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Plans submitted for redevelopment of Tuam Stadium

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport Tuam Stadium awarded €90,000 under sports capital grants

Plans have been submitted to the county council for the next stage of the redevelopment of Tuam Stadium.

Tuam Stadium Development Committee is seeking retention permission for the work that has already been undertaken this year, and approval to go ahead with the next stage of construction.

The application currently with the council is for the retention of the new dressing rooms already built, and complete plant room facilities for referees and match officials, and terracing.

The new dressing rooms for Tuam Stadium opened in February after spending nearly ten years in the works.

Planning permission is also being sought to build a new roof over the old stand, as well as terraced area which include press area, toilets, shop, storage, control room, and a hospitality area.

The rusty metal roof over the exiting stand has long been considered an eyesore.

This planning application also includes plans for upgrade works to the existing stand.

The work on redeveloping Tuam Stadium got a welcome shot in the arm last December when local businessman and staunch GAA supporter Joe O’Toole agreed to finance the project.

Galway county council is due to make a decision on this planning application by July 15, submissions can be made to the council until June 26.

Killconnell Boil Water Notice enters its second year

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Kinvara Boil Water Notice

A Boil Water Notice for the residents of Kilconnell and the surrounding areas is now going into its second year.

Irish Water issued a boil water notice to people on the Kilconnell Public Water Supply, and the Ballyboggan Group Water Scheme supplied by it, on June 18, 2018 due to elevated turbidity in the water.

Turbidity is a measurement of how cloudy or hazy water is, caused by a large amount of particles in the water individually invisible to the naked eye.

New plans to provide a reliable drinking water supply to the area have been agreed on after efforts to locate a replacement ground water source failed.

The Kilconnell Public Water Supply will now be connected to the Cappataggle Group Water Scheme.

Work is expected to begin on laying down an interconnecting pipeline in the next two to three weeks.

Kilconnell boil water notice
Area covered by Boil Water Notice

Irish Water has said that it is committed to delivering a “safe, secure, robust supply of drinking water for the homes and businesses in Kilconnell.”

Numerous efforts were made to find an alternative ground water supply over the past year, but those were unsuccessful for several reason.

“A trial borehole that was drilled at the Kilconnell reservoir site yielded no water,” a spokesperson for Irish Water said.

“Subsequently another trial borehole was drilled near the existing water treatment plant and found to yield considerable quantities of water but with variable quality.”

“It was decided to attempt to screen out the poorer quality water. However despite extensive work and further test pumping, this was found to be unsuccessful.”

“Following discussions with the Cappataggle Group Water Scheme the decision was taken to connect the public supply to the group water supply to ensure customers receive a clean and reliable supply of water.”

Until that is complete the Boil Water Notice will remain in place, and any water that is being used for drinking, in the preparation of food that will not be cooked before eating (i.e salads), brushing teeth, or preparing baby formula should be boiled first.

It’s not necessary to boil water that’s for bathing or watering plants, though when bathing an infant extra care should be taken to ensure the child doesn’t swallow any water.

Irish water advises that standard domestic water filters will not be able to purify the affected water.

Galway Civil Defence getting new emergency vehicle

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway Civil Defence allocated new emergency vehicle

Galway Civil Defence will be adding to their capacity to respond to national emergencies and extreme weather events with a new emergency vehicle.

Sixteen Ford Ranger Crewcab Pickup Vehicles will be joining the Civil Defence fleet in the coming weeks, and one of the four wheel drives has been allocated to Galway.

Galway West TD Hildegarde Naughton said that the volunteers do “enormous work, often in perilous conditions, and need and deserve appropriate equipment”.

“The vehicles will improve the four-wheel capability of the Civil Defence fleet and further improve its ability to support the Principal Response Agencies.

“During serious weather events, such as Storm Ophelia in October 2017 and Storm Emma in March 2018, the Civil Defence fleet of four-wheel drive vehicles were fully deployed.”

She added that the new vehicles would assist volunteers in many tasks such as assisting local authorities, the HSE, the National Ambulance Service and An Garda Síochána.

During Storm Emma, Hildegarde Naughton said, many volunteers were involved in assisting vulnerable people including elderly who found themselves snowed in.

The purchase of vehicles was approved by Minister Kehoe this week, as part of a €500,000 allocation from the Dormant Accounts fund of the Department of Community and Rural Development.

Clinical trial shows promise for new blood cancer treatment

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Briain Kelly
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A clinical trial taking led by NUI Galway has shown promising results in the treatment of Multiple Myeloma blood cancer.

