube.

“Over the past two months, we have all seen a tremendous flourishing in creativity online as people seek to connect with others and express themselves despite current restrictions.

“We think Africa Day is a wonderful opportunity to showcase such creative contributions from the local community groups that we have engaged with over the years,” a statement from the city council said.

Africa United Galway have recorded a series of messages of support from people of various regions of Africa living in Galway.

The messages will be spoken in their native languages whilst wearing traditional clothing, with a theme of ‘Hope, Togetherness and Unity’, running from 10am – 9pm on Monday.

here will also be a skills presentation online including a cooking demonstration, Gele Tying, a make-up demonstration and hair braiding, as well as a singing and dancing presentation.

The clip will be available to view on https://www.facebook.com/africadaycelebration and also across Galway City Councils social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter.

Africa Day falls on May 25 each year. It is an initiative of the African Union, and aims to celebrate African diversity and success and the cultural and economic potential of the continent.

Government urged to protect vulnerable groups during crisis

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May 24, 2020

The government has been urged to protect vulnerable people by ensuring that no asylum seeker shares a bedroom with a stranger during the COVID-19 crisis.

Galway Anti-Racism Network and Galway Traveller Movement say that the current situation is ‘intolerable and inhumane’.

They commented that to date, people in Ireland have made supreme efforts to implement public health measures aimed at confining the spread of COVID-19.

However, people living in Direct Provision are currently being prevented from adhering to advice on social distancing or self-isolation.

Galway Anti Racism Network said that asylum seekers in Direct Provision centres across Ireland are being compelled to share confined spaces including bedrooms, communal toilets, communal showers, kitchens, and canteens.

“Notwithstanding efforts to temporarily rehouse asylum seekers in hotels, this provisional accommodation continues to require asylum seekers to share communal facilities, including bedrooms, with strangers,” said a spokesperson for the organisation.

“This means that people living in Direct Provision are being treated differently to the rest of the Irish population.

“The practices being followed suggest the health of asylum seekers – and even their lives -are seen, by the Irish state, as being of lesser importance.

“As an anti-racism organisation, we are deeply concerned that such downgrading of the
health welfare of asylum seekers is a sign that the system of Direct Provision is
institutionally racist.

“We do not believe that Irish people under the care of the state would be treated in this way.”

Coastal and marine tourism could help jump start the sector

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May 24, 2020

Coast and Marine tourism could hold enormous value to help the sector get back on its feet coming out of the Covid-19 crisis a report from NUIG has found.

The Socio-Economic Marine Research Unit at NUIG found that €698 million was spent on domestic tourism in coastal areas of Ireland in 2018, more than a third of the total expenditure by domestic tourists that year.

Their recently released report found that the average expenditure per coastal day trip in 2018 was €95, while the equivalent for coastal overnight trips was €310, and that marine and coastal tourists tend to stay longer, and spend more than people on other trips.

These figures are especially important when considered in the light of the fact that overseas tourism is expected to collapse dramatically this year, and into 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr Stephen Hynes, co-author of the report from the Whitaker Institute at NUIG, said that while the results of this study are from before the Covid-19 crisis, they nonetheless “highlight the economic contribution that domestic marine tourism and leisure activity makes under normal circumstances to coastal regions”.

“Also, given that it is likely that the overseas tourism market will take much longer to recover, and Irish residents’ travel abroad will also be curtailed, the industry should be examining how they can maximise the return from the domestic tourism market this year and next.”

According to Dr Hynes consideration should be also be given to the fact that marine tourists have been shown to spend more and stay longer than the average tourist.

“As we point out in the report, while the overseas market is often the main focus of the development agencies, the domestic marine tourism market offers significant opportunities for growth.

“Given the sector will, for the present, have to focus on the domestic side of the market in the short to medium term, now is the ideal opportunity to explore innovations in delivering new visitor experiences and marine tourism products aimed at the home market.”

This report was compiled from face to face interviews with over 1,000 households, and was funded by the Marine Institute through its Marine Research Programme

Commenting on the report, Prof Alan Ahearne, Director of the Whitaker Institute said: “The World Tourism Organization is forecasting that international tourist arrivals could plunge 60-80% this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“Tourism in Ireland will be looking to domestic demand for recovery — and the evidence points to the huge potential for coastal and marine tourism to contribute to rebooting activity in this sector.”

Galway Cycling Campaign makes 20 page submission on improving city mobility post Covid-19

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May 24, 2020

Galway Daily news More than 50 bikes reported stolen in Galway over a month and a half

The Galway Cycling Campaign has made a 20 page submission to the City Mobility Team for Change Our Streets campaign with suggestions on making streets and public areas more accessible.

Galway City Council drew up its own Roadmap for reopening the city and restarting the economy as we move slowly out of the Covid-19 crisis, which includes a Mobility Team looking at travel in the city.

The City Mobility Team is examining new patterns of travel arising as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, social distancing requirements as those restrictions are eased, and how the city can adapt.

Since its inception last week, the Mobility Team has been seeking submissions from the public on areas where they feel the transport infrastructure of the city can be improved to make it more accessible.

Kevin Jennings, chairperson of Galway Cycling Campaign, said they received over 100 suggestions from people who live, work, study, and trade in the city.

“We have reviewed, collated, filtered and reduced these to 60+ suggestions that could be quickly and cheaply implemented as per our city’s Roadmap and Framework mobility plans for Covid-19.”

The submission includes the idea that city centre streets be opened up to people walking and cycling through ‘Share With Care’ zones.

There are also ideas to tweak and complement the Galway Transport Strategy (2016) Primary Cycle and Greenway Network.

Regarding road design and layout, there are suggestions to improve stacking lanes, roundabouts, traffic signal management, and traffic calming.

The full list of submissions made by Galway Cycling Campaign can be viewed online here.

One of the first actions taken by the city council’s newly created Mobility team was to create an online platform where people can submit a request directly to the team, and tag the location on an interactive map interface.

Martina Callanan, spokesperson for Galway Cycling Campaign encouraged everyone with ideas on how to promote social distancing to use the online request form.

“If you are concerned about space at a bus stop, touching beg buttons at crossing, need a wider footpath in your residential area, or need space for cycling, you can make a specific request for a particular location.”

Galway Market shuts early over social distancing issues

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May 23, 2020

Galway Daily news Galway Market shuts early over social distancing issues

The Galway Market at St. Nicholas Church was forced to close early today due to social distancing issues, after reopening for the first time in weeks.

Today market the first day of the reopening of the weekend Galway Market since Ireland began easing restrictions imposed for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The city council had said that it would be monitoring the situation this weekend, and ultimately shut the market on advice from the Gardaí today.

“Galway City Council regret that due to lack of social distancing and following the advice of the Gardaí, St Nicholas’s market has been closed early today.”

The “safe operation” of the market will be reviewed in the coming days a statement from the city council said.

It is still planned for it to resume tomorrow, for food traders only, but this will be subject to compliance with social distancing.

Coronavirus: 13 Covid-19 deaths today, small bump in Galway cases

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May 23, 2020