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Solicitor of foster care victims says it’s “not an isolated incident”

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

Ronan Hynes, the solicitor for two of the three victims of sexual abuse in foster care in Dunmore has said that this was “not an isolated incident”.

Details of a damming report on the actions of the HSE and Tusla in relation to a case that saw three girls repeatedly raped by Keith Burke while in foster care between 2003 and 2007 have been reported today by RTÉ Investigates.

The report said that the child and family agency failed to protect the three girls by allowing two of them to remain in the Burke’s care after a “credible” allegation of sexual abuse.

When asked on RTÉ News at One of Tusla is fit for purpose Ronan Hynes said that anyone reading that report would struggle to answer in the affirmative

He said that the overall standard of foster care in Ireland are excellent, but also warned that this was “not an isolated incident”.

Mr Hynes said that the contents of this report “call into serious question the ability of state agencies to properly exercise their statutory functions, which are of course to improve outcomes for children”.

His clients welcome the report he said, for better illuminating how what happened to them was allowed to happen.

An independent audit is required of Tusla from an appropriate expert, Mr Hynes added, looking at its systems and resources to discover whether the agency is fit to carry out its statutory purpose.

“This report leaves the reader in no doubt whatsoever that there were systemic flaws in management and oversight from the initial response, the initial foster care placement assessment, to the investigation, the risk assessment of the allegations and their subsequent management.”

In a statement released today Tusla said that it accepted the findings of the National Review Panel and was working to implement the recommendations made in the report.

However the agency also raised issued with the manner in which the contents of the report were leaked to members of the press prior to its publication.

“Engagements with those affected including young people, families, and the community is in line with best practice, to ensure their wellbeing and limit any adverse effects this situation may have on them.”

“We are concerned that this report has been put into the public domain prior to the publication date and in advance of the completion of a number of important steps which take place in the days before a publication of this nature.”

The child and family agency also noted that this report covers a time before the establishment of Tusla, adding that “Since 2014, social workers have actively worked with the young people involved, where that’s in line with their wishes, and will continue to do so.”

Tusla acknowledges failings after children raped in Galway foster care

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Tusla admits failing in case of three girls abused in Galway foster care

Tusla has acknowledged that child protective services failed to keep safe three children who were raped while in foster care in Galway.

Three girls were repeatedly raped by Keith Burke while in the foster care of his parents in Dunmore between 2003 and 2007.

The case was brought to public attention by RTÉ Investigates in 2016 when multiple women came forward to accuse Burke of sexually abusing them.

Last year Keith Burke, who was a teenager at the time of these crimes, was sentenced to seven and half years in prison, having only admitted his guilt after the trial at the sentencing hearing.

Tusla, the Child and Family Protection Agency, referred the case to the National Review Panel established in the aftermath of the clerical sexual abuse scandal.

The panel’s report, which has yet to be published, is reportedly scathing of both the HSE and Tusla.

It says that there were “systemic flaws in management” in the handling of this case according to RTÉ Investigates, which has seen its contents.

The 22-page report reportedly says that serious inaction by child protection services contributed to the abuse these three children suffered in foster care.

The review panel said that assessment of the Burke’s suitability for foster placement was brief and lacked detail RTÉ reports.

It also said that no consideration was given to the implications of placing three girls with growing boys.

When the first accusations were made of sexual abuse by Keith Burke, no move was made to remove the remaining girls from foster care at the Burkes despite the accusation being deemed “credible” and backed by a pediatrician who examined the girl.

A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, but no prosecution was brought forward at the time.

Instead a “safety plan” was put in place that said the foster parents were to ensure their son had no unsupervised contact with the other children.

However the report says that this plan was ineffective due to the parent’s refusal to believe the allegations against their son, and by a lack of follow up visits by social workers.

It does however acknowledge that the abuse apparently stopped after the first disclosures, and that at the time child protective services were extremely understaffed and overworked.

In a response to the coverage of this report today, Tusla has issued a statement saying that it fully accepts the findings and recommendations of the NRP and is working to address the finding it raised.

“We are very mindful of the devastating impact on the victims in this case and the effect that this has had on them, and their families.

“We now know that the decisions made in 2007 and 2011 were not robust enough to keep the children safe.”

“However it is important to highlight that this report reflects a certain point in time, prior to the establishment of Tusla which has resulted in an improvement in standards, staffing and services.”

Foster care system improvement.

Tusla has said that in the time since then social workers have been actively working with the young people involved where that is their wish, and will continue to do so.

“Throughout our work, Tusla strives to protect children and keep them safe from harm,” the child protection agency said.