The Blood Cancer Network Ireland, led by Professor Michael O’Dwyer in NUI Galway, has completed the first Phase I clinical trial study in Ireland on patients newly diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma.

The trial investigates whether adding a new treatment, the drug Daratumumab (DARA), to the standard chemotherapy package of Cyclophosphamide and Bortezomib would improve outcomes for newly diagnosed patients.

So far 17 out of 18 patients have had a good response to the treatment, and half have had an excellent response, with no evidence of minimal residual disease in genetic testing.

Prof. O’Dwyer said this new treatment is “safe and convenient has the potential to become an important new treatment option for patients with Multiple Myeloma”.

“A European trial, which will include Irish patients, hopes to confirm the superiority of this treatment over current standard treatment, and will be launched shortly.”

Multiple Myeloma is a blood cancer arising from a type of white blood cell called a plasma cell.

The plasma cells normally produce antibodies which help fight infection. However in multiple myeloma those plasma cells become cancerous and are called myeloma cells.

This blood cancer impairs the production of red blood cells which carry oxygen, as well as damaging the bones and kidneys.

Every year in Ireland around 250 people are diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and 170 succumb to the disease.

This new study is the result of collaborations across a broad range of partners including NUIG, Cancer Trials Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society, Science Foundation Ireland, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the Health Research Board and BCNI investigators.

This clinical trial is the first homegrown trial to be conducted by Blood Cancer Network Ireland.

It represents a bench to bedside approach where scientific insights from the laboratory are applied to developing new and improved ways to treat patients.

Notably Irish patients on this trial received access to DARA which would not have been possible without this trial and it saved the taxpayer approximately €4 million in drug costs.

Crucially it showed that the reason for the excellent results was that the combination of the two treatments activated the immune system, increasing its ability to kill the cancer cells.

“These latest findings highlight the importance of investing in world class innovative cancer research in Ireland,” said Dr Robert O’Connor of the Irish Cancer Society.

He thanked the public donations and patient patient participation that allows research with a “huge potential to significantly improve the lives of future cancer patients” to take place.

Kylemore Abbey opens new €1.7 million visitor experience

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Planning permission extended for new Kylemore Abbey monastery

Connemara’s Kylemore Abbey has opened a new €1.7 million visitor experience ahead of the centenary of the Benedictine order’s arrival at the Victorian estate.

This redevelopment of the interior and surrounding landscape at Kylemore brings the history of the Abbey to life and makes the gardens more inviting than ever.

The visitor experience features a large new wing of four authentically refurbished rooms for visitors to discover, brought to live with incredible attention to detail by a team of architects and historians.

A new multimedia presentation will take visitors on a journey through history; connecting tales of politics, tragedy, romance, and spirituality throughout the history of the estate and abbey.

This presentation includes historical footage, archive photographs and artefacts, state of the art speaking portraits and beautifully updated period rooms with intriguing details throughout.

The landscape surrounding the Abbey has also been reconditioned to match the grandeur of the interior and to ensure access for those with reduced mobility.

Conor Coyne, Executive Director of the Kylemore Trust said the Abbey and Gardens are a “historic and internationally admired attraction” that makes up a “focal point” for tourism in Connemara.

“The new Visitor Experience, at Kylemore, will bring the fascinating history of the estate to life and further enrich the experience of visitors to the Wild Atlantic Way.”

Entitled ‘From Generation to Generation…The Story of Kylemore Abbey’ this visitor experience was developed with an investment of €1.7 million under Fáilte Ireland’s Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects.

Orla Carroll, Head of Product Development for Fáilte Ireland said this project is a perfect of how attractions “steeped in history and Irish culture” can use new technologies to create immersive experiences for visitors.

Sr Maire Hickey OSB, Mother Abbess of the Benedictine Community at Kylemore Abbey said that they have been caring for the castle, gardens, and estate for 100 years now, and are deeply grateful to Fáilte Ireland for its commitment to the historic site.

“They have enabled us to present the public with this new Visitor Experience that embraces the contribution of the Benedictines to the survival of Kylemore as it exists today, and allows us to share our beautiful home with all who come to visit.”

Last year Kylemore Abbey attracted over 300,000 visitors to view this beautiful stately home and gardens on the shore of Lough Pollacappul.

Minister for Transport and Tourism Shane Ross opened the visitor experience in Connemara last week, saying that it would push those number even higher.

