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Missing US Navy boat found floating off Inis Oirr

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Briain Kelly
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A boat belonging to the US Navy was found in the water off Inis Oirr by a local ferry company a year after going missing on the other side of the Atlantic last year.

On Monday, September 2 the Doolin Express Ferry spotted a red boat, which would later emerge to belong to the Navy, upside in the water on their way to Inis Oirr.

There has been a huge response to photos of the vessel shared online after it was towed ashore by a ferry.

After finding the boat on the way to the Aran Islands Doolin Ferry Company posted about the event on social media.

“At 1.30pm on Monday September 2nd the crew of Doolin Ferry Co’s Doolin Express spotted something floating in the water on their route to Inis Oirr.”

“They went to investigate further and found a boat! Later we sent one of our crews and ferry to tow the boat, (with the help of a local fishing boat), to the beach at Inis Oirr.”

“Lots of islanders helped to bring it to the beach and we began to wonder where it had come from.”

The boat still had both engines attached, but from the barnacles growth on the hull it was apparent that the boat had been in the water for some time.

It was first believed that the baoy nelined to the US Coast Guard, but after further investigations it seems to be a a target practice boat belonging to the US Navy.

In an update to their original post, Doolin Ferry Co. said “after thousands of shares, national news coverage and many phone calls and suggestions we think we have gotten to the bottom of this intriguing mystery”.

“We believe the boat originated in Norfolk Virgina and its not actually a rescue boat but actually a High Speed Maneuverable Surface Targets, or HSMST. Essentially, they are remotely operated and used as target practise by the US Navy”.

“This boat was built in 2015 and its likely that it was lost during a training exercise and it remained in the water drifting until it ended up in the water close to Inis Oirr and was discovered by the crew of the Doolin Express!”

A spokesperson for the Naval Air Warfare Aircraft Division told Fox News that the boat was lost in September 2018 during a training exercise 75km off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia.

However he added that this vessel is filled with foam to stop it from sinking, so he wasn’t surprised it survivd a trip of more than 3,000km to Ireland.

 

photo credit: Facebook/Doolin Ferry Co.

Free outdoor screening of Shrek 2 at NUIG

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Briain Kelly
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Students should take advantage of the sun while it lasts, and a free outdoor screening of Shrek 2 this evening at NUIG.

The NUIG Students Union is screening Shrek 2 outside on the grass outside the Engineering Building, weather permitting of course.

The movie screening will take place at 8pm on Monday evening to get take the edge off the Monday blues.

Free popcorn will be given to the first 100 people to arrive.

This event is strictly no alcohol. The Students Union have warned that any found will be confiscated and destroyed.

https://mobile.twitter.com/NUIGSU/status/1170976767999451136

 

Nearly €15 million being spent on Moycullen social housing project

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway City Council has announced plans for a social housing development of 84 apartments and houses in Knocknacarra.

A social housing development in Moycullen has been awarded €14.6 million in funding to deliver 46 social homes in the area.

Galway West TD Seán Kyne confirmed that the money has been allocated to Galway County Council for this social housing project by the Department of Housing.

“The turnkey development will be located at Kylebroughlan and will comprise 33 three-bedroom houses, four two-bedroom houses, six two-bedroom apartments and six one-bedroom apartments”, Seán Kyne said.

“Construction has already commenced on this development which will provide a significant number of new homes in Moycullen and it is envisaged that the homes will be ready on a phased basis from the latter half of next year.”

The Fine Gael TD also said that a further five social homes are near completion in Moycullen under Part V planning requirements for housing developments over a certain size.

“Galway County Council is also looking at providing new affordable housing in the locality which will be particularly welcome for first-time buyers,” Deputy Kyne said.

Claddagh street closing all week for roadworks

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Traffic disruption expected from Galway City centre roadworks

St. Dominick’s Avenue in the Claddah will be closing to traffic daily this week in order to allow roadworks to take place.

Galway City Council has ordered the road closed from its junction with St. Dominick’s Road to intersection with Fairhill Road Upper while Irish Water is carrying out roadworks.