“Currently, foster care placements are subject to a number of safeguards including on-going Garda vetting for foster carers and adult family members, regular visits to the household from children’s social workers and foster carers’ social workers, and inspections of fostering services by HIQA and in depth aftercare supports.”

“When an allegation of abuse is made, Tusla takes immediate action to protect any child or children who may be at immediate risk.”

“Currently all serious concerns and allegations in foster care are managed in line with Tusla’s operational guidance for staff. Our actions are always informed by the best interests and safety of the children involved.”

Appeal lodged against rejection of Tuam apartments

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Appeal lodged against rejection of Tuam apartments

An appeal has been lodged against a decision to refuse planning permission for 17 apartments in Tuam.

JHL Manufacturing sought to convert the first floor of a building at Trinity Court in Tuam, into apartments.

The development would consist of changing the use of multiple vacant retail units and a coffee shop in the four storey Lár na Cathrach building.

The development would consist of 12 one-bed and 5 two-bed apartments covering roughly 1,600m².

Galway county council refused to approve the project due to issues with parking and private space in the apartments.

It was noted that was no private open space for 16 of the 17 apartments in the plans submitted, and that several of them lacked sufficient storage space.

The council cited “a lack of clarity regarding the satisfactory provision of carparking for the proposed residential units”.

JHL said that the new apartments would be served by the existing basement car parking in the building.

It was also noted that no design statement was submitted from Irish Water to show that the development could be served by the existing water mains and sewage infrastructure.

According to JHL this development would result in “the delivery of a benefit to the town centre by putting existing vacant floorspace to use”.

The developer also said that providing housing within the town centre is a priority under both national and local planning policy.

An appeal against the refusal of planning permission was lodged with the higher planning authority by JHL Manufacturing on May 14. An Bord Pleanála is due to rule on this case by September 16.

Cleggan Airstrip use approved for Alcock and Brown centenary celebrations

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Cleggan airstrip approved for use in Alcock and Brown centenary celebrations

The use of Cleggan Airstrip in the ‘Alcock and Brown’ centenary celebrations of the first ever non-stop transatlantic flight taking place in Clifden this summer has been approved.

John Alcock and Arthur Brown made the first non-stop transatlantic flight in a modified WWI bomber in June 1919.

The two airmen flew from Newfoundland in Canada, exposed to wind, rain, snow, and ice, before crash landing in a bog in Derrygilmleigh outside Clifden.

The ‘Alcock and Brown 100th anniversary festival will see a full re-enactment of the 1919 landing and part of the celebrations include a ‘fly in’ involving several aircraft at the Cleggan Airfield on Saturday, June 15.

As the airstrip is owned by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, government permission had to be sought to make use of it.

Galway TD and Minister for the Irish Language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands Seán Kyne granted that permission this week.

Cathaoirleach of Galway county council Eileen Mannion said she was delighted that Minister Kyne has seen fit to approve Cleggan for use in the festival.

“Clifden and North West Connemara has the privilege of being closely associated with the first non-stop transatlantic flight, a momentous milestone in the history of aviation.

“The approval from Minister Kyne and the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for the use of the airfield will enhance the wonderful festival that the ‘Alcock and Brown 100’ organisers have planned.”

“The re-enactment of the 1919 landing and the ‘fly in’, involving a number of aircraft will bring to life this feat of engineering for the communities of Connemara and beyond.”

A famous statue of the two men which normally resides at Heathrow Academy has been lent out for this celebration and can be seen at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden up until June 25.

Clifden already commemorates the historic flight with two monuments close to the 1919 landing site.

One is a white cairn at the spot where they radioed their success to London from a nearby Marconi radio station, and the other is a sculpture of the plane’s tail fin at Errislannan Hill two kilometres away.

Plans for B&B in the Claddagh to cater for “culturally curious” tourists

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Plans for city centre hotel development off Eyre Square

Plans have been submitted to the city council for a B&B in the Claddagh to cater for “culturally curious” tourists in Galway.

The application is for planning permission for the construction of a six bedroom B&B and garden shed at 16 Fr Griffin Road.

The chosen site for this development is currently unoccupied and described by Patrick McCabe Architects, acting on behalf of the developer, as “derelict, an eyesore” and “subject to anti-social behaviour”.

This is intended to be a family owned and operated business, with a family member or experienced staff member living on site 7 days a week in specifically designed staff quarters on the ground floor.

According to planning documents submitted to the city council the intended customers for this guesthouse are “what Fáilte Ireland and Tousism Ireland describe as the ‘Culturally Curious’ tourist”.

“These are tourists who prefer to stay in owner run B&B accommodation because of the small scale and personal nature of the B&B rather than a large hotel”.

