HSE sets up team to examine Covid-19 outbreaks in meat plants

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May 12, 2020

Galway Daily news Recycling centres reopen at Tuam and Clifden

The recycling centres at Clifden, Tuam and Ballinasloe have reopened this week for county households to recycle their domestic waste.

There are three recycling centres in Galway County, all of which have been closed until this week due to Covid-19 restrictions.

During this period people have been asked to keep their empty bottles and other recyclables at home as much as possible due to increase in demand at bring banks.

The city council’s recycling centre at Liosbain Industrial Estate remains closed for the present.

The county council is asking people only to come to the recycling centres for essential usage, and to observe social distancing protocols at all times.

If the centre is buy people should return at another time, and the council has also said that people will will not be allowed to park on the adjoining public road or block the access route.

The Tuam centre is open from 8:30am – 4:15pm on Monday to Thursday, 8:30am – 3:45pm on Friday & Saturday, and is closed on Sundays.

The centre is in Clifden only opens twice a week, on Monday & Saturday from 8:30am – 4:30pm.

The Ballinasloe centre is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 8:30am – 4:30pm.

The standard charge to recycle a load of goods is €3.50 for a car, and €5 for a car and trailer or a van.

Disposing of paint cans is charged at €3.50 for a batch of five cans, and the charge for mattresses is €10 for a single or €15 for a double.

WEEE items including fridges, tv’s, washing machines, household items containing batteries, batteries and textiles are accepted free of charge, as are glass bottles and jars, and drink cans.

N83 roadworks underway for the next week

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May 12, 2020

Galway Daily news Traffic disruption expected from Galway City centre roadworks

Daily roadworks on the N83 will be taking place at different location between Tuam and Dunmore for the coming week.

Essential repair roadworks on the N83 got underway this morning, and will last until Tuesday, May 19.

Work will take between 8am and 6pm each day the county council has said.

A stop and go system will be in place to manage traffic at the location of the works during these time.

Fishing within 5km of a person’s home now permitted

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May 12, 2020

galway daily news fishing covid-19 restrictions

Fishing within 5 km of a person’s home is now permitted after some restrictions brought in to tackle COVID-19 were relaxed.

The updated guidelines state that social distancing must still be observed at all times, and contact with other anglers should be limited.

Minister Ciaran Cannon welcomed the confirmation from Inland Fisheries Ireland, and said that fishing contributes greatly to the economy and people’s wellbeing.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has said that IFI owned or managed state fisheries are open with the exception of the Galway and Moy fisheries.

ESB fisheries are now also open and the status of private and club run fisheries is a matter for the relevant fishery manager or committee.

Minister Cannon added that anglers should also carry hand sanitiser and use it after touching stiles, gates, piers and so forth.

From the start of the crisis, he said that people have come to him arguing for wider scope for the activity and acknowledged their adherence to the advice issued by the HSE.

“Fishing is an exercise that contributes greatly to the economy and to a person’s health and wellbeing and I urge the county’s anglers to continue to consult IFI’s website for further updates,” he said.

Irish Water urges water conservation as household usage up 20%

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May 12, 2020

Galway Daily news Latest EPA report shows one Galway public water supply deemed "at-risk"

Irish Water is urging people to conserve water as domestic usage has surged by 20% during the COVID-19 crisis.

Domestic metering data has revealed that households are using an additional 24 litres of water per person per day, a 20% increase from February.

The rise in household usage can be attributed to the facts that people are at home the vast majority of the time during lockdown, and HSE guidance on frequent handwashing.

The increase in Irish household usage is largely in line with what has been seen in the UK, where utilities have reported an increase of 27 litres per person per day.

There has been a decrease in demand from businesses and other facilities which are closed in the current crisis, but as domestic usage accounts for two-thirds of Irish Water’s business, this is still stretching supply.

Speaking about the need to conserve supply, Niall Gleeson added “It is really important that everyone follows the HSE guidance on handwashing, however there are some ways to conserve water that will not impact on hygiene.

A significant change in usage patterns has been noticed in commuter belt and rural areas where, in better times, people would be spending much of the day out of the house.

“We are also conscious that we have had an extremely dry spell so we are continually monitoring our water sources for any signs of drought.”

Simple measures that people can take to conserve water include refraining from using power washers, use a watering can instead of a hose for plants, and take showers over baths.

There is also a concern that there will be a sharp spike in usage from business premises when they begin to reopen.

On top of normal usage, they will need to use extra water to clean and flush their plumbing systems and storage tanks or to complete deep cleans.

