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Bus Eireann launches new joint ferry service exploring the Wild Atlantic Way

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Galway Daily news Bus Eireann launches new joint ferry service exploring the Wild Atlantic Way

Bus Eireann has launched a new service in partnership with Doolin Ferry Company for people to explore the Wild Atlantic Way.

The new Route 350 which operates from Galway offers a combined bus and ferry service exploring the sights of the Wild Atlantic Way with tour of the Cliffs of Moher or a day ticket out to Inis Oírr.

Customers can avail of two combined ticket options which each cost €38.50 for both the bus ticket and either a 1-hour ferry tour of the Cliffs or a trip out to Inis Oírr.

The bus route also offers a regular service from Galway, through Doolin and on to Ennis that runs up to six times daily.

Bus Eireann describe the new route as a “great value day trip option to visit Ireland’s most popular tours destinations along the very popular Wild Atlantic Way.”

Tickets can be purchased aboard the bus or from the Travel Centre in Eyre Square.

The full timetable for Route 350 and all stops along the way can be found on www.buseireann.ie.

Brian Connolly, Regional Operations Manager said this magnificent and scenic bus route” is a great way to explore the Wild Atlantic Way.

“Whether you’re surfing in Lahinch, walking in the Burren or camping in Doolin, the Route 350 caters for all your leisure needs.”

“The bus route incorporates the Cliffs of Moher, which is a natural masterpiece must see, and also travels along the Clare coast, which stretches from buzzing Galway along the coast to the lovely towns of Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, Doolin Lahinch, and Ennis.”

 

Update: This article previously misidentified the ferry company participating as Doolin Ferries.

Galway’s Youth Orchestra performs first unified concert

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily life & style Symphonic Waves Youth Orchestra performing two August concerts

Galway’s first ever youth orchestra Symphonic Waves recently hit a major milestone in its development, performing its first full concert with every section working together.

The string, wind, brass, and percussion sections of the orchestra played together in rehearsal for the first time at Choláiste Bhaile Chláir working on music by Beethoven and Dvorak.

New members were welcomed with a samba drumming workshop with Brian Ferguson from Funky Drums, and the rehearsal finished with a short informal performance.

Symphonic Waves is a West of Ireland Youth Orchestra which was established in 2017 as part of Galway 2020 in collaboration with Music Generation Galway County.

The idea behind came from a need to provide young musicians between 13 and 21 years old across the west of Ireland with a place where they could reach to a higher level and find new opportunities to perform.

These incredibly talented young people have benefited from working with some of the best musicians in the country in Galway’s Contempo Quartet, as well as the Irish Chamber and RTÉ Concert orchestras.

Under the guidance of Prof. James Cavanagh they have been in rehearsals since last July, and this summer will perform their first live symphony orchestra at the end of July.

Galway 2020 Programme Manager Marilyn Gaughan Reddan said that they are delighted to have played a role in bringing this group together.

“It’s great to see Symphonic Waves progressing so wonderfully; the quality of the work of the young musicians who are part of this orchestra is exceptional.”

“This is such an inspiring youth-led project, which will leave a wonderful legacy for young musicians in the west.”

Kinvara man who went missing in Malaysia making good recovery

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Kinvara man who went missing in Malaysia making good recovery

Kinvara man Stephen Warde who was missing in Malaysia for weeks earlier this year is making a good recovery and is expected to return home in the coming weeks.

Stephen Warde was found in Malaysia on February 28 in extremely poor health after being missing since the New Year.

Since then he has been recovering under medical care until he is in a fit condition to return home.

A massive online campaign was organised to support Stephen’s family and the efforts to locate him while he was missing.

Stephen’s posted a statement on this page with an promising update on his condition.

“We are happy to report that Stephen has made good progress over the past month. We expect him to return home in a number of weeks to continue on his road to recovery.”

“Once again, we want to thank everyone for all of the support and well wishes we have received over the past few months.”

There was an outpouring of support from the community in Kinvara and beyond to help fund efforts to locate Stephen when he was missing.

“All funds raised in excess of the €25,000 target have now been donated to Kinvara Alive, who will use the funds to promote and support mental well being in our community,” the Warde family said in conclusion.

Portiuncula Hospital piloting national hygiene campaign to fight superbugs

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Portiuncula Hospital piloting new hygiene campaign to fight superbugs

Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe is one of three hospitals in the country piloting a new hygiene campaign to tackle the spread of superbugs in health centres.