It was said that this location is ideal for tourists who want to avoid sleeping with the noise of the city centre but retain easy access to it for exploring.

The bed and breakfast will operate year round with check in open from 3pm and check out by 12pm.

It is intended that breakfast will be served in a central dining area from 8am to 10am every morning “as it facilitates chat and mingling and sharing stories about their holiday with their fellow guests”.

At a pre-planning meeting with the city council it was noted that while the plans do not contain any parking provision, the city development plan allows for a transportation contribution to be levied in lieu.

Waste services will be handled by CityBin or an equivalent service and Keady Laundry, who specialise in working with B&Bs, will handle the laundry service.

The developer said that this project will consist of “high quality, well lit, and well serviced tourist accommodation” which ” makes a positive contribution to the urban streetscape” and helps meet Galway city’s needs in terms of tourism and amenity services.

Galway city council is due to make a decision on this planning application by June 16.

Letter: Why you should vote YES in tomorrow’s Divorce Referendum

By
Michael Malone
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blasphemy referendum vote yes galway daily

Dear Editor,

I am writing this to request that people VOTE YES on Friday to the Divorce Referendum.

Last Christmas I sat with a client and she asked me why the law was so cruel. Her husband owned three properties all in his name and she was in a refuge with her children.

She was there for eight weeks until she ran to get away from her husband. He used the District Court to summons her for access and he also sought maintenance from her despite the fact that he made her quit work after they got married.

The law requires that they be separately and apart for four out of the previous five years before you can be given a decree of divorce. This time period is a life time for some in our society and one of her children has spent more of his life in a refuge than a family home because of it.

The reduction to two years makes sense as it also saves court time and gives people the opportunity to move on with their lives.

I realise the above case is the extreme but remember the law most cater for all and those who are vulnerable and in abusive relationships deserve to be protected.

No person knows how long they have on this earth but time wasted in limbo and distress is not fair to anyone. If you have the freedom to marry you should be provided with the option of divorce in good time as well. This referendum would give families an opportunity to heal and move on without the struggle and dormant of potentially 4 Christmases in dispute and uncertainty.

The law should be fair and to the clients I know who are in relationships that are abusive it takes a lot to come forward to seek assistance and legal advice.

We need a constitution that we can be proud of and that protects people and the children impacted by the ending of a relationship with the other parent or partner.

As my brother told me at the age of 8 years I had been in college his whole life and to me it was a realisation that for a child the time is felt differently.

We need to reduce the time a child is waiting for stability and certainty.  Those who get married are still entitled to basic human rights and they should not be held in a situation against their will for a set period in law that is unreasonable. We need to bring Ireland in line with other countries that give individuals a right to a remedy as soon as is reasonably possible.

Thanking you kindly,

Lorraine Lally

Barrister at Law

Talented young Galwegians win Texaco Awards

By
Michael Malone
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Six Galway students have been presented with top awards in this year’s 65th Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

Lauren Dolphin (18), a pupil at Saint Raphael’s College, Loughrea, won second prize in the 16-18 years age category of the Competition.

Chairman of the judging panel, Professor Gary Granville and James Twohig, Director Ireland Operations at Valero presented her with the award.

galway

Another top Galway winner who received her prize at a ceremony held in Enfield recently was Emma Harris (17), a pupil at St. Brigid’s College, Loughrea, who won third prize in the 16-18 years age category.

Other winners from Galway, all of whom received Special Merit Awards, were: Melissa Shiel (14), from Calasanctius College, Oranmore; Grace Burke (12), from Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha, Tuaim; Learaí O’Gradaigh (8), from Inverin and Jonas Whyte (8), from Tuam Educate Together National School.

Galway City West Preview: Who are the Candidates and what do they stand for?

By
Paul Kelly
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Tomorrow, May 24th Galwegians will go to the polls to vote in the Local Elections.

The Galway City West Ward encompasses Barna, Knocknacarra, Rockbarton, Salthill and Taylors Hill.

There are 14 candidates running in Galway City West with seven of these candidates running as Independents.

Fine Gael – Clodagh Higgins & Pearce Flannery

Fine Gael are running two candidates for the Galway City West Ward.

 

Pearce Flannery is a sitting Fine Gael Councillor and made a point not to use election posters for his reelection campaign.

Among other things, the sitting Councillor outlined his continued commitment to and support for the swimming and aquatic community in Galway.

He has previously brought motions at Council level for the reinstatement of the raft at Blackrock and has vowed to do so again if re elected.

Clodagh Higgins is a first time election candidate hoping to gain a seat for Fine Gael for the Galway City West Ward.

The Psychologist has campaigned for the rejuvenation of Salthill.