All of this while household water use will stay well above normal levels with people still going by enhanced hygiene guidelines.

Four out of five people would like to continue working remotely

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May 12, 2020

The vast majority of people would like to continue working remotely after the COVID-19 crisis has passed a new survey from NUIG has revealed.

A survey by researchers at NUIG and the Western Development Commission found that 83% of people expressed interest in continuing working remotely after restrictions are lifted.
Of those surveyed, 51% had no experience working remotely prior to this, and of those, 78% expressed an interest in continuing to do so.
The survey was led by Professors Alma McCarthy and Alan Ahearne, and Dr Katerina Bohle-Carbonell at NUI Galway, and Tomás Ó Síocháin and Deirdre Frost at WDC.
These are the initial findings from the national survey of 7,241 individuals across a wide range of industries and sectors over a one-week week period in April-May 2020.
Professor Alma McCarthy said that the preferences people have shown in this survey will help with maintaining social distancing as we move through the opening up phases.
Though it took a pandemic to bring this idea to the forefront, there are many benefits to not having to commute into the office every day, regardless of the circumstances.
“What is the benefit of long commutes to work and sitting in traffic if we can leverage technology at least some of the week to do our work?
Productivity does not necessarily correlate with presence in the workplace. What we do is more important than where we do it for many roles.
She added that a “mind set” change is needed among employers in terms of managing work, and this crisis provides the perfect opportunity to undertake this.
The top three challenges of working remotely included: Not being able to switch off from work; harder to communicate and collaborate with colleagues and co-workers; and poor physical workspace.
The top three benefits included: no traffic and no commute; reduced costs of going to work and commuting; and greater flexibility as to how to manage the working day.
Breaking down people’s answers, 12% said they would like to continue working remotely on a daily basis, while 16% said they had no interest in continuing to work from home.
37% of respondents said that their productivity remained roughly the same while working from home, 30% said they were more productive, and 25% said their productivity was down.
CEO of the Western Development Commission Tomás Ó Síocháin said “Just over half, 51%, would like to work from their home, with the balance seeking a mix of home, a hub/work-sharing space and the office.
“The preference of working from home or close to home in a hub/work-sharing space will allow individuals a better balance of work and home and generate and sustain economic activity in rural and regional areas.”
People suggested a number of improvements that their managers and employers should make regarding remote working at present:

Provision of better and more ergonomic physical workspace including provision of a good (ergonomic) chair, provision of printer, and better screens.
Better management of video-conference meetings
Reduce expectations and workload to more realistic levels
Regular communication and check-ins
Ensure provision of well-being supports
More flexibility in terms of hours of work to cater for caring responsibilities at this time.

Coronavirus: 15 more deaths reported, small increase in Galway cases

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May 11, 2020

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

An additional 15 deaths due to the coronavirus have been confirmed by the Department of Health today, along with 139 new confirmed cases of COVID-19.

The national death toll in the coronavirus pandemic now stands at 1,467 with the denotification of six deaths, while the total number of confirmed cases in the state has reached 23,135.

In Galway an additional 4 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, bringing the total in the county to 392.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said “As we approach May 18, the next date highlighted in the government’s Roadmap, we continue to monitor key parameters associated with COVID-19.

“These include the number of new cases, numbers admitted to hospital and currently in ICU and the number of deaths.”

Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Saturday 9 May (22,894 cases), reveals:

57% are female and 43% are male
the median age of confirmed cases is 49 years
2,998 cases (13%) have been hospitalised
of those hospitalised, 383 cases have been admitted to ICU
6,834 cases are associated with healthcare workers
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,175 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,331 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,232 cases (5%)
of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 61%, close contact accounts for 36%, travel abroad accounts for 3%

Research conducted on behalf of the Department of Health found that 43% of people believe the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic is over.

But compliance with safety behaviours to protect from the coronavirus remains high, with 95% to people washing their hands more often, 78% coughing into their elbows, 71% disposing of used tissues immediately and 90% social distancing in queues.

“While 43% of the population believe the worst of this pandemic is behind us, the virus is still circulating, the risk is still there in our communities,” Dr Holohan said.

“The health service will continue to prepare and respond to the virus, the public are asked to stay the course and keep up the progress we have made.”

Decline in Pandemic Unemployment claims in Galway

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May 11, 2020

galway daily news Galway lotto players claim €21 million in high-tier prizes since 2020

The number of people claiming the €350 Pandemic Unemployment payment in Galway declined last week according to new figures released today.

