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Galway awarded over €80,000 for outdoor recreation projects

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

Funding of more than €80,000 has been awarded to Galway for five outdoor recreation infrastructure projects this week.

The funding was announced Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring under Measure 1 of the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.

It includes €19,760 for upgrades to Gort River Walk, €19,598 for repairs to the Bóthar Shenadh Mhacha trail in Connemara, €18,160 to surface the Canon Oliver Hughes Park Walkway in Tuam, €15,848 to develop a series of waling trails in the Sliabh Aughty Mountains, and €10,000 to repair weather damage to the Mam Ean Trail in Connemara.

Galway East TD Sean Canney congratulated the successful applicants, saying that these projects will create recreation facilities in their communities for the benefit of all.

Measure 1 of this programme provides grants of up to €20,000 for small scale maintenance, promotion and marketing projects.

The Minister announced over €1.8 million in funding for 109 projects under Measure 1 this week.

“There is no doubting the importance of these projects for the wellbeing and quality of life of local residents,” Minister Ring said.

“As a nation, we have embraced the great outdoors in growing numbers and I am pleased that my Department is playing a central role in facilitating the development of this important sector.”

“Our investment in outdoor recreation facilities and infrastructure also pays a significant economic dividend.

“Thousands of tourists make walking, hiking, cycling and other outdoor pursuits an important part of their stay in Ireland.”

“Last year alone, almost 2.7 million overseas visitors engaged in some form of cross country walking or hiking, while over 0.5 million visitors incorporated cycling into their stay.”

Funding under Measure 2, medium scale repair/upgrades, and Measure 3 Large scale upgrades and new strategic trail developments, will be announced at a later date.

Funding for this programme is broken down by: 80 percent from the Department and 20 percent from the Local Authority and other sources.

Christmas Park and Ride returns next week

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Briain Kelly
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The annual Christmas Park and Ride is returning to Galway city next week to give Christmas shoppers a quick and easy way in and out of the city.

The Park and Ride will operate from Ballybrit Racecourse to the City Centre Coach Station from 9:30am to 9:15pm, Monday to Saturday, and from 11am to 9:15pm on Sundays.

Fares are €1 per person each way, with children and pensioners travelling for free. All-day parking is included in the fare.

Buses will run every 15 minutes in both directions every day, and every 30 minutes from 7pm to 9pm on Sundays.

I am delighted to launch the 13th annual Christmas Park and Ride, on behalf of Galway City Council,” said city Mayor Mike Cubbard.

“This service aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the City in the run up to Christmas, and offers a stress-free, reliable alternative to the car.”

“Christmas is a great time to come into Galway City, to shop, to see the Christmas lights, or to soak up the atmosphere of the Christmas Markets.”

“I would encourage everyone to enjoy the best of Galway City this Christmas, and to consider using the Park and Ride”.

Councillor Eddie Hoare, head of the Transport Strategic Policy Committee, said that this service offer high frequency buses, competitive pricing, and faster journey times for people coming to the city.

“The terminus at Galway Racecourse is ideally suited to those travelling to the City along the M6, N6, N17, N18 and Monivea Roads.”

“Over 26,000 passenger journeys were made on the Christmas Park and Ride service in 2018, reducing congestion on our road network. I welcome the service, and am delighted to support the launch”.

The Christmas Park and Ride Service is operated by Callinan Coaches on behalf of Galway City Council.

Tommy Callinan, Managing Director of Callinan Coaches, commented that they are proud to offer this service.

“As a locally based, family-owned company, we can bring our extensive expertise to facilitate passenger comfort and satisfaction using our modern vehicles and experienced staff.

“In tandem with the City Council, we will endeavour to assist customers in having a stress free and enjoyable visit to Galway city centre during this busy Christmas period for a very reasonable cost.”

Free parking in seven Galway towns this December

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Salthill car parks reopen after run of bad weather

Galway County Council is bringing in free parking in seven towns throughout the county for the month of December.

On and off street parking controlled by the county council in Ballinasloe, Loughrea, Tuam, Clifden, Cleggan, Athenry, and Gort will be free of charge over the Christmas period.

“This is to facilitate and encourage footfall in the regional towns during the Christmas shopping period,” a statement from the county council said.

This initiative will be in effect from Sunday, November 30, and remain in place throughout the month of December.

N63 reopens after road traffic accident

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Seven week road closure in downtown Galway City

The N63 outside Abbeyknockmoy has reopened this evening after a road traffic accident where a truck overturned on the road this morning.

The road was shut for several hours after a traffic accident where a truck overturned on the Moylough side of Abbeyknockmoy near the Tuam turn off.