An Bord Pleanala rejects expansion of west end hotel

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Planning permission extended to build 113 houses in Moycullen

An Bord Pleanala has rejected an appeal aiming to secure an expansion to a planned hotel in the west end.

Carroll’s Inn were refused permission for an expansion to the fourth floor of a hotel on Dominick Street which has yet to be constructed.

Carroll’s on Dominick street, well known for its beer garden and the popular Crust Bucket pizza restaurant that runs out of an old bus in the beer garden, is leading this project.

Galway City Council granted planning permission last year to demolish a building at the back of no. 39 Dominick street and build a 46 bedroom hotel with a pub and restaurant.

The project also involves renovations to 39, and 41 – 43 Dominick street which are protected structures.

However a later application was made by Carroll’s for a fourth floor extension to the hotel which would have added nine additional bedrooms and a lounge area to the rear of the building.

That application was rejected by Galway city council in January, saying that its “additional height, scale, bulk and extent over and above the development approved” was an overdevelopment of the site.

The council also said that it would detract from the character of the the Architectural Conservation Area of lower Dominick Street.

Carroll’s appealed that decision to An Bord Pleanála saying that the proposal was for a “modest” extension to the hotel plans which would only be visible from the rear of the site, and wouldn’t affect the Dominick Street streetscape.

It was added that the hotel will be a “positive addition to the greater Dominick Street area”, which was designed to limit its impact on the neighbouring protected structures.

In upholding the decision to reject the expansion An Bord Pleanála said that it would be “highly obtrusive, would be a visually incongruous feature at this location, detract from the architectural heritage, would seriously injure the visual amenities of the area and fails to adequately respond to its context or integrate successfully with the immediate and surrounding built environment.”

The higher planning authority added that granting permission would set an “undesirable precedent” for similar developments in the area.

Students given lifetime ban from NUIG societies reject offer to end court case

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Briain Kelly
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A family of students who claim that NUIG discriminated against them on religious grounds when they were banned from life from all university societies have rejected an offer to end their legal case.

Isaac, Kezia, Enoch and Ammi Burke received a lifetime ban from all student societies at NUIG on November 10, 2014.

The four siblings from Castlebar said that the university was suppressing their freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression.

However NUIG said that they were banned for misuse of funds from the Christian Union and Life societies to print flyers.

Before being banned the Burkes had been putting up posters and distributing material related to their Christian beliefs related to their opposition to gay marriage, abortion, and the Students’ Union’s support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel.

The Burkes deny any misuse of funds and allege that the ban came after the repeatedly reported “bullying, harassment and intimidation” against them, including complaints that their posters had been ripped down.

It’s understood that the Burkes received a letter from NUIG dated May 31 informing them that the lifetime ban was being lifted, and offered not to seek costs if they withdraw their legal case against the university.

In a statement the Burkes said that they have rejected this offer and are pressing ahead with their case, which is due to get underway at Galway Circuit Court today.

“It has been over 4 years and 6 months since we were banned for life from societies at NUI Galway,” Enoch Burke said, speaking on behalf of the four plaintiffs.

“Now, on the eve of the court hearing, that ban has been lifted. The University should never have imposed this ban in the first place and we are pressing ahead for justice.”

Legal action against NUIG

In 2014 the Burkes brought an action against NUIG at the Equality Tribunal claiming that the ban was discriminatory under the Equal Status Acts.

That complaint was referred to the Workplace Relations Commission, which ruled in November 2017 that 17 of the 28 complaints made fell outside of the statutory time limits.

The Adjudication Officer also said that they had not established a case of discrimination on religious grounds.

But the Burkes said felt that the WRC case had not been handled properly and pursued the matter at Galway Circuit Court, which ruled in December 2018 that the siblings could pursue their legal case against NUIG.

The case is listed for three days at Galway Circuit Court from June 18 – 20.

Galway nun honoured for work with Irish prisoners in Britain

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway nun honoured for work with Irish prisoners in Britain

Sister Moira Keane from Galway has won an award for her work with Irish prisoners in the UK.

Moira, who is originally from Galway, has worked with prisoners with the Irish Chaplaincy and elsewhere ever since her time studying at All Hallows College in Dublin.

A member of the Sisters of Mercy, Moira has won this year’s Individual Volunteer Award from the charity Irish in Britain for her work with Irish prisoners in England and Wales.

She helps them with prison visits, advice, advocacy, suicide attempt prevention, pastoral care as well as providing much needed support for distressed family members.