As of May 12 there were 32,000 people in Galway in receipt of Pandemic Unemployment benefits, 300 less than on May 5.

The government is now making payments of €206.3 million to 589,000 people around the country currently drawing unemployment claims specifically related to the pandemic.

Minister Regina Doherty today said the decline is primarily due to people moving onto the Wage Subsidy Scheme, which now has 53,000 employers registered, paying out to 456,200 people.

The department’s figures show that to date 95,000 people have contacted them to close out their unemployment payment.

Those being supported by the Pandemic Unemployment and Wage Subsidy schemes are on top of the 214,700 people who were reported on the Live Register as of the end of April.

“We now have a very clear view of the peak of the challenge we currently face,” Minister Doherty said, adding “Hopefully the direction of travel from here on will continue to be positive.”

“As we move through the Government’s phased re-opening of society – while observing the recently published guidance for returning to work – we can expect certain sectors of the labour market to gradually re-open and for more people to close their applications for assistance.”

In addition to the unemployment payments, there are another 2,600 people in Galway certified for the Covid-19 Enhanced Illness Benefit, an increase of 100 on last week’s figure.

Minister Doherty said that it won’t be possible to “switch the economy back on” in the same manner that it was put into “sleep mode” due to the nature of the virus.

“My Department will continue to support those who can’t go back to work while simultaneously working on effective plans for the post-pandemic environment to retrain, re-energise and re-employ all those who have been disrupted by this unprecedented health emergency.”

Galway Arts Festival announces dates for rescheduled Big Top concerts

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May 11, 2020

Galway Daily news Nightclubs and indoor music returning in new reopening plan

Galway International Arts Festival has announced today the rescheduled dates for the Heineken Big Top concerts for next year’s festival.

The 2020 Galway International Arts Festival has been one of the festival season victims of the ongoing public restrictions in place for the Covid-19.

The summer festival, which was due to run for two weeks in July was cancelled at the start of May due to the ban on mass gatherings.

In its place a modified programme of events is in the works for the Autumn, but the Big Top concerts will not be a part of it.

They have all been pushed back to the 2021 arts festival, with the dates for each concert now announced by the festival organisers.

The original tickets which people purchased for their concerts remain valid, and the festival will be getting in touch with ticket holders this week.

The full list of rescheduled concerts and their new dates is as follows:

Pixies
Original date 16 July 2020 – rescheduled for Thursday 15 July, 2021
Original date 17 July 2020 – rescheduled for Friday 16 July, 2021

Flaming Lips
Original date 18 July 2020 – rescheduled for Saturday 17 July, 2021

The Stunning
Original date 19 July 2020 – rescheduled for Sunday 18 July, 2021

The Academic
Original date 24 July 2020 – rescheduled for Thursday 22 July 2021

Jon Hopkins
Original date 25 July 2020 – rescheduled for Friday 23 July, 2021

Kaiser Chiefs
Original date 23 July 2020 – rescheduled for Saturday 24 July, 2021

Sinead O Connor
Original date 26 July 2020 – rescheduled for Sunday 25 July 2021

Payments to 1,200 organic farmers start early

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May 11, 2020

Balancing payments to help with cash-flow for organic farmers have commenced early, it has been confirmed.

The payments will see over €1 million paid to 1,200 farmers nationally on organic farms and is part of the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

East Galway TD Ciaran Cannon welcomed the confirmation by Minister Michael Creed and said the supports are a vital measure in assisting these farmers in meeting the increasing consumer demand for organically produced food.

“At the present time, there are 1,530 organic farmers in Ireland participating in the Organic Farming Scheme and annual payments under the Scheme amount to approximately €10m with these early balancing payments part of the Department of Agriculture`s COVID-19 response,” Minister Cannon said.

“I welcome the boost these early payments will give to incomes on our county`s organic farms, supporting jobs at a crucial time and supporting the organic sector continues to be a key strategy of the government.”

Galway Film Fleadh moves online this summer

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May 11, 2020

Galway Daily film Galway Film Fleadh 2022 getting underway

Movie lovers disappointed that the 2020 Galway Film Fleadh wouldn’t be able to take place this summer will be glad to hear that the world renowned film festival is going ahead online from July 7.

The decision to cancel the physical element of the 32nd Galway Film Fleadh was made on the basis that under the current roadmap for the Covid-19 recovery, cinemas won’t be allowed to reopen until August 10.