The road will be closed each day from 8am to 6pm from Monday, September 9 through to Friday, September 13.

An alternative route is available via St. Dominick’s Road, Fr. Burke Road, St. Ignatius Terrace and Fairhill Road Upper.

The city council is ordering rolling street closures in the Claddagh which will continue through to the end of October to allow Irish Water to relay water distribution mains.

A quarter of Galway city primary school students taught through Irish

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Increased funding for Gaeltacht summer college accommodation providers

Galway City has the highest level of primary school students taught through the medium of Irish of any local authority in Ireland.

One in four primary school students in the city, or 24.4%, learns through the language, the Irish Times writes.

That’s far above the national average of one in twelve young students, and still significantly higher than the next highest area, which is Galway County.

Under the auspices of the county council, 17.5% of primary students learn through Irish, with Donegal being the third highest area at 14.7%.

In contrast, less than one percent of primary pupils in Cavan are being taught through Irish, and Roscommon and Louth also have low levels of gaelscoil education.

According to the Department of Education, the number of primary level students using Irish as the main language in the classroom has risen from 6.4% of pupils in 2000 to 8.1% in 2018/19.

In total there are now 45,000 primary school students who are now being taught through Irish.

And while Gaeltacht areas like Galway may have had the highest rates of Irish adoption the majority of those students, 38,000 are located outside of the Gaeltacht.

Brexit could worsen shortage of nurses INMO warns

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Briain Kelly
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The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation is raising concerns that Brexit could make Ireland’s chronic nursing shortage even worse.

Irish nurses and midwives would be prime candidates for recruitment by UK hospitals after Brexit the INMO has warned in its pre-budget submission.

The UK currently recruits nurses from all over the European Union, but that will be more difficult after Brexit with travel and work restrictions expected to be put in place.

Under such circumstances Ireland could become a key target for recruiters due to the Common Travel Area, which allows Irish and British people to travel and work without restrictions outside of EU regulations.

Ireland is already suffering a nursing crisis, with short staffing at hospitals one of the key factors that consistently sees hospital like UHG severely overcrowded the INMO has said.

According to the union, as of June 2019, 68% of nursing and midwifery graduates had been approached by overseas.

When asked for the main factors that might keep them working in Ireland, 47% pointed to staffing levels and working conditions.

However 66% of respondents who plan to leave Ireland say the increases in pay agreed after the recent strike will entice them to return to work in Ireland.

The INMO’s pre-Budget submission calls for funding to reach safe staffing levels throughout the health service, more undergraduate places for nurses and midwives, and resources to fully implement the safe staffing framework, as agreed following the INMO strike earlier this year.

INMO General Secretary, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said, “Ireland’s nurses and midwives are prime targets for UK health service recruiters.”

“After Brexit, it’s likely that British hospitals will step up their efforts to draw more nursing and midwifery staff away.”

“Even before Brexit, the vast majority of our graduating nurses and midwives have received offers to work overseas, often in better conditions.”

“We need to make the Irish health service an attractive place to work, that means getting staffing levels right.”

“The upcoming Budget is a chance to kickstart that process, by investing in safe staffing, more student places, and implementing Sláintecare. The alternative is understaffed, overstretched services, where patients suffer and staff burn out.”

Galway start up gearing up for Best Young Entrepreneur national finals

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily business Galway woman gearing up to fight to be Ireland's Best Young Entrepreneur

Correction: an earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Elizabeth McGloughlin is from Galway. She is from Limerick and did her Masters here.

The national finals of the Best Young Entrepreneur competition are approaching next week, and the founder of a Galway based start up Elizabeth McGloughlin is preparing for the final run.

Local Enterprise Office Galway’s finalist for the title of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur 2019, 30 year old Elizabeth McGloughlin is the co-founder of city-based company Tympany Medical.

Tympany is designing and developing a novel combined access and visualisation device which will enable ear surgeons to ‘see around the corners’ of the ear canal.