The HSE’s Hand Hygiene Train the Trainer and Hand Hygiene Awareness Programme (Resist) aims to encourage proper hand cleaning among staff, patients, and visitors at hospitals to stop antibiotic resistant superbugs from spreading.

Resist is a new health service initiative to reduce infection and antimicrobial resistance in our health facilities.

It is being introduced in hospitals and community services all over the country, backed by the HSE Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control programme (AMRIC).

In public hospitals, aside from Portiuncula Hospital the new programme is being introduced at Cavan General Hospital and University Hospital Limerick.

James Keane General Manager at Portiuncula, said that the entire hospital staff are united in their goal to stop the spread of infection.

“We are delighted to be part of this new HSE awareness programme, Resist which will further highlight the importance of hand hygiene thoroughly to prevent the spread of infection and protect patients, visitors and staff”.

The message for hospital staff is that cleaning your hands properly at the right time is one of the simplest things you can do to save you, your family and your co-workers from becoming ill and reducing the spread of illnesses such as tummy bugs, coughs, colds, and even superbugs.

Helen Lemass, the Nurse Specialist in Infection Prevention and Control at Portiuncula said that proper hygiene is crucial to stopping the spread of infections which can be life-threatening to patients.

“Both patients and visitors have an important role to play in reducing the spread of infection in the hospital and good hand hygiene is one of the easiest ways to do that.”

She says that anyone visiting a hospital should clean their hands on a regular basis and make liberal use of the alcoholic gel available.

On top of that patients should avoid sharing personal items such as phones or earphones that could spread germs with other patients.

Lastly she emphasised that it is okay top ask staff to clean their hands or to point out something that isn’t clean.

Professor Martin Cormican, HSE National Lead for Antibiotic Resistance said “Proper hand hygiene is such a critical issue for all of us both at home and in our health services.”

“This hand hygiene awareness programme is an important part of the HSE’s work with the Department of Health to progress Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance.”

Navy ship’s crew raise €1,500 for children’s ward at UHG

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Galway Daily news Navy ship's crew raises €1,500 for UHG Children's Ward

The crew of the LÉ William Butler Yeats recently presented a cheque for €1,500 they had raised for St. Bernadette’s Children’s Ward at University Hospital Galway.

“Naval Service ships regularly raise funds for their chosen charities,” the Irish Naval Service said in a post on twitter. “Here, LÉ William Butler Yeats present a check for funds raised for their adopted charity St. Bernadette’s Children’s Ward UHG”.

The LÉ William Butler Yeats patrol vessel, which is twinned with Galway, was in town this weekend for the Flag Officer’s Annual Inspection.

While the ship was docked in Galway it presented the cheque to UHG alongside Mayor of Galway Niall McNelis.

The LÉ William Butler Yeats is one of four new patrol vessels build for the naval service since 2014.

They are often called the four “playwright” sisters because of their names.

The Samuel Beckett the first to roll off the line in 2014, followed by the LÉ James Joyce in 2015, and the LÉ William Butler Yeats in 2016 and LÉ George Bernard Shaw last year.

Salthill housing development get planning approval despite local traffic concerns

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Planning permission granted for Salthill apartment blocks

Planning permission has been granted for a residential development in Salthill consisting of a block of nine terraced houses and apartments over local objections.

Highgate Investments Ltd planned to demolish an existing building and to build a three-storey housing block in its place at Upper Salthill adjacent to Lenaboy Gardens.

The development will include a mix of one, two, and three bed terraced houses and duplex apartments which would be accessed through Lenaboy gardens.

The developer originally planned to construct a four and half storey tall building with twelve apartments, but revised its plans when told by Galway city council that the plot density and scale of the plans were not suitable for the area.

In February the city council requested further information from the developer on the proposed parking and how it would affect traffic safety in the area as well as instructing them to revise the scale, height, and overall design of the development.

The development will be served by nine surface parking spaces, one for each home, with a single access point onto Lenaboy Gardens.

A number of objections were made by local residents in Salthill concerned with traffic levels and the scale of the project including the Lenanboy Gardens Residents Association.

Lenaboy Gardens Residents Association said that plans to have the bin storage area facing directly onto Lenaboy Gardens would have a negative impact on the estate.