The Film Fleadh programme will continue to be a diverse mix of features, documentaries, animations, shorts, and interactive cinema events, albeit on a smaller scale than the physical festival.

“Moving the Fleadh online doesn’t mean replicating the event in a digital space but reimagining it to be the best online experience possible,” said Programme Director, Will Fitzgerald.

“There will be a reduced, more focused programme because we don’t want to split audience attention when we don’t have a physical event space keeping us all together.”

“We want to give every film their moment in the spotlight and make every selected film part of a united conversation.”

At a time when so many people are more isolated from one another than in recent memory, ‘Coming Together’ has been made a key them of this year’s festival.

Twelve guest curators from film festivals around Europe are contributing to the even this year.

And working with Galway 2020, the Film Fleadh will be presenting Peripheral Visions, which will see the Irish premieres of European films from France, Poland, Switzerland, Iceland, Finland, Germany, Greece, Spain, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Canada.

The Short Film programmes for the fleadh have always been a great way to give new talent an opportunity to show what they can do.

And in recognition of the difficult circumstances that filmmakers are operating under, the deadline for short film submissions has been extended to May 22.

The Galway Film Fleadh has always been about more than just screening movies, and the much loved talks and workshops will be leveraging modern technology to go ahead.

The festival’s online edition will feature live-streamed filmmaker Q+A’s, audience participation via social media and conferencing software such as Zoom, as well as live-streamed masterclasses, panel discussions, the Fleadh’s industry meetings, and maybe even a virtual Rowing Club during social hours.

Films can be streamed via the Film Fleadh website, to audience members’ preferred devices including Smart TVs, laptops, phones and tablets.

However a further security measure, and to preserve something of the national flavour of the Galway Film Fleadh, films will be geo-locked to an Irish audience, with a limited amount of tickets sold.

While the festival’s organisers are disappointed that the cinema experience can’t take place, there is also excitement at the opportunities provided by the new format.

“For the first time, our national audience will be a truly nation-wide one. By participating online, audiences will take part in the Galway Film Fleadh from all corners of the island of Ireland”.

The Galway Film Fleadh is supported by the Arts Council, Galway 2020, Screen Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen and Greasán Na Meán.

Change Our Streets online public information meeting organised for tomorrow

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May 11, 2020

galway daily open letter streets change our streets

A public information meeting will take place tomorrow evening to gather ideas for the ‘Change Our Streets’ movement which has garnered massive support in Galway in recent weeks.

The meeting follows last week’s Open Letter which was sent to Galway City Council suggesting creative ways to make better use of road and street space.

The letter was signed by nearly 200 individuals and organisations, including Galway Chamber, Westend Traders, Knocknacarra FC, restaurants and pubs, and many more have voiced their support since the letter was sent.

Tomorrow’s meeting, hosted by Galway Cycling Campaign, will take place via Zoom at 8pm and the organisation is looking for specific suggestions of locations that could be improved.

They already have many ideas ready to present in detail to the Council. People have suggested using cones and planters to widen footpaths and add pop-up cycle lanes, piloting new pedestrian areas, and creating safe traffic-free routes to parks and pitches.

Martina Callanan of Galway Cycling Campaign said that there’s a long summer ahead with no school, no summer camps, and no contact-sports training due to the two meter social distancing required to keep us safe during the pandemic.

“The Corona Citizens Science Project by NUI Galway shows that the negative effect of the pandemic on well-being and mental health would appear to be greater for younger people as compared to older people,” said Martina.

“We need to make our city to be easier, safer, and more pleasant to keep the 2m social distance.

“Whether you are six years old or ninety-six years young, our residential, recreational and retail areas need to change. We need more space so that everyone feels safe going to the shops or being outside for a stroll.

“We have all been delighted to see more kids and families on bikes because they feel safer due to reduced traffic.

“Cycling is a great activity for small children to maintain social distance, enjoy exercise, be social with their family, and get fresh air.”

All five TDs for Galway West and East Galway TD Ciaran Cannnon have publicly backed Galway Cycling Campaign’s proposal to ‘Change Our Streets’.

Zoom meeting details for the ‘Change Our Streets’ public meeting are available on Galway Cycling Campaign website and on its Twitter account.

Man charged following burglary at Galway charity

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May 11, 2020

A man in his late teens has been charged in connection with the burglary of a Galway charity, back in April in the Tuam Road area of Galway City.

The man was arrested on Sunday, May 10 in connection with the burglary which occurred shortly after 4pm on April 23 last.