This will allow surgeons to perform a greater number of ear operations without having to resort to highly invasive surgery.

Elizabeth McGloughlin, who is originally from Limerick, graduated from the UCD School of Medicine and did her Masters at NUIG.

She won the Best Business Idea category at the Regional finals of the Irish Best Young Entrepreneur competition in Mayo back in June.

Galway Daily Business Galway woman headed to national final of the Best Young Entrepreneur competition
Photo Martina Regan

Since then she and the other finalists have had the chance to meet and discuss their businesses and ideas with Minister for Business Heather Humphreys and Minister for Trade, Employment, Business Pat Breen.

The IBYE competition Final will take place on Sunday, September 15 at Google HQ in Dublin.

The 24 IBYE Finalists for 2019 will be competing for a €100,000 fund across the three categories.

The winner of the Best Business Idea will receive a €15,000 investment with the runner up securing a €5,000 investment.

The Best Start-Up Business and Best-Established Business winners will receive a €25,000 investment each with the runners up in those categories each receiving €5,000.

While the 2019 Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur selected from the three category winners will receive an additional €20,000 grand prize.

The winners of last year’s IBYE competition were Conor O’Loughlin of Glofox who won the Best-Established Business and the overall IBYE Award for 2018.

Alan Hickey of Vromo (formerly WeBringg) in Fingal, Dublin was the Best Start Up Business winner, while Galway’s Brendan Boland of Loci Orthopaedics won the Best Business Idea for 2018.

Beef farmers need a “fixed share” of the supermarket price

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway farmers awarded €2.2 million under beef finisher scheme

Beef farmers need to have a “fixed share” of the price paid by customers in the supermarket to stop farms going out of business insists Galway Roscommon TD Denis Naughten.

Addressing the Agriculture Committee this week, Deputy Naughten said that transparency is needed in how prices are set by beef processors for carcasses, and a mechanism to ensure beef farmers get a fair share of the price.

“A lot of the anger expressed by farmers is around cattle specifications and supermarkets need to provide a justification for the specifications that are being laid down by beef processors,” stated Denis Naughten.

The fact is the further the animal goes from the farm gate, the less information is made available on price”, the Independent TD added.

“That is why beef price transparency right across the supply chain, and the associated specifications, must be addressed in the context of securing a fixed but fair proportion of the final price for beef farmers.”

He claimed that while there is a lot of information available on the prices beef farmers get, the same is not true of the margins made by processors selling in the EU market.

“There must be a justification for these specifications and we need to know what the beef carcass is ultimately selling for, including its specific cuts. This must then be used to determine a fair share for beef farmers.”

Denis Naughten said that according to a survey which he has carried out, the share of the final price going to farmers has dropped by a quarter in the past 15 years, averaging a 1.7% decline each year.

Without a fixed share pricing strategy, he warned, many suckler farmers might not survive until Christmas.

Weather forecast – back and forth between sun and rain for the coming week

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily weather Mixed bag for Easter weekend weather as sunny start gives way to rain

Galway is forecast to get a pretty even mix of good and bad weather over the coming weeks, with the scales flipping back and forth between sun and rain.

Getting a predictable start on the week, weather is expected to deteriorate tonight from generally cloudy with significant dry spells to scattered rain by tonight.

Highest temperatures on Sunday of 13 to 15 degrees.

On Monday the rain is expected to give way to sun with some cloud cover by breakfast time, interrupted by the odd scattered shower.

It’s going to stay cool at the start of next week with average temperatures on Monday of 11 to 13 degrees and moderate northerly winds.

The sunny spell will break on Tuesday, with much of the weather of the day expected to be overcast but dry, giving way to persistent rain by the late afternoon, strongest in coastal areas..

According to Met Eireann the rain will continue overnight into Wednesday, but is expected to let up by mid morning.

The afternoon on Wednesday will be a mixed bad of some overcast sun, interrupted by showers in places.

Winds will be brisk and westerly, and temperatures will average in the region of 15 to 16 degrees Celsius.