Gardaí were able to clear the scene after the incident took place around 7:30am this morning, but the road then had to be closed for several hours due to difficulties in removing the truck.

The County Council said that work also had to be done to stabilise an embankment which was damaged in the incident.

The driver of the truck was taken to hospital as a precaution, but no-one was reported to be seriously injured.

Children in direct provision shouldn’t be denied education – Rabbitte

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Almost 1,000 Ukrainian pupils enrolled in Galway schools

Children living in the Direct Provision system should not be denied access to education Galway TD Anne Rabbitte has said in response to alarming figures.

The Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs was responding to recent reports of 30 children in direct provision in Carrickmacross who have been out of school for two months.

Deputy Rabbitte said she is “deeply concerned” that this may not be an isolated incident and called on the government to clarify this immediately.

“Children in direct provision are just as entitled to education as any other child in the State,” Anne Rabbitte said.

“What does it say of us as a State that we would restrict access to education?”

“The Minister for Education and the Minister for Children must outline exactly what they know about this situation and the steps they have taken to rectify it,” concluded Deputy Rabbitte.

Photography book sales raise €14,000 for Galway Simon Community

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Briain Kelly
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Long standing Simon Community supporter, Vincent Butler, produced a book of photography last year called ‘Sixty Photographs for Simon’.

This stunning photography contains, you guessed it, sixty shots he took over the course of his long career as an historian an guide on cruises and expeditions around the world.

It captures a magnificent array of locales from the Arctic and Scandanvania, across Europe and through Africa, Asia, and South America, right down to Antarctica at the bottom of the world.

Vincent secured sponsorship for all costs associated with the project, which means that 100% of funds generated through sales of the book will directly benefit the Simon Communities of Ireland.

To date, he has raised over €41,000, and has gifted €14,000 of this to Galway Simon to fund the annual cost of their Client Involvement & Wellness Programme.

“Funds raised through this book will make a life changing difference for those who are most vulnerable in our community,” a spokesperson for the Galway Simon Community said.

“By funding Galway Simon’s Client Involvement & Wellness Programme, Vincent is enabling us to support clients in establishing a routine that incorporates self- care, productivity and leisure, which in turn allows them to develop skills, integrate well within the community and to live independently.”

Last week, at an event that was organised in celebration of the incredible effort he has devoted to the project to date, Vincent and his wife Lyndy met with some clients, volunteers, and staff members involved in the programme.

Priced at €20, it is available to purchase online here and in selected nationwide bookshops including Charlie Byrnes on Middle Street.

The Galway Simon Community will also be selling it at their Christmas Market Stall in Eyre Square from Friday, November 29 until Thursday, December 5.

Overturned truck on the N63 causes road closure

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news road closure

The N63 near Abbeyknockmoy will be closed until later this afternoon to allow for the removal of an overturned truck.

The truck overturned on the N63 outside Abbeyknockmoy near the Tuam turn off at around 7:30am this morning.

Gardaí and emergency services remain at the scene waiting for the truck to be removed from the road after this incident.

AA Roadwatch is reporting that the road will remain closed until 4pm this afternoon while the truck is being dealt with.

It’s understood that there were no serious injuries in the incident.

Revenue agents seize 809 litres of alcohol and €11,800 cash in Galway city

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Briain Kelly
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Agents of the Revenue Commissioners seized €11,800 in cash and 809 litres of alcohol in Galway city this week.

The Revenue was granted a three month detention order by Judge John King for the cash on Thursday at Clifden District Court.

It followed a search under warrant of a residential property in Galway city on Wednesday.

This intelligence led operation was carried out with the assistance of An Garda Síochána and is part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity

The alcohol, with an estimated retail value of €3,500, was seized as no evidence could be given of duty paid, representing a loss of €1,600 to the Exchequer.

A woman in her thirties and a man in his sixties were questioned in connection with this.

The Revenue Commission has said that investigations are ongoing.

The Commission says that If businesses, or members of the public have any information, they can contact them in confidence at 1800 295 295.

Roadworks to disrupt Headford traffic for two weeks

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Roadworks to disrupt traffic near Portumna on Tuesday

Roadworks in Headford village will disrupt local traffic from the start of December for just under two weeks.

Galway County Council is carrying out roadworks in Headford as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

These works will involve the undergrounding of cables in the village.

Work will take place from 9:30am until 4pm each day starting on the morning of Monday, December 2 and continuing for twelve days to Friday, December 14.

The traffic lights at the N84 junction at Anglers Rest will be turned off during these works and a traffic management plan will be in effect.