Irish in Britain said that Moira is “a natural carer” with “boundless energy” in her work with imprisoned people.

Moira first began on this path while on a ‘pastoral placement’ at Mountjoy Women’s prison while studying at All Hallows.

She later worked as a prison chaplain for 12 years in the north east of England and continues volunteering with prison outreach at the Irish Chaplaincy to this day.

Irish in Britain is the national charity supporting a wide network of diverse Irish organisations across Britain.

Formerly known as the Federation of Irish Societies, the charity was founded in 1973 and carries out research into the Irish community in Britain, as well as advocating on that community’s behalf on a wide range of issues.

Brian Dalton, Irish in Britain CEO, said that these awards were created to “highlight the difference volunteers make in our community every day.”

“We are proud to celebrate their contribution within diverse Irish organisations up and down Britain.”

Other awards went to a group of six women in their 80s who make up the Lunch Club team at the Southwark Irish Pensioners Project who won the award for a group of volunteers.

And the winner of the Award for Trustee is Rose Morris, who is Chair of Irish Community Care Manchester.

She was nominated for her role in creating sound governance for ICCM, which has enabled it to flourish and see its funding and services grow.

Prizes will be presented to winners and finalists at a special Awards Ceremony to be held at the Irish Cultural Centre in Hammersmith on 27 June.

The awards ceremony will be compered by Niall Jackson from The Irish Jam radio with music played by harpist Maev McDaid.

 

photo credit: Irish Chaplaincy

Parents encouraged to check eligibility for Back to School allowance

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Briain Kelly
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galway daily news Parents encouraged to check eligibility for Back to School Allowance

Parents in Galway are being encouraged to check their eligibility for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance will be paid automatically to roughly 110,000 families on behalf of around 200,000 children in 2019.

Galway East TD Seán Canney said the allowance is a “very important support for families who come under a lot of pressure with the extra costs of starting or returning to school in the autumn.”

He urged families in Galway to check their eligibility for the means tested one-off payment of they don’t automatically qualify.

The income limits for this year’s scheme have been adjusted so that increases in social welfare payments don’t negatively affect people’s eligibility.

Budget 2019 provided for €56 million for the allowance this year, up from €49.5m the year before, which will provide an extra €25 per child.

The payment this year will increase to €150 for children aged 4-11, and €275 for each child aged 12-22.

To be eligible for the grant for people over 18 they must be returning to full time education.

“All those receiving the allowance should receive notification of their entitlement by the end of June,” Deputy Canney said.

The Back to School allowance will begin paying out after July 8, and people who are not automatically eligible can make an application from June 24 onwards.

“Anyone who believes they are entitled to receive the allowance but has not had notification should apply.”

Applications for the scheme will be accepted up until September.

Last year many families reported a delay in receiving their allowance die to a glitch in the system.

The Department of Social Protection has said that new measures have been put in place to see it doesn’t repeat this year, and an investigation is being carried out into the cause of the problem.

More information about the scheme and how to apply can be found here.

Galway woman headed to national final of the Best Young Entrepreneur competition

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

An enterprising Galway woman is set to represent the city and county at the Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur national final.

30-year-old Elizabeth McGloughlin of Tympany Medical was named winner of the Best Business Idea category at the Best Young Entrepreneur regional finals in Mayo last week.

Elizabeth is an anaesthetist and co-founder of the medtech startup Tympany Medical based out of the Translational Research Facility at University Hospital Galway.

The co-founders Rory O’Callaghan and Dr. Elizabeth McGloughlin completed the BioInnovate Ireland programme at NUIG in 2016.

Tympany Medical s developing a visualisation device to enable surgeons to perform complex ear surgery with additional access and a wide view of the surgical site.

Doctors will be able to see around the corner in the ear canal during surgery so to speak.

Hosted by the Local Enterprise Offices around the country, Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur is a competition for young business men and women aged between 18 and 35 years old.

It is staged in conjunction with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities of Ireland, with more than €2 million in investment funding to give out to young entrepreneurs

Two other Galway entrepreneurs were competing alongside Elizabeth at the regional finals.

Keith Lofus, founder of All About Kombucha, was in the running for the ‘Best Start-Up Business’ category, and Barry Flannery of Xerotech was competing in the ‘Best Established Business’ category.

Elizabeth will now advance to the national finals taking place at the Google HQ on September 15.