Thursday is forecast to be hot and humid, with cloud turning to rain in the late morning and early afternoon.

The mercury will go through the roof during the afternoon, with highest temperatures of 17 degrees and moderate variable winds.

By Friday Met Eireann is predicting that things will have settled down somewhat, with conditions staying overcast but mostly, with the sun peeking through the odd time.

Longwave radio ‘invaluable link’ between diaspora and home says Naughton

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news RTE preserving longwave radio

Work has begun this week to ensure that RTÉ will continue to broadcast longwave radio service for at least the next two years.

Galway West TD and Chair of the Oireeachtas Communications Committee Hildegarde Naughton said that she has received confirmation from RTÉ that work has begun this week on the transmission equipment to ensure the continuation of longwave radio service.

The Fine Gael TD said that maintaining longwave radio broadcasts for the Irish diaspora is an issue the Committee has been concerned about.

“Earlier this year, RTÉ committed to maintaining the service following engagement with the Committee and I am pleased that listeners abroad can now be assured that service will continue for a minimum of two years.”

“While other long term alternative solutions continue to be explored, RTÉ has to undertake significant remedial works on elements of the transmission equipment, mainly the antenna/mast,” Hildegarde Naughton said.

Some work was carried out this week on the project, but the larger body of work will take place between Tuesday, September 10 and Thursday, October 17.

“During both of these times, RTÉ Radio 1 will not be available via LW, however listeners will be advised of the various alternatives available such as listening via apps and television while the usual service is off air.”

Deputy Naughton concluded, “I welcome the efforts being made to continue this service, which serves as an invaluable link between the diaspora and home.”

“However I intend to work with the committee to explore other longer term alternative solutions to ensure this service continues in the long term.”

More time sought to build Headford nursing home

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news strike called off

An extension of planning permission is being sought to give more time to complete a 60 bed nursing home in Headford.

Planning approval was first awarded for the nursing home in May 2009. If granted this will be the second extension to the time of the planning permission after one was awarded in 2014.

The plans for this 60 bed facility include daycare services, 16 semi-detached retirement cottages, a service area, and a shed.

According to the application submitted to the county council the work completed on site so far is “Access road installed and one dwelling retained”.

The developer’s application says that they expect work on the project to be complete by August 2023.

A decision is due from the county council on this planning application by September 26.

14,000 people wait over a year for dental screening in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news 14,000 waiting for dental screening in Galway

The waiting list for dental services in Galway is staggering, with roughly 14,000 people waiting more than a year for screening.

That’s according to Galway East TD Anne Rabbitte who says the waiting time for public dental services in the west is alarming.

The Fianna Fáil TD said that figures provided to her by the HSE showed 739 people waiting between 26 to 52 weeks for orthodontic assessments in Galway, Roscommon, and Mayo.

While in Galway 203 people are waiting between 12 to 26 weeks to see a dental hygienist and 14,000 people are waiting over one year for dental screening.

Deputy Rabbitte said that the HSE’s figures are “massively concerning”.

“Potentially people could be waiting up to one year for an orthodontic assessment. Waiting so long will inevitably delay diagnosis and delay treatment.”

Galway’s massive 14,000 string waiting list is particularly concerning when there are just 768 people waiting for the same service in Mayo and 963 in Roscommon.

Deputy Rabbitte concluded “The Minister needs to explain why there is such a demand in Galway compared to other counties in the West and ensure we have the proper resources to address the waiting lists.”

Athenry primary school classroom expansion approved

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news craughwell national school

Scoil Togala Mhuire primary school of Kiltullagh, Athenry has been granted planning approval to build a classroom extension.

The Board of Management of the primary school applied for permission for a standalone classroom building to the rear of the school.

The total floor space of the extension will be 85sqm including a covered walkway to the main building.

“It is a condition of funding from the department of education that the extension be constructed as a standalone building”, the application stated.

The existing Scoil Togala Mhuire building has five classrooms and several support rooms, and employs 12 full and part time staff.

