Connacht Rugby have confirmed the dates and times for fixtures in their upcoming Celtic Cup campaign.
The Celtic Cup kicks off with a home game to Dragons in the Sportsground on Friday 23rd of August, with a trip to Bridgend in Wales to face the Ospreys the following Saturday, August 31.
Rounds three and four will involve matches against interprovincial rivals Ulster and Munster respectively.
The round three game against Ulster is confirmed for Ballymena on September 6 while Munster will be the visitors to the Sportsground on Saturday, September 14.
On Friday, September 20 Connacht will be back on home soil but this time in Corinthians RFC for the visit of the Scarlets.
The two remaining games then involve a trip to Cardiff Blues in round 6 before rounding of the campaign with a home game against Leinster in the Sportsground on Friday, October 4.
Tickets for all home games will be available to purchase on the Connacht Rugby website
Supermac’s has won yet another victory in its long running dispute with the global fast food giant McDonald’s this week over the latter’s ‘Mc’ trademark.
Galway based chain Supermac’s has been in a years long dispute with the McDonald’s over universal ‘Mac’ and ‘Mc’ trademarks, which Supermac’s says the US giant is using to stifle competition.
The EU Intellectual Property Office has now ruled that no longer has the exclusive rights to use the ‘Mc’ prefix in multiple food areas.
McDonald’s is allowed to retain the use of the ‘Mc’ trademark for chicken nuggets, edible sandwiches, meat sandwiches, pork sandwiches, fish sandwiches and chicken sandwiches, but has had its automatic application revoked for many other food products.
Instead the trademark will be subject to a test to prove its usage in each instance of a product.
This claim was brought by Supermac’s which argued that McDonald’s had not shown proper usage of the prefix in relation to all of the foodstuffs covered by their trademark.
The two fast food chains have been locked in a long running dispute, with Pat McDonagh’s plans to expand into the UK and European markets stymied on multiple occasions by legal suits from McDonald’s which centred around trademark issues.
The M6 motorway has fully reopened to traffic this morning after being closed due a collision earlier.
Gardaí closed a stretch of motorway westbound earlier between junction 16 Loughrea and junction 17 Athenry while the scene of an accident was being cleared.
However, according to AA Roadwatch the road has now fully reopened to traffic.
It’s understood that no-one was injured in the single vehicle collision.
A status yellow weather warning for heavy rainfall remains in effect until 6pm this evening, with Met Eireann warning of accumulations of between 25mm and 40mm.
While the city council has not issues any warning of flooding, it is reported that Flood St. has been flooded.
There are also reports of flooding in Oranmore at the roundabout off the N67 and Claregalway Rd.
Beef farmers and the people buying meat in the shops are being fleeced by “secret margins” in the industry Galway East TD Denis Naughten has claimed.
The Independent TD said that there is incredible frustration among beef farmers around Ireland as a direct result of “the failure of the meat industry to provide any transparency on their margin or the price they can secure for beef on export market”.
Speaking at Castlerea Agricultural Show on Monday Denis Naughten said: “Not only are Irish beef farmers being fleeced but Irish shoppers are also funding these ‘secret margins’ which are pushing the cost of beef out of the reach of many more families.”
He said that the further meat travels from the farm gate, the less information is available to anyone about how it is priced.
“While there is a large volume of information available on what the beef farmer sells his cattle for at either the mart or meat plant, there is a distinct lack of information on margins in the processing sector or the farmers’ share of the carcass price received on EU markets by processors, including the volumes & value of specific cuts.”
“This has also been articulated by farmers in terms of the price obtained by processors for the ‘fifth quarter’ for which the farmer does not receive a cent.”
Deputy Naughten has recently called for an emergency beef summit amid nationwide protests by farmers over falling prices in the beef sector.
The summit should include representatives from all levels of the sector he said, from beef farmers and processors, through to the end user, the shoppers.
““At that summit, Minister Creed must commit on behalf of Government to fast-tracking through the Dáil next month the new EU law which will ban 16 unfair trading practices covering agricultural and food products traded in the food supply chain.”
Deputy Naughten said that he has carried out a survey which shows that the share of the price of been going to farmers has dropped by a quarter in the past 15 years, leaving many farmers at risk of being put of business, he claimed.
According to his data, the average price per kilo of round roast received by farmers in 2005 was €2.80. While shoppers would pay €6.59 in the supermarket, a mark-up of 135%.
Compared to now, when beef farmers receive an average of €3.76 according to Denis Naughten, and shoppers are paying €11.99, a 218% mark-up.
Gardaí claim that one man managed to steal property worth thousands of euro from the g Hotel in Galway city while he was an employee there last year.
Dara Mc Dyer (46) appeared before Galway District Court charged with theft of property from the g hotel on unknown dates between January 1, 2018 and November 2, 2018.
It is alleged that Mc Dyer stole property worth at least €7,000 from the hotel during this period, and the state claims that he may have stolen as much as €15,000 worth of goods.
Jurisdiction in this case was refused by the District Court, meaning that it will ultimately have to be heard at the Circuit Court level.
The state did not object to Mr Mc Dyer being granted bail on the condition that he reside at Dunmore in Navan, Co. Meath and notify gardaí of any change in address.
The case will next come before the court on September 4 for the service of a book of evidence related to these charges.
Met Eireann has issued a weather warning for Galway for the second day in the row.
A status yellow weather warning for heavy rainfall will be in place for all of Connacht until tomorrow evening.
“Heavy or prolonged showers with the risk of thundery downpours could lead to rainfall accumulations of 25 to 40 mm over the period,” Met Eireann forecast.
The warning came into effect at midday today and will remain in place until 6pm on Tuesday evening.
A similar warning, which also carried a risk of flash flooding, was issued by the national forecaster yesterday.
The weather is expected to stay miserable and wet for the remainder of the week, marking and end to a welcome sunny spell in July.
Galway East TD Ciaran Cannon cycled from Croke Park to Galway yesterday, for a very worthy cause.
The Minister for the Diaspora & International Development cycled over 200km from Croke Park in the capital to Corofin in aid of Tomorrow for Tomás.
Tomás is a 8 year old boy with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
He and his twin were born at 26 weeks unexpectedly but sadly his brother Seán passed away after 30 days.
As Tomás will require life-long supports and very costly equipment, his parents, Ann-Marie and Shane began a fundraising group called Tomorrow for Tomás.
Tomás is a bright, chatty boy but has no independent movement. Fundraising events from last year were put towards the purchase of a Powered Wheelchair costing €20,000.
Tomás has been on a waiting list for this essential equipment since April 2015, and his parents are hoping this will arrive soon.
Tomorrow for Tomás aims to raise funds so that the family home can be adapted for Tomás’ living and care needs, as well as ensuring safe and easy access about the house and garden on his new wheels!
Roadworks from Bohermore to Eyre Square expected to disrupt traffic in the area for the next month will get underway tomorrow.
Irish Water is carrying out roadworks along Prospect Hill and the Bohermore road between Eyre Square and Cookes Terrace from August 6 to September 6 in order to lay new water mains.
During this period there will be rolling lane closures on 100m stretches of the street to facilitate the works, which it is hoped will keep the impact on traffic to a minimum.
The daily lane closures will take place between 10am and 4pm each day while work is taking place.
The first week will consist of trial holing, and on August 12 open cut excavations will get underway at St. Anthony’s Terrace.
The timing of the roadworks has been the subject of some criticism, including from multiple city councillors concerned about the effect it will have during the summer visitor season.
But the council executive has defended its choice as the best course of action, saying that it had considered other options such as working at night, but they were deemed unsuitable.
The city council added that it will be monitoring the impact of the works on traffic during the first week, and will reconsider other options if necessary.
Irish water is laying the new water mains and installing over 2,000 customer connections in order to cut down on massive water leakage in the area.
According to the utility provider almost 750,000 litres of water is being lost to leaks daily in the Bohermore/Prospect Hill area, the equivalent of two Leisureland swimming pools every day.
Public and stakeholder submissions from Galway are being encouraged for a plan which considers the impact of climate change on flooding.
The consultation for the OPW’s Draft Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Flood Risk Management is open until 16 August.
Minister Ciaran Cannon urged people to make submissions and said: “While people in South Galway are all too familiar with the problems presented by flooding, the recent visit of Minister Kevin Boxer Moran to the region will give them great assurance that an effective flood relief solution will be found to definitively deal with this major issue.
“Both myself and Minister Moran are determined too that this solution will take into account the fact that climate change will have a significant impact on flooding and flood risk in Ireland due to rising sea levels, increased rainfall in winter and heavier rain days”.
“Ireland is well advanced in its preparations to tackle flood risk now and into the future arising from the potential impacts of climate change and the OPW has completed the most extensive and comprehensive study on flood risk ever undertaken in this country through the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme.”
The plan also identifies 21 adaptation actions needed to ensure effective and sustainable management of flood risk into the future and it is important that the public have their say in the plan`s development”.
Met Eireann has warned that heavy rainfall this evening could cause flooding and dangerous conditions on the roads.
In an update to a status yellow weather warning issued earlier today Met Eireann said “Heavy thundery downpours this afternoon and evening will lead to flash flooding and hazardous driving conditions”.
The yellow weather warning was issued for Galway and the rest of Connacht today, along with Donegal, Clare Kerry, and Limerick.
It was originally scheduled to last from 4pm until 9pm, but that has now been extended until 10pm tonight.
Intense rainfall of 20mm to 30mm is expected to fall during this period.
This is a strong signal of the end of a sunny spell which has lasted through race week, as the weather is forecast to stay wet and windy throughout the week.
Race week is always a crazy time for the hospitality industry in Galway as visitors pack hotels, bars, and restaurants throughout the city for the world famed celebrations.
It was a particularly busy week for the Connacht Hospitality Group which has put on a week of incredible events that shine a spotlight on everything that makes Race week so well know; high fashion, fun guests, and good craic for all.
The Connacht Hospitality Group is a growing family business in Galway that comprises three hotels, Galway’s long running Connacht Hotel, home to the 24/7 Active Fitness Centre; the recently Forster Court Hotel; and the stylish boutique Residence Hotel on Quay street.
It also includes three award winning bars, the modern Hyde Bar & Gin Parlour, the eclectic 1520 bar, and of course, the famed An Púcán sports bar.
The Connacht Hotel opened off the week on Monday morning with a corporate event down at Ballybrit Racecourse before the races began in earnest.
Later on Group General Manager Wayne Neilon and An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar presented the remarkable Jody Townend with her prize for winning the Connacht Hotel QR Handicap on Great White Shark in the big Race on Monday.
That evening An Pucán held their own Best Dressed competition, the first of many to come throughout the week, which was won by Donegal lady Tracy McGuinness.
On Tuesday the hotel was awash with stars as some of RTE’s best know presenters made their annual trip to the Galway Races.
They enjoyed drinks at the hotel and mingled with the many guests before heading on down to the racecourse for their coverage, finishing he night at the 1520 bar in the Latin Quarter.
Ryan Tubridy at the Connacht Hotel for race week
There were good causes to celebrate as well, as Wednesday saw the success of yet another Bubbles and Brunch event to raise money for ACT for Meningitis.
ACT for Meningitis was founded up in 2011 by Siobhan and Noel Carroll following the tragic loss of their daughter Aoibhe to meningitis when she was just four years old.
The Galway based charity works in 21 counties to promote awareness of this potentially deadly disease and counter misinformation the circulates.
Bubbles & Brunch at the Connacht Hotel
The event which included fashion pop-ups and a delicious three-course meal was attended and supported by Macnas who added colour to the day’s proceedings.
Ladies Day put spotlight back on the fashion stylings of racegoers, as it does race week, with another very successful Best Dressed Lady contest in the Connacht Hotel.
Tv Personality Marietta Doran and leading Galway Milliner Emily Jean were among the judges who picked Sligo lady Corrina Clarke Hayes as the most stylish in what was the highest standard competition to date.
Best Dressed Lady at the Connacht Hotel
The fabulous prize included a bespoke necklace from Galway’s Or Jewellery, a Brown Thomas Voucher, a magnum of Moet and a stay on Ladies Day 2020.
Friday saw one of Ireland’s top social media influencers James Patrice welcomed at the Connacht hotel, in town to judge the Athlone Town Center Best Dressed Competition out at the Race Course.
There was a hell of a time to be had for all in Galway this week at the 150th annual Galway Races, and people are no doubt already looking ahead to the craic that awaits next year.
Over 150 people attended a meeting in Maam last week where speakers opposed mining for gold in the area.
Those in attendance heard local Green Party councillors call for the prospecting license and potential gold mining in Connemara to be denied.
The community action meeting called by Niall Joyce at Ionad Pobail na Mháma heard public condemnation of the proposal to grant of a prospecting license in the Maam valley.
The meeting was also attended by Minister Sean Kyne and Cllr Eileen Mannion of Fine Gael.
Minister Kyne pointed out that over 500 prospecting licenses are operable in Ireland, while only 16 mining licenses were granted, and that the community should not be concerned.
The packed meeting heard details of the proposed prospecting license to BTU Metals Corp of Vancouver; public submissions must be submitted by August 25, and the meeting was held to discuss the creation of a committee to plan the opposition.
Cllr McKinstry, Green Party Councillor for Connemara South: “It is wrong to grant prospecting licenses while telling the local community that there will not be mining; this is being deceptive to either the local community or the mining companies.
“The proposed license areas border the SACs of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask, as well as encompassing 160 sq. km of spectacularly beautiful Connemara dependent on tourism: Inagh valley, Maam, Leenane, Recess, Cornámona, Cloughbrack and Lough na Fooey.
“Permission to mine in these areas would need to be granted by Galway County Council, and I will be opposing in the upcoming Development Plan.”
Cllr. Pauline O’Reilly added: “There are little or no environmental assessments being carried out and yet the Department is signing off on these licences.
“It is clear that there are problems with a government department, responsible for enforcing licensing regulations and policing safety and environmental standards, simultaneously courting these mining companies.
“For 5 years in a row Ireland has been voted the best place for Canadian mining companies to come and this clearly points to a lack of regulation.
“These licences do not benefit the community, are a danger to health and have the potential to leak cyanide in to the water table causing environmental disaster”.
The meeting heard eye witness evidence of the breaches of environmental regulations at the gold prospecting already occurring in West Connemara where drilling is occurring, with reports of drills being washed in lakes and serious noise pollution.
The meeting called on Minister Sean Kyne to approach his government colleagues to deny the prospecting license and block mining in Connemara.
Maurice Ryan, Roundstone Town Council with Anna and Greig Sweeney of ‘Roundstone For Fun’ attending the launch of the fundraising event which takes place at the Community Centre, Roundstone on Saturday 10th August to raise funds for the Roundstone Community Centre and the National Breast Cancer Research Institute. Tickets are €50 and can be purchased at www.roundstoneforfun.ie Photo: Rynes Walker
Preparations are well underway for the third ‘Roundstone for Fun’ fundraising event which is set to take place in the Community Centre, Roundstone on Saturday 10 August.
The popular event was set up by husband and wife Greig and Anna Sweeney with the dual purpose of raising money for the National Breast Cancer Research Institute and to help fund the development of the Roundstone Community Centre to attract business to the area.
The event has grown from strength to strength and has now become a yearly highlight for the local community.
The fun begins at 8pm this year with music from Controversial Allstars, led by Dave Brown from PictureHouse with guest vocalist, Voice of Ireland finalist, Ingrid Nadsem.
The evening will feature lots of spot prizes and a special fundraising auction with Colm O’Donnellan from O’Donnellan & Joyce auctioneers on the gavel.
Connemara Catering provide will provide all the food for the event.
The hall will be decorated by Caroline and Alan Hughes of Festive Decorations and Sweeney’s Garage and their suppliers have generously stepped in to cover the cost of the event so all monies raised from ticket sales will go directly to the two causes.
Several of the navigation buoys on Lough Corrib are either missing or have drifted away from where they’re supposed to be according to the city council.
Navigation Buoys on Lough Corrib are maintained by the Lough Corrib Navigation Trustees, which consists of six city councillors and two non-council members, all of which are chosen by the city council.
The council recently issued a notification about three buoys on the lake which aren’t where they’re supposed to be.
The North Cardinal buoy which should be located at N53 29.198 w 9 16.234, north of the shallow and just north east of Coad, has drifted by about 1.8nm north east of where it should be.
More head scratching is a green buoy just south of the cardinal buoy at N53 31.069 W9 16.293 which has clearly drifted in from somewhere as there isn’t supposed to be any marker at this location.
However, at this point, where that buoy is supposed to be on the lake is unknown.
And lastly the south cardinal buoy on the rocks at N53 31.150 w9 16.749 is actually the south cardinal buoy for that rock/shoal and has drifted a short distance from where it should be.
“A complete survey of all markers will be carried out as soon as possible and works will be carried out to restore the buoys to their correct location,” said Carmel Kilcoyne of the council environment department and Navigation Engineer with the Trustees.
“I apologise for the inconvenience caused and request all users of Lough Corrib to exercise caution while these buoys are missing. I will update you further as the works are carried out.”
Two Clifden RNLI lifeboats came to the aid of a yacht in distress off Inishbofin amid deteriorating weather conditions this weekend.
The yacht had been on passage to Inishbofin when its dinghy broke free between Inishbofin island and the neighbouring small island of Davillaun.
One of the yacht’s three crew jumped aboard it but found that its engine would not start, and with the yacht having no motor power, the remaining two sailors were unable to retrieve their crew man.
The Clifden RNLI station was called out in response by the Malin Head Coast Gaurd to come to their aid.
Clifden’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was launched first by shore crewman John Heffernan, while John B Mannion launched the boarding boat to the Mersey Class all weather lifeboat Fisherman’s Friend.
On the way, the lifeboats received an update that another yacht had managed to get to the crew man’s aid and passed the dinghy back to the yacht.
However, when the Atlantic 85 arrived on the scene the dinghy broke free from the assisting yacht once again.
The lifeboat retrieved the dinghy while crew member Owen Hayes boarded the yacht.
As weather conditions were force 5 to 6 but deteriorating and their VHF radio had gone dead, the yacht crew agreed to return to shore at Inishbofin.
When winds are expected to reach force 6 on the Beaufort Scale up to 10 nautical miles offshore, Met Eireann issues a small craft coastal weather warning.
Under coxswain James Mullen and crewed by David O Reilly, Ashling Sweeney, Thomas Davis, Ian Shanahan and Michael Carey, the all weather lifeboat took the yacht under tow into Inishbofin harbour, alongside the Atlantic 85 helmed by Joe Acton, with Kenneth Flaherty and Chris Nee also on crew.
In a very busy week of training and call outs, both Clifden RNLI lifeboats returned to station ready for next service by 10pm.
The RNLI is a marine charity that provides 24/7 volunteer search and rescue services along the coast and waterways of the UK and Ireland.
It operates more than 238 lifeboat stations and since being founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
Traffic in the Craughwell area will be disrupted by four days of roadworks taking place next week.
Galway County Council has ordered resurfacing overlay roadworks on the R446 at Lecarrow, Craughwell which will get underway on Tuesday and are expected to last four days.
“In order to facilitate these works a Stop/Go temporary traffic management system will be in operation on the section of the R446 in question between the hours of 7:00am – 7:00pm on Tuesday, August 6 2019 through to Friday, August 9”
“As a conseqsence users of this road are requested to expect delays and as such should allow additional time for their journeys,” a spokesperson for the county council said.
The contract for these works has been awarded to Lagan Asphalt Ltd.
Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO Marine Institute. Photo: Andrew Downes, Xposure
The head of Galway’s Marine Institute has been appointed to a key positions on the EU agency promoting healthy oceans and waterways.
Dr Peter Heffernan, CEO of the Marine Institute, has been selected as a member of the European Commission’s Mission Board for Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters.
The Mission Board is one of five major research missions of Horizon Europe, the EU Research and Innovation programme (2021 – 2027).
Dr Heffernan is one of 15 experts on the Mission Board which will identify the first possible specific missions on healthy oceans by the end of 2019.
Over 2,100 people from around the EU and beyond applied for a position on the Mission Board, which was culled down to the 15 best choices.
Dr Heffernan has previosuly served on the EU’s Research and Innovation Area Board (ERIAB) from 2012 – 2016.
He has led the Marine Institute in Oranmore as its CEO since its foundation in 1993, and will be retiring from that role in October after 26 years of service.
Welcoming the announcement, Dr John Killeen Chairman of the Marine Institute, said “Dr Heffernan has played a fundamental role in developing Ireland’s ocean research capacity, and for driving collaboration in marine research and innovation in Europe and internationally.
“I congratulate Peter on his appointment, which reflects his strong standing in the European research community.”
A weather warning has been issued for Galway and the west of Ireland forecasting heavy rain to come throughout Sunday.
The Status Yellow weather warning covers all of Connacht as Donegal, Clare and Kerry.
“Heavy rain is expected during Sunday afternoon and evening, with 20-30 mm falling over a short period of time,” Met Eireann has said.
The warning will last from 2pm this afternoon until 9pm tonight.
This is a sharp turn in the weather after a long spell of sunshine that was a blessing for visitors to the Galway Races this week and the Arts Festival before it.
Conditions are expected to clear somewhat tomorrow though there will be scattered showers in the mid afternoon.
But the weather will continue to stay wet and windy throughout the week.
Temperatures today will peak at around 20 degrees in the early afternoon, falling as low as 12 degrees overnight.
The Galway Alliance Against War are holding their annual Hiroshima – Nagasaki memorial event in Eyre Square tomorrow.
The annual event marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States in 1945 to end WWII.
The Galway Alliance Against War holds this event each year to promote “peace politics”, with a healthy dose of music, song, dance for attendees.
This year the main speaker is former Green MEP Patricia McKenna, joined by US Veterans for Peace, Tarek Kauff and Ken Mayers, who will also address the event.
The GAAW said that the two men are being “held hostage” in Ireland by the state because “they dared to highlight the ongoing use of Shannon airport by the US war machine.”
Singer/songwriter Sharon Murphy is headlining the music bill, and she will be joined by the Sonke choir with their multi-cultural brand of choral music, along with Brendan Gallagher over from London.
The memorial peace event will take place in Eyre Square from 2pm – 3:30pm on Monday.
On a first-time visit to Ireland, a choir from Minnesota in the US will give a concert at St Nicholas Collegiate Church in the City, all for a worthy cause.
The 22 singers in the choir from Buffalo, Minnesota perform on Sunday 11 August at 7pm, in aid of local charity COPE Galway.
Entitled ‘Music from the Heart – an uplifting programme of popular music’, the choir will perform an eclectic mix of American contemporary songs, spirituals and folk songs.
Composers include Steven Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Dolly Parton, and many others.
The Wright County Chamber Chorus, founded in 1987, performs two or three concerts annually, including a Christmas concert with the Buffalo Community Orchestra and the Wright Ringers Community Hand bell Ensemble.
The visit to Ireland is the choir’s fourth European tour having previously performed in the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, England and Wales.
In addition to Galway, the choir will sing in Waterford and Bray, Co Wicklow.
“We are delighted to singing for the people and visitors of Galway,” commented Music Director, Michael Walsh.
“The singers are thrilled to be performing in St Nicholas Collegiate Church and to be raising funds for those not so fortune as themselves.”