During the incident the man attempted to steal a television from the charity’s premises.

A small amount of criminal damage was also caused during the incident according to a garda spokesperson.

The man has been charged in relation to this matter and is to appear before the courts at a later date.

Galway Weather: bright, cold week with below 0 temperatures at times

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May 11, 2020

Galway is going to cool off over the next few days after a weekend of summer weather that saw temperatures top 22 degrees in parts of the county on Saturday.

The weather this week is forecast to be largely dry, with clear bright spells, but also cloudy much of the time, and temperatures dipping below zero at times.

Today will see temperatures averaging 10 degrees, reaching up to 12 degrees in the late afternoon with a light northeasterly wind.

Skies will be mostly clear and sunny throughout the day, with more cloudy conditions moving in this evening.

Lowest temperatures of 5 degrees forecast by Met Eireann overnight.

Tomorrow will be another cold one, with some frost and mist expected in the morning, when temperature will also dip below 0 early in the day.

Some light showers in the afternoon, when temperatures will reach highs of 11 to 12 degrees, with a light variable wind.

Later in the week conditions will continue mostly dry, but cold, with sub zero temperatures in the morning on Wednesday and Thursday as well.

Winds will be mostly light northeasterly breezes, with cloudy skies interspersed by sunny spells.

Wednesday and Thursday will both continue to be mostly dry. Highest temperatures on Thursday reaching up to 14 degrees heading into a less sunny weekend.

14,000 more uninsured vehicles were on Irish roads in 2019

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May 11, 2020

There were 14,000 more uninsured vehicles on the roads in Ireland last year according to new figures released by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland.

At the end of last year there were a total of 164,773 uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads, which was 13,863 more than at the end of 2018.

According to MIBI, uninsured vehicles account for 7.58% of the almost 2.2 million private vehicles in the Republic of Ireland.

All cars and other vehicles operating on Ireland’s roads are required to have motor insurance.

Any vehicle found without valid insurance can be seized on the spot by An Garda Síochána, with the driver facing severe penalties including an automatic court appearance, five penalty points and a substantial fine.

These latest numbers show the problem of uninsured driving has grown significantly over the last few years,” said David Fitzgerald, Chief Executive of the MIBI.

“A jump of almost 14,000 uninsured vehicles in a single year is a statistic that should worry every single Irish road user.”

“Uninsured drivers are a threat to road safety for the law abiding majority of private vehicle drivers, making Irish roads less safe and a lot more hazardous.”

The MIBI is a not for profit organisation that was established to compensate victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured and unidentified vehicles.

Where there is a road traffic accident involving an uninsured driver, the MIBI will pursue said driver for costs under their right to recovery.

Based on these figures, the MIBI is calling for the rgent implementation of the Motor Third Party Liability (MTPL) insurance database to support the automatic number plate recognition system being rolled out by the Gardaí.

The ANPL system allows An Garda Síochána to identify uninsured vehicles by scanning their license plate.

“We are certainly concerned that with the economy facing a difficult period there may be an even further increase in the level of uninsured driving,” David Fitzgerald said.

“ANPR dramatically increases the capability to identify any uninsured private vehicle. It will be a strong weapon in the fight to apprehend any individuals who recklessly think they can treat motor insurance as ‘optional’.”

“Motor insurance is a legal obligation for a reason. With ANPR those who do not respect that principle will be rolling the dice in a game where the odds will be truly stacked against them,” Mr. Fitzgerald concluded.

Coronavirus: 12 further deaths reported as cases increase in Galway

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May 10, 2020

Twelve more people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team has confirmed.

An additional 236 cases were also confirmed as of 11am this morning, taking the total number of people in the Republic who have tested positive for COVID-19 to 22,996.

The number of cases in Galway now stands at 388, as of midnight on Friday – an increase of 6 cases on figures for the previous day.

The county has 1.7% of the confirmed cases in the state, while almost half of the people diagnosed with the disease are in Dublin.

The latest data available shows that of the cases reported up until Friday, 57% are female and 43% are male.

The median age of these cases is 49 and 2,986 cases (13%) have been hospitalised.

A total of 383 COVID-19 cases have been admitted to ICU and 6,771 cases are associated with healthcare workers.

Dr Tony Holohan took to social media earlier today to urge people to hold firm and keep the national effort going.

“All good teams keep going until the very end. They know the risks of easing off when the end is in sight,” said Dr Holohan on Twitter. “We’ve done so well this far- but it’s not full time yet! Come on Team Ireland- let’s keep the effort up until the final whistle blows.”