She intends to achieve this through measures such as creating an evening economy and designating Saltill as a rate controlled area for business.

The Fine Gael activist has highlighted her determination to implement green measures for the benefit of the City West Ward.

These measures include an increase in the number of cycle paths, funding for flood protection, and the introduction of public drinking water points.

In addition the first time candidate vowed to campaign for expanding the city bike scheme to Saltill and Knocknacarra, Decarbonising our public transport system and introduce allotments to encourage planting and growing.

 

Fianna Fáil – Peter Keane & John Connolly

Fianna Fáil are also running two candidates in the Galway City West Ward.

Peter Keane has been an elected Councilor since 2009.

In 2014 Peter Keane was re-elected to the Galway City West Ward.

The Solicitor has promised to campaign for the extension of the Promenade from Sailin to Silverstrand.

In addition to this he intends to ‘continue the fight for better Health Services for our Communities’.

The Fianna Fáil representative wants to more Community Gardaí delivered throughout the city.

Furthermore he intends to campaign for delivery on the Galway Transportation Strategy.

 

John Connolly is looking to pick up a second seat for Fianna Fáil in the Galway City West Ward.

The former City Councillor is critical of the current ‘clear infrastructural deficit on health facilities in Galway’.

When it comes to transport, John Connolly supports the plans to develop the new N6 Galway City Ring Road while still maintaining that it will not provide a solution in the ‘medium term’.

He emphasizes the need to make public transport more accessible, convenient and efficient.

Sinn Féin – Cathal Ó Conchúir

Cathal Ó Conchúir will be looking to retain the seat he won for Sinn Féin in 2014.

The sitting Councillor has referenced his support for the introduction of LED Lighting across the City which has saved the City €1.5 Million to date.

He has also described his efforts to secure an Astroturf Pitch on the Cappagh Road.

He has made proposals to the Council to always build bus shelters with bus stops seeing as how ‘it rains 270 days a year’.

Furthermore, the school teacher described his proposal that an Anaerobic Digester be built for Galway City so that ‘we can use our food waste to produce bio-methane gas that we could use for our transport systems in the City’.

Niall McNelis – Labour

The sitting Mayor of Galway Niall McNelis will once again be seeking to represent the people of the Galway City West Ward.

The Labour representative has been an elected representative since 2009.  

Regarding education, the retailer fully supports the development of GMIT in its application for for Technical University Status.

He is in favour of the development of a new secondary school in Knocknacarra while supporting the need for an Educate Together Secondary School.

When it comes to housing he stresses that Rent Pressure Zones in City must be reviewed, with security of tenure and leases driven in policy.

McNelis intends on working on the development of affordable housing in Galway City to achieve the density goals required by Project Ireland 2040.

John Crowley – Social Democrats

The Social Democrats will be looking to have their very first Councillor elected in the Galway City West Ward.

John Crowley has outlined his vision for Galway City Council to be a chamber where it embraces evidence-based policies and long-term planning, rather than knee-jerk reactions.

The community organiser who was active in the Repeal the 8th/together for yes campaign intends to lobby for improving and increasing bus services.

He also advocates for alternative transport solutions such as Bus Rapid Transport.

 

Pauline O’Reilly – Green Party

Pauline O’Reilly will be looking looking to capitalize on the recent green wave which has engulfed politics as a whole.

The Green Party activist is calling on practical local solutions on climate and environmental action.

The Solicitor supports accessible public transport that goes across the whole city. She is also calling for the provision of proper bus shelters with digital displays and seating.

She wants to put cycling and footpaths to be put to the top of the agenda and will push for a greenway that goes along the prom and out to Barna.  

 

Donal Lyons – Independent

Sitting Councillor Donal Lyons will be seeking re-election to the Galway City West Ward.

The former Mayor topped the poll in 2014

He made headlines last week by voicing his deep reservations over the Tourist Office on Forster Street being moved to another area.

 

 

Tommy Roddy – Independent

Independent candidate Tommy Roddy is once again running for Galway City Council.

The school teacher is known for his various letters to national newspapers where he offers his two cents on a vast amount of issues dominating the public sphere.

For his campaign, Tommy Roddy is looking to highlight 3 main issues.

These are listed as reform of the mental health services, to highlight sexual harassment and sexual assault and the benefits of volunteering.

The other candidates running in the City West Ward are Marc Anderson, Darius Ivan, Marian Maloney and Claire Keegan all of whom are running as Independents.

Experience the old city brought to life in the Galway Medieval Experience

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily life & style Experience the magic of old Galway in the Galway Medieval Experience

Experience the magic of old Galway brought to life this Saturday with a day of festivities at the Galway Medieval Experience.