 

photo credit: Martina Regan

Connacht switching conferences for the upcoming Guinness PRO14 season

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily sport Connacht switching conferences in upcoming Guinness PRO14 season
Connacht Rugby Squad Training, Sportsground, Galway 19/3/2019 Matthew Burke Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Connacht are transferring to Conference B in a shake up for the 2019/2020 season of the Guinness PRO14 as the rugby tournament enters its third year.

All of the Irish provinces have now swapped conferences in the first redrawing of the Guinness PRO14 since it expanded in 2017.

But Connacht Rugby remain paired with Munster, and Leinster and Ulster are also still together as they move up to Conference A.

These new conferences were drawn up based on this season’s rankings, and will remain the same for the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons.

The organisers said that “Using the Conference tables completed after Round 21 of the 2018/19 Guinness PRO14 season, teams were ordered from one to 14 based upon their final points totals and then ranked within their union.”

“The criteria for placing teams in each Conference relies on competitiveness and ensuring an equal spread of teams from each union are present in both Conferences. Full methodology and process is listed further in this text.”

How the Conferences were drawn:
First, all teams were placed into a consolidated table
1 Glasgow Warriors (81 pts)
2 Munster Rugby (77)
3 Leinster Rugby (76)
4 Ulster Rugby (63)
5 Connacht Rugby (61)
6 Ospreys Rugby (58)
7 Benetton Rugby (57)
8 Cardiff Blues (54)
9 Scarlets (52)
10 Edinburgh Rugby (51)
11 Toyota Cheetahs (46)
12 Dragons Rugby (26)
13 Isuzu Southern Kings (22)
14 Zebre Rugby Club (19)

Next each team was slotted into their union ranking
SCO 1: Glasgow Warriors (81)
SCO 2: Edinburgh Rugby (51)

ITA 1: Benetton Rugby (57)
ITA 2: Zebre Rugby Club (19)

SA 1: Toyota Cheetahs (46)
SA 2: Isuzu Southern Kings (22)

IRE 1: Munster Rugby (77)
IRE 2: Leinster Rugby (76)
IRE 3: Ulster Rugby (63)
IRE 4: Connacht Rugby (61)

WAL 1: Ospreys Rugby (58)
WAL 2: Cardiff Blues (54)
WAL 3: Scarlets (52)
WAL 4: Dragons (26)

As the team with the most points Glasgow Warriors were placed into Conference A to allow the population to follow the sequence below:

Conference A
Scotland 1 (Glasgow Warriors)
Ireland 2 (Leinster Rugby)
Ireland 3 (Ulster Rugby)
Wales 1 (Ospreys Rugby)
Wales 4 (Dragons Rugby)
Italy 2 (Zebre Rugby Club)
South Africa 1 (Toyota Cheetahs)

Conference B
Scotland 2 (Edinburgh Rugby)
Ireland 1 (Munster Rugby)
Ireland 4 (Connacht Rugby)
Wales 2 (Cardiff Blues)
Wales 3 (Scarlets)
Italy 1 (Benetton Rugby)
South Africa 2 (Isuzu Southern Kings)

This sequencing is put in place to ensure each union is equally represented in each Conference which is a guiding principal of the format of the Guinness PRO14.

 

photo credit: Laszlo Geczo

Red Tray initiative at UHG helping patients who next extra support at mealtimes

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Red Tray initiative at UHG helping patients who need support at mealtimes

University Hospital Galway has launched a new ‘Red Tray’ initiative to make sure patients who need extra assistance at mealtimes get the best possible care.

Patients who need extra support from hospital staff at mealtimes will have their food served on red trays as a clear visual indicator to staff that this person is vulnerable and needs assistance.

“Patients who have a red tray will be given encouragement by staff to eat at mealtimes and will be given help with eating if they need it,” said June Barrett, Senior Dietitian at UHG.

“Or it may be a case that they need more time to eat. Sometimes, simply making a patient comfortable and positioned correctly may be all that is required.”

Poor diet or an inability to eat is a serious healthcare issue, with statistics showing that one in four patients admitted to Irish hospitals have significant weight loss and signs of malnutrition.

That same evidence shows that improving their diet can have a massive benefits for patients with improved outcomes, reduced stays in hospital, and a lower risk of readmission.

Chris Kane, General Manager of Galway University Hospitals said that their Nutrition and Hydration Committee is always looking for ways to improve patient care.

They identified the Red Tray initiative as a very simple step that could make a real difference to people who just need a little extra help.

“Also, last year we introduced a Protected Mealtimes Policy which provides patients with dedicated time to have their meal without interruption”.