The county council has said that disruptions will be kept to a minimum while this works is ongoing.

Bank of Ireland ATMs, app, and website hit with service issues

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Bank of Ireland ATMs, app, and website out of service

Bank of Ireland customers have been inconvenienced today by IT issues affecting their ATMs, app, and website with many services offline.

Bank of Ireland customers are currently unable to log onto the app or website, and some ATM services are also being affected.

However, BOI debit cards are still being accepted at other banks’ ATMs and retail outlets, and credit cards are function as normal.

“BOI is aware that some channels are currently out of service,” a spokesperson for the bank said.

“We’re working to rectify this ASAP and will provide further updates as soon as we can.”

This is the second day in a row in which BOI has experienced service troubles after difficulties with its payment systems yesterday.

Galway’s Hyde Bar launches its very own prestige gin

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Hyde Irish Gin

Galway’s Hyde Bar has one feature in particular that makes it unique among Irish bars, an unparalleled physical collection of gins in its Gin Bible.

With hundreds of gins from every corner of the world available, it is only fitting that Hyde Bar have a gin brand to call its own.

That’s why this week saw the launch of the Hyde Irish Gin to take its own proud place in the collection at a special event in the newly opened Rituals store on William Street.

“HYDE Bar has acquired an impressive reputation for cocktails and food over the last 18 months, but Gin remains our core product.”

“We are very excited to release  our new Gin which we believe will be very popular of the festive period,” says Connacht Hospitality Group Sales and Marketing Manager Eveanna Ryan. 

This small, hand-crafted batch was made with eight iconic botanicals: Juniper berries, hawthorn berries, elderberries, rosehip berries grapefruit peel, lemon zest, grains of paradise and angelica root.

Rather than the usual basket infusing it was made using a pot distilling method in the copper stills at the Connacht Whiskey Company Distillery in Ballina.

This method helped elevate it to a smooth but rich spirit, with a great depth of flavour to match the finest Irish gins.

The signature Hyde Gin blend opens up with delicious notes of berries followed up by a burst of fresh citrus and finishes with subtle wooden tones and a hint of spices.

Bottled at 40% ABV and launched this week, the Hyde Irish Gin is available the popular, modern cocktail bar on Forster Street.

Councillor Aisling Dolan to stand for Fine Gael in general election

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily politics Aisling Dolan to stand for Fine Gael at general election

Formerly independent county councillor for Ballinasloe Aisling Dolan has joined Fine Gael and will be standing for them in the next general election.

Counillor Dolan will be contesting the Roscommon-Galway constituency, which her council district of Ballinasloe straddles, for Fine Gael alongside Senator Maura Hopkins when a general election comes around.

Aisling Dolan is a first time county councillor who was elected to her seat as an independent candidate in the Local Elections last May.

She said that as a candidate for Fine Gael she will focus on healthcare, including investment in Portiuncula hospital, increasing investment in the region, protecting the environment, and “making this a place really a place to live for our families, or community, and the next generation”.

Councillor Dolan added that she is delighted to have the chance to go and represent this area at a national level.

Galway gardaí emphasise the importance of having alarms in your home

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Garda advice on preventing home burglaries over New Year's

Galway gardaí highlighted the lifesaving difference it can make to have alarms in your home for different emergencies at a Community Alert meeting in Loughrea.

Sgt Michael Walsh, the local Garda Crime Prevention Officer spoke about home security and preventing burglaries, and the role that intruder alarms can play in both.

Joining him was a Development Officer from Muintir Na Tire who spoke about carbon monoxide gas, known as the silent killer.

He mentioned that people can receive a free Carbon Monoxide alarm through their local Community Alert group.

And lastly, fire officers from Galway and Loughrea gave a presentation on fire safety.

Christmas proves to be a peak time for house fires they warned, so make sure you have a fire alarm in each room, and check the battery weekly.

Many modern intruder alarms also come with a built in fire and carbon monoxide function, but don’t take safety for granted.

This public information meeting was organised by Sgt Joe Dunleavy of Loughrea Garda Station.

Christmas Eve mass at Galway Cathedral to broadcast live across Europe

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news
The Novena at Galway Cathedral.

Christmas Eve Mass at Galway Cathedral will be broadcast live throughout Ireland and Europe to millions of people this year.

The 11pm mass at Galway Cathedral will be carried on RTÉ in Ireland and various European channels on Christmas Eve, as well on the Eurovision Network open to all 44 countries in Europe.

Everybody is welcome to attend this Mass but the congregation has to be in their seats by 10:45pm in order to facilitate the broadcast 11pm start.