The group also said that despite the council’s request no up to date traffic analysis was provided by the developer.

The objectors commissioned a traffic assessment of their own from Colin Buchanan and Partners which declared that the Lenaboy Gardens cul-de-sac was not suited to the additional traffic this development would bring.

Planning permission had previously been refused by the city council for residential developments on this site for traffic related reasons.

According to the developer the units are planned for long-term tenure, though it is not clear at this point whether they would be owner occupied or for rental.

Galway city council granted planning permission with 21 conditions attached.

Multiple Galway bus services cancelled this Bank Holiday

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Multiple Galway bus services cancelled this Bank Holiday

Multiple bus services in Galway have been cancelled today due to the Bank Holiday.

Bus services on Bank Holiday Monday will operate on a regular Sunday schedule Bus Eireann have said, but that several specific services will not be running.

Between Galway and Dundalk, the 3:30pm Dundalk to Galway bus has been cancelled, as has the 6pm service from Galway to Dundalk.

On the Galway/Clifden route the 12:50pm Galway to Clifden service and 4:15pm Clifden to Galway bus have also been cancelled.

Two additional buses will operate on the Galway/Clifden route to, one at 1:30pm from Clifden to Galway, and one at 6:15pm from Galway to Clifden.

Galway Film Fleadh named one of the best film festivals in the world

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily Arts & culture submissions open for 25th Junior Film Fleadh

Galway Film Fleadh has been named one of the top 50 film festivals in the world by MovieMaker magazine.

MovieMaker magazine, which focuses on the art and business of making films, named Galway Film Fleadh as one of its ‘50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee‘.

The Film Fleadh has previously been spotlighted by Moviemaker Magazine as one of its “25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World” in 2014.

The magazine picked out the fleadh’s pitching competition as one of its highlight. The pitching competition, for which submissions are still open, asks writers to come up with a 500 treatment for a film and deliver their pitch to a panel of judges and an audience.

It also highlighted what great opportunities the film fleadh offers for budding filmmakers to meet people in the industry with “evenings at the Festival Club create opportunities to network and to connect with audience members”.

Galway Film Fleadh has competitions for feature length films, submissions now closed, and short films, accepting submissions until May 17.

Filmmakers with projects in development, or a completed film/documentary, can also submit up to 2 projects to the festival’s Marketplace, which takes place as part of the Galway Film Fair, up until May 17.

Galway Film Fleadh is internationally recognised as one just 62 Oscar qualifying film festivals in the world.

Short films which feature at the Fleadh qualify for consideration at the Academy Awards without needing to run in theatres.

The Galway Film Fleadh is a six day international film event in the West of Ireland, comprising a film festival, film conference and Ireland’s only film marketplace.

The 2019 fleadh will take place over six days this summer from Tuesday, July 9 to Sunday, July 14.

New dog park planned for Athenry in good news for pet owners

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Plans in the works for new Dog Park near Oranmore

Dog owners in Athenry may soon have a new place to let them stretch their legs and play with plans for a new dog park in the area.

Planning permission is being sought by Athenry Dog Park Committee for a dog park on a 0.52 hectare site at Knockaunglass field on the Esker Road in Athenry.

The developer was granted the use of this field by Athenry Community Council to create an area “where dogs can socialise, exercise, and play as well as provide an area where dog owners can socialise”.

The park would consist of three separate exercise and socilaisation areas: One are specifically for small dogs, one unrestricted area for dogs of all sizes, and a socialisation area.

Each of the three areas would include equipment such as tyres, planks, tubes and other items to stimulate the dogs at play.

For the owners, the design includes two shelters where people can sit out of the rain and still keep an eye on their dogs.

The park will be surrounded with a 1.8m high chain link fence, with each of the separate areas for the dogs also fenced in.

The outside boundary will be secured by an entrance gate with a keypad lock in case of anti-social issues, the access code for which will be distributed to dog owners by the developer through their website and social media.

It’s planned for Barna Waste to handle waste collection services for the dog park, with collections on a fortnightly basis.

Parking would be achieved through an existing 20 space car park adjacent to the site.

The Athenry Tidy Towns Committee have been enthusiastic in their support for the dog park, saying that it would help keep the area clean.

The committee also said in a letter of support that they are planting plant trees around the boundary of the Knockaunglass site and will continue to do so.