This event from Galway 2020’s Small Towns Big Ideas includes a display of medieval combat, a demonstration of how scribes created stunning manuscripts, an augmented reality show that will really bring the past to life, and of course all the music that comes with any good day in Galway.

The enthusiastic folks from the Irish School of Historical Combat will be putting on a display of medieval field warfare in the courtyard of the city museum from 11am to 4pm.

Wearing medieval dress and modern sparring equipment they will give a unique combat display of fighting techniques and battlefield melees using specialist weapon combinations and talks on their uses.

Inside the museum archaeologist Anne Carey will lead the Be a Medieval Scribe workshop from 10:30am to 11:30am telling the story of the earliest monasteries in Ireland.

She will talk about how the monks lived and created the beautiful manuscripts that led to Ireland being called the Land of Saints and Scholars.

Modern technology will bring the past to life before your eyes with a display of augmented reality at the Hall of the Red Earl from 11am to 4pm where people will get to see what this ancient building looked like in its original state.

The Medieval Experience is being organised by Galway Civic Trust in partnership with the Galway Early Music Festival, an annual celebration of medieval, renaissance and baroque music in the city known for its love of good tunes.

Throughout the day, the streets of the Latin Quarter will be filled with music from shawms, pipes, recorders, harp, lute, and brass.

The music starts in the Hall of the Red Earl, Druid Lane and winds its way through the streets of the Latin Quarter.

Musicians taking part include include The York Waits, Michelle O’Conor (vielle, rebec), Jacopo Bisagni (pipes), Sylvia Crawford (fiddle), Brenda Malloy (harp).

There is more to be seen at the medieval experience including an exhibit on instrument makers, a medieval dance workshop, and a look at a day in the life of someone living in Galway back then.

A full list of all the events taking place on Saturday is available from the Galway Civic Trust website here.

Roadworks near Gort to cause traffic disruptions on Friday

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Some traffic disruption is expected at the Galway-Roscommon county line today near Mountbellew due to roadworks taking place

Roadworks taking place near Gort will cause traffic disruptions on Friday due to a one day road closure.

Galway county council has ordered a section of the LP 4506 at Raheen, Kiltartan, Gort to close on Friday, May 24 to facilitate Resurfacing Overlay roadworks.

The stretch of road in question will be closed from 7am to 7pm to allow work to take place.

The county council is advising motorists travelling near Gort tomorrow to expect delays and to allow extra time for their journeys due to this.

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

 

Galway islands go to the polls

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news

Voting has opened on the islands today in the local and European elections, and on the divorce referendum.

Residents of Inis Oírr, Inis Mór, Inis Meain, and Inishbofin islands vote a day ahead of the mainland. Historically this is to make sure that their votes are counted in time.

They are voting for their county councillors in the Connemara South district and MEPs in the Midlands-North West parliament district, as well as whether to approve changes to the constitution on divorce.

There are 17 candidates running for four seats in the Midlands North-West European Parliament district, while seven candidates are contesting five county council seats in Connemara South.

The divorce referendum is asking voters whether to approve two proposals; one to recognise foreign divorces and another to remove the four year separation period requirement for a divorce from the constitution.

This will be the last time that the islands vote ahead of the mainland after a bill brought forward by Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cúiv for same day voting was approved by the government.

Deputy Ó Cúiv has said that early voting on the islands no longer necessary to have ballots counted in time, and that voting in the midweek puts islanders at a disadvantage.

The Electoral Amendment bill was approved by the government in April, but it was decided not to have the change come into effect until after these elections.

Women’s fashion store plans closure in corporate shakeup

By
Briain Kelly
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Top Shop owner Phillip Green is planning to close eight stores around Ireland including women’s fashion retail outlet Miss Selfridge in Galway.

The closures are part of a major corporate restructuring plan to try and keep the fashion empire afloat that includes shuttering 23 stores throughout Ireland and the UK.

The Irish Times reports that Phillip Green’s company Arcadia, owner of Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge, Evans, and Wallis retail brands has been negotiating with its landlord and creditors for several months to try and reach a better deal.

It’s reported that this deal will see the loss of 520 jobs throughout Ireland and the UK.

Among the losses in this deal are the flagship Irish Top Shop outlet in Ireland at St. Stephen’s Green and all 11 branches of the fashion retailer in the US.

A further 194 stores remaining open will see reductions in their rent.

All stores will continue to trade as normal until June 5 when the plan will be brought to creditors for approval.