Planning permission was awarded for the school extension by Galway County Council with six conditions attached.

Man in his 70s killed in Claregalway traffic accident

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Briain Kelly
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Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a man in his 70s was killed in a road traffic accident on the N63 near Claregalway yesterday evening.

The traffic accident occurred at around 5pm on Friday evening on the N63 at Roonaunmore, north of Claregalway.

  1. Gardaí and Emergency Services attended the scene of a two vehicle collision involving a car and a jeep.

The elderly man was taken from the scene to University Hospital Galway, where he was later pronounced dead.

A postmortem will take place, and no other injuries were reported in the incident.

A section of the N63 was closed for a forensic examination, but has since reopened.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward, in particular anyone who may have been on the N63 in that area around that time who might have dashcam footage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Galway Garda Station at 091 538 000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

Man caught holding bogus charity collection

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily courts Man charged with possessing images of child sex abuse
credit: Robert Linsdell CC BY 2.0 'The Courthouse, Courthouse Square, Galway'

A man received a suspended prison sentence at Galway District Court for holding a false charity collection out on the street.

The District Court heard that on December 13 of last year Gardaí saw Brian Ward, of Woodfield, Galway road, Tuam holding a charity collection for Focus Ireland on Shop Street in the city.

When Garda Mike Fox approached Ward he said that he was holding the collection for Focus, but could not show authorisation.

Gardaí contacted Focus Ireland, which said that while it had sent Mr Ward a kit for a private collection, it had not authorised any collection in public.

It was also confirmed by gardaí that he did not have a permit to hold a collection in public.

Ward (28) pleaded guilty to one count each of Acting as a Collector without authorisation and holding an Unauthorised Collection without a permit.

Judge Mary Fahy said that it was a very serious matter to take money in the name of a charity that won’t be going to it.

Gardaí said that when Mr Ward was arrested there was €41.47 in the bucket, which Judge Fahy ordered paid over to Focus Ireland.

For acting as a collector without authorisation and for holding an unauthorised collection Judge Fahy imposed a one month sentence on each to run concurrently.

The sentence was suspended in its entirety for one year.

Homelessness in the west is four times higher than 2015

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news COPE Galway extremely worried at record homelessness levels

The Galway Simon Community has raised serious concerns at numbers showing that homelessness in the West of Ireland has jumped four-fold in just four years.

The latest homelessness figures from the Department of Housing show that there were 535 people in emergency accommodation in the west of Ireland. Among those, 80 families with 185 children.

This is four times higher than the number of homeless recorded in July 2015, just four years ago Galway Simon says.

According to the homeless charity 236 of those currently in emergency accommodation in the West are children and youth’s under the age of 24, representing 44% of the total number of people in emergency accommodation.

Karen Golden, CEO of the Galway Simon Community highlighted the impact of the crisis on children and young people, and the pressure on the private rental sector.

“Over the last four years, there has been just over a four-fold increase in the number of people in emergency accommodation in the West of Ireland, and unfortunately, young people are amongst those increasingly being affected by this crisis”, Karen said.

Early intervention is key to keeping young people from homelessness Karen Golden said, highlighting the importance of Galway Simon’s Youth Service, which provides services to Young Adults (18-25), and is seeing more demand than ever.

“Our frontline workers see the effects first hand that homelessness is having on young people and children and this is why we continue to focus on Prevention Services”, Karen Golden said.

“It is critically important that, wherever possible, we support young people to ensure that they do not have to experience the trauma of homelessness.”

For those who may already be living without a home, the Youth Service has transitional accommodation where young people can stay, with supports to increase independent living, education, and employment skills.

Homelessness among children can have long term effects that can affect them throughout their lives, emphasising the importance of tackling this crisis among children and families.

€5.2 million city centre office development rejected

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news €5 million city centre office development rejected again

A new €5.2 million office development in Galway city centre has been given refused planning permission.

The O’Malley Group (Homes and Development) sought approval to demolish an existing office building known as the St. Clare’s Walk building on Augustine Street.