Christmas Carols will be sung by the Cathedral Choir in the half-hour before the ceremony gets underway, with Bishop Brendan Kelly as the chief celebrant.

Kairos Production Company is responsible for the televising of the live mass at Galway Cathedral on December 24, and producer Finbarr Tracey says “that around 2 million tune in for this each Christmas Eve.”

“There will be carols and the spirit of Christmas will well and truly be alive in the Cathedral,” explained Fr Martin Whelan.

“It is incredible to think that millions will be looking in on Galway this Christmas Eve,” he added.

Galway Cathedral Live Crib will take place from 11:30am to 4pm on Tuesday 17th December, with live animals, music and song by Primary schools from across Galway

Government to buy Connemara Airport for €2.75 million

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Briain Kelly
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The government will pay €2.75 million to purchase Connemara Airport after agreeing to a deal this week.

The decision to go ahead with the purchase of Connemara Airport was made at a cabinet meeting this week, but the price tag negotiated in that deal was not publicly released at that time.

However, the Irish Times is now reporting the state has agreed to pay €2.75 million for the airport to owner Padraig Ó Ceidigh.

Na Minna airport in Inverin plays a crucial role as the main hub for air travel to and from the Aran Islands.

Aer Arann, which is also owner by Ó Céidigh, currently has a contract for €800,000 a year to provide air transport to and from the islands.

However Ó Céidigh has said that this is not a sustainable price and the service has been uncertain for some time now.

A €300,000 extension of the current contract to the end of January was agreed in October, after which it is expect a tender will be issued for a new Public Service Obligation.

 

Galway groups awarded €2.32 million from Social Inclusion fund

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

Disadvantaged groups in Galway have been awarded funding totaling €2.32 million under the 2020 Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.

The Social Inclusion programme supports unemployed people, those living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on low incomes, members of the Traveller and Roma communities and other disadvantaged groups.

The Department of Rural and Community Development announced a total of €39.2 million for the 2020 SICAP, which includes €1.65 million for Galway county and €670,000 for the city.

Galway East TD Seán Canney welcomed the funding for Galway county, saying that this programme “makes a real difference to communities, especially those that are marginalised and suffering disadvantage.”

The funding level for Galway county has been increased by €50,000 on 2019, and Galway city’s funding level is up €40,000 on the last round.

SICAP is co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Department, and is delivered at the county and city level by Local Community Development Committees.

Almost 32,000 people were assisted by the programme in 2018 according to Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring.

“This programme works to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-term unemployment through supporting local engagement and partnership between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations, public sector agencies and other stakeholders.”

The Minister added that it will continue to “reach out to help those who need it most in disadvantaged areas, urban and rural, by encouraging and supporting people towards accessing mainstream services.”

Since 2018 support from SICAP has helped 4,000 people set up their own business, and helped another 2,168 find a job.

It has also provided funding for a total of 3,066 community groups and a further 334 social enterprises.

“I know from experience that programmes such as SICAP make a real difference to communities on the ground, especially those groups and individuals in our communities that are marginalised and suffering disadvantage,” Minister Ring concluded.

Galway Community Pride announce first ever Winter Pride

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway Community Pride announces winter pride event

Galway Community Pride has revealed that they will be holding their first ever Winter Pride event this December.

Galway Community Pride is the longest running in Ireland, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and is adding to the Autumn Pride Festival in Autumn with a winter event.

“As a committee we’ve been thinking for a couple of months now how we can do more for the community all year round,” a spokesperson for

“We know you want more Pride and more LGBT+ spaces and we want to give it to you.”

“After the success of Halloween Pride we’re excited to announce Galway will have our very first Winter Pride this Decemeber.”

GCP said that this is something that they have been working on for several months now.

More details about the upcoming event will be revealed at a public meeting taking place at Teach Solais on December 3 which is open to all.

More than 2,000 people came out to join the annual pride march in August, which came at the end of the week long pride festival with a number of events commemorating 30 years of pride.

This years Pride was also Galway’s first bilingual year, and this is something they believe will also become a lasting tradition.

Anti-Racism meeting in Galway city attended by 150 people

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Briain Kelly
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galway daily anti-racism meeting

A public information event organised by the Galway Anti-Racism Network which took place on Tuesday evening in the city was attended by up to 150 people.

The ‘A-Z of Anti-Racism’ event took place in the Harbour Hotel this week to give a platform to people who experience everyday racism in all its forms, residents of direct provision centres, and members of the travelling community.

The meeting was about providing a ‘toolkit’ to members of the public to combat racist rhetoric and hate crimes.