The full lost of planned closures reported includes:

  • Topshop and Miss Selfridge (St. Stephen’s Green)
  • Topshop and Topman (Jervis Shopping Centre, Dublin)
  • Evans and Wallis (Henry Street, Dublin)
  • Wallis (Liffey Valley, Dublin)
  • Miss Selfridge (Galway)
  • Dorothy Perkins & Evans (Cork)

More under represented groups than ever accessing higher education

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news more under represented groups than ever accessing higher education

A greater number of people disadvantaged or under represented groups are accessing higher education in Galway than ever before.

A new report ’20 Years of Access education in NUI Galway’ was launched by Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor this week showing record progression on disadvantaged or underrepresented groups in third-level education over the last twenty years..

The Access programme at NUI Galway is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with a record of thousands of people given a leg up to higher education.

Since it first began more than 3,600 people have completed Access programmes at NUIG, 90 percent of whom went on to take an undergraduate degree.

The Access Centre at NUI Galway delivers one-year pre-undergraduate programmes both on-campus for school leavers and mature students, and off-campus in outreach centres in Sligo, Ballinasloe and An Cheathrú Rua.

Of those who took an undergraduate course after the Access programme 77% completed their studies and received their degree at NUIG.

The ratio of people who went through the access programme was 62% female and 38% male.

Imelda Byrne, Head of the Access Centre at NUI Galway said that the past 20 years have shown the impact of the Access programme “in offering an alternative pathway for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups”.

She added that Access has played a crucial role in “breaking down barriers to higher education for the most under-represented groups in higher education”.

“It clearly outlines the vitally important impact Access can have into the future for the participants.”

Madden warns of “information vacuum” on divorce referendum

By
Briain Kelly
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0
Galway daily news

Galway county council candidate Eoin Madden has warned of an “information vacuum” on the divorce referendum taking place this Friday while calling for a Yes vote.

The Independent candidate for Loughrea municipal district said that with the with the local and European elections taking place alongside the referendum “most people have barely had a chance to take it in”.

“There’s so much going on about the local and European elections. It’s important that people put party politics aside and look at what the referendum on divorce is about.”

When voters go to the polls on Friday they will be asked to vote on two proposals. One on the length of time a couple must be separated before a divorce, and another on recognising foreign divorces.

Currently the constitution stipulates that a couple must be separated for four of the five preceding years before a divorce can be granted.

The constitution also does not recognise foreign divorces where the marriage would still be legal under Irish law.

If voters choose Yes for these proposals, both of these measures will be removed from the constitution.

The government intends to legislate to replace the four year separation period with a two year period.

Eoin Madden has said that a lack of coverage of these of these issues could mean that voters who are dissatisfied with the government “might be tempted to vote ‘No’ to register their protest”.

Eoin Madden

Madden, who is married with three young children, has said that he supports a Yes vote on recognising foreign divorces and reducing the length of time people must be living apart.

“This is my personal view: it’s a sensitive and messy subject, but when people look at it, I hope they would agree that the current rules on divorce in the constitution are too strict.”

Comparing Ireland’s current situation with some of the scaremongering that took place in the previous divorce referendum he added “We haven’t seen a deluge of divorces that some people predicted since divorce was legalised in 1995.”

According to figures from the Central Statistics Office Ireland has the lowest divorce rate in Europe, with just 0.6 divorces per 1,000 head of the population as of 2015.

In the 1995 referendum which made divorce legal in Ireland for the first time, there was less than 1% in the difference between the Yes and No sides.

Voters will go to the polls to decide whether to further liberalise Ireland’s divorce laws this Friday, May 24.

Boston Scientific gets planning approval for city campus expansion

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Boston Scientific profits jump by nearly a third

Boston Scientific will be undertaking a significant expansion of its facilities in Galway city after being granted approval to convert the old APC building to offices.

Planning permission was sought by Boston Scientific to convert 1,305m² of space in the old APC building in Ballybrit Business Park from industrial usage to office space.

The medical devices manufacturer, one of the largest employers in Galway, said that the new office space will be used for 97 existing employees currently working at the main building complex which is overcrowded.

As this project is simply providing more office space for existing employees, it is not expected that this development will lead to any increase

The project will also include a canteen and corporate fitness centre in the fallow building space, as well as the construction of an internal courtyard, and a 40m² building extension to the north elevation.

On the outside it is intended to install a compactor yard and fire exit stairs and to make alteration to the existing loading dock entrance.

Retention permission was also sought for two windows along the north facade and 10 existing car parking spaces, as well as steps and an entrance ramp at the main entrance.

The vacant APC building is an industrial warehouse which was built in the 1970s located within the main Boston Scientific campus in Ballybrit.

Galway city council awarded planning permission to Boston Scientific with a total of five conditions attached.