These will “provide shelter, camouflage and coverage for the park, and also add to our own biodiversity plan”.

Galway Rural Development have also indicated that they would like to support this project and could provide workers to help keep it tidy.

Galway county council is due to make a decision this development by June 12.

Three day road closure to build underpass

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

The L2104 near Caherlistrane will be closed for the next three days to allow for the construction of an underpass.

The road will be closed from junction of the N84 and L2104 at Carrowmore to the junction of the L2104 and R333 at Oltore.

The road will be closed from 8am on Monday, May 6 to 8pm on Wednesday, May 8.

Galway county council has ordered the road closure to allow for the construction of a cattle underpass.

Motorists travelling in the area can follow a suggested diversion along the R333 where it meets the N84 just north of Headford.

Tea Parties for Tuam Cancer Care

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Tea Parties for Tuam Cancer Care

Tuam Cancer Care are asking people in Galway to consider holding a fundraising tea party over the month of May to help support this essential charity service.

Tuam Cancer Care provides emotional, psychological, and practical support to people who have been given a diagnosis of cancer and their families to help them cope with a painful situation.

The group was found in the 80s by a group of women in Tuam who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and came together to support one another.

They realised that living with cancer can be a serious crisis of the mind and spirit as well as a sickness of the body, and have been working with volunteers and therapists ever since to support people with cancer, their families, and close friends.

In 2006, after intense lobbying by the group, the HSE opened a two bed palliative care/respite service at Arus Mhuire Community Hospital, Tuam to replace the service lost when Grove Hospital closed.

Thanks to the generous support of the people of Tuam and the surrounding area, the group moved to a new purpose built centre to increase the number of people it could support.

It costs the group €150 to provide a programme of Complementary Therapies, €480 to provide a programme of counselling and €2600 to run the Physical Activity Programmes per term.

As a charity, Tuam Cancer Care 92% of the costs of proving these supports from public donations each year.

The Tea Party fundraising campaign is just one of the efforts to get essential public support to keep the doors open on this important service.

“We have created the Tea Party fundraising campaign to highlight the importance a listening ear and a cup of tea means to someone at a time of uncertainty in their life,” the group said in a statement.

People can host their tea party in any place be it a shop, pub, cafe, community centre, or their own home.

Register today to receive your Tea Party Pack with advice on advertising your tea party, recipes and much more.

 

photo: Tuam Cancer Care

Social housing hub for older people installing outdoor fitness equipment

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Social housing hub plans outdoor fitness equipment

The Tearmann Éanna Teo community centre and social housing hub for older people in Connemara is building up its facilities with plans to install outdoor exercise equipment.

Tearmann Éanna Teo is a community hub for older people in Connemara that provides social housing with nearby services to help them live as independently as possible in the Inverin area.

It also has a day centre and offers transport services and meals on wheels to older people in the area.

The Day Centre provides a space for people to socialise and engage in activities such as arts, gardening, computing and more.

Now the community centre intends to install outdoor fitness equipment including a chest press, seated puller, air walker, two cross trainers, a leg press, pull up bars, an arm and pedal cycle, a sit up board, two rowers, tai-chi spinners, two stationary bicycles, a waist twister, shoulder builder, and dip bars.

Planning permission was previously granted for this equipment by the county council in 2014, but the project could not proceed at that time.

Tearmann Eanna Teo is now seeking an extension of the planning permission.

Deadline for short film submissions to Galway Film Fleadh approaches

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily life & style Galway film fleadh short film deadline

The deadline for submissions of short films to the Galway Film Fleadh is creeping up as the world famous film festival approaches.

Each year the Galway Film Fleadh shows nearly 100 Irish short films, across six days, including drama and documentary, live action and animation, and everything in-between.

The fleadh doesn’t puts a strong emphasis on supporting emerging talent, and over the years many Irish filmmakers have gotten their start making a short film for Galway.

Submissions for the short film competition must be in by Friday, May 17 at 5pm, and the entry fee is €20. For further information or to submit a film click here.

As of last year, the festival has broken with its tradition of screening only Irish-made shorts and now invites international short filmmakers to join their Irish peers at this oscars qualifying event.