Building on the theme of the event’s name, a GARN spokesperson said that 26 separate principles of anti-racism were developed over the course of the four hour event.

GARN member and Professor of Psychology in NUI Galway, Brian Hughes, said “This event could not happen at a more pertinent time.”

“There has been a significant increase in racist rhetoric in recent months with a number of politicians unfortunately contributing to the atmosphere.”

“What we hope to achieve is to normalise the idea of being anti-racist – to empower people to challenge such rhetoric in their own way and with the knowledge that there’s a support system in place around them.”

Joe Loughnane of GARN said that the roughly 150 people who attended were “A serious bunch of people delivering quality community work on an entirely voluntary basis”.

“Things were said tonight that spell out a reality. Cold hard truths that need to be addressed. There was an energy in that room that makes me feel it will be addressed.”

Plans submitted for 332 apartments in Knocknacarra housing project

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Knocknacarra apartments refused permission

Plans have been submitted to An Bord Pleanála for a massive Strategic Housing Development in Knocknacarra consisting of 332 apartments.

Glenveagh Living is seeking planning permission for a housing development on a six acre site at Gort na Bró in Knocknacarra next to the Gateway Retail Park.

The housing in question will be a mixture of 93 one-bed apartments, 219 two-bed apartments, and 20 three-bed apartments along with a creche.

A meeting was held with Galway City Council in September where it was agreed that 40 units in the development would be set aside for affordable or social housing to meet Part V planning requirements.

These will consist of 5 one-bed apartments, 30 two-bed units, and 5 three-bed apartments all of which will be in Block B of the development.

The proposal also has a commercial element with 2,667sqm of floor space in the plans to be divided among 11 commercial units.

“The purpose of these units is to provide food and beverage outlets, local services (i.e. butcher, baker, hair salon) and convenience retail offering which serves local needs,” the application states.

This housing development makes up Phase 3 of the Knocknacarra District Centre project. Phases 1 & 2 of that project were related to Gateway Retail Park.

“Our vision is to transform this infill site in the heart of Knocknacarra,” an urban design report submitted with the application states.

“A vibrant new public square will be the centrepiece of this six acre urban project and it will be accessible to both new residents and the wider Knocknacarra community.”

The landscape plan for the site has multiple retail, beverage, and restaurant units at the site fronting onto the new civic square and green space to make it a central feature of the district.

The design of the square is meant to make it easily usable for markets or marque events.

Parking at the new housing project would be by way of 85 spaces above ground and a further 181 spaces in a new underground car park.

A road which currently runs through the centre of the site would be reconfigured as part of the construction work.

Due to the size of the development, a Strategic Housing Development Application was made directly to An Bord Pleanála rather than the city council.

A pre-planning consultation meeting was held with An Bord Pleanála in July, and in response to that meeting the higher planning authority said that the documentation submitted “requires further consideration and amendment to constitute a reasonable basis for an application”.

One particular issue raised at that meeting was the relationship between Block B and the Western Distributor Road.

In response the building was redesigned with a longer facade facing onto the road to create a more unified appearance.

An Environmental Impact Assessment Report was also submitted with this planning application.

An Bord Pleanála is due to make a ruling on this housing development by March 20 of next year.

 

image credit: Knocknacarra District Centre

Not Bad – new indie music festival coming to Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily arts & culture Not Bad indie music festival

Not Bad is a new music festival in Galway with a focus on connecting original musicians, DIY music scenes and music lovers on the west coast of Ireland.

This music festival will bring together music lovers from all over the Atlantic Way with acts from Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare, Limerick, Kerry and Cork over three days this weekend.

The opening night of this festival will take place at the Black Gate Cultural Centre this Friday with acts such as Eoin Dolan, Aul Boy, Field Trip, Sinéad Ann and New Pope.

This gig starts at 8pm and will run to 11:45pm. Tickets cost €10, but space at the venue is limited to 40 places.

The, on Saturday, November 30 the music is moving to Aras na nGael with performances from MudBubble, Dott, Myles Manley, Cruiser, Arthuritis, Neptune M, Dead Horse Jive, Archmotors, Bury Me With My Money and NewDad.

Expect the music to run well into the night here. The day kicks off at 4pm and won’t wrap until 1 in the morning.

To wrap things up, on Sunday, December 1 at 3pm Livefeed, a Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture project, will host an all-ages event in Nun’s Island Theatre showcasing youth music from Galway.

Admission is free to this last gig, and this is an alcohol free family event.

Not Bad is supported by Creative Ireland, Galway City Arts Service and Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture.

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