Salthill Rotary Club raises €1,000 for children’s cancer support

By
Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news Salthill Rotary Club raises €1000 for children's cancer support

The Salthill Rotary Club recently presented Hand in Hand children’s cancer support charity with €1,000 raised to help their efforts on behalf of families of children with cancer.

The money for this cancer support was was raised by the Salthill rotarians through the February and March ‘Kick the Wall’ collections down by the Promenade.

Back in 2012 the Salthill Rotary Club installed a permanent collection point on the promenade with the support of Galway city council.

People give the limestone marker, which bears the inscription ‘Small Change, Big Impact’, a kick and hopefully drop off some change while they’re there.

Michael O’Hare, President of the Salthill Rotary Club, recently presented the collected monies to Dr Michael Coughlan and Laura Bromley from Hand in Hand.

Hand in Hand is a non-profit organisation which provides the families of children with cancer with much-needed practical support.

It provides families with practical support through childcare, domestic cleaning and laundry services, and family meals so they can focus on spending more time with their kids in their time of need.

Money gathered from the April collection box is going to the Irish Kidney Association support services in Galway.

 

photo credit: OPTiM Payroll/Twitter

Galway’s Cloon Keen Atelier are the first ever Irish winners at the prestigious Fragrance Foundation Awards

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Galway company Cloon Keen Atelier are the first Irish winners at the Fragrance Foundation Awards

Galway’s Cloon Keen Atelier have become the first Irish company ever to win at the prestigious Fragrance Foundation Awards.

The Fragrance Foundation Awards recognise the best of the best in every aspect of the perfume arena from marketing and packaging, to fragrances for men and women and the best new fragrance.

Cloon Keen Atelier took home Best New Independent Fragrance for their scent Róisín Dubh created by the Paris-based, Irish perfumer Meabh McCurtin.

The company was founded by two filmmakers, Margaret Mangan and Julian Checkley, who decided 20 years ago to ditch their past careers and start creating scents.

Margaret, the company’s Director, said that it means a huge deal for them to have won this award.

“We’ve been at this for 20 years now and for a company our size, a Galway company, to be recognised like this is incredible”.

She said that a focus of their work and their brand is telling Irish stories that resonate with people, and working with a perfumer of Meabh’s calibre on this was an incredible experience.

The 2019 Fragrance Foundation Awards took place in the Brewery in London over the weekend with over 500 representatives from the biggest names in the perfume industry.

This win is a big moment for Cloon Keen Atelier after being nominated for five years running without quite making it over the finish line.

After coming so close on so many occasions Margaret added that it was a shock when their name was called on the night, and up until that moment “the only thing I was worried about was how they were going to pronounce Róisín Dubh”.

Róisín Dubh was created by Meabh McCurtin as a scent that celebrates Irish diaspora, “Historically they’ve been such an important part of Irish literary and artistic culture, and from that also came the idea of Ireland as a muse,” she said.

“Róisín Dubh, the little black rose, is a character in an ancient Irish song, but she is also an analogy for Ireland itself.”

Looking for a way to explore that story and sense of identity she focused on the history of so many Irish writers who gathered at the The Grand Hotel Corneille in Paris’s Latin Quarter.

“My mother is an English teacher and our house is full of books by Irish writers,” Meabh said, adding “Growing up I was always hearing about these characters and I loved the idea of them, Joyce, Beckett, Synge, going abroad and creating this community.”

“We were looking for something that would capture the sensuality in their writing, so I used a special quality of rose called Rose Essential as the heart of the fragrance.”

“Then I built in a suede and ink accord, which, together with the rose, forms the main axis of the fragrance. The suede-ink accord is a nod to the fact they were writers, and it balances the rose, which is feminine, sensual and poetic, adding a drier and more masculine note.”

“Then I explored their bohemian lifestyle: it sounds like they had a whole lot of fun! They were living outside the normal codes of conservative society, so we put some patchouli and olibanum, trying to capture that libertine feeling.”

The end result is a unisex fragrance that is modern, but also captures a sense of the past.

Margaret said that holding the award itself after their work was “such an incredible feeling” as were the calls from all their friends and family congratulating them in the aftermath.

 

photo: Margaret Mangan (left) and Kate Stephens (right)

Galway woman joins North Melbourne Aussie football side

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily sport Galway woman joins North Melbourne Australian Football side

Galway woman Mairead Seoige is making the move to Australian football after being signed by the North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos.

The AFL reports that Mairead is the first Irish football player signed by North Melbourne after being scouted through the Crosscoders programme.

Crosscoders has previously brough other Irish recruits Yvonne Bonner (GWS), Sarah Rowe (Collingwood), Aisling McCarthy (Western Bulldogs) and Adelaide premiership forward Ailish Considine across to Oz.