In its place they intended to build a seven storey office building, with a new junior library and reception on the ground floor and office use to all remaining floors.

The project also intended a substantial renovation and expansion of the Hynes Building on St Augustine Street which houses the city library on the ground floor.

A significant expansion of the library on the ground floor would have been, and another three storeys built on top of the existing Hynes building for office use.

One objection was received by MetLife Innovation Centre which said that it is the existing leaseholder of offices at the Hynes Building.

The company said that it had not been approached about its approval for construction which would surround and overshadow their offices.

“The proposed development will have a serious adverse impact on the existing use of our client’s premises”, said a letter from McCann Fitzgerald solicitors on behalf of MetLife.

It was added that the development would, “prejudice the very substantial investment our client has made in the Met Life Global Technology Campus”.

“The proposed development would also risk the safe use of the premises of MetLife associates, given the scope of the works outlines in the application”.

Planning permission was ultimately refused by Galway City Council in a decision made on September 5.

Free bulky household waste collection tomorrow

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news City and County councils resume bulky goods waste collections

Galway County Council is holding a free bulky household waste collection in Gort tomorrow.

On Saturday, from 10am to 1pm, county householders can dispose of large items of household waste at Gort Mart for free.

Items that people can drop off include couches and other furniture, rolls of carpet etc. However only four items can be brought per household.

Other garbage such as electrical or hazardous waste will not be accepted, nor will large bags of rubbish, or commercial operators.

Proof of address and waste collection service may be required for rubbish to be accepted.

People are advised that this collection has a limited capacity, so the event may fill up before 1pm.

US veterans marching through Galway as part of peace campaign

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daly news US veterans leading peace march through Galway

Two US military veterans will be marching through Galway as part of their March for Freedom protest against US military troops passing through Shannon Airport.

Galway Alliance Against War is organising a rally with Ken Mayers (82) and Tarak Kauff (77), US ‘Veterans for Peace’ as they stop in Galway on their walk from Limerick to Malin Head in an anti-war protest centred on US military usage of Shannon Airport.

The two are setting from Limerick Prison at 10am on Saturday on their Walk for Freedom and are expected to arrive at Galway Crystal at 12:30pm on Monday, September 16.

While in they are here Galway Alliance Against War is organising a peace march from there, through the city to Eyre Square, calling for respect for Irish neutrality.

Ken and Tarak were arrested and jailed for two weeks earlier this year for attempting to gain entry to a US military plane as part of a peaceful protest.

A spokesperson for Shannonwatch, which is organising the march, said “The Walk for Freedom is about Tarak and Ken’s freedom to return home to their families, freedom from war, and the freedom to respect and affirm a strong and peaceful Irish neutrality. Join us to see them on their way as they walk for freedom.”

Galway Educate Together Secondary School opens

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway Educate Together Secondary School opens its doors

The long awaited Galway Educate Together Secondary School has opened its doors to students this week, albeit in temporary accommodation.

The Educate Together Secondary School opened on Monday in Grianach House, beside Galway Crystal, in Merlin Park, while awaiting the construction of a purpose built school.

The new school has been built to serve Oranmore and Galway City, and from what has been shared of this week’s activity, it has gotten off to a roaring start with the young people of Galway.

All twelve Educate Together schools opening this year will initially be housed in temporary accommodation as their permanent accommodation is not ready yet.

Educate Together voiced their concerns about this in August, saying that it has become “a systemic problem, impacting on almost every newly opening school in Ireland.”

The new school is designed to cater to 1,000 pupils from Galway city and the surrounding hinterlands.

No word has yet

Among the incredible teaching staff hired in the past year are Oranmore teacher Sarah Molloy, who has moved from Calasanctius College to serve as the new principal.

She is joined by Ahascragh native Louise Judge, who has returned to Galway from Crumlim, where she served as Deputy Principal of S. Kevin’s College co-educational school.

Regular updates on the progress of he school and its pupils can be seen on the school’s twitter account.

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