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Massimo launch new menu in collaboration with The Works catering

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Massimo Bar launch new casual dining menu for the summer

Massimo bar in Galway’s Westend have created a new casual menu in time for the summer in collaboration with Galway based catering and events company, The Works.

The new menu brings the best of the vibrant, laid back atmosphere of Galway’s Westend, keeping up with the goal at Massimo of providing high quality, casual dining for locals and tourists alike.

Customers can enjoy exciting new traditional style dishes done with the best ingredients a modern foodie could ask for like the Massimo Beef Burger served on a brioche bun with chipotle mayo,
maple bacon, Irish Cheddar & fries.

Or sink your teeth into a 10 oz Ribeye Steak with tobacco onions, parsnip cream & bearnaise sauce or Tempura Battered Hake with tartare sauce, minted peas and fries.

Enjoy all of that while catching up with friends over a cold beer during the hot summer days or keep up with the latest sport on one of eight large screen tvs around the bar.

Massimo

Malachy Duggan from Massimo said that everyone was really excited about the new collaboration and the fun they’ve had in the act of creation.

“It’s always great when you get to work alongside people who are as passionate about food and customer service as we are.”

“Throw a bit of craic into the mix and it’s the perfect combination in my opinion,” he added.

The development of the new menu has been a collaborative project by both the teams at Massimo and The Works and includes a great variety of full meals and finger food.

Other dishes which the teams have introduced to the menu that are sure to be a popular choice are a variety of pizzas like ‘The Pepperoni’ topped with spicy pepperoni, rocket, mozzarella and chilli, ‘The Guanciale’ topped with cured pork cheek, mozzarella, tomato, egg and artichoke, as well as ‘The Works’ topped with mushrooms, bacon, mozzarella, garlic, marscapone and tomato.

Massimo

“Some of the late night dancers may be unaware that as well as a great night out, we also serve some seriously tasty food which is why we want to make a bit of noise about this new partnership,” Malachy Duggan added.

“We’re delighted to have The Works on board, serving this great new menu in our welcoming and relaxed environment and look forward to hearing what our customers think.”

For people looking to grab a bite before the party starts they the small plates such as the Karaage Chicken with sriracha mayo and house pickles, Miso Glazed Braised Pork Belly with steamed bao, kimchi and pickles.

Or the Moroccan Flat Bread with avocado hummus, roast beets, pomegranate, organic leaves & herb oil flat bread is also bound to be an excellent choice to satisfy your cravings before hitting the dance floor.

Those with a sweet tooth will also find they are catered to as the new menu includes a tasty line-up of desserts in the form of ‘Milk & Cookies’, Orange Churros and Lemon Financier.

Open seven days a week, the new menu is available from 5pm to 10pm, Monday to Friday, as well as throughout the weekend from 12pm to 10pm with a focus on casual dining.

Over the years, Massimo have become synonymous with Galway natives for their stylish pub and beer garden, carefully curated drinks list and legendary nightlife so it’s no surprise that come 9pm, the disco dining begins, when the tunes start to turn up and the drinks really begin to flow.

Massimo

For more information about the new menu at Massimo, head to their website www.massimogalway.com or check them out on Facebook or Instagram.

Photo Credit: Ciaran MacChoncarraige

One person killed in Loughrea road traffic accident

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news

One person has lost their life in a road traffic accident which took place near Loughrea this morning.

According to gardaí a single vehicle collision took place at approximately 6:30am on the R353 at Kylemore near Loughrea.

One person has reportedly lost their life in this incident.

Gardaí and emergency services are attending the scene and diversions are in place.

2.6km of Tuam road water mains being replaced

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Mains repairs to cause water outages in Salthill next week

An extensive upgrade of the water network on the outskirts of Galway city will see 2.6km of water mains replaced this summer.

Irish Water are working with both the city and county councils to replace a long stretch of “problematic” water mains to safeguard the water supply for local businesses and homes.

The programme of works will see the replacement of 1km of water mains on the Tuam Road from the Polkeen Industrial Estate to Cappanabornia.

And then another 1.6km between the Bóthar na Mine exit and the City North Business Park will be replaced afterwards.

Work on the Polkeen Industrial Estate sections has gotten underway this week and is expected to be completed by August.

The works at the Bóthar na Mine exit are due to commence in autumn and are scheduled to  take three months.

Both sections fall under Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme which has been replacing vast amounts of water pipes after successive governments under invested in our water infrastructure for decades.

“Businesses, families and commuters will have seen or felt the impact of the high number of water main bursts on the Tuam road,” said Dave Murphy from Irish Water.

“Irish Water is in the process of rectifying this significant problem. Replacing the old, damaged pipes will improve water quality and ensure a more reliable water supply for affected customers.”

“These improvements to the water network are essential in providing a safe, secure and reliable water supply for now, and into the future.”

Traffic management will be in effect during these works, mostly along the hard shoulder where work will be taking place in short sections.

Traffic lights and lane closure will be required for short periods to facilitate some road crossings along the route, while local and emergency access will be maintained at times.

As well as replacing the water mains themselves, Irish Water will also be laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries, and connecting it to the customer’s water supply.

Where the existing service connections on the public side are lead these will be replaced as part of these improvement works.

Neurent Medical’s Brian Shields is the Startup Founder of the Year

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily business startup founder of the year Brian Shields

Brian Shields, founder of the local medtech startup Neurent Medical is Enterprise Ireland’s Startup Founder of the Year.

Mr Shields was named Founder of the Year by the Enterprise Ireland at the High Potential Startup Founders Forum on Wednesday night.

The HPSU Founders Forum was created by Enterprise Ireland together with Select Strategies to give the people who have started their own companies a place where they can share challenges, seek support, reflect and learn from each other.