This he said allows staff to fully focus on helping them with their meals and dietary needs.

Owen Hanley wants to be a “role model” for members of the LGBT community

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Paul Kelly
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Galway Daily news Owen Hanley wants to a role model for LGBT community on the city council

Last month, Owen Hanley made history by becoming the youngest person ever to be elected to Galway City Council at 23 years old.

The well known activist obtained 5.6% of the first preference vote share in the east ward of the city council with 413 votes.

The NUI Galway graduate provided the Social Democrats with a breakthrough in Galway by becoming their first elected representative in the County.

If this wasn’t enough, he also earned the honor of being the first openly LGBT person to be elected to Galway City Council.

Speaking to Galway Daily, Hanley labelled it as a positive that him being an openly LBGT person wasn’t a big deal when it came to his campaign.

He spoke about wanting to go back to his old secondary school, St Joseph’s College, and be a representative for those young people throughout the LGBT community.

Councillor Hanley reiterated his intention to be a “role model” for members of the LGBT Community.

The Councillor noted that the Galway based LGBT Resource Centre Teach Solais was still looking for sustainable funding from the HSE,

He proclaimed that he “doesn’t want to waste any time” with getting down to work as 5 years can go quickly.

Hanley said that he has already started to meet various community groups and is keen to get back on the doors.

The City East representative expressed his eagerness to do his part to dampen down the housing crisis in Galway declaring that the housing crisis has reached “breaking point”.

He brought up the fact the Galway Simon Community just recently marked its 40th anniversary, adding that it’s “heartbreaking” that an organisation like the Simon Community has been needed for that long.

The Councillor has already revealed the first motions he will be bringing before the first monthly meeting of the new council on June 24.

He plans to bring a motion highlighting the need for transparent decision-making along with supported amendments for social housing rents for the most vulnerable.

In addition , Hanley will call for a strategy for a walking/cycling infrastructure project.

There was heated scenes at City Hall last Friday when various Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil representatives voiced their displeasure at Niall McNelis and Noel Larkin for reneging on their agreement and entering into a pact with Independents, The Green Party and Owen Hanley instead.

When asked about the voting pact, Hanley stated that he was happy with being in the majority on the Council and the pact was necessary to put Galway first.

This has lead to his increased presence on committees and is crucial in ensuring the development of a modern and progressive Galway.

Hanley asserted that it will take time for more established parties to get used to no longer being in the driver seat.

The councillor noted that it was bittersweet that no other Social Democrat candidate was elected to the City Council with him.

Despite this, he still maintains that the Galway Social Democrats squad will be instrumental over the next 5 years stating that it is a “team effort” and not all about the elected representative.

Making Space exhibition brings together astronomy and art

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily life & style Making Space exhibition brings art and astronomy together

Astronomy and art have come together to create some breathtaking pieces of work for the Making Space exhibition at Galway Arts Centre next month.

Making Space is the result of a collaborative residency between researchers from the NUIG Centre of Astronomy and several talented artists.

Chloe Brenan, Jane Cassidy, Louise Manifold, and Treasa O’Brien worked with four scientists to create work that shows contemporary approaches to astronomical research.

Chloe Brenan is a Dublin based artist whose work steps between the languages of film, print, text, installation and photographic media, collaborating with Dr Ray Butler.

Recent exhibitions of Choe’s include ‘Independent Art Book Fair’, with REPLIKA Publishers in Brooklyn (2018) and ‘The medium in the message’ at The Library Project, Dublin (2018).

Jane Cassidy is a multi-disciplinary artist and educator from Galway, collaborating with Dr. Mark Lang.

She trained in music composition and visual art and is currently Assistant Professor of Digital Media at Boston College, Massachusetts.

Past performances include the European Media Art Festival, Germany and solo shows in Nevada, Louisiana, Alabama and Michigan.

Louise Manifold works conceptually with film, photography, drawing, sculpture and text, and is collaborating with Dr. Matthew Peter Redman.

She has exhibited extensively throughout Ireland and internationally, including exhibitions at The Science Gallery Dublin, The MAC Belfast, and ISCP New York.

And Treasa O’Brien is an award-winning artist-filmmaker collaborating with Prof. Andrew Shearer whose work has screened in art galleries, film festivals and social centres in countries around the world.

Treasa recently completed a PhD in Film by Practice, exploring documentary as a performative act, winning a full paid scholarship at Westminster University 2014-18.

This exhibition is part of the Royal Astronomical Society’s 2020 bicentennial celebrations.