A number of short films from the 2017 and 2018 fleadhs qualified for consideration at the 91st Academy Awards last February including A Drowning Man (Denmark, UK, Greece), My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes (USA), 2018 Tiernan McBride Award winning film, The Wren Boys (UK), 2018 James Horgan Award winning film, The Wiremen, and 2018 Best International Animation winner, The Driver was Red (USA).

Winners of the James Horgan award for Best Irish Animation and the Tiernan McBride Award for Best Irish Short Drama will qualify for Academy Award consideration without the standard theatrical run.

The Galway Film Fleadh is a six day international film event in the West of Ireland, comprising a film festival, film conference and Ireland’s only film marketplace.

The Galway Film Fleadh will take place over a week from Tuesday, July 9 to Sunday, July 14.

As well as short films the Fleadh has competitions for feature length films and also rewards first time directors in drama and animation, as well as the Donal Gilligan Award for Best Cinematography in a short film.

Winners through the years include Lenny Abrahamson, Kirsten Sheridan, Ken Wardrop, Rebecca Daly, as well as DOP’s Kate McCullough, Tim Fleming, and many more.

In addition to screenings, the festival also delivers panels and networking events tailored towards short filmmakers, providing opportunities to meet with international and industry guests.

Final list of city council candidates

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news

The final list of candidates who will be contesting for a seat on Galway city council in the local elections this month is in.

There are 48 candidates running for a seat on the city council, up from 38 in the previous local elections.

There are six seats available in each of the city’s east, west, and central wards. 16 candidates each are contesting Galway city central and east, while 15 people are running in the west ward.

Galway City East

Declan McDonnell (Cllr, Ind), Donal Lynch (FG), John Walsh (Cllr, FG), Noel Larkin (Cllr, Ind), Nuala Nolan (Aontú), Terry O’Flaherty (Cllr, Ind), Owen Hanley (SD), Liam Boyle (Labour), Mairéad Farrell (Cllr, SF), Pat Hardiman (Ind), Conor Burke (S-PBP), Michael Tully (Ind), Alan Cheevers (FF), Mike Crowe (Cllr, FF), Claire Hillery (Green), Neil O’Mahony (Renua).

Galway City Central

Martina O’Connor (Green), Eddie Hoare (FG), Frank Fahy (Cllr, FG), Mike Cubbard (Cllr, Ind), Colette Connolly (Cllr, Ind), Mike Geraghty (Ind), Joe Loughnane (S-PBB), Sharon Nolan (SD), John McDonagh (Labour), Mark Lohan (Cllr, SF), James O’Toole (Ind), Corman Ó Corcoráin (Aontú), Patrick Feeney (Ind), Darragh O’Flaherty, Imelda Byrne (FF), Ollie Crowe (Cllr, FF).

Galway City West

Pauline O’Reilly (Green), Marc Anderson (Ind), Clodagh Higgins (FG), Pearce Flannery (Cllr, FG), Ivan Darius (Ind), John Crowley (SD), Niall McNelis (Cllr, Labour), Cathal Ó Conchúir (Cllr, SF), John Connolly (FF), Peter Keane (Cllr, FF), Donal Lyons (Cllr, Ind), Marian Maloney (Ind), Patrick Feeney (Ind), Claire Keegan (Ind), Tommy Roddy (Ind).

The 2019 local elections for Galway city council and county council will take place on May 24.

Loughrea roadworks causing three day road closure

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

Roadworks outside Loughrea will cause traffic disruptions disruptions for three days while underway next week due to daily road closures.

Galway county council are carrying out resurfacing overlay roadworks on the L4211 at Rafarn, Loughrea on Tuesday & Wednesday, May 7-8.

Similar works will be taking place on another stretch of the same road at Newtowndaly Cross on Wednesday & Thursday, May 8-9.

“In order to facilitate these works, the section of the L4211 in question will be temporally closed to through traffic between the hours of 7:30am & 7pm,” a council spokesperson said.

“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 both sets of these works was awarded to the Dublin based Lagan Asphalt Ltd.

The county council apologised to motorists travelling in the area for any inconvenience they experience.

Public health events prove a big hit on the islands

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Healthy Ireland events with Croí Heart & Stroke are a big hit on the Galway islands

A series of free Healthy Ireland events with Croí on the Galway islands recently proved to be a big hit, drawing big crowds interested in living well.

Over 200 people took part in events with Croí Heart & Stroke across the Aran Islands and Inishbofin, with strong participation from local schools.