Neurent Medical is an NUI Galway spinout company founded by Brian Shields and David Townley as part of NUIG’s BioInnovate programme which encourages startups in the Medtech and Life Sciences sectors.

They are developing an innovative medical device to vastly improve the treatment of rhinitis, a common nasal problem that is currently treated with surgical options that haven’t changed much since the 1950s.

Rhinitis is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the nasal passages; its most common symptoms are congestion and rhinorrhoea (a runny nose).

There are two current surgical options: either using heat on the inflamed tissue, which results in scarring, or cutting away some of the tissue to create room for air to flow.

Neurent is taking a different approach with a single use device where a micro electrode device is inserted through the nostril and delivers targeted energy to affected tissue in order to head off cascading inflammation.

It;s advantages include much reduced risk and invasiveness from the procedure, and it can be done right there in the doctor’s office.

According to Neurent the medical device should be able to deliver relief from symptoms for up to three years.

So far they have raised more than €10 million for the development of their device to tackle this problem.

After the last round of funding in May, Brian Shields announced that Neurent would be creating 25 new jobs at their Oranmore headquarters as it pursues as commercial license from the Food and Drug Administration in the US.

They hope to begin clinical trials of their device in the United States within the next year.

photo credit: Enterprise Ireland/twitter

Soapbox Science returns to the streets of Galway

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Soapbox Science returns 2019

The third annual Soapbox Science from NUIG is coming back to the streets of Galway this weekend.

Soapbox Science is a novel global public outreach platform for female scientists to talk about their ground breaking research in the areas of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine.

This Saturday, June 29 twelve female scientists will take to their soap boxes and talk about their work from 12pm – 3pm at the Spanish Arch.

These events transform public areas into an arena for learning and scientific debate, following in the format of London Hyde Park’s ‘Speaker’s Corner’, which is historically an arena for public debate.

Soapbox Science 2019 is taking place in several countries around the world including Ireland, Australia, Canada, Argentina, South Africa, Sweden, Germany, Brazil, Belgium, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, the UK and US.

The Galway event is about giving people a forum to talk to and learn from  some of our leading female scientists who will share their latest discoveries and answer burning questions.

Talks will cover everything from nnhancing farming using insects, The marvels of human milk, Monitoring our oceans from space, How past climate can help prepare us for the future, The Internet as a force for good, Statistical thinking for real-life questions, and Natural Gas – the cleaner fossil fuel into the future.

This year’s speakers from NUIG have joined forces with colleagues from the Marine Institute to showcase research talent in the West of Ireland, with speakers including:

  • Dr Dara M Cannon (@daracannon), NUI Galway – “The Brain You Are”
  • Dr Eimear Dolan (@eimearbdolan), NUI Galway – “Designing Medical Devices of the Future”
  • Dr Nicola Fitz-Simon (@NicolaFitz), NUI Galway – “Statistical thinking for real-life questions”
  • Ms Ann O’Brien (@anncarlowgirl), Trial Methodology Research Network – “Better Together – ‘The People’s Trial’ and the Internet as a Force for Good”
  • Dr Anna Patricya Florentino, NUI Galway – “Superhero Microbes: contaminated environments mission!”
  • Ms Allison Bistline-East (@ABEentomology), NUI Galway – “Slimy yet satisfying: Enhancing farming using insects”
  • Dr Sarah Brennan (@stabrennan), NUI Galway – “The Marvels of Human Milk”
  • Ms Catherine Jordan (@jorrrdy), Marine Institute and NUI Galway – “Monitoring our Oceans from Space!”
  • Ms Anuja Gadekar (@AnujaRGadekar), CÚRAM, NUI Galway “Can sugars help in healing a diabetic wound?”
  • Ms Devasanthini Devaraj (@DevaSanthini), UCD – “Natural Gas – The cleaner fossil fuel into the future”
  • Ms Michelle Curran (@PalaeoShel), NUI Galway – “How past climate can help prepare us for the future”
  • Dr Fearon Cassidy (@FearonCassidy), NUI Galway – “Stem cells in your bones?!”

Soapbox Science Galway is organised by Dr Jessamyn Fairfield at NUIG and Dr Dara Stanley of UCD, formerly of NUIG.

They had both been independently working towards holding an event like this, and when they met at NUIG decided to do so together.

“We had seen the need for a positive and fun way to engage with the issues around gender and STEM in the west of Ireland and in Galway in particular,” they said.

“We’re both also really interested in public engagement with science, and knew Soapbox Science was a great vehicle for bringing science to a public audience.”

For more information about Soapbox Science, visit soapboxscience.org or follow @darastanley, @ultrajessamyn and @SoapboxSciIRL on Twitter.

See short Soapbox Science Galway 2019 video: https://youtu.be/KOHDXVTvyX4

Councillors react furiously to commercial proposals for Dyke road site

By
Paul Kelly
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Certain members of Galway City Council pulled no punches and made their feelings known to proposals made by the Land Development Agency in relation to the redevelopment of the Dyke Road (Car Park/Black Box) site.

Galway city council received an update regarding potential uses for the Dyke Road site from Mr. Phelim O’Neil of the Land Development Agency (LDA) at the monthly meeting on Monday

The Council-owned land on the Dyke Road (1.75 hectares) currently accommodates the Black Box Theatre which has a capacity of 600 people seated or 850 standing, and a surface car-park with 535 spaces.

Regardless of how the site is eventually used, one issue that was agreed on was that the Black Box theatre is in dire need of an overhaul, whether at its current location or with an alternative venue.

The Government established the Land Development Agency last year to regenerate state owned lands and to build 150,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

The Agency is tasked with managing the state’s own lands to develop new homes, and regenerate under-utilised sites.