Mairead has prior experience with Aussie rules having previously captained the West Clare Waves in 2018, and is currently playing for the Galway Ladies’ side as a front-half.

She said that this is something she’s had in mind since last season. “I always had the vision of ending up there in 2020. At the same time it all came on so fast in the last couple of days”.

Mairead added that she’d heard good things about the club, and family already living in Melbourne had told her that it’s a cool city to live in.

North Melbourne list manager Rhys Harwood said that Mairead is an extremely versatile player and that he expects her to adapt to the competition in Australia quickly.

“Mairead has demonstrated an exciting ability to move across the Gaelic field, and combined with her size and strength, we think she has the attributes to make a successful transition to AFLW”

Eleven Irish players in total have been signed for Australian football teams in the season going into 2020.

Boots opening new flagship store at Knocknacarra retail park

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Boots becomes latest investor in Gateway Retail Park with flagship store

Boots is opening a new store at the Gateway Retail Park in Knocknacarra as the latest company to join Galway’s biggest retail project in decades.

The Irish Times reports that Boots is opening a 7,000m² (75,347sq ft) store at the retail park, for which the health and beauty outlet is paying over €35 in rent per sq ft.

The premises itself are still under construction as part of a major expansion to the Gateway Retail Park which is expected to create over 300 jobs in Knocknacarra when complete.

Boots will be located next to the 60,000sq ft Harvey Norman store that is anchoring the project as its largest tenant, taking up over half of the total retail space.

Phase two of the Gateway Retail Park will add a total of six new open-use retail units and four food and drink outlets.

Other outlets that are already present include Dunnes Stores, B&Q, New Look and Next.

Paddy O’Connor of Sigma Retail Partners said that having Boots move to Gateway underpins its role as a an important destination for retailers in Galway.

Gateway Retail Park was purchased by Sigma Retail Partner in 2016 on behalf of Oaktree Capital.

When the current expansion to Gateway is complete it will have a total retail space of 325,000sq ft.

President Higgins welcomes guests to international street art display in Galway

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style President Higgins welcomes international guest to street art display in Galway

President Michael D Higgins welcomed over 200 people who have arrived from around the world for Europe’s biggest display of street art in Galway this week.

Fresh Street #3 brings together professional artists, journalists, researchers, pedagogues, and policy makers for a three day spectacle in Galway exploring street art both as a medium to entertain and as a tool for social, cultural, and political change.

Delegates coming from the world over will spend their time in traditional conference rooms, roaming the streets of Galway, and travelling out to Inis Oírr to connect with the local community and natural environment.

An important topic being addressed over the three days of Fresh Street is that sense of place and identity; how street art can influence it, and be influenced by it.

Speaking ahead of the opening of Fresh Street #3 President Higgins said “Street arts taking place in the shared everyday spaces so familiar to us all, peopling the public world, can help ensure thus art and creativity will also take their place in the other, intangible shared spaces of our societies.”

“I have no doubt that during your stay in Galway – designated European Capital of Culture in 2020 – you will enjoy the special atmosphere and the breath of talent that is on display here.”

“As you gather to discuss the benefits and challenges associated with street art and outdoor performances, I hope it will assist you in situating your discussions in a context of inclusion and civic empowerment.”

Of course this won’t just be a dusty academic exercise. There will be plenty of incredible displays from local, national and international companies this week for the delegates and all to see.

On Wednesday at 10pm people can catch a breathtaking illuminated parade through the streets of Galway city from 10pm from LUXE Theatre.

LUXE are presenting Imramh – The Ship of Destiny which will take the audience on a magical journey through Shop street and down to Nimmo’s pier for the grand finale.

People will also encounter outdoor arts on Inis Oírr, a high wire workshop across the Claddagh basin and a dance performance above and below the water in the Claddagh Basin.

Now in its third year, Fresh Street #3 is co-organised by Circostrada, ARTCENA in partnership with Galway 2020 and the Irish Street Arts Circus and Spectacle Network (ISACS).

Helen Marriage, Creative Director of Galway 2020, said that it’s an honour for them to be hosting such a prestigious international gathering.

“Art that takes place in the public realm is a powerful force for transformation; it can make people see their world differently and open to new possibilities, staying in the imagination long after the ephemeral moment has passed.”

She added that it “reaches people who may not even realise they are experiencing art.”

Helen welcomed all the guest arriving from Europe and beyond and said they look forward to seeing more street art next year during the Capital of Culture.

The full programme of events taking place throughout Galway city and county over the next three days can be downloaded from Circostrada online.

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