Making Space is the only project in Ireland to join four others from the UK that have received RAS 200 Awards to support astronomy and geophysics projects.

The exhibition will open on Sunday, July 14 at 3pm with a panel discussion from the scientists an artists behind the project.

Afterwards it will be open for viewing at Galway Arts Centre until July 28. At a date not yet decided and audio descriptive tour will be organised for visually impaired people.

Photo Credit: Louise Manifold Constellation of Hydra III

Teagasc plan expansion of Ballinasloe offices

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Green light for new apartment complex in Rahoon

Teagasc have submitted plans to Galway County Council for an expansion of their facility in Deerpark, Ballinasloe.

Planning permission is being sought for a single storey expansion to the rear of an existing agricultural advisory office building at the Teagasc Local Advisory Office in Ballinasloe.

The new extension is meant to provide more office space at the building. Other work involved in the project includes minor internal alterations to the building to provide a disabled toilet.

Permission is also being sought for an expansion of the outside car park, which will include providing disabled parking.

Teagasc is Ireland’s Food and Agriculture Development Authority, conducting research into improvements into agriculture.

Local offices such as this also provide advisory and training services for people and businesses in the agriculture and food industries.

Galway County Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by June 23.

Croi offering free heart health checks for over 65’s

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Galway man tells harrowing tale of heart transplant and recovery

A healthy heart is key to healthy ageing, at least that’s what Croí Heart & Stroke charity said, announcing that they will be offering free heart health checks for over 65’s this week.

The Croí Third Age Programme is focused on ensuring our increasingly ageing society does so healthily, and to that end older people can come by the centre in Newcastle to get their heart health checked.

As people age naturally, changes in their heart and blood vessels take place that increase your risk of heart disease or stroke Croí have said.

The charity said that people ged 65+ are much more likely than younger people to develop heart problems, but many of these conditions can be treated and managed if caught early.

“In today’s world, thanks to medical and technological innovation, we are living longer. By the year 2050, 1 in 5 people worldwide will be over the age of 60 years of age.”

“In fact, for the first time in human history we are close to a time when across the world there will be more people over the age of 60 than under the age of 15.”

“The greatest barrier to this is age-related cardiovascular diseases,” Croí insists.

With that in mind, if you are over 65 years old, aren’t attending a cardiologist, and haven’t had your heart checked in the past six months the Crói is inviting you to their free clinic.

The free checks will take place at Croí Heart & Stroke Centre in Newcastle from 1pm to 4pm on Wednesday, June 19.

Roadworks at Loughrea, Lackagh, and Ballymoe get underway

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

Roadworks on three separate areas of Galway county have gotten underway this morning.

People travelling in the areas of Loughrea, Ballymoe and Lackagh can expect traffic to be affected by these roadworks over the next few weeks.

At Ballymoe Galway County Council has ordered resurfacing roadworks of the N60 at the border with Roscommon.

It’s expected that these works will take four weeks to complete.

The work involved in this project includes planing out and reinstating the surface of the road, road markings, access and accommodation works, and drainage works.

A traffic management plan will be in place for the duration of the works being carried out by Roadstone Ltd.

Similar work is taking place on the Galway to Roscommon road at An Ruan Mór crossroads at Lackagh.

These works are expected to take five weeks to complete, with the contract going to Westport based Gibbons Building & Civil Engineering Ltd.

And lastly traffic to the south of Loughrea will be affected by resurfacing overlay roadworks on the R351 at Kylebrack, Loughrea.

Work began at 7am this morning and the county council has said that a Stop/Go system will be operating to manage traffic over the next three days.

“As a consequence users of this road are requested to expect delays and as such should allow additional time for their journeys.”

The contract for these works has been awarded to Lagan Asphalt Ltd.

Roscommon reclaim Connacht title with dominant second half display

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport Galway v Armagh: All-Ireland Final on the Big Screen in Pearse Stadium

Roscommon have reclaimed the Connacht Senior Football title from Galway today at Pearse Stadium.

Despite being down by five points at the half time Roscommon made a furious comeback, restricting Galway to just two points in the second half and putting home a flurry of points and a goal to finish at 1-13 to Galway’s 0-12.

Things got off to a quick start with a flurry of points from both sides in the first few minutes.

Roscommon opened the scoring with a point from Conor Devaney in the second minute, and Michael Daly responded for Galway two minutes after that.

The two sides were level three times in the first 21 minutes when they were tied at five points apiece.