Primary Care Centre plans for Oranmore submitted to the council

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May 10, 2020

Galway Daily news No progress in Oranmore Primary Care Centre standoff

Planning permission is being sought for the construction of a new Primary Care Centre in Oranmore to provide medical care in the community.

The Primary Care Centre will consist of a part 2-storey, part 3-storey, part 4-storey building with a total floor space of 5,109.4 sqm with associated medical consulting & treatment rooms at the east end of Oranmore.

These include a GP suite, public pharmacy, public physiotherapy suite, ambulance deployment point, storage, waste disposal area and a foul pump station.

The plans include 116 surface car parking spaces along with ambulance spaces and 44 bicycle spaces; vehicles will access the centre off the Clochóg Road.

It is also proposed to carry out upgrade works at the Clochóg Road/Main Street junction in Oranmore, as well as at the junction of Main Street and the N67.

This is based on the recommendations of a Road Safety Audit at the pre-planning stage.

A letter from the HSE submitted with this application said that the aim of this project is to create a one-stop-shop for primary care services in the local area.

This will include public health, schools, and community nursing, physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy, x-ray services, counselling, and more.

The centre will operate from 9-5 Monday to Friday, with an ambulance deployment point on site which will be accessible 24/7.

“There is currently no health centre for the Oranmore Primary Care Team, which provides care to a population of 14,282, based on the 2016 census, this includes patients living in Craughwell, Clarinbridge, Adrahan.”

“The health professionals in the teams to be accommodated are currently based in the East of Galway City and Ardrahan.”

On top of the many local health services, the centre will also be used to accommodate TUSLA services.

A Natura Impact Statement and Flood Risk Assessment were submitted with this planning application.

Public submissions related to this project can be made to the county council until May 28, and a decision on the planning application is due by June 18.

Ireland’s first drive-in theatre show to take place in Galway

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May 10, 2020

galway daily fiach drive in theatre show

With social distancing likely to remain a part of our temporary way of life for some time, Fíbín Theatre Company has found a way to bring audiences an epic drama while complying with the HSE’s safety guidelines.

The country’s first drive-in stage theatre show, where spectators can watch from the comfort and safety of their own cars, will take place in Baile na hAbhann, Conamara in August.

The audience will watch the World Premier of Philip Doherty’s Fiach – in an epic show that features live music, projection and special effects.

From their vehicles, people will see a thrilling car chase in a blistering tale of love, passion and the power of the human spirit in what will be an amazing theatrical experience.

The open-air show follows the HSE’s health and safety guidelines and will give people a chance to escape the monotony of the four walls.

Fíbín says it is grateful to be able to provide work for creative artists, both local and national, during these uncertain times.

“At Fíbín we love making outdoor theatre, especially with the stunning backdrop of Connemara.

“We certainly have had to think outside the box with this show, but we have a great team in place to overcome the challenges of the restrictions of COVID.

“We’re really looking forward to transforming Fíbín’s grounds into a drive-in experience, where audiences can come and enjoy the show from the safety of their vehicle.”

The drive-in theatre show will be shown in August 2020 in Baile na hAbhann, Conamara.

Tuam Regeneration development funding needs to be fast-tracked

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May 10, 2020

Galway Daily news Calls for upgrades to Tuam roundabouts

Funding for the planned regeneration of Tuam needs to be fast-tracked to speed up the local economic recovery as soon as a master-plan has been devised.

That’s according to East Galway TD Ciaran Cannon, who said that it will take ‘a concerted effort’ to get the commercial, enterprise and tourism sectors back on track.

But despite the effects of the COVID-19 emergency on these sectors, Minister Cannon said he is very optimistic that this can be accomplished through the right measures.

“We can take hope for our own region in this respect from initiatives such as the regeneration strategy for Tuam, a project which my colleague Minister Ring allocated €175,000 towards, with a plan in the works and due in the coming months,” said Minister Cannon.

People were able to put forward their views on this at a workshop in Tuam Library earlier this year.

“This is a project which has huge potential to rejuvenate the town as it looks at how all components of the civic space can be utilised to the benefit of the area,” added the Fine Gael TD.

“I believe it is vital that as soon as a master-plan is devised that funding be fast-tracked for the development and full implementation of the plan and that is what I will be advocating for with my colleagues in government to further expedite local economic recovery and restore lost jobs.”

Canney unveils €40 million support package for charities

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May 10, 2020