Phelim O’Neil delivered a presentation on a high level feasibility study outlining potential commercial and civic uses for the site, with an eye towards generating revenue for the city council.

There were two detailed proposals contained in the presentation, the first of which contained 384 bed spaces of student accommodation, 11,915 sq ft dedicated to office space, ground floor retail, a 145 bed hotel, and 544 multi storey parking spaces.

The second proposal encompassed student accommodation with 408 bed spaces, 22,380 sq ft dedicated to office space, ground floor retail, a 138 bed hotel and 485 parking spaces.

However this commercial view point was clearly not what many in the chamber were hoping to hear, with multiple councillors questioning why the proposals did not include a focus on culture and housing.

Councillor Mike Crowe voiced his disapproval of the notion of the council getting involved in building a hotel, describing the proposition as “off the wall”

“When did Local Authorities start getting into the business of hotels and student accommodation?” the Fianna Fáil councillor asked.

The City East councilor quipped that there must be people in Galway who get “literally turned on” at the mention of student accommodation

He questioned why there was no mention of a cultural centre which was emphasised as a priority for the site, adding that the council has concerns that “maxing out the value of publicly owned sites”.

Independent Councillor Colette Connolly said that she was in a “state of shock” at the proposals and the idea that “we would hand over public land to private developers to build hotels”.

Cllr. Connolly referenced the fact that there was over 4,000 households currently on the waiting list in Galway City amounting to roughly 15,000 people who were in need of housing.

Green Party Councillor Pauline O’Reilly said that these proposals were the “antithesis of good planning”, and asked why there was no mention of arts and cultural facilities.

She added that Galway is meant to be a city of arts and “over my dead body would this go ahead” as it is.

Owen Hanley of the Social Democrats flatly said that he cannot agree to any plan that retains 500 car spaces “in this day and age”.

The young councilor said that it was “staggering” that all options retain hundreds of parking spaces.

He went on to say that the city council is not a commercial entity and that not including any mention of residential use doesn’t make sense in a housing crisis.

Frank Fahy dismissed the idea of a part of the site being used for the hotel, pointing out that “The Local Development Agency promised to build 150,000 homes over 20 years using public land”.

With that in mind he said he was confused as to why the construction of a hotel was being discussed, “There are 5,000 people on the housing list and you’re talking about hotels”.

The Fine Gael councillor questioned why using the site for cultural purposes was no longer part of the discussion.

Chief Executive Brendan McGrath assured his colleagues that cultural proposals for a new library and a replacement for the Black Box would be coming before the council soon.

He urged the councillors to look at this as a strategic site that could be used to generate significant commercial revenue for those proposals.

Not all of the reactions were negative with several councillors noting that there are other lands available for residential use, and that this was only a feasibility study

Although Cllr. Peter Keane said that he was “surprised” by the proposals, he noted that he was “not opposed to feasibility of different ideas”.

The Fianna Fáil Councillor stressed the need to consider the commercial rate of return in the city when considering different options.

Cllr. Keane told his colleagues that “Come budget time we need to think about commercial rate of returns generated from office space”

However he did say that he was opposed to the idea that student accommodation would be suitable for the site.

Councillor Declan McDonnell said he would have preferred to see more a mention of culture in the presentation, but acknowledged that plans are forthcoming.

Cllr. McDonnell added that funding for projects “needs to come from somewhere” and highlighted his concern that 500 plus parking spaces were needed to support retail footfall in the area.

Phelim O’Neil replied to the concerns of the chamber by stating that their brief was to do a study on what can be achieved for the Dyke Road site from a commercial perspective.

He said that student accommodation was considered because different standards apply to it compared to residential accommodation.

Trying to build apartments or other residential units simply wasn’t commercially viable at this time, he added.

Mr O’Neill also said that arts projects have a significant up front cost with a 700 seat theatre costing in the region of €20 million.

He concluded by saying that these were not concrete proposals, but were only meant as a catalyst for discussion.

Chief Executive McGrath came to the aid of Phelim O’Neil and the LDA declaring they approached this project on a “good faith basis”.

“This is potentially a 170 million investment in the heart of Galway City Centre as a catalyst for rejuvenation”, Mr McGrath said, adding that it could become an urban quarter second only to Bonham Quay.

He noted that Galway City Council as a development corporation has a remit to undertake regeneration projects while stating that building residential spaces on the site isn’t viable at the minute and “that is the reality”.

The Chief Executive said that this site has huge commercial potential which could be used to to create the revenue needed for cultural projects.

Mothercare Ireland launches biggest ever clothes, nursery, and travel sale

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily business Mothercare launches biggest ever summer sale

Mothercare Ireland offered shoppers in Galway a taste of what’s on offer at their summer sale at the opening of the 6,000sq ft flagship store in Wellpark last week.

Mothercare said the day brought in record breaking sales with hundreds of people queuing around the corner at Wellpark Retail Park to get a deal, and the day finishing up with nearly 3,000 items solf to 550 customers.

That’s now available to everyone at the summer sale which began this week with up to 50% off hundreds of items across maternity, baby and kids clothing, as well as nursery, toys, home, travel and accessories, while stocks last through June.

The nursery retailer is offering half price offers on feeding essentials such as the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day & White available in white and black for only €99.99 and the Closer to Nature complete feeding kit set for just €99.99, saving the customer a whopping €100.

Other offers include half-price bundle packages on popular travel items such as the Silver Cross Special Edition 3 in 1 Travel System in Orkney with a free carseat at €1,074.99, while The Silver Cross Pursuit Pushchair and Simplicity Car Seat Bundle in Quarry is now half price at €399.99.

Nursery offers include 10% off all mattresses and expectant parents can now purchase nursery essentials like the Cotbed Camberley for only €174.99.  Save €10 on bath time bundle deals including Teddy’s Toy Box and Hello Friend for endless bath time giggles.

For peace of mind when baby is sound asleep, save up to €50 on baby monitors including the Angelcare Movement & Sound Monitor, and BT Video Baby Monitor 5000 reduced to €139.99 and €109.99 respectively.

Ireland’s largest mother and child retailer, Mothercare is an all in one store whiech provides parents and parents-to-be with everything they need in one place from pregnancy to 8 years.

Mothercare recently opened a new flagship 6,000sq ft store in Galway at Wellpark Retail Park to replace the existing 2,500sq ft premises at Eyre Square Shopping Centre.

Met Eireann issues weather warning for blistering sun in Galway

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news galway weather sun

It’s shaping up to be an absolute scorcher of a week, so much so that Met Eireann has issued a weather warning for High Temperatures in Galway.

The weather warning for Galway and five other counties says that temperatures on Thursday could rise to more than 27 degrees during the afternoon.

It’s been a hot one all week as temperatures today have been peaking at around 24 degrees and people are out enjoying the sun at the beaches.

The warning issued if for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick, and will be in place from 1pm to 7pm on Thursday.

It’s a far cry from the usual manner of weather warning people have come to expect for Galway that typically promise nothing but wind and rain.

Things will cool off a bit tonight, but not by a lot, with lowest temperatures averaging around 17 degrees in Galway, but a moderate breeze should hopefully take edge off when people are trying to sleep.

According to Met Eireann there will be some light cloud early tomorrow, but giving way to clear sunny skies with a fresh easterly breeze in the mid afternoon.

The hot conditions, mixed with a very humid atmosphere over the weekend have created troubling environmental conditions which have prompted Met Eireann to put an environmental warning in place.

The weather forecaster has cautioned that current conditions are conducive to the spread of potato blight.

As strong as the sun might seen in Ireland right now its nothing compared to mainland Europe where people are bracing for a record heatwave.

France is now expecting temperatures to peak at a deadly high of 45 degrees this week, putting many people at risk

What’s especially worrying about this heatwave is how early it’s coming, well ahead of the late July/August period where records are usually set.

The forecast blows well past the highest ever temps recorded in June which were set in the 2003 heatwave that contributed to 70,000 premature deaths in Europe.

Galway Film Fleadh bringing a wealth of Irish short films to screen

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Seven Irish short films having world debut at Galway Film Fleadh

Galway Film Fleadh will serve as the world premiere for seven Irish short films coming from Fís Éireann this year.

Fís Éireann has funded these seven films under its Short Stories and Frameworks schemes and is bringing them to the screen for the first time at the 31st Galway Film Fleadh.

Written and directed by Suri Grennell and produced by Bjorn Mac Giolla for Bear Print Media, Wrath was filmed on location in Straide and Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo.

At the precipice of womanhood and plagued with foreboding dreams, Maria must confront the mistrust of her family as a strange epidemic sweeps the nation.

In Rioghnach Ni Ghrioghair’s Break Us a lovely couple discovers the strength of their commitment during the course of robbery a robbery.

Will they break the law together, or just break up. Break Us was filmed in Kilcloon Co. Meath for 925 productions.

Something Doesn’t Feel Right is a tale of an unappreciated artisan where a weary slasher villain puts in the hours and planning necessary to pull off perfect kills until he encounters victims that don’t behave like they should, dammit.

Filmed in Lough Dan Co Wicklow, Something Doesn’t Feel Right comes from director Fergal Costello, writer Ged Murray and is produced by Fiona Kinsella for Jumper Productions.

Twin, written and directed by Ciaran Dooley and produced by Matt D’Arcy for Banjoman Films is a tale of loss and sibling love.

On the eve of her 21st Birthday, Ava explores the grief felt by the loss of her twin sister and attempts to overcome it.

Director Adam Stewart and co-writer Garry Walsh are bringing Abe’s Story to the Galway Film Fleadh, telling, you guessed it, the story of a man named Abe.

Abe is an overworked Irish writer in Victorian London who becomes inspired by his day job in the theatre to create a bloody brilliant novel.

In Lady Isobel and the Elf Knight a lonely princess dreams of a shining knight but has to make do with an Elf Knight instead.

This animated feature is written and directed by Cashell Horgan, animated by Graham Isherwood and produced by Andrew Moore.

And it just wouldn’t be Irish art without some good old fashioned famine misery.

This year’s exploration of Ireland’s perennial suffering is Bainne, written and directed by Jack Reynor in his directorial debut and starring Will Poulter.

During the last year of The Great Famine in Ireland, a farmhand working for the local landlord has hardened his heart against his countrymen to ensure his own survival.

But when he encounters a ghostly female figure stealing milk from the landlord’s barn his resolve is tested and he is beguiled on a journey towards hope.

Bainne is a Screen Ireland and Sky Arts co-production making its world debut at the Galway Film Fleadh.

James Hickey, Chef Executive, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland said “We are delighted to announce the World Premiere of our latest short films.”

“Nurturing and developing creative talent and ensuring new voices are heard on film is at the heart of Screen Ireland’s role.”

“Our investment in short films is one of the key cornerstones in the development of the next generation of filmmakers.”

“We hope that these short films will travel internationally and will be seen by audiences at film festivals around the globe,” he concluded.

Galway Film Fleadh will take place from July 9 – 14 with a wide range of films from Irish and international filmmakers with everything from full length feature dramas and compelling documentaries to short films shot by up and comers.

The world renowned film festival will also feature a film marketplace, workshops and masterclasses, and a pitching competition.

Hospital support workers take to the picket lines in nationwide strike

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Three day strike by hospital workers deferred pending labour court hearing

Over 10,000 hospitals support workers in SIPTU have gone on strike today in a dispute with the government over a jobs evaluation scheme.

In Galway hospital staff are on strike at University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park Hospital in Galway city and Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe.

The dispute centers around a jobs evaluation scheme that was part of the Landsdowne Road public sector pay deal after claims that many support staff have been underpaid for years.

Siptu members say that the government has failed to implement the findings of the scheme which would have entitled many to pay increases of up to €3,000.

The union members involved in this dispute includes medical support staff such as healthcare assistants and laboratory aides, but also those with non medical roles within the health service such as porters and chefs.

The government and Siptu had been in talks at the Workplace Relations Commission earlier this week, but those talks collapsed without any resolution.

Siptu said that hospital workers are owed over €16 million under the jobs evaluations scheme, but the government offered €1.2 million instead,

Trevor Glavey, a porter with at UHG, said that “We don’t want to be here. We know that the services are taking a drastic hit today, but there’s nothing we can do.”

“We just had to go and protest because we’re not getting what we’re owed,” he said.

The government proposed a phased introduction of pay increases starting in November and carrying on through to the end of 2021, but that was also rejected by the union as insufficient.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged Siptu to take the matter to the Labour Court and call of the strike.

Siptu Health Divisional Organiser, Paul Bell said they would prefer a negotiated settlement that does not affect patient services.

But he added that while they have acted in “good faith”, he claimed the government has “abused the conciliation process” and never meaningfully engaged with the union.

The Saolta Hospital Group has said that patients whose procedures have been cancelled today are being contacted directly.

This mostly affects inpatient elective procedures, scopes and day case procedures and some outpatient clinics.

Emergency Departments are open today though people can expect significant delays, and critical care areas such as ICU and HDU will function as normal.

If there is no resolution of this dispute then three further days of strike action are planned for next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Permission granted to reduce the size of a new Headford estate

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Letteragh housing estate gets planning approval

An Bord Pleanála has granted permission for a developer to cut down the number of houses in a planned Headford estate.

Sathel Ltd had received permission from the county council on January 16 of this year to reduce the number of houses at an estate in the works at Gortnamona, Head from 76 units to 70.

The new estate will be built at Ashthorn Avenue off the N84, and accessed through the existing housing estate adjacent to the site.

The new design for ‘Ashthorn Grove’ consists of 12 two-bed houses, 44 three-bedroom houses, and 14 four-bedroom houses.

This project was first awarded planning permission in 2004 but received two extension of duration in the intervening years.

Sathel bought the development in 2017 and began construction on the 76 homes that May.

An appeal was lodged with An Bord Pleanála by a local resident concerned with the traffic impact of the development, and how it would affect a stand of mature trees on site.

The appellant that construction traffic would pose a hazard, and that once the new development is complete traffic on the existing estate road is likely to double.

A Road Safety Audit should also have been submitted by the developer according to the appellant.

And an objection was also made to the removal of two stands of mature trees as intended in the plans.

In response Sathel said that a Road Safety Audit is not required as the estate will make use of the existing Ashthorn Avenue entrance, and that a plan would be in place to manage constructions traffic.

The developer also said that none of the trees being removed are the subject of a preservation order, and that the plans include the planting of Alder, Hazel, Birch, and Whitebeam trees throughout the site.

One observation was made by the Galway Childcare Committee noting that if the estate is populated by young families then additional childcare facilities will be required.

An inspector for the higher planning authority said “I do not consider then that the development as currently
proposed, would give rise to any traffic safety concerns subject to conditions being imposed.”

It was also said that the tress being removed are not protected and that there would be an overall net gain in the amount of tree coverage with the replacement planting at the site.

An Bord Pleanála upheld planning permission with 19 revised conditions.

Vodafone launches app to help domestic abuse victims

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Vodafone launches new app for domestic abuse victims

Vodafone Ireland has launched a free app to connect victims of domestic abuse with advice and support services nearby.

Bright Sky Ireland works with Women’s Aid Ireland and An Garda Síochána to help people who have suffered from domestic abuse to locate their nearest support centre by searching their area, eircode or current location.

A short questionnaire will help users assess the safety of a relationship while also providing information about different forms of abuse such as sexual violence, stalking and harassment.

The app also highlights the types of supports available, steps to consider if leaving an abusive relationship and how to help a friend affected by abuse.

It was created with in partnership with the UK-based domestic abuse charity Hestia and is coming to Ireland after success in the UK.

Speaking at the launch of the app Vodafone Ireland CEO Anne O’Leary said that it is a sad fact that there are many victims of domestic violence and abuse who are unable to get the support they desperately need.

“The app, developed by Hestia, with support from our partners in Women’s Aid Ireland and An Garda Síochána,is a very practical tool for people facing a variety of difficult situations,” she said.

Vodafone domestic abuse app
from left Detective Chief Superintendent Declan Daly; Anne O’Leary, CEO of Vodafone Ireland and Sarah Benson, CEO, Women’s Aid

According to research carried out by the mobile company 31% of Irish workers have experienced some form of domestic abuse of which, more than half (57%) felt safer at work compared to home.

They also found that 63% experienced psychological abuse and control, 47% experienced physical violence, 23% experienced sexual violence or abuse and 19% experienced stalking.

In addition 21% said they experienced some form of abuse daily and 28% said they experienced it two or three times a week.

“Vodafone supports the wider cause in Ireland and wants to help highlight all forms of domestic abuse,” Anne O’Leary added.

“With a third of Irish workers experiencing domestic abuse and one in five Irish women affected by domestic violence, vital supports for victims are of paramount importance to us.”

A groundbreaking feature of this app is its ability to log incidents of abuse without any content being saved on the device itself.

Abusers are known to try and control every aspect of the lives of people they abuse, and this will allow victims to send information about incidents that can be used by gardaí in a secure digital journal, using a text, audio, video or photo function.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said that “A core function of policing is protecting the vulnerable.”

“Anything that can help An Garda Síochána to combat the terrible and all too common crime of domestic abuse is to be welcomed.”

“This app will help inform victims as well as providing a safe way for them to record incidents of domestic abuse, which could help secure prosecutions, particularly in relation to the new offence of coercive control.”

The Vodafone Ireland Foundation has been working with An Garda Siochana and Womens Aid to support high risk victims of domestic abuse in Ireland for more than six years.

Bright Sky Ireland is the latest addition to the foundation’s domestic violence project, which uses connectivity to help support those affected by domestic abuse here and across Europe.

Fifty solar powered compactor bins installed in Galway city

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Galway one of two clean cities in latest IBAL litter survey

Fifty solar powered compactor bins have been installed in Galway city by the council after a successful trial last year.

The  SolarStreetBin litter bins from Mayo company PEL Waste Reduction Equipment were commissioned by the city council to combat mounting volumes of litter that are straining collection services.

The solar powered units can hold up to ten times more rubbish that normal bins due to the built in compactor that compresses the waste into a wheelie bin inside the bin itself.

The smart unit also features built in sensors to monitor how full it is and reports that data to a cloud based dashboard viewable by the council.

A spokesperson for the city council said that they now have “complete visibility on litter-levels within all the bins installed in this programme.”

“The technology alerts us when the bins need to be emptied so this will put an end to any overflowing bins and the associated expensive clean-ups”

However there has been criticism that the overall number of bins available around the city has decreased as a result of this changeover.

Concerns have been expressed that without a bin in close proximity people are more likely to litter.

The full rollout of the new SolarStreetBin units was commissioned after an extensive trial period in 2018.

Tommy Griffith of PEL Waste Reduction Equipment said that they are pleased to be working with the city council on this project.

He added that the company homes to deliver “significant value to the litter collection service” in the comes years through their technological solutions.

 

photo credit: PEL Waste Reduction Equipment

Minister opens Business Innovation Centre for healthcare startups

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Minister opens Business Innovation Centre for healthcare start ups

Minister of State Seán Kyne has this week opened a new Business Innovation Centre in Galway city to accelerate the development of healthcare technologies.

The centre at Dangan Business Park features 6,500 sq ft of fully fitted laboratory space with state-of-the art technology to support healthcare startups in the region, with room for up to 100 employees.

This project comes from the Innovation Office at NUI Galway and complements the university’s existing Business Innovation Centres which are home to 52 early-stage companies.

“In the West of Ireland we are fortunate to have strong and vibrant clusters of industry that are populated by global companies but also local start-ups brimming with potential,” Seán Kyne said.

“This new ‘wet lab’ space will help students, researchers, and Life Sciences workers undertake research and development, carry out experiments and test ideas that will potentially have life-enhancing and life-saving results for patients far beyond the West of Ireland.”

Since opening its first Business Innovation Centre 30 years ago, NUI Galway has supported 97 start ups to date which have created 1,456 jobs.

Of those, 56 of the start up companies were in the healthcare sector according to Innovations Operations Manager at NUIG Fiona Neary.

She added that startups in the Life Sciences have very specific needs that the university is well suited to meet.

“They require access to sophisticated ‘wet labs’, very specialised and often expensive equipment, hospitals and a skilled workforce.”

“We anticipate an initiative like this has the potential to create a “networked” regional enterprise hub for the incubation and acceleration of healthcare technologies.”

“This will unleash the capability to promote sharing of resources and expertise, entrepreneurial activity, create jobs, to foster innovation and to enhance export potential.”

The new facility in Dangan already has its first tenant in place, NUI Galway spin-out Orbsen Therapeutics Ltd.

Orbsen is a leading company in the development of cellular immunotherapies across four immune-mediated inflammatory conditions.

Dr Larry Couture, CEO of Orbsen said that as an R&D company they have “benefited greatly from our close proximity to the research community and core services on campus”.

“But as we’ve grown to be a clinical stage company, the lack of suitable laboratory space in the area for emerging biopharmaceutical companies made relocation inevitable.”

“The Dangan facility is exactly what we and the local emerging biopharmaceutical community desperately need and it will allow Orbsen to remain and continue to grow in the Galway area.”

For Orbsen Therapeutics this additional space will accommodate the company’s increasing staff and prepare for the next phase of growth as they close additional funding rounds to support the development of novel therapies.

 

photo credit: Sean Lydon

City council approves €5 million funding for home loan scheme

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway Daily business Galway house prices increase 2.1%

Galway city council has approved raising a further €5 million for first time buyers under the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme.

The Home Loan Scheme is meant to give people a leg up onto the property ladder who have had trouble in getting a mortgage from the banks.

People can apply to the local authority for a mortgage of up to 90% of the value of a property. In Galway city the maximum property value allowable under the scheme is €320,000.

Councillor Peter Keane said that the government should considered raising the property value limit as, even though Galway is in the top band, this can seriously limit what is available to people.

In order to qualify a person must meet credit and savings criteria, and be able to to show that they have already been rejected by two financial institutions.

The income of a single applicant must not exceed €50,000 and the combined income of joint applicants must not be over €75,000.

The scheme operates at three levels of interest: A 2% fixed rate up to a 25 year loan, a 2.25% fixed rate for a 30 year loan, and a 2.3% variable rate.

To date the city council has received 130 applications for a mortgage under the Home Loan scheme.

Of those 76 were deemed ineligible under the criteria laid out by the government, and of the 56 that were eligible 38 have been approved to total value of €6,666,250.

So €3,188,250 has been drawn down by 21 successful applicants under the Home Loan scheme.

Seven offers made by the city council have expired, and 10 are still waiting to be drawn down.

Last July the council raised €1.5 million in funding for the scheme and another €1.5 million in September.

It is now seeking another €5 million to meet what it expects the scheme to cost by the end of 2019.

While technically this money is raised in the form of a loan it is not repayable to the central government.

Councillor Mike Crowe said that this is a welcome scheme that would “help people get on the ladder” but added that it keeps running out of money.

Councillors John Connolly and Owen Hanley expressed disappointment at the number of applicants who did not meet the criteria for the scheme, with cllr Connolly calling it “another aspect of our housing policy that is failing.”

Chief Executive Brendan McGrath said that “we don’t draft the criteria” for who is eligible, that is set in legislation, but added that council staff are always willing to help people with their applications.

He added that of the 54 applications which were eligible for consideration, 38 were approved, a high standard.

The Chief Executive also said that there is nothing stopping people from reapplying and that the rate of approvals for the Home Loan Scheme is going up all the time.

He concluded that this is a very useful tool for the council to have in its “armoury” to help out the “squeezed middle” trying to buy a home for the first time.

The council unanimously approved raising the €5 million loan from the Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government.

Councillors clash over Traveller accommodation at first Council meeting

By
Paul Kelly
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Kathleen Ward A Traveller's Life

Traveller Accommodation was raised at the first ordinary meeting of Galway City Council yesterday, with one Fianna Fáil councillor asking where members of the community have been for the past couple of years.

Cllr Crowe also questioned whether there was any guarantee that when the committee is set up representatives of the community would “come back to the table and work with us”.

He was referring to the fact that in May 2017, the Galway Traveller Movement (GTM) withdrew from the Traveller Accommodation Committee.

The GTM withdrew from the committee citing “frustration” directed at the lack of provision of new Traveller Accommodation in Galway City over the last 20 years.

However, Councillor Martina O’Connor of the Green Party expressed her disappointment with the sentiments of other Councillors in the chamber.

“I’ve heard language which if I was a Traveller would convince me not to turn up,” she said.

Fine Gael Councillor Frank Fahy asked why a discussion about the Traveller Accommodation Committee wasn’t on the agenda with the Chief Executive replying that he had discretion to raise the issue given the fact only 5/6 seats had been filled on the committee.

Fine Gael’s Eddie Hoare noted that members of the “voting pact were very quick to apply for other committees”.

Eventually, Frank Fahy was nominated to the committee and was subsequently approved to fill the last vacant position.

This means the committee is comprised of Cllr. Martina O’Connor (Green Party), Cllr. Owen Hanley (Social Democrats), Cllr. Declan McDonnell (Independent), Cllr. Noel Larkin (Indepedent), John Connolly (Fianna Fáil) and Frank Fahy (Fine Gael).

The committee will have a tough job on their hands as a recent report into Traveller accommodation in Galway found that living conditions were in breach of human rights standards.

The 2019 Traveller Homes Now Monitoring and Progress Report labelled living conditions as “deplorable and substandard”.

The report described current living spaces as being riddled with rat infestation, poor sanitation, severe structural issues, problems with heat and electricity supply and no facilities for children.

The report was highly critical of the City Council and claimed it was in breach of legal obligations to provide accommodation.

Clifden lifeboat rescues three stranded jet skiers

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news Clifden lifeboat rescues three stranded jet skiers

Three jet skiers who got stranded on Monday night when they broke down were rescued the Clifden RNLI lifeboat.

The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat launched at 9:12pm on Monday night from Clifden RNLI station in response to reports of two broken down jet skis between Inishbofin and Cleggan.

The boat under helm Daniel Whelan and with crew members Chris Nee, Owen Hayes and Ian Shanahan found two broken jet skis with three people on board.

On arrival at the scene, they found that one jet ski had broken down and when the other one had attempted to tow it, the rope had become tangled in the second jet ski’s impeller, leaving both stranded.

With darkness falling, the friends alerted the Coast Guard by mobile phone and once the lifeboat arrived on scene they towed them both safely back to Derryinver Pier.

Clifden RNLI Community Safety Officer Miryam Harris said that this launch shows “the importance of carrying a means of contacting the rescue services in case of emergencies; in this case a mobile phone.”

“With a busy summer ahead it is worth reminding all water users to wear a personal flotation device, check their equipment, always carry a means of calling for help on your person in a waterproof cover and let someone know when you expect to return”.

 

photo credit: RNLI

Why you should switch to the fastest broadband in Ireland

By
Michael Malone
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0
broadband digiweb galway daily

Choosing a broadband company can often seem like an overwhelming task, but choosing the right one is important.

That’s why if you haven’t already, you should switch to the most reliable broadband provider in the country – Digiweb.

With download speeds up to 1,000 Mbps and very reasonable prices, more and more people across Ireland are trusting Digiweb with providing their broadband.

New Digiweb customers can now sign up to their Electric broadband 1000 plan, which delivers outstanding download speeds up to 1 Gigabit per second, for just €10 a month for the first 3 months of their 12-month contract.

That means that not only do they provide you with the fastest and most reliable broadband in Ireland, they also have great offers and even greater prices.

Under this plan, customers can opt to add unlimited calls to Irish/UK landlines and mobiles for just €10 extra per month.

Digiweb’s latest offer, Fibre Home Broadband for just €39.95, is equally tempting. This would give you Unlimited Broadband using the best Fritz!Box Modem, 100Mbps Download Speed and 20Mbps Upload Speed.

The company, founded in 1997 and based in Dundalk, provides nationwide broadband access and telephony to residential and business customers in every County of Ireland and is continuing to grow.

If you’re unsure which broadband is best for you, click HERE to visit Digiweb’s website where you can browse through the latest offers from the country’s number one internet service.

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How to deal with disputes with your neighbours

By
Desmond Fitzgerald
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0

How to deal with disputes with your neighbours

Disputes with neighbours are always more difficult because they are so close to you. You see them every day. You say hello . They never go away. So if your neighbour is doing something which is seriously disruptive to your peace of mind , you are in a bind. If you say nothing , they will continue , if you decide to go “legal” you know that things will never be the same again with your neighbour.

So you try the middle way , you talk to them about the problem as you see it. Often this is the best way. A reasonable neighbour will try to accommodate the person living next to them.
Unfortunately some neighbours are not reasonable.

SITUATION ONE

Q: My neighbour has started to build a large single storey extension right next to our shared boundary wall. This happened while I was on summer holidays. It has a pitched roof and is about 5 metres tall in total. It is reducing the light on my garden and into our kitchen. What can I do to stop him?

A: You need to talk to him immediately , tell him of your concerns. Ask to see the plans.

Q: I talked to him last night , he said that there was little or no interference with my light , that I could build an extension too and he wouldn’t mind. He showed me his plans and said that he had checked , it is exempt from planning and he has a perfect right to go ahead.

A: He’s probably not being truthful. Many back garden extensions may be exempt , but not a 5 metre high one which interferes with your light. Check with a planning expert , Galway County Council Planning department , or do research online .If the building isn’t exempt , then your neighbour should have obtained planning permission and put up a notice. You can give him a choice , to modify his extension so that it is “legal” and doesn’t interfere with you so much , or you can inform the Enforcement section of the Planning Department . If you inform the Council that you believe an illegal construction is taking place , they will send an inspector to check out the site. Ultimately the Council will , after warning your neighbour by letter, go to the District Court and obtain an order for the building to be taken down .

SITUATION TWO

Q: I have a long line of quite high evergreen trees that are all plated on my side of the boundary. My neighbour is entitled to cut his own side ,but recently has started to cut the tops of the trees . ( I think it improves his view) Can he do that?

A: No he can’t. Most boundaries between neighbours are “party” boundaries ,with an imaginary line bisecting the middle of the wall or fence marking the boundary line. Each side is free to maintain their side of the party boundary so long as it doesn’t interfere with the other parties use of the other side. In this particular case , the boundary is not a party one . You own all of the trees . The neighbour can only cut that part which actually intrudes into his own side. Once he cuts beyond that , he is legally trespassing. If he continues to do that over the years , it is actually a way of laying claim to a part of your garden. So , talk to him initially , then write a letter recording the trespass , and if the response is nil , instruct a solicitor who will write a strong letter to your neighbour , telling him to stop within a short period , or face an appearance in the District court. If you are preparing for this scenario , it is vital to take photographs to have evidence to show in court , and of course to check any maps you have.

PS Have you considered that he may have been forced to cut the tops of the trees in desperation? Are you cutting off some of his light?

SITUATION THREE

Q: I live in a ground floor apartment. The people who rent the apartment above me constantly play loud music on the weekends and often any time they feel like it. We have a two year old child and none of us get enough sleep. I have asked them politely to lower the music level but they have ignored me. What can I do ?

A: Firstly , keep a written record of the attempts you have made to resolve the matter with the tenants . Also keep a “noise diary” that can be used in evidence later. The landlord of that apartment has a duty ( Residential Tenancies Acts) to anyone who may be affected by his tenant’s noisy behaviour. Make the landlord aware that he must enforce the lease to make the tenants quieten down. If he doesn’t do this , you have a right to take the matter to the Residential Tenancies Board , which will put pressure on the landlord to keep on the case. At the same time , you also have the right to take the landlord as well as the tenants to the District Court for failing their obligations under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act . You do not need a solicitor to do this , the cost is only €15 and your local District Court clerk can advise you.

Judge overturns permission for 200 homes in Barna

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news Judge overturns planning permission for Barna housing

A residential development in the works for Barna consisting of 197 homes has had its planning approval overturned after a judicial review.

Burkeway Homes received planning approval from An Bord Pleanála last November for the €60 million housing project at Truskey East just outside Barna.

The application had been made directly to An Bord Pleanála through the government’s fast track planning process.

The project was expected to create 150 jobs in the the area during Phase 1 of construction which was set to get underway in Barna this January.

But the decision to grant planning permission was appealed by Gabriel McGoldrick and Heather Hill Management Company, in charge of the adjacent Heather Hill estate.

They sought a judicial review of the decision, arguing that the development was in breach of the county development plan.

In his decision Mr Justice Garrett Simons said that the development “would involve a material contravention of the Galway County Development Plan in two respects”.

“First, the scale of the proposed development would breach the population allocation for Bearna as set out in the core strategy and settlement hierarchy, and as recently affirmed by a variation made to the County Development Plan on 23 July 2018.”

“Secondly, part of the application site lies in an area which has been identified as being at risk of flooding.”

“The County Development Plan provides that proposals for development works in this area are to be subject to a development management ‘justification test'”.

“This was not done. An Bord Pleanála also erred in law in purporting to defer the completion of a site specific flood risk assessment.”

The judge added that just because there is a conflict between two objectives of the development plan it doesn’t mean that An Bord Pleanála can contravene one of those objectives and say that it is immaterial.

He added that while the higher planning authority is allowed to grant planning permission where there is a contravention of the development plan, it must provide the reasons why this was done.

“On the facts of the present case, An Bord Pleanála mistakenly concluded that the proposed development did not involve a material contravention, and, as a consequence, did not address its mind to these statutory requirements.”

The judge concluded that these legal errors invalidated the grant of planning permission to Burkeway Homes.

Judge Simmons also said that the planning authority failed to carry out a screening exercise for the purposes of the EU Habitats Directive

He set aside An Bord Pleanála’s decision and adjourned the case to next month to decide whether it should be sent back to the planning authority for reconsideration.

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