But Galway dominated the rest of the time until the break, putting over another five points, with Walsh claiming his third of the match.

Heavy rain in Pearse Stadium plagued much of the first half, and by the half time whistle Roscommon were trailing dispiritedly 0-5 to Galway’s 0-10.

But to Rossies came back out with a furious energy with a point from Niall Kilroy and a goal Seamus Murtagh in the first five minutes.

There was no answering response from Galway and another point from Conor Cox put the sides level at 0-10 and 1-7.

It wasn’t until 21 minutes into the second half that Galway managed to score with a point from Michael Daly.

This didn’t build any momentum and and another point from Shane Walsh was the only other score the Tribesmen would take home in the second half.

Roscommon fans were certainly feeling the atmosphere with a pitch invasion in extra time nearly bringing the match to a premature end.

But referee Barry Cassidy managed to clear the field to let play resume, with Conor Cox bringing in a last point for Roscommon before the final whistle.

This has been an unfortunate weekend for Galway after Dublin knocked the hurlers out of the Leinster Championship in Parnell Park on Saturday.

Galway side: Ruairi Lavelle; Liam Silke, Seán Andy Ó Ceallaigh, Eoghan Kerin; Gary O’Donnell, Gareth Bradshaw, John Daly; Thomas Flynn, Fionán Ó Curraoin; Peter Cooke, Michael Daly, Johnny Heaney; Antaine Ó Laoí, Ian Burke, Shane Walsh.

Scorers: Shane Walsh 0-4 (2fs), Michael Daly 0-3 (1f), Antaine Ó Laoí 0-2, Gareth Bradshaw 0-1, Fiontán Ó Curraoin 0-1, Eamonn Brannigan 0-1.

Subs: Eamonn Brannigan for Ó Curraoin (21), Sean Kelly for Cooke (54), Cillian McDaid for Heaney (62), Adrian Varley for M Daly (62), Martin Farragher for Burke (68), Kieran Molloy for O’Donnell (70+6).

Roscommon side: Darren O’Malley; Conor Daly, Seán Mullooly, David Murray; Niall Daly, Conor Hussey, Ronan Daly; Tadhg O’Rourke, Shane Killoran; Conor Devaney, Cathal Cregg, Niall Kilroy; Diarmuid Murtagh, Conor Cox, Enda Smith.

Scorers: Diarmuid Murtagh 1-3 (2fs), Conor Cox 0-5 (2f), Niall Daly 0-1, Ronan Daly 0-1, Shane Killoran 0-1, Conor Devaney 0-1, Niall Kilroy 0-1.

Subs: Hubert Darcy for Devaney (26), Colin Compton for Smith (57), Cian McKeon for Cregg (62), Andrew Glennon for Murtagh (68), Brian Stack for Killoran (70+5).

 

photo credit: Gaelic Athletic Association

Country music night raises thousands for UHG oncology unit

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Country Music night raises thousands for UHG oncology ward

Martina Cleary from Glenamaddy visited UHG this week to present a cheque for €4,250 to the Oncology Unit.

Back in 2012 Martina was a patient in the Oncology Unit and has been generously supporting the unit and the life saving work it does ever since.

In April of this year she and her father Joe Cunniffe organised a country music night in Glenamaddy to raise money for UHG.

This is the fifth time that they have help a fundraising country music night, taking in more than €21,000 for the hospital since 2013.

Everyone involved in the event gave their services free of charge so that all money raised was donated to the Oncology Unit.

The cheque was presented to staff at the Oncology Day Ward at UHG pictured above. Seen from the left are Kate Lyons, Staff Nurse; Martina Cleary presenting the cheque to Claire Davey, Clinical Nurse Manager 2; and Dolores Browne, Staff Nurse.

City centre street closing for four day roadworks on Monday

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news road closure

Middle Street in Galway city centre is closing for four days from Monday to allow roadworks to take place.

The city council has ordered the street closed to traffic from 7am on Monday, June 17 to 7pm on Thursday, June 20 while Irish Water carries out roadworks.

Irish Water is carrying out sewer rehabilitation works that involves replacing sections of collapsed sewer that are causing blockages.

This is part of a larger upgrade of the city sewer network now underway.

Middle Street will be closed along its length from the junction with Cross Street Lower to the Abbeygate Street Upper junction.

Local access will be maintained on the first half of the street up to St Augustine’s church for residents and deliveries.

During the works the direction of traffic on St. Augustine Street will be reversed.

Alternate routes will be signposted by the city council while work is underway.

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