The events involved health screenings e.g. pulse, blood pressure, weight, and BMI checks, as well as dietary tips on health eating, yoga; relationship and sexual health education, resources on mental health and wellness, exercise and fitness tips, citizen information advice and more.

“This initiative was a coming together of diverse community groups all with a unified aim to promote health and well-being throughout the islands off County Galway,” said Suzanne Seery, Lead Dietitian with Croí.

She added that it was a “great opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle across all age groups.”

Healthy Ireland is a government led initiative that aims to bring together local organisations across the country with the goal of promoting physical and mental health.

This series of events taking place across the Galway islands were a collaboration of Croí Heart & Stroke Charity, Galway Rural Development, Healthy Ireland at your Library, the Western Drugs and Alcohol Taskforce, Galway Sports Partnership, Galway Citizen Information Centre, Irish Rural Link, Pieta House, and AIDS West.

For Croí’s part, Suzanne Seery said that these kinds of events are ideal for them as many of the health conditions involving heart disease and stroke are preventable.

“Our aim is to offer individuals the opportunity to engage in risk factor screening along with offering practical advice in relation to healthy eating, physical activity, overall health and wellness and lots more,” she added.

The Healthy Ireland Fund is supported by the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Unemployment continues to fall in April

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Briain Kelly
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Galway Daily news Unemployment continues downward trend in April

The number of people in unemployment continued to fall in Galway last month according to the latest figures from the CSO.

There were 10,244 people in Galway on the Live Register in April according to the Central Statistics Office as unemployment kept on a five month downward trend.

In Galway city 51 people came off the Live Register last month leaving 5,021 unemployed.

There are 1,594 people unemployed in Tuam, down from 1,546 in March. While in Loughrea the number of people on the register declined by 31 to 1,097.

Ballinasloe and Gort were the only two areas in Galway that saw an increase in unemployment with 6 and 11 people respectively coming onto the register in each area.

And lastly 51 people came off the Live Register in Clifden last month with 659 remaining.

However, there was a strong disparity between the figures for men and women, with all of the gains in employment recorded in men last month.

114 men came off the Live Register last month. But after seeing a sharp drop in unemployment among women of almost 200 from February to March the number of women on the register spiked by 49 people last month.

The Live Register keeps an estimate of unemployment levels around the country be tallying up the number of people receiving certain unemployment benefits.

It’s made up of people who are receiving Jobseekers Benefits or Jobseekers Allowance, or part-time workers who qualify for either of those payments. The register also includes people signing on for PRSI credits but who don’t receive any payment.

Massive upgrade in the works for Galway city water supply scheme

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Galway Daily news Latest EPA report shows one Galway public water supply deemed "at-risk"

Irish Water is planning a major upgrade to the Galway City Water Supply Scheme with multi-million improvements to the intake system from River Corrib to Terryland Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Planning permission is being sought for new raw intake works for the city water supply scheme on the banks of the River Corrib 100m downstream from the Quincentenary Bridge, and other upgrades to the water transfer system.

The project will also involve the laying of pipework to connect the intake works to the Terryland Wastewater Treatment Plant, and new rising and transfer water mains to bring treated water from the the WWTP to the existing rising main on the east bank of the Corrib.

The new mains will be a series of underground gravity fed mains passing underneath Terryland parkland, the N6 approaching the Quincentenary Bridge, and Terryland River.

A new slipway at the intake works on the Corrib will also have to be constructed according to Irish Water, as well as a control building, a new access road from the Dyke Road, and a floating boom stretching 5m into the river.

Irish Water said that these upgrade works were commissioned by the city council to meet existing and future demands on the Galway City Water Supply Scheme after raw water shortages at the existing intake works in August and October 2014.

Ryan Hanley Consulting Engineers produced a report for the council which recommended relocating and expanding the intake to a site downstream of the Quincentenary Bridge.

In 2007 the old Terryland WWTP was decommissioned and replaced with a new plant which has the capacity to treat 55 million litres of water a day.

However the current intake can only process 46 million litres a day. According to Irish Water the new intake is designed with an abstraction of 55 million litres to match the WWTP.

A Natura Impact Statement was submitted with the planning application which said that this project would not impact on Lough Corrib or Galway Bay areas of conservation.

Public submissions concerning this project can be made to the city council by until May 15. The council is due to render a decision on granting planning permission by June 5

The martyrdom of whistleblowers

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Galway daily life & style The martyrdom of whistleblowers

Despite their contributions to society when exposing wrongdoing in banks, corporations, or government bodies, it’s an unfortunate reality that whistleblowers are as likely to end up as martyrs as heroes.

NUIG Professor of Business Kate Kenny’s new book Whistleblowing: Toward a New Theory explores how society often fails to protect whistleblowers who risk everything to expose corruption.

This clear-eyed examination looks in particular at the financial industry, where a deeply embedded culture of corruption around the world has had disastrous consequences for us all as recently as the 2008 financial crisis and the recession that followed.

Introducing whistleblowers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Ireland working at companies like Wachovia, Halifax Bank of Scotland, and Countrywide–Bank of America, Whistleblowing suggests practices that would make it less perilous to hold the powerful to account and would leave us all better off.

Instead, even when people’s warnings aren’t ignored, they often find themselves punished within their workplace, isolated by the colleagues, and left with a career in tatters.

Kate Kenny is a Professor of Business and Society at NUI Galway where she researches how the behaviour of large organisations affects our daily lives as employees and citizens.

For this book she interviewed men and women who reported unethical and illegal conduct at major corporations in the run up to the 2008 financial crisis.

Paul Moore worked for HBOS bank in the UK where he blew the whistle on a dangerous sales culture. Eileen Foster was an executive vice president at Countrywide until she reported systemic home loan fraud. Olivia Greene disclosed wrongdoing in defense of a colleague at Irish Nationwide Building Society. And UK and US whistleblower, Martin Woods reported a series of money-laundering activities at Wachovia Bank.

“Genuine whistleblowers are often poorly served and supported by society,” Prof Kenny said, “I wanted to explore why this is so. Through hearing those who have spoken out, we might begin to re-frame accepted attitudes towards whistleblowers.”

The book was launched recently at the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway, with an introduction from Dr Tom Clonan, one of Ireland’s most high profile whistleblowers on sexual violence in the Defence Forces, and Prof  of Political Science and Sociology Ricca Edmondson.

Quiet Man station showing off 15 years of restoration

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Briain Kelly
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Galway daily news €100,000 awarded for developing visitor attraction at Quiet Man station

Ballyglunin Train Station, otherwise known as the Quiet Man station will be showcasing the past 15 years of restoration efforts at a public event tomorrow.

As part of the Big Hello! national community weekend the Ballyglunin Railway Restoration Project are opening their doors to show off and celebrate the work done as part of Phase 1 of restoration works to the Quiet Man Station.

Ballyglunin station on the old Athenry to Tuam line last saw a train pass through in 1976 when the section of the Western Railway Corridor was closed down.

In 2004 the local community came together to form the Ballyglunin Railway Restoration Project.

Their objective was to restore the station and its environs to its former glory and create a community hub that showcases its history for the enjoyment of visitors and locals alike.

The station’s main claim to fame is from the 1952 John Ford film The Quiet Man which shot its opening scene of John Wayne arriving back home in his character’s native Ireland after time away in America there.

In the years since starting this project, the local community has moved steadily and carefully forward with restoring this protected structure.

The first work done was on clearing ivy away from the old signal cabin and roofing the old goods store starting in 2006.

Signal Tower before and after restoration

 

Ballyglunin Store House before and after restoration

Work on the main station itself has proceeded slowly, what with the need for all work to be overseen by a conservation specialist to ensure nothing is lost.

But last year the project took a great step forward with the restoration of the main roof. All of the original tiling was carefully removed while the crumbling roof superstructure was conserved or replaced, and the original tiling restored.

Other work is still progressing on the station courtyards and developing community facilities, but locals are determined that this place has a bright future in local tourism.

The project has attracted high profile supporters, with John Wayne’s co-star on The Quiet Man Maureen O’Hara giving it her backing before she passed away in 2015.

Liam Neeson has also thrown his support behind fundraising efforts to move these conservation works to the Quiet Man station forward.

This community event taking place on Sunday will be the perfect opportunity to see for yourself the work which has been done at a fun day out for the family with live music, a history exhibition and activities for children including wildflower planting.

This will be followed by a showing of the play A Galway Girl at 8pm with tickets available online here fro €10.

The Big Hello! National Community Weekend is supported by